Art Discussion

[Curry]

Miss Honeyham there's actually a whole topic about art programs and recommendations! I hope you find something that fits your needs :0

[Adrai Thell]

Apologies if anything like this has already been asked, and another apology if this is in the wrong place (where do you put stuff like this?), but I have a question less about technique and more about motivation. All you beautiful digital artists out there - how do you handle keeping your spirits up during the lineart phase? I personally find it the most tedious, and have quite a few images in the works that I think could be great... if I could ever get past the fishing lineart. It's really begun to bug me, especially since in traditional art I find the lineart the funnest part.
Any tips? Should I delete this for being out of place?

[misea]

Apologies if anything like this has already been asked, and another apology if this is in the wrong place (where do you put stuff like this?), but I have a question less about technique and more about motivation. All you beautiful digital artists out there - how do you handle keeping your spirits up during the lineart phase? I personally find it the most tedious, and have quite a few images in the works that I think could be great... if I could ever get past the fishing lineart. It's really begun to bug me, especially since in traditional art I find the lineart the funnest part.
Any tips? Should I delete this for being out of place?

I don't know about other people, but messy lineart in my stuff drives me positively bonkers and I absolutely have to fix it, so... :I But there's a lot of (internal) screaming involved. And angry breaks. And procrastination. Honestly coloring freaks me out more than lineart 'cause with lineart at least I can trace over things, so that's my motivation. Maybe imagine what it looks like with clean lineart? And how nice it'll look? Sorry, that was really unhelpful :< *crawls back under rock*

[Haiz]

Apologies if anything like this has already been asked, and another apology if this is in the wrong place (where do you put stuff like this?), but I have a question less about technique and more about motivation. All you beautiful digital artists out there - how do you handle keeping your spirits up during the lineart phase? I personally find it the most tedious, and have quite a few images in the works that I think could be great... if I could ever get past the fishing lineart. It's really begun to bug me, especially since in traditional art I find the lineart the funnest part.
Any tips? Should I delete this for being out of place?

oh wow I feel you, I don't handle the digital lineart phase very well either. I've gotten much more comfortable with it lately, though, and here are some things I've done/keep doing:

- use the sketch as a lineart YOLO
- tracing - drawing on a layer over a photo or some other art (like muchas and selfies)
- simply nOT CARING about the uncleanliness and just leaving it be
- trying to draw piney and misea style. the piney one melted my brain but it changed something in me
- drawing without a sketch
- trying different thicknesses on the brush, sometimes very thing sometimes very thick (sometimes one feels easier than the other. trying to draw minna style also helped a lot for some reason, because i tried to draw with a much thinner brush than usually)


idk just do a lot of different things and find out what works best for you, i guess! switching things up usually helps

[Piney]

Apologies if anything like this has already been asked, and another apology if this is in the wrong place (where do you put stuff like this?), but I have a question less about technique and more about motivation. All you beautiful digital artists out there - how do you handle keeping your spirits up during the lineart phase? I personally find it the most tedious, and have quite a few images in the works that I think could be great... if I could ever get past the fishing lineart. It's really begun to bug me, especially since in traditional art I find the lineart the funnest part.
Any tips? Should I delete this for being out of place?

I've honestly never had a problem with that because lineart is my favorite part of a drawing, but, if you don't already do it, sketching the thing and then tracing the lines over a photo of the pencil sketch makes things go a lot quicker. It's less tedious (for me) because there're already guidelines to do the lineart over and you don't have to start on a tablet from scratch. (apologies though if you already do this)
And I don't know how you do your lines, but if you normally do your lineart in little sketchy lines/multiple strokes, maybe try making only one stroke for each line - like, if I'm drawing myself on a tablet, for my jawline I do a really quick, one-stroke oval *swoop* and bam, round jawline. ...This probably doesn't work for a lot of people though, it's just how I do it.

[Curry]

Apologies if anything like this has already been asked, and another apology if this is in the wrong place (where do you put stuff like this?), but I have a question less about technique and more about motivation. All you beautiful digital artists out there - how do you handle keeping your spirits up during the lineart phase? I personally find it the most tedious, and have quite a few images in the works that I think could be great... if I could ever get past the fishing lineart. It's really begun to bug me, especially since in traditional art I find the lineart the funnest part.
Any tips? Should I delete this for being out of place?

