Any Freehand Artists in the House?
 

I, along with two friends, am writing a new RPG. I won't go into details here, but suffice it to say, if nothing else, it's fun to create.

Problem is, I'm also having to illustrate the entire thing on my own because I can't afford someone to do it for me. Y'all...I'm no artist.

I'm giving it my best shot, though, but if someone would be willing to take a look at one of my drawings and tell me how to clean it up and perhaps how best to shade/color it, I'd really appreciate the pointers.

http://www.freakmanor.com/images/dragon.jpg

Remember: There's a reason I'm an author, not an artist. But for a first shot, I don't think it's terribly bad at all.

Thanks in advance. :)

that aint bad

Thanks. :)

*BuMp*

Would you mind if I make a few alterations to your pic and repost?
It may give you some ideas about the next ones you're doing...

Also...if you would like to post some of what you have planned
I'd be happy to sketch some out for you... :)

Oh...and thats an excellent first try. :)

By all means, have a ball!

I'll be glad to talk to you on Q about it, if you'd like. # in sig or send me an email. :)


Thanks!! :):)

do u need donatiuns for the rgp?

No, but here's a free typo correction for you: RPG

sorry im russian but i could use a donatiuns for my spelling!!!?!!?

Just be creative and do what you think is best. no one can give you any advice that'd make any difference anyways, so just do the best you can. =) I like the outline though...

I have a friend who is a dragon expert that might be willing to help you for very little money, he did the dragon on this tour http://www.sexymojo.com/design/sampl...gon/index.html I have 3-4 illustrations he did that never got used but I paid him for, message me if you are interested in any of this, I"m piss drunk right now so it's a miracle my typing is as good as it is (assuming it's good of course =)

Well I could tell you alot, but I think it would take a while. Mainly what I use is photoshop although I started migrating to Painter. In photoshop its fairly simple, copy the lineart on to a new layer, set it to multiply (makes the white space transparent). Then make layers underneath it and start coloring. As for coloring there are a ton of techniques for that as well, such as cell style shading, or more realistic shading where the colors flow smoothly into each other, then there are light sources and ambient light and backgrounds to consider.

Anyway here is a sketch and the final colored version that I did in photoshop (Btw for this kind of coloring it helps to have a wacom tablet).

Sketch:
http://www.raiyu.com/sketches/rai-spd3-b.jpg

Colored:
http://www.raiyu.com/scribe_art/spiderman.jpg

(Images removed to save some space)

Beautiful work!! I don't have a wacom tablet, but I'm impressed!

Please understand, I'm almost a complete newbie to artwork with the help of a computer, and I'm not that great of an artist. But that is a really good example!

Thanks. :)

Actually, I was hoping someone knew of a few tutorials I could use. *hopeful look*

i know of good book in russia if you want to buy i make donatiuns for it??!!!!!?

This method is a little tedious it works. Make the lineart on a multiply layer like I said then make 3 layers underneath per color you plan to use. Say your dragon is all green, then make three green layers. Select the lasso tool, the one that lets you make any kind of size selection, and use the polygonal version instead of the free hand version.

Zoom in on your artwork and select the entire lineart of the dragon, now fill it in with your main green color. The other two layers on top of the green layer, make selections for where the shadows go and where the highlights go and fill them in. Now you got yourself a quick colored lineart similar to what you see in most cartoons.

With this method though, depending on your lineart and how skilled you get with the lasso tool it can go quick or it can go very slow.

Also do a search on google for Jullie or Julie Dillon art tutorials. She had some great ones for people learning to color in photoshop and she has some great artwork as well.

Took a little time to track it down but here it is: http://www.cablenet.ne.jp/~japanime/...al/cgmain.html

This is the tutorial I first read a few years ago and what I got started with as well. She did a great job with the descriptions and screen caps I think. Certainly everything you need to get started.

Other tutorials:
http://www.howtodrawmanga.com/tutorial/tutorial.html

Awesome! Thank you so much, moe!

np always here to help out a fellow artist :thumbsup

You would be very good doing vectors toons I guess if you'd learn how to do it . One of my graphist kickass at that . He can draw a new character in like 30 minutes with colors and everything

Never really got into the whole toons deal, I like more realistic drawing. Some people are great at drawing really amazing cartoon characters, but I just never got a knack for it.

I like more life-like anatomy:
http://www.raiyu.com/scribe_art/spiderman2.jpg

And it only gets worse...

For some reason I can get the face/head to come out almost perfect, but everything else ends up being total shit. :(

http://www.freakmanor.com/images/Pegasus1.jpg

That and this scanner has no grasp of finer details. Ugh.