So yeah I'm not exactly *new* or anything :P Only to posting

[LaconianShot]

My my. It is yours. Excellent. Tell me... what medium did you use to draw that? And do you have a site with more of your work on it? You see, I'm something of an aspiring artist, and any skill such as yours can only be a good influence...

[Ultema]

That's actually a fairly quick pencil sketch with a very minor photoshop dressup (comprising of approximately 3 colors (limiting yourself is fun), no layers, done "traditionally" (ie> tablet, normal coloring style).<p>I only use my tablet for coloring (or pixel art), because I have a hard time with drawing with it... Pencils and pens on paper all the way for lineart and whathaveyou. I don't use traditional media because I am too broke for the amount of junk I do to constantly be buying new supplies, and I don't like getting messy, hehehe.<p>http://ultema.deviantart.com<p>that's where I put most of my stuff. Sadly I haven't updated in about a month, and I urge you to join if you have access to a scanner, I love to see the work of others.<br><p>[size=small][Edit by Ultema on [TIME]1106360273[/TIME]][/size]

[LaconianShot]

Ah, I don't have a tablet. Do you mean to tell me that you sketched it, and then added color after? Personally, I've never actually fooled around with coloring... I'm just trying to get good with pencil technique.

[Ultema]

Yep! That's what I do. This one was only sketched, not inked<p>http://www.deviantart.com/view/7812313/<p>That's the full version of it. Sometimes sketchy is better, I think, hehe.<p>Getting good with pencil technique is a good idea! Some of the most beautifully rendered things are solely in pencil black and white because you can do so much with it, from smooth shading, to tortillian blending, chairascuro effects, hatching and cross hatching, negative space...<p>In fact it's been a while since I've done anything solely in pencil (people complained I didn't have enough color, sigh ) ... you make me want to do something solely in pencil again, soon. Thanks for the inspiration

[Lord Khyron]

If you only knew Siren.. If you only knew..<p>What went on back in those days, You'd faint..<p>Right Ultema?

[Ultema]

<blockquote><i>Originally posted by Lord Khyron</i><p>If you only knew Siren.. If you only knew..<p>What went on back in those days, You'd faint..<p>Right Ultema? <br></blockquote><p>BAHAHAHAA!

[Neo48]

OMG!!!!<p>Elgin is affiliated with that!<p>Choked realities....WOOHOO!!!!

[Ultema]

<blockquote><i>Originally posted by Neo48</i><p>OMG!!!!<p>Elgin is affiliated with that!<p>Choked realities....WOOHOO!!!!<br></blockquote><p>Oh, Word? :O What's the URL dude!?

[Werefox]

I may have seen you on some boards, I don't remember where, though. But I've seen some of your art a while ago...Very nice! I especially like the picture your avatar is from.<p>Welcome to the Cave, Ultema.

[LaconianShot]

<blockquote>That's the full version of it. Sometimes sketchy is better, I think, hehe.</blockquote> <br>Indeed. I quite like that! I like how you draw the facial structure with an element of realism, instead of the popular anime-style pointed chin. <br><blockquote>smooth shading, to tortillian blending, chairascuro effects, hatching and cross hatching, negative space...</blockquote> <br>The fact that I don't know what any of those techniques are makes me seem somewhat foolish. Ah, time to get educated... can you recommend any good books for learning such techniques?

[Neo48]

You want the URL to Choked Realities, Ultema?

[Siren]

<blockquote>Indeed. I quite like that! I like how you draw the facial structure with an element of realism, instead of the popular anime-style pointed chin. </blockquote> <p>::nods::<p>I'm starting to get sick of anime style. Since I haven't developed much technique on face sketches, I think now would be time to learn. Very nice art.

[Etra McGarl]

Nice to have you here, and an artist, your works very good <p>I'm still trying to develop my style though, its very mangaish(as you can probully tell by my avatar) well anywho nice to have you here

[Ultema]

