How to Draw and Paint Faces - All My Tips in One Article
I've written extensively about this subject through several different posts, from anatomy to expression, yet I could not share a single post that condenses all the key ideas behind creating faces, so in today's post I'll be sharing them from the beginning of my Patreon up to today, along with linking the original post in which I developed each idea deeper for you to dive in. Subscribe and unlock this today!
How to Start - Study
Pushing Colors, Lasso Tool and Warp - My Process Video and Brushes!
Here are some insights on my latest practices, along with practical art suggestions, my process video, files, and brushes! Subscribe and let's dive in:
Flirting with Death - Focal points in a reference
It's been a while since I've painted bones, and I quite like the romantic feeling in this reference. I've always bet on a picture with a dramatic facial expression and hands performing some kind of action. Besides, my intuition suggests that repetitive structures li...
2025-10-03 16:06:56 +0000 UTC View PostHow to Spot What's Off in a Finished Piece
When a completed artwork feels "off," identifying the issue can be challenging. Here are three practical tips to address this problem. Subscribe to unlock this content if you haven't already:
1. Check Composition and Balance
Check the visual flow. Is the focal point clear, or are elements competing for attention? Use the rule of thirds or leading lines to assess balance. Step back or view a thumbnail to spot distracting areas or a weak focal point. Adjust by repos...
2025-09-29 15:58:18 +0000 UTC View PostFixing Poor Drawing with Realistic Painting! - My Process Video and Brushes!
Hi there! Here are some insights on my latest practices, along with practical art suggestions, my process video, files, and brushes! Let's dive in:
A Sad Look Lines Can Catch
The statue's gesture did not really feel that sad, I assume because of the lighting. Still, I wanted to capture that expression throughout the line art, specifically in the eyebrows and the shape of the eyes. Due to the folds' complexity, I struggled a bit in creating volume with thin lines i...
2025-09-26 16:55:15 +0000 UTC View PostStep-by-Step Art Practice Progression: Building on Basics (Continuation Guide)
As a follow-up to my previous guide, this article expands into structured progression ladders for each category and technical level. Based on your feedback, it provides clear levels (Lvl 1-3) with task lists to avoid overwhelm, build consistency, and address motivation dips like fear of big goals. Focus on tiny, achievable steps to sustain practice. Subscribe and take a look!:
Why This Continuation?
It builds on the basics by adding more depth: precise ladders, re...
2025-09-22 16:34:16 +0000 UTC View PostThe Power of Light, Colors and Style - My Process Video and Brushes!
Hello everyone, today I wrote some insights on my latest practices, along with practical art suggestions. Let's dive in:
Out of Earth - Unconventional References
I believe one of the reasons that keeps me motivated to paint is trying different themes. I chose this NASA picture because I've never done it before. I thought the most complex part would be the lighting and how to get that wide range of colors within the shadows, but the real job was the line art. It felt...
Step-by-Step Guide on How to Start Practicing Art (My Efficient Way)
Struggling to start your art practice? As a Patreon creator, I've seen many artists join without a clear routine. This step-by-step guide answers key questions to get you on track efficiently.
How to Start?
Define one subject you would like to become a pro. I like to split subjects into these categories:
Shapes (humans, animals)
Tools or food
Costume (mostly cloth related)
Environment
Why...
2025-09-15 16:56:30 +0000 UTC View PostExpression, Silhouette and Shadow Balance - My Process Video and Brushes!
Hey everyone, here are some thoughts and practical advice behind my latest practices. Let's dive in:
Shocking eyes - Simple tip on sharp looking
In principle I chose a reference with the same model, beautiful eyes and no expressions, just because I liked the shape of the eyes, but then I felt like I was not pushing myself enough so I targeted a more ambitious goal, a series of random eyes in which each had different expressions, screaming, shocked, smiling and in do...
How to Paint Skin - My 6 Recent Techniques
Begin with the basics
I always start with a desaturated bright version of the skin, regardless of whether the skin tone is white or black. Then I use the same tone in a layer on top in multiply blending mode for the shadow. Depending on where the light source is, I define the position of the shadow. This is the straightforward approach which will come as no surprise if you have been paying attention. But how do we boost those colors to match the vibrancy of skin?<...
Likeness, Proportions and Dynamism Shortcut - My Process Video and Tips!
Hey everyone,
Here are some useful things I took from these practices that you can test today!
Miyazaki's Fan Art - Likeness and Proportions
"It's difficult," the caption says in this screenshot of Miyazaki's. I assumed it captured the moment of struggle while trying to create something. I felt very related, so I decided to give it a try. Although the portrait was very simple, I struggled to get the likeness on Miyazaki's anatomy proportions; this is mostly li...
