I've played tabletop RPGs since I was in third grade and I have no interest in stopping any time soon. I get really into making characters with super-detailed backstories so I can try to lose myself in them as much as possible when we play. Sometimes I get a bit too into it, which can be awkward when something tragic happens in the game. One day I found myself ruminating in character while I was at work.
This drawing was a way to get my brain to focus more on reality and less on the witty retorts my character should have said.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/c0543e2a19d1db6f6fad8ffb324863af/ac64173d-857f-46a4-8c8a-11c5f5284882_rw_1200.png?h=8518fc771e71c612fec4b91e8c4cbe85)
Vector drawing in Adobe Illustrator.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/c0543e2a19d1db6f6fad8ffb324863af/9e6d82e5-8b4f-4060-8240-4732ed1a3d66_rw_1920.png?h=fad9c78b0b6fb9f1262bd4eeb9b61027)
I asked one of my students to take some reference photos of me so I could really nail the "Jessie, it's a GAME. Cut it OUT" facial expression. Thanks Erica.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/c0543e2a19d1db6f6fad8ffb324863af/90253c35-f41d-4b12-ad6f-7d5b4bac53ae_rw_1920.png?h=1119c376e3730a7e86177a01eeb8b49a)
Every single die is a critical failure. I love drawing dice.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/c0543e2a19d1db6f6fad8ffb324863af/ffd53a45-c80e-4679-837f-822e460cc0dd_rw_1920.png?h=ae5a11a28df8929ecc2ff8542345caf6)
Drawing these dots by hand took me half the afternoon to get right. Totally worth it.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/c0543e2a19d1db6f6fad8ffb324863af/2053eb7d-acee-46a8-a4f0-52440d08d63e_rw_1920.png?h=c4ca4321e3e80ac6c21a2dd8ec3dfaa7)
We usually play 4th edition Dungeons and Dragons these days. I did a loose interpretation of the 3rd edition book instead because I wanted to keep that area from looking too busy and I preferred the brown with the other colors in the piece.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/c0543e2a19d1db6f6fad8ffb324863af/3d272a52-ef7a-49fb-8d3e-b9bde5d58ce5_rw_1200.png?h=d2f713062511e38edc71dbf7e3ea9625)
Outline mode.