/ic/ - Artwork/Critique

speaking of book.
I've been piling resources of book I have to read for research. I'm trying to write a manga about traveling and right now I'm trying to research the Silk Road, and ancient rome. It's really fun when you read it for purpose of making your own story but man the time, not enough time. I wish I can just stop time and enjoy things at my own pace.
Any of you guys have recommendation on traveling journey, ancient Rome and china? I still have couple other manga on the side too, I wish there was an all in one resource or some sort so I can just absorb them in one swoop.

can you guys please just take the non manga
related discussion out in another place?

>tfw no one has a crush on me or my shitty artwork

I want to ink and color digitally. Should I use watercolor paper or is there any other kind I should use for inking?

Has there anyone here who "made it" or atleast get to where they are satisfied with that didn't go to art school? Just curious. I saw someone managed to get to the level they wanted within two years while being in Art school, so now I want to study what kind of self-taught method did those people use to achieve their goal.