I've been looking through some of the concept art/illustrations for a story I wrote a few years ago.  It's making me a little sad because I feel that I've lost something somewhere along the line.  My technique has been improving over the years, but something about these old illustrations is better.
  It might be that the passing of years has tinted my perception.  It's all making me realize that technique is completely useless if you don't have a story to tell.  Maybe it's that these illustrations are more sincere, so I feel like they have more magic in them?  
  I have some new developments coming in my life, but I'm going to find some time to write a short story to illustrate.  I really can only make sincere art when I have a story to tell.  

  I've recently been practicing changing viewpoints and perspectives in my drawings to enhance creativity.  I feel like if I have one piece of good advice for new illustrators, it's to think about different ways to represent the same scene.  Imagine that you're a cameraman and you want a different angle on the scene.
  I really love seeing the creativity of artists who think of unconventional viewpoints!  In the sketch below:  I tried drawing a bicycle from directly below and from directly above; I also threw in a sketch of Totoro and the catbus in the rain for fun. 

  I picked up a set of Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolors.  I've had my eye on these for a while and finally decided to pick them up from Kinokuniya in NYC.  I decided on the 18 color set because I personally prefer a limited palette.  They also have smaller and larger color palettes available.
  The colors are bright and almost creamy when you touch the water to them.  I did notice also that they take slightly longer to dry than traditional watercolors.  When the painting dries, it also has a slightly glossy appearance to the surface quality.  The set of colors is really cute and even includes a place on the back of the lid to paint a small color chart.  I'm going to need much more practice with these, but I do like them a lot so far.
  My final opinion is that these seem like a good tool for an advanced artist or illustrator, but not for a beginner.  If you're just starting out, I'd save some money and practice with a cheaper set of watercolors.  All watercolors are pretty similar and these take a delicate hand because they're very creamy and soft.

  I just installed my new front fender with a custom skull and crossbones stencil!  The bike also has a new chain and fuel valve.  If you live in northern NJ and need bike repair, I fully recommend Locomotion Powersports in Mahwah.  They also sell gear and new bikes.  I can't wait to ride more tonight.