The Transformation Challenge - Human once again...

'...And now the real tears shall fall.'


Where did you find inspiration for your entry?
As my entry to the transformation challenge I decided to do something very personal. Only recently I was in the grips of terrible depression, an existential crisis (sometimes known as a dark night of the soul.)

*warning very deep thoughts approaching* *you've been warned!*

I felt like a robot, nothing in life seemed natural, everything appeared to be part of some giant unseen clock, nefariously ticking a future full of suffering but with no true meaning.

The cogs in panel one represent the slavery to my biological process, I felt I really had no control in their direction. The star is my future, dark clouds from a factory threaten to blot it out. This is a stage where i felt I had no future or the future became unclear to me, it was a scary time as I always lived with the future planned out. which in it's self is not healthy but the shock of losing it can be rough. The barren landscape represents the condition of my spirit (broken) and the sky is close to midnight (the end). 

Panel two, represents the revolution. The rainbow in the back ground symbolizes this revolution. The possibilities, the undetermined future. I'm breaking free from feeling like a robot, I'm shedding my psychological cocoon. This is where I am right now, almost free in fact. I'm not to sure what caused me to break free but I guess that's the beauty of it. We don't have to try or fight or struggle we simply have to go with the seasons of the mind like the tress in the winter waiting for the springtime. (please forgive the horrendous cliché!)

Lastly, panel three. This is where my transformation ends.. I illustrated my future self undressed here since he has freed himself of his delusions. He is not creating an imaginary self image nor is he seeing himself as a cog in the universe anymore. He's simply a human being, no more, no less. The morning time was chosen for obvious reasons, end of the night, beginning of a new day, possibilities... all that jazz! The crack of dawn is also the most beautiful time of the day. "if your depressed it's because you haven't seen a sunrise in a while"
And that's a tear of joy, of course!

I chose to run with this particular situation for it's ubiquity, I've no doubt many people can share this story. And for those going through it, hang in there. It gets better.

What programs or tools did you use?
Manga studio 5 + Wacom Bamboo fun + tea by the gallon


How long did it take to complete?
1 day more or less.