How long do you look at a picture before you give it a fav? Do you just know? Do you just rampantly fav everything from a certain artist? what does it take to make you want to fav something? I feel like it's different for every pic I fav. And I don't fav very often. Sometimes, if I want to deconstruct the work (red line it, throw a quick paint job on it for practice, see what techniques I can pull out of it) I just save the pic and don't fav.

What does it take to get a comment? I have to say, a lot of comments I see on here are short and typical revolve around how someone wants to bone said character. But really, what does it take for you to comment on a pic? For me it has to evoke something, some kind of strong response--mainly because I hate it when people dump stupid comments about sexing up a picture on my stuff and so if I'm going to take the time to comment, it's got to be about something I like. A lot. But more so, it has to be a pic without many comments because I'm sure there are artists on here that get upward of 100 comments a day. I have the luxury of reading every comment, but peeps who do this for a living probably don't. So I'm not going to waste my time commenting on a pic that will never get read. Maybe it's just me, I don't want to bother with a comment if I don't think it won't elicit a response.

Your thoughts?

Soooooooo, I was thinking...I have seen a lot of artists offering sketch/ink commissions. I've notice that to get them colored it seems the price takes quite a hike. What if another artist offered to color a piece for half what they charged? Is that a thing? Would that be looked on negatively, like they would be trying to undercut the other artist? Forced collaboration? What if you really like one person's lines but they (like me) don't execute color, or BGs as well. Would it be okay? Would you ask the original artist? Would you have to?

Just a thought...

EDIT:

What about if someone is good at imitating another person's art form? Would that be more acceptable at a lower price tag?

EDIT #2:

What if it was an adoptable? As much as I loathe them, say I didn't like the thing after I "purchased" it and wanted someone to change the colors around? Am I just buying a static concept and thus unable to change something I paid for?

And I just want to say that I'm open to discussion, but not planning on doing any of this stuff. Frankly it's just a weird thought. It goes back to the concept of ownership.

Not trying to start anything, but I have an issue with YCH commissions.

Maybe I'm indignant, but what I think when I see them is massive amounts of laziness. And maybe that's a good business model? But seriously? You finish a sketch and like the pose, so you want to sell it--excuse me, MONETIZE IT. I get it, some people do this as their main source of income, and I'm only churning out 5-15 works in a year, so maybe I don't have room to talk. But let me tell you how I do my commissions, because almost everyone I have been commissioned by, I have tried to make sure that I gave them exactly what they wanted, to the best of my ability. YCH is a half-step from adoptables and I loathe them.

I Get the note. It makes me happy!
I note back saying I will work the commission. (mind you I've only ever turned down one because it was hella sketch)
Commissioner tells ME what THEY want (magic, I know.)
We agree on price.
I deliver sketch (sometimes several fast and loose ones first to get pose and framing, and then let commissioner choose)
We make changes together based on customer recommendations.
I show final sketch.
Any other changes are made, I move onto Inks, which I then request feeback for them.
Payment is made.
Any other changes are made and colors are applied.
Provide flats, get approval.
Add proper level of detail and coloring.
Final product delivered to commissioner. Sometimes I'll even give gifts (little chibis or pixel characters) as thank you.

Repeat at commissioner fancy.

I have had only 1 repeat customer, who honestly, I would draw art for anyway and not expect anything in return because he's that fuckin' cool.

But maybe I'm wrong. Maybe quick turn on original artwork for individual customers is a dinosaur approach?

Let me know if I'm crazy and I'll get a tinfoil hat commissioned directly for my head.

It's so sad...just looking at my last journal, it made me sad. But now that I have some time after work, I'm gonna redouble my efforts to create because you don't know how much time you have to leave a mark.

It has been a while since I put a new journal up. And I'm not real frequent with the art either, I'll admit. But I am on the site, literally every day after work. The thing is: I really only get motivated, typically, when I'm supposed to be doing something else. Like Schoolwork or cleaning or ANYTHING THAT MIGHT BE CONSTRUED AS BEING ADULT.

For example, I SHOULD have been working on something yesterday but I spent afternoon and up until midnight watching all the RWBY series. I'm a fan now. Always been a fan of Monty Oum. Dead Fantasy, Master chief vs Samus all that stuff. RWBY is pretty cool, but I get tired of waiting for fight scenes, but once they show up i'm like DDDAAAAAAMMMMNNNN!

