Finally got a chance to get back to this. Was in Boston for a week and had a house guest as soon as I returned. And, well, distraction. I really liked the head I'd done for Ricci designs before so just decided to plaster it on top of the one that was here. Have to remember to make him loud and obnoxious as that's who he is and that's kind of an undercurrent of the song. It's dark, possibly a hard read. I think the backgrounds on this track are going to be much more simple, perhaps even single colors. Might also want to make it feel more like a stage, even more than It's been. We'll see. Art production has slowed towards the end of the year though I think quality is better than last year. That's the goal anyway.

 This is the latest version of this. Still not happy with it. There's a certain...I hate to use this term...'magic' missing from it. Feels too...honestly dull. So I'll either put it aside to come back later or try a different approach. Even the subject admits that it looks more like him. For me, there's just no...oomph.

 I decided that the problem had to do with the original drawing. So tonight, after work, with a little scotch, I decided to re-draw the base for this portrait. I'll sleep on it and come back later to double or triple check. Sometimes these things take extra work.

 

Worked some more on this today. I did a lot with tiny details, adding, erasing and the like. When I got an image I thought I liked, I went to vectors and colors. I did three different versions and liked all three for different reasons. Right now, I'm leaning towards the middle one as I think it's the most balanced but I also think I need to do more with the basic image itself. It's just not quite right.

 I have been busy with things other than art, lately, which doesn't make me happy but there it is. I have done a couple of approaches on this portrait but didn't like any of them. As sometimes happens, I turned the line layer off on one and liked the rougher version underneath. So currently, I'm moving on with that one. It's a delicate balance between precision shapes and a look that's anything but. No idea what the colors will be but it's getting closer now. 

 Did I work on the comic page today? No. Instead, I started a sketch for the next portrait, this one of my partner, Tyler. I managed to sneak a photo of him while we were visiting the Art Institute of Chicago last week. It's a rare opportunity I get to do such a thing as he's no more fond of getting his photo taken or being stared at than I am. I liked the contemplative pose and knew I'd want to draw it. I did work all day, which wears me the fuck out. So when I come home, I have little energy for much. I did get a new jazz record in the mail which I threw on and that helped me draw. So I managed this in about an hour. I hope I'll get back to the comic soon but as there was also a new season of Portrait Artist of the Year starting, my attention is distracted.

 Haven't had as much time lately as I want. And I've been distracted by portraits again. Last week end, we went to Chicago, so I have that excuse. Today, I had some time to work on this page, which has been languishing. I also watched a documentary I helped kickstart on comic artist Mike Mignola, which was really good and made me wish I had the kind of success that he does. I don't mean monetary, though that'd be nice, too but the feeling that I'd made something big and interesting. All I have is this, so I must plod forward. I have a long way to go. Not sold on the lettering. I think I want something more distinctive for Ricci, something as loud and bullish as he is. Though this is one of the best songs in the comic, I think I want to keep the page count down. They've been getting out of hand. I might also cut the next song as I think it might have been long enough for Silas to be absent. Lots to do.