New Resolutions
Taking steps towards 2023.
A timely reminder appeared on my Twitter feed the other day. At that time, I thought to myself, Hmm, if the year 2023 is when I start receiving commissions, I shall go ahead with the higher-tier PRO purchase on Carrd and get myself a domain. But when I saw that the Black Friday sale was still going on, I decided to go for it. With the art world becoming so unpredictable, I felt it was time to have a website that truly belongs to me.
The address https://www.elaineaneira.com/ is now mine, and I cannot be prouder.
The entire process was quite smooth, considering how Carrd prepared rather clear instructions on how to go about it, even giving us links to where we could purchase a domain. But, as someone who isn’t familiar with such code-ish parts of the world of internet, I was quite terrified and wondered if I’d ever be able to get there at all. I wondered, what of the money I’ve already paid to get my domain? What about the subscription plan on Carrd? I really didn’t think I could do it, but I decided to try anyway.
My colleague and I was just talking about self-fulfilling prophecies a few days ago, about imposter syndrome too, something that came out quite often ever since I was given more responsibilities at work. These topics popped up in my head as I was going through this (although the self-fulfilling prophecy part was more applicable). Have you ever felt that way? Thinking back now, it was my low self-esteem talking, and reflecting now, I really don’t like that.
But what we have to tell ourselves is that what we think we are is not what we are exactly. It’s just our head playing tricks on us. This applies with art too. Without effort and determination, being able to learn something new will never happen. This is what I want to tell AI supporters who ever had this belief that ‘I can’t draw’, thereby leading them to support it, because I once had that mindset, I pushed passed that, and here I am now, an illustrator. Perhaps not yet a good one, but mark my words, I’ll get there someday. All these AI supporters are merely going through a self-fulfilling prophecy. It’s easy to blame others, I know — in this case, blaming artists for ‘gatekeeping’ — but that only shows their ignorance, rendering their accusations empty.
And with this comes my 2023 new year’s resolution!
The prompt for #2 is ‘scales’. I decided to go with fish scales because that was what I intended it to be when I first created that list. I intended it to be a larger-scaled (no pun intended) piece, but I changed my mind because I felt I needed to keep things a little simpler as I try to catch up with Chillcember. Spoiler alert: I’m not doing any better right now lol. I’ve kept that idea at the back of my head and fully intend to go forward with it one day though.
When it comes to scales, my old work Rise Up naturally comes to mind.
The scales. The hand rising up towards the sky. I wanted to make it gloomy in Call Upon, maybe even painting rain because I don’t often do. I wanted to raise this question as I was painting it too: is this merperson calling upon the rain or the sun? The number of skies I’ve painted for my digital zine was a huge help here. I’ve become so much more comfortable painting clouds, and I’m proud of how they look in this piece. The one surprising element that turned out better than I thought it would was their water magic.
Really liking how it looks, I decided it was time I updated the list of premade book covers I have up on my TBCD page. A new resolution suddenly came up then: I will create more premade book covers from now on, and it shall be a new goal for the year 2023. I used to create premade book covers every month while I was still in my photomanipulation phase, but when I moved to illustration, the updates started coming in slower and fewer. The last time I did make one was in January of this year. At the time I kept thinking to myself, would anyone even want any of my paintings as their book cover? I don’t even feel confident about them. So there was no motivation to create more.
But now that I am — feeling more confident, I decided it was time. I am going to enjoy it for sure. It’ll also be a bit of a challenge that I gladly take on. The last time I made any book covers for clients was through Photoshop. I’m using Clip Studio Paint now and there will be settings to find and learn to use.
As usual, here’s the timelapse. It’ll be useful for authors not looking for AI-generated book covers, I would think. :)
I’m really looking forward to challenge #3! These challenges are really pushing my boundaries and I love every moment of it.
A little fun fact about Call Upon before ending off: I used my own hand and arm as reference, even lifted it and raised it towards a ceiling light. Drawing hands can be so addictive. It’s readily available to ref from.
My heart to yours,
Elaine