Lineart is not my faaavorite part, but try and make longer strokes like Piney said - the undo button is your best friend and use it. Also, as (Forum Favorite Lineartist) callipygous said:

[misea]

CALLIPYGOUS' TUTORIAL IS BEST FOLLOW THEIR TUTORIAL

I forgot to mention that getting really pissed off can be really helpful (something I learned from Curry), but gotta be careful with the arms and hands, don't constrict them.

[Curry]

I forgot to mention that getting really pissed off can be really helpful (something I learned from Curry), but gotta be careful with the arms and hands, don't constrict them.

Ehehehe, I forgot about that one time I yelled about being furious(ly inspired) in this thread But yeah, if you're angry, you might actually be more confident in your lines as long as you're not shaking with rage! Then you'll end up with wobbly grandma lines and that can be cool but is also very hard to reproduce. i know because i had to do those types for burton



.......actually would anybody want a Burton tutorial because everybody seems to love my burtons

[mithrysc]

Apologies if anything like this has already been asked, and another apology if this is in the wrong place (where do you put stuff like this?), but I have a question less about technique and more about motivation. All you beautiful digital artists out there - how do you handle keeping your spirits up during the lineart phase? I personally find it the most tedious, and have quite a few images in the works that I think could be great... if I could ever get past the fishing lineart. It's really begun to bug me, especially since in traditional art I find the lineart the funnest part.
Any tips? Should I delete this for being out of place?

Hm. I'm also not too fond of digital lineart. Even though I love inking traditionally, whenever I ink something digitally there is a very high chance I will dislike the results.

Do you dislike it because it's boring, or because the linework doesn't look like you want it to look (or it takes too long to get there)? Those are kind of different things, and I mostly have problems with the latter, but I'm equally unable to give advice for both.

I'm not sure what to do, but things I've done include studying how other artists handled digital linework, switching brush sizes/types (though frankly the latter may not help), and drawing more precise base sketches...and just finishing the thing? Sorry, I know that's not very helpful, but I have a hard time leaving a piece unfinished so when I really start disliking a piece I just try to barrel through and finish the lineart in one sitting. (Coloring is a different matter.) Maybe make a few small pieces to practice digitally inking on, or at the least getting faster at it?

[misea]

.......actually would anybody want a Burton tutorial because everybody seems to love my burtons

BURTON TUTORIAL YES

[Olga Veresk]

Recently Róisín asked me about SSSS insignias tutorial. So I prepared the first one about owl.

Previous tutorial: Nordic Council vignette

This one will be easier than previous, because we'll use less colours, and simple pattern.

How to make glass Owl Insignia

Spoiler: show

We need
For pattern: paper, pencil, eraser, tracing (optional).



For magnet:
— Glass, I used 3,5x4,5 cm triplex crackled glass;
— Glass colour: brown. Blue and gold are optional. As usual, I use the Italian colours Idea Vetro by Maimery.
— Glass contour (outliner): gold.
— Brush №2, better synthetic one.
— Foil.
— Vinyl magnet.

Supporting materials: cotton buds and toothpicks to correct colours and contours. Paper napkins or paper towels.
— Glue "Moment" Crystal by Henkel (or any transparent glue);
— Scissors.

Preparing the glass and creating pattern

Before painting on glass, we need to clean and degrease it. So gently wash the glass with any detergent and wipe dry.

Then put the glass on the paper and draw around it using pencil. 


Owl Insignia Tutorial by Olga Veresk, on Flickr

Then draw the owl. I used owl insignia from comic book (page 387) as a reference. If you are not good at drawing, you can use my pattern and draw the image on the tracing paper; or you can just print it.


Owl Insignia Tutorial (2) by Olga Veresk, on Flickr

Step 1: Contours

Put the glass on your pattern. Take gold contour and begin to draw owl. Let's start with head.


Owl Insignia Tutorial (3) by Olga Veresk, on Flickr

It is important to press the tube evenly and move with the same speed, for smooth and uninterruptible line.


Owl Insignia Tutorial (4) by Olga Veresk, on Flickr

Then the wings.
If the contour line is uneven, fix it using toothpick.


