Toon Doctor

When Drawing Makes You Sick

I screwed up. I thought I had brought at least a drawing pad with me when I moved from Calgary to Toronto. Seems that in the rush of packing I didn’t. I sure brought pencils though. It’s been difficult to draw the last few years because I’ve been so busy. The only drawings I’ve managed to do are for the German Cousin comic book strip I’m working on. I thought I’d get ahead over the summer but stuff got in the way. Or it didn’t.

I know it sounds foolish to write that on the one Website supposed to promote my work and get me more. But I’ve been so busy with apps and other Web development projects, that I haven’t drawn just for fun the way I used to. So yeah, I still get projects here and there, although I haven’t done anything animation-related over the summer. But on the other hand, I’ve had more than my share of work on mobile projects. It’s crazy.

So I wanted to get back to just drawing and putting some new things on the site in the portfolio section which I’m still rethinking and converting. Most of it is old stuff, and I’ve been experimenting once in a while. I do have my Wacom Cintiq, so I could draw with that. But what I don’t like with the Cintiq is the texture of the pen on the screen. It doesn’t feel like paper. It’s too smooth. There’s no resistance. It feels like you’re scratching a smooth surface.  I hate that feeling. I wonder if Wacom makes a nib that has a better grip on a screen. I’s switch to that instead.

But aren’t these all excuses? I always have an excuse. I’ll just go out tomorrow, I’ll find an art store I can patronize in Toronto, I’ll bring my pencils, and then I’ll just draw. That should remove some of the pain I’ve felt in my gut for months but haven’t attended to. Every time I stop drawing, it’s painful in my gut. There’s like a vacuum sucking away air or something. It’s hard to explain. It used to be worse. But I’ve learn to suppress that pain. But it flares back. I’m not called Toon Doctor for nothing. I have to draw, but just for fun.

Hervé St-Louis, September 7, 2012