#i eventually was able to design that character

[crabsnpersimmons]

Hello there!

I'd like to know your advice on drawing tablets?

As in, what do you use for your digital art? Is there any you suggest?

I'm planning on getting one, but there are so many options, and I'd like to know your opinion and preference.

Thank you ^^

hi anon! thanks for the question!

i draw with a samsung galaxy tab s7!

BUT if this is your first time drawing digitally, then it's a good idea to test out if you like it with cheaper options first (so you don't drop a whole lot of money on a hobby/medium of art you don't enjoy)

some suggestions:

if you have a smart phone, try drawing with your finger using free to use drawing apps like ibispaint X or HiPaint (i recommend HiPaint cuz the UI is a lot simpler and less overwhelming, but both have a good selection of tools. i wanna say ibispaint has better text tools tho and there's A LOT more tutorials and resources online) drawing digitally with your finger is different from drawing digitally with a pen AND drawing traditionally, but this is a good way to familiarize yourself with digital art tools. a very simple entry point if you already have a smart phone.

if you don't want to draw with your finger (understandable, i personally couldn't stand it) you can try simple drawing tablets, which are the tablets that you plug into your computer/laptop, come with a pen, but they don't have a screen you draw directly on. they're actually a lot more affordable nowadays (i saw some for under $50 CAD, which is WILD), so that’s a good starting option if you want to draw with a pen. with a pen, you have more control with line weights than you do with your finger, but it takes practice to get used to. it also takes some getting use to drawing on a tablet and looking at your monitor, but this is where i started haha. i still have my old bamboo wacom create drawing tablet. but nowadays, other brands like xp-pen and huion are very comparable to wacom, so definitely consider getting a cheaper one to try out first. of course, if you go with a drawing tablet, you'll need an art program on your computer. i've used photoshop and clip studio paint and they're very good, but probably overwhelming for people who are new to digital art (they are loaded with tools and you have to really familiarize yourself with the menus and everything). there are probably simpler options available... but i'm not as familiar with them. oh wait, i think there are some drawing tablets that can also connect with your smart phone too nowadays. man, that's so cool. that's probably a better option instead of purchasing photoshop or clip studio paint right off the bat.

if you REALLY want a screen display experience, try a cheaper general tablet. iPads are a popular option if you're comfortable with the Apple ecosystem (i'm not 😅) but they can be pricey PLUS you have to buy the Apple pen separately. for Android, I'm pretty sure even the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 is a solid choice and it comes with a pen unlike an iPad. the SPen is built with Wacom tech, so you know it's quality. and while iPad has Procreate, HiPaint is available for Android and it's basically a Procreate clone (i explain more about HiPaint here) otherwise, ibisPaint X is also good and infinite painter is probably the most sophisticated free to use drawing app i've encountered (sophisticated as in it does a pretty good job at imitating traditional media in their brushes. it's cool, but the free version is very limited).

also if you like watching videos, Brad Colbow and Teoh on Tech on YouTube are great resources. they specifically review tech from an artist's perspective.

why i suggest testing it out is because if you're used to drawing traditionally, then switching to digital is a different experience. some artists can't get used to drawing digitally, and that's fine. that's why it's a good idea to test it out with a cheaper option first to see if you like it and to give yourself time to familiarize yourself with drawing apps/programs. i actually kinda hated drawing digitally at first. i didn't have the same level of control that i was used to with drawing traditionally. and overtime i made a lot of bad habits with my digital art that i had to unlearn by switching back to traditional art for a couple years (some bad habits like: relying on the Undo button to make "perfect" lines; trying to draw really fast because the pen glides over the screen unlike a pencil has friction against paper) so... give it a try and just let yourself have fun. don't worry about making anything perfect, just have fun!

[soy-bean-factory]

had some thoughts about certain characters having halos with specific looks to them, so i drew it.

//explanation(?) in the tags if your curious vv

[transformers-bold-bright-brisk]

HOT SHOT REDESIGN + Illustration✨

I’m so goddamn detail-oriented it’s not even funny…

Let me tell you, I was locked 👏 the fuck👏 in 👏

This was legitimately so proud of myself for not making the outline perfect. I mean, don’t get me wrong—I love a good neat lineart layer, but where’s the fun in that?

Also the TF Skybound comic’s artstyle has been scratching my brain in a few good places.