Owl Insignia Tutorial (6) by Olga Veresk, on Flickr

Contour dries about  3-5 minutes. You can speed up the process with a hair dryer. It should look like this:


Owl Insignia Tutorial (6) by Olga Veresk, on Flickr

Step 2: Colours

As the pattern dried, we begin to paint. 


Owl Insignia Tutorial (7) by Olga Veresk, on Flickr

Let’s start with owl’s head. Take the brush, put it in colour and drip it  on the glass.


Owl Insignia Tutorial (8 ) by Olga Veresk, on Flickr

Then gently distribute colour by brush, trying not to touch the contour.


Owl Insignia Tutorial (9) by Olga Veresk, on Flickr


Owl Insignia Tutorial (10) by Olga Veresk, on Flickr

The same for left wing.


Owl Insignia Tutorial (11) by Olga Veresk, on Flickr


Owl Insignia Tutorial (12) by Olga Veresk, on Flickr


Owl Insignia Tutorial (13) by Olga Veresk, on Flickr


Owl Insignia Tutorial (14) by Olga Veresk, on Flickr

And after that right wing.


Owl Insignia Tutorial (15) by Olga Veresk, on Flickr


Owl Insignia Tutorial (16) by Olga Veresk, on Flickr


Owl Insignia Tutorial (17) by Olga Veresk, on Flickr

Colours are completely dry for about 8 hours.

You can draw owl nib using contour while colours are are drying.


Owl Insignia Tutorial (18) by Olga Veresk, on Flickr

Step 3: Foil

Also, you can stick glass on foil while colours are dre drying. (Glass is a fragile thing, therefore it is necessary to stick it on some basis.)

Take a piece of foil (possible food foil) slightly larger than the glass. Apply glue on the glass and gently press glass to the foil.


Owl Insignia Tutorial (19) by Olga Veresk, on Flickr

It dries within 10-15 minutes, and completely — in 24 hours.


Owl Insignia Tutorial (20) by Olga Veresk, on Flickr

Step 4: Background

If you want to leave the glass without background, skip this step.

For the background, we need blue colour.


Owl Insignia Tutorial (21) by Olga Veresk, on Flickr

Drip blue colour on glass and gently distribute it on background.


Owl Insignia Tutorial (22) by Olga Veresk, on Flickr

If you would like less bright and rich hue, use thinner.


Owl Insignia Tutorial (23) by Olga Veresk, on Flickr

Remember: Colour is completely dry in about 8 hours!

Step 5: Fixing mistakes

General mistake is to paint over the contours. You can fix it after the colours dried: just draw contours the second time.


Owl Insignia Tutorial (25) by Olga Veresk, on Flickr


Owl Insignia Tutorial (26) by Olga Veresk, on Flickr


Owl Insignia Tutorial (27) by Olga Veresk, on Flickr

It should look like this:


Owl Insignia Tutorial (28) by Olga Veresk, on Flickr

Step 7: Gold colour

If you do not want to add gold shimmer, then skip this step.

I decided to add some shimmer and added Italian colour Idea Metallici by Maimery, shade Oro ducato. And we'll need thinner.



Let's start with head. Take gold colour and mix with thinner. Then gently distribute colour on glass using brush.


Owl Insignia Tutorial (29) by Olga Veresk, on Flickr

After that right wing.


Owl Insignia Tutorial (30) by Olga Veresk, on Flickr

Then left wing.


Owl Insignia Tutorial (31) by Olga Veresk, on Flickr

You can also add shimmer to background.


Owl Insignia Tutorial (32) by Olga Veresk, on Flickr

I used more thinner and less gold, so the effect was as following:


Owl Insignia Tutorial (33) by Olga Veresk, on Flickr

Result:


Owl Insignia Tutorial (34) by Olga Veresk, on Flickr

Step 8: Golden dots and eyes

While gold colour is drying, you can add golden stars-dots.


Owl Insignia Tutorial (35) by Olga Veresk, on Flickr

It's simple: just make a dot using contour.


Owl Insignia Tutorial (36) by Olga Veresk, on Flickr

The same for the rest.


Owl Insignia Tutorial (37) by Olga Veresk, on Flickr

After that you can draw eyes using contour. Right one...


Owl Insignia Tutorial (38) by Olga Veresk, on Flickr

...and left one.


Owl Insignia Tutorial (39) by Olga Veresk, on Flickr

Step 9: Magnet

Vinyl magnet has an adhesive base. So you just need to unstick the paper layer from the magnet, then put the glass on it and press gently. After that, you can cut off extra magnet with scissors.


