The Life of Tess

So... Three years ago, I kicked open my closet door and started living my truth as a t-girl, until I moved out of my folks’ house and became a grown woman. I’d be celebrating that today but, My God, it’d be like browsing through my old sketches; I’d cringe so hard! Yeah, enough of that. Time for something different.

I’ve been keeping myself busy throughout the year, burning through sketchbooks and trying my hand on a couple of challenges, not to mention keeping track of the small number of goals I’ve listed at the beginning of the year. Hell, I’ve done more in the first three months than I did all last year! 

Six months of endless practicing... Looking back it feels like it’s been much longer than that. Here’s what I’ve learned so far.....

- No matter how minor a stroke may seem, where you position it can compliment or ruin a drawing

- Stock photos and other references are your friends, but in the end you’re on your own

- Gripping the pencil too tight and obsessing over details too early can slow you down

- It’s okay to step away from a project every once in a while, if only to keep yourself from going mad in the wrong way

- Admitting to have no idea what you’re doing and seeking help saves time and frustration

- I’ve done more sketches than drawings and really ought to consider changing that

- Damn, I really can do this if I stay vigilant

I’d post even more, but I’ve got plans to use some of those drawings for bigger projects. Well, maybe not here..... Lately, I’ve been entertaining the idea of setting up a DeviantArt account to post more frequently. I’ll let you know, if y’all are interested. Until then, here’s to another half year of drawing and practicing!

I don't rightly believe in that sort of thing but my goals involve...

Continuing to refine my craft without pause

Welcoming criticism and growing from it (bring it)

Participating in those drawing challenges they've got going on ( particularly on Instagram)

Okay, look. I've done a post on this already but apparently one of the sketches I tried to post didn't agree with the idea, so here we go again...

I've spent well over half of the year working on sketches and drawings pertaining to portraits and bodies. It could've been the whole year but I had kept falling in and out of my work. I had to remind myself why I do this (to live long after I leave this world). It really isn't a large amount but it means a great deal to me, more than ever before.

Not gonna lie; I've produced so much cringeworthy sketches that made me feel ashamed. But those artistic blunders paved the way for breakthroughs that surprise me even to this day. Some of my favorite pieces are worth revisiting for redrawing and editing, but it doesn't take away the fact that they were valuable learning experiences, not to mention a helluva lot of fun to draw!

I haven't done enough but I've dove quite a bit, and I'll be damned if I let the year end with nothing to show for it. I still have more to learn and I'm eager to do so. Nonetheless, I have no intention of stopping anytime soon. I've done and learned so much in 2019, alone. Imagine what I can do starting tomorrow...