Questions after the cut
1) Anonymous: hi! so you’re art is incredible and i’ve gone through your
blog and you’ve said that you haven’t always drawn in a realistic style.
How did you stay motivated whenever your art didn’t turn out the way
you wanted during that transition.
Hi anon ^^
Thanks for enjoying my art so much! It’s very kind of you <3
You’ve said that you haven’t always drawn in a realistic style.
Hell no, my friend! Look at my glorious past
xD I don’t care, I have zero shame. Ah…the 1990′s! I was an aspiring
mangaka with zero notion of anatomy (who cares! ^^) and I worshiped
Clamp.
How did you stay motivated whenever your art didn’t turn out the way you wanted during that transition.
I’m
not gonna lie, finding motivation wasn’t always easy you know, because
there was a period where I was desperately stagnating (well, I had the impression to,
at least) and whatever I did, the eyes of my characters were never
right. I mean, they still had this strange manga je-ne-sais-quoi. They
didn’t look realistic at all because they were BIG compared to the rest
of the face, and it put my art in a kind of uncanny valley.
I
guess that what kept me motivated was that I was loosing interest in
manga little by little so I wanted to really get away with this style
and try something new. I was also discovering new artists, new
influences, and all this kept me motivated. I was in awe of the works of
Alan Lee and Brian Froud and I kept on repeating “one day, I’ll draw like them!”.
Ok, it never happened, I’m not Alan Lee’s heiress, I draw like someone
who swallowed a rainbow and puked on their canvas but in the end, that’s
not important, because it’s my style ^^
Also, fan art kept me
motivated. I really wanted to draw my favorite actors, singers, etc,
realistically so I hung in there. It wasn’t easy, I had moments of “BoooOoOuh!! I’ll never get rid of my manga phase” but I got through it. Well, to be more precise, I didn’t really get through
it, manga became a part of my style. I assimilate it. It’s really
visible in my shadows and highlights and in the way I draw hair.
So, long story short: perseverance, new influences and a strong will to draw my favorite singers.
If you are facing the same “problem” (it’s not a really a problem, though), hang in there, you’ll get through it because..
Thanks again anon! Have a great day (better than mine, it’s 32°c in Paris and I have the energy of a marshmallow)
**
2) Anonymous: Any tips on drawing hair ? (Particularly individual strands /
texture, rather than shape) I love your work and the hair always looks
great - especially on the Peggy you just posted ❤️
Hi anon :)
Thanks a lot for your message and sorry about the
late reply, my inbox is full at the moment (I’m not complaining, it’s
just that I have a hard time finding the time to answer everybody’s
messages, anon and non-anon)
How I draw hair? You mean when I draw
a watercolor artwork? Ok, I’m not good at describing my process when it
comes to traditional art because of the vocabulary but I’m gonna try. I
hope you will understand what I mean ^^;;
I start by applying
water on the paper (just water) and I wait a bit (a thin layer of
water, no need to create a pond on the paper! ^^). Then with a big round
brush, I apply big spots of color (plotch!) where I want the hair to be
darker, for instance the roots of the hair or in the case of the Peggy
artwork you were talking about, the base of her pony tail and behind the
ear. I wipe the brush clean with a Kleenex and I spread the color all
over the surface of the hair. It creates a kind of gradient, dark where I
applied the spot of pure color and lighter elsewhere. You can see what I
mean on the pic below:
Then I use a fine brush (the Tamiya and Raphael are
good) and I draw the hair strand by strand. I start with the lighter
tones and then, I add strands here and there with a darker shade. When I
am done with watercolor and color inks (I use Colorex), I add details
with Prismacolor pencils, particularly the white highlights (I sometimes
use white Liquitex acrylic painting when the Prisma isn’t white
enough). Finally, for the last touch and to draw very very thin strands,
I use a black ballpoint pen (BIC Pointe Fine). It doesn’t work for any
color or any type of hair, though. It does wonder on brown (and long)
hair. For instance, Sam Winchester or Agent Carter. For short blond hair
like Jensen’s or Chris Evans’, I use a light brown ballpoint pen (a
Pilot) I found in Japan (I haven’t seen one like this in France but I’m
sure you can find one on the Internet). It’s really great.
