I didn't know this thread was a thing. Hello fellow era artists. Here's some Astral Chain fan art I finished the other day:
Dang, how'd you do that fire??
Thanks for asking. I'm still using Photoshop CS5 so this might be easier with newer programs.
Dang, that seems like some serious hard work! It paid off though.Thanks for asking. I'm still using Photoshop CS5 so this might be easier with newer programs.
-Create the main flame shapes with the selection tool.
-Gaussian & motion blur them.
-Lower the opacity.
-Use multiple lighting layers (overlay, soft light, hard light, multiply) and a low opacity brush to build up color depth.
-Add sparks using hard light.
-Add smoke using a free smoke brush I got from Deviant art.
-When the whole image is done and color corrected, go back and touch up the brightest and darkest areas to draw more attention to the focal points.
I'm happy with how the fire effects came out in these for the most part, but I can I see that I still need a lot of improvement.
Here's some fire I did last year to show how I've changed my approach-
Just use your ERA username. Many artists started with a pseudonym (me included) because Xavier.com or XavierGarcia.com wasnt a possibility so you come up with a nickname because its your "brand" and I never liked the whole "name+art" way of branding. I used to have many other names just cause one name was taken in one place and not in others so I was Xavipants in some places and Jigglyxavi in others (lol) Eventually I noticed I was missing followers because they didnt realize Raging Spaniard on GAF and Xavipants on twitter was the same person so I just centralized everything under the RS brand and made sure people know my name is Xavi. You do this for long enough and eventually you get the confidence and recognition to user your name all the time, this happens in celebrity too with The Rock or The Sports Guy, who now fully operate under Dwayne Johnson or Bill Simmons.How many of you make art for a professional portfolio under a pseudonym? I have a great deal of anxiety about posting things related to my life publicly and so I'm looking to make my art, portfolio and social medias under a pseudonym to keep that and my life separate. I know many artists and authors do this. I'm wondering if just using my middle name instead of first would be enough.
How many of you make art for a professional portfolio under a pseudonym? I have a great deal of anxiety about posting things related to my life publicly and so I'm looking to make my art, portfolio and social medias under a pseudonym to keep that and my life separate. I know many artists and authors do this. I'm wondering if just using my middle name instead of first would be enough.
Mom's was a traditional Christmas scene, with a forest for the border.
Dad's was an "idea" lightbulb with Christmas lights (my dad is an engineer who loves wacky Christmas decorations)
My brother is a welder and loves cars, so I gave him a flaming welder's helmet and some fiery exhaust.
And for my sister I drew her dog, who she had to leave with some friends while she was visiting us for the holidays.
That's a really good ideaDon't think I ever shared these here, but for the last two years I've been illustrating custom wrapping paper designs for my family's Christmas presents. They've been a huge hit and a lot of fun to do. I highly recommend y'all give it a try this year.
These were last years:
Photos of the individual presents:
That's a really good idea
Markers and colored pencil on butcher paper?
Work I'm proud of under my main nickname, work I hate and/or not representative of my regular style under another. My real name only in a video game credits (well, only one small indie game project for now).
Thanks for the advice. I know using a handle is very common for artists making anime/fanart stuff. However for the type of art I do, not so much it seems (imaginative realism/fine art). I was a bit concerned using a handle type of name would complicate things because I intend to build my career around my artwork, so its a pretty huge decision to have a name that fits.Just use your ERA username. Many artists started with a pseudonym (me included) because Xavier.com or XavierGarcia.com wasnt a possibility so you come up with a nickname because its your "brand" and I never liked the whole "name+art" way of branding. I used to have many other names just cause one name was taken in one place and not in others so I was Xavipants in some places and Jigglyxavi in others (lol) Eventually I noticed I was missing followers because they didnt realize Raging Spaniard on GAF and Xavipants on twitter was the same person so I just centralized everything under the RS brand and made sure people know my name is Xavi. You do this for long enough and eventually you get the confidence and recognition to user your name all the time, this happens in celebrity too with The Rock or The Sports Guy, who now fully operate under Dwayne Johnson or Bill Simmons.
Hope this helps!
Thanks for the advice. I know using a handle is very common for artists making anime/fanart stuff. However for the type of art I do, not so much it seems (imaginative realism/fine art). I was a bit concerned using a handle type of name would complicate things because I intend to build my career around my artwork, so its a pretty huge decision to have a name that fits.
I like it!
All of that was done digitally so I used a basic watercolor brush for,this program I used. Also, a textured overlay.
Nice! I'm CSP user too. Are you just using a standard pencil to get that grain on your lines?nopw. desktop clip studio but once i get the money im buying a ipad to replace my old kindle. poor thing went through hell.
anyway, here's me boi vincent, a irish vampire with a silver tongue
Nice! I'm CSP user too. Are you just using a standard pencil to get that grain on your lines?
Also, good smirk on that vampire.
Some stuff from projects this year.
In general, I'm happy with what I'm making, but finding time, and figuring out how to get seen are basically exhausting.
How are you guys feeling about making stuff lately?
Any of you folks using Procreate on an iPad Pro? Looking to grab one at some point and get back into drawing. Mostly been doing ZBrush work creatively, haven't done anything 2D in a very long time. How is it for more pencil/greyscale portraits? Only app I've ever used/dabbled in was BlackInk on PC (with results below) so I have no problem jumping into something new.
First thing I've drawn in 6 months (besides renovation layouts for house lol):
2 days of work. :3 Lotso procrastination.
Both of your recent pieces look great! But I'm not going to lie. That layer stack is giving me anxiety.
Edit: Ok well those didn't embed the way I thought they would lol
Oh nice! Thanks!You have to use the "media" tool to properly embed Tweets (the camera icon)!
Oh wow, this is so epic! And I like that you made colors look more "sharp". :)
Thanks!Oh wow, this is so epic! And I like that you made colors look more "sharp". :)
That's cool, looks straight off a sci-fi set.
Took this wetplate of a wasp nest a couple months ago as an experiment/reminding myself how to do it. It was a super hot and bright day so was quite lucky getting this to come out.