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Vuldari In reply to FREAKKATT [2009-09-12 08:54:51 +0000 UTC]

LOL ... 100% of the coloring was done digitally using the program GIMP. I never touched the drawing with any traditional media at all, beyond the original pencil sketch.

I was trying to use the digital tools to colorize it in a way that didn't make it look too smooth and artificial (I HATE "Vector" art ... way too clean and lifeless), but more rough and sketchy, the way the original pencil was. I guess I succeeded.

I should really start drawing again ... it's really sad that the best works in my gallery are 6 years old, with almost nothing new since.

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FREAKKATT In reply to Vuldari [2009-09-12 15:40:30 +0000 UTC]

Wow! Who would of thought the very program I use can make something so amazing and traditional looking?! This is very shocking news- I had no clue! You should draw alot more, too, I think. Your art is amazing

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Vuldari In reply to FREAKKATT [2009-09-16 09:52:34 +0000 UTC]

The funny thing is ... when I did it, I had NO idea what I was doing.

I was just like ... "What does this button do? ... OHH ... and what if I do THIS? ... ewwww ... UNDO, UNDO!!! "

Also ... I used every technique and tool every digital art tutorial I've ever seen tells me NOT to use ... like "Blur", "Smudge", and use of pre-set filters to create the cloudy backdrop and the lens-flare effect on the staff.

Whatever works I suppose.

I tried using the same techniques on coloring my "Reece Fox" picture, but for some reason that one didn't turn out very well, so I deleted that version during my last gallery cleansing.


I agree ... I SHOULD draw a lot more ... I don't know why I've stopped, or why I find it so hard to start again.

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FREAKKATT In reply to Vuldari [2009-09-16 23:05:15 +0000 UTC]

Lol, I use blur and smudge ALL THE TIME! Aww, your just not motivated at the moment >33. Give it TIME OoO!!!

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Vuldari In reply to FREAKKATT [2009-09-17 08:50:51 +0000 UTC]

There are so many more functions that GIMP can do that I simply don't even know about or know how to use.

That picture is pretty much colorized almost entirely using the "Overlay", "Dodge" and "Burn" tools, with "Sharpen", "Blur" and "Smudge" used to fine tune the last few bits.

I'm a total novice when it comes to digital art.


As for not being motivated ... That Pencil sketch was done in 2003. I have drawn almost nothing since then ... maybe one to three sketches 'A YEAR'.

I THINK I still remember how to draw ... but I'm yet to prove it this year. I hope I do find the motivation to start again. I know I WANT to ... it's just ... I've not done it in SOOO long ...

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FREAKKATT In reply to Vuldari [2009-09-19 00:18:57 +0000 UTC]

You should MAKE yourself do it! It sucks, you've lost all motiation Xp

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Vuldari In reply to DooVoo [2009-02-18 06:16:44 +0000 UTC]

Thanks ... and thanks for the

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Vuldari In reply to JN-Squire [2008-12-28 19:07:26 +0000 UTC]

The Eyebrow is cut because it is a Scar.

I have a REAL scar like that on my own eyebrow, so any character I draw that is based on myself has that scar too.

(My Real scar is not very easy to see. It is hidden.)


However, this character is NOT my Avatar / Alter-Ego / "Fursona" any more.


I am making a new one that is slightly different. (But my new one will have that scar too).

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Vuldari In reply to Miyukitty [2008-12-09 16:49:49 +0000 UTC]

... oh ... and in case you are wondering why I said I took a long time "Cleaning it up" in the description, but then told you I didn't, let me explain.

The "Cleaning Up" process was mostly a matter of removing the blue lines from the notebook paper I drew it on, and making the edges around the drawing smooth, so it blended in with the background.

Otherwise, I left most of the scan Dirty, and instead of coloring ON-TOP-OF the original image (covering it up), I used digital tools like "Overlay" to change the colors of the existing dirty, sketchy scanned GRAY pencil lines and shading to ORANGE, and BROWN dirty, sketchy pencil lines and shading.

