It's been about three (maybe four?) years since the original drawing. I'm soo nostalgic right now and also feeling motivated drawing wise. If anyone cares to read, below is my take on each of the three featured pieces. Improvement happens, but I think the good of past art must be acknowledged! Original: this one I still like, despite the old style and lack of proper shapes. There's a certain charm to my older style, I feel. I didn't know how to do backgrounds and make semi-realistic proportions, but I definitely tried my hardest. First Remake: this one was only a year after. I think the jump on style and skill is a total mindblower. Obviously I'm still struggling with backgrounds, but my colour choice has improved. I actually really like the pallet used, so you'll see in the newest remake that I kept that aspect. I made the ultimate choice to open both of Thrasher's eyes. I recall this being because I couldn't draw them closed and have it look just right. My style still has a blobby sort of quality, but I like it still. Second Remake: I think the biggest thing that can be noted here is my growth in background design. There's more dimension and even the tree stump is given more attention. I am absolutely satisfied with how Tarantulahunter came out, and I think I did better using the posing to convey the emotion of the scene, with both bodies slightly angled inwardly with a lean, and the overlap of their faces. I do think I did the best job of drawing the butterfly wing in the previous piece, but I still like how this one came out. Thrasher's eyes look a bit weird but I didn't feel like fixing it. I think my overall biggest criticism for this last piece was that I lost some emotion with the choices made. The expressions seem more generic than expressive. I look to fix this next year.
I am looking forward to making this a tradition. Enjoy a quote taken directly from the rp strand that inspired this: Tarantulahunter was certainly quite embarrassed, though he tried to hide it. "Oh, I know," he agreed confidently, his grinning face warm. "I'm one of th-the prettiest cats in my Clan!" He lifted his head, tilting it away from Thrasherpaw, as if to emphasize his good looks. But, really, the young tom didn't want his friend to see how flustered he was making him. It wasn't right— he was supposed to be the cool one, the untouchable one. How could Thrasherpaw make him feel like this?? Thrasherpaw smirked and got closer tauntingly. He /liked/ seeing Taran uncomfortable, he considered it payback "Oh yes- I can certainly see that for myself." He mewed smoothly, this was the perfect revenge. All those times Taran called him pretty or smart, now, he would get him back for those. "I don't reckon I've /ever/ met a cat prettier than you. Not even my own reflection." [×] Song is Grow by Conan Gray Characters are Thrasherquell (left) and Tarantulahunter (right)