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Art Tips From Brass
General | Posted 12 years agoHi FA, here are a few lessons I’ve learned so far about art:
>Reference is an absolute necessity: the danger of telling yourself that you don’t use reference is that you have no control over what you’re actually taking reference from. For example, if you’re drawing a human face with no reference, its really common to have drawn your OWN face. After all, that’s what you’ve done the most research on!
>The same goes for artistic influences- find some. Be 100% aware that you’re going in that direction. It’s great to have a library of people who influence you, because the more influences you draw from, the less people will be able to tell you’re emulating at all.
>Consider researching your influences’ INFLUENCES! Who informed your art-idols’ style? Researching this will give you an opportunity to develop something similar but different than your own idol.
>Don’t try and tell yourself “It’s just a cartoon, I don’t need to study from life”. As an example, you might have studied ‘The Lion King’ over and over, but that means that every big cat you draw will look like Simba, albeit with different hair. If you study the Lion King and REAL big cats, you have a better chance of creating a great character that might FIT into The Lion King, but isn’t bound to it. Plus, you wont get sued as easily.
>You’re not just drawing- you’re designing. Being aware of this forces you to think more as you draw and produces much better results.
>Be aware that art books are not all created equal- it’s surprisingly easy to publish bullsh*t.
>Don’t buy super-specialized books, like “How to Draw Fantasy Creatures”. Fantasy creatures are based on real animals, so buy books on those! Your mental library will be rich and nuanced and you’ll have much more opportunity for creative designs, without ‘design contamination’ from other artists’ solutions.
>Art fundamentals always need to be refreshed. I’d like to think I know tonnes about perspective, but I still go back and see if there’s anything else I can know about it. Being arrogant and thinking you’re too good for fundamentals is a very bad sign.
>The most important piece of advice I have is this: DO NOT BECOME COMPLACENT! If you’re consistently impressed with the art you’re churning out, that’s a bad sign. Never let up on practice an research. You can actually get WORSE over time if you cut yourself slack. If you don’t know where to go from where you are, take a step back and do research on a completely different subject ( I drew my first serious car the other day for example)
That’s all for now, folks. Maybe when my fav art site is working, I’ll post some cool links to get you started on research. In the time being, have one that Fabercastel linked 4 years ago: http://androidarts.com/art_tut.htm
>Reference is an absolute necessity: the danger of telling yourself that you don’t use reference is that you have no control over what you’re actually taking reference from. For example, if you’re drawing a human face with no reference, its really common to have drawn your OWN face. After all, that’s what you’ve done the most research on!
>The same goes for artistic influences- find some. Be 100% aware that you’re going in that direction. It’s great to have a library of people who influence you, because the more influences you draw from, the less people will be able to tell you’re emulating at all.
>Consider researching your influences’ INFLUENCES! Who informed your art-idols’ style? Researching this will give you an opportunity to develop something similar but different than your own idol.
>Don’t try and tell yourself “It’s just a cartoon, I don’t need to study from life”. As an example, you might have studied ‘The Lion King’ over and over, but that means that every big cat you draw will look like Simba, albeit with different hair. If you study the Lion King and REAL big cats, you have a better chance of creating a great character that might FIT into The Lion King, but isn’t bound to it. Plus, you wont get sued as easily.
>You’re not just drawing- you’re designing. Being aware of this forces you to think more as you draw and produces much better results.
>Be aware that art books are not all created equal- it’s surprisingly easy to publish bullsh*t.
>Don’t buy super-specialized books, like “How to Draw Fantasy Creatures”. Fantasy creatures are based on real animals, so buy books on those! Your mental library will be rich and nuanced and you’ll have much more opportunity for creative designs, without ‘design contamination’ from other artists’ solutions.
>Art fundamentals always need to be refreshed. I’d like to think I know tonnes about perspective, but I still go back and see if there’s anything else I can know about it. Being arrogant and thinking you’re too good for fundamentals is a very bad sign.