Thank you for the welcome, everybody, really. I feel like, all warm and fuzzy :B<p>And for the compliments, thank you! I am still in the process ofl earning since I feel the day I am completely happy with what I do, will be the day I stop advancing and I don't want that to happen.<p>I started out with a very sterotypical (and _UGLY_, rofl) anime style when I started drawing, and I think I had my priorities set wrong; I wanted to be *just like* my favorite artists, which is a bad way to go, in my personal experience.<p>For comparison (even though the "recent" picture is about two years old now itself o_O;): http://www.deviantart.com/view/8796057/<p>I had no concept of anatomy or anything, and the people around me didn't really help because all I got were things like "I like this" or "it looks great", and whether or not they were being sincere, that didn't really help as you can see XD. Eventually I gave up wanting to be like my favorite artists and started to just develop on my own.<p> Figure drawing classes can help quite a bit, though my actual ILLUSTRATION class set me back countless times. It was awful X_x; I like, stopped doing anything for fun the entire time I was involved in that class because it was just constant whipping about my style ( you know art schools and anything that resembles anime/manga). Of course, I completely owned the teacher, but that's another story entirely XD<p>When I got *out* of classes, though, I managed to get better exponentially since I wasn't tied down doing the humdrum work that was assigned to me, and started picking up projects on my own. I'm continuing to refine every aspect I can about my art. Working on variation of facial feature and experimenting with coloring techniques are currently the biggest thing on my plate. <p>I'm glad you like my facial structures - as for the stereotypical anime-style type genre -- I know what you mean. Not to say I don't do realism when I have to, but I don't get any satisfaction out of doing complete realism -- melding it with something that is (er... relatively) fast and good for design and illustration (which is what I do XD), it becomes something that is more mine, know what I mean? ^^ I try to keep my body structures as realistic as possible (I don't do "tube/noodle" arms and legs, my characters have differing body types, my female character's breasts respond to gravity (gasp!) and I'm not heavily into "Bishounen". I like my men with some muscle yanno XD).<p>The best advice I can give, really (since I can't teach worth squat O_O), is to practice, observe people (if you're doing people), observe animals if you're doing animals. Get a digital camera, take pictures, search for photographic reference online, etc... just don't copy what you see from existing drawn images.<p> If you're not going for a more realistic edge to your art (nothing wrong with that!), be sure it's how -you- interpret and abstract your subject, not your subject as interpreted by someone else and then you, because your style will be masked by the other person's (As in, how people tend to like to copy Rumiko Takahashi's style to look like Inu Yasha/Ranma, or Naoko Takeuchi's to look like Sailor Moon *guilty past offender... sue me I was like 13*).<p>Learn how materials respond to the human body and musculature, and how things fold, what kinds of materials fold more than others (I'll give this one away: Heavier materials fold less than thinner ones do! Heavy cotton will not make as many folds as say, cheesecloth :B).<p>If you're into manga or anime and want to try it, study it yes, but don't copy it!<p>Umm.... as for books, I'm not really sure. You could probably find a few things online about all those sorts of techniques (hatching and cross hatching probably being the easiest to find, considering many comic books both eastern and western use it)... I learned of them mostly in High School art classes. <p>Most of all don't be discouraged if people dislike what you're strongly interested in! Many art movements were met with incredible opposition but it only goes to show what an art movement it really was. If you feel inspired and moved by some genre in particular and feel you want to persue it, it's no one's business to tell you not to, don't let other people dictate your life (ROFL UNLESS.. um... you're working for them, then you kinda have to listen I guess 9_9a).<p>Aaaand I completely derailed my train of thought for now XD<p>But seriously! if any of you guys have anything you'd like me to look at and critque (I'm honest, so look out Honest but not a jerk anyway XD) you can PM me, or leave me your AIM name and I'll add you to my list (as I'm currently blocking the world that isn't on it...) ... You can also join http://www.deviantart.com and drop me your ID, and I'll watch you and give you pointers as you ask for them. I'm at least somewhat useful at that <p>*looks back up at post*<p>Holy hell. o_O<p>OH AND... Neo -- yes please <br><p>[size=small][Edit by Ultema on [TIME]1106443894[/TIME]][/size]

[LaconianShot]

Hmm. Nice food for thought. <br>Well, I don't have anything that I've sketched recently to show, but all this talk has compelled me to go sketch. I swear, it never fails.<br>I suppose I could describe my "style" (using that word seems a little conceited to me... I have no clue why)...<br>First of all, I use realistic jaw lines for facial structure, as well as regular noses that disregard the "dainty" noses that are popular in anime. I also *try* to form the arms and legs that I draw according to real muscle formations. I try to break all the anime-ish cliches that I have noticed are very popular, though I've always been a profound believer in the ambiguity of anime style hair.<br>I feel that I could learn a lot from you. My AIM SN is LaconianShot.<br><p>[size=small][Edit by LaconianShot on [TIME]1106444462[/TIME]][/size]