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Honesty hour-COME GIVE YOUR OPINION by Iko
I've been pondering about the quality of my work and the service that I provide for this niche fandom. I want to be able to do the best that I can but I know just like any other person that I can make mistakes. I just want to let people know that I'm perfectly willing to work on those mistakes provided that people let me know. If you've ever commissioned me and were unhappy with your picture, if you thought I could work on a certain aspect of my service, if you just plain don't like how I draw a certain thing, please let me know! Have constructive criticism? Shoot away! Have something concerning to tell me? By all means please do! I strive to better myself in this sort of thing and I can only notice some mistakes myself. The purpose of this journal is for you to be able, guilt free, to tell me your grievances with my work/system/ethics. Even if you're not an artist your opinion is valid and I'd very much like to hear it!
Comment away please!
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Comments
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Since I work from home and live out in the country I have a lot of time to think as I work on my art. I often just try to thing of ways that I can improve on myself or what I make. Sometimes having the opinion of others helps as they might see something you didn't notice before. Daigo has been a wonderfully patient person in helping me point out anatomy flaws in my work and giving me a hands on way of improving and learning. Some times I think he praises me way too much but I suppose that's my reaction to flattery and trying to let it not go to my head!
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Ah, yeah sometimes it's easier to take the words of strangers than it is those that are close to us. It's one of those instinctive reactions we have to train ourselves to break or work around. But from what i know of him AND having been in such circumstances myself, I doubt very VERY much that he'd blow smoke up your ass for anything XD
Everyone struggles with anatomy, it's par for the course and even when we think we got it figured out, we find new ways of tripping over it. So don't let that concern you.
And I can see where QT is coming from with the consistency, that is something i noticed at a glance in your galleries but dismissed as a matter of things being jumbled chronologically. Having looked more closely I was wrong. But i assert that is something that takes its grip in time as you bump up your speed and do more shooting from the hip.
She really knows her stuff and will let you know EXACTLY what she thinks, no head-pat filter to worry about XD
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i haven't commissioned you before, buti can give good feedback on your art style hopefully!
i think your shading is a bit too soft/smooshy looking at times, could use more hard edges, carefully defined drop shadows, etc. Your anatomy could use a little work as well, i would suggest doing some figure studies with different body shapes to get a more defined look down. You draw breasts really well on characters that are standing upright, but they often lack a sense of weight when the character is lying on them or otherwise pressing against them. Try to think of them as water-filled bags, squooshing out where weight is placed on them. Lastly, your colors sometimes come out looking a little flat - i think working on reflected light and color theory would help there.i in no way want to make you feel like you don't do good work. You are on my watchlist for a very good reason! If you need some positive feedback too, i'd be happy to give it - just let me know! i'm just trying to stick to 'stuff that could be improved' for now since that's what the journal's asking for.
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Thank you! This is precisely the type of feedback I'd like to hear. I have a sort of love hate with anatomy. As I've been leaning away from traditional methods and over exaggerating features such as wide hips or thin shoulders. This tends to get in the way of traditional human structure. Most of my issues lie with me not knowing what direction to take my work in perhaps. In the past I have used water balloons to help understand breasts but again, I'm confused as to take the realistic path or something more toony(floating breasts ect). Being the bearer of an endowed chest I've often found it hard to sample from that or not being able to find the right references to study from.
As with coloring I'm really striving to master atmosphere and color theory. I'm very lost in this aspect of where to start learning. I been attempting to learn from imitation though it's a slow process and things just haven't clicked for me yet. I've just chalked this up to practice being needed.
I hope none of this seemed like I'm trying to defend anything! I certainly don't mean to come off as defensive!
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Nope, not defensive at all!
Regarding anatomy; it's always good to do studies and learn from life/photos, even if you have a toonier style you're going for. One must understand the rules before one can break them. This website is great for figure drawing practice (and has an animals section too!).
As for color theory, i highly recommend James Gurney's Color and Light. His blog, GurneyJourney, is also chock full of great tips. Another helpful resource is http://www.huevaluechroma.com/ , though it's a bit technical, it explains modern color theory (as opposed to traditional color theory, which is outdated despite still being regularly taught) quite well. i've also found this online tutorial/guide to be of great help.
If you just want to learn more in general, Ctrl+Paint is a fantastic resource.
Hope that's helpful!
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Let's see you get your work down quickly when you do work and that's good. I think though I do get a bit turned off by journals that one week say "I'm slowing down, got problems" and then another asking for commissions again. I feel that from an outside looking in perspective it shows inconsistency in your work ethic.
Avoid drama. I noticed a recent incident there were three journals about some drama and I only visit the other site to help those who were looking for my artwork or missing works I may have taken down. It was rather off putting and distressing since it was really a minor thing overall that could have been handled better. Think a bit or walk away from the computer before making a journal, we all have our bad days and are of course human, but it can have a negative impact on those who are willing to pay money.
Art wise, you're very productive and I see you do try to be experimental but I think there's a point where you're losing some consistency with your works. By consistency I don't mean that "Iko has to draw eyes this way" but rather when I look at your gallery ( and collabs aside) I have a hard time at points recognizing that the work have come from the same artist. This of course is hard because if you want to experiment it does at times mean going outside your comfort zone and doing things you're unfamiliar with as well.