But, I have more time on my hands having been moved from a fast-paced, high-stress position to one that is almost literally the opposite, which is nice.

But why not more art? Video games, mostly.

I'll draw something at least once a week, hate it, save it and put it on the shelf in case I start liking it again. My Manga Studio is ALWAYS OPEN, but I might have the same sketch session open for 3 months.

But RWBY definitely motivated me--not the show as much as the music. That soundtrack is amazing. Kilt mah phone listening to it today at work.

But now I kinda want to look at using Poser--which is under the same family as Manga Studio--Smith Micro. I was super happy with the most recent updates to the program, and I would love to see what poser can do. Anyone had experience with it? Is blender better? Any other programs I should download a trial of and never do anything with because the learning curve is too steep?

Lemme know.

I'm probably behind the times here, but as a closet bronie, I just bought my daughter rainbow dash and the galloping gala dress and will be giving it to her for Christmas. I'm sure she'll love it, but I was disappointed that they didn't have the right shoes. Is that weird? I don't feel like it is, but maybe it is. Also, for what it's worth, these are cheaper and so much better than the stuff that I've seen on Etsy and DA.

But nothing compares to Spike. Who might be the most awesome thing in existence.

Either or, totally stoked to see my daughter's face on Christmas and seriously considering on getting Trixie if they put her out there just for me, because she's magic and she ain't got to explain shit... Also: Probably Rarity.

Reflex

First off, if you just started watching me, welcome! I have more porn in store!

So I've put it in the last few uploads that I got Manga Studio for Christmas and I can say that it is solely the reason why I'm back to drawing. I had just about had it with PSCS2 and trying to get sharp well-controlled lines for inking. Well, MSD4 does that and more. I haven't even begun to explore it as far as comic art goes. I will say that it craps out immediately upon trying to lay down tone. That's fine, though because tone is for paperbacks that need a quick turn-around. So with that being said, I am drawing tons more now. I can finally produce some work that I am satisfied with. Hell, It seems you guys are satisfied with it too. Glad to see it.

I have plenty of work that I could be doing, games I could be playing or other, more nefarious......schemes...but, I am really into my art now that I have a tool that makes it effortless and really provides a beautiful outcome. I'm also playing with my style a little bit to get more mainstream interest, so if you're curious and want some high-grade smut but don't want to pay top dollar for big names, I'm your artist.

Perhaps, if you're interested, a commission might be in order. I have been a commissioned artist since 2006 or so, I guess and I have improved, I feel, quite a bit in that time, and my prices have not changed. So if you want a high-quality, quick turn around on a piece of art, let me know. Send me a note and we can work things out.

I don't offer sketches because of the way I work.
Line art = $20
Flat Color = $25-35 (depending on the level of detail)
Cell Shaded = $40
Full Color = $60

Add $10-20 per character.
Add $10-30 for a background (again, depending on the level of detail)

I typically accept paypal only, but if you have other circumstances, send me a note and we'll see what we can dredge up.

By the by...the by..I also don't have commission "slots." I don't get near enough work to need it, and in these times of fiduciary austerity, even I could stand to make a little bit on the side.

Reflex

Before you read any further, this is not about Chick-fil-a. This isn't even about the Oatmeal and how not to suck at your religion. This is me thinking that there have been a lot of religious things going around lately. Now I'm always one for a good discourse, but I really just wanted to put my thoughts out there, just so I have somewhere to store them and get them out of my head.

First and foremost, I am not a religious person. I am atheist, but not in the OMG science way. I am just lazy, I don't like doing anything for anyone that I don't personally know and faith takes work that I am not willing to spend. My house is not a pit of sin, my life, like all others, is full of ups and downs. I don't blame that on anyone but myself.

What I believe is that 100000000000000000000000 prayers aren't going change a light bulb, that change is affected through the efforts of a person. I believe that I don't care what you believe, I'm not interested in it because it does not change who I think you are.

What I don't like is when people get preachy about religion or not having religion. Moderation is the key. Do good things because you are a good person. But neither should we define a sect of people by the outliers. So saying that Chick-fil-a is bad because they took a stand based on their beliefs is the same as an atheist pouring money into an organization that tries to abolish religion. Does that happen? I don't know, but it's because of those outliers that we are incensed or encouraged because that is what the media picks up on. Chick-fil-a has been anti-gay for a while but it took some fundamental disagreements to bring that to light.

