#I used to only do traditional art until I got procreate and then I only did pencil sketches

[morrowlegacy]

I finished it!!!

I’m actually so happy with the end result! I think the colors turned out nice and I was pleasantly surprised with the liners I used not smudging! (The black one bled a little, but you can’t even tell!) For my first attempt after a long time of not doing traditional art, I’m super proud of myself and I can’t wait to do it again! Maybe I’ll try a full body next! 💜

One things for certain, I definitely want to save up for new markers because a lot of them were dry and the color for Meredydd’s hair was on its last leg LOL 😂

[abisalli]

I was wondering, because I see your art, it's amazing and you're clearly well taught (either self or by an institution) on digital arts, so I'm curious, what led you to them? how the fuck do you do the thing?

I do traditional only, would say I'm chill since in secondary school I chose visual arts modality, but I can't or don't know how to digitalize my shit, so I'm curious about how you got here

Thanks! I'm self-taught and have learned everything via books and the help of the internet :) I don't remember what specifically led me to digital art. I just always liked how clean it could look and how there's so many different tools you can use within a program!

As for how I got here: my first tablet was a simple wacom tablet (I think it was an intuos one for like 50 bucks). Then I downloaded Paint Tool Sai and watched some YouTube tutorials on how to use it... and then just dicked around for a long time (like using different brushes or which canvas size to use so my computer won't crash, etc.) Basically a lot of trial and error.. A few years ago I switched to an iPad and Procreate and haven't looked back since <3 Digital art is just like traditional art in the sense that you first have to familiarize yourself with the tools and try out a lot of different techniques until you find what works best for you!

also just for fun, here's a comparison of a drawing I did in 2016 (when I first got into digital art) and one from 2024 :)

[rapidhighway]

1 and 26 for the artist ask game!!!

I went to bed last night so hope its okay im only replying now dsvfbgbgrd

1.what medium do you use most (if applicable, what software)?

I use photoshop most of the time, i really really like using this program. However I'm thinking of switching to CSP, or at least trying it out sometime soon. I also use procreate, but I'm not the biggest fan, i think it's just fine

26. what do you physically draw with (pencil and paper, tablet, etc)?

for traditional art i use a ton of stuff, though i guess mostly just pencils, colored pencils, and i got into dip pens this year, too. As for my tablet, for procreate i use an ipad pro, but again, im not a fan. Most of the time I use a wacom intuos m, which was my first drawing tablet and i will use it until the day it dies or i die

Artist Ask Game

[steeklover]

You guys sleep on their friendship too much 😔

Time-laspe (I tried to download the video and attach it to this post but I think it was too big and my computer is tired because it won't download. That is the link, you can watch it if you'd like too, I know I like to watch art time-laspes. It is around fifteen minutes though, I didn't know how to make it any faster so there's your warning)

(Okay so I'm just now realizing that the part of the video where I used actually colors got cut off 😐And I can't even fix it because I've already deleted the clip off my computer and emptied my recycle bin. I'm so upset now, I'm sorry 😭😭I'm not a tech savy person at all)

You don't have to read this if you don't want to, it's more of an artist's note to myself. If you want to know more of my thought process while doing this then you can read it though.

First, I just want to give credit to the base I used!

Second, I used Krita to draw and Canva to put the video together. I've never really used another drawing app/software thing before (I've used Procreate a few times on my sister's IPad but it's not like I'm going to draw anything South Park on there) so I don't really have anything to compare it too. It's free though so... how much better can you get. The only thing I don't like about it so far is that the fill tool kind of sucks but it's not too bad, you just have to go over the edges to get a solid color (at least from my experience). And I've been using Canva for a while now, I've put together a few videos before but not in a while so I was a little rusty. The only thing I don't like about that is that I have to pay for an upgrade if I want to download a long video.

I started trying to draw seriously in April and now it's July so it's been like two months (?). I haven't posted anything since May I think but I've still been drawing a lot, I just haven't finished anything worth posting up until today.

I started out drawing this thinking it was going to be bad. Then about halfway through I thought it might actually turn out alright. Then I finished it and I kind of hate it. I think it would be much better if I practiced shading and textures but I'm too lazy for that, at least for now.

I hardly know anything about art, whether it be digital or traditional. I don't know anatomy, color theory, perspective, none of it. You can see on the time-lapse that I basically traced the base I used, did the faces and clothes and then colored it and that took me ALL DAY! Granted I had breaks like when I made my lunch and ran over to my grandma's house but other than that, I've been working on this piece (along with Stan but I did most of Stan yesterday, I just colored him this morning).

I have mad respect for every single artist out there because this is so hard... but for some reason I want to keep doing it. I know it's going to be super satisfying to look back on my art work from two years ago and see how much I've improved (hopefully I've improved, please tell me I'll improved)

As you can probably tell, I didn't get everything in the time-laspe. Recording the process was so hard, I tried to do it with Stan yesterday but I barely knew what I was doing and I kept getting called by my mom to do stuff so I had to keep pausing and un-pausing so I gave up and tried again today. I think my computer is worn out by working all day because not only have I been drawing on it all day but I have also been editing the video all day. I really like when artists post time-laspes though because it gives me an idea of their process and it's really nice to watch.

But anyway, I ended up giving Jason eyeliner because one) he's metro, two) I headcanon him wearing eyeliner (same thing with Tweek) and three) he needed a little something MORE to him, if that makes sense. I orginally wasn't going to give him eyeliner because I was afraid he would look too much like Tweek but once the picture was done, I decided they wouldn't look too similar. I also gave Tweek and Jason both freckles because for Jason, it's canon and for Tweek, it's my headcanon for him. You probably can't tell that Tweek has freckles because I made them really faint (on purpose) and I like to think he'd only have a few on his cheeks and nose. I gave Jason a lot though because I'm pretty sure that's how it is in the show. Lastly I forgot to color Jason's shirt in so that's everything that's not on the video.

I think the hardest thing for me was the eyes and the clothes. I have a love-hate relationship drawing eyes. I love looking at how different people draw their eyes but when it comes to drawing my own eyes... yikes 😬Also I think it's the facial proportions that might make this seem off, I think I have a bad habit of making the eyes too big but that's what I've been doing ever since I was a little kid so now if I make the eyes small, it just looks off. And again, I didn't do anything shading so it probably makes the picture look flat. Plus I have no idea what I'm doing.

I also usually have a hard time drawing hair but today I had a pretty easy time doing it. I was really surprised. Also another headcanon of mine for Tweek is that he has platinum blonde hair. I love platinum blonde hair and just blonde hair in general and his hair is SO YELLOW, I feel like if he was older than he'd dye it. Also they are both teens in this picture.

Tweek looks really pasty here, I tried to give him pale skin but I didn't mean for it to be THAT pale.

I think that's all I have to say. If you read this and have any tips for me, I'd love to hear them. I'd love to redraw this in a few months or maybe in a year if I decide to keep drawing, I know there's defiently room for improvement.

Despite all the complaining I just did, I don't HATE this picture per say. I really like my art style, it's simple but cute (imo of course). I feel like if I learned more about shading and learn how to draw faces and clothes better than I'd do a lot better. I think Stan was a lot cuter but this is cute too.

Lastly, ignore the two random dots if you find them, I'm too tired to fix this.

Anyway, if you read all of this, I really appreciate you! Have a great day/night! ❤️❤️

[ghostpal]

About/FAQ

About:

My name is Ghost, They/Them(masc), 1996, USA-CST Time zone

Main tags I use :) : A draw, ghost chatter, ccbagt, lunar blast au, Ghost made this, fazzoo au, off book au

:( : cw suggestive, cw threats, cw weapon

Important things you need to keep in mind:

I’m in university and I have a job so I'm wicked swamped and have a weird work schedule a lot of the time. 