[starrysharks]

evolution of starsaints kiddos. first was from around 2021 . i wanted to give them a greater difference in color pallete and shape. my least favourite iteration of them is the 2nd because i can't get over the fact that they literally look identical, my same face syndrome was terminal back then

[smallidarityfan]

*oc-ifies smallidarity's lore child* wait what who did that

[imbeingtauntedbyachild]

I'll finish this when I get home

[theultimatepumpkinpie]

I finally made an actual original design for something! And my own DnD character no less! God I'm so overjoyed right now. Fuck you aphantasia you ain't got shit on me (it definitely definitely does but I'm still winning despite it)

[strawbs-arts]

Hello! I don’t have much art to post yet other than these sketches (going through Art Block!! D:), so I compiled a huge lore post explaining my version of the Welcome Home Magical Girl AU! Yahoo 👍

Magical Girl AU:

Wally: paintbrush, art magic, artist/apple

Julie: yo-yo, plant magic, flowers (both)

Frank: net, butterfly magic, butterfly (both)

Poppy: shield, healing magic, chef/plus sign

Barnaby: hammer, elasticity, clown/heart

Eddie: scissors, paper magic, paper/spade

Sally: staff, weather magic, sun/stars

Howdy: bag, item conjure, clover

(order: weapon, magic, theme/brooch shape)

* Home is the mascot and the source of most of their magic, which is kept inside fancy shaped brooches that fit character’s themes. Their brooches allow them to transform into magical girls!

* They fight monstrous goop entities that have suddenly appeared from a mysterious place, while trying to live their day-to-day lives in their neighborhood! The setting is about the same with more fantasy magical girl aspects.

* Everyone gets the standard magical girl abilities (enhanced strength, jump ability, durability, senses) plus a signature power & weapon. They can change the size of their weapon as they wish.

Wally - Wally is the leader of Welcome Home’s Magical Girl team! He has the ability to manipulate art by controlling paint, crayons, ink, and graphite. Typically, he uses his trusty magic paintbrush, which has everlasting and color-changing paint on its bristles. He can make any drawing, whether his own or someone else’s, into come to life as he wills. He’s mainly in the backlines painting creatures and items to help his friends, or just painting appealing shapes on the ground!

In a last resort situation, Wally can summon an ocean of black paint that will gradually swallow and drain the life everything in its path, even himself. While using this magic, he will be in an unresponsive state that can only be stopped under certain circumstances [force, death, or Wally just has to force himself out of it]. Paint hands will also arise to protect Wally from harm, but they can be destroyed or blown away, although they will respawn within a few minutes. The paint will immediately disappear and stop its effects when Wally snaps out of it. Eventually, Wally will be able to master this power and control this form.

Julie - Julie has the ability to grow and manipulate all plants, but she typically sprouts flowers and roots all around. Her weapon is a yo-yo that she uses to grab things, whack ‘em, and turn it large to roll somebody over! Julie is the first to spring into action when something goes awry in the neighborhood, usually followed by Frank (who’s always dragged into the fight. Poor guy!).

Frank - Frank’s ability is butterfly manipulation: he can summon swarms of them to disorient enemies, and he can also “see” through his butterfly’s eyes to spy. Frank’s magic also allows him to take on the physiology/abilities of butterflies, such as flight, cocoon generation, and poison spit. His weapon is a bug net, which he waves around to ensnare and smack monsters!

Poppy - Poppy is the main healer of the Magical Girl team! As is her role, she has the ability to heal all injuries and ailments. Her healing magic can also bless food, so you can take a bite out of her seed treats and feel better instantly. She hates battle and prefers to stay on the sidelines to heal her friends. In tense moments, out comes her mighty shield that’ll protect her and her friends from any sort of danger!

Barnaby - Barnaby’s ability is elasticity, which means he can stretch himself as far as he wants. It’s a useful power for grabbing things a little too far away, slingshotting, or just being plain silly. His weapon is a large squeaky hammer—even with its usual soft squeakiness, it could still hit hard with a bit of momentum from wound up arms (just like Popeye)! He can perform all sorts of crazy feats with his bendy puppet limbs!

Eddie - Eddie is the neighborhood mailman, of course, but when he’s not handling packages, he’s working alongside his friends in their magical girl escapades! He has the ability to generate and manipulate paper: it can fold and move according to his control. For more precise crafts or battle, he uses his magic scissors to snip away! Before he de-transforms, he always makes sure to create more paper for his letters and envelopes.

