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Balancing References & Style: Steps Towards Original Art Part 2 (4H Video + File)

Hey everyone!

Continuing with what we were discussing in yesterday's post about "Steps Towards Original Art," during this process, you will find insights about my approach to using references to create original ideas, guiding the way from using references beyond just studies.

Bird Character

The most extreme case was the angel/devil character, in which I primarily used the pose and fabric texture as a base, then I explored the expression and proportions of th...

Trapped in Study Mode? Steps Towards Original Art

Hey Everyone!

I've been discussing with some of you the challenge of stepping outside the 'study' zone and moving into a more 'original' or 'creative art' space. So today I wanted to bring this topic to the table and see how I can help.

Testimony

Recently, one particular artist/patron has been studying anatomy for a significant period of time (a year and a half) and currently doesn't feel comfortable stepping into a more creative approach. One of their goa...

Exploring Interaction: A Critical Element in Illustrations (File + 5H Video)

Hey everyone!

In this article, I'll guide you through the creation of my 'Lineman' illustration, which blends features from the Booby bird and the linemen profession. I'll be diving into both the conceptual and technical aspects of the process, particularly emphasizing a simple tip for incorporating character-environment interaction for storytelling. Also, I'll be discussing the interplay of color, including my rationale behind choosing certain shades and tones, and ho...

The Impact Of Color: An Introspective Approach on Guillermo Del Toro

Hey everyone!

As artists, we want to create a strong impression on our viewers, something that prevails in their memory. And I think one of the most powerful visual ways is through values and colors. Setting proper lighting and a balanced colored composition can evoke feelings in the audience. So how do we do that?

Today's post is a bit different. Usually, I address a point/problem with a consistent set of steps and exercises for you to execute, but this time I wanted to adopt mor...

From Grief to Art: Using Suffering to Create Characters/Stories (Soulmates Video + PSD)

Hey everyone!

My goal as an artist is not just to make pretty pictures. Yes, it's one of the things I love since I'm very into visual stuff, but beyond that, I believe one of the most interesting opportunities we have as artists is to portray our human experience. Being "original" is not about being eccentric, colorful, or extroverted, it's about thinking for yourself, being aware of your surroundings, and making an interpretation of that. We share so many things but every experience is...

Creating From Imagination! - A Pattern Recognition Exercise!

Hey Everyone!

Today, I want to share a simple exercise to strengthen your ability to draw from imagination. As I've mentioned before, creating from imagination is largely an act of recalling from memory. We can assume that our brains collect vast amounts of visual information throughout our lives, and this data gets triggered when we need to visualize something.

We have a natural tendency to simplify the world, which might not be super accurate in detail but helps us understand wh...

Afraid of Making Mistakes? - Productive Block & Perfectionism: 2 Strategies to Break Free! (Predators 8h Video + File)

Hey, guys!

We have been discussing how we can overcome the creative block, but how about the productive block? This is kind of like the total opposite. Instead of having no idea what to do, assuming you've overcome your creative block with a nice set of points to address in your art, the "productive block" is actually the thing that stopped you.

Picture this: You have so many possible ways to do something that you don't even know where to start, and worse than that, you're afraid ...

Capturing Energy! Tips to Expression, Dynamism, and Perspective Depth

Hey everyone!

During this series, my focus was on capturing the energy of the original references through expressions and dynamism. On top of that, I added a small twist commonly found in my illustrations related to depth. Let's break down each step so you can apply this to your illustrations.

Expression Energy
Expression in characters can be represented through body posture or facial expression. Both work separately and together to create interesting gestures....

New Patron's Beginner Guide: Navigating Collections for Faster Art Improvement

Welcome!

You've just joined my Patreon and if you're overwhelmed by the great amount of content you've just unlocked, don't worry. In this article, I'll help you tackle this issue so you can get the most out of my work for your improvement.

Let's divide our plan into three steps: My Process, Information, and Execution:

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1. My Process

The first thing you need to understand is my creative process:

My process is pretty straightforward. I sp...

Simplified Shadows to Pump Up Colors! File + 4H Process Video

Hey guys!

What are you finding useful in this particular process?

Cell + Color Burn
As you may have noticed, the render in these two pieces leans more towards the cell style, similar to animation, but slightly more complex since I'm adding an extra "color burn" shadow right on the edge of the shadow shape. This small touch pumps up the shapes a bit more, making them look more realistic. If you're interested in pushing this technique further towards a more real...

Color Palettes Made Easy: 3 Steps Exercise!

Hey everyone!

You've just finished a nice drawing and you feel proud about it. You even added some values. But then the color phase comes and you have no idea what palette to choose. Your colors look saturated, too dark, or they are a total mess.

Today, I'll share a very simple coloring exercise for you to try with your characters or any kind of composition you're creating.

1. Mid Tones Color

In my past article "2023-06-27 14:24:28 +0000 UTC View Post

My First Time Using Outfit Values - Moon Kutepunk Process + File

Hello Hello!

This process is particularly interesting because I approached the conceptual and technical aspects in a different way. To make things easy for you, this article will be divided into "Concept" and "Technique" sections. Feel free to skip to each phase depending on your interest. Let's dive in!

Concept Insights

I didn't start with the "moon" topic as a main goal from the beginning. I wanted to address the second application of the "cube" theory over these next se...

Anatomy Meets Perspective: Master the Cube Part 2 - Kutepunk 7

Hi everyone!

