The Artist Army

[kirill]

Another question: I'm planning to buy a digital art tablet for some time, so I'm wondering:

1) What brands/models do you use?
2) What software/s do you use?
3) What difficulties did you have in transitioning from traditional to digital, or from using the hardware/software?
4) How long did it take you to learn the basics and/or master other advanced techniques?
5) Any tips? hehe

I'm thinking of getting Wacom Intuos...
Thanks in advance, I'll really appreciate any answers I'll get!



1) I use the Wacom Bamboo Create. I believe that the Capture is cheaper, but it's the same tablet, just a bit smaller. I actually own both the Capture and Create, because I thought that my Capture was broken when it was really my laptop's problem OTL I'd definitely recommend this tablet as your first one.

2) I use Paint Tool SAI, but if you don't want to buy it/risk getting it for free, I suggest FireAlpaca. It's pretty good for a free program.

3) When I first got my tablet, I hated it. I was already drawing with a mouse, so I just put it in my closet, where it sat for a month or two before I decided to try it again. I got used to it pretty quickly after that, and today I couldn't imagine going back to mouse art~

4) Like I said, I was already drawing with a mouse from 6 months to a year before I got my tablet, so I already knew a bit about digital art. I used a lot of tutorials to learn techniques, and I'm still learning more all the time~ If you do get FireAlpaca, SAI, or a similar program with a wand and lock alpha tool, feel free to PM me to learn an easy way to color :0 I spent so long fussing over coloring before I realized that getting your base color with the magic wand tool only takes a few clicks.

5) Basically what I wrote in 4 xD There's a really easy way to color using the wand, expand and invert. If anyone is coloring things by hand they can PM me and I'll show them cx

I really hope this helped! Good luck c:



Question for any artist: who is/are the artist/s who inspire you to draw better? Like whenever you just look at their work, you go like, 'i wanna be able to draw like that one day!'



I love Kateboat's art *v* Lupisvulpes has also been an inspiration for me.

[SteamRunner]

Yeah it had like major issues with the cable? The cable itself broke, some cable-related thing inside the tablet dislodged itself, and now I don't even know what's wrong with it but it becomes unresponsive every so often and I have to disconnect and reconnect the cable- Idk if its a cable problem or just the tablet LOL But I hate my intuos 5...

LOL omg I remember that you idiot

Same happened to mine a few months ago, I always use it wireless thou the charging cable decided to break on me and the cable connecter in my tablet like yours. So I wasn't able to use it at all, It was absolutely horrible experience not having to be able to use a tablet at all. I also had to wait like forever for them to finish fixing it because they needed the parts to finish it.

I'm having no problems now, but my pen is missing it's spring (guilty I did play with it and lost it multiple times). It still works, it just has it's moments where it didn't want to work or the pen pressure doesn't work. I just need to get a new one, I did have a new one when my tablet came back from repairs, but I forgot it at a airport when I was reorganizing the wires I had, and forgot to put it back in my bag.

[emberonis]

I've read that there is a problem with the jack on the tablet itself for the Intuos Pro/Intuos 5. Which is really disappointing, because I'm looking into upgrading my tablet next year, and the Intuos Pro is the one I was looking at. Something about the port being too big or two small and the cord not fitting into it correctly? And then the cords just not being the best of quality? The cord I had for my Bamboo Create died, but we have a ton of phones in our house that use a micro USB cord so replacing it wasn't an issue. (My dad had bought a bunch from the internet to use at work. I think I'm on my third cord (including the one that came with my tablet), but that's just because they were cheap. It's also been like two and a half years since I got the tablet.)

In any case, if it were just a problem of the cord itself breaking, that's an easy and cheap fix. Just buy a new micro USB cord, they're pretty commonly available and most tablets and phones use them. But I read that it was more a problem with the jack in the tablet so I just -flails- I hope they fix it before I buy a new tablet, but if not I might have to look into some alternatives. I've done a bunch of research but it makes me a little nervous to buy a tablet outside of Wacom. Anyone have experience with both Wacom and an alternative brand? How do they compare? My Create has worked fine for me, but I'd like to get one with higher pressure sensitivity eventually. There doesn't seem to be the same USB port problem in the Bamboo/current Intuos line.

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@mitochondrial eve: No problem! I think a lot of it is largely a matter of personal preference, along with budget. As far as I can tell, the current Intuos line, which is basically just a rebranded version of the Bamboo line they had a few years back, doesn't have too many problems. It's when you go to the Intuos Pro that has that pesky port issue, I'm pretty sure.

AS for your painting, I just want to say that it's beautiful <3 The only thing I noticed really was the nose, the nostrils seem maybe a little off? But different people have different noses so it might just be that xD It all looks pretty spot on. I'm not super good at watercolor or drawing the human face so I don't know if I can really give you any real critique, but I think it's gorgeous.

Also, I followed you on dA. I've been there for several years now, so if you have any questions, feel free to PM me? By the way, your art is fantastic, and it's totally a welcome addition to watch feed! Watercolor is a favorite medium of mine (though I'm not very good at it) and I'm always looking for cool art to keep an eye on. So yeah.

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Annnd finally I have a question for you traditional artists. I got some copic sketch markers for my birthday last week, and though I haven't had a super hard to adjusting to them exactly, I'm still not sure I really have the hang of them? Does anyone have experience with them? Like... how do you use the colorless blender? Any general tips?

