What a Difference Five Years Makes

Actually, it's only four-and-a-half years, but who's counting?

So, the latest installment of Friday 4Koma took place in a hot spring. While creating the background artwork for that comic, I remembered that the very first Friday 4Koma I ever created that had a more detailed background (Friday 4Koma 第19話) also took place in a hot spring. Interesting...

With that said, I thought it might be a fun thing to compare these hot spring backgrounds from two different Friday 4Komas and see the difference four-and-a-half years can make on one's artistic expression.

Hot Spring Background from Friday 4Koma 第19話Hot Spring Background from Friday 4Koma 第19話

Hot Spring Background from Friday 4Koma 第177話Hot Spring Background from Friday 4Koma 第177話

And while I am still happy with the quality of the first hot spring's background, I’m not too proud to admit that there is definitely a noticeable difference between the pieces' attention to detail.

I wonder how much different my artwork will look four-and-a-half years from now. Hmm...