I love interacting with folks, I’m just shy.

Some personal things I’m willing to share:

I am vegetarian, autistic, and adhd. I am Queer. I have a degree in 3D animation and visual effects with a focus in graphic design. I have a minor in Grief, Death, and Dying. I am pursuing a degree in accounting. One of my greatest fears is overemphasizing my perceived importance to others.

My special interests:

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Five Nights At Freddy’s: Security Breach Sun and Moon Squishmallows Thanatology My OCs Bluey

Questions:

What drawing supplies do you use?

for traditional art, literally just a walmart sketchbook and a pencil, any pen i have on hand usually. I have a preference for .5mm writing utensils. 

For digital, It depends on the day but i mostly use an ipad and procreate but until i got procreate, i only used medibang. still a big fan! my canvas size is 6x6in, 300 dpi and i mainly use the syrup brush. 

You use weird turns of phrase and language, where are you from?

Its the Autism

I see you talk about your job a lot and mention patients. what do you do?

I deliver food in a hospital.

You’re so social, i can’t believe you’re shy!

OH BUDDY I’m wicked shy pal, i just also have learned that no one gives a FUCK about what i’m doing or sees me as weird as I see me so its totally freeing. also, the worst thing that can happen is someone just doesn’t vibe with me and that’s fine.

Didn’t you run a hetalia blog

hush

Where did x post go?

I probably deleted it. I try to keep this blog tidy so I tend to delete asks, reblogs, and ghost chatter posts after a bit. If it was something super nice, I probably privated it.

Where else can I find you?

Honestly if you search artsyfartsybro just about anywhere, you’ll find me. I have been trying to transition to YouPalGhost though so try that too. I only stream on twitch under YourPalGhost.. My blog i reblog everything to is artsyfartsybro1

Can I Dm you?

I prefer my dms be reserved for mutuals and/or folks 18 and up. I have no issue with kids really but for my own comfort, I try to keep interactions with yall in asks only. If you're a mutual, you can totally ask for my Discord though.

I don’t like that you post x

well i have good news for you: you are responsible for curating your online experiences. just block me and move on.

thanks for reading <3

[kifu]

Heya thank you so much for the art advice earlier! I was wondering if you had any specific suggestions for programs and/or brushes (you know specifically for someone whose only fine art experience has been in pencil and charcoal 😭) .

I’m currently using iArtbook because it’s free. I know Procreate is probably the most popular program but I’m literally -$300+ in my bank account right now, so that isn’t a current option 😅.

However I do believe you can upload brushes to the iArtBook app, honestly I’m not sure, I haven’t tried but you can edit the brushes in a very similar fashion to Adobe Photoshop. So I’m assuming you can also download and upload brushes. I actually really like this program because it has a similar feel to Adobe programs and as a Photographer I’m very experienced with Adobe (I have an Adobe Cloud Account).

In all honesty I’ve never been a good illustrator (since my main focus in my fine arts education was always photography) , but I find the activity meditative and I’m ALWAYS looking to improve.

(Also I was gonna DM you but cant so sorry for the long question 😅)

Yo, it's all good. No apology necessary.

I can only suggest what I know. I've never used Procreate, and I've never even heard of iArtbook. I'm also one of those that absolutely will torrent my art program of choice. And have.

A long, long time ago (like probably thirteen years), I got a copy of Corel (Coral? Idek anymore) free with the purchase of my Wacom bamboo tablet. I didn't know what I was doing yet and I hated it. My laptop hated it. It was very heavy and lagged big time.

I switch to Gimp, which is legally free and open source. I used Gimp for years with zero problems. You can import a lot of Photoshop brushes into Gimp without issue. Compared to Photoshop and Paint Studio, it's incredibly underpowered. Looking back at the art I made, however, I was not poorly off.

From Gimp, wanting more, I then switched to Photoshop CS5. It was incredibly easy to find and install. Personally, I say screw Adobe, since their current model is subscription based. I hate that. I used PS for yearsssssss, up until last year, I believe. It wasn't too heavy for my laptop to handle unless I used too big of a brush. It allowed me to expand my knowledge of digital art programs. It has way more to offer than I'll ever use. But as i mentioned before, the natural art brushes are ... okay, and the blending tool is awful. I learned to NOT ever use the blending tool because of PS.

Throughout time in my PS years, I switched from a Wacom Bamboo tablet to a Huion pen tablet (three different ones) to a Huion Kamvas 16 Pro tablet. With my family's help, I put money towards improving my art by way of hardware, and each tablet became significantly better. A good tablet will help TREMENDOUSLY, but by no means does anyone *need* to splurge on a screen tablet like the Kamvas series. I recommend Huion. It's hard to go wrong with them. In case that ever tickles your fancy.

Like, I'm pulling examples of art I've done with these programs and tablets, specifically unshaded pieces, to show that the software and hardware doesn't necessarily make the piece.

Now, I'm using Clip Studio Paint because it comes with so many native traditional brushes. Again, the company switched or threatened to switch to a subscription pay, so I have no qualms in resorting to circumventing their purchase page.

I will say, I think I love Clip Studio more than I ever did Photoshop. The brushes are just ... perfect.

Like this. This isn't pencil and paper! It's the pencil brush that comes with Clip Studio. It draws JUST like a pencil and I feel like I'm in my natural element when I get to use it.

If you do decide to use PS, or a program that is PS brush compatible, I'll have to find that set of brushes that works similarly to these.

These pictures both used one of the pencil brushes from that set in PS. The horse was painted with a watercolor wash brush; the human with a chalk brush. It's nowhere near as versatile as what can be used in Clip, though.

But I'm sure you could find many brushes through dA and gumroad to use until you find the one that works for you, too!

[ygreczed-3]

The Red Guard and the Snow Angel

Summer Falls desert concept art

Hank and Connor

Gavin and Nines meditating + thunder, snow, fire and wind seal

Gavin and the thunder spirit

More concept arts - traditional art & inking

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5

When they go through the Summer Falls desert, Connor and Nines pass out fairly soon due to their intolerance to fire magic. They only get better at night, when the temperature drops, so they stay awake to watch out while the humans sleep. During the day Hank and Gavin have to take them on their horse/Sumo and walk beside them, even though the intense heat isn't making things easy for them either. They reach a village in an oasis where Connor and Nines get better, and when they realize there's a spring in it, they decide to go and rest a bit as the night arrives.

Nines and Gavin are gone meditating on a less crowded part of the spring.

Gavin : That's stupid… How can this make me stronger than my training ? Nines : Stop talking and focus on your breathing.  Gavin : Grmphh.. Nines : Can you feel the source of magic inside your body ? Gavin : … Yeah. Nines : You have to… establish a connection with it. Show him you don't fear it Gavin : But I fear it. Nines : The war spirit you host is an incredible source of power, and you can believe me, it is as bellicose as you are. It only needs a goal to aim for and you'll be able to channel its energy.  Gavin : … You know I'm your enemy… Why do you help me ? Nines, closed eyes : I know I can compete with you. I'm ready to be challenged. And it's funnier to fight a skilled warrior than a scared little boy. Gavin : … Fucker.

X

Connor and Hank in the hot spring

Connor : I think that's what your hug feels like. Hank : hm ? Connor : The hot water. I think it's what hugs feel like. Hank : You said my hugs... Connor : Did I ? I was just thinking… about how you hug Sumo sometimes. He loves it. Hank : Yeah, this big boy loves cuddles  I admit that. Connor : It must feel good. Hank : What… You've never been hugged before ? Connor : Golems do have… intimate behaviors, of course but it's not… I mean we're… not physically warm, so... (NB : I was thinking golems in this universe would be like vampires, not as freezing as actual snow but still colder than humans) Hank : ...Thought you didn't like heat that much. Connor : Warmth from human's touch is different from fire magic : it feels more… safe, less aggressive. I think I'd like that. Hank : … How do you know that ? Connor : I touched your back to heal it, remember ? Your warmth feels nice. Hank : Yeah okay, you touched me, but you don't know what my hugs feel like ? Maybe you'd hate that. Connor : I wish I could know.

