Tips on how I draw, design and write ?

So I've been thinking of writing all that down for a while, it's sort of a compilation on tips on different subject : drawing, fashion, stories.

Of course I'm just giving my point of view so some people may think differently. Different geographical location,education and cultures can affect your own view on the subjects.

DRAWINGS Section

1. Learn the basics

Then a basic anatomy, no need to know each muscles names and places, just the most important, the rest comes with practice.

It's fine if it's not perfect, it's drawing after all, the best way to master those is practice

But it's a very long process and trying to learn all at once might wreck your brain more than working on a part then another.

Learn at your own rythm.

2. Keep reality aside. ( except for photorealism )

When you start drawing, you want to draw something super realist but that don't work.

DON'T FORCE IT !!!

I think reality is an hindrance to imagination and puts limits where you don't want them. Put your own limits YOURSELF.

3. EXPERIMENT.

This goes with the reality aside, if you've already learned the basic then play with it. Break the forms, try different thing : Angular forms and articulations or on the contrary very round, cartoon, anime...

You still don't have a style yet so experimenting is the only way to find what you're confortable drawing.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE FUN DRAWING THEN DON'T FORCE YOURSELF TO DRAW.

There are plenty of things I don't have funs drawings for various reasons, I don't want to make drawing a painful experience so I just don't draw them, like : Mechas, buildings, fat peoples, huge armors ect...

4. Growing your "STYLE"

Now that you've found what you like to draw in a genre your confortable, you'll NATURALLY start growing your own "STYLE"

The style is defined by various elements and no-one really agree on which ones, for me it's : the eyes, the lines you use, the flow of your drawings, composition and coloring/painting ( including colors )

Your style will always evolve ( at a more quick or slow pace ) but there is something very important not to forget : YOU DON'T SEARCH A STYLE or try get one.

It is something that comes NATURALLY, I know I'm repeting myself but it's very VERY important.

The only thing you can do to grow it is practice.

It's like a magic seed that's born inside you and you fight for it to grow into a magnificient flower.

Then, what about copying someone else style ? You can do that of course, it's not cheating because in itself it requires a lot of skills to get right. But you shouldn't 100% copy someone else style, there should be at 20% of you in it or, can it really be called yours ? I don't know, that's you to answer

5. Feedbacks.

5.1 Invisible ?

Of course when you start you want feeback on your work, comments of encouragements, critiques ect...

But when you're starting you will very rarelly get any. It's what's called the "Silent majority ", here's the basic reaction of a visitor :

- See artwork by curiosity then leave.

- Interesting artwork, fav just in case.

- Whoah, I really like it ! Fav and comment : Nice <3 !

- Encouraging comment : Keep up the good work ! Not faving but see potentials in your work.

- Envying peoples wanting to encourage you even more and in which your artwork really sparkled something : Fav and +Watch

5.2 Watchers, Pageviews ?

How to get more pageviews or watchers ? There are a few things you can do but remember there are plenty and plenty of people like you so you have to be motivated, here the advices :

- Be active, talk to people, join groups so that people know you exist.

- Advertise your BEST drawings on a group, only the BEST !

- Quantity doesn't egual quality ! Don't force to draw quickly if you need more time.

I personally draw really quickly because I think of what I'll draw before I do.

- Draw popular characters fan-arts. It will not really gives you more watchers but you'll end up in someone else favs. I'm one of the people who look thorough other people favs so seek new artists.

5.3 Opinions or ciriques ?

I hope you can make a difference between the two because 85% of the people on DA DON'T.

Critiques, gives a way to possibly improve your drawings without teliing you that you should absolutely do it.

Opinions are : "Whoa, I don't like it !" "Creepy !" " Is that Human ?"

FOR THOSE GIVING AWAY THEY'RE OPINIONS AS CRITIQUES AND EARNESTLY TRYING TO CRITIQUES !!!!!!

If it's not asked for, don't give it. Just don't. Don't even think about it. STOP right there.

A critique that isn't asked for will always be taken on the negative side.

If you write a novel lenght critique in a language which isn't the artist first language, Don't even expect them to read it all !!

It's very difficult to make people understand that writing more isn't writing more clearly.

Here an advice for you : CLEAR, SHORT sentences, start with the bad, finish with the GOOD and add a

That always amazed me people don't know that, but that's the FIRST THING YOU LEARN IN HIGHSCHOOL.

Sorry for the rant, back to the main subject.

6. Dealing with "annoying rats" ( sorry for the rats, your worth way better than those people but you help me make a point so don't be angry )

- Trolls : There will always be, the more popular, the more trolls.

Procedure : Ignore, hide comment, block.

- The sheeps : Because someone gave you a negative feedback, so they will.

Procedure : Ignore.

- The Jealous : You may encounter jealous peoples insulting you.

Procedure : I would tell them "be honest with yourself". And ignore them.

- NO-CREDITING bases users : some may use your base agains't the rules you gave with the LAMEST excuse ever : Found it on Google.

Procedure: Be strict !! And say " Then you should've make more research before using something that's not yours and modify ( or delete ) this picture to follow the rules. "

If they don't, Fill a DMCA on whatever site it is. The artwork will be deleted and the user will recieve a warning from the site itself.

