Much work, or no work at all?

I spent much of last week drawing the following scene ... called Cute Conscience:

And in an effort to draw something that appeared entirely grounded (instead of just scribbling some lines under a character's feet), I ended up drawing this ... and it's an image I loathe. A technical exercise in many ways (perspective, cross-hatching, drawing a receding hairline ... and so on). It's depressing to look at.

Maybe if the bird was a penguin, the whole thing would have been saved.

Then: last night, minutes before falling asleep, I drew this, called Valley Thriller:

Seriously ... I was at this one for less than five minutes. In my journal, no less (the other was on much, much nicer paper). And I like this one better.

I started out trying to draw a more conventional hairstyle. And then it became the girl of the 80s, in a zombie-pose that you see here. Fun stuff.

Slog, the Pugilistic Turtle

Courtesy of dictionary.com:

"slog (slŏg). Verb.

v. intr.

1) To walk or progress with a slow heavy pace; plod.

2) To work diligently for long hours.

v. tr.

1) To make (one's way) with a slow heavy pace against resistance. 2) To strike with heavy blows."

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Originally intended to be some kind of mad (or benevolent) scientist picture ... perhaps involving chickens, and this is what I ended up with. A pugilistic turtle (do you think he uses the 'hilly shell' defense? HAHAHA ... *ahem*), whose manager has a wild shock of gray hair and a cane that resembles a rooster, in some fashion.

Tutorial on Gleaning Artwork

1) Keep and use a sketchbook (don't tell me you're not creative. Everyone has this capacity).
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2) Select a page and scan it in a large, lossless format. At left, is a page full of stuff I drew while watching Fantagraphics co-founder / co-owner Gary Groth talk about the history of his company. As you can see, I pay attention like nobody else.
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3) Crop and clean. Congratulations! You've salvaged fun, if not fantastic artwork from your random musings!
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A] See that dog at the right? I call this "Dog Fields a Question as a Press Secretary." Why, he looks as keen and interested in reporters' questions as any we've had. Sure, it's not a polished picture, but the cross-hatching was fun, and dogs + jerry-built platform = cute.
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B] And that kid at the left? I call that "Self-portrait Palming a Book." I believe the book is called Chooga. Must be about trains. Or chants. Either way, that kid needs to improve his telekinetic prowess.