>The most important piece of advice I have is this: DO NOT BECOME COMPLACENT! If you’re consistently impressed with the art you’re churning out, that’s a bad sign. Never let up on practice an research. You can actually get WORSE over time if you cut yourself slack. If you don’t know where to go from where you are, take a step back and do research on a completely different subject ( I drew my first serious car the other day for example)
That’s all for now, folks. Maybe when my fav art site is working, I’ll post some cool links to get you started on research. In the time being, have one that Fabercastel linked 4 years ago: http://androidarts.com/art_tut.htm
An Anecdote for your Enjoyment
General | Posted 12 years agoA recent exchange between me and one of my roomates ( She's indented. IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN):
Wow, pineapple beef again?
___ "yea, theres pineapple, peppers, beef (list goes on)"
How often do you have it?
___"I cook it, uh, every three days or so"
You're not worried you'll get sick eating the same thing?
___ " no way, its delicious!. its my moms recipe"
No, not 'sick OF', 'sick FROM'- you can get really sick eating the same thing all the time
___"its not always the same thing- sometimes its canned pineapple, sometimes its pineapple on sale cause its about to go bad... I do a grocery run every three or four days and I'm covered :D
- inferred that she cooks this pineapple stuff every thre days and survives off of its leftovers until she cooks it again. I left the subject untouched until I got back to my room, until I decided it would be better to point-blank express my concern like I did with our previous roomate-
Heather, this is the last time I mention it, but out of concern for your health, you should have more variety in your diet.
___" i guess i could add more peppers to it......"
AND SCENE
Wow, pineapple beef again?
___ "yea, theres pineapple, peppers, beef (list goes on)"
How often do you have it?
___"I cook it, uh, every three days or so"
You're not worried you'll get sick eating the same thing?
___ " no way, its delicious!. its my moms recipe"
No, not 'sick OF', 'sick FROM'- you can get really sick eating the same thing all the time
___"its not always the same thing- sometimes its canned pineapple, sometimes its pineapple on sale cause its about to go bad... I do a grocery run every three or four days and I'm covered :D
- inferred that she cooks this pineapple stuff every thre days and survives off of its leftovers until she cooks it again. I left the subject untouched until I got back to my room, until I decided it would be better to point-blank express my concern like I did with our previous roomate-
Heather, this is the last time I mention it, but out of concern for your health, you should have more variety in your diet.
___" i guess i could add more peppers to it......"
AND SCENE
Limited Commission slots open
General | Posted 13 years agoIn one month, I’ll start my job at an animation studio. Yay!
In the meantime, I don’t want to sit still, so I’m offering 5 painted commission slots to YOU.
Since I wont be as active on FA in a month, I’m planning on making these SUPER kickass. As such, the price for one of these starts at 130$. This breaks down to about a solid day of painting. Single character and BG are included. We can negotiate a different price if you'd like to include more.
Please note me if you’re interested.
All the best!
edit: All slots filled
In the meantime, I don’t want to sit still, so I’m offering 5 painted commission slots to YOU.
Since I wont be as active on FA in a month, I’m planning on making these SUPER kickass. As such, the price for one of these starts at 130$. This breaks down to about a solid day of painting. Single character and BG are included. We can negotiate a different price if you'd like to include more.
Please note me if you’re interested.
All the best!
edit: All slots filled
bumpin
General | Posted 15 years agoBumping my easter journal. Have a funny youtube link!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iTsLZFaYIw&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iTsLZFaYIw&feature=related
Happy Easter!
General | Posted 15 years agoHey everyone! First journal wot wot
I don't have alot of time this weekend, cause I'm visiting family out of town soon. But I wanted to wish you all a happy easter, wether you're going to church to pray for Jesus, or collecting bunny eggs ( I'll be doing the latter) Perhaps a pic when I come back :D
I don't have alot of time this weekend, cause I'm visiting family out of town soon. But I wanted to wish you all a happy easter, wether you're going to church to pray for Jesus, or collecting bunny eggs ( I'll be doing the latter) Perhaps a pic when I come back :D