Owl Insignia Tutorial (40) by Olga Veresk, on Flickr


Owl Insignia Tutorial (41) by Olga Veresk, on Flickr

That's all =)

Feel free to ask your questions, if any 

[Guardian G.I.]

I have a really weird motivation issue: I usually have plenty of ideas about what to draw, but my internal quality meter always forces me to put them on the backburner: "You're not good enough for that, study more. You're not good enough for that, study more". As a result, I end up being stuck in doing studies and get bored quickly. Then I try to draw something else, not expecting anything extraordinary to come out of it, and the end drawing turns out to be so horrifyingly awful that I get discouraged and pause drawing for a while. Then I go study again, get bored, etc.

Because of that, I'm not drawing as much as I used to. Does anyone have any advice on how to break out of this rut?

[Haiz]

I have a really weird motivation issue: I usually have plenty of ideas about what to draw, but my internal quality meter always forces me to put them on the backburner: "You're not good enough for that, study more. You're not good enough for that, study more". As a result, I end up being stuck in doing studies and get bored quickly. Then I try to draw something else, not expecting anything extraordinary to come out of it, and the end drawing turns out to be so horrifyingly awful that I get discouraged and pause drawing for a while. Then I go study again, get bored, etc.

Because of that, I'm not drawing as much as I used to. Does anyone have any advice on how to break out of this rut?

try drawing your ideas anyway. draw what you feel like/want to draw. maybe it won't turn out the way you want it to, but it's better than not drawing at all!

[Rabbit]

I have a really weird motivation issue: I usually have plenty of ideas about what to draw, but my internal quality meter always forces me to put them on the backburner: "You're not good enough for that, study more. You're not good enough for that, study more". As a result, I end up being stuck in doing studies and get bored quickly. Then I try to draw something else, not expecting anything extraordinary to come out of it, and the end drawing turns out to be so horrifyingly awful that I get discouraged and pause drawing for a while. Then I go study again, get bored, etc.

Because of that, I'm not drawing as much as I used to. Does anyone have any advice on how to break out of this rut?

I have the same problem sometimes :/
Weirdly enough one of the things that helped was switching to doing my practice drawings in ink, no pencil, no sketches whatsoever. It probably doesn't work for everyone, but for me there's a strange sort of liberty in accepting that there will be no fixing whatever you do, and 99 times out of 100 it will fail. Then again my problem was less giving up on drawing and more that I kept fixing and fixing things and refusing to call them ready...

If you want to practice in a less boring way, speed sketches might be worth a try? Pick a subject, set a timer, sketch for (for example) two minutes, then TOSS THE PAPER AND DON'T LOOK AT IT AGAIN, pick another subject, reset your timer, repeat. You can also try to draw the same subject multiple times in a row and compare your "timeline" afterwards.

Another fun way to "practice drawing" is watching artists stream! Seeing firsthand how they create those beautiful things is fun and helpful, and most people love to answer questions too.

[Sc0ut]

I have a really weird motivation issue: I usually have plenty of ideas about what to draw, but my internal quality meter always forces me to put them on the backburner: "You're not good enough for that, study more. You're not good enough for that, study more". As a result, I end up being stuck in doing studies and get bored quickly. Then I try to draw something else, not expecting anything extraordinary to come out of it, and the end drawing turns out to be so horrifyingly awful that I get discouraged and pause drawing for a while. Then I go study again, get bored, etc.

Because of that, I'm not drawing as much as I used to. Does anyone have any advice on how to break out of this rut?

I go through times when I hate everything I draw. When that happens, I start counting all the drawings that suck. The logic behind it is that "one drawing out of 100 must be good, but until I get to 100 I don't get to complain". The number is totally arbitrary, but it works as a reminder that sometimes you just need brute force to break through. Fun fact: I never even got to 50 before getting a drawing I'm happy with (I start over each time this happens).

Also, two more things: do you dislike your studies too? Learn to like them, and show off the best of them! It's still your work, even if it's just an exercise.

And keep your old work, either online or on your computer, so you can look back at it and have solid evidence of your improvement. Sometimes improvement is so gradual that you can't see it, but as long as you draw regularly, you improve. This is a fact.