Been reading the discussions over at Zero2Illo’s “clubhouse” – about finding one’s style etc. And became increasingly aware of the fact that there is a huge gulf between the kind of work I like and the kind of work I create – and not just a gulf of skill, either. I tend to be practical to a fault; I never have created much art for art’s sake – it’s always for something. Song cards for my kid (many things for my kid) – gifts, decorations. I’ve always complained that I don’t feel I have much to say when confronted with a blank page, but now I’m not so sure that’s true; I think I’m restraining myself far too much when facing that page.

My more honest style/inclinations tend much more towards the darker side of things than, say, the school bus side of things. So while I’ll keep working on the stuff for my kid, I think I’ll also try to induce myself to do more that appeals to me.

So I did this for “Linked” for Illustration Friday. When I first saw the word I thought it’d be an empty well for me – but it only took me four seconds once I sat down to come up with conjoined twins, because I love conjoined twins. So this is pencil, Crayola supermarket watercolors (heh), and some digital editing and I did the hand lettering in Photoshop. As usual, click for larger.