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Questions for artists and watchers
2 months ago
As I've been drawing over the last four years or so I've found my interest in art growing as time goes on. I'm starting to want to push towards working on creative things more full time some day rather than as just a hobby. Currently I'll just be working on time management to try and push the time I have for art after work closer to full time hours while still improving. I am going also work towards opening for commissions by the end of the year. Aside from that I have some interest in things beyond just commissions but most of those drawings and ideas are just being gathered in some 3 ring binders where I have been organizing my ideas.
I do have a few questions for other artist, watchers or anyone who wanders by.
For Artists
How helpful is practicing different media? I've often considered adding digital art to my routine but I still don't find it as enjoyable as traditional, is it a good learning experience?
Any recommend books or learning experiences? I want to keep improving, and to if possible grow even faster but I'm not sure where to go from here or what the limits of intuitive learning are.
On paper size, is 11x17 worth the cost? I use 8x11 paper currently and have tried a few different kinds, but 11x17 size scanners are somewhat pricey. I could afford one but is it worth it? Does the bigger paper let you get more detail in drawings and larger compositions or is the idea that a larger page would allow that more of a skill issue on my part.
Pencils and pens, I'm always picking up different things to try does anyone have some recommended tools? Currently I am trying out drawing with uni-hi b pencils. The have a nice solid and dark lead that does not crumble or snap and draws smoothly compared to the cheaper things I usually use and that makes me wonder if my choice in budget supplies is limiting?
For Watchers
Do you like sketches and doodles? I only upload a fraction of what I make, I could upload more sketches but I don't know if anyone wants to see them.
Would you like to see more digital art?
Do you prefer only finished works? If so maybe let me know why?
Are you interested in seeing study or process related art? I am planning on doing some proper study in the following months, the process stuff is more like my thumbnail pages and doodles. I'm not sure anyone wants to see this stuff though.
Finally on requests. Would people like me to keep these listed and organized? Currently I am sort of casual about them but will probably need to get organized as I work toward opening commissions.
I do have a few questions for other artist, watchers or anyone who wanders by.
For Artists
How helpful is practicing different media? I've often considered adding digital art to my routine but I still don't find it as enjoyable as traditional, is it a good learning experience?
Any recommend books or learning experiences? I want to keep improving, and to if possible grow even faster but I'm not sure where to go from here or what the limits of intuitive learning are.
On paper size, is 11x17 worth the cost? I use 8x11 paper currently and have tried a few different kinds, but 11x17 size scanners are somewhat pricey. I could afford one but is it worth it? Does the bigger paper let you get more detail in drawings and larger compositions or is the idea that a larger page would allow that more of a skill issue on my part.
Pencils and pens, I'm always picking up different things to try does anyone have some recommended tools? Currently I am trying out drawing with uni-hi b pencils. The have a nice solid and dark lead that does not crumble or snap and draws smoothly compared to the cheaper things I usually use and that makes me wonder if my choice in budget supplies is limiting?
For Watchers
Do you like sketches and doodles? I only upload a fraction of what I make, I could upload more sketches but I don't know if anyone wants to see them.
Would you like to see more digital art?
Do you prefer only finished works? If so maybe let me know why?
Are you interested in seeing study or process related art? I am planning on doing some proper study in the following months, the process stuff is more like my thumbnail pages and doodles. I'm not sure anyone wants to see this stuff though.
Finally on requests. Would people like me to keep these listed and organized? Currently I am sort of casual about them but will probably need to get organized as I work toward opening commissions.
As a watcher… I think your traditional style is awesome, I like digital too but I’ve seen many fantastic traditional artists. And I wouldn’t mind seeing some rougher sketches from time to time as long as it doesn’t completely overtake the finished pieces. I think it’d be interesting to see WIPs and your drawing process, it’s nice to have a sense of anticipation for artworks to be finished.
As for requests, yes, organization is 100% necessary in my honest opinion. I’ve worked with many artists, and the ones that were disorganized were some of the worst experiences I’ve ever had as a commissioner. I’m still battling with a couple who have no sense of time management, and are months over their deadlines. Listing and organization would not only keep you more consistent, but it’d give commissioners peace of mind that their money is going to someone who’s going to deliver properly.
As a watcher, yeah. I like the doodles. But I wouldn't complain for digital stuff, either. Whatever makes you happy. Do it for you, and I promise the majority of your viewers will enjoy it, too.
