My Sketchquest Entry: The Happiest Man

This is my entry for the Sketchquest contest on Draw A Day communiy, though, I’m showing up late, catching up with the deadline. I had been scrolling through my IG feed today when I stumbled on this photo again: the man they call “the happiest man on the internet,” grinning wide with his little cat perched on his shoulder.. So I thought, why not take this spark of sunshine and let it shine on Hive right?

I didn’t aim for exact likeness too late for that. Instead, I leaned into my own way of drawing: slightly squiggly lines, a touch of storybook, a hint of whimsy and cartoonish vibe. His grin and the cat his quiet companion, and the whole piece felt like a bit of autumn breeze. The light falling just right on his shoulders, the cat’s soft disinterest but comfy looking that somehow makes the joy louder.

So here it is my almost too late, quick but true sketchquest entry. May it bring brightness to Hive, like sunlight sneaking in.

Here I show you some snapshots while I was making this drawing:

The initial sketch done quickly while racing with time. I am not quite happy with it but the cat is full of hope

I could not get the nose, mouth and hair right after making a few edits. Still not satisfied but this must be finished before the deadline.

The colors are true to the reference that is the least I can do now

Struggling hahaha that hair is killing me and now I realized that the eyes are not working for this portrait because my style is a bit on the cartoonish side so they are by nature rounded and could not do much to change them

Some shadows and highlights to give it more interest.

Thank you for reading hope you like my entry to the sketchquest drawing contest