Much ado about hobbies

I actually did up this blog a while back, unfortunately I posted it mid site maintenance. So..uh.. it didn't even go through..

Anyway, I've been thinking much about my interests, hobbies and wants. I know on my first blog I talked about writing music since it was something I've always wanted to do but is absolutely clueless on how to go about it. I have made SOME kind of progress on that front I think ehe- 

I watched some videos on how to write song lyrics? I guess I should ACTUALLY write something- Its just been rather cringe when I write anything agghhhhghghhsgdg

Regardless I'll eventually (hopefully fr-) share something on that front ehehe..

So that's the update on how that's going. 

Anyways- a few days ago I had dinner with a friend. While waiting for him to arrive I was browsing the artbook section at Kinokuniya. It reminded me of how much I love to play around with my artstyle and going beyond what I'm comfortable with. It's fun, and honestly I really do miss that. I'm not saying I dislike my current artstyle, I did put so much effort into creating one that makes my Instagram posts look identifiable as my art (and an artstyle that I personally enjoy looking at AND do, over and over again-). That said, I was also reminded of my own collection of artbooks that I've gathered between my diploma years and university. 

When I got home from dinner that day, I browsed my collection and got.. kind of inspired? Like, if I don't feel comfortable posting a differing artstyle on my insta, I could... just post it here? LMAO

AHHAA anyway back in uni I had this artbook that I mostly used to study how japanese illustrators render their work, and just generally their process. I'm thinking that I could use that and one more book to go back to practicing my art again (I haven't been doing much personal art, just mostly work and some quick commissions).

So these are the books I'll be studying (when I make time for my personal art that is-)

1. Strategies of moe-illustrations for working creatively without talent - by: Nilitsu (I ADORE the title AHHAAH)
2. 黒猫のおくりもの 三嶋くろね Rough & Line Art - by Mishima Kurone (en: A Black Cat's Gift)

And so, here's the first book :

This was the one I studied the most for fun back when I was just a uni kid.

I got this mainly because I'm really bad at digital rendering, and this has a step-by-step (with tanned skin too!!) :

Super cool stuff. The book was actually wrapped when I got this at Kinokuniya back then, the staff was kind enough to open it up for me to take a look and see if this book was suitable for me. I was contemplating this book and the one by the pokemon illustrator. Glad I went with this tbh! It quickly became my favourite artbook then ( I lowkey called it my bible)

Anyways, this be the second book :

Not super into the artstyle, but I got this then because I was extremely curious as to how professionals would do up their sketches, how many passes etc.

In that aspect, I feel like it does it's job:

For this current study (when I do actually do it-) I think this will help me a lot in trying out a new workflow when going about a digital illustration.

So yeah! That's what I'm thinking of doing anyway. You guys will just be along for the ride I suppose! ^^ 

Also was JUST watching this super underrated (at this moment, only 24 views??) motivational youtube vid (don't judge me TT_TT) and I'm thinking of ways to add back my personal art back into my life and just generally be excited about my art, ykno? So the vid got me kinda excited about it :> 

In case you were wondering, here's the vid hehe
Click here for the vid ^^ hehe

Well then, I'll see you when I see you :> gotta sleep cos work tmr and it's 2am-