Practical Steps for Smarter Art Learning
Hey everyone,
Mastering technical skills in art requires a strategic approach to practice, balancing efficiency with depth. Here are five practical steps to improve your technical learning without falling into common issues.
1. Meaningful Practice
Artists often prioritize quantity, creating numerous sketches that lack depth and stall development. I was one of those, but there are better ways to learn. Once you finish your session of short simple sketches, focus...
Balancing Color, Contrast, and Creativity - My Process Video and Tips!
Some practical ideas behind these studies.
Colorful Shore
While I slowly seem to turn to simpler shapes, I balance by choosing colorfully interesting compositions. This reference is very bright. At first sight, you notice blue and brown, but closer inspection reveals subtle tones within the cold range, like purple in the water or green in the shadows, as well as very small warm tones, like yellow with a bit of orange, almost red, within the skin. I figured that by s...
4 Simple Filters I Use to Boost My Artwork!
Today's topic is about how you can create some effects I use in the final steps of my process. The good news is it does not require you to know how to paint or draw; anyone can try! You only need a program like Photoshop. If you don't have Photoshop, don't worry; most of these filters and effects can be found by simply knowing the name of the effect and what it is supposed to do. Let's dive in.
Levels
Once I finish my artworks, sometimes I adjust the values using lev...
Texture Brushes: Clean vs. Rough Renders: My Process Video and Tips!
Hi everyone, thoughts about my last practices
Lettuce
There's something peculiar about this practice, I had two versions, the first one was complex with many values and details, but once I finished I felt I lost some of the execution I've been doing lately, which is focused on simplification, so I took a step back and left only a few layers. If you are here because you like the way I paint close to reality, perhaps you enjoy the first part of the process, but if you ...
My Secret Recipe for Expressive Characters: 3 Quick Tips for Artists
Hi there! it's been a while since I write about one of the most distinctive and attractive themes from my artwork, face expression, today I wanted to briefly share the best of what I've wrote so far as consice and straightforward as possible, for you to apply to your art today! let's dive in:
Tip 1: Observe and break down expressions into simple shapes. Study real faces, photos, or mirrors to note eyes, brows, and mouth nuances. Simplify complex emotions into basic lines (e.g., wide smi...
2025-08-18 15:50:19 +0000 UTC View PostTurning Complex Compositions Into "Simple" Paintings: My Process Video and Brushes!
Hey everybody, some straightforward thoughts about my latest processes.
Eggplant
Just a casual fun warm-up where I struggle a bit with light reflection on the eggplant's smooth surface. I chose main light top-left, reflected light almost same tone. Struggle: deciding light position and hard light/shadow edges on naturally soft form. Video shows me changing my mind a few times before refining. (Missed hitting record for final polish.) Key value: practice defining hard...
Four Painting Tips I've Learned from My Recent Practices
As an artist constantly exploring new references and techniques, I've been reflecting on the lessons from my latest painting sessions. These practices, spanning shiny armors, desserts, dynamic portraits, and everyday objects, have taught me valuable ways to streamline my process while pushing creative boundaries. Here are four practical tips out of those experiences, with examples to help you apply them in your own work. Whether you're a beginner or a pro, these can help refine your approach ...
2025-08-11 15:54:48 +0000 UTC View PostTurning Real References into My Style – My Process Video and Brushes!
Hi there, quick update on my Pinterest boards. It’s been a week since I started contacting Pinterest daily, but I haven’t received any response or solution to my board issue. For those unaware, my boards are temporarily hidden by Pinterest. If you can’t see the pins, it’s not your account, Pinterest has flagged these boards as "potentially unwelcome" and hidden all content.
I’m concerned that if my situation doesn’t improve, I may have to stop offering this option to you. So...
2025-08-08 15:13:34 +0000 UTC View PostHere’s the Way I Use My Brush Set: Drawing & Painting
Hi everyone, here’s a brief explanation of how I use each brush in my set.
Drawing
Pencil Oh - Line Art
This is the brush with which I often start sketching. I really love its main curved shape and the traditional texture pencils have. It helps me create loose curved lines that I later refine, whether using the same brush or a cleaner one.
.
Clean –...
2025-08-04 16:57:26 +0000 UTC View PostDrawing Anatomy and Cel Shading – My Process Video and Brushes!
Hey, quick news, my boards are temporarily hidden by Pinterest. If you can't see the pins, it's not your account. Pinterest flagged these boards as "potentially unwelcome" and hid all content. I'm working on fixing it. Thanks for your patience, I’ll update soon.
