Duck Faced Creations - My Art, WIP's and Doodles

In reading through your words here I realized I've been through much of what you describe in this thread. Like you I walked away from my art for a long time (8 years) and only just returned when I found this community, suffered through personal and shared tragedies (nothing like a flood though) and beyond that a general apathy toward my artwork in real life (no one I know anymore gives a damn about it... some even hate it) but despite it all here I am almost a year on the forums and still creating and giving away art. It hasn't always been ice cream and pickle juice (hey I like the stuff mkay?) but the good has far outweighed the bad and most of that is due to the people here being so great.
In the spirit of giving back I thought I might share some things that worked out for me either that I realized at the outset or that I've learned over time since you asked for suggestions...
hold on to your hats it's gonna be a doozy. (Sidenote: I put **asterisk's** around the real important stuffz)

Get a mechanical pencil with a comfortable grip, they always have a good point and never need sharpening and soon you will wonder how you got along without it. I don't even know where my normal pencils are but I don't miss them so much now that I found you can get mechanical lead in different hardnesses for cheap.

Get a harder lead for your sketching and use a light hand for less smudging, I use a 2H.
Also I use a ¼ sheet of paper under my hand to reduce graphite smears even further.

Don't draw your hard lines until you are sure you have everything where you want it. Your first lines should be so light they hardly show up in a scan. For example if you look at this pic I did of Grey Ming the first panel is so faint I had to crank the contrast way up before posting it just so it could be seen. By the time I got to the 2nd panel I knew where everything was going to be but still no heavy lines yet and there was hardly anything to erase (the line down the center of the nose is all really). 3rd panel and now I am adding my blackest blacks and deciding where the light is coming from. I also have started my shading and blending. 4th panel is final details and any touch ups. Everyone's workflow is a little different but this is what works for me.

Get a softer lead (I was using HB until I found my local art store had a dozen 2B mechanical lead sticks for less than a buck and I use that now) and some smear sticks for blending (I just use my fingers now) and shading. All of the above cost me less than $5.

Look for other artists that post their WIP stages and study them. Some people even have videos that you can learn a lot from just by seeing their workflow.

Try to standardize the posting size of your artz. Granted sizes will vary and some pieces will be landscape vs. portrait but try to keep within a range that will fit on peoples monitors. The standard size for most is 19"... if people have to squint to see one piece but then have to scroll up/down or left/right to see all of the next one it will detract from the art. Makes it easier on your viewers and remember you can always link to a bigger version on DA and those with huge screens (like me nyah nyah ) who want to see it huge can do so for themselves.

If posting in someone else thread use a thumbnail that links back to the full size in yours. I learned this one over time, it's just more considerate than burying their thread with your art to put something small that doesn't disrupt too much.

**Create a separate thread for people to post their refs** Some people won't post a ref in their sig for whatever reason and they won't post it in your art thread because they don't want to clutter it up with all their pics. By giving them a separate thread you will find many more people volunteering their heroes for your practice. It also gives you a good idea of who is wanting art from you and it's inspirational (I've found) to revisit it from time to time.

***Put a highly visible link to this thread and to the "gimme your refs" thread in your sig***

Make a good title for your thread. It should be simple, memorable and convey what your thread is about. Sounds simple but several people get a good thread going and later wished they had chosen the name better because you can never change it.
To me Duck Faced Creations fails to convey that this is a drawing a day thread or the magnitude of "there will be 365 drawings in this thread showcasing my art progression over a years time"... also if you keep up this madness (lol) for the whole year you art will eventually improve to the point where you might wish your thread didn't describe it as "Duck Faced" this is just my opinion here and if you love the title then great. It's certainly memorable.

Give your goal it's own name. Something short and catchy (doesn't have to be in the thread title) so people have something to call it that others will recognize instantly. I called mine the "40 in 60" New Years challenge and it stuck, if I mention that people know exactly what I mean. Something maybe like Cyrsei's "Draw 365!" challenge.

**Get some books on anatomy and study them a little each day BEFORE you start drawing... even if it's just 10 minutes.** You will find your figures and shapes improving just from this alone. There are many threads where artists here have posted their lists of favorite books but I'd say you cannot go wrong with anything from Burne Hogarth, Bridgeman's or of course the industry mainstay "How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way."

****Always be open to constructive criticism.****
If you are serious about getting better I cannot stress this one enough. You may not always like what is said but what you can learn from others... there's just no substitute. The praise is always nice but if that is all you get your stuff will eventually stagnate. If you let them people will see things in your art that you miss because you are too close to your own pieces and have a bias.
I not only welcome it in my thread but actively seek it out. If I've done something I'm particularly proud of I will often ask an open ended question to all like... What do people think? or Thoughts? and then really try and take to heart what they say. Of course some people are just bonkers () but you'll be surprised what you can pick up from crazy people.

If you plan to do commissions at some point get a PayPal account set up in advance.

Set a goal that is a real challenge for you but not so difficult that you will burn yourself out trying to reach it. After being away for so long for me there was a tendency to want to "make up" for lost time but taken to far you may fine yourself overwhelmed. 365 drawings is a huge undertaking but if you are committed to it then I support you in your endeavor and look forward to following your art as it progresses. Cheers!

