Chapter 3 page 24
j giar on Feb. 25, 2009
I'll try and explain this so it makes sense…or at least a little sense.
I'm still without my main desktop…my life support. All pages, all artwork are on it. Since posting last week I've managed to get it functional to where I can remove the important files in case of crashing.
And speaking of crashing…that brings me to this.
I'm stepping away from SoulDriver for a while. No excuses..no stories….no half-assed lame reasoning's. I can only sum it up by saying that I suffer from some form of artistic depression. I've become increasingly aware of my shortcomings as an artist. Enough so that I've gotten to a point that any thing I do, any piece I create feels, as I've been describing, mediocre. To describe it better, someone on another site mentioned that to gauge where you're at, compare your work to any artist you may admire. Measure it up and see where your at. Well I've done that and I'm not satisfied where I'm at. This doesn't mean I'm quitting or throwing in the towel. What it means is that I'm going on a quest. To become a better artist, a better storyteller. I will be going back for some classes to help me in areas I feel I lack in. And to pave the way for my future as an artist.
There are pages coming up, that at my current level of abilities will fall short of what I want and what the story deserves. And when it comes down to it it's always about the story.
I'm grateful to those of you that have followed along and unfortunately I can't say when I'll post again. I have no crystal ball or magical way of knowing when I'll reach that point.
So that being said this page will end chapter 3. A fitting end and a premonition of the future.
You can reach me at here myspace.com/chelzo_studio or on http://www.comicspace.com/jgiar/
And a few of you have my email…I'll still drop by here to read some of the wonderful examples of storytelling on here. Until I'm ready to come back and finish this. Thanks to all again. Jim Giar
Senretsu at 2:03AM, Sept. 24, 2015
Goodnight, sweet Prince. Removing from favourites to make room for more modern work...
Senretsu at 5:50AM, Jan. 19, 2012
Posting for return of souldriver. Still got that poster above my monitor O_o
Stig Hemmer at 10:50AM, May 4, 2010
You are a good story teller and a great artist. No art is perfect. Seeing the flaws in your work is important, because that is how you improve. If there is one thing every great artist have in common it is that they are not satisfied with their artwork. But please, you should also see all the things that are _right_ with it too, because that is what keeps you going. Your work is excellent! Please accept that. I hope you are out there somewhere, creating something.
harryq at 10:13AM, March 22, 2010
Wow. I hear ya' brother!
roidvoid at 7:47PM, March 5, 2009
Jim you need to keep this going. or start something new. you]re work is damned good and only seems to be getting better. the only thing I can think of that would help is a little bit more time spent on facial construction. also I think that your page could use an overhaul. the black and red bg might be a little off putting for some people. look at a more modern design for inspiration. keep working man... I think it's worth the time and effort.
armandoB at 10:30AM, Feb. 26, 2009
cool!
Sysli at 10:14AM, Feb. 26, 2009
Heye Jim, it's okay, we all get that feeling at some point if we're serious about what we do. From my point of view you're already great at this, but I know that doesn't really mean anythig if you feel you need improvement, just like the others have said. Oh, and I find it silly to comepare yourself to OTHER artists to measure YOUR improvement, that doesn't make any sense. If you have to compare with anything, compare with your past, then you can see how you've gotten better instead of feeling bad about not being able to do something. I admire quite a few artist, one of them is you by the way, because they can do things I know I'll never be able to. I don't know if that's just me, but I doubt I'll ever get really good at digital art or oil pastels or watercolors (and I have tried all those things by the way. the proof is scattered around in the gallery I have somewhere else on the web under another name). I know some people can make absolutely awesome things with those things, and it's great, I can do other things they can't. If nothing else people seems to like my designs. I hope I don't sound like a selfabsorbed jerk or something like that. I'm just afraid you feel bad about something you really ought not to if that makes any sense. Ahem. Enough. To the page in question: Looks nice Jim. And it brings up a few questions like "who is this master-guy" and "why shouldn't he be informed right now?". It seems Koike is a clever man and I'm sure he has his reasons. And yes! He doesn't belive any random rumor. Sometimes former allies seem far too eager to believe anything they're told about the other if it can help them hate them more. It's good to see somebody who appears to want to find out the truth or at least get the other side of the story. Very good. Hm. I guess that was what I had to say. I'll miss SD a lot while it's gone, but as I've told you many times before: take the time you need. I'll be here when you're back, and I'm pretty sure the others will too. You may not have a million fans, but the ones you have are faithful. And I'll write to you now and then Jim! Don't think I'll let you forget we're out here, patiently waiting for new levels in awesome.
n_y_japlander at 7:23AM, Feb. 26, 2009
I know exactly how you feel. I have an awesome story outlined, wrote, and drew out a story board for it, the outline and writing has been done for almost two years now... Just when I start to draw any pages I feel the art is less than antiquity for the story, and I brush it under the carpet until I get the urge to try it again. I'm almost at that point again even before it gets started. Many of us here admire you not only for your story telling abilities, but for your incredible art! Jim not everyone can do a monochromatic comic, and I would venture less than half of them can pull it off as good as you do! Every single one of us here are our own worse critics, and yet we all sell ourselves short. Please do not sell yourself too short sir! Being our own worse critics makes us perfectionists, and I for one think you might be a little too hard on yourself. WOW, this little pep talk has made me want to work on my story!!! I like how SlideStudios put it... "we will never be as good as those we admire. Otherwise wouldn't admire them." You have established yourself as a kick ass guy, as well as a kick ass artist here, take the time you need to take, for we will all be waiting right here for your return, waiting to compare our stuff to yours!!!
TheMidge28 at 7:09AM, Feb. 26, 2009
I have to concur with SlideStudios, Jim. I understand feeling depressed or unhappy with your work. I have definitely been there. Taking a break was good for me. But when I hear that from you, someone I admire and consider one of the best artists working in the traditional comic format, a part of me wants to push back. Your storytelling is phenominal and the work you have created is one of the best I have read. If its a matter of number of readers and comments then that's about marketing and not your work essentially. I see mediocre work getting bazillion comments and pageviews and scratch my head. But its all about marketing in that regard even if what someone is selling is a bag of crap, which is far from what you have to offer with Souldriver. My hope is that you don't take to long on your "Vision Quest" [80's movie reference :) ]. If you don't feel confident in your own work all the praise and comments from others will not mean anything anyways. in the end, believe in the skills that has been given you.
SlideStudios at 6:35AM, Feb. 26, 2009
Nice page man. and good luck with you journey. One thing I've come to realized is that we will never be as good as those we admire. Otherwise wouldn't admire them. Unless you try to clone them. I think the best advice I ever got was 'a writer writes'. I apply that to art as well. So as long as I draw, i am an artist. I dont have to be painting the mona lisa to be an artist. With that being said, self discovery is always good. Hope you come back a ninja warrior and rock this story out for us.