Oh, It's Going Somewhere
Work place humor can be a bit dry, but this week has been important to establish InkTank's work environment for future stories. Not to mention introducing a few extra characters.
I was actually really nervous adding an Asian character to the strip. Aside from Spencer (the black fellow in the Sorry We're Open strip), I realized I tend not to draw a racially diverse crowd. Now, I know Spencer in real life (and he FINALLY grew dreads like I told him to, and he does look great, so there!) so I really didn't have too much of a problem. Hey, it's just Spencer. But I think me general trepidation about drawing women has somewhat transferred over to drawing people of other races.
I think my fear with women I don't make them beautiful and attractive, then it offends women in general. But I know that women come in all sorts of beautiful shapes and sizes. In the same vein, if I draw someone who isn't white, I fear that if I draw the racial characteristics ... too cartoony, then it becomes like one of those horrible racially derogatory cartoons you can find on hate sites and the like. Be it eyes that are too slanted, or a nose too wide (although pretty much everyone in my strips seems to have the "big nose" syndrome) I worried that someone of that race would see it and go "What the hell!?"
But knowing how many of my co-workers are Korean, Indian, Pakistani, Persian, German (uh, big and blond?) and everything in between, I felt it was important enough to at least make the effort to diversify my cartoon workplace and in doing so, challenge myself artistically.
I mean, it's not a huge deal in the grand scheme of things, but these are the inner demons I need to deal with if I hope to grow as an artist. Figuring out my artistic fears and facing them head on.
Next up, tall women with big hips.
Next up, tall women with big hips.
I was actually really nervous adding an Asian character to the strip. Aside from Spencer (the black fellow in the Sorry We're Open strip), I realized I tend not to draw a racially diverse crowd. Now, I know Spencer in real life (and he FINALLY grew dreads like I told him to, and he does look great, so there!) so I really didn't have too much of a problem. Hey, it's just Spencer. But I think me general trepidation about drawing women has somewhat transferred over to drawing people of other races.
I think my fear with women I don't make them beautiful and attractive, then it offends women in general. But I know that women come in all sorts of beautiful shapes and sizes. In the same vein, if I draw someone who isn't white, I fear that if I draw the racial characteristics ... too cartoony, then it becomes like one of those horrible racially derogatory cartoons you can find on hate sites and the like. Be it eyes that are too slanted, or a nose too wide (although pretty much everyone in my strips seems to have the "big nose" syndrome) I worried that someone of that race would see it and go "What the hell!?"
But knowing how many of my co-workers are Korean, Indian, Pakistani, Persian, German (uh, big and blond?) and everything in between, I felt it was important enough to at least make the effort to diversify my cartoon workplace and in doing so, challenge myself artistically.
I mean, it's not a huge deal in the grand scheme of things, but these are the inner demons I need to deal with if I hope to grow as an artist. Figuring out my artistic fears and facing them head on.
Next up, tall women with big hips.
Next up, tall women with big hips.
posted by InkTank at
9:19 AM
2 Comments:
My God! If her face were a teeny bit more round, that would be my mother!
Giant gold hoops(check), mild almond eyes(check), hair in a bun(check), permanent "bah!" expression(check).
If you say she wears a lot of red, that's my mother all over! =)
Being half-Asian myself, I say you are doing great!
Next up, tall women with big hips.
Next up, tall women with big hips.
Tall women with big hips.
Big hips.
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