Nimue draws things (sometimes)

[Nimue]

Yeah, heheh, I got my first version of Photoshop by less-than-legal means? I'm using CS6 right now because it's got the features I need without the stupid cloud-subscription service. I mean...come on.

I do find that the Intuos I have now has a lot more sensitivity than the Bamboo I was using. When I tried drawing on the Bamboo again, it was much more jittery and inexact. However, the Bamboo really does everything you need--and no doubt the technology has improved since I bought mine what, seven years ago? My life goal is to have a Cintiq, but there is no way I can justify spending a minimum of $900 on a tablet I use occasionally! My heart says "it's so cool!" and my brain says "wtf no."

 

[Tom]

Oh my god, I want the Cintiq so bad. It looks absolutely amazing.

I'm kind of worried about downloading Photoshop. My laptop is not the most...intelligent piece of technology out there, and I feel like asking it to download such a large file as Photoshop will kill its brain. I should probably get a better one. (Noooo, that means more money!...)

 

[Manalodia]

A Cintiq for $900.....Must be an income tax investment for those going paycheck-to-paycheck XD I went from a Bamboo Splash to a Intuos, and as you said, tried going back to my old one and wasn't near as accurate as my small pen&tablet. Unfortunately now either my tablet software or Windows 8.1 causes my drawing programs to stutter now and then.

My weakest area digitally and overall art-wise is painting, so I like to know how long some artists skilled at it take as a means of gauging patience and time going into it. Thanks for posting the process! Nice to see how it came along and reminded me of going from grayscale to easier see shadows/lighting.

I TRY not to get distracted while drawing like that, so I have music going; sometimes it works, sometimes I find myself elsewhere and hour later >_> Alas...You have some wonderful writing and artwork, madam.

 

[Manalodia]

Hmm, what is your laptop? You're probably right Photoshop would kill it if you already now it has limitations from lesser experiences, but an earlier PS might not be so heavy on it....maybe, hehe~

 

[Nimue]

Yeah, if you're worried about just downloading it, it might not be easy for you to run, either. If you can find an earlier version of Photoshop that might be more compatible with your laptop, I can tell you that from a painter's perspective, the difference between the versions is minimal. I've used PS7, PS CS2, and PS CS6, and I couldn't tell you the difference besides the look of the interface. As long as it supports pressure sensitivity, you can paint with it.

My weakest area digitally and overall art-wise is painting, so I like to know how long some artists skilled at it take as a means of gauging patience and time going into it. Thanks for posting the process! Nice to see how it came along and reminded me of going from grayscale to easier see shadows/lighting.

Painting does take patience! And I find it helpful to leave things alone for a few days before coming back to them, just to get a fresh look at lighting and proportions. Two things technique-wise that I found very helpful is sketching with a large, textured brush with opacity bound to pen pressure. If you start with fine, dark lines and try to paint over that, you can get too attached to the line work and really just end up coloring it in rather than painting over that base. The second thing is that I like starting with a dark base color and building up light tones, rather than adding shadows. Somehow it's easier for me to create depth using light. Not sure if those things are just me, though.

 

[Tom]

Hmm, what is your laptop? You're probably right Photoshop would kill it if you already now it has limitations from lesser experiences, but an earlier PS might not be so heavy on it....maybe, hehe~

It's just a little Acer Notebook, which I bought mostly for writing (this was before I ever once thought I'd be doing digital art). I downloaded Photoshop Elements onto it last year so I could do some photo manip/editing, and that nearly fried it. I don't really want to see what carnage the full Photoshop package would cause.

 

[kennyc]

Yeah, if you're worried about just downloading it, it might not be easy for you to run, either. If you can find an earlier version of Photoshop that might be more compatible with your laptop, I can tell you that from a painter's perspective, the difference between the versions is minimal. I've used PS7, PS CS2, and PS CS6, and I couldn't tell you the difference besides the look of the interface. As long as it supports pressure sensitivity, you can paint with it.