Sally - Sally has the ability to control the weather! Her powers can draw out different weather conditions, sun, rain, snow, (you name it) and direct towards a certain area too. Her weapon is a staff with a sun-shaped topper, modeled after the shining star herself. Sometimes, during one of her stupendous plays, she summons thunder for dramatic effect—which she quickly changes back to sunny before the wind and rain can destroy her whole stage.

Howdy - Howdy has the ability to create any object he desires. Technically, His main “weapon” is his bottomless bag, but he typically uses his other creations to support his neighbors. Although in desperate times, his bag can still totally pack(aha) a punch! Most of his creations stored in the bag, which he knows like the back of his four hands. He’s the only one who can even navigate it!

Random notes and trivia:

* Wally’s power doesn’t work on photographs, printed artwork, clay, and fibers (RIP he can’t control his funny cardboard cutout.. Eddie probably can though)

* Wally’s paintbrush can be used as a blunt object

* Julie can accelerate the growth of a plant, but its fruits/vegetables will taste lackluster so it’s better to just let it grow by itself

* Frank’s summoned butterflies are not alive unlike the various bugs in the neighborhood.

* Frank’s cape opens up like wings when he flies!

* Eddie is the only neighbor allowed to have a sharp weapon

* Howdy and Eddie can both produce paper

[the-silent-hashira]

i could show you every iteration of my s/is for Hazbin Hotel/Helluva Boss but that's almost 3-4 years of increasingly varying designs and I was only ever satisfied with a handful

[poorlittlevampire]

ohhhhh the new argenti trailer. nevermind. i MUST have her

[benetnvsch]

FINALLY making comprehensive refs for all my main Guys YIPEEE (or at least,, this one AU of them kajsdh) So meet Kitson,, he's like,, the Main Guy of my Main OCs (there's like 8 of them that I keep throwing into different stories) )

He is like the Main Character in this one and has made a contract with this magical dragon to help him hunt down and kill this one (1) guy he hates cuz he's normal like that-

[sisterdivinium]

Think "necessity" of evil in the ultimate doing of good ("For God judged it better to bring good out of evil than not to permit any evil to exist"); sin/failure for the sake of elevation, personal and otherwise, and how each of the characters "falls" so that good may come of it somehow, be it in general knowledge, assistance in pursuing good or personal enlightenment.

I'm far too lacking in dogmatic understanding to pursue this specific angle of investigation the way I'd like to and it's driving me crazy.

[solplease]

finally finished redesigning my old ocs,,,, now im just writing notes on em (mainly for myself lmao…)

[bonyato]

One remarkably funny aspect of my experience w/ DGМN was all those instances in which Id favor a digidеstined's critter more than I did the kid they were partnered up with. it felt exactly like this image

[lexicog]

some doodles from recently

[shoomlah]

Oh gosh, if you're taking questions I have like, a bajillion. The neopets "style" has been pretty loose over the years but... What sort of guidelines did you have to follow? Were there any hard "no"s? Was there a style guide or bible? In terms of design, what were you most proud of? Anything that was rejected that was disappointing to not see come to fruition?? Pardon my excitement!

From my recollection there was no official style guide, which I'm sure is pretty apparent from the art on the site—we'd run things by our art director Anthony/Tigercatcher for feedback, or by Adam or Donna to get their stamp of approval, but otherwise it was relatively lawless. It is fun to be able to look back at the old art and immediately tell who drew it, though!

A couple memorable anecdotes:

There was this brief phase in the early years where we had anthropomorphized neopets, but we hadn't really standardized how we drew them. They eventually got fingers and fully rendered eyes BUT I do love this transitional period where I just drew a bunch of sexy aishas with nub hands and dot eyes:

At one point there was a moratorium on giving the anthropomorphic characters helix piercings. It had become a kneejerk instinct to just toss a couple hoops onto a character's ear as you were designing them and it got: wildly out of hand

the worst notes were the ones we'd get on the Neopets Magazine covers, hands down. We could have so much fun with the on-site art, but anything public-facing like merch and the magazine were under way more levels of impenetrable scrutiny. The feedback was always to make the smiles BIGGER and B I G G E R