forum The Artist People Chat
Started by @The-N-U-T-Cracker
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@The-N-U-T-Cracker

Alright, I need some advice.
So, I've been working on this one piece of fanart for quite a long time, I was super happy with the sketch and decided "You know what? I'm proud of this and need practice, what the heck, I'm going to finish this drawing if it freaking kills me!".

…It's nearly been a month since I started the sketch, two weeks since I started coloring, and I've recorded over 21 hours of footage just from the coloring process (to put this into perspective, my artwork usually takes a max of 14 hours to color), yet I've made virtually no progress. Every time I try again it just gets worse, I'm not happy with it even slightly, and I'm contemplating giving up entirely.

I need to finish more drawings if I ever want to improve, and I really can't stand the thought of throwing out all my hard work after spending this much time.
But on the other hand, it would be kinda dumb to spend another 21+ hours coloring until I'm physically sick of looking at this sketch, only to create a picture I'll likely only be proud of for a day (if at all) that most people will look at for a total of 8 seconds.

Should I give up and start a new picture? Keep going just in case? Give up on trying to make it look completely perfect and make do with what I've got? Figure out what's going wrong and then continue working? Block in some colors and call it a day? I'm seriously torn-

Deleted user

Hmmmm what if you show it to us and we give you advice? Personally, Ella, with the level you're at with art, I think it would look great. But it would be really good for you to color it and have that in a folder somewhere for you to look back on.

@The-N-U-T-Cracker

Well, here's the sketch, I posted it already but it's fanart for this song, hence all the bizarre crowded details that are nearly impossible to recognize

(I know I still need to fix the fox's face, I'll do it eventually…)

Here's the sketch with the lighting and stuff planned out

Alright, now that you know what it's supposed to look something like, here's the progress I've made and some of the hideous mistakes I've scrapped…

^This is what I've kept so far, the only thing I'm even remotely happy with though is the kimono (ignore the weird scribbly guidelines)

…And these absolute monstrosities are the reason I'm not making any flipping progress whatsoever.

I think what's throwing me off is the fact that I'm trying to draw an extremely pale skin tone with three different light sources and the two strongest ones coming from behind, so everything's gone completely wack and I hate it with every piece of my existence, I'm honestly embarrassed to show it

How can I fix this? I really could use some help because this is going to kill me…

Deleted user

Hmmmm well if you're trying to color in pale skin, unfortunately the skin is a tad too dark. Though I personally do like the shade of skin a lot. I think the only thing that threw me off was the bright hair and kimono in the picture, and how bright they are. What you seem to be going for is more of a gentle-lit piece, so maybe dim it down with darker colors? Also the fact that some parts of her dress that have highlights and aren't supposed to (by the looks of it?) might also be the problem (like the bits at the bottom don't look like natural folds of clothing but how hair would look in light).

I don't really think I'm really certified at critiquing lighting problems but that's what it looks like. If there are three lighting sources, there's going to be few but very dark places on the body. I would suggest using as many references as possible for lighting.

@Norepinephrinxx

For the face what I would recommend is perhaps adding more highlights to make it appear paler? The shading is beautifully done but in my opinion the shading on the left side of her nose may be a tad too harsh.

I also agree that the kimono and hair may be a bit too vibrant and bright, if you dull it down a little and make it darker the neon lighting that it looks like your trying to get will pop a lot more, I would also maybe give things a bit of a dark blue hue, at night and in the dark colours can get quite distorted and usually appear more blue toned

@Mojack group

It’s not really anything to marvel at, and it isn’t finished, but here’s some concept art for some of the creatures in the wasteland for my story! (One of them, at least)

@Mojack group

I haven’t done any (major) art pieces in a while, but here’s a WIP of one of my scenes from a story I’m working on!

The tall creature is called an Itirin, while the other person is a human. I’m not used to drawing humans at all.

Deleted user

I need emotional help?? Ok so I was working on my first charcoal drawing, and someone I know (who is super cynical btw and never wants anything of mine ever) wants to buy it if he likes the finished thingy???

I’ve been drawing since sixth grade and never in my life have I had someone want to buy something from me

With like

Money?????

(Here it is (there are definitely things wrong with it please just… it’s my process I'm dealing with it I promise):)

Idk how anyone would want it at this state and say, “Yeah I’d pay for that”

The only thing he said was wrong with it was the masculinity of the face (I didn’t have the balls to say that most faces are more masculine than one thinks) and not anything else??? He understood there was more to be done but that’s it?

I’m so confused please help

Deleted user

But I have to ask… why? Your art is good but it’s not close to finish so WHO WOULD WANT SOMETHING UNFINISHED?

@The-N-U-T-Cracker

Today I learned that the usual recommended canvas size for complete digital pictures is around 3,500 pixels…
…The size I've always used for digital art is legit 600 by 600 pixels
That's literally the same as painting an elaborate, detailed scene on a 2 by 2 inch piece of paper
I've been doing this for nearly 3 years
I'm an idiot

Deleted user

Today I learned that the usual recommended canvas size for complete digital pictures is around 3,500 pixels…
…The size I've always used for digital art is legit 600 by 600 pixels
That's literally the same as painting an elaborate, detailed scene on a 2 by 2 inch piece of paper
I've been doing this for nearly 3 years
I'm an idiot

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