They look at each other, but then Hank looks away and stands up.

Hank : It's late, I'm tired. I'm going back to the inn. Connor seems disappointed, but then Hank keeps going. Hank : You coming ?

When they enter the room they share all together, Nines is already in stasis and Gavin is snoring loudly.

Hank takes Connor's wrist silently, looking at him in the eyes as if tacitly asking for permission. Connor just lets himself be enveloped by wide arms, and rests his cheek on his collar bone.

Connor sighs, closing his eyes as he enjoys that nice bear hug. He feels that warm something in his chest growing in his body, invading his stomach with pleasing flutters. 

Connor : Hank… Hank : Shhh… it would be embarrassing to wake those two idiots up now.

Connor bites his lower lip as he silently reaches for Hank's hand, his skin turning white as he presses gently each of his fingers against Hank's. It's known to be a quite intimate gesture among golems, and the closest human equivalence to it would be a kiss. Connor is aware that it could even be interpreted as indecent given how close their bodies are, and that if Nines was to wake up at that moment he would probably choke on thin air. Of course Hank has no clue about that and just thinks it's funny.

Hank : What, you wanna dance ?

Connor realizes they're holding each other on the left side and touching hands on the right side, and it seems like they're going to waltz. He chuckles from the absurdity of the situation from a human's perspective. 

Connor : I wouldn't know how to. Hank : Good thing, I'm a terrible dancer. Connor : Ahah...hmm, Hank, I like it. Can we stay like this for a moment ? Hank : Sure.

X

One night in the middle of the desert, Gavin is on the watch as Hank sleeps in the tent. Connor is with him, but Nines inexplicably stays around the fire, silent. Gavin is bored out so he just starts the conversation. 

Gavin : I feel like the old man and your stupid brother are getting along. Nines : I have this feeling too. Gavin : Doesn't bother you? Nines : What can I do ? I asked Connor to be careful, but I'm not blind… He's shining with glee whenever Hank is around him. I can't… force him not to feel. Also, I think Hank isn't that bad of a person… for a human. Gavin : Still certain we're the bad guys ? Think about it : you were made to serve us.  You betrayed your creators and let us starve like dogs. Nines : Humans didn't create us. Kamski did, and if he had wanted to, he could have made unthinking, obedient golems. Maybe we were meant to break free. Gavin : Oh yeah, so why can't you even procreate ? Simple answer: you were not designed to be an individual species from the start. You were built with no other purpose in life than to help us survive.  Nines : Didn't that even occur to you that humans did bad things too ? Gavin : We're just trying to survive ! Nines : So we are. Gavin : … So what ? You're saying we're two evils ? Of course we are. But I have to protect my people, you understand that ?

Nines stays silent, exploring the surprisingly genuine glare Gavin throws at him. Of course he understands that. His own despise for humanity is only driven by his deep desire to protect Connor, Marcus, and his people. He looks back at the fire heating them, unconsciously processing how ridiculously similar they are.

And yet, something starts growing in his mind, the irritating sensation his relationship with Gavin has changed from the moment they met, and that he unexpectedly wanted to protect him as well.

Nines : Would you kill me ?

He can't even explain how this sentence even made it out of his throat. He already knows the answer. Gavin stares at him longingly, noticeably surprised by the question. He stays silent as he puts more wood in the fire.

Gavin : If I had to, I probably would. But I… hum… don't want to. Nines : … hm. Gavin : What about you ? Would you kill me ? Nines : I don't know. If lives were at stake, certainly, even if I'd find this decision… regrettable. Gavin : ... Oh wow, is that your way to tell me you like me ? Nines : … Don't set your hopes too high.

Gavin breathes in a laugh and goes back to silence, smiling smugly. 

X

They arrive in Nestlepeek and split in two teams, Hank and Connor go to the center of the town, where Connor hopes to find more precise information about Kamski and where he hides.

Gavin and Nines were supposed to go buy supplies, but as they head to the covered market, they are challenged by a man in the street to defeat his champion in a fight. As Nines realizes it's all for illegal gambling, Gavin accepts and finds himself in a cage, combating a birdman.

He thinks he's got the hang of it but as soon as the birdman starts flying Gavin can't touch him with his sword anymore and becomes vulnerable to his aerial attacks.

Nines : Gavin ! Summon the spirit ! Gavin : No way ! Nines : You'll lose if you don't ! Gavin : I know what I'm doing, alright !? Nines : You obviously don't ! Thunder magic gives you advantageous long throw attacks, you can't win against a flying foe with close combat techniques ! Gavin : I think I killed enough Golems to know how to fight flying foes ! Nines : You bastard…

Nines uses his snow magic to catch the champion in ice and immobilize him.

Owner : What the hell !!! Who did that ?! Nines : I did. I'll replace your champion, open the cage.

The owner is confused first but then he sees the opportunity and accepts. Nines enters the cage and gets ready to fight.

Gavin : … You wanna die ? Told you I could do it. Nines : We've been talking about this fight for ages. It's time to see what you're capable of.

They start fighting and they're pretty even for the first ten minutes. Their fight gathered a lot of gamblers and spectators.

When Nines starts to take advantage, Gavin's eyes suddenly turn bright yellow, and he charges at him : Nines can see the thunder magic halo surrounding him. He parries many strikes but Gavin has gained in speed and ferocity. Soon enough, Gavin throws him to one extremity of the cage, and as the crowd around them is screaming in excitement, Gavin holds up his dagger. He's trembling, electricity forming around his hand. 

Nines can make eye contact but somehow, Gavin isn't answering his glare.

Nines : Gavin- You hear me ?

Gavin doesn't say anything, and Nines is sure he's gonna die when the human warrior shoots down his dagger… only to hit one of the cage's bars just behind him. Gavin closes his eyes, and opens them, showing blue-green orbs again, and he straightens up, breathless.

The crowd boos them as Gavin takes a step back and drops the other dagger. He asks the owner to open the cage and leaves the place, Nines following him, still out of breath as well.

Nines : Gavin !

Gavin stops, letting Nines get closer, until they face each other again.

Nines : You did it. You mastered the spirit… Do you realize that ? Gavin : I could have killed you, then everyone around me. That's what the spirit wanted to do… Do you realize that ? Nines : But you didn't. With a bit more training-... Gavin : I almost killed you, Nines, for fuck's  sake ! Nines : … So what ? Thought you were ready to. Gavin : Listen, this beast wanted you dead, everyone dead so bad… How can I… How can I use this power when I know how dangerous and unstable it is? Nines : … But you stopped it, right ? You can control it. Gavin : You fucker, if it wasn't for you, I know I couldn't have stopped it. I would have killed all those strangers, I know that, and I'm not… I'm not a murderer. Nines : … What do you mean, for me ? Gavin : Drop it. I need some air, don't follow me.

X

Hank and Connor enter the library, Connor is looking for the archived events-records to see if Kamski came into this village (which is most likely given it's the first one you can find after the desert)

It appears that the local people can fly so the library is very high, and most scales don't even reach the top of the bookshelves.

Hank : How the hell can we reach the archives ? Connor : Wait a minute, I'll go there and take some volumes with me.

Connor spreads his wings, that widen to support his weight as he takes off to the highest point of the library. Hank is impressed by how graceful Connor looks in the air. When the golem comes back with a consequential pile of old, handwritten books, he's just there, mouth open in amazement.