P.S. The Scarlett Johansen portrait and Accoustic Assault are my favorites so far. I like the style in SJ and AA cracks me up. I also really like Rose Maiden2... has kind of a Nojitsu flavor to it.

One --> Artz Giveaway <-- To Rule Them ALL!

I will settle this. ORANGE FTW! - Ex Libris

Hi everyone,

As promised here is Week 5 for you, Thank you so much for the warm welcome I've received here and all of you kind words and helpful tips and tricks. I've already been implementing the "softer feel" which has been suggested and the tissue paper trick for my lefty smudging problem. Anyway here's what I've done this week I hope you enjoy them as much as I did drawing them.

Cheers!

~Lady C

The Day you left



Negative Breaker



Dragonberry



Morning Glory



Sapphic Neko



French Maiden



Inque Weill

Looking great!! *waits for Week 6* Izzit Week 6 time yet? Now? Now? Now?

My wife & daughter are both lefties, and they rotate the paper they're writing on so that they don't have to curl their hand into a claw. The Wife™ never listened when her teachers tried to make her do that. She has very beautiful handwriting as a result.

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Biggest Troll on the forums? I'll give you a hint:

I'm really loving your artz, Lady C !!! I, too, Am waiting for your next batch!

My submission for the CoH Art Jam for October! This was my super top secret project I've been working on for a while now, sorry its not finished (I wanted to do highlights and shadows but haven't the time this weekend, that and I'm still learning to use photoshop.)

Katie Hannon



Hope y'all enjoy it, and thanks for all the enthusiasm, trust me its very much appreciated ^^

*Looks at the pumpkin in her lap*

*Looks where shes sitting*

Ooooh...

I see why the one she's sitting on is smiling... >.> <.< I would be too... >.> <.<

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Biggest Troll on the forums? I'll give you a hint:

Hi everyone,

As promised here is Week 6 for you, Thank you so much for all of the male models I had this week I really needed to work on making the male form more manly and in correct proportions which is why I asked for spandex clad (:wink wink nudge nudge heroes. I promise I'll work on my robots and beast people drawing skills another week. Anyway here's what I've done this week I hope you enjoy them as much as I did drawing them.

Cheers!

~Lady C

Ascendant



White Peregrine



Sable Tentacle



Candor Azul



Valor



Mighty Lad



King Levi



East Gate Enforcer

Those all came out pretty awesome. I'm no expert, but it looks like you got the male form looking right to me.

[ ProTip: The banner is a link to art refs!! | The Khellection | The HBAS Repository | Brute Guides (4/16/10) | How To Post An Image - A Quick Guide ]
Biggest Troll on the forums? I'll give you a hint:

Now now let's be fair here... Micky Mouse gloves totally outrank the CoH mittens.
Also I am reminded of lego hands every time I see that sculpture in front of the universities... coincidence?

One --> Artz Giveaway <-- To Rule Them ALL!

I will settle this. ORANGE FTW! - Ex Libris

Hi everyone,

As promised here is Week 7 for you, during week 7 I rdecided to work on dual figure poses, I'll be continuing on with this (as well as my hand study) for a second week. I need to try and color more pieces so I'll be trying to make time for that as well. Anyway I hope you enjoy them as much as I did drawing them.

Cheers!

~Lady C

Seigyoku and Lunar Lass



Char Cat and Meowce



Bogo



Gift arts for my hubby for his birthday our characters, Nurse White and Rose Maiden entitled;

My Damsel



Var and Sybellea entitled; "Deep ones say love is blind"



and the a gift for Kant and his character Modern Samurai for reaching security level 50!

Smoooooooch!

On my first scroll through I think i skipped over a certain pairing of kitties. However, I've now seen the light, they look fantastic, thank you!

Really enoying watching this thread!

Awww thank you guys, I'm glad your enjoying the progress. Caemgen I'm working toward my goal at putting more expression into my pieces so I can begin drawing devil women and demon men correctly, once I get to that point I'd love to draw your toon if that's ok?

I'm with Caemgen on this, I am loving watching you share your talent with us! Keep up the good work, Lady C.!!

Hi everyone,

As promised here is Week 8 for you, during week 8 I decided to continue on with dual figure poses. I will be trying desperately to find the time to color more pieces. Anyway in week 8 I got a little daring with the content so please be warned the pieces linked are to risque in my opinion to post here on the forums. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did drawing them.

Cheers!

~Lady C

NSFW - Go Mi and Go Yu in a piece entitled

"Go Us!"

Lady Arete and Cy



Shadeknight and Widow Autumn



Sister Psyche Stripper



Desdemona Stripper



NSFW - Sapphic Neko and Fluffy Handcuffs in a piece entitled

"Clean it up"

and last but not least my favorite piece starring Seri and Lizzy entitled;

"Surfs up"

...This week's content is very nice... Mmmm...

Woo, all those new ones look great
And i love the scene you put mine in! Gives me flashbacks ^^

Woa. Thank you Lady C for drawing my two chars I liked how they got portrayed. (First time ever Cy has been drawn). I get the wibe "friends forever" motif

Seri and Lizzy (Surf's up) was a great one. Playful and pin-up wise