H I !
This is Casty from 2020! I finally decided to stop being an
old fart and switched to digitally inking my artwork!
Yay?
At this time I am currently using the XP-Pen Arist 12! The section below *Where I actually start explaining how I do the artwork, NOT right below this one* is outdated! I will only do traditionally inked artwork for commissions and/or those that require it.
Thanks! *Goes back to doing whatever.*
This is Casty from 2020! I finally decided to stop being an
old fart and switched to digitally inking my artwork!
Yay?
At this time I am currently using the XP-Pen Arist 12! The section below *Where I actually start explaining how I do the artwork, NOT right below this one* is outdated! I will only do traditionally inked artwork for commissions and/or those that require it.
Thanks! *Goes back to doing whatever.*
For my normal about me, go here.
This page is here to explain how I create my art.
WARNING
I drag a bit at the bottom. But in case you don't want to get that far:
As an artist, you are what you are. If you put in the hours and study, it WILL show. With that said:
A DIGITAL OR EVEN TRADITIONAL TOOL.
WILL NOT.
MAGICALLY IMPROVE OR HELP YOU MAKE YOUR ART BETTER.
I am putting this here because I am DISTURBED by the amount of younger and EVEN 30+ artists that assume this. That waiting for that $500+ drawing tablet will just make the bad drawing habits go away. The &#@$?...
You need to practice.
P-R-A-C-T-I-C-E .
Digitally. OR. Traditionally.
:D
While yes, the talent can be there, you need to REFINE AND WORK on that talent to make it evolve and grow.
A VERY good example is here. To the left is art from 2016. To the right is artwork done VERY recently.
Learn. Study. Practice. Grow.
*And don't assume that straight up stealing or copying artwork will get you anywhere either.
This page is here to explain how I create my art.
WARNING
I drag a bit at the bottom. But in case you don't want to get that far:
As an artist, you are what you are. If you put in the hours and study, it WILL show. With that said:
A DIGITAL OR EVEN TRADITIONAL TOOL.
WILL NOT.
MAGICALLY IMPROVE OR HELP YOU MAKE YOUR ART BETTER.
I am putting this here because I am DISTURBED by the amount of younger and EVEN 30+ artists that assume this. That waiting for that $500+ drawing tablet will just make the bad drawing habits go away. The &#@$?...
You need to practice.
P-R-A-C-T-I-C-E .
Digitally. OR. Traditionally.
:D
While yes, the talent can be there, you need to REFINE AND WORK on that talent to make it evolve and grow.
A VERY good example is here. To the left is art from 2016. To the right is artwork done VERY recently.
Learn. Study. Practice. Grow.
*And don't assume that straight up stealing or copying artwork will get you anywhere either.
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NOW on to my process. Thanks for reading!
Before anything:
While there are different levels of details and body types in my inking, I tend to stick to semi-realistic to a mixture of this and somewhat cartoony.
I mainly do anthros but with fan related art while I do take certain liberties, I do somewhat stick to the source material if it is a very unknown or old character.
I also draw:
Creatures and monsters.
Tattoo or tribal art
Both male and female anthros
Ferals
**Wings, claws, etc with the combination of the above. I always try to do something different to help me improve as an artist. I feel this is important to at LEAST TRY to do SOMETHING different or from the norm from time to time.
So, let's start with the basics.
Traditional and Digital.
For everything except for my logo and graphics work...I actually create my work by combining both methods of doing artwork.
Now, to the how and why.
I'll go over my inked style artwork since this side of my art fits into this a lot more than my pencil/graphite work.
--The Inking is done traditionally--
Why: It has nothing to do with "doing it the old fashion way is the ONLY way" BS that you sometimes see online. Actually, I do artwork that is completely digital as well. It stems back to my comicbook roots which started to lightly take shape in college. A lot of the inking, even now a days, is done traditionally on standard and marked 11x17 cardstock grade paper. (With "marks" I am talking about the cutting and bleed area layout, lettering, etc.) I actually display these as well at conventions and plan on having the originals for sale.
Back in college, I never brought a digital drawing pen or tablet. I didn't have a lot of money back then and a lot of the classes I was taking did not require it. (THEY SHOULD HAVE.)
It wasn't until late 2015 that I finally used one. And it was this.
Before anything:
While there are different levels of details and body types in my inking, I tend to stick to semi-realistic to a mixture of this and somewhat cartoony.
I mainly do anthros but with fan related art while I do take certain liberties, I do somewhat stick to the source material if it is a very unknown or old character.
I also draw:
Creatures and monsters.
Tattoo or tribal art
Both male and female anthros
Ferals
**Wings, claws, etc with the combination of the above. I always try to do something different to help me improve as an artist. I feel this is important to at LEAST TRY to do SOMETHING different or from the norm from time to time.
So, let's start with the basics.
Traditional and Digital.
For everything except for my logo and graphics work...I actually create my work by combining both methods of doing artwork.
Now, to the how and why.
I'll go over my inked style artwork since this side of my art fits into this a lot more than my pencil/graphite work.
