Elon James WhiteGeverifieerd account

I often think my sketches look cooler than my finished pieces. There’s something about my final distillation that takes some of the energy out of the picture. But w/ this pin-up, I was able to maintain, if not amplify, the kinetic energy my sketches have while finalizing inks.https://twitter.com/kilo_favelli/status/1432017462795538438 …

In the time lapse you can see a trick I used for understanding where to put my shadows. I sometimes struggle with my light source during pencils/inks but when coloring? It clicks in my head. So I created a layer and just laid shadows. Then inked where I placed the shadows.

I can't explain it but there's a definite shift between the avengers pinup to the JL pinup. The energy is completely different. There's a feel/mood that comes with the JL pinup that I can't explain. But to me that pinup feels like a shift in my style and a level up.

I just wish the feeling that accompanied it wasn’t my “OH GOD, OH DEAR GOD!” tingle I get in my chest. Why cant it just be a slight tingle in my left pinky toe instead? https://twitter.com/ElfGrove/status/1431667153518751747 …

So all of a sudden a bunch of assumptions I had about myself and my capabilities are being challenged BY EFFING ME. And once I see that something is possible, now I gotta apply the skillset I previously was unaware I had. The idea of “I can’t” gets challenged constantly now.

This piece challenged my entire ethos as an artist. My style is cartoony and minimalist. But A self-portrait rendered strictly with lines? If asked to draw thus 2 mos ago I would’ve just said “I’m so sorry, I can’t do that.” But while I have critiques of this, I effing did it.https://twitter.com/elonjames/status/1430904334133325846 …

Yup. Yup. And yup. Thank Hera I’m not alone in this experience. I’ve been away with non-artists and had no way processing the feelings I was experiencing. I had to get up and walk away from my tablet because my stomach kept flipping.https://twitter.com/theemptypockets/status/1431658492511891461 …

Ok. Y’all understand what I’m talking about. Because I was wondering if I was making up a brand new thing to stress about.https://twitter.com/mistyg/status/1431660736695132165 …

That’s definitely part of it. Things I thought was good recently I’m already raising a brow at. But you know that feeling when you nail a shot? Doesn’t even need color correction. That excitement? Mix that in. And then fear of not reaching your own new benchmark again.https://twitter.com/travestynv/status/1431660418095669248 …

Like when I painted this, I had no expectations. I’m not a painter. I don’t do landscapes. Can’t have expectations of yourself if you’ve never ever done it. But it taught me some shit. Making my brain think in a way it doesn’t normally. But now my next painting…expectations.https://twitter.com/elonjames/status/1429829211905220608 …

What got me to start drawing again & commit to it was basically giving myself a serious talk. “Listen Elon. It’s not about reaching some new level. Just create and be happy w/ that. That’s it. No expectations. Just draw.” And it worked! But if I’m leveling up… Hi expectations.

I know that sounds crazy to some of y’all, that someone can be freaked out because they’re creating what they’ve always wanted to. “Shouldn’t you be happy?” Uh, yes? I think? But if I’m hitting that next level, expectations need to be recalibrated right? Annnnnnd stomach flip.

It is! Thank you very much.https://twitter.com/indeliblefink/status/1431654156368953345 …

Is that it? Is it fear? That if I’ve created work that does the thing I’ve wanted it to do since I was a kid, is it just a fluke? Is it a one time thing? Or did I legitimately figure something out and I’m now just a different artist? And if so, how do I process *that* shit?

And when I look at my owe work & I get that pang of excitement I get from other artists I get freaked out. Because clearly I’m misunderstanding. I can’t possibly be creating work that can give those feelings. But if I am, holy shit. Does that mean all my work needs to do that?