For this failure resume, I want to focus mostly on my recent decision to push myself in illustration. I am contemplating pivoting careers (which in itself would make for another conversation worthy of this resume). Last month, I pushed myself to focus on pen illustration. I can work decently in pencil and digital; pen is my least strong medium.

The cover image is for a drawtober illustration for Day 24: Rotting. I decided to illustrate a ship. Overall, the illustration is not my worst work, but I'd like to submit it as a prime example of failure for several reasons:

1. The shading style is inconsistent.

2. The lines for the ship look cartoony due to too thick a pen/outline.

3. The lighting is inconsistent.

4. I was rushed in the execution.

Now, initially I was a bit frustrated by the result, and pen isn't the easiest to correct. However, after reflection, I felt more confident, not necessarily that the drawing was the best but:

1. I pushed myself to try a technique for the sky, and the lighting for the moon does look good.

2. The image is recognizable.

3. I learned how textures work together (or don't).

4. I was rushed, and this is recognizable.

I took these ideas and worked more slowly the next day and the result was the following:

While the image is more simple and does have shortcomings, there are notable improvements, especially in the conrast of light and dark. I took some considerations from the previous example of failure to succeed in a different project.

As I continue drawing nearly daily, I push myself into new techniques (and skillshare courses) to refine my craft and hopefully establish myself as an illustrator. This course, though very brief, really gave me perspective about the idea of failure as process and as part of a result that doesn't mark the end, but rather a step.