World Building, Analog Style.
My journey in illustrating a new world (highlights and challenges)
3 Highlights from this week.
Projects and things I found interesting.
World Building: I began the process of building my own fantasy world. I’m in the very rough stages, but I have big plans for this world including several world building zines, TTRPG’s zines and a tabletop game that I’ve been cooking up for a few months now. Here are some of my concept sketches from the past week.
Bringing the world to life: I plan to illustrate this world using some fun multimedia techniques I have been experimenting with. For now the world is being explored through my sketchbook, but I do have a painting that I did 2 years ago that I have decided to incorporate into my world…
Analog writing: Over the last few months I have been practicing Bullet Journaling and using my sketchbook as a messy documentation experiment. It was difficult to type on the computer for some reason. It was probably because I kept backspacing when I didn’t like what I wrote. For my analog writing practice, I decided to switch to a mechanical pencil (less messy than my pen), and I would cross out what I didn’t like as went. This was oddly satisfying to see the work and rework of my thoughts in real time.
I also did this with my sketchbook, but I added a copic sketching marker to my sketching process. It is a technique I learned in graphic design school, but essentially I created silhouettes with the marker and then added pencil lines to define the forms. I got some cool effects when I blended the marker over top of the pencil lines for some extra shading. It’s my new favorite way to sketch now.
2 Hard things this week.
Challenges and difficulties I had to work through.
Analysis Paralysis: I am a master over-thinker. It’s not something I’m particularly proud of, but it is one of my biggest weaknesses. There were many times this week when I just felt overwhelmed by all the possible directions I could go in a given day. This would often lead me to disengage from the actual work, and distract myself with YouTube or Chess.com. Then I would feel the guilt at wasting so much time on things that didn’t actually fulfill my needs or move me toward my goals or who I want to be.
Don’t get me wrong. Those things aren’t bad in and of themselves, but for me it’s how I used them to distract from my overwhelm and procrastinate (yet again).Doubt: The process of building my own world is exciting, but also at the same time very intimidating. My mind was flooded with thoughts of imposter syndrome and inadequacies.
In both of these challenges I have to continuously remind myself that I am human and give myself grace when I fall short (just like Jesus does for me already!). I share these challenges because I want people to know that they aren’t alone.
1 Thing I’m looking forward to.
Dungeons and Dragons and my first attempt at DMing.
My family and I are playing DnD with some friends. We are introducing it to our kids who are very excited. Our first session, went well despite some hiccups on the rules (Its been a minute and I was very rusty when it came to combat). It’s so fun to introduce this type of imaginative play to our kids, and I especially enjoy doing the voices and sound effects as the DM!
Question of the week.
How do you deal with doubt and overwhelm in your work and/or life?
Have a great weekend!
- Stephen