Also Krita's UI and everything gives me a headache. I've tried out many programs and honestly I stick with the one I know because it will never go away. I bought a license like 5 years ago now and no one, not even the single japanese guy that works on Sai, can take the program from me. Literally have been a Sai user since highschool so it's not surprising.
Anyway, I can't do tangible media to save my life. My best doodles come from idle whiteboard scribbles or notebook drawings with a pen, and that genuinely is frustrating to work with because I make mistakes all of the time with my strokes and have to retry a lot. Since my motor coordination is slipping, digital format is the most important for me since the undo key literally is what makes me able to participate lol
Having found you just recently I love your traditional art style! It would be interesting to see digital as well, but certainly not something mandatory. Also really love the arrow artworks you do!
As for requests, certainly having a list would be nice, and certainly help you when you start the process.
I love getting to see all the amazing things people can make. Sketches, doodles, finished pieces, I enjoy all of it.
I frequently tell my partners that I want to see every piece they make, even if its just doodles on a page ^_^ I'm always excited to see more of it
I've found incorporating digital editing and touch-up into my process to be quite helpful... if something i draw is off proportionally, or wonky in some way, or there's a big smudge on the paper... i can fix it. i can also clean up lines, add additional shading, and highlights that are much clearer and crisper than i can do on paper. So it's been good for me. With that said, I still start all my art on paper and scan it, because i can't really draw digitally, it looks like shit when i've tried. Plus, i just enjoy working with pencil. So for me, my work is a little of both.
I don't find bigger paper to be that much better, and like you said, it's a lot more trouble to scan (when i occasionally have them i scan larger pieces in two parts and then edit them together, it's a lot cheaper than buying a huge scanner xD and i can make it seamless)
Paper makes a big difference for traditional art imo - much more than pencils do. But it also depends what you're trying to do. For details and crispness, a smooth paper is better. But if you like a lot of texture and smudging graphite all over the place, paper with tooth...
I use cardstock, it's not expensive but it's thick and has a fairly good surface. It's not great for ink though, in that case bristol is a lot better. pricy, but better paper.
Have you tried inking before? I prefer felt tip pens, they're nice. it's a fun change of pace from shading once in a while.
I'd love to see more sketches and things! Scraps gallery is good for that. Stuff that you want to share but not clutter your main gallery with.
I think your casual approach to requests is fine, they are requests afterall, not commissions. You don't really owe anyone anything! Though i can understand if people are curious to know if you're planning to do their request, maybe you could post a loose list, and do them as you feel inspired to do them, not necessarily in order or anything.
I do appreciate hearing other's thoughts about paper size, it's always something I wonder about. If I'm drawing things too small or if it's actually a normal size and I just need to get better at drawing small things. Until recently I used cheap printer paper, I've been trying a few types of nicer paper recently and find I have an easier time shading on smoother paper.
I have tried inks, but only seriously with ballpoints so I'm not really sure if that is what most have in mind. Do felt tip pens have a bit of feedback or resistance against the paper? I suppose I can just get a set to try, I think I got familiar with ballpoints fairly well as they still had a certain feel to them while drawing.
But yeah trying some out might be nice!
These are the ones i use -> https://www.dickblick.com/items/pri.....us¤c
A lot of people use these ones -> https://www.dickblick.com/items/sak.....p;currency=usd
They're fine and are pretty similar to the ones i use, but the ink dries more slowly i've found.
I use to use a scanner for alot of my drawings, but sometimes certian colors don't agree with my scanner, a good camera can go a long ways in those situations and for unusually large pieces. If cost of the paper is an issue it can sometimes be cheaper to buy a stack of large paper then cut them to size- which will give you the benifit of having larger sheets of paper for specialty drawings like comic pages and smaller sheets for more typical stuff. If you have a stapler or needle and thread you could even make your own sketchbooks!
As far as tools go, I like to reccomend colorless blenders for colored pencil stuff, really helps in in smoothing things out and helps save the colored pencil a little too.
If you like the look of digital art but prefer traditional tools, you might want to look into alcohol markers and bristol paper, that medium tends to go down very evenly and i've found that they compliment fineliners really well. You can blend them too, but that's a little tricky.
Hope that helps out a little, and as far as practicing with different media goes I highly reccomend trying everything that you can that interests you, it can be alot of fun to experiment and even mix two mediums together!