Max Riffner

The Parlor

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Distract to Draw

I’d been home from work for awhile before I decided it was time to draw. I usually want to decompress a bit before sitting back down in front of the computer again. Sometimes I run, sometimes I have a drink.

Tonight though, was rough, and I’m guessing it is because of the page I’ve been working on. Drawing unfamiliar architecture for a large wide panel had me stumped most of the night. I’ve re-drawn it seven times and kept distracting myself with the web and the tv. Frustration is never pleasant.

I remembered suddenly in the latest issue of Draw how Dan Brereton sits down to paint and rough out comps with public radio or a movie, some sort of background noise.

I fixed myself a drink (scotch and water, and only one) and fired up iTunes to the much neglected half of the new Outkast double album, Big Boi’s Speakerboxxx (The Love Below has been in constant rotation in the car deck) and man, drawing went from pain to pleasure pretty much instantly. I banged out a great start to this page, and rocked out to a fantastic album.

Weirdly, I’m feeling nostalgic for rocking out to Megadeth (or Ice-T, can’t remember) and drawing comics at my drafting table in high school. Same sort of feeling, where you suddenly can draw for hours in a zone just with a little bit of music going. I have the same sort of zen-accomplishment right now as I did then.

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