"Stinkeye"

Here's an example of the process behind making my weekly full-color feature panel, one specifically rendering a new-to-me, never-before drawn creature. the Alaskan version of a stinkbug. I have come to deeply despise these, moreso than even mosquitoes.

Whenever I sit down to create another Nugget, and the subject matter is of something that I've never drawn before, I have to do some visual research. Typically, depending on the complexity of the object, that may involve a cursory Google Image Search (in itself problematic now), and then I select swatches to use as reference, and prop up a sketchbook under the monitor so as to toggle back & forth, visually sampling for my remix in meatspace.. Sometimes this mosaic of different takes and perspectives can easily be remade in an amalgamation that resembles none of the examples but assimilates aspects of each into my drawing. Ironically this is the exact same process being utilized by Artificial Intelligence when "scraping" the web for images to unethically rip off. The distinction is in the intent and intelligence of the puppetmaster, and is Exhibit A in why humanity is the final, redeeming mark of distinction, the crucial component of creativity. This will tie in with the next post, one that deals directly with AI.