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nemo-ramjet — Tutorial: Saliva Painting
Published: 2005-12-25 15:53:40 +0000 UTC; Views: 23523; Favourites: 185; Downloads: 266
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Description
A step-by-step description of my indigenous pencil/aquarel/watercolor/digital painting technique. Years ago, after a violent sneeze, I discovered that one's saliva can mix with pencil and aquarel to yield acrylic-like results. The resulting goop can accept further detailing with pencil. Be sure to use a "spitoon" and avoid licking your brushes, so that you don't get lead poisoning. The subject is a heavyweight Snaiad herbivore of the genus Ungelephas.Related content
Comments: 53
Awesome you certainly put you blood and sweat into youre art well spit lol may try this method out some time
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This is a great tutorial, but I just have to ask: is that a giant penis on its chest?
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It's a head. The one with a face is actually the "penis.
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I feel so guilty now. I realize that I haven't given your project nearly as much love as it rightfully deserves.
I have read tons of articles about Snaiad online and I really love your illustrations, but now I see how little comments I have written here.
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This is creepy awesome, but the one thing occupying my mind at this moment is the fact that pencil "lead" contains no actual lead. Its a mixture of Graphite (an allotrope of carbon) and clay.
In short, its more likely that you'll be killed by a meteor (and in all recorded history only 1 person has ever been injured (much less killed) by a meteor) than lead poisoning from a pencil.
So yeah. Now that I got that out, The drawing is cool, and there have been much weirder techniques than spit painting.
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Thanks - I didn't know that about pencils!
These days I usually keep my spit in a small bottle lid or similar receptacle when painting...
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For a second it sounded like you
Stored your spit in a bottle for later use
Lmao
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I've always thought this was one of your most aesthetically pleasing creatures, but I don't remember seeing it on your website; hopefully that will change when Snaiad Mark II goes up 
Also, why does it have such a giant neck if it eats with its second head?
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It wasn't included in the final site, because I hadn't completed the full set of drawings for its relatives.
The first head is on a tall neck for spotting predators.
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Wow, great advice! Most of my drawings never make it past the first step.
I'm definitely going to try this sometime!
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Saliva painting? Now that's.....kinda new....
But it looks like it's effective..
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why did have the creature stick out its tongue-penis?
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You changed my life, that softlight thing... I'm SO using it from now on.
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wow! this is great. i learned two things: 1) there are such thinga as water-soluble pencils and 2) i'm not the only one who paints with spit (it's viscosity and bubbly nature can create some wicked effects in the right hands.)
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This is a great tutorial, if I ever get around to actually filling in any of my drawings, I'll definitely look back to this. But I have one question, is that thing on the front a feeler or a penis, because I have to say it looks a hell of a lot like a penis.
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Thanks! Your question has an answer here: [link]
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Oh yeah, i figured out shortly after posting what it really was. Thanks for clarifying it though.
I have to admit that it is a very unique concept to have two heads, at least in the way you have it and not like a hydra or cerberus. Having a head that houses the sensory and reproductive organs and then a second head that takes care of the eating is truly ingenious, I would have never thought of something like that. And I thought my creatures were strange. WOW!
One more question though, do you make money from doing this? It would seem like you spend an enormous amount of time on this.
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I spend a lot of time on this, yes. I hope to make money from it sometime soon.
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great tutorial! not to mention that I can always use my saliva in any emergency conditions.....
by the way, do you usually use bright colors and medium opacity (about 50%-70%) brushes when coloring them?
once again, I must say, this is really helpful.
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In ps? I use dark colors in the soft light setting...
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I was wondering how you made your beautiful illustrations. Was it all colour pencils? Was it paints? Was it digital?
No.
It was spit.
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Yes, but pencils and digitals were almost as important!
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I assume it also imbues the piece with the powers of the Juuju Gods.
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Your secret is safe with me.
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This is amazing, who woulda thought XD - By the way everything you've done like this looks amazing!
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I never mentioned it before, but that stuff there must take FOREVER! (...relatively speaking, of course)
Of course, professional work DOES require a lot more attention & effort then the silly doodling I specialize in.
Basically I start of with Step one as you have up there, then go over the lines with a Uniball gel pen, erase the pencil, scan, clean (step 5), & vua'la! Done.
... And if there's text, rewrite it in photoshop.
I also don't color... shade (much)... use backgrounds, etc. ,etc.
... I've got along way to go. (grumbles)
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Totally awesome man-- i love this stuff
a i was wondering where the species data for this one is at-- because i looked at the map and i couldn't find this species
but wow this is awesome
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there are a lot of new species whose data is yet unwritten, it's because I'm trying to re-design the presentation format... but this is related to the genus pneumagazella... only a lot larger.
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Definitely a fave so that I can easily come back to it. I must try it.
I was looking at other Snaiads and they were all so beautiful ( not to mention how creative and the thought you put into them! ) so it was a nice surprise to see steps you took.
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Very, very interesting! I had never thought about it
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Dude, That's Crazy!
If only my scanner liked pencil, then I'd be all set!
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Gosh you have a gorgeous sketching quality. And that's a real awesome technique, I should try those watercolour pencils! Thanks for putting this up, I enjoyed the behind-the-scenes!
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no problem Joumi...It was, in fact, inspired by your tutorials.
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saliva as raw material for dummies, first edition.
been there done that (;
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ankara ankara
unutum unutum
scanner scanner!
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i'm definitely going to give it a try sometime. I'm sure saliva helps especially with painting organic subjects, giving them a more lively feeling. those n00bs that use water have no idea what they're missing on. yessir. (great one memo 
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