Refleximage In reply to ArtLair [2004-03-01 13:35:28 +0000 UTC]

Holy crap, color one of my pieces, I think I would absolutely fall out if I could get that to happen. I went through your tutorials and tried to get my stuff to look better colored, but I really would be absolutely honored to have someone as skilled with the digital medium to work my art! I mean, damn, you're like an internet legend!

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ArtLair In reply to Refleximage [2004-03-01 14:40:15 +0000 UTC]

*blushes* Wow, stop that! You make me feel special! (Actually I kind of needed that... I'm been looking at an art book I got by Brom and feeling like my art totally sucks!). Maybe I can do a more detailed tutorial for you ^_^ So tell me what you'd like colored! Oh, are you using an Art Tablet? Because if it's digital coloring you are talking about the pressure sensitive tablets are a huge help!

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Refleximage In reply to ArtLair [2004-03-01 14:51:05 +0000 UTC]

I do use a tablet. Get a piddly graphire 2 But it works for me. And trust me. All I need to do is look through some of the galleries around here to make me feel bad. But I don't even bother with Brom because as much as I wish I could paint, I just don't have the control in my hands for that sort of work though the character designs, as off the wall as they are, really make for eye catching pieces...earthy tones and ghostly skin brrrr!. I don't even know what to suggest you color....I'd have to throw away my colored version in favor of yours! Well the lineart that I put the most work into was my dragoon here and the color scheme's here . I put days into it but I'm just not satisfied with how it came out and I know that it could have been done so much better.

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ArtLair In reply to Refleximage [2004-03-01 15:51:19 +0000 UTC]

Most of the time I feel inspired, not bad. There are SO many things I used to think I couldn't do and now I can do them. I thought I couldn't draw for years. And then, until last fall, I thought I couldn't paint. I didn't have the control for it, I got angry and annoyed and just gave up trying. But then I took one class which made me realize... I didn't need the class! I just needed to make myself work at it and think I could do it. And now I CAN paint. (It was also a question of finding the right paint). And I'm very glad I worked hard at it and am slowly learning how to do it. Same thing with sculpture - I couldn't do it. Then I found out what I can't do, or hate to do, is just working with Clay. Now I'm working in Apoxie Sculpt and it works out really well!

I can make a lot of suggestions about coloring, it just takes time and learning color theory and some stuff about using Photoshop and painter. I will try and put togeather a tutorial for you using the line art you suggest if that's okay? And I put days into things all the time and am not always happy ... but you learn and you get better. No worries *hugs*

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Refleximage In reply to ArtLair [2004-03-01 16:11:53 +0000 UTC]

I've got the worst habit of not being satisfied two seconds after I decide I'm done. I notice that there are a lot of things that I didn't think I could do until I did them...perspective and body positioning mostly. I have to attest to the fact that the only way to get better at something you don't do as well would be to do it. That's sort of what my gallery here on DA is about, I'm just trying to experiment and have people tell me what it is that I'm screwing up on. I loved plaster sculpting in college. chisel and hammer sorta stuff. And I need the coloring suggestions because I just never seem to improve and I've been doing it for gosh, 3 years now, I guess. And it would be better than okay. It would be magnificent. Like I said, you're so well known in the circles of digital tutorials and I would be forever in debt to you for it. I decided about six months ago that I wanted to persue art as a real career once I got out of the military and I want to take all the time I can to learn everything I can from who ever can teach me!

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ArtLair In reply to Refleximage [2004-03-01 18:32:00 +0000 UTC]

You have way better perspective and figure drawing then I do so don't worry Artists always spot stuff that they want to do "better". That's a GOOD thing - if you could draw the perfect picture you'd never try new things etc. It's good to hear you are experimenting etc ^_^ That's what I do - try everything! I'm well known in the circle of digital tutorials? Really? I never really hear from many people who look at my site (outside a few regulars who post comments in my journal) so I don't know if people use the tutorials or not. It's good to know they help some people out there - I know when I was learning I got annoyed at not being able to find some stuff online so now I'm trying to help fill some of those gaps.

I'm going to start working on some shading and coloring tutorials using your line art (AFTER I have lunch... I should remember to eat more often!). Expect to hear from me today or in the next few days ^__^

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Refleximage In reply to ArtLair [2004-03-01 18:36:52 +0000 UTC]

I'm paitent, and excited! No rush, really, tho.. As for well known, I've spent a lot of time looking for art tutorials on the net and have found yours linked at several different sites. I think it's good to see someone taking the initiative to show those of us less fortunate folks how to make good art. And you should eat. Hell, it's 3:30 in the morning here and I've just finished eating dinner. Heh.