Voilà! As you can see, nothing sophisticated.
TLDR: I
work layer after layer. A gradient first, then I draw strand after
strand (lighter color first, then the darker ones). I add details with
Prismacolor pencils (Liquitex painting if necessary) then with ballpoint
pens. Tadaaam! Congrats, your character has now a glorious mane:
I hope it helped! Have a great day anon ^^
**
3) Anonymous: Hi!!! Your art is stunning and a huge inspiration to me,
especially your sketchbook works. What are your pencil shading
techniques because I love the contrast you do because your drawings look
so light and organic. I’ve found that when I try to shade my own
drawings they look too pencil heavy if that makes sense. Thank you so
much
Hi anon
Thanks a lot for your message and for enjoying my sketchbooks so much. ^^
The fact is that I don’t only use pencils, I use pencils AND markers. You can have a look at my drawing supplies in this post.
I think it’s that mix between Copic markers and color pencils that make
that my art doesn’t look “pencil heavy” as you said. Also, the fact
that your works look pencil heavy can depend on the texture of the
paper. I don’t like it when the paper is heavily texturized, that’s why I
really enjoy Moleskine sketchbooks. The paper is thick but also quite
smooth (well the one that I use, there are several types of Moleskines).
As far as my sketches are concerned, I have roughly the same technique in B&W and in color:
B&W: I
draw my construction lines with a mechanical pencil. I shade a bit with
pencils (HB and 2B), then I fill big surfaces with Copic Markers from
the W series (Warm Gray). I shade again with pencils (from 6B to 9B) but
more Copics markers (the darker tones). Then, I add some highlights
with a Prismacolor pencil or with Liquitex white acrylic painting when
the Prismacolor pencil is not enough.
Colors: I draw my
construction lines with a sepia watercolor pencil. I shade a bit with
pencils (it depends on the palette but I love dark purple and sepia),
then I fill big surfaces with Copic Markers (here again it depends on
the palette and the tones of the pictures). I shade again
with pencils and more Copics. Then, like in B&W, I add some
highlights with Prismacolor pencils or with Liquitex white or light
yellow acrylic
painting.
It’s easy…well sort of!
**
4) Anonymous: just curiously, I don’t think that has been asked before, but
what canvas size do you generally use to get such HQ works?? and what
are your brush settings if you use photoshop?? :)
Hi anon :)
It depends on what I’m working on. When it comes to The Life of Bucky Barnes,
I work on a 1000 x 1000 px canvas in 100 dpi and I saturate the colors a
lot (in Photoshop CS6). I use mainly the default brush set but also the
now famous Mar-Ka brush set.
However, when I work on something like The Art Student
for instance, my canvas is bigger, about 2500 x 3500 but I tend to
reduce it at a moment or another (I know it doesn’t make sense but
that’s how I work). For this artwork I also used Painter 12 and
texturized brushes in Photoshop to paint Bucky’s portrait on the wall.
(brush settings >> texture)
I hope I answered your question! Thanks anon ♥
**
5) Anonymous: Do you have any tutorials for how to draw eyes. They are
becoming my biggest problem. I read your recent reply and saw that you
had some troubles switching from manga to realism. that’s exactly what
i’m having problems with right now. the rest of the face looks great,
and then when i try to draw the eyes it’s super anime and just ruins
everything
Hi anon
I don’t understand why you need tuts to draw eyes because eyes are the easiest part, I mean, it’s difficult to fail!
Yeah, I know, I’m a genius.
Otherwise, if you really need help, you can check out…
Tutorial One (By Cataclysm-x)
Tutorial Two
Tutorial Three
Tutorial Four
Tutorial Five
…that will make your transition from manga to realism a bit easier.
Good luck to you! Happy drawing ♥
**
6) very-straight-person:
Hola! I was wondering how you draw your characters eyebrows? Because
eyebrows aren’t really that bold. So i just wana kno ur process in
drawing them?? (no, I’m not asking for make-up tips ahaha) :) thank you!
Hi :)
Honestly, I don’t use a very sophisticated technique! I use brushes from the Mar-ka brush set, these ones to be more precise, they are at the top of the brush stroke list.