Now here are some thoughts about my last practices!
Climbing
In this practice I was focused on nailing those anatomic shapes through drawing, aiming to make a synthesis out of all the muscle silhouett...
Why Artists Get Burned on Commissions and How to Protect Yourself
Artists eventually face this scenario: someone wants to hire you. It feels exciting, but also confusing if you’ve never worked professionally.
Here are some simple principles I recommend to keep things smooth:
Define everything clearly. Even if you’re friends, clarity protects the relationship. Don’t rely on memory or friendly assumptions. Summarise what you discussed and ask your client to confirm it in writing, whether by email or message. Being as...
2025-07-28 15:02:38 +0000 UTC View Post
Simple Painting Approach to Improve Drawing – My Process Video and Brushes!
Hello everyone, here are some quick, practical notes on each practice I did over the past few weeks.
1. Chocolate: What I liked about this reference was the values in the paper, similar to aluminum, and the slight blue light right below the hazelnut. This “blue” colour is a reflection of white light, I think, also projected onto the paper. I played not only with cool tones but also with a bit of yellow, which was present in the reference but very slight, almost unno...
2025-07-25 16:16:50 +0000 UTC View PostHere's How You Can Create Unique Art!
Question the ingredients (your style)
Style is often influenced by other artworks. Ask yourself what aspects of your work reference other trends or styles: the line, shape design, colour palette, or the tone created by the values. It's very difficult to detach these influences from our creative process, but by asking these questions you can become aware of the degree to which your work resembles other art or stands out as more unique in its essence.
2025-07-21 15:03:09 +0000 UTC
View Post
Learning To Paint Simple Shadows & Draw Perspective – My Process Video and Brushes!
Hey everyone, here are some quick, practical notes on each practice I did over the past few weeks.
1. Cheesecake
I believe the value in this practice is how, in one single layer with multiply blending mode, you can define the overall shadow silhouette with a single tone, and then use that silhouette later in a new layer to add slight variations of darker tones. This helps keep different shadow tones separated in case you want to adjust without compromising previous w...
If Your Anatomy Drawings Look Stiff, Try This: The Egg Torso Approach
Hi everyone,
I’ve received a great question about using the “egg and box” approach to build the torso. This method is very popular because it helps you quickly define the ribcage and pelvis in 3D, improving proportions and volume.
But as you noticed, even when you build these shapes perfectly, the result can look stiff.
Why does this happen?
Because
Learning To Paint Big Cats, Sea & Tomatoes – My Process Video and Brushes!
Hello there!, here are some thoughts about my latest practices
Jaguar
This practice reminds me of my old days when I used to draw characters while fighting. They had very aggressive facial expressions and dynamic gestures. Most of those sketches back then were created from imagination, so I was a bit surprised how this reference already looked kind of stylized because of the cat face and the body shape. The challenge was not to push the gesture in the practice but to...
The Real Reason Your Art Projects Stay Unfinished
Hey everyone!
If you’ve ever felt surrounded by half-finished sketches, abandoned illustrations, or a bunch project folders, you’re not alone. Every artist struggles with unfinished work. The reasons are personal, but some patterns show up over and over. The good news is, once you see them clearly, you can do something about it.
Below I’ll break down the most common causes I’ve seen in my experience and in the community, and share a few ideas to help you actually cross the...
2025-07-07 16:34:22 +0000 UTC View PostPainting Towns, Frogs and Faces – My Process Videos & Brushes
Hey everyone, here are some thoughts about my latest processes.
Frog
I really liked this reference, but once I painted it, I quite stopped liking it. I noticed I wasn’t able to capture the wide range of colors the frog had in an accurate way. Perhaps you might find the similarities, but I think I did a downgrade of the reference. Nevertheless, I tried to create an interesting shape interpretation of the overall silhouette and the highlights. When I paint, I’m pos...
How To Evolve From Study To Your Art
In 2020 I wrote a post about this in which I used the same reference first for a study and later for an illustration. More about that here. Back then I was taking my first steps out of painting using references and into illustration. Today I want to share my perspectives five years later.
I see many of you practicing on a daily basis, and that's great news! Soon you will want to use those new...
2025-06-30 16:10:10 +0000 UTC View PostHow to Paint! - My Process Videos & Brushes
Some thoughts about my latest practices
Armor
I wanted to mix costume with a reflective material for rendering purposes, and I found this female armor costume perfect for the job. I drew a great number of curved lines, not only because of female anatomy but because the armor itself had plenty. I didn’t spend too much time in this phase, as my goal was to get that shiny look of the metal through values. First, I defined the shadows cast from the lig...