MistahPete

I took a job a couple of years ago with a Top 100 insurance company, doing their audio/video support. It paid a lot (more than I've ever gotten) and I enjoyed the work, but it was 50 hours a week, most of the time, and I had no time to follow my artistic pursuits. Lately, I've gotten back to some drawing, but I'm a filmmaker at heart, and that just can't be done in off-minutes here and there.

Well, I got laid off on Friday. And that means I've finally got time again to get back to my true love. But it's not something I can do without immersing myself into it, so I've promised myself to watch at least one film a week during this new year. That may not sound like much to you -- I'm sure many of you hit the movies once a week -- but I don't think I've been in a theater to see anything my son didn't choose in most of a decade.

And, this being DA, I should have a graphic art component, too, so I'm creating a portrait of directors as I watch their films. Okay, maybe it won't always be the director of the film I'm watching, but directors that are important to me.

I know I just finished DCember, and I really do have other plans for this year's artistic output, but this seemed too fun to resist. The Marvel version, named in honor of the late writer, editor, and icon Stan Lee. Can't hurt to keep drawing every day, also.

If it appeals to you, check out #stanuarylee on Instagram. There's a list. In fact, now that I think of it, I'll put that list here so I can keep track of it. There's also another list, if you'd prefer to do a Fantastic Four tribute. Which I probably would, because -- White Queen? Cable? Venom? I don't really know these characters... But I started this one and so I'm going to stick with it.

Still using the Post-It notes. That's apparently my thing.

1 - Spider-Man
2 - Kingpin
3 - Black Widow 
4 - Magneto
5 - Daredevil
6 - Cable
7 - Silver Surfer
8 - Wolverine
9 - Hulk
10 - Dr. Doom
11 - Colossus
12 - Rocket & Groot
13 - Punisher
14 - Human Torch
15 - Black Panther
16 - White Queen
17 - Invisible Woman
18 - Venom
19 - Galactus
20 - Winter Soldier
21 - Angel/Archangel
22 - Iron Fist
23 - Cyclops
24 - Elektra
25 - Deadpool
26 - Thor
27 - Dr. Strange
28 - Iron Man
29 - Jean Grey/Phoenix
30 - Cap
31 - The Thing

Finished up my DCember challenge today, and I'm really feeling pretty good about art right now. These two sketch-prompt months (Oct and Dec) have really gotten my groove back. I'm giving thought to a long-form project, although I know I'm not quite ready for it. Maybe that'll be my 2020 goal.

Here's what I see:
Number of Legionnaires -- 2 (funny, I'd planned to do more)
Number of Justice Leaguers -- 13ish
Number of Teen Titans -- all (at least, of the TV variety)
Silver Age icons -- I'm gonna say 5, although you could argue for more
Villains -- 9 or so, depending on how you feel about Etrigan
Females -- 6, and that's something I've been working at... I kind of impressed myself with the women...
Number I like -- most of them, which is pretty good for me, I tend to be hypercritical of my work
Number I REALLY like -- almost half, which pleases me a great deal. I'm getting better.

Anyway, if any of you have been following along, thanks! And may 2019 bring us all peace and prosperity!

I tried DCember a few years back. I didn't stick with it. This time, I'm midway through the month and up-to-date. (I'll admit, I started late and had to double up a few days, but still...)

As an added challenge, I'm doing them all on Post-It Notes, because they're readily available all over the office, and the stickum makes it easy to display on my wall. Thanks, 3M!