Curse

Tommy's · Dec 10, 2010, 01:50 PM // 13:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thistle Xandra

Thanks for the tip, Tommy. I actually tend to make multiple back up layers when I'm making major changes (instead of just painting on a new layer). Problem though is that I don't delete them and them my computer starts yelling at me D:

Haha I do EXACTLY the same thing

I always get lots of backup layers along the painting. Mostly I delete them when I'm starting a new session (I never work longer on 1 drawing for about 2-3 hours). And yes my computer hates this habit aswell

Lucky enough, I'm gonna order an iMac this weekend

WOHHHOOOOOO

*Darcy* · Dec 10, 2010, 02:23 PM // 14:23

Thistle, that drawing is amazing. You have improved so much, it's unbelievable. Just felt the need to say something, as there is no such thing as too much praise.

Drelias Melaku · Dec 10, 2010, 05:31 PM // 17:31

-return hug- I'm still a bit shocked that no one jumped on that, but I guess not everyone enjoys it as much as the Nolani crowd. D:

Thistle Xandra · Dec 11, 2010, 03:03 AM // 03:03

High-Five Tommy! I've got an imac, too

I do my drawings on my macBook though because then I can huddle next to a space heater :O Putting the imac and office downstairs in the cold, cold basement seemed like a good idea in summer T_T

Thanks, Darcy

I appreciate that!

Lol, Drelias, I know, right? I would have thought at least thor and fc would want one for their gwamm chars and serax is soooooo supportive of my writings that I figured he'd want a pic! Oh well XD. Kinda worked out in the end since I can do other non-GW stuff without worrying about a large queue making me feel guilty

Also just wanted to share my failed attempt at speed-painting (non-GW). It was supposed to be an hour attempt, but in the end it took 3.5 hours D:

InfestedHydralisk · Dec 11, 2010, 03:19 AM // 03:19

Not too bad, I think the eye should have been circular. (is that even a word?)
Well, circle shape.

Thistle Xandra · Dec 11, 2010, 04:59 AM // 04:59

I thought the iris was circular D:

side note: horse pupils creep me out... go ahead, google it D|

GeminiJuSa · Dec 11, 2010, 06:20 AM // 06:20

Horse's pupils are oval shaped, like goat's. They dilate in a similar manner to cat's eyes, but up and down the eye instead of out sideways. :P

Since you shouldn't look into horse's eyes, it took me a while to notice myself, I admit.

Thistle Xandra · Dec 11, 2010, 07:00 AM // 07:00

lol gemini... I remember going to one of those drive-through animal places where you can feed the animals in the car with my sister and being creeped out by the deer eyes D: We actually thought they were sick or something because of the sideway pupil thing! Of course now I know it helps their vision and helps them survive -_-

But still...

Anyway, still messing around and after failing to kill Mallyx in game, decided to chibisize (let's add this to the Nolani dictionary!) the dog...

Perynne · Dec 11, 2010, 08:01 AM // 08:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tommy's

Haha I do EXACTLY the same thing

I always get lots of backup layers along the painting. Mostly I delete them when I'm starting a new session (I never work longer on 1 drawing for about 2-3 hours). And yes my computer hates this habit aswell

Lucky enough, I'm gonna order an iMac this weekend

WOHHHOOOOOO

I've started using as few layers as possible, thanks to being stuck using Open Canvas before for almost a year.

I find it's much more fun to paint when you need to take the surroundings into consideration.

I do keep the background on a separate layer from the characters though. And any new things I always do on a new layer, then once I'm somewhat satisfied with it I merge it with the "main" layer. Sort of like adding bits and pieces at a time to the main picture.

Looking nice Thistle! Speedpaints are surprisingly hard to do yeah

You should perhaps use a timer or something that beeps when the hour is up, and just force yourself to stop there. That way, if you learn that you can't go over the time limit, you'll get faster! (hopefully)

Thistle Xandra · Dec 11, 2010, 05:55 PM // 17:55

good idea with the timer, pery! I've decided I'm not ready for 1-hr speed painting though XD I think my goal will have to be 3 hours or something.