--The Inking is done traditionally--
Why: It has nothing to do with "doing it the old fashion way is the ONLY way" BS that you sometimes see online. Actually, I do artwork that is completely digital as well. It stems back to my comicbook roots which started to lightly take shape in college. A lot of the inking, even now a days, is done traditionally on standard and marked 11x17 cardstock grade paper. (With "marks" I am talking about the cutting and bleed area layout, lettering, etc.) I actually display these as well at conventions and plan on having the originals for sale.
Back in college, I never brought a digital drawing pen or tablet. I didn't have a lot of money back then and a lot of the classes I was taking did not require it. (THEY SHOULD HAVE.)
It wasn't until late 2015 that I finally used one. And it was this.
I don't use that anymore but I still do the inking traditionally. I have gotten too used to doing the inking in this manner and even find that I work this way faster than digitally. It has nothing to do with the software or even the current one that I have, which is this. I highly recommend this pen by the way.
Huion Inspiroy H640P
Huion Inspiroy H640P
-- The process --
1 - The Base Sketch.
Now the process. I normally start with a sketch. You have the shape rough out stage, where you figure out the positioning, angle, etc. Then you get to the more refined stage. It takes me about 30 minutes to maybe an hour depending on the piece. I work on 8x11 paper and depending on how well done it comes out or if it has background elements, I place it into my sketches binder where I showcase it at conventions.
Note that this sketch was later shaded and touched up. I normally would not have pencil shading unless it is solid/only black inking will be going here. But I can't find the roughed out version so...
1 - The Base Sketch.
Now the process. I normally start with a sketch. You have the shape rough out stage, where you figure out the positioning, angle, etc. Then you get to the more refined stage. It takes me about 30 minutes to maybe an hour depending on the piece. I work on 8x11 paper and depending on how well done it comes out or if it has background elements, I place it into my sketches binder where I showcase it at conventions.
Note that this sketch was later shaded and touched up. I normally would not have pencil shading unless it is solid/only black inking will be going here. But I can't find the roughed out version so...
After this (digital part comes in.) I scan it in. I clean up any areas if needed and save it for my sketch gallery online. Then, I size it out to 11x17.
After that, the paper type varies. I am able to work on anything as thin as 24~26LB paper weight (Not NORMAL weight but the gm/2) up to 110 Card index. I use both. I print out the sketch on this paper using my Canon IX6820.
After that, the paper type varies. I am able to work on anything as thin as 24~26LB paper weight (Not NORMAL weight but the gm/2) up to 110 Card index. I use both. I print out the sketch on this paper using my Canon IX6820.
2 - The inking.
Pretty much self explanatory, I ink the piece. The pens that I use are crazy cheap and I can work with even the simple of ball point pens, so it never becomes an issue. It can take up to an hour and an half depending on the details.
Pretty much self explanatory, I ink the piece. The pens that I use are crazy cheap and I can work with even the simple of ball point pens, so it never becomes an issue. It can take up to an hour and an half depending on the details.
3 - The coloring.
Now here is where we get to the crossroads. I scan in the piece and darken the lines. (because they appear light via the scanner.)
At this point, I either sraight away start the base color or very quickly check for any stray marks or "dots" along the piece. I also touch up some stray lines, mostly the eye area and other areas of the inking that doesn't come out clear through the scan. This can take up 5 minutes at the most, since I save some of the slightly heavier editing for towards the end.
- Base color
Simple coloring. No shading.
Now here is where we get to the crossroads. I scan in the piece and darken the lines. (because they appear light via the scanner.)
At this point, I either sraight away start the base color or very quickly check for any stray marks or "dots" along the piece. I also touch up some stray lines, mostly the eye area and other areas of the inking that doesn't come out clear through the scan. This can take up 5 minutes at the most, since I save some of the slightly heavier editing for towards the end.
- Base color
Simple coloring. No shading.
- Shading
I start shading. Everyone has different way of going about this so I won't share much. I tend to stick to somewhat rich colors, with heavy focus on the rendering of the eyes, jaw and some areas are "highlighted" to draw the eye near that area.
I start shading. Everyone has different way of going about this so I won't share much. I tend to stick to somewhat rich colors, with heavy focus on the rendering of the eyes, jaw and some areas are "highlighted" to draw the eye near that area.
- Rendering and final touch up
*Levels -> *Hue and Saturation - > *Colors
**Check for stray colorings and marks.**
*Levels -> *Hue and Saturation - > *Colors
**Check for stray colorings and marks.**
Duplicate a layer. Render it in. And layer it out. This layer was already merged but you get the idea. This is pretty much towards the end. I may digitally create certain background elements or things such as the sign on this piece featuring Moby Lick. Other than that, any last and needed corrections are done here. Thanks to a Youtube video I watched online (and it only took me 4 minutes. From another comicbook artist.) My coloring improved. I still have a long way to go, but learning both the software and also the basics is key.
A digital tool. Will NOT create the art for you. *YOU* have to put in the work. You NEED to practice.
My graphite pencil pieces are very straight forward. In fact, I explain it in my about me section.
A digital tool. Will NOT create the art for you. *YOU* have to put in the work. You NEED to practice.
My graphite pencil pieces are very straight forward. In fact, I explain it in my about me section.