Color wise you're getting better but I wouldn't say your colors are flat so much as you might want to tighten your color palettes. You said you're studying theory so this is good. The other part of this is to watch your edges. Learn how shadows and color interact as well as when an edge should be firm, hard or soft.
Greg Pro (http://www.gregpro.com/) has some fantastic demos on how edges can work along with super helpful painting tips
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=75768http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=75960
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=76077
Hopefully that helps, I don't want to come off negative, it was just something I observed when I had time between work
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I'm sorry for not replying sooner, I went through those links like a kid in a candy store! Thank you very much. I know I do have an issue with consistency though sometimes I think it changes when I learn something new. I very badly hope to develop a more stable style in the near future. I really want to make a unique name for myself but I know I've got time and I can't really rush it.
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Style is something that is developed as you improve. There isn't a way to force it because your natural tendencies come out which is your actual style. The difference is knowing what is your tendencies and letting that flourish vs what are mistakes (although those mistakes allow us to learn).
I found that drawing from life is actually what helps with consistency. The reason being is that it takes away the problem of looking at what other illustrators do and solving the problems/developing work on my own. There's nothing wrong per say where you see what another illustrator does and try that approach especially if you're learning. However it is really easy to start copying what other artists do instead of learning why they do it.
Taking notes have also helped me tremendously. The act of doing a study here and there helps but taking notes on what I learned makes it stick a bit better. When I did hand studies (and actually drew 100 hands like the book) - I took notes on concepts I didn't understand. One of which I didn't realize I was not drawing fingers the same width because my mind kept thinking fingers got smaller in width as well as length.
If I hadn't taken notes I wouldn't have made a more conscious effort to work on my line economy and explain it to others when they make the same error why it's not good - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSELY1iM4FU
I think taking time for yourself to improve also helps. I remember doing artwork before the commission thing became such big talk in online art. It was more of activities that we did to improve and enjoy posting art. Now it's like every other journal (not just you) is "commission" and less about the process or really enjoyment of doing art. It's pandering to customers instead of engaging all of your audience, or working on personal stuff that means something to you and not just your customers. By that I also mean, not just what you think your audience thinks of you. So don't be afraid to take time off from commissions to just focus on your progress.
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Well... I don't know if I have a word on this, I mean, I'm still on my own process, so it's hard to say something about an artist that is clearly better that you, but i'll try...
First, I agree with the "Avoid all dramas" politic, those only cooperate to give you problems, that could maybe help on your ethics, besides that, you really feel like a nice person, very reasonable and really, REALLY tolerant.
About your art, anatomy is can be tricky sometimes, even the most professional comic creators for DC or Marvel have serious issues now and then, it's not an excuse though, but what I want to say is that is not the end of the world, hopefully, Daigo helps you and by the other hand your anatomy is pretty well builded, now, if you still feel kinda doubtful, you can always try some gesture drawings based on some refs before working on the real thing, practicing those may help you.
Sometimes what I try is to focus in a part of the body that I feel I still don't know enough of, look for some refs at different angles and positions and then, studiying them so I see why something works some way...
About your coloring, I like it so far, maybe (I agree again) you can play with some hard edges while adding shadows and shading overall, even playing with some gradient-esque look for some parts alongside volume and shading, that will boost your quality EVEN higher that it is actually.
I hope this makes sense :)
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I was going to say "what should I say, that my wife two times me?" but I've beaten that one to death.
DON'T PAINT ANY MORE RELIGIOUS PICTURES
Do you draw any humany art? I always think furry artists should do more humans. I think that's the one thing missing from all the furry art websites, they lose sight of the actual human being aspect of the drawings. Animal drawings are fine but I think it's important to not lose sight of branching out. But that's just my opinion I could be wrong and if you disagree with me then you sir are worse than hitler.
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er, I've only done one religious picture and it was for a close friend, the only thing religious was the poem in the description o.o. I used to draw humans back in my 'anime' days but I find humans extremely boring to draw. Nothing against actual people but I don't find human drawings that appealing.
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It was a Goodfellas reference. It was the last thing Joe Pesci said to his mom before they were going to make him a made man, except they weren't going to, they blew his brains out in an empty garage. I should stop getting drunk before replying to all posts on the internet. :3c
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Art quality wise, I love it. Your style is so beautiful! But sometimes I can definitely tell when you've rushed something and when you spent time on it.
I've always wanted a commission from you... however after seeing you apologize so many times for spending money before finishing, I'm afraid to even order one. -
I see a severe lack of bigger bodies in your gallery, both of the inflated and chubby varieties. this concerns me.
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Sadly I haven't had the pleasure of working with you yet. But it's good to know you're open to feedback and constructive criticism. =)
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Master Oki Akai
Not having commissioned you before I guess i can't give you the feedback you're looking for. But just what i've seen of your work I also doubt there's any problem in your technique.
I can only surmise that you MAY have had a recent disagreement or period of doubt or confusion. That or it's one of those times where we reassess our place in our work.
I'd like to believe that Daigo is a great friend, resource, voice in a situation like this and is probably very appropriate to your needs. Though I certainly can't blame you for wanting more opinions to build on.
Hell maybe I should just commission you myself, and give you some specific feedback rather than guessing XD