Connor : Here we go… the last 10 years of history in this village… Ready to pull an all-nighter ?

Hank doesn't reply.

Connor : Hank ? Hank : You're beautiful.

Connor blinks once, his lips slightly parted from the surprise, his eyes conveying nothing else than confusion and yet, low-key content.

Connor: ..I'm sorry ? Hank : When you fly I mean… that's impressive… and beautiful. Connor : Huh… Thank you, I guess ? Anyway hum… let's… let's find a table… Hank : “Thank you” ? But do you even realize how beautiful you are ? Connor : I was created to meet some human ideal. Why would I be proud of something that isn't my doing ? Hank : Ah, don't be so modest.  Connor : … you know, I think I find humans more attractive than Golems. Each one of you is unique, and I love everything you call “flaws”.

Hank laughs halfheartedly at his last line.

Hank : You don't make sense, kid.

X

They read the archives until it's dark outside. Hank can't help but yawn as Connor lights the candles to keep reading.

Connor : You can go back to the inn, Gavin must be there already, and Nines can take over. Hank : Nah, I'm good. Connor : Hm… Hank : You okay ? You look… worried. Connor sighs : … What if we can't find Kamski ? What if… I was wrong, what if we had to go back to Detroit and Jericho with just nothing ? I don't want to return to a situation where I'll have to fight you… I just can't.  Hank : … Yeah, I understand that. I don't think I can remain a Red Guard after what we've been through… After I got to know you. Connor : If we were to fail… nothing will never be the same again. Without you.

Hank just looks at Connor with sharp eyes, as if he's got the urge to say something. At this point Hank knows he's falling for the Golem, but of course, he won't say anything, because he's sure it's only one sided, Connor is so young and handsome he can't possibly feel the same.

Actually the dark haired golem is totally in love with the man, but again, he thinks Hank can't reciprocate his feelings since he's probably into women (after all he used to have a wife), and definitely not into Golems anyways. It just feels so unfair to both of them to consider going back to their normal life when they just want to stay with the other so bad. They just wish they could stay together and run away in some romantic and lovesick lunacy. Again, they won't tell each other about it.

[mysticsparklewings]

One Birthday

---------- Happy Birthday to me! 🎂🎉

As a little thank you all for the birthday wishes—I missed doing a birthday drawing last year, so I was determined to make up for it this time! ✨ 

⭐️ And this year, I managed a time lapse of the art, too! ⭐️

TL;DR: The cake is based on my favorite combo (red velvet & chocolate buttercream), & Alice’s dress comes from a Polly Pocket set released many years ago; One I was sad to realize I never had as a kid, since Alice in Wonderland (1951) is my favorite Disney movie. 😆

⭐️ Like My Art and Want to see more of it? Here's All My Links! ⭐️

----------

I was absolutely determined to get a birthday drawing done this year since I missed out last year (partly because I was working on Drawn like a Magnet, partly extraneous reasons I talked about in the 2021 Art Summary) but I had already grown attached to the tradition only two years in. Unfortunately for me, I didn't have any super strong ideas and looking through potential Shopkin or Num Nom designs to draw (as I did in 2019 and 2020) didn't give me any, so I really came down to the wire on time in making this one. 😅 I was up until roughly 5:30 this morning polishing off details. Likewise, this definitely looks different from what you'd call my "normal style" even though that still varies pretty wildly with me. Since it took me until about like midnight last night to even think of an idea I genuinely wanted to run with, I had to make some quick style decisions if I still wanted the art to be relatively quick and easy, and not take until very late at night today to post it. So I opted for a more fluid sketch-inspired style with a sepia tone for a little extra ambiance--Something I likely wouldn't even have considered and might not've been possible (at least not as a "quick and easy" option) if it weren't for Procreate. Yes, I can't stop singing Procreate's praises lately. I can't help it. 😆 It definitely does have a few flaws/things I think are missing, but the everything else is so nice and easy to use! Anyway. The style more or less dropped into my head after I finally figured out my subject. I knew from the very beginning I wanted to do as I have in years' past where I get a cake involved so I can show off my personal favorite flavor combination of red velvet cake and chocolate [buttercream] frosting—which yes, I will be having IRL later 😉—but when I eventually stumbled upon the thought of drawing the iconic Unbirthday Cake from the 1951 Alice in Wonderland, (As was arguably inevitable since it is my favorite Disney movie)...it felt kinda wrong to do just the cake. Already, it's the unbirthday cake...Just changing the colors didn't feel like enough to "separate" it from that idea. And so my brain wandered over to an idea I've been keeping "on the shelf." Who remembers Polly Pocket? More specifically, the early 2000s version with rubber clothes? Well, I was pretty fond of those as a kid and had several Disney Princess sets. I was reminded of this and ended up browsing around on Google for information about the Cinderella set I owned (as it turns out, it was an earlier iteration that, while officially licensed, wasn't quite as nice quality as most of the later Disney Polly-Pockets that got released) via a conversation over in the Sparklers' Club, and while I was scrolling I discovered there was an Alice in Wonderland set that escaped my grasp. Albeit, it would appear after some more research this set was only ever sold at the Disney Parks. [I haven't as of yet been able to find a confirmed date though, so timing might play a role, too.] Aside from very obviously catching my attention because of the AiW nut I am, I also found this set curious (ha) because of the extra dresses included. The Queen of Hearts dress makes sense in a way, but the other three are totally new-to-Alice as far as I'm aware, and I'd love to know why those specific dresses were chosen. The purple one appears to be a nightgown (especially given it's the only dress without a pair of matching shoes) and the pink one reminds me a little of Cinderella's pink dress before her step-sisters rip it to shreds, or maybe Ariel's pink dress but less so. Beyond those basic observations, it's difficult to place rhyme or reason to the new clothes. Suffice to say, I found this fascinating and made a mental note in my head that it might be fun and interesting to draw Alice in these dresses sometime. Technically, that time is now for the aqua dress, but I'm still keeping that idea pinned in the back of my mind because I'd still like to draw the other dresses..And maybe draw this one again in a more "normal" style for me instead of this quickly-done one. But yes, the aqua dress was the one additional thing I was looking for to feel like I'd at least sort-of separate the "un" from this birthday drawing. 😆 I don't know if this will make sense to anyone else, but in my mind it works because the cake colors have been "shifted" in a way; The pink darkened to red, the white darkened a bit to a pale brown. In a similar way, Alice's dress is similar to the one we know, but not quite. It's sort of how a lot of things in Wonderland are "shifted" from what we know in the real world. You could also argue it makes sense that Alice would have a special dress for her actual birthday (as little girls not uncommonly do) and perhaps that was part of the intention behind this and the pink dress--Their colors do match the unbirthday cake, after all. 😜 I did toy with the idea of shifting the other colors on the cake for a bit, but after playing with the Hue slider, I decided they still looked best in the original palette, just with the saturation and brightness turned up a little. And I think that's fitting since Alice's hair and skin and so on are all the same, it's just her clothes that've changed. (Except for the cake plate, I did think it looked better as a pale pink than the normal pale blue, but that's a pretty small thing.) To that end, once I actually had a decent idea of where I was going with this thing, it was actually fairly quickly to sketch up. I spent more time just trying to piece together an idea and looking for the right reference images than anything else. And then of course, once I had the sketch this particular style moved arguably even quicker since I didn't have to spend quite as long as I normally might have futzing with the lines to get them smooth and clean and straight. This time around my focus was more so on just making sure the looseness of the lines felt at least somewhat consistent throughout since it is so different from how I'd normally handle them. Coloring was the easy part, since I didn't have to be precise or even worry about shading that much. And that was completely intentional--I didn't want to spend ages agonizing over the colors and shadows, trying to get every last pixel properly covered, etc. When the meat of the drawing was done (and I half-forgot to show her sleeves are glittery as they are on the real Polly Pocket version--fortunately I remembered before I finished!) I simply had to add something to that background to make it a bit more lively. Technically, in the movie, we don't get bright lights and colors sparking from the candle until after Alice blows it out, so I suppose here we'll have to pretend it's confetti instead, but that is naturally where I got the idea and I like how the colors ended up popped on the brownish background. 💥 And as one final touch, I decided to quote the very beginning of the Unbirthday Song along the top. At the beginning, the Mad Hatter and March Hare are explaining to Alice as follows: Mad Hatter: Now, statistics prove, prove that you've one birthday March Hare: Imagine, just one birthday every year Mad Hatter: Ah, but there are three hundred and sixty-four unbirthdays! March Hare: Precisely why we're gathered here to cheer Granted, I didn't really have room to write out "birthday" and had to shorten it to "day" (and even then I still had less space than I initially thought 😅) but hopefully, the idea is clear enough anyhow. Once again, I feel like this needs to serve as a reminder for me that not every art piece has to be some big complicated thing. Sometimes simple is better! And I'm really pleased with how the whole thing turned out considering it is so much simpler than what I'm used to and I had to pull it together a lot faster than I really wanted. 🥰 So I'll leave you all now with this for today--I'm off to celebrate, myself. 😉 Thank you again to anyone that's sent me well wishes; it really means a lot and I can't put into words just how much I appreciate it! You all add a little extra sparkle to my day, whether it's my birthday or not. 💖