- Tracers: I never had a problem with tracers but confront them by note and if they block you, fill a DMCA.

- Thieves : The worst kind of "rats".

Gather Proofs, confront them, if they don't put them on a nice Black-list for stealing in a nice journal ( but tell people not to harass them, that's a protection for yourself ) what makes those peoples stop isn't a DMCA, that doesn't work they just make another account. BUT SOCIAL PRESSURE, because they're most of the times brats.

7. White Knights !

They are what the title says, people who loves your works and want to encourage you the more.

There are 2 kinds :

Blinds Knights : Who will never doubt you, it's nice when you're feeling down or depressed.

Knights of Reasons : Those you might not always agree with you but will always make sure people won't make you feel bad on purpose.

Knights of Reasons are the best knights, they will help you develop your skills when you desperately need it.

So, love your Knights !!! They're your best friends. Not always here, sometimes very discreets and you might even not be aware of their existence.

But Those White Knights should know that we really love them !!

And that's why, my own knights : I love you !!!! >////V////<

That's the best way to end the drawing section.

FASHION Section

1. Where to start ?

Research, there isn't 2 way to start with fashion. To know what to do, you have to know what has been done.

Here the area you need to research :

-Traditional clothes of your OWN country, timelines of what was to be worn and not at the time.

- The Basic that heavily influences Fashion : The Corset, Roccoco, Crinoline, Greek Empire dress, Underwears, Accessories ( like hats ), Jewels. Années Folles, mini-skirt, bikini.

- That might sound strange but MMORPGs.

- The Great : Coco Chanel.

2. Okay! Research done !

Great ! Try the mmorpg system : take one element like unicorn and make severals designs out of it.

But what is important to think about while designing ?

3. The silhouette.

You have to think of the design as a global shape first. Then cut it down into small section, then again cut those into smaller sections.

You have to think of different things on what you think is important while cutting the parts : Does it have to be confortable? Practical? Straight Proctective armor ? Appealing armor ? Fantasy ? Casual ? Ect …

4. Details.

You can only add the details when the overall shape is done, like the silhouette : start big then into smaller details.

What kinds of details ? Patterns is the first thing on the fabric itself, then Embroidery and laces comes 3^rd.The smaller details could be : chains, pearls, jewels, strass ect...

5. I like the clothes but it doesn't fits my characters …

That's something different, Designing fashion designs isn't character designing.

To design an outfit for a specific character, you have to think of ALL the specifities of the character first. Is the character bright, simple and innocent ? Silent, introverted and diabolic ? A queen like very proud woman ?

I have a simple rule I follow depending on what I want :

Complicated = "Extravagante" or detailed.

Simple = … well it's simple.

If the character is simple + a simple design = low class character : Peasants

Simple character + complicated design ( or inverse ) = Regular character : neither rich or poor.

Complicated character + Complicated design = High class character : Rich/aristocrates.

STORIES Section

This one is especially aimed at my past self and people who're like me. I still a novice in the writing but that should still prove itself useful.

1. I never wrote a story and I'd like to give it a try.

Do !

2. Where to start ?

Wirte something simple and short in the language your confortable with. Don't force yourself to write in english if you can't or not a mimimum confortable with it.

But people won't read it if you write it in your maternal language ? I wouldn't be so sure.

But the point here is to get used to writing first so even if people don't read it, it's fine.

3. Creating the story.

It's complicated, some and even everyone will tell you to create your character for your story.

But I think that's wrong, you don't create the character for the story or the story for the character. It has to be at the same time !! You create both stories and characters for each other.

I'll illustrate my point : Start sketching a character then stop and ask yourself what kind of setting would this character belong : fantasy ? Sci-fi ? Casual ?

Then start sketching out a story, detail it a bit and then : "hum, there was a war not long ago, maybe the character could be a knight or mercenary ? "

Go back to the character and details it and there " oh, I could put a mark on it's body and it could be from a tribe or a curse."

Back to the story, and start exploring the tribe or curse route.

Ect, ect … And follow on, characters might add themself as you write and draw the first one, like an ennemy and go over the cycle again. Then after the ennemy, an ally would join ect …

And tada ! You got a story !

Wheither it's good or not is another matter.

4. What a good story ?

There's no right answer there. For me a good story is something you will have fun to write, but might not be fun to read. It really depends on what and why you want to write.

5. I've lost passion for what I wrote but I'm not done with it, what to do ?

Don't finish.

If you got bored of it, that's the only way to end. If you push yourself into writing it, everyone will see it and it could become a desastrous memory of something you hated to finish even though you loved the characters.

EXTRA Section

None, Tools aren't made to make you better at drawing, writing or whatever. They are to simplify the process ( for painting for example ), they won't make you good. You to find what you're confortable with : mechanicals pen ? Ink pen ? Tablet ? Which tablet ? Which program ? Everyone will advise you with what they are the most confortable with or the cheapest tools but none can answer : What is the best software ? or the sort, you'll have to try the trial version and find which is good FOR YOU.

Phew, that was long, I wrote all that in one sitting so I hope I didn't forget anything … But I probably did XD

If so, ask in the commentary and I'll add it in the extra.

And don't forget : You can have an opinion but can't force it on people who don't want it.

Because you can give doesn't mean you should