Saying the Oatmeal is good because they(he) lambasted religion is ignorant as well. In many ways it was the same view that Many Christians have of gays--that is to say a glossed over simplification based on preferred viewpoints. I am sure, having been raised in a conservative household that did NOT have a religious background, that gay-bashing is done because people are disgusted by the idea of it and demonize it the same way EVERYONE does over things they have a dislike of. I am a vegetable-hater and I will admit it, but I don't go trying to make legislation that makes it illegal.

The other part here is: Just think about both these situations for a minute (the Oatmeal and Chick-fil-a) and you will realize that they are businesses who thrive on customers to make them that money. And as the saying goes, THERE IS NO BAD ADVERTISING. Best way to get people talking about you is to do something polarizing. Civil Rights is just about the most polarizing thing that America has on its plate. So if you really want to get back at an opposing view point, especially in this day and age, ignore it like a bully because eventually everyone will move on to the next outrage.

I think the bottom line is that we should really just be excellent to each other. Barring that, we shouldn't go out of our way to be dicks--at least not to anyone that we're not friends with.

So I was over at DA and clicking through the main gallery when it hits me: Why do people like Sonic so much that they are willing to make frivolous half-thought-out Mary-sue characters? Tons of them. I grew up with Sonic. I bought a Genesis for the blast processing. I believed in the Saturn and the Dreamcast (hell, I was working at funcoland the day it came out in the states which was 9.9.99 for you younger folks). I was mortified by what they had done to the blue bomber by Sonic and Knuckles. REALLY, you want me to buy a game that I can put my old games into to get some knuckles action in them??? BTW the genesis had some serious identity issues that I stuck with, unfortunately. You could take a genesis and plug a 32X onto it, with S&K with another cart ontop of that and plug it into a SegaCD. O. M. G.

But I don't understand why anyone enjoyed anything past Sonic 3. Sonic adventures and everything after except for maybe the one for the DS was complete and utter shit. But yet people loved it. Was there a nostalgia there that I missed? Chrono Trigger made me nostalgia. Base Wars made me Nostalgia. Sonic made me nausea.

And then to make derivative works out of that??? Man I missed something. In fact, I'd be almost willing to wager, anything with fur or scales that is a main character in a video game sucked after the 3rd iteration...if it made it that far. And that's coming from someone who likes drawing furry characters...

Which, BTW, I think I realized that that one episode from Rescue Rangers when Gadget gets dressed up is what put me over the furry edge.

Anyone else want to share their "moment?"

And I haven't been able to do anything else for days.

I don't care what anyone says, Lydia is my long lost love. She doesn't want my stuff, but will pick up my messes. I was thinking about doing a few short comic strips about my adventures with Lydia. She is hilarious. I get a quest to kill a giant and I'm on my way there, she's trailing behind me. I see a butterfly and OOOOOOOO I gotta catch it! Then there's a deer! Gotta shoot that. Wolf attack!! GRRRRRR....new dungeon! Get that done with.... What was I doing again?





Refleximage

http://www.deviantart.com/#/d478mh9

TL;DR?

This girl is all like "If you ain't a PRO at arts, you can't crit my work." ALSO this gem "PRO = anyone better than me." ORLY? Subjective much?

Before I start, I want to say this: There are two inevitablities of posting your work online: 1) Your work will get stolen. 2) Someone will disparage your efforts. This has the distilled value of 1) I like it. 2) I hate it.

Now back the the meat of my potatoes...

Is this a common theme? It must be something that changes over the level of exposure of the artist. That's probably a hypothesis, but it seems to fit most molds. The more popular a digital artist (for the sake of argument I am defining a digital artist as an artist that provides their work through digital medium) the more immediate feedback you get. The more immediate feedback you get, the more likely it is that you will get feedback (feedback for me, is defined as judging) on your work. This can obviously be negative or positive. But it all comes down to what is negative feedback.