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Artwork © me, MysticSparkleWings

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⭐️ Like My Art and Want to see more of it? Here's All My Links! ⭐️

[loubatas-art]

Sorry for the lack of activity lately - unfortunately my computer is, once again, undergoing repairs This time it was 100% my fault : I brought an unclosed liquid container to my desk and Murphy's Law applied Thankfully the keyboard is the only thing that died, but since it's a laptop I can't just change the keyboard myself, so. Until it's repaired, I am, once again, unable to use my computer to draw And in the middle of a heatwave, I can't exactly do traditional art, not with the shutters closed almost all day

Thankfully, my birthday was at the beginning of the month and I got myself a neat little toy

My original intent was to use it when I'm travelling & visiting family so I don't have to haul my computer + drawing tablet which are both pretty big and heavy, but turns out it's also useful when my computer needs maintenant XD I still need to get used to it, but you can expect some sketches in the near future

I'd also like to write some reviews for the apps I'm using to draw (Infinite Painter, Ibis Paint X, SketchBook...) because Ipad & Procreate supremacy means there's little resources for artists who draw on Android, so I'm trying all the ones I can to see which one is the best

[lazyvoyager]

hello, i love you and your work! do you happen to have any tips for folks who are just getting started with both procreate and digital art in general?

Oh! Well I’d probably start with saying digital art isn’t really any different than traditional art, just a little more versatile (and easy to clean up.) So don’t let a switch to digital art freak you out if you’re really only used to holding a pencil~

Second, learning to draw on a glass screen does feel a little funny at first. I’d probably start simple. Pick a simple pen or pencil brush and just do some sketching, don’t worry about line quality until you’ve got your sea legs.👍

Third, gesture short cuts!!! Look them up! Procreate has a ton of simple things to make digital art streamlined and natural feeling~ Two finger tap to undo. Three finger tap to redo. Slide three fingers down to cut/copy/paste. Draw an arc and hold the end for a second, now you’ve got a perfect curve! Learning these things is a life saver!

Try things! Mess with it! Have fun! Don’t be afraid to tweak your brushes😂. Oooh and, the iPad is portable! So go sit in the shade on your porch while you draw for a bit, it’s lovely outside~💕

[dysfunctionalbatfam]

Do you have any advice/tips/tricks for new artists?

I’m definitely not the most qualified for this but I’ll try my best!! 😅

I kind of started out sort of using other artists’ art as references (just personal studies that I threw away right after) - that’s how I actually got into drawing. I did it for fun and when I finished I thought, “Huh. Neat” (even though it was terrible) and then I just tried a few more. Unlike working from real references, some artists may choose to have a style that’s more simplified and easier to understand. (Do keep in mind that you should never just trace it and repost online.)

Another thing I took from were speedpaints and tutorials - and they don’t really all help me, but they at least give me some motivation, even if they make it look overwhelmingly easy. They help break down the steps and give you a process so that you don’t only see the masterful finished product and that the beginnings can be rough. There has been, however, two (2) that really did help a lot. (Probably will drop the talented users in the tags 💞💞)

And honestly? Most of it has been just, making up shit, and that’s okay! Even if you have no idea what you’re doing, it’s not going to hurt your art progress, and often times you learn from them. Explore things, different styles, programs, tools, until you find some you’re comfortable with. And don’t worry if you’re unsure, this process takes a ton of time, so just keep exploring. Sometimes you just gotta say “This looks bad to me, but it helped me learn this and that.”

Another good thing to do is find a group of friends willing to support you! You could share your shitposts to more serious drawings and get their feedback. Bounce off ideas off each other, find other artists. People encouraging you to push on can do more than you’d think.

This is said. A lot. You hear it everywhere, but it’s commonly said for a reason, y’know? Practice. Practicing is so much of the gig. No one’s going to automatically be amazing at art, which also means that if your art isn’t what you want it to be right now? Doesn’t mean it’s never gonna get there. Try your best to draw everyday! Don’t worry if it varies, do whatever the fuck you want, this is for you. A two second scribble one day and a portrait study the next? Heck yeah.

Last general advice, methinks, is to use references. I’m a huge hypocrite for this because I just. Randomly put stuff down. But don’t ever be afraid to use them. They’re a resource all artists have used.

Onto more technical stuff -

Digital Art Programs (that I’ve tested and would recommend)

-Firealpaca (computer) and Medibang (computer & tablet): Always my recommendations. They’re absolutely free and easy to install, yet they offer such a reliable program. They’re basically the same, to be honest

-Krita (computer): I don’t really know how to use this but it’s free and capable of producing gorgeous pieces of art.

-Photoshop (computer & tablet): I started with this, it’s pretty good, but my personal issues made it just keep crashing, so I’m not very versed in it 😅 but it lives up to its hype.

-Procreate (tablet): Good for painting, but lineart is a little harder, in my opinion. The brush stabilization is wack. But it’s very comfortable and whelming to use, worth the ten bucks. You can also download a fuck ton of free brushes online, always a plus (I SWEAR I get twenty more every day)

-Autodesk Sketchbook (tablet & computer [?]): The interface is very similar to Procreate, so if you want a subsititute for Procreate, go ahead! In my opinion, it’s a little harder to use, though.

-Paint Tool Sai (computer) and Clip Studio Paint (both): Never tried, but probably really good, I know a lot of people who use them.

[Do keep in mind that starting out with free programs is enough, and many extremely good artists stick with them!]

Traditional art stuff -

-Same stuff applies, you don’t need advanced supplies to create good art!

-Hoard sketchbooks like a dragon, eat hot chip, and cry

-A lot of professional artists prefer sketching/inking traditionally and then digitally coloring it

-My favorite traditional supplies are charcoal pencils, if that’s anything? 😂 I find them more comfortable to use than pencils.

-You can tell I can’t do traditional to save my life, I’m SO sorry if you do traditional dhdkhd

-Brushes can be bought cheap!! They’ll still work just as well (many supplies that come cheaper are still good, I got a whole set with paint, a sketchbook, etc. for under twenty USD)

-Some advice I took from a youtube video somewhere: Have two notebooks, one for more serious artwork and one just to do anything in, as we know we all have failures and get nervous to fuck up. This ensures that you unleash your creativity! In that notebook, don’t worry about making your drawings look good, just put your ideas down.

