My schedule has finally come to a manageable state, and I've been going back to work on some commission projects.

This is a screencap of what will ultimately be part of a collage for a documentary DVD cover of our Canadian athlete, Jessica Zelinka.  The client requested that the piece have a superhero feel.  Still a ways to go, but I'm feeling confident.

The rhinos were quite active yesterday; bumping each other.  Who knew rhinos were partial to tomfoolery.  Two giants colliding are comical, and tremendous.

The animals are always posing beautifully, they just never hold them long enough...

 Started painting a sketch.  I'll post more as I go.  I'm quite partial to long faces...

 I went to the Toronto zoo last week; going again tomorrow.

The train-wreck draft is a time-honored step in the writing process for Crom and I.  It's what we consider an internal draft of a manuscript or screenplay we’ve committed to write.  We refer to it as a train-wreck, I think in part, to make it seem less intimidating.  It’s a process, and if you expect to bat a thousand on the first draft, make sure you’ve mastered self-delusion.

I’m always amazed at the similarities between the different arts, and life.

What I find interesting are the similarities with illustration.  As an animator and comic artist, I have learned to start with the line of action; a single line drawn with the intent to capture the space and movement of the figure, before considering the details.  From that single line we build up the forms, dancing through the figure as we witness it slowly develop — like a figure from the fog.

But I believe there is also something to take away for an overall approach to life.  Perhaps not the train-wreck (I knew you were thinking it, Crom), but indeed the line of action. The mistake starts on day-one, when we set out to be a success (as though we hope or expect our talent and skill to be fully formed).  There’s no fog to emerge from, it’s an attempt to catch lightning in a bottle — or nothing.  Don't fall victim to this creative pitfall.

Take the time necessary for you and your craft to form.

Give yourself the time you need.  Don't be so bloody hard on yourself, and don't plan your career’s path — if you actually arrive at your destination, I guarantee it wont be how you expected to get there.  Anticipate some scrapes along the way (or in Crom’s case blunt force trauma), and don’t think yourself any less if you doubt a little.  We all have doubt.

Focus less on trying to nail the first draft, and more on the process.  Take it from someone who knows — I guarantee life will be more enjoyable.