(N)abbyDoodles (Early Access): "NabbyCuddles!" (Patreon)

  Edit: 

• Basic lining and gradient lighting. Need to add proper lighting and color grading
• lighting and color added 

Synopsis/Description: 

Aw, Abby and Nabby are cuddling semetrically!

How cute!

(Please ignore Abby's distressed moans and worried expression. Those should subside momentarily)

The Rant: 

 In which Saunter plays with the symmetry tool in Photoshop! I'm not normally a fan of the symmetry tool and how it is used. More often than not, it creates an uncanny effect if you don't know what you're doing, and usually, for front-facing shots, its better to just hand draw it and incorporate the little imperfections that come from eyeballing it. But in this scenario, it just made more sense to do symmetry and work through the bugs, rather than do everything from scratch.

In regards to the subject, I went with an Abby/Nabby doodle, rather than do anything else. I feel guilty not using something from the suggestion thread, but one of the things I pride myself on is trying to adhere to some sense of professionalism. Not just professionalism in hitting self-imposed schedules and deadlines, but also accuracy to whatever I depict. This is easier with Abby and Nabby because they are my own characters, which means I don't have to spend much time referencing them (if I reference them at all, which I should more). Even characters with whom I have an intimate enough relationship (Rae the Mermaid) or are simplistic enough in design (Khloe Prower, Zetta the cat) that I shouldn't need to reference them take longer to do, because I have to make sure that my interpretation of them reads as an "interpretation of that character" rather than a "character that superficially and coincidentally resembles the original." So, in a pinch, I default to Abby and Nabby, because I know personally, they'll get the least amount of backlash if I mess them up.

Normally, that kind of worry is moot because I have the time to finesse the character, and work with their owner (when getting approval) to make sure I get it right. However, I've been behind as of late (I'm just now getting back at "on schedule") and I need to hit my publication deadlines, or at least, maintain the illusion of hitting my publication deadlines. And Early Access is another publication deadline.  Sure, I could push it back, but SaunterWing is not just a person or intellectual property, but a business, and businesses rely on reliability.  I will never "shit something out" just to hit a deadline, but I am reaching at a point in my career where I can do simpler/cheatsy illustrations and still maintain a level of quality.  And if "necessity is the mother of invention," then "limitation is the mother of creativity!" 

I learned a few things doing this doodle, and I think that is time well spent!

What do you think? Let me know in the comments, your input helps me steer this patreon in the right direction! Thank you for your continued Patronage, and I'll catcha over Yonder!-Saunter!