December 30, 2013

Escaping 2013

While considering how to sum up my artistic year, I realized this sketchy little painting of my character Trilobite Boy fleeing anonymous hands was already doing that.

By Glendon Mellow

Join Our Community of Science Lovers!

This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American

While considering how to sum up my artistic year, I realized this sketchy little painting of my character Trilobite Boy fleeing anonymous hands was already doing that. So I finished it up.

This has been another tough year for me artistically. My output has been low while juggling my full time job, blogging here at Symbiartic, being a parent and husband, completing contracts and occasionally sleeping. We have a second child on the way - imminently! - and yet drawing is the itch I must scratch.

It used to be I would rise early before work to paint or blog: the rest of my day after felt like something personal had already been accomplished and it was fulfilling. Since becoming a parent, it has been harder to find a consistent sleep cycle to allow this. But I'm not giving up. The clawing hands of the clock (hey I should have put clocks up there instead of weapons) are a constant enemy of artists everywhere. Finding ideas isn't an illustrator's problem, it's finding time to execute the ideas.

On supporting science journalism

If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.

The little painting above was created entirely on my iPad, with the exception of © Mellow 2013 in the corner. I used ArtRage on my new Wacom Intuos Creative Stylus, and then filtered with the Halftone app.

The Intuos Stylus (sorry Wacom, I'm not writing that whole whopper of a name out again in this post) is a tremendous tool that allows pressure sensitivity on the iPad, using Bluetooth. I've a got a full review of that little baby queued up for after the holidays.

And so onward.

Cheers for a prosperous 2014 for illustrators, artists and creative people making things that did not exist before. My thanks to Kalliopi and Katie and the Scientific American editors for another tremendous year here on Symbiartic. And a hearty, back-slapping thank you to all of the artists featured this year. Anytime I feel exhausted or wrung out, your creativity inspires me anew.

Cheers!

It’s Time to Stand Up for Science

If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.

I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.

If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.

In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.

There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.

Thank you,

David M. Ewalt, Editor in Chief, Scientific American