( ˘ω˘)………

putting this up, since my website project for university is finished and I don’t have to put it on the web anymore.

a very, very basic image guide on how your portfolio should be presented or appear, whether you’re in fine arts, graphic design or illustration, illustrated by yours truly

please do NOT remove the commentary while reblogging, do not reupload anywhere else.

this is my own personal method and it might not guarantee results, but don’t overwhelm yourself and start small if the canvas is too intimidating. starting small also makes me more open minded to creating more dramatic poses. don’t overthink and have fun! hope it helps!

I wish that ao3 had an option to filter warnings (and tbh certain authors) out like I will never ever want to read it and just seeing it puts me off so much that often I end up closing my browser because that content upsets me so much lmao

HOLY FREE ART PROGRAMS BATMAN

I’ve had this list sitting around for a while (in case I ever want to try something new) and I thought I’d share it, because why the hell not, everybody loves free stuff. I’ve only used a couple, so for all I know these could be complete shit. BUT YOU NEVER KNOW, RIGHT?

*= available for both windows and mac os

GIMP * - Does a lot of the same stuff as Photoshop.

FireAlpaca * - Similar to Paint Tool Sai, so it’s a good alternative for Mac users.

Autodesk Sketchbook Copic Edition * - Simulates the look of copic markers.

MyPaint * - Basic stuff, nothing fancy.

Pinta * - Drawing program modeled after paint.NET.

Inkscape * - Vector/drawing program meant to be similar to Illustrator.

ArtRage * - Digital painting program; you can get the trimmed down version for free or buy the full version with more features.

Sumo Paint * - In-browser drawing app.

DAZ Studio * - Some sort of 3D model poser thing.

Pencil * - Software for animating.

SketchUp * - Tool for making 3D models. Looks handy for stuff like architectural drawings.

Blender * - Pretty popular 3D software.

escape motions * - Some browser apps, fun to fiddle with when you’re bored (the fluid fire simulation is pretty cool imo).

Twistedbrush (Pixarra) - Seems to be meant for replicating the look of traditional media.

Pixia/Phierha - A popular program in Japan, according to the website.

Krita - This was originally made for Linux and it looks like the developers haven’t ironed out all of the kinks in the Windows installer.

Artweaver - Another trimmed down free thing if you don’t want to buy the full program.

paint.NET - Pretty basic kit, probably good for simple stuff.

Project Dogwaffle - I’m not sure what this one is all about because I couldn’t stop laughing at the terrible website.

Speedy Painter - Lightweight digital painting program.

mtPaint - Originally made for pixel art; simple enough to run on older computers.

Chasys Draw IES - Supposed to be some sort of drawing+image editor thing.

PaintRibbon - Seems to be another plain old basic image editor.

DrawPlus - Looks like it’s made for graphic design and vector stuff.

SmoothDraw - I’m guessing this is a basic thing for people who don’t want to bother with complicated stuff.

hope this tutorial helps, anon!! a lot of this is a result of experimentation and seeing what looks best based on your picture. what i’m essentially doing is relying on the overall “mood” bg colour tie everything together cohesively by putting the local colours over it on the “soft light” filter. the other changes i do, such as the blue light on him and the flavour elements are all based around making it more cohesive, e.g. the glow from the pool is all over the background AND the subject, instead of just the pool, pulling them together, if that makes sense! 

of course this also relies on having some sense of what a realistic version of your scene would look like - for this comic i looked up “pool scenes night” on google to gather references i could take the colours from, and looked up lighting references for the way light would hit a face if coming from the bottom, stuff like that.

the other example is from a commission i did: 

in this case, the lighting situation has a lot more light, and isn’t as atypical as pool-at-night lighting. so it was easier to rely on my usual method of colour layering, i.e.

local colour on multiply (as opposed to soft light) 

monochrome shading on normal

again, experiment experiment experiment! hope this helps! 

Natalie Portman as Padmé Amidala in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)

Clean Line Art! Digital Inking Tips by BaM Animation

RED DEAD REDEMPTION II O4/?      Algernon Wasp’s studio in Saint Denis

Part 1 of my Design and Layout for Comics lecture! 

Here’s part 2: https://gingersnappish.tumblr.com/post/614575142440517632/part-2-of-my-design-and-layout-for-comics-lecture

cursed practice