Look ma, I can Cteno!

Naturally, this isn’t my character. She belongs to the incredibly-talented Slugbox. I suppose you could say this is a WIP though I’m actually not sure if I’m going to color it. It’s not because I don’t like the drawing. I actually love it! It’s just… (confidence waning) I’m really not sure if I CAN. She’s a gorgeous character with a stunning color scheme and if there’s one thing Slugbox excels at, it’s coloring. Cteno is no exception to this. Even without shading, her coloration is… well, I think it may be beyond me. Her cute freckles and spots, gradients leading to full color shifts, even the blending of sharp and soft contrast points… I simply worry that if I try and take on the complexities of the character, I’ll find myself more frustrated than satisfied.

Perhaps I’m just being silly, hesitant to push myself and experiment. Maybe I’m just afraid that I’ll draw the first Cteno that Slugbox doesn’t like (which I’m actually quite certain is impossible). Or, much more likely, I’m trying to hold myself up to impossible standards instead of simply doing everything I can with what I’ve got. I’ve heard many times that it’s foolish to compare your own art with anothers (especially if they are a professional and you are a hobbyist) but it’s hard not to when you’re drawing something of theirs.

Perhaps if I strike up the courage, I’ll give this thing a whack with colors. I expect there will be much cursing. There will be far more undo-ing. There may even be some complete scrapping. Who knows? Even if I try, there’s no saying this drawing will ever see the light of day again… which would really be a pity. She is, without a doubt, my favorite monster girl.

-TB