This is getting to the point that I’m just rambling, so I’ll end it here. Hope it helps, even though I should follow my own advice- ❤️❤️❤️ good luck, you GOT this, anon!

[janishacolors]

Janishacolors About the Artist FAQ!

So I’ve decided to dedicate my Sundays to writing about all kinds of things

And what way to start it off by introducing myself with and giving an FAQ Pictures Included X3

Q.How do you pronounce your LAST Name

A. Ocaña is pronounced O-Kahn-Yah. The n has a tilde (squiggle) over it and makes it sound like “piñata” owob

Q. Where can I find you on social media?

A. You can find me most places under Janishacolors X3

Instagram \ Twitter \ YouTube \ Facebook \ Twitch

Q. Do you take commissions

A. Absolutely! If you’re curious about commission please feel free to message me!

Q. Favorite Fandoms and Things

Games: Pokémon, Fire Emblem, Stardew Valley, Animal Crossing, Phantasy Star Series, Miitopia ( the most hilarious game series ever that needs to become a switch title LOL)

Anime/Manga: Yu Yu Hakusho, Cardcaptor Sakura, Ancient Magnus Bride, Dr. Stone, Anatolia Story(Aka: Red River), My hero Academia, Yuri on Ice

Other: Lore Olympus, Star Versus The Forces of Evil, Steven Universe

Q. Do you want to be freelance artist?

A. As of current I am a freelance artist in between school so yeah!

Q. What’s your workspace like?

A. It’s a war zone of plants but very peaceful LOL

Q. What art programs and equipment do you use?

A. On my desktop I use A Wacom Intuos Pro Pen tablet and I use Clip studio paint and SAI for artwork

On my IPad I use the Apple pencil Clip studio paint and Procreate!

Q. What is your favorite software to use for drawing and doodling?

A. For drawing and doodling I really love using Procreate on my IPad. I just recently got one and it’s just amazing to be able to doodle wherever and whenever. If I’m doodling concepts on the computer I like to use Mischeif. it’s an infinite zooming canvas and I love using it for when I’m doing original story work.

Q. What are you in art school for?

A. At my university I’m actually a graphic design and digital media major. I wanted to understanding art better in the business/industry sense.

Q. What’s your ultimate goal as an artist?

A. Currently my ultimate goal is to become a graphic designer for the Pokémon company. I am currently working towards this goal by starting a Pokémon logo art project to gear up my portfolio while finish up my bachelors in Graphic design design. >:D

Q. Favorite topic in art?

A. Color Theory!

Q. What hobbies do you have aside from drawing?

A. Slalom inline skating is my main hobby followed by handbells, and knitting. (I can’t sit still for very long lol )

Q. Do you do traditional Art?

A. Yes! Mainly copic markers and watercolors x3

Q. Do you have original stories?

A. Yes I do and I have a bundle of OCs Too lol. Only really working on one story that I would like to make a webcomic soon!. Long story short this story focus on a race of Sentient stars called remnants. They maintain the expanding multiverse. The story focuses on the delves into all the various space theories I’ve studied and learned in astrophysics over the years so shenanigans will ensue! If you’re curious about How the multiverse works in this story definitely check out My Huevember 2019 project on my page. Each hue has a snippet about remnants and how they function in their world

Q. What made you get into astrophysics?

A. I love stargazing and looking for constellations it wasn’t until high school that I actually studied start studying the universe and how it works which eventually led me to look into all the various theories of astrophysics it’s just amazing all the speculations there are about the different celestial bodies in our universe

Q. What are those bubbles that you put in your artwork?

A. They’re actually photons. They are tiny light particles that we’re not actually able to perceive. It’s how I perceive those photons as they interact with an object.

Why do you draw yourself with the bottom of your hair colored?

A. I color the ends of my hair in hair waxes for funsies, the colors are really subtle unless it’ under direct light. It’s something I decided to do to celebrate my natural hair journey X3

So here’s the start of my About the artist FAQ if you have any question please don’t hesitate to ask ^W^

[acaseforpencils]

Jason Chatfield.

Bio: I grew up in the far flung suburbs of Perth, in Western Australia, and used to spend my paper route money on MAD Magazines (I cheaped-out and stole my dentist’s waiting room issues of the New Yorker. I think I was the only kid who looked forward to going to the dentist).

I moved to New York in 2014 and started pitching to the mag in person. I’m not sure Bob liked me, so I went back to pitching via email. Then I went in on his last day and finally sold my first piece. I feel like it was his final f—k you to the magazine. “Here! Have a Chatfield!” 

Find this print here!

The cartoon was a goofy play on Vlad the Impaler. 

I didn’t sell to the magazine again until last month, but I’ve had a handful sold as dailies. And I’m published in MAD often, so they’ve clearly done away with any of their standards.

When I’m not drawing gag cartoons I write and draw a syndicated legacy strip called Ginger Meggs which I took over 10 years ago. It’s been around since 1921 and now appears daily in 34 countries. He’s kind of an Australian version of Dennis the Menace, except he predates him by about 30 years.

Tools of choice: For drawing/roughs, I use a Prismacolor Turquoise clutch pencil with a red lead and try to find some paper with a little bit of tooth. The mixed media pads at Blick do the trick nicely.

I ink using a Uni-ball Vision Elite Stick Roller Ball Pen… or a Pigma Micron 03. 

DO NOT use the Uni-Ball Vision Rollerball Pens, Fine Point (0.7mm) if you’re traveling. They explode on planes. And ruin your copy of The New Yorker.

For a wash, I just use watercolor and whatever brush is lying around. Nothing fancy. There’s a scanning app on my phone called “Adobe Scan” which does a nice job of scanning line-art into a PDF when I’m out of the studio and need to email in a quick rough.

I use a Wacom Mobilestudio Pro for finished artwork. I like to get out of the studio and work from a bar or restaurant, so it helps that I can take that with me. I use a little glove that I got on Amazon so I don’t grease up the screen, and the felt-tip nib that comes in the pen-holder makes the friction between the stylus and the screen more like pencil on paper. Unfortunately, they’re not waterproof, as I found on a recent vacation…

My wife plays piano and sings at bars around the city so I’ll often sit at the bar during her sets and draw. Digital/Traditional depends on what deadlines are most pressing. (She has a weekly residency in Astoria —if anyone’s interested in going, let me know!)

A lot of people email me for advice about tablets —I’ve been trialling/demo-ing Wacom products for 15 years— I think they’re great. If you’re married to doing stuff by hand but want to colour digitally, you can get a decent tablet without going broke. Depends on your workflow.

Writing Desk: My wife and I were living upstairs in 5A when my neighbour in 4B died. He was a brilliant poet and had an incredible old writing desk. It’s the only thing that was left in the apartment, so I’m looking after it ’til his grandson moves in at the end of our lease. I work for countless hours at this old thing. It’s beat up, but I’ve patched it together enough that it won’t collapse and bury me mid-brushstroke. I’ve stuck a few of my favourite toons on the top of it.

Tool I wish I could use better: My brain. It really is a sack of cats. Whenever I want to sit and do work, it clocks off. Then it comes up with a pearler of an idea at 3 in the morning when I’m trying to sleep. I write it down in my phone, but autocorrect makes it indecipherable by morning.

I like working with my writer friend, Scott. We both do comedy at night and have developed a nice short-hand. We also seem to have the same library of references and can build on each others’ premises, which tames my sack-of-cats.

Tool I wish existed: The Deadline Extender.® I’ve never missed a deadline, but that said… an extra 3 or 4 minutes to allow for a terrible wifi connection, or a errant scanner wouldn’t go astray.

