Running...

Clears the dust from the lungs and causes the blood to circulate most ambitiously.
Did you know Thomas Jefferson advocated running a mile a day for health?
A man so ahead of his time.

Black Widow Should Be Cropped

"oh hai, i jus gunna take sip, kay?"

I found this image on Pinterest. I like it for the most part. It's cleavage-eh, clever.  Black Widow being all bad ass, the visual pun of casually flicking Vampire Ant Man away like an annoying mosquito is amusing.

Quick before he starts to sparkle!

But there was something....something I found off about the image. Ah, the composition. It's almost perfect. Almost. But in obligatory :lets cater to sexless males" style they added an unneeded element.

Boobs.

You see, I wouldn't care if the boobs where there if :
1.) they actually fit into the composition and made it stronger. (which they don't)
2.) didn't look like there an after though that looked like the editor said "Hey! moar bewbies!"

"Go read porn will you"

See? it's stronger. The hand becomes the emphasis leading the eye to the whole point to the image. Ant Man trying to suckle Widows sweet life juices. Aside from defying every law of gravity, Natasha's cleavage was little more than wasted space. It interrupted the flow of the eye.
You should always have the view stay focused on your message. Not boobage.

Actually the boobs themselves aren't the problem. There is simply too much Widow to focus on the action at hand. You see, you can still be sexist and objectify women (hell, this one makes it more blatant. Top Cow would be proud)

"oh hai, we think you can't get a date since that is the stereotype of comic reader, fat, pimply, socially awkward, basement dwelling MALE ONLY chuds, so here are some boobs. We understand. We love you"

You are still able to focus on the message of the image AND get your cleavage on.  These were merely cropped, not magnified in anyway. Thus is the importance of good editing. You have to cut out the non-essential for the story. Especially if you are wanting to use it as a cover to get buyers.
Your message needs to be clear and concise. Whereas sex does sell, remember if you want staying power there needs to be more substance.

The Purpose of a Sketchbook

There is this disturbing trend that touts sketchbook pages as finished art. Just google sketchbook and you will see  a ton of images of finished drawings, paintings and mixed media work.
This is not the purpose of a sketchbook.

Granted, there are bits in my sketchbooks that I am ridiculously proud of. But a sketchbook is a work book. You use it to practice, problem solve and frankly give yourself a safe space to create crap.

I have a friend who tears out anything that isn't a resolved, polished drawing. I asked her why, she explained she wants to give people a good impression. She is denying herself the saftey of the sketchbook. She is also denying the people who leaf through her books the delicious process of visual thinking.

I blame museums.

They take sketches from artist and display them. I have no problem with this, EXCEPT they only display the finished "artsy" sketches. This gives the impression that you are supposed to do perfect work all the time. This is simply impossible. For every great work, there are dozens of mediocer-even awful pieces.

For all the artist, whether professional or hobbiest, please keep in mind you are under NO obligation to show anyone your sketchbooks.
And friends, family and connoisseurs, don't be rude and ask- or worse help yourself. It is a private world in those books. If you are invited to glimpse in those worlds consider it a privilage.