Getting into the swing of things.

For the moment, we will lay aside the fundamentals of page development and look at some of the issues that I have to deal with in the creation of individual pages. Right now the biggest issue facing me is getting back into the swing of things. A bout of unemployment and a long job search have made some alterations to my list of priorities over the last couple months, and as a result I haven't done a lot of work on the actual production of comics. Now, with uncertainties looming ahead I pick up my pen and sit down to work on my comic. But as I put my hand to the paper, I falter. Something is wrong.

My art muscles have atrophied.

Yes, that's right. My art muscles. And you to, just like me, have art muscles that need working out if you want them to stay in shape. Any long period that passes without a substantial amount of time being spent on the creation of art results in a temporary loss of the progress you have made over your developing career as an artist. Your muscles grow weak and frail and naught can restore them but a healthy program of steady drawing, or perhaps the promise of a trip to a mysterious chocolate factory.

Learning to draw takes time and practice and even after you make progress you can't stop because, unlike a bike, you can't just hop back on and ride. It is a use-it-or-lose-it skill, and it doesn't take long for your muscles to weaken. My next few posts will focus on the rehab program I set for myself so that you can follow along from home on a miraculous journey of heart, determination, and self-discovery.