Also: The Deadline Extender® PREMIUM: Let’s you go back in time to when you were procrastinating and slap yourself in the face. $30 p/month.

Tricks: Ok, well. This is going to sound a bit Dalton Trumbo, but bear with me: I do my best work…in the bath.The most productive 3 hours of my week are during Scotchbath Sunday; an immoveable chunk of time on Sunday evening whereby I lock myself in the bathroom, run a bath, lug my drawing stuff onto a bit of wood that sits over the bath, and just write and draw. Nothing else. I write weeks worth of my syndicated comic strip (Ginger Meggs), I write New Yorker cartoons, scribble up roughs for dailies— and when I feel like I’ve earned it (usually 2 hours in) I tap the side of the bath three times, and my wife peels herself from her piano and I unlock the door to a nice big glass of scotch. It’s a hell of a carrot on a stick to work towards when you’re stuck. (PS. Lest you think I’m some kind of Don Draper-era misogynist; the scotch reward part was her idea. I think she realized it keeps me in the bath and out of her way.)

Anyway. It’s a great way to switch gears creatively. It’s like being on an aeroplane. No wifi, no phones — just the work you need to get done. Get involved. #ScotchBathSunday.

Oh! And if I get my deadlines done for the week, I have a small budget for a solo lunch somewhere where I can eat cheese and draw. I really didn’t know cheese ’til I moved to America. (And yes, I’ve already been to Wisconsin. Good Lord.)

Tips? I always tell younger artists to not even think about touching a drawing tablet until they’ve learned to draw by hand first. Otherwise they’ll always be drawing away, knowing they have the insurance of the CTRL+Z key at their disposal if they screw up a line. That’s not a good habit to have when you’re working to a deadline. But, once you do know how to draw, by all means dive head-first into the digital realm. It’s incredible. Procreate, Sketchbook or Photoshop are all great.

Misc: One of the hangovers from working in advertising illustration is that I’ve had to be a bit of a chameleon style-wise for the last 15 years and haven’t allowed myself to just settle into one style. Lately, I’ve just decided to say “Bugger it!” and try and find a loose, consistent style that I’m comfortable with, that’s an apt conduit to my silly ideas.

I always loved George Booth’s line, and his ability to create a scene with so much movement but just at the right moment in time. Also Sam Gross’ dark, hilarious cartoons with perfect line-economy. And I’d give my left arm (I draw with my right) to know how Barry Blitt has so much control with his washes…

Chatfield’s portrait of Sam Gross

While I’m geeking out, I love seeing younger cartoonists find their feet and thrive in a style that just feels like they’re speaking to you— Ellis J. Rosen, Sofia Warren, Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell, Jason Katzenstein, Amy Kurzweil, and a seemingly endless list of talented younger artists who are putting in the work are a big inspiration. 

I know it should be Steig or Thurber or Addams, but my favourite cartoonist is Sergio Aragones.

I was always so enamoured of MAD growing up and studied the lines of Jack Davis, Mort Drucker, Al Jaffee and the Usual Gang of Idiots. I remember being so frustrated I couldn’t even come close to getting my work to look like theirs, but I think I found a style somewhere in between when I fell short. 

I think Wil McPhail’s poses are masterful, and I wish I knew how how the hell he did that. One day I’ll trudge up to England and knock on his door to ask him. I find myself doubled-over at John Cuneo’s Instagram, and Ed Steed’s absurdly funny gags. I have a slew of toons I’ve torn out of years’ worth of magazines and taped to my studio wall, or my zillion year-old writing desk. I’m constantly humbled by how generous and welcoming the existing crop of New Yorker cartoonists have been to a goofy Aussie immigrant — Joe Dator, Matt Diffee and Pat Byrnes, Mort Gerberg and an ever-growing list of prolific, talented cartoonists who make the 99% weekly rejection tolerable.

I’ve made some of my closest friends and have been lucky enough to meet my cartooning heroes through the National Cartoonists Society. I got to spend a lot of time with Sergio at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival in the UK last year which made my year. We were signing together for a whole afternoon and I spent more time geeking out with him than signing.

Okay. Enough drooling. Sorry.

I’m a fan of cartoonists.

Website, etc. I have a weekly podcast where I throw around ideas for New Yorker cartoons with a fellow comedian and writer, Scott Dooley. It’s called “Is There Something In This?” It’s a bit of fun. We don’t take ourselves too seriously, but we do take the art of writing gags very seriously. It’s an extremely difficult skill to master, and we’re virtually zygotes at it. We have lots of listeners now, which is bewildering. Talking about drawing is like dancing about architecture, but here we are. Anyway you can find it on iTunes or wherever you waste time listening to podcasts.

My website is jasonchatfield.com and my comedy stuff is up at jasonchatfieldcomedy.com  ( I’ve been doing stand-up comedy for 11 years. If anyone wants to come see a show, hit me up! I’ll put you on the door). My instagram is @jasonchatfield. I’m still trolling the British chap who has the @jasonchatfield handle on Twitter to no avail. To that end, I’m @jason_chatfield on Twitter.

If you want more art supplies in your life, A Case for Pencils is on Instagram and Twitter.  You can also find me, Jane (the person who created/edits this blog), on Twitter here, which is where I stick the paintings that I’ve been doing instead of interviewing people consistently (I needed to balance working on other people’s work and my own work!). Oh, and If you’d like to support this blog, which is always very appreciated, there are many different ways to do so, which you can find here!

[wildixia]

I absolutely love your art! Adore it. You’re such a big inspiration to me! Is it possible you could share what program/brush you use?

*cries* Thank you, anon!! You just made my night! I really do appreciate it.

And of course!! I pretty much only use Procreate on iPad and that’s because I’m fairly new to digital programs and Procreate is really easy to figure out for beginners. I used to only do traditional art (drawing, watercolor, inking) up until last year, so I’m still trying to figure it all out when it comes to going digital.

And in case you use/know Procreate, I sketch with a brush that I downloaded (I can’t remember where I got it from but I can look it up if you’d like me to!) called Tara’s Oval Sketch 2 and then when it comes to inking, I really love the technical pen and the studio pen. I use a mix of the airbrush/inking brushes when I color. 

Thank you again for the lovely ask, hope you have a great day/night!

[doodleodramablog-blog]

The seven deadly doubts

Let’s begin! 

Firstly, a big welcome to all the warm butts parked here. Welcome to my blog. I am going to be using this space to answer questions, give unnecessary but free gyaan, and to spurt other nonsense from time to time. So sit back and try not to throw up. 

Here are some of the questions that I get asked very frequently. I am going to try and answer them to the best of my ability

1. Who are you?

My name is Mounica Tata. I am a 28 year old woman, self-taught full-time freelance illustrator. I am originally from Hyderabad but based out of Bangalore. My dad was in the army so I moved around quite a bit. I speak Hindi, English, and Telugu (can’t read and write Telugu though). I am married to a fine man, I fondly call hubster and I have a very fluffy son, adopted. He is a 2 and a half year old golden retriever called Sir Leo. 

2. How did Doodleodrama happen? 

I am a B.com Honours graduate who went onto do a masters in Mass Communication. Then went onto work as an editor for a college magazine, then as a client executive and content writer for a small design firm, then as an account executive and copy writer for a digital marketing agency. 

I finally quit my last job last year in May and decided to draw for a living. I had been putting up work online for a couple of years now and I used to get small gigs like wedding invitations, designing menu cards for cafes, customised posters, etc. which I used to work on on weekends. I realised that drawing gives me pure joy and I decided to take the leap of faith and do it full-time. 