Painting does take patience! And I find it helpful to leave things alone for a few days before coming back to them, just to get a fresh look at lighting and proportions. Two things technique-wise that I found very helpful is sketching with a large, textured brush with opacity bound to pen pressure. If you start with fine, dark lines and try to paint over that, you can get too attached to the line work and really just end up coloring it in rather than painting over that base. The second thing is that I like starting with a dark base color and building up light tones, rather than adding shadows. Somehow it's easier for me to create depth using light. Not sure if those things are just me, though.

Just want to say, "Wonderful work!" and keep it up. I've been dabbling with digital painting for a long time now using primarily Painter well before it was a Corel product. Wondering if you've tried it as well as Photoshop? I use photoshop (CS5) for my photo work and sometimes for sizing, touchups etc of both photos and Digital art as well as for getting my pencil drawings into the computer (camera, photoshop, etc.). See my sig for my gallery links if you're interested.

I'm with you about the stupid cloud/subscription krap. No way!

Looking forward to seeing more of your work!

 

[Nimue]

Oh yeah, I've looked at your gallery! You have some really amazing realistic paintings. I've never tried Corel Painter, though if I'm not mistaken I got a free version of it with one tablet or another. Maybe I will one of these days! It's just that once you get very accustomed to switching tools, colors, and layers in one program, using another just seems like a whole lot more work...

 

[kennyc]

Oh yeah, I've looked at your gallery! You have some really amazing realistic paintings. I've never tried Corel Painter, though if I'm not mistaken I got a free version of it with one tablet or another. Maybe I will one of these days! It's just that once you get very accustomed to switching tools, colors, and layers in one program, using another just seems like a whole lot more work...

Thanks and yes I understand completely about the tools!

 

[Nimue]

Wanted to share a quick drawing I did of my main character for Top Scribe VI, Vienne of Lisau. Had to get her face down...still not convinced this is her face, though. Hmm.

And yeah, my drawings are this few and far between, eheh. It's completely harnessed to my writing--and new writing, specifically. I've got a few sketches of my MC for my ongoing writing, but nothing decent.

 

[Chessie]

Beautiful! So you're good at writing AND drawing, eh?

 

[Nimue]

That, my dear Chester, all depends upon your definition of "good". ^^;;

 

[DragonOfTheAerie]

Sometimes I think, "I'm kind of good at drawing!"

Then I look at what everyone else can do and I'm like :/....

Your drawings are great! Don't stop.

 

[Nimue]

Yeah, that's...that's a pretty much universal experience. It's kind of silly to compare art like that, though, everyone has their own style and aims. (I'm much better at drawing just for the fun of it and not worrying about it than I am about writing that way...)

I'd love to see your art, Dragon, if it's digitized in some way. It'd be nice to see more activity in the art board (although I am not really helping.)

 

[FifthView]

Nimue, the personality really shows through in that drawing. Great job!

 

[Laurence]

All of their eyes are super sweet (and pretty similar to each other, in a good way), what's your inspiration?

 

[Nimue]

Just that old urge to realize whatever's in my head, by writing or drawing, by hook or by crook... I like looking my characters in the face, it makes them feel more real and dimensional and gives me ideas about their personality somehow. Which probably explains why I draw so many of them making eye contact--bit of an attempt to get into their head.

 

[cydare]

I just want to say how incredible your life is, and how many different feelings I get from all the drawings I've seen, that really make the characters feel alive to me! It's incredible!

 

[Nimue]

Aw jeez, thank you! It does sometimes feel like I draw the same sorts of things over and over, so it's good to know you get different vibes from each of the portraits! Liveliness is definitely what I'm trying for.


I was already planning on trying a sort of mirrored portrait for Vienne, but you guys's nice response to the first drawing made me decide to put a little more effort into it than just drawing over the existing face. This is supposed to be Vienne when she goes within herself/summons magic (it makes sense in the story? Maybe.)

Spoiler: Side by side because I worked on that facial perspective, dammit

I'd like to put color and some proper composition on this, but we shall see how long it takes before I run out of steam...

 

[DragonOfTheAerie]

Also great

I'm actually learning to draw faces in art class right now. I've gotten surprisingly far in only two sessions and was very impressed with my last effort...like, wow, I didn't know I could do this!

I doubt I would post anything, but, the whole reason I am doing this is so I can draw my characters.