My dear little marshmallows, they started out as a doodle during class in my junior year of high school. Over the next four years they would go on to help me grow as an illustrator, only to be abandoned when I grew interested in animation and decided they were just too "simple" to continue working with. Now, almost a year later, I've come to realize two things:
1) After questioning why it was that I never really made too many animations, I understood that I was only convincing myself that I wanted to be an animator. While I still hold an appreciation and interest in animation, I've gone back to what I've always enjoyed: illustration, little comics, and just drawing in general
2) I love these little guys, they always make me smile and I want to bring them back to life
I've picked out some drawings from years past to illustrate how the marshmallows evolved as I grew and learned. A little look into their history so I can introduce something later..
The very first marshmallow drawing, based on the doodle I made in class
(late 2005)
Another comic, they haven't changed much yet, more fluffy and squishy
(early 2006)
"Seasonal Marshmallows" - To this day this remains one of my favorite drawings
(early 2007)
Here I was experimenting using marker, pen, and color pencil
(2007)
One of my first attempts at using layers to color digitally. It took me a while to finish, but I remember being very happy when done
(2007)
Some sketches, trying out clothing and variety. They have pupils and (occasional) hands now!
(2007)
Incomplete comic of athletic marshmallows, would love to finish this someday
(2008)
Sketches, playing around with their shape and form
(2008)
More sketches, the top left was done while watching Letterman one night
(2008)
One of my last marshmallow drawings before the "hiatus"
(early 2009)
And now it's time for the return of the marshmallows! With my decision to start drawing them again I've also set a new personal challenge: to draw a marshmallow each and every day for a year. I've heard of others doing this, in some form or another, and thought it might be fun but was always put off by the apparent difficulty. Now I'm diving headfirst into it, as an apology to my dear little marshmallows.
I figure it's going to be hard to make something each day, but it'll also be fun and can already imagine coming up with new styles and mediums to explore with this challenge. So tomorrow, December 12th, 2009, I'll begin drawing and posting a marshmallow each day for a year.
Hope I can do it =)
(Update - Interested in the REAL history of marshmallows? [
click])