Is it negative because it wasn't phrased helpfully, was it all "YOU SUCK" or was it as suggested in the piece the fact that you don't believe that the audience has the capability to have a more critical eye (or at least a fresher one)? Perhaps your ego is fragile to the critiques of others. You obviously believe that experience is the measuring stick of validity. But what if someone is very experienced in the mechanics and understanding of art. Perhaps that person (unlikely, I know) is so well-versed in their understanding of art (obviously from their perspective) that they can explain what they find both good and bad about a piece in a way that is articulate and accurate, but lets say, for the sake of argument that their field of concentration was different than yours. Maybe they are abstract artists, or photographers. I know that when I went to art school the photographers had to take figure study and color theory and graphic design just like I did (though thankfully I didn't have to take photography because I would not have been able to afford that on top of all the other art supplies). Some of the things that these students did with photos was stunning and spoke volumes and evoked feeling and emotion beyond what even a photo-accurate reproduction in digital mediums could produce, but they couldn't draw for shit. I mean shit. I can't draw for shit, but they could not even draw simple two-point perspective with a ruler (I exaggerate, obviously). Does that mean that they don't know what the human form (or tree, or still life, etc.) look like? Laughable!

You say that only an artist who has suffered greater lengths at the hands of a difficult piece (providing that piece is better [read:judge] than that which you can do) can relate and thus tell you the faults of your ways? So then you are selfish! You're art is for you? Yet you are posting it for the digital world to see? Seems quite the conundrum...is it possible that you are looking only for the "atta boys?" That you want no crits on your work? DA has an option for that--you can gently suggest that you don't want crits, but you can guarantee it via the disable comments option. But we all know that as digital artists we live for the +fav and the +watch...but the comment...ahhhh the high of it all. So therein lies the rub...are you to disable comments for fear of your fragile ego, or brave the commentary to improve?

So is this a "have your cake and eat it too" situation or is this just a matter of me thinking opposite of everyone else again?
Let me know by critiquing my work, but only if you're a PRO.

Reflex

That is all.

I just don't like 110% of what I draw these days. So when I do draw, it's rare to see anything past the first hour of work. I'm feeling low and unmotivated when it comes to drawing. I really want to get something down and lordie knows I've got 4 or five good sketches going but they aren't awesome and I feel like if it isn't awesome, it's not worth finishing.

I also can draw what I want to any more. I don't have the privacy to just draw. I've got people in the house constantly looking over my shoulder. I wonder if there are pressure-sensitive tablet laptops that I could get. Typically I am the most inspired when I am supposed to be doing something else but now that I have so little else I should be doing, I can't find any inspiration.

I used to draw those lily blue comics but I got to where I hated everything about it, up to and including the art. But I think that due to the fact that I don't ever do a good job with backgrounds, and if I do, then coloring them is a chore because I want them to be perfect but I don't have the patience. It would be fun to draw with some folks, maybe do some of those art challenges. I think my art went leaps and bounds when I was drawing the tarot pieces and I kind of want to redo them with what I feel are my improved drawing abilities, but I should really try to do the suits instead. Seems laborious and I would get little satisfaction (or viewership) out of them.

I guess it frustrates me to see people churning out good work on a pretty regular basis and I'm having a tough time getting anything down on "paper."

Don't mind me folks, I'm just retarded.

Reflex

The movie was good. Inspirational. Hard to believe the young girl from Series of Unfortunate Events movie turned into that. It made me feel dirty after I found out. But she's got a set of pipes on her, since she sings two songs on the soundtrack. BTW--AMAZING Soundtrack. They didn't include the song by Cliff Lin from the commercials on it, but I managed to get a hold of that too because it's a really good fit.

Overall, it's probably a movie I will pay to have a copy of that gets put into my travel DVD folder.

Thoughts on the movie?

Reflex

I hate it when my job interferes with my life. So now I have to travel down to the stupidest state in the Union to take a class. Ugh. And so much is left undone. I had pictures to draw (some that might actually have been enjoyed on this site!!!) and video games to play! Homework stuff and things! Nope, it all goes out the window on a last minute thing. The challenges the military comes up with. If it weren't for the whole family stability thing, I'd have quit years ago...but I wouldn't get paid to draw pictures. Well, I probably could if I drew more porn. Maybe that should have been my new years resolution. Well, I didn't bring the WACOM with me and this laptop is vastly underpowered for the task, so I'll just have to settle for six weeks in hell. Here's to out in one piece and hopefully a better person for it.

Blech.