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ArtLair In reply to Refleximage [2004-03-01 19:19:22 +0000 UTC]

Food good Do you have a larger version of the line art by chance?

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Refleximage In reply to ArtLair [2004-03-01 22:06:17 +0000 UTC]

of course I do. It all depends on how you want me to get it to you.

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ArtLair In reply to Refleximage [2004-03-01 22:40:22 +0000 UTC]

Okay well e-mail to rynkitty@artlair.com or if you want to IM me I'm on AIM as RynTheKawaii and MSN as RynKitty@Hotmail.com. Line art that is 900 to 1200 wide would be great ^_^. Also, I will be posting some new tutorials about configuring photoshop brushes and about shading soon (the shading one uses part of your picture as an example).

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Refleximage In reply to ArtLair [2004-03-01 22:46:16 +0000 UTC]

Okay, I sent it to you. Hopefully that one's big enough for you to work with.

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ArtLair In reply to Refleximage [2004-03-01 23:16:24 +0000 UTC]

Great! I got it and it's big enough! (I do find it helps to color bigger and then shrink it later it just looks better). I'll start coloring this soon!

Also, thanks to your line art and kind comments I was inspired to create two new tutorials on my site. I'm not sure if either one of them will help you but they are:

[link] This one covers some basic shading stuff. I used part of your picture as the example (and credited you linking to your DA page - let me know if this is okay).

[link] This is about setting up your brushes and creating custom brushes in photoshop. I think using the Dynamics stuff I mention there will help you out not only with coloring but with digital inking.

Let me know what you think

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Refleximage In reply to ArtLair [2004-03-01 23:26:45 +0000 UTC]

I actually just got done looking at the shading one. I'm melting! I love the knock out technique you used at the end, shading the lines for the soft look. I wanted to do that with that specific picture. And it really did help. I'm a bad 3D colorist. And it's very cool to be credited. I'm just please as a pig in the mud! I'm going to go look at your other tutorial now and make a long and involved drooling comment or twelve! You know, now I owe you a lunch, if you can remember.

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ArtLair In reply to Refleximage [2004-03-01 23:52:31 +0000 UTC]

Your NOT a bad 3D colorist! I'm only good at this because I ate up every tutorial I could find... and then just learned tons about color theory and shading which helped me a lot... (and I got Don Seegmillers book on Painter which was a life saver with that program). But it's taken me a lot of work to get this far... pratice pratice and pratice. If you don't belive me look at this [link] and this example too from a year ago [link] Just ask questions and keep trying.

And it takes awhile to learn to see shapes for shading characters/objects - digital or on paper. One thing to do is look at photos or other drawings with similar lighting... just notice it, notice the shapes... collect them in your head. You CAN do it. If I could teach myself this everyone else can too *hugs*

If you're ever in the small boring town in Arizona where I happen to be stuck at the moment I'll take you up on the lunch offer for sure (I don't think a guy has ever asked me out because of a tutorial though... mostly my wanting to sit on my ass and draw scares them anyway ). Sorry this is getting long... and I don't mind the long drooling comments, though I'm going to get a big ego. I'm just happy to share what I've learned with other people!

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Refleximage In reply to ArtLair [2004-03-02 00:07:00 +0000 UTC]

Heh. Well, I'm winding my way to Idaho in the next few weeks. Maybe on my trip down to Texas to see my son, I'll buy you a sammich.

As for the drooling commentary, I just posted it all in my journal.

I was too stubborn as a young artist and didn't want to take life drawing too seriously. I can't say how much that hurt my work now that I've already settled into a style. You definately have given me a renewed confidence in what I'm doing. I'm going to pick your brain every chance I get.

And let the ego get big. They had to widen the doors at work for mine. And there's a first time for everything!

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ArtLair In reply to Refleximage [2004-03-02 00:59:16 +0000 UTC]

I still don't like life drawing a whole lot... but I've learned to collect things I see in life inside my mind is some way and they show up later in my art. Like clocks for example... at some point I just wanted to draw one and then after I figured out the parts of a clock they started showing up in my pictures. Of course some things, like trees, show up a lot more. You have way better figure drawing then I do because I'm lazy about working on it and always end up drawing trees.

You can pick my brain anytime. It's actually very nice... you have no idea. (okay partly because my friends are all away at school... and I didn't go back to school this spring so... my brother comes some weekends but other then that I talk to my parents, online friends or my dogs and that's it!).

