Sprint Retrospective #1 of 2024 - (1/1/24 - 14/1/24)
What a nice way to start this sprint on a Monday! 
To make this more enjoyable, at the end of each goal/progress, I put a GIF of my overall feeling rather than me explaining for 5 minutes why I feel justified to be upset. 
Past Sprint's Goal & Other Work
Anatomy II
I have seen the lecture video but haven't practice to it as I was more interested with clothes drapery. However, I have seen in the next term, Term 4 has explores into anatomy of the Upper and Lower. So, perhaps, just a brief understanding might suffice for the time being.
But I still need to do the homework provided at the end of video.
TD (Total Drama) Work
I have done another TD x Sport art comm - starring Courtney as Raiders Cheerleader
What made this comm unique is I livestream this comm process with the commissioner himself so he ask a lot of question or comments about work in real time - thus putting real pressure to showcase myself as an artist but in a good.
In other news, I have 2 new TD art comms with price:
- 2 chars in a GIF comic style - $50 USD
- 2 chars with background - $25 USD
So far so good.
NOTE #1 - Yes, I may have said that I will never do art comm again. But personal money to buy my stuff without my mum invovlement.... it's worth it. 
NOTE #2 - Yes, I have known that there are 2 new TD seasons with new contestants. However, not really that interested to watch it compared to previous seasons. Just watching it to get more references lmao.
Artist Study
Unfortunately, like my anatomy study, haven't had the time to study a particular cartoon artist on Twitter or X. Next sprint, I should be able to solely focus on my cartoon improvement via artist study.
Outside Work
At the first weekend of this year, my family and another family went to Dubbo to visit Taronga Zoo. Now, there are 2 Taronga Zoo in NSW and the one we are going to is more exotic.
Initially went to zoo to relax and chat with my family friend on his passion of animal, I had a bit of Aaron Blaise inspiration and decide to do some sketch on the animals I found interested.
As you can see, I was more interested in animal leg - maybe because I'm more intrigued by the structure.
But yeah, it was fun to not draw people for the time being.
Drapery
Dunno know but I got more into drapery studies. Most likely because it's more relevant to my cartoon work/improvement than anatomy. Even though cartoon simplifies the fold to be easy to understand, I feel the need to do a comprehensive study on each fold.
A particular video I watch is Bucci one - highly recommended.
I made some notes and paid particular focus on diaper fold.
Fair to say, I'm planning to spend more time in drapery, more in cartoon than realism.
TD Doodles
Decide to bring back one of my old habit from last year which is random doodles based on a particular theme. I think it's nice because it emphasise more on experimentation and allow me to commit mistake and learn from it.
So the past 2 weeks theme were cheerleader and exercise.
Book Review - Art and Fear
From a charity store, I bought a book called Art and Fear. While it was cheap, it got me hooked as it explains artist fear of doing art working and why so many people quit art making.
I wouldn't really recommend buying and reading it as it's a bit too boring but nevertheless it has some key points.
https://www.amazon.com.au/Art-Fear-David-Bayles/dp/0961454733
- Becoming an artist means both learning to accept yourself do personal artwork AND following your own voice to make unique artwork
- Making art is the not the same as Viewing art as both have different perspective
- Artist can stop all the time once their current art has reached the points of the diminishing returns and thus can find another art path - you can only quit once.
- It's fine to let your vision races ahead of execution - that could be new upcoming goals to work on
- Art is basically starting a sentence without knowing the ending. Art is basically chance. Embrace the uncertainity it brings.
- The best way to find your next area of improvement is from your last work. ASK YOUR WORK WHAT IT NEEDS, NOT WHAT YOU NEED.
- There's a different between acceptance and approval from the audience. Ensure that the audience doesn't shape your art development too much.
After reading this book, it kinda reminds me of this scene from one of my favourite movies - Little Miss Sunshine.
Goals for upcoming sprint
- Progress on 2 art comms
- Start studying on a particular artist
- Practice more on cartoon drapery
Oh right, that's all from me this week. Hope, it's more fun and visual than just text lol.