In my last article, we talked about enhancing your perspective skills with a simple cube exercise using head references. Now, let's extend this technique to the entire human body.

The complexity of human anatomy can be a lifelong artistic challenge, but my aim here is to introduce a straightforward structure that you can use to create characters with varied gestures and perspectives, all while keeping proportions accurate.

Here, I'll elaborate on two commonly us...

I Did This Illustration Twice, Did I Fail? 🤔 - Kutepunk Kari Video + File

Hello! 

During this process, you'll notice that I changed the entire illustration after I was 80% done. Here's why:

Problem
This painting was created in two days. During the first day, I was in the middle of a tough situation. I don't usually share specifics, but sometimes life throws an extra dose of chaos your way, and if you're not prepared, it can hit you hard. Nevertheless, I tried my best with this painting during that period. At the end of the day, ...

Simple Perspective Exercise! Master the Cube - Kutepunk Kari

Hey guys!

Today, I wanted to talk about a topic that people often associate with my work, perspective. The fast and maybe boring answer to how to improve is "practice", but that leads to more questions. Practice what? Where do I start? What should I actually study? I also ask myself similar questions when I'm trying to improve certain skills. So, here's a simple exercise you can try if you're facing similar challenges. I call it "Master The Cube" *insert deep voice and echo*. 2023-06-20 14:29:15 +0000 UTC View Post

Painting Shadows! - "Hungry" 7H Process Video + File

Hey guys!

In this process video, you will see two different approaches to concept and technique, especially in how soft and hard edges can boost the realism of your shadows (using only two brushes). Let's dive in!

Concept

I did not start with the "hungry" idea. Instead, I chose interesting pictures to study values. Throughout the process, I thought about customizing the cloth with candy-related themes, and one thing led to another. I adapted the proces...

Flat Characters? 3 Steps to Nail Realistic Lighting - Cutepunk 5: Hungry

Hey everyone!

Do you notice your characters looking flat in terms of values and don't know why? Today, I'll give you three tips that I'm currently using for my latest pieces, and you can try them in any of yours!

Let's dive into my process during these series. Technically speaking, I'm currently working on values, specifically cloth values. I study how the fabric behaves based on the character's gesture and, as a consequence, how the edges of the shadow must be shaped.

1. I ...

Blocked by Overthinking? 3 Tips to Deal with It - Cutepunk Tiger File + 4H Process Video

Hey guys!

My approach to illustration can often be confusing. As I've mentioned in the post about my "Composition Formula" two weeks ago, I have a list of points I like to address, but being overly technical from the start doesn't always work. Sometimes the "core" idea shifts, it could be a gesture, a composition, a cute little animal, or a video. The truth is, inspiration comes in various fo...

Dealing With Burnout!: 4 Personal Tips - Masterclass #9

Hey everyone!

Often I have the opportunity to create something, but I don't want to, and sometimes I don't even understand why exactly. Maybe it's because I feel tired, maybe I feel it's a waste of time, or maybe I just need someone to talk about it for a few mins. Knowing exactly what bothers us sometimes can be essential to improve our performance. This requires a certain level of awareness, a few minutes of self reflection, and actually taking the extra time to regulate our needs as ...

Rendering Fabric With Only TWO BRUSHES - Process Video and File! (11h Of Pure Sauce)

Hello guys!

Here is the process video and file for the last post's exploration about fabric. This time, you'll find a different approach in terms of composition, not a crazy perspective or full body, but I still keep some small points I usually use when creating art. Although I was only exploring fabric, I pushed the perspective of the characters' poses by drawing a three-dimensional square on top and adjusting the shape towards that guide. This way, I add a nice touch to the shape.

4 Points to Avoid When Drawing/Painting Fabric! (Stylization)

Hey guys! 

I'm sure you already know this, but it's important to revisit from time to time what 'style' means. Style is basically how you simplify the world; you must constantly pay attention and reproduce with your hands what you see, for a duration long enough to find patterns and simplify through your unique interpretation. This often happens organically, without you even noticing, but it requires days of repetition. So how do we make that first step? Simply by choosing some nic...

Cutepunk Series - Process Video and Files (Creating From Imagination)

Hey guys!

Here are the process and files for the Cutepunk series and yesterday's Mimi Illustration. What you'll find in these files is a mixture of creation from imagination and references (Concept, illustrations, and character design).

Cutepunk 1: https://youtu.be/pH3NJ0S1BYE

Cutepunk 2: https://youtu.be/hT3t4qFY-D8

Mimi Illustratio...

Creating From Imagination - 3 Tips to Bootstrap Your Process

Hey guys,

As artists, we strive to create 100% original art, something we feel proud of and that's also unique. However, we often face a daunting barrier due to a lack of creativity and technical skills. The solution is straightforward; drawing from imagination is simply using your memory to record moments and grasp the technical structures of art fundamentals while sitting in front of your laptop, PC, sketchbook, or canvas.

To become efficient, you must dedicate a significant amo...

Dive Deep into 'Bird Portraits' Process Videos and Files!

Hey Everyone! In this post, you will find the process video and file of the bird portraits! This was a fun and frustrating experience. Frustration often surfaces when I draw, but I'm used to it since it's just part of the process. Offering some uniqueness to you is what brings meaning to me, not just creating pictures but interesting ideas and iterations of the real world.

If you read the posts from last week, you'll notice that I'm currently using a "formula" for my latest pieces. This...