Oh, and don't ever settle into a style or a medium too much. I've been surprised at how, once you find you can learn one thing... other things just seem to follow. I don't just do my art on the computer anymore... I carry it to sketchbooks, and now paintings and sculptures... in how I dress (I have some very creative jeans that offend people... don't ask!), and even how I cook. Being creative can kind of leak into every part of your life and it's an amazing thing. So if I can help with that at all... I'm MORE then happy to. But don't worship me, I'm just a normal... okay a normal WEIRD person like most others on DA

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Refleximage In reply to ArtLair [2004-03-02 01:47:52 +0000 UTC]

Heh. Well, I will hold you in high regard and pick your brain at every chance I get. I wish I was still going to school...the military doesn't afford me the chance to go to school for art. I had a great time when I was going to school for it, but the money always runs out when you don't want it to. Never know. I might go back. I've been pretty stingy with my mediums, but my style is different for everything I do. I try to give things a lot of personality...I love to evoke emotion in my work and that's what my art is really about. I like trying to stretch my boundaries, and do what I thought I couldn't. And you're about as normal as I like 'em.

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ArtLair In reply to Refleximage [2004-03-02 02:21:37 +0000 UTC]

*LOL* Hey, I've only taken one class at the local art center and one class at AAC. I will say this - if you want to go to an art school go to AAC. I'm not kidding. It's the best and at the best price (all private art schools cost a lot but AAC gives you the most for your $). Seriously, even if you can only go and take one class it's a blast. I took the color and design class there which is how I got into Gouache painting. Plus you get to have San Francisco as your campus. hehe. I dunno if I'm gonna go back to school more or not later this year or next year... I'm one of those people who thinks school for things like art is totally not required (and I'm living proof that you can teach yourself right?).

I draw to get out my emotions too - drawing because you love it and are putting what you feel into it is the best kind. And art schools can't teach you that (trust me I noticed).

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Refleximage In reply to ArtLair [2004-03-02 02:51:44 +0000 UTC]

Yah. I failed out of art school because I was too young to understand about all the facets of art. I get a bit preachy about it now because I see so many people with so much more raw potential than I had then and they're headed the same way I was.

and you definately are living proof. You and me both. I think art classes are more about forcing you to draw like you should be already. One sketch a day was killing me when I had two other drawing classes during the week. It was pretty much a killer of all my want to do art. I just got back into it when I got from the desert. I think, as in all things, experiences is the best teacher, and you know, I never thought about it but you're right everything you do floods into everything else.

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ArtLair In reply to Refleximage [2004-03-02 03:01:57 +0000 UTC]

School is over rated. So are grades. I never even went to high school or middle school or anything and look how well I turned out (haha)

I draw every day, even if I'm sick... even if it's only for 1-5 minutes. It's better to draw 5 minutes a day then 4 hours one day a week. Dunno why, it just is. Same thing with writing - I write a little something every morning and it helps me tons with both drawing and writing.

The only person who can really teach you anything is you ^_^ Though I did adore Donna's Color & Design class. She was a cool teacher and since I wanted 25+ hours of homework a week from that class I was happy. hehe.

Oh, you might like the boon Conversations in Paint. It's not really about painting at all - but about everything to do with art INCLUDING how to learn... (and color theory, and perspective, and all sorts of cool stuff explained in interesting and simple ways!). I suggest it to many people and so far everyone seems to love it. For me it's my bible. I got my copy used off amazon.com for $8 including shipping... so really I would suggest it!

I really should stop harrassing you with long messages huh?

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Refleximage In reply to ArtLair [2004-03-02 03:14:26 +0000 UTC]

What? No way! It gives me somthing to do in between cursing at the random passerby. It's the middle of the afternoon here and I've got 4 more hours of wasting taxpayer's money until I can go home and do some real work.

I used to think that I couldn't learn anything from books but then one day I was playing Doom 2 and my mom bought this autoCAD book on making levels and I was all over that and then I started picking up books left and right for all the things I want to learn. I've got shelves of stuff. So I know the basics about everything from cooking to rewiring a stereo. So at $8 I could afford to make that commitment. I learned so much from Burne Hogarth's dynamic figure drawing and clothing and folds (but I have to reread it because I don't think I understood it as well as I should have). Like I said, I always wanted to learn to paint, but I just never had the paitence for it...and I murdered all my brushes because I always forgot to clean them. Feh.

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ArtLair In reply to Refleximage [2004-03-02 03:33:53 +0000 UTC]

*LOL* I live at work, there are no passerbys. Though there are four dogs which are pretty entertaining.

You can learn stuff from the book if it's a good book and the right book for you. I have tons of art books and some are good and some are not. My current passion is for Klaus Janson's books... they have some really good writing in them so far.