... it's kinda funny how well that actually worked.

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Vuldari In reply to Miyukitty [2008-12-09 16:26:31 +0000 UTC]

Yeah, I REALLY messed up on the legs ... I tried to improve them a little bit in the color version vs. the original sketch (I actually changed them a little), but it still didn't turn out right.

As for the legs (or parts of the legs) being "Too Short", THAT wad 100% intentional. The original idea behind this character was that he was not fully HUMAN proportioned, but that his arms and legs were closer to the same length (like a quadruped) so that he could actually walk on all fours if he tried, more naturally than a human can. ... in that respect, I then got the anatomy COMPLETLY wrong for what I was trying for, as well as not right for regular humanoid anatomy either. That was what I was TRYING to do anyway.

--> [link] <-- [Drawn around same time to show how it would work ... messed up on the feet, which look weird. The "Walking on the Knuckles" thing made sense in my head until I drew it and saw how uncomfortable that would be. It was just an experiment.]

I never was very good with anatomy.


I find it somewhat amusing that some seem to be impressed with my "Digital Technique" on this work, as I honestly had almost no idea what I was doing when I started this and just made things up as I went, experimenting with tools I had NEVER used before until this drawing to see what they do.

Not only that, but since making this, I've read numerous Tutorials by various artists here on DA about how to do digitally INK and COLOR a scanned pencil sketch ... and according to those tutorials, I not only didn't do a single thing they suggested, but I used ABSOLUTELY EVERY 'Taboo', lazy artists tool in the tool box that they said that no respectable digital artist should EVER use.

"Smudge", "Blur", "Sharpen", "Overlay", "Burn", "Dodge", the "Lens Flare" filter, a "Cloud" filter for the background, and I messed around with a few things using GIMPs "I-Warp" tool (which I believe is called "Liquify" in PhotoShop).

... every tutorial I ever see says to NEVER use these tools, but they were pretty much the ONLY tools I used to color this.


All of the detail in the image is not part of the colorization, but simply a product of NOT "Cleaning it Up". I erased everything outside of the character itself, and everything on the character that was supposed to be pure WHITE (eyes, chest fur, etc.), but everything else I just left behind ... every smudge, every sketch line, all of it.

Rather than take the trouble to learn how to digitally "INK" the lines of the image, all I did was use the "Burn" tool to darken all of the lines I wanted to be more emphasized, but otherwise left them raw and dirty.


The method I used to do this was total fumbling CHAOS (and had to be re-done a dozen times before it looked good), but in the end, I think I accidentally created a technique I would rather refine and use again, instead of learning to do it the way the "Professionals" do.


I like my Art RAW and DIRTY.



Thank you for the comment, criticism and praise. I really appreciate it.

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Miyukitty In reply to Vuldari [2008-12-12 15:48:32 +0000 UTC]

Wow, what a thorough response! I see what you mean about being capable of quadrupedal walking as well as bipedal - in that case, I would be tempted to change his posture to a less-upright stature, to encourage that line of thinking: [link]

That's just my two cents! While nothing can beat a perfect knowledge of anatomy (which no one actually has), changing the pose and perspective can make things seem much more dynamic. Your description of the digital techniques you used was very interesting to me - I'm familiar with those tools, and perhaps I'll do a little experimenting on my own. ;D

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Vuldari In reply to FantasticFennec [2008-11-16 19:41:32 +0000 UTC]

Thanks.

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Vuldari In reply to StewieTheGiant [2008-01-08 03:01:36 +0000 UTC]

Thanks.

I'm trying to get over the "nothing I do is good enough" sickness that so many artists suffer.

Even if I can see flaws in this, it really did make me feel good to make it, and I'm glad others are enjoying it as well.