I build the texture with the 1st brush, at a 50% opacity, little by
little, stroke by stroke (I add a very light blur sometimes) on one
layer, then I draw the details with the 2nd brush (70%-100% opacity),
also stroke after stroke, on another layer. Then I play with the opacity
of the layers and even with the blending mode of the second layer
(Normal or Multiply) to see what fits best. I add the last details with
the second brush again and boom, it’s done!
If you want, you can also check out this tutorial that is very good for drawing realistic eyebrows. It’s not exactly how I work but it’s a good method too :)
I hope it helped! Thanks a lot for your message ♥
**
7) Anonymous: Hi! Your art is amazing, and I’m really inspired by how
realistic your faces are. I was wondering what your process is when
drawing faces from a reference photo because whenever i try either the
drawing looks really stiff or not like the reference at all. I’ve done
several proportion and anatomy practices, but I guess I struggle going
from the construction to the details. Thank you so much for your help
and all the art you share!
Hi anon!
Thanks a lot for enjoying my art :)
I’m not
gonna do a whole tutorial because honestly I don’t have the time and I
suck at explaining,but my way of working when it comes to drawing
faces is very close to the one of artist Kleinmeli. She did the MOST AWESOME TUTORIAL EVER:
http://kleinmeli.deviantart.com/art/How-To-Draw-A-Portrait-130995523
Honestly,
I wouldn’t have explained it better, particularly the part about how to
get likeness by gauging the distance between several distinct points of
the face (point #5).
My construction lines are a bit different but the principle remains the same:
I guess I struggle going from the construction to the details.
Maybe
you’re trying to go to fast from construction to details? When I start
the face is very “naked”, no eyelashes, no beard, no freckles. You have
to draw what you see, trust your eyes. Observation is primordial.
The details, the likeness come with practice and technique, yes, and
it’s very good you are following tutorials, that’s the right thing to
do, but don’t forget observation.
I hope it helped you a bit! ♥
**
8) Anonymous: Hello :) u’re one of my favorite spn artists! I draw 2,
I’m obviously not as good as u or other famous spn artists, but i think
not exactly terrible either. I have very few followers so nobody ever
gives me feedback. I honestly don’t know if I just suck or people just don’t see my drawings. For example on
deviantart i have only 8 views. It makes me really sad because i put a
lot of effort into what i do but nobody seems to see/like what i do.
What could i do? :(
Hi invisible anon.
My poor anon, you seem to suffer from a small lack of visibility. I can think of 3-4 things so that people can hear of you a bit more:
1) Tag
your work properly. Seriously. Remember that on Tumblr only the 5 first
tags count when it comes to referencing so if you have tags like “So cute” or “ZOMG Jared stop it with your face”,
keep them as your last tags and use popular tags such as Spn,
Supernatural, Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles, etc…or ship names like
wincest or destiel
2) Do challenge on Live Journal.
Honestly, it’s a great way to promote your works and you’ll have fun
too. You don’t have to start with the SpnJ2BB because it’s time
consuming and the fics are long but you also have “mini-bang” or
Challenges/Exchanges like Springfling where your work will be based on one prompt. Even better: In Small Packages,
an exchange that takes place at Xmas time: the comm posts tons of
prompts left by LJ members and you can fill whatever you want, at your
own rhythm, during one month.
There are also Tumblr events sometimes that definitely worth a shot.
3) Post when America is awake (I know, I know, Freedom never sleeps but still).
Honestly,
it counts. Posting when the American side of the fandom snores is like
showing your work on a parking lot at 3:00am, almost nobody cares.
Tumblr likes to bullshit you with text posts like “I’m a night oooooow!! I never sleeeeep!!” but
it’s not true. Even the European side of the fandom is more active when
their neighbors are out of bed. Except during the Eurovision Song
Contest: we have fun on our own.
4) Ask Spn art blogs
if they can check out your work (”check out” not “please reblog my
work”, it sounds a bit pushy). I’m sure they’ll find your work
interesting, reblog some of it and you’ll gain visibility too.
I have very few followers so nobody ever gives me feedback.
Maybe you could ask for feedback? With text posts like
“Guys! I’d genuinely like to hear form you, what you truly think of my
work! I’m curious and it will help me to improve too! I have the anon
function enabled so even if you are shy..don’t hesitate to drop by. If
you just want to say hello, it’s great too!”