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Refleximage In reply to ArtLair [2004-03-02 03:44:08 +0000 UTC]

You know I haven't read an actual "book" book in a long time. I just don't have the time...or I should say I don't make the time. I usually play video games to get stories told to me. I'm an rpg nerd at heart. You'd never guess by what I look like on the outside, but then, I'm a sneak like that.

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ArtLair In reply to Refleximage [2004-03-02 06:02:09 +0000 UTC]

I used to play more computer games before I started drawing. I tend to watch TV or movies these days so I can draw at the same time.

I just finished a cool mystery called " Dead or Alive" by Patrica Wentworth. She's the best mystery writer ever but her books are mostly out of print now so I have to raid used bookstores (In fact we were up so late last night reading that now I need sleep!)

I didn't think you could tell RPG nerds from how they looked? They seem to come in all shapes and sizes. So what's yer poison? D&D? AD&D? D&D 3rd? BESM?

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Refleximage In reply to ArtLair [2004-03-02 06:47:23 +0000 UTC]

Screw that. I'm all about pretending that I like the military.

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ArtLair In reply to Refleximage [2004-03-02 13:13:58 +0000 UTC]

I'm all about not pretending when it comes to anything. Polite and honest... that's me.

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Juliebear In reply to ArtLair [2004-03-02 06:26:02 +0000 UTC]

Heh, you sound like a woman after my own heart. Reflex is more of a PS2/XBox/Gamecube kind of nerd, while you are speaking my language above. However, it is Paul's goal in life to initiate him into the wonderful world of rolling characters and punishing dice. *grin* Soon he will know all of it, oh yes. Precioussssss.

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ArtLair In reply to Juliebear [2004-03-02 13:12:21 +0000 UTC]

*LOL* I actually like watching people play D&D more then playing it... it's very entertaining while drawing ^__^

I have all the BESM stuff 'cuz most of my Anime Expo artist friends did the artwork for it. Actually I rather hope to submit a portfolio to Wizards sometime soon and maybe get to do some D& D or magic artwork sometime.

I don't like video games at all... but I do have something of Baldur's Gate II/Monkey Island problem

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Juliebear In reply to ArtLair [2004-03-02 16:36:34 +0000 UTC]

Well, I took the whirlwind tour of your website and looked at all your tutorials... I definitely think you're WotC material. Can't see them rejecting you, not with the handle you have on colouring/sketching you have. Excellent stuff, very entertaining and informative. Keep up the good work!

Heh... I was completely addicted to BGII (uh... still am?) but then Neverwinter Nights came out and it was like BGII with being able to rotate the screen 180 degrees and more D&D character development. If you haven't tried it yet, you ought to. Lots and lots of sleepless hours. Heh.

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ArtLair In reply to Juliebear [2004-03-02 18:39:56 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! WoTC doesn't pay really well but it's a good place to break into Freelance fantasy art (currently I do pictures for Futures Magazine, but I only get to draw mystery related stuff).

I don't think my poor old POS computer can handle Neverwinter Nights or I'd probably own a copy. *sniff* I'll double check though, maybe it can and I can get a copy off ebay.

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Refleximage In reply to Juliebear [2004-03-02 18:27:05 +0000 UTC]

Hey! When did this become a gaming forum and no one told me?!

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Juliebear In reply to Refleximage [2004-03-02 22:13:40 +0000 UTC]

Hey, have a good one at work. I'll be in touch later.

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Juliebear In reply to Refleximage [2004-03-02 03:46:04 +0000 UTC]

Yeah, yeah. Be good or I'll tell the whole world what you're *really* like. Heh.

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Refleximage In reply to Juliebear [2004-03-02 03:48:17 +0000 UTC]

hehehehe...What *am* I really like? I'm domesticated evil.

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Juliebear In reply to Refleximage [2004-03-02 03:49:49 +0000 UTC]

Not hardly. More like pure, unadulterated evil dipped in chocolate and covered in a thin, candy shell.

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Refleximage In reply to Juliebear [2004-03-02 03:52:09 +0000 UTC]

Mmmmmm, candy shell.

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Juliebear In reply to Refleximage [2004-03-02 03:53:56 +0000 UTC]

... and now I want candy, and I. Don't. Know. Why.

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KittyPaint In reply to ??? [2004-02-28 21:04:06 +0000 UTC]

Hello^^

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Nouchy In reply to ??? [2004-02-28 01:16:26 +0000 UTC]

wow awesome art!!!!!!!

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Refleximage In reply to perrigrin [2004-02-25 13:19:39 +0000 UTC]

Boo! Did that surprise you?

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