First off a Merry late Christmas to you all! I hope that you had a great one! This is kind of a continuation of my last post in a continuation of my art process. This is of course my most recent drawing. I did use a picture of a contortionist for reference because it's hard to just imagine that position in my mind! Later on afterwards too I had to do an adjustment to the left arm as you'll notice in the finished picture it's in a different position. As lots of us do I asked what people thought and it confirmed what I was suspecting that it just didn't look right in perspective to the rest of the pose. (Never be too proud to ask other people's opinions).
As you can see I started with my rough basic sketch, followed by the line work, then you have the base colors, followed up by the end product which has the shading. All my digital work is done on a surface pro in Clip Studio. Hope you guys are enjoying these little inside looks into my process!
This post is basically about my use of references for poses. For me I can't stress enough how important having references is when it comes to drawing. I have to say that it has drastically improved how I draw dynamic poses. I mentioned in a comment that I really like to use dancer poses for my drawing and it really is due to the fact that most dancers tend to wear tight clothing making it easier to see how the lines of the body should flow. It make it really easy to figure out proportions as I can do a comparison of how long a leg is compared to an arm or yes a person's body really CAN bend that way! The image I'm posting is the references and then the picture I did from them.
As I'm sure if you're reading this you've probably seen most of the art I've been posting lately. I've been really hooked on DTIYS (draw this in your style) challenge lately. My only issue really is that I think I'm still searching for my own style. Maybe doing these has me trying to find my own style and that's why I'm so addicted to them. I've realized I have come across the problem where I can adapt to most art styles, but it leaves me searching for the "me" mark. Then I start feeling like I'm not doing my own stuff just regurgitating what I've picked up. Then I sink into that depressive artist slump. I know that eventually I'll get to a point where I'm doing my "own" thing and that what I'm doing is getting the building blocks to hit that point by trying these different styles, but sometimes it feels a bit frustrating.
On a lighter note I hope everyone is ready for Christmas! It is already around the corner and I find that hard to believe! This crazy, hectic, not so great year is nearly done! I hope you're all staying safe and healthy! I've already finished my secret Santa projects so loo forward to more random crap from me. Feel free to shoot me suggestions or requests for things. I enjoy a good challenge!
I just realized that I am behind in getting this posted. I was just go really simple on this. I would like your favorite anime character with a Christmas theme! Surprises are fun! :D
So if you read my last post 2020 hasn't been a stellar year for anyone let alone myself. Trying to focus on some of the positive things happening in my life instead of the things that turn me into a blubbering mess. On that note! I am lucky to have a husband who embraces me weeb urges. Our anniversary was last month and when he asked what I wanted I stated what I've been wanting for a while... a kotatsu! Yes, I simply wanted a Japanese heated table! Every winter when watching anime I watch them crawl beneath the kotatsu and think how nice and cozy it must be. I have a comfy (large fluffy hoodie nearly blanket thing) which is great, but to have a table with a heater! Let's just say I've had lots of time to think about this. Realizing I wasn't going to relent on this he gave the ok and I set about my quest of finding the perfect kotatsu. I started with Amazon. They were all expensive so I tried to find one on the lower end that was still pleasing to look at. I was also aiming for free shipping. After finally finding "the one" I placed my order and anxiously awaited the delivery. I ordered it on the 6th of October....
I receive an e-mail informing me my money has been refunded reason stated was that I returned it. I knew for certain I hadn't received it so impossible that I returned it and I had already waited patiently for two weeks so I wouldn't have cancelled the order. I contact Amazon who contacts the seller to find out what's going on. I receive a poorly worded e-mail essentially telling me that the item was apparently damaged at the warehouse and so they couldn't send it to me and refunded my money.... the item was still listed on Amazon, but now for $100 more.... I left a company review stating how I had been treated as I wasn't informed for over two weeks and the item was still listed, but for more. Got another e-mail from the company asking me to take down my review as I was going to hurt their business.... Nope I don't think I will.... Try number one down and onto kotatsu attempt number 2! After the first failure I was feeling a bit leery about ordering another kotatsu, but my cold feet insisted I needed one in my life. Back to Amazon I went making sure that I didn't buy from the same company. Found one that was more expensive and I had to pay shipping on, but figured if I had to pay for it to arrive it might actually get here. Now I'm guessing the cousin of the first place wrote me the e-mail from the second place. It came down to informing me that the item I was wanting was out of stock (I specifically looked for one that said In Stock) in their warehouse and that they would like to offer me a different one of higher quality and slightly more expensive, but for the same price and gave me a couple to choose from or they could refund my money. I looked at the two choices they gave me and took a quick peek on Amazon to find the two items being offered were cheaper than what I ordered.... asked for my money back and told them they should update their listing. Got another e-mail asking for me their dear customer to not be mad that they would like to make me happy. I could be a VIP customer... All of this is already very sketchy to begin with so once again simply ask for my money back. At this point I'm feeling pretty dejected, round 2 and the kotatsu keepers were winning. In comes the husband to the rescue, he does the thing I didn't really think to do...eBay! He immediately finds a cheaper, larger, nicer kotatsu than the ones listed on Amazon (we're talking hundreds of dollars cheaper) and it's sold by an actual Japanese shop who has been selling on eBay for six years with a 98% approval rate. Since when has eBay been more trustworthy than Amazon? All I know is that it is and it's amazing. We immediately got an e-mail from the shop saying they got our order and that due to covid shipping is a bit behind, but if we still want it they'll get it to us as soon as possible. We of course still want it and ask about a converter for powering the kotatsu. They say that it's probably not necessary, but if we want one they'll sell us one for 25% off. We order everything and wait for a few weeks and then the magic happens. First they tell us on a Monday that they have shipped the kotatsu futon (kotatsu blanket) and the table will ship the following Monday morning. The futon arrives the NEXT day!? Somehow Japan had magical FedEx! I'm pleasantly shocked and it's the fluffiest comfy blanket ever. I was curious to see if somehow this magic would repeat itself the following week. Monday hits and we receive "Your item has shipped" and the anticipation begins. I invite Moonfini over on Tuesday and we wait frequently checking the FedEx tracking number. It says Wednesday so I laugh as there's no way such craziness could occur twice. Halfway through the day it flips to arriving Tuesday! It magically arrived on my doorstep that day! Once more the magical Japanese FedEx fairies managed to get me my item overnight from Japan! I will say this....it was well worth the wait!! Kotatsu are magic! Flip on the switch, set your heater, and enjoy! It's like sitting in a hot tub only indoors and not in water. It's just warm and comforting and it relaxes you like nothing else! I suddenly understood all those animes where the characters didn't want to leave the kotatsu! It's not hype! The kotatsu trap is real! You're so comfy you can't picture leaving the warmth to do anything... So if you read this to the end I simply leave you with this one lesson. If you choose to buy a kotatsu do NOT buy it on Amazon. Go to eBay and buy it directly from a Japanese shop! It will actually make it to you!