Reflex

So I'm getting into the Cigar scene. I know there are a few cigar furs, one of which I've heard is not worth speaking of or to. Anyone else share this interesting habit? If you do, I'd like to know more. No one I know really cares for them IRL, so I thought I'd get a passing conversation or two from where I can. I started with Perdomo's Lot 23, and just bought a mix bag of mild and mellow smokes which I have in a very nice 25 stogie humidor. There's something awesome about the smell of the ceder mixed with the smell of all these different blends of cigars. I'm excited to try one, but I only smoke them on occasional occasions. I think President's day might be occasional enough, though.


Anyone else out there?

Reflex

It was like totally sketchy and completely unpolished, but it's of someone that is not my character.

Do you want to buy this design? $200 seems reasonable for all the work I put into it, regardless of the fact that I was doing that instead of homework or something...

WTF MANG?

Who buys these things? Stupid stupid stupid. I guess I'm the dumb one for not thinking of it first?

WTF, just WTF...

Reflex

So the first day of the new year and I spend it playin' some ASSBRO. That game has got me hooked, just like the two before it. So Cah-razy! Couple that with Project Legacy? Fuckin' forget it! Who knew that just repetitively clicking Execute would be so addicting?

Anywho...

That's all I got. I'm a giant waste of space.

Reflex

tracing is that sooner or later, someone's going to find out.

When your art isn't consistent over a period of time, it becomes more obvious. I've referenced before and I'm not going to lie, there are some things I don't know how to draw, but complicated angles like above the head are obvious giveaways if everything else you draw is at eye-level. So what is an artist to do?

In the old days they got those wooden maquettes...but now you can find a free 3D model studio thing and just generate your own shit. Which I think is where my next step is going to be. 3D models as reference, so that my work can be a little more dynamic and a little less...

...on the level?

Reflex

Bought a puppy for the family. Tricolor sheltie named Abby. 11 weeks and energetic. Dogs may be an expense, but they're great to have around and this particular puppy has brought everyone in the house out of their sour moods as of late.

Merry Christ, what a mess To me!

Reflex

Just thought I'd see if anyone is as awesome as I am...When I check the new submissions, I immediately click on the invert selection button. Then I click on the button to get them to go away. Then I try to click on one of the submissions, it's typically the most interesting one on that page, but I let my subconscious decide for me. Best way to browse the subs.

Do you have a method? Do you just click on the red borders? Do you just click on the colored ones? Are you as lazy as me and not clear out your watch list when artists start posting pics of themselves or sketches they did in math class on lined paper or adoptables?

What's the method to your madness?

Reflex

Can someone lay out the business plan on that crock 'o shit and still be dead serious about it?

I'm just sayin'...

Reflex

I am tentatively curious to see what Kinect can do. I know my 360 just downloaded the update for XBL to be more kinect centric. I know this peripheral thing that they do. This is like the eyetoy that no one wanted to play with for the PS2 and many of the launch titles look a little chintzy but I have to say that dancing game looks good and the fitness evolved game is pretty decent too. What I really want to see is some better XBLA games that have Kinect in mind. I can see FPS games taking to Kinect, but it won't be as fine tuned as a controller. And I don't want companies re releasing games just to get Kinect to work LOOKING AT YOU SEGA YOU GIANT PIECE OF SHIT!!!

Might just be me. Anyone else curious about it? You buncha furries proally want to get your hands all over the Kinectimals--and I mean that in the worst way. I'd get it for the kids to play, but it looks like it doesn't have any clear goals.

To be fair: I don't think I will be getting it on release date because I want to see what they can do, but I'd like to be able to buy a driving game that feels like I'm driving--I wonder if they'll get the kinks worked out of the sitting mechanism...Kinect will probably fail, it's just a gimmick, but it's sad that they put so much effort into it. Maybe more avatar titles might not be a bad idea...definitely see a golf game in the future--one that might improve my swing. But my mother-in-law put it best when she noted "Isn't the point of playing video games is to sit around and not get up and do anything?"

In other news: Rock Band 3 looks great and I will definitely be getting that for Christmas. Might have to get a mic stand or two though...Hmmm...

TO CRAIGSLIST!!!!

Reflex

But I realized that she always looks like she's ready for Halloween. Guess I'll wait on that.




...But if you want a cool pixel icon, I might be convinced to do a commission. Let's say...$25 for animated, $10 for non animated.




Reflex