3. Why that brand name Doodleodrama?

I definitely didn’t want to make my name my brand name. Honestly, I didn’t think much before I started my Facebook page (www.facebook.com/doodleodrama)  with that name. I was in college, I liked doodling, I liked all things dramatic and have always been a fan of everything round so the O to bring doodle and drama together. I wanted to at some point change the name especially since I’ve been drawing for a living now but the name stuck and it has LEO in it so I let it be :) 

4. How did you pick up drawing, the tools, and all that jazz?

I don’t think I have mastered any of that yet, still a long way to go. I worked as a content writer and client executive with design & marketing firms so I used to stay up after work hours or sit during breaks with the design team and ask them to teach me the basics (opening & saving files on photoshop). Up until then, I used to take pictures of my hand-drawn comics and upload them or use MS Paint. So I used to come back from my day job (at night!) and then practice the software, watch a tonne of online tutorials, read & read some more. See more art, follow crazy number of artists & their work (still do) and practice. My learning curve has been quite steep  (from where I started to where I am today and where I am headed from here) but it taught me a lot! 

5. What are your weapons of choice and what’s your method/process like?

I still predominantly use pencil and paper for my initial rough sketches. Still pretty old school. I then either take a picture or scan my rough sketches and take it to Adobe Photoshop. I then add layers and use the brush tool and ink my rough sketches (to get cleaner, bolder lines). And the subsequent layers are for colouring, detailing, adding shadows, highlights, text, etc. 

I started off with Wacom Bamboo drawing tablet and a 15-inch Dell Inspiron laptop. I used that drawing tablet from 2013-2015. In 2015, I went off to London for a few months and my most priced possession/buy from that trip is my Wacom Intuos Pro Medium drawing tablet. I work on a 27-inch iMac desktop. I recently got the new iPad Pro and I am enjoying drawing digitally (directly) on the screen with Procreate. These are all the hardwares and softwares I use and have used.  

6. What about traditional art?

I am quite rubbish with traditional art but I find paints and paper therapeutic so I continue to experiment, explore, fail, and pick up! Thanks to #Inktober2017 (you can use the #myelliestory on Instagram to see my inktober story this year) I invested in some inks and paints. I currently have a set of Windsor & Newton watercolours (it was a gift), Camlin transparent photo colors, & Daler Rowney’s acrylic inks & Sumi India Ink (black). 

7. How do you get clients & followers?

I believe I am an average artist and a terrible business woman. I’ve not invested a single penny on digital/social media marketing for my work. I’ve only invested time and effort in putting up work. It helps to create a digital portfolio and in turn helps to get recognised. It’s important to find your voice and your style and that helps you to build a niche audience for yourself and to get noticed. My content, my style, and my sense of humour are my brand ambassadors. I draw everyday, I put out content regularly so nothing happens overnight! 

I am sort of tired now. My brain hurts (also soul). Leave me your questions here or on Facebook or on Instagram (if you have any more) or if you have fun topics that you’d like my two cents on, please let me know so we can keep this blog alive. Not bad for a first attempt, no? 

[the-iron-quill]

Why Wonder Woman Wasn’t “Born Sexy Yesterday”

I recently say a post complaining that Wonder Woman is an example of "Born Sexy Yesterday", and that they would've enjoyed the movie more if they weren't aware of this trope. While this video did cross my mind during the movie, one of my favorite things about the movie is that it didn't fall into this trope, even if it does share some surface similarities.

Here's why.

Warning: Obviously spoilers exist, proceed with caution.

1. She Wasn't Born Yesterday

This applies on a very literal level. The most disturbing examples of this trope involve a character who has only existed for a short period of time, making them a literal child even if they have the body of an adult woman. Hopefully nobody needs to be told how messed up that is.

Diana, on the other hand, is the exact opposite. Not only did she have a full childhood, Amazonians don't age. While the movie didn't give her an exact age, some quick Googling told me that Diana is approximately 5000 years old in this movie. She may have grown up in an isolated (and, by some definitions, "sheltered") community, but that's about as far from "born yesterday" as you can get.

But the trope doesn't just cover cases where the character is an actual child. It's also a critique of the fact that childish and innocent characters are being sexualized and presented as potential partners when they don't have the emotional maturity that a relationship requires. So technically a 5000-year-old demigod could still qualify. But the thing is--

2. She Isn't Actually Innocent or Naive

Yes, Diana doesn't understand our world when she first arrives. She strolls right into a room filled with cabinet members, ignoring the stares that she gets for being a woman, and has no problem carrying a giant sword and shield as she walks down the street. She even attempts to strip off her clothes in the middle of a public place, which is something that's explicitly discussed in the Born Sexy Yesterday video. She might not be young, but she clearly doesn't know anything about our world, right?

Well of course she doesn't. This is her first time leaving Themyscira, of course there's going to be some cultural differences.

And really, that's all that they are. None of this is any different from the fact that she's never tried ice cream before - she grew up without it, so she doesn't know that it exists until someone tells her. Diana is used to carrying around her weapons and speaking up when she has information to share, and she hasn't yet learned that these things are unusual in London. And Amazonians don't seem fazed by nudity, if Diana's behavior when she approached Steve in the bath was any indication. Why should they be?

It's easy to put these differences down to naiveté, but there's nothing about Amazonian culture that inherently makes them innocent. There's also nothing that inherently makes our culture's traditions better than those of the Amazonians, except that we're used to doing things this way.

The movie even takes it a step further, explicitly showing us that Diana might not know our customs, but she sure as hell isn't dumb of innocent. She doesn't know the double meaning behind "sleep with me" and doesn't understand marriage, but of course she knows all about sex ("men are essential for procreation but, when it comes to pleasure, unnecessary", anyone?) And because Diana has only known woman her entire life, of course she's utterly baffled by Steve's body and the fact that she's never before seen a- Nope, she's just asking about his watch. Something she actually hasn't heard of, unlike penises, which have likely shown up in plenty of books and art works even if she's never seen one in real life.

But if you want know the biggest reason why Diana doesn't fit this trope, it all comes down to the fact that-

3. She Doesn't Exist for the Male Characters

This. This is the biggest reason why I cringe at the thought of Diana being called "Born Sexy Yesterday".

According to Pop Culture Detectives, the creators of the "Born Sexy Yesterday" video, the trope "fetishizes the stark power dynamic between a wiser, more experienced man and a naive, inexperienced woman". Which, you may notice, is exactly what does not happen in Wonder Woman.

Diana is strong. She's powerful enough to take down an army almost singlehandedly and punch a god in the face. But more importantly, Diana is in complete control. She's forbidden from fighting in the war, so she steals the weapons she needs and goes anyway. She's told that crossing No Man's Land is impossible, but she doesn't let that stop her. She's not supposed to attend the banquet, so she finds a way to get in anyway while also managing to smuggle in a sword.

At no point does Captain Steve hold power over Diana. He teaches her about our world and does his best to keep her from standing out, he tries to convince her to follow his plan, but he does not - and cannot - control her. Diana doesn't fall for him because he's the first man she's met (and again, Diana literally calls men unnecessary - how much more obvious could it be that she doesn't need a relationship?) She begins to fall for him because he's a brave man trying to do the right thing, and because he supports her, literally following her into battle and offering her the help she needs. As far as visual metaphors go, the fact that Steve and the other men lift Diana into the air so that she can take down the sniper is pretty damn good.  

All of this is so, so empowering. The woman is the one who leads an army into battle. The woman inspires people to fight. And after a lifetime of watching female characters take a bullet for the hero or dying to bring them five seconds of manpain, I got to watch the man sacrifice himself because he knew that the world needed her to survive. She was the hero, and she's going to change the world - not just because she's strong, but because she refuses to stop fighting.

Wonder Woman isn't Born Sexy Yesterday. Wonder Woman is so much more.

tl;dr I have so many feels about Wonder Woman and anyone who tries to reduce her to nothing but a "Born Sexy Yesterday" character can fight me