[meowool]

For me it was the cord, but as we all have android phones, we are swimming in microUSB cables at home, so it's no problem! XD

[nimuulap]

@mitochondrial eve

I love the colours used in the painting *-* I have this weakness for beautiful palettes and the colours used in that painting are just magnifique ;v;

I can't draw realism (anymore) ;v;

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@Akami-chan

I've never had any issues with my tablet... (not really sure what kind of Intuos tablet it is either) But then again, I've only had it for almost 6 months TTvTT

I usually keep the cable connected to the computer and I don't touch it. It's been like that for a while ;v; I don't use the wireless feature either for I don't even know how that works and I prefer to keep the cable just as it is until forever ^-^

But I did have a tablet (not a drawing one, just a tablet) and its charging cord broke a while ago. My dad bought a new one online and it worked so I suppose that's all it needs? I'm not very good with technology but maybe it's just a matter of getting a new cord ^-^


edit:
I managed to finish something ;v; My friend Greenleaf and I made instrument personifications and I found it to be a good chance for flat colour practice TTvTT
Didn't work out ;A;

Click here

[gwanu]

1) What brands/models do you use?
I use the wacom bamboo and have been using it for the past three years. It's an okay tablet but has a lot of huge issues, so I'm planning to buy one. One of the issues I had is that the cable that connects it to the computer broke and so did something inside the tablet. I switched the cord with something similar, so now it works but at first boot it does not recognise the pen. The pen pressure recognition is also pretty bad and age has caught up with it. If you're a beginner tablet user and was buying before two years I would've recommended this. It is also the cheapest one that is decent quality - 50 euros
2) What software/s do you use?
I use FireAlpaca for any lifework just because, Photoshop for 99% of the work and sometimes Sketchbook pro when I feel like doing certain things.
3) What difficulties did you have in transitioning from traditional to digital, or from using the hardware/software?
My main difficulty was that when I first saw how terrible I was at drawing on the computer I didn't want to go on. I also felt like I was not going to improve. Luckily I did with time, so do not ever give up and just keep practising.
4) How long did it take you to learn the basics and/or master other advanced techniques?
It can take from days to months. Take baby steps and you'll see how easier things become with time.
5) Any tips? hehe
I guess to just keep on going, ask for some criticism, use it and try to improve your work. Things may seem hard at first but they usually go for the better. Also, practise, LOADS. I used to think that that's one of the most overused advice, but now I see that it is one of the main things to keep in mind.

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[song&storm]

@notifyneelix and @paluumin
Thank you very much!

So I'm back again and this time I am looking for critique for my OC design:

vv by Pavane
ww by me // xx by me // yy by spectres
a recent quick ref I made

Other than that, can someone help me out with a better color palette for her? I like the pastel colors but idk
Her personality is supposed to be very feminine, ambitious, and intelligent, but I don't know if her current design conveys that properly, so I'd like some help or suggestions on what I should add/remove/edit?

edit: HUGE thanks to Geinkotsu for replying to me via pm! c:

[crystal gryphon]

-snip-
heya !! sorry for the bad quality, but i would absolutely love a redline on the backlegs? she's supposed to be jumping but hhhhh

critique.jpg (127.42 KiB) Viewed 77 times

Here you go. it's not very good, but you probably get what i'm trying to do.
I can't tell if they are jumping off of something, landing, or in midair. I went with landing for this.

-----
I need some help with this:

(that guy is the Batter from OFF, my latest obsession hehe)
I just need critique for the two that i outlined (they look like they're in the middle of battling eachother pff)
For the Batter i need help with posing and anatomy(he's supposed to look like he's about to hit someone rather than playing baseball), and for the creature i tried doing some weird perspective thing, but it looks weird to me.

[Akami-chan]

@Paluumin Yeah I have 3 wacom brand Tablets, Intuos 3 works like a charm, intuos 5 has all the problems (I definitely experience the thing with the USB jack. All my cords like wobble when they're plugged in). And My Cintiq is great besides the mountain of wires that you need to work with.

[Neon-chan]

@notifyneelix and @paluumin
Thank you very much!

So I'm back again and this time I am looking for critique for my OC design:

vv by Pavane
ww by me // xx by me // yy by spectres
a recent quick ref I made

Other than that, can someone help me out with a better color palette for her? I like the pastel colors but idk
Her personality is supposed to be very feminine, ambitious, and intelligent, but I don't know if her current design conveys that properly, so I'd like some help or suggestions on what I should add/remove/edit?

edit: HUGE thanks to Geinkotsu for replying to me via pm! c:

Soooo pretty /)030(\ I love your shading with everything!

Maybe something that goes with her eyes, like some more blue? But not dark like the background, more like a brighter, lighter blue? I suggest to make everything a bit more bright, but just a bit.

Hope I helped! ^^^



I really need some help with human/ anime anatomy, especially in the torso and legs, I'm trying to draw more poses and such, since I want to get into animations C: I also need help with chibi anatomy. Since I am a beginner, I'd like something more understandable? Something that starts me.

I really want to get more into digital, And I'd like to know if you guys recommend anything for beginners? I already have Gimp, but it's hard to get used to. So far I'm just using sketchbook pro on my iPad. One reason I need help is because I'm left-handed, and my mouse is for right-handed people. So if you have some knowledge on how to use something, please say!