Tommy's · Dec 11, 2010, 06:08 PM // 18:08

I think what my mistake has been that I wanted to do quite detailed things too soon. I can seriously advice you to do practice with speed paintings. Don't set yourself a timelimit (well you can ofcourse, but that does not define speedpainting imo) just stay away from some kind of detail. Seriously, you learn a lot from speedpainting. Just quickly get a position, a light source and some shadowing down and rock on from there. You learn getting poses down much quicker and how the basics of light and shadow work. Though I can't say this is much better, but I think I learned more from some of my 1-2 hour doodles then from some of my fully detailed commissions. But everything has its value, so just do both ^^ And when you don't have enough time, just do some more

By the way if you go speedpainting I can suggest using some custo brushes (at least if you want to go for a sort of coceptart look) because those make it looks rather finished quicker. But thats my opinion

Thistle Xandra · Dec 12, 2010, 08:08 AM // 08:08

I've started making custom brushes actually

It really does make such a difference!

Great advice on speed painting, thanks! Come to think of it, I'll probably try some more speed painting with fantasy since I can go for a mysterious half-finished fantasy look

This is my 'finished' portrait of Verene so the details don't get lost in the actual finished full piece. Still got a long while in finishing up the full body pic because of stupid lack of free time @_@ ...

Verene · Dec 24, 2010, 08:27 PM // 20:27

Looks good!

And man do I understand the lack of time...^^;

Thistle Xandra · Dec 27, 2010, 11:25 PM // 23:25

lol, thanks, verene

BTW, do you have a fave skill that you use? I'm debating about either giving her hand a slight glow as if she's making her arrow a fire or poison arrow or doing one of those full preparation (where it's like a fire circle or something) animations. I only have a pvp trapper ranger, so I was going to pick one of those random trap preparation skills to draw unless you have a preference

(lol, that should tell you how much I play my ranger since I don't even know what it's called).

Took a break from drawing and switched to crazy farming Snowball Dominance XD So... today, took a break from SD and decided to do some brainstorming starter sketches...

Miriforst's starter sketch... not very exciting, more of a realistic version of the anime one I drew earlier

Pery, I've got a couple for you

Let me know if you prefer any of these. I'm not sure which one I'll do yet...

Verene · Dec 27, 2010, 11:50 PM // 23:50

The main two builds I use revolve around either Barrage or Burning Arrow.

Ravenhawk · Dec 28, 2010, 12:14 AM // 00:14

Thistle! Verene's painting looks gorgeous. The sketches are looking good too!

Drelias Melaku · Dec 28, 2010, 12:42 AM // 00:42

The eyes look just a wee bit small on Mirifrost's sketch (they may just seem like that because of the glasses, though - I'm not sure), but everything else looks great!

Thistle Xandra · Dec 28, 2010, 06:34 AM // 06:34

Hmmm... I'll go with a fire glow then

Thanks Raven

and thanks Drelias! I think it's just the glasses, but I'll make sure to be careful about that when I start working on it.

Dec 29 EDIT: YAY! Finally, finally, finally finished Verene's pic

I'm so excited, because I learned so much stuff on digital painting with this attempt!

Thanks so much for letting me use your ranger as my model

Hope you like it

Jan 1 EDIT: Finished Miriforst's portrait. Decided to scrap the sketch and use a different model

He looks so sad in this portrait, which I didn't mean to do on purpose D: Anyway, still happy with how it came out, and I'm just going to assume he lost in memory of a sad GW event, but right after this brief moment of sadness, he cheers up

Charlie Dayman · Jan 03, 2011, 10:10 PM // 22:10

Nice work, Thistle. My only suggestion would be distribute the lines where you refine shapes just a bit more. There are a few areas where the details are really clear, but other parts where some of the character's information gets lost (ex: the nose on the portrait).

Other than that, keep it up.

Verene · Jan 03, 2011, 11:02 PM // 23:02

Whoa, I missed the edit there. It looks awesome, Thistle - thank you so much

Sorry my Ranger was such a pain for you XD