[–] [S] 4 points 1 day ago

I just remembered a piece of my childhood, probably explains instinctively going to tracing. I used to draw sonic the same way. My parents yelled at me for it, saying it would damage the monitor, so I took my game covers, manuals, and comics out and taped them up against a window in the sun to trace.

Thinking about it now, I was able to make fan comics and share them with friends. It worked then, but I guess the biggest difference is that the excitement to pursue has been somewhat replaced by the dread of not pursuing it.

  • source
  • parent
  • context
  •  

    I'm posting my notes from today's session, looking for feedback.

    Drawing

    Cute girl

    Reference Image

    Reference Image

    Study

    I worked for a while on tracing, but scuffed the original and just kinda gave up on the exercise:

    Tracing the reference

    Most of the work went into the eye

    Close up of eye

    I made some comparisons to get the different proportions between two references, but I didn't catch most of that in my initial notes, from an ucky preview I happen to get a snap of:

    Comparing references

    I think the reference is super pretty.🥰 Let's undo it piece by piece to understand what is working here. Removing blush to see if that is the secret sauce:

    Blush removed from reference

    That didn't really detract as much as I thought, still very cute.

    Greyscale reference

    It actually takes a bit of work to reduce the charm; the fundamental features still some through. What if I just erase the eye and replace it with something lazy?

    My version of the reference of the eye

    With context 😭 it's literally so uneven

    Unevenified reference image

    Spike Spiegel

    Reference, very low rez, want to capture the pose, then detail. After noticing how impactful the structure and proportions are, I want to work with those basic building blocks. I can develop floating head syndrome later.

    Reference

    I get a rough outline from a sketch

    Rough Outline overlay-ed on reference

    Refining shapes into pieces

    More refinement basic shapes

    More refinements

    It's coming close

    Final sketch

    It is okay sketch of reference

    Tracing was a lot of work, it take like an hour or so to complete this. I used a lot of touch screen. The truth is that this is very beginner level. I hope trial and error, evaluate, refine process will help me advance, but there is definitely a long road ahead of me.

    I'm not going to lie, I recognize there are huge issues with learning to draw by tracing. I told myself that I would focus on actually learning from it, hence the notes, but the truth is that I probably need to face my insecurities and produce hot garbage to actually begin tangibly improving.

    [–] 3 points 1 week ago

    Honestly been wondering that a lot. I drink coffee daily. I don't feel like it's killing me. Surely it's not as bad as monster, but what if the amount I drink comes close to the same impact? Is receiving a daily dose of mental stimulants not supposed be part of a healthy diet? 🫠

  • source
  • parent
  • context
  • [–] 8 points 1 week ago (2 children)

    I stopped talking with most of my family. They're not evil. They clearly care, but can't help but put you down.

    It's ingrained in me. My reactions and thoughts feel poisoned. I catch their thoughts in my head and take a moment to reset.

    Sometimes, I feel like I can't laugh because it sounds too much like them. I feel dumb or unproductive when experiencing comfort or joy.

    Obviously, this isn't inherently a trans issue as I'm not transgender, but I sympathize. The gap in my case is religion, but not really because the issues go deeper than that.

    I think people brave enough to decide who they want to be will always encounter resistance from people who are bitter from a lifetime of obedience to imaginary social constraints. It's invalidating to them for you to be happy and also yourself.

  • source
  • view more: next ›