It will be the opportunity to know your followers better, say “hi” to your fan base too!
For example on
deviantart i have only 8 views.
Oh come on! Nobody can have only 8 views on DA with Spn fan arts! Once again be sure to tag properly!
u’re one of my favorite spn artists!
Thank you so much for enjoying my works! I hope this post will help you! Don’t give up :)
**
9) Anonymous: when you use a reference for your traditional drawings do you
print them out and mark measurements on them or do you look at them
from a computer screen and gauge the measurements from there?
Hi anon!
No, no, I don’t print the reference pictures, I don’t see the point! I look at the reference photo from my computer screen when I’m sitting at my desk…
…or even better, on my phone when I work in my living room in front
of the TV (I prefer my phone actually because of the way you can really
zoom in). Printing is useless. I look at the pic and I know
instinctively what are the face proportions (well it took years to be
“instinctive” so I’m not sure it’s the right word).
I did a ballpoint pen step by step tutorial, it will maybe help you understand how I work. You can find the master post HERE.
I hope it helped ^^
**
10) Anonymous: after only using traditional media, I’ve been getting into
and trying to learn how to paint digitally and I’ve been feeling very
frustrated for a while now:(I’ve had the program and tablet I need to
get started for many months and I still haven’t finished a painting
because of how dissatisfied and discouraged I am. I feel like I’m
stagnating and haven’t gotten better at all, despite trying to. i need
to work on color and just general painting technique, but I feel almost
too upset to keep trying
My poor anon…
You seem to be in a really bad place. I think you can use some cheering and tutorials!
I still haven’t finished a painting because of how dissatisfied and discouraged I am.
Aren’t
you trying to do “too big, too soon”? I mean, instead of trying to do a
whole painting maybe you should stick for the moment to doodling,
discovering the software, doing color studies and sketches and not go
for the full CG art immediately. It’s not because you are (certainly)
good at traditional medium that the transition is gonna be easy and that
bam! you are gonna have magically the same level when it comes to CG
art.
Or maybe it’s the software itself? Maybe you’re using a
software that isn’t adapted to your needs or your actual skills? I
started with Photoshop CS (now I work in CS6) and I found it great from
the start but I know that for some people, it’s by far Paint Tool SAI
the best because it’s apparently more “beginners friendly”. If you have
the occasion to try the trial version, you should do it, I’m sure it
will help you. There’s The Gimp too.
Anyway, I don’t know if
it’s gonna help you but if you want to know about the basis of CG art,
here are tutorials that will tell you how PS work (assuming you have PS)
but I guess that these basics can be applied to SAI and The Gimp too:
12 Beginner Tutorials for Getting Started With Photoshop
Digital Art for beginners (YouTube)
Digital Painting Tips - Color Blending for beginners
50 Great Photoshop Tutorials for Clever Beginners
Also, as I said above, the best you can do, in addition to reading tutorials, is exploring the
software by yourself, trying a bit everything, seeing what works best
for you when it comes to layers, pen pressure, adjusting brush settings
to your own style of painting. It’s gonna take time and you’ll say more
than once “Oh. I didn’t know I could do that!!”. Keyboard
shortcuts are useful and save time too. Anyway, doodle, have fun and
maybe wait a bit for the “big picture” with a detailed background and 10
characters.
CG art is really great, don’t give up. I’m sure
that if you follow the rights tuts, take your time, relax, it’s gonna be
fine but please don’t give up! You’ve got to start somewhere. Here is
my CG coloring about 9 years ago.
Layers? No idea what it was. Shadows and highlights? The burn tool and
the color dodge were here (Jesuuuus….) and as you can see, I loved
bubbles xDAnyway, don’t worry anon, you’ll get there, I’ll promise. And
no you are not stagnating. It’s an impression. Every new artwork is a
step in the right direction, even an unfinished piece. Frustration is a
part of the process. Unfortunately.Set (realistic) goals (”today, I’m
gonna draw a tree”, “today, I’m gonna do a color study”, “today, I’m
gonna learn about the shape tool”) and it will be fine.*hugs*