Every year, in the month of March, illustrators and artists globally contribute their skills to robotic musings called the MARCH of ROBOTS. The community was started by Chocolate Soup Studio ( https://chocolatesoopstudio.com/marchofrobots ) the goal being to draw a new robot illustration each day for 31 days.
Motivated
by this drawing challenge, I explored these characters. In doing so I
found certain concepts and narratives take shape. The challenge offered a daily 'prompt' which was the basis of that day's illustration. Seemingly random, I found panels visually and stylistically begin to follow one another. Stories, which most likely were not seen by anyone other than myself, took shape. Habits formed to go back and reuse assets from previous illustrations which reinforced these multi-panel stories. Miniscule nods to previous panels.
March of Robots Drawing Challenge
Expecting
to produce a series of quick thematic scribbles daily, the exercise
unintentionally evolved into narrative panels based around the day's
prompts. In the end looking back days unified into storytelling across multiple panels. Collected here, with the descriptions written for each set, side by side to perform the unintentional narratives.
Outer space panels
The countdown starts... 4, 3, 2, 1... Taking the quadruped out for a stretch. Feet they hardly touch the ground... My feet don't hardly make no sound... Keep it up, keep it up... It's a long way across all of this black. Here I am in my bucket today. In the middle...
Organic technology panels
Unforeseen organic technology symbiosis detected... Wave length located... Organic technology symbiosis photosynthesis achieved... pearl recovery commencing... Boolean search ~ 'Wave length detection' ~ 'experimental power alternatives' ...
Sky panels
ManCompan Inc. panels
Congratulations on your purchase of the ManCompan Inc. ReF13CT24 assistance droid... Bask in the unmatched accuracy, speed and versatility of the ManCompan Inc. ReF13CT24 assistance droid available in numerous configurations...
Build & destroy panels
Some assembly required. R.27/Obotic Model kit. Remote control. Sold separately.
Awakening panels
I need only... reach the sun... "There is a wood, an island locked in ice." (Sanders) Unforeseen organic technology symbiosis detected... Wave length located... crystalline object sample recovered. Warning...error...multiple system online... independent awakening confirmed... Wave length located... Organic technology symbiosis photosynthesis achieved... pearl recovery commencing... Conflagration unlocked. Ignis obtained. Warning...error...multiple system online... independent awakening confirmed... ALERT... ALERT... Multiple wave lengths detected.. Task investigate and recovery.... Boolean search ~ 'Wave length detection' ~ 'experimental power alternatives' ...
In the end
As the month rolled to an end, looking back I came to realize the path of robotic ephemeral left behind. Social media followers wondering, "what was with all the robots?!" (actual quote). This was a challenge I had to take on for no one but myself. Exhausted, and while it might be a long while till I attempt a challenge like this again, I feel refreshed in taking time to flex my fingers and mind.
