#TBT To One Of My Favorite Digital Pieces. Swipe To See The Details And My Process. Hope You Enjoy~ 🔹

I’ve been meaning to share some artwork that was made for me by friends. Here’s a piece my good friend @krazykat188 made for me for my birthday 2 years ago, featuring my characters. (Ik, I’m super late) She doesn’t post much but I love her art style and you guys should go check out her work. 😊 Thanks again Kat! 🔹 ⠀ #art #instaart #DailyArt #ArtoftheDay #fanart #fanartfriday #artwork #ink #sketchbook #traditionalart #traditionalartwork #sketch #draw #drawing #comic #comicart #originalcharacter #characterdesign #pencil #coloredpencil #pencildrawing #pencilsketch #instaart #instaartist #instadraw #artistsofinstagram #artistsoninstagram #artist #CrystaltheCC #crystalcurie (at Long Beach, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CEuv5WiDAyG/?igshid=1b0ho3qbnobba

I just heard of Cognitive Drawing recently and I was so intrigued by the idea that I had to try it for myself. I'm surprised how much I memorized about the eye in step 5! (bottom left) Definitely going to go through the rest of the book over the next 24 days. 😊 Credit goes to @jason_brubaker for the concept and book.

I was reminded of this Halloween-themed challenge I made for myself 5 years ago and thought I’d attempt it again last minute. I’ll be drawing my OCs in Halloween outfits for (hopefully) the whole month. I would’ve posted this sooner but I’ve been feeling kinda icky lately (prob just the weather affecting me again) and like I said I thought of this last minute. If you use my prompt list, please use the hashtag #crystal_OAC2020 so I can see what you guys make. And feel free to tackle the prompts in any order you like. Enjoy~ 😊🍂🍁 🎃 https://www.instagram.com/p/CF3ZV2cDIbF/?igshid=14kn2a040jk91

Here's another animation (Plotagraph) that I made last semester using my self-portrait illustration. I encourage you to watch this one carefully; the movements are very subtle. Hope you enjoy~ 😊

Completed Theme 6 yesterday! I've been busy with school as this semester is wrapping up. 🔹 I haven't drawn this character in a while so she got a bit of a makeover. I'm also experimenting with adding highlights, and using only alcohol-based markers. I like that they give my drawings a nice smooth look. 🙂 I hope you enjoy~

Theme 7 is Memory and the sketch is a redrawing of a redrawing. I guess you could say that it's also a memory of a memory. 😆⠀ 🔹⠀ I decided to revisit a drawing in my sketchbook that was done earlier this year. I redrew a drawing of mine for a class project (because I was fond of it) and looking back on it now, I wasn't happy with how the guy's face came out when I first drew it. So I redrew his face, added some more heartwarming elements, and next, I'm going to add more ink to make it pop. 😊🎄⠀

Love this

Here’s a Gif of the brush in action so you can see what it looks like:

You can find the brushes here! 💕💕💕

I will also be posting an extra notes pack for $5 that will cover:

-how to add stars and effects easily

-how to adjust your image easily

You will be able to find those notes here!

ideas of exercises to help with your practical art skills, as well as things to keep in mind while making art and new ways to find inspiration:

draw every day

recreate a drawing you did before, but better

draw something using only simple geometric shapes

do studies of famous artworks

listen to artists explain their work, it’s super interesting

take life drawing classes (or use online photo resources)

find an artwork you love, and work out why

draw caricatures of friends

set a 1 minute timer and draw an object as quickly as possible

draw something you can’t see, eg. music, emotion

research artists you admire and find out how they work

think about composition: what stands out, what recedes etc.

find a famous artwork you hate and work out why

sit outside and draw the landscape

copy a photo exactly

draw a scene from a film

draw the contours of an object not the outline

visit an art exhibition near you

draw your bedroom

look up tutorials online - there’s so many useful ones!

practise creating contrast between light and dark in pictures

research colour theory

do a self portrait

learn about art history! Research different movements etc.

try a new medium

consider the feeling you want to portray with the artwork

draw without looking at the page

draw a character from a book you’ve read

draw something you don’t usually draw

look at your pictures in the mirror to help you see problems better

follow artists and galleries on instagram for inspo

draw an ugly object in a beautiful way

try using only bold, bright colours

plan your colour palette before starting an artwork, and stick to it!

if you usually work in 2D, make something in 3D

always remember to add shadows

draw an object which is important to you

use 5 lines to depict an object, make every line count

draw using negative space

always draw from life when possible!

think carefully about which direction the light is coming from

study proportions and anatomy!! 

draw your pet

research items symbolic meanings in art

make an art blog to compile images that inspire you

draw using only straight lines

try accentuating any subtle colours in an image

draw models from fashion websites

sketch with friends! They always have great ideas

keep drawing even if you find it hard, you improve with every mistake!

{my art masterpost might also be useful to you} 

Good luck! xx

Reblogging because this is really good advice!

Hi Jenny, I was curious and looking for advice. I graduated from LCAD just last year, but I'm still having a lot of trouble achieving a more natural look to my digital art and linework. (I took Vargo's digital painting class, but my linework usually looks like stairsteps instead of smooth). Your work is always very lovely, smooth, and natural looking, is it okay if I ask what you do to achieve it? Or what program/tablet do you prefer to use?

Hi there, thanks for the kind words! First off I want to make a disclaimer for everyone here at the top: these are my own thoughts and opinions based on how I personally work & perceive my work. This advice is not for everyone, if it’s not for you that’s totally cool, everyone has their own path!As for your question this is a really difficult one to answer. There is no program or brush that helps with what you are trying to achieve. All the drawings I do are done in photoshop on a Wacom Cintiq (sometimes an iPad) and each drawing uses a variety of the Kyle brushes. I understand the frustration of not being taught how to clean digital line work or even to be able to sketch digitally but the best way to think of it is if you are inking on paper and to treat it the same way- difference is there is the safety net of the Cntrl Z hah. I also was never taught how to sketch or draw in any program so I was self taught, even through college. I had to just practice constantly until I was able to achieve the line quality that I was after. 

Here are some great tips I have gotten over the years:

-The line is the essence of what you are drawing, it’s more than just the contour of the form or an identifiable path; it is the flow and movement in which the drawing is given life

-Try not to make mindless lines, every line should have it’s purpose so do it thoughtfully. This means being thoughtful of your silhouettes, straight against curves, so on & so forth.

-Try not to lift your pencil off of the paper so much, if you want to avoid the “hairy line” 

-Be aware if you are using your shoulder/ elbow movement to draw or if you are tensing up & only using your wrist. This breaks fluidity in your body thus also breaking the fluidity of the drawing.

-Be confident in your lines- it shows!

-Less is more

I’m sorry there isn’t a definitive answer for this question but I hope these tips help. In the end it really just took me a lot of practice, self study & self discipline. Don’t give up & just keep practicing! <3

We're a quarter of the way into the Fall semester and October is just around the corner! 😱 I've been busy, working on a few art projects, but I got in some quick sketches here and there. Hope you enjoy! More artwork to come soon. 😊🍁⠀