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Vuldari In reply to thenighthaswings [2007-10-08 01:56:18 +0000 UTC]

I have boxes full of pastels and chalk and charcoal and paints and colored pencils and markers...and even some colored molding clay...which were all given to me as gifts over the years, only to be collecting dust in a bin I keep under my bed.

I really should make use of that stuff.

...black paper hunh? I'll have to remember that.

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Vuldari In reply to Cab-Rod [2007-05-04 00:47:08 +0000 UTC]

You don't like the face? Strange...the face was always the part I liked the MOST about this pic, while it was the Legs that bothered me.

Admitably though, I think I screwed up the face a little bit in the color. I based the unusual color pattern on the fox emoticon I made for another forum, (which I am also using as my Avatar here), which looks a bit odd on this character.

I still think the face looks a bit better in the original B&W sketch [link] but it is still a bit flawed. I've been staring at this picture for so long and gotten so used to it that I don't really see the distortion until I look at a mirror image of it, and then the flaws stand out like a sore thumb.


Just out of curiosity, what part of the face looks bad to you? Even if you are not quite sure how to describe it, is there any one part that stood out when you first saw it? The Nose...the ears...the eyes...the head shape...?

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Cab-Rod In reply to Vuldari [2007-05-04 10:00:37 +0000 UTC]

Firstly of all,I don't pretended to offend you with my comment,I only gave my oppinion to help you see a possible mistake Probably I dislike it because it doesn't have hair covering his head,that's what makes it odd for me,but I tell you it's a good drawing indeed,and you probably have evlved your style since that year.

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Vuldari In reply to Cab-Rod [2007-05-05 00:39:55 +0000 UTC]

No offense taken. I asked for constructive criticism, and that is what you offered me.

It's funny...I never really noticed until you mentioned it just now that the top of his head does look a little too smooth and bare, considering how much of a ponytail/mane he has coming out of the back. You're right...that does look a little off in that way. ...hmmm.

My least favorite parts of the face on this one were always the eyes, which I have always struggled with, and the front most ear, which is set on the head a little funny in this picture.

I only WISH my style had evolved since this drawing. The truth is, this was one of the last things I drew before I suddenly just stopped drawing entirely, simply for lack of motivation, and hardly picked up a pencil and paper again for nearly half a decade.

Now my skills have gone rusty, and I can't even draw as well as I used to any more...which was my motivation for choosing to finish this old drawing rather than starting with a new one...to re-familiarize myself with how I USED TO draw so I can pick up where I left off.

Thank you for your honest input and opinion. I hope to have more interesting artwork for you to critique and enjoy soon.

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Vuldari In reply to dementedpeach [2007-04-25 21:20:25 +0000 UTC]

Thanks for the comments.

Yeah...The legs are my least favorite part of this picture. I made some adjustments in this version vs. the B&W version, but it still is not quite right. One leg is straight, the other is bent, and yet the knees and feet are lined up...which would not be right.

It's funny that you are complimenting me on the "Detail" on the tail, as I really didn't do much. I more or less just 'scribbled' on it in the original, but when I scanned it in, the texture of the paper and smudges were carried over, and after using the "Dodge", "Burn", and "Overlay" tools, an interesting textured pattern appeared out of it.

...not that I'm complaining. Things like that are what I like to call "HAPPY MISTAKES". ...most of my best work has been the result of "Happy mistakes"...things that I did not actually intend to do, but looks good anyway so I try to teach myself how to do it again.

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Lachland-Nightingale In reply to Vuldari [2008-03-02 11:10:05 +0000 UTC]

Yep. It's defult "sharpening" setting that created more white above his iris than in your original - which makes him look spooked or on edge -
usually people don't have whites showing above their irises unless something traumatic or ecstatic is happening.

Fix: create a new layer above this in Gimp and airbrush a little dark eye colour above the eye. Then set that layer to multiply or darken. Use the eraser to define the oval.

Then use the airbrush to give a white reflection
just below the upper eyelashes - adjust that layer's transperency.

Maybe paint in new eyelashes...

That should return your original expression/mood...

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