#so I wasn't haunted by critique telling me how inadequate I was

[bobthedragon]

Heya, I really like your art and I was just wondering if you had any quick tips on lineart because lately I've been trifling to make my art appealing especially with lineart. Thank you for your time!

so I’ve been thinking about this for a while, and fighting with artblock and trying to figure out exactly what I value most in my lineart choices and after finally making a shitty drawing of kib to use as an example so I could think things through this is my answer

When I was like 12 I read about a million “How To Make Lines Like The Cool Animes“ tutorials, and since then I’ve spent a long time throwing out things I learned that I didn’t like, and changing things I did like to suit my personal aesthetics.

The broad-stroke b/w style I use most often is currently my favorite application of lineart, but it’s all done without much conscious understanding of what’s going on at this point, so it’s sort of hard for me to break it down, but lemme see what I can do

Generally I just think of things “Outer Lines” and “Inner Lines”.

Outer lines are thicker, and define the edges of objects and shapes. They show Silhouettes and Overlapping.

Inner lines are there for details. They show structural elements, shapes, patterns, textures, and contours.

I also just like using large ink masses to show coloration, shadow, and idk other things. That’s not really linework?? I think. but I like having them flow together organically anyway, bc I like the idea of the gestalt play it creates.

Line Weight and Line Variation and w/e are all big words in linework, but as far as I can tell their rules are all very ambiguous. I like thickening lines to show contrast in how much things stick out, how much shadow they gather, and how clear the silhouette is

Lines are a pretty much?? fictional concept honestly. Most shapes you look at don’t have any ‘lines’, so what you’re drawing is just “points of contrast” and “edges” and “disruptions in visible patterns.” My artistic theory is basically making lines thicker where the contrast is stronger and thinner where it’s less so.

I use inner lines to show the structures of things (as well as play with implying structures that don’t necessarily make sense bc I like that sort of thing) idk anything and I’m really sleepy

One thing to keep in mind is that if you draw something on one side of something that’s supposed to be symmetric, it’s a good idea to imply it on the other side (and also a good idea to make sure it’s lining up approx right in perspective) I also did this Wrong in my example, since the two lines I highlighted on the face are not eachother’s symmetries, since the right one is the cheek marker and the right is the eyemarker. so woops???

So that’s basically it?? I think. I’d love to talk more later but my lineart is really something that I’m not?? very sure about. I love varying widths and I love using lines like paint and like ink and making messes

One thing that some people notice when I’m working is that I don’t really?? use sketch layers, I just transform them into the final piece, and I end up using a lot of the throwaway lines for texture and flow reinforcement. Honestly I just do this bc I hate Layers and I love things that don’t 100% make structural sense.

Art is an experimental and personal process and I encourage you to use any words I (or others!) say to inspire yourself, try out techniques and see how they work for you, and eventually come up with your own internal formulas!