marszen

[marszen]

There’s a protest going on against AI art over on artstation, so I feel like now is the time for me to make a statement on this issue! 

I wholeheartedly support the ongoing protest against AI art. Why? Because my artwork is included in the datasets used to train these image generators without my consent. I get zero compensation for the use of my art, even though these image generators cost money to use, and are a commercial product. 

Musicians are not being treated the same way. Stability has a music generator that only uses royalty free music in their dataset. Their words: “Because diffusion models are prone to memorization and overfitting, releasing a model trained on copyrighted data could potentially result in legal issues.” Why is the work of visual artists being treated differently?

Many have compared image generators to human artists seeking out inspiration. Those two are not the same. My art is literally being fed into these generators through the datasets, and spat back out of a program that has no inherent sense of what is respectful to artists. As long as my art is literally integrated into the system used to create the images, it is commercial use of my art without my consent.

Until there is an ethically sourced database that compensates artists for the use of their images, I am against AI art. I also think platforms should do everything they can to prevent scraping of their content for these databases. 

Artists, speak out against this predatory practice! Our art should not be exploited without our consent, and we deserve to be compensated when our art is exploited for commercial use. 

[marszen]

Tips to freelance illustrators to avoid being screwed over

Hello! I’m Gabrielle Ragusi. I’ve been a freelance illustrator for years now and, as many other freelancers, I had to deal with difficult situations in the past - recent past. These situations come with the job (for everyone), but they can be easily avoided… if only I had known this sooner!

This post doesn’t paint a pretty picture of the one client, but know that I refer to a very small percentage of people (the clients I work with are actually great). 

Yet, the one client exists and these tips might help you face them.

When The One Client tries to screw you over.

From time to time, clients will try to have their way with unforeseeable requests and demands at work started and, quite often, at work done.

Solution: State your terms.

Before starting a project, even a sketch, I strongly suggest sending a contract or a simple Terms of Agreement document in which you state everything: commission process, revisions, payment method, ownership… This way they won’t be able to make up some half-ass excuse for their demands.

Also, you don’t have to be overly generous. If the client asks for extra revisions, ask for extra payment. The extra money will cover the extra time you spent on the project, so don’t feel guilty about it.

When The One Client sells bad ideas or asks for the wrong revisions.

Clients may know what they want, but they also might try to sell ideas that you know won’t work or ask for revisions that won’t make the project look any better. They won’t consciously bamboozle you, but the project has your name on it and judgement will come with the audience feedback.

Solution: You’re the artist in this project, so speak your mind. Giving your clients alternatives and your opinion helps the client know that you care about the project and that you know your stuff. You want the best for your client.

When The One Client wants you to work on spec.

Solution: Don’t.

On-spec work is a bad idea. If clients contact me, I take for granted they’ve seen my portfolio and know what I do, but if you’re just starting as a professional, my suggestion is to ask for a minimum upfront payment.

The power to say yes doesn’t always apply.

This isn’t about The One Client but about our own ‘Yes’, when inside we’re screaming ‘Hell no’, screwing us over. 

Yes is not always good. When in doubt, think about your lack of time, disinterest in the project and all those things that lead to bad results!

If you don’t have time to work on a new commission, say no. If the project isn’t your cup of tea, say no.

Also, not all clients are jerks, so if you explain you don’t have time to work on another project right now but they like your portfolio, it’s possible that they will contact you again in the future or ask for your time schedule.

(Don’t) Assume that clients know your art style.

This one is tricky and has a lot to do with the first stage of commissions and my personal experience. When clients contact me for the first time, most have seen my portfolio and know what I do. They contact me because of what I do and how I do it. When these clients say “I love your work”, I naturally assume they’ve seen my portfolio.

But when there are no signals that the person contacting me has seen my work, I can’t assume. This happened just a few weeks ago with a client who asked for my availability to illustrate a book after seeing an illustration of mine (the book was about faeries, my illustration had faeries). Problem is I assumed they knew my work, but they didn’t. What happened is that they asked me to work on spec, I said no and gave them a minimum quote for an initial sketch instead. Feedback received, I finally understood they hadn’t in fact seen my portfolio, although I’m not sure where they found my email address.

I don’t have a real solution to this kind of situation other than not assuming things. I guess it’s a matter of dealing with The One Client once again.

Payment fees are covered by the client, always.

If you receive payments through PayPal and similar services, I’m sure you know about the fees.

Unfortunately, I found the solution to this only a couple of years ago - looking back at all the money PayPal took from me in fees, I want to cry (living in Europe and working with clients based anywhere in the world, these fees vary, from 2,9% to 4,5% + small transfer fees). 

Now I send all invoices myself (I don’t let clients send money my way on their own) and I add a tax that covers PayPal or Stripe’s fees to the project’s quote: this is not money that ends up in my pocket, it’s money that PayPal takes, mind you.

My final advice is: be professional. 

The One Client will try your patience, but don’t lose your composure. Even in disagreement, be professional, offer your thoughts and compromise if necessary. If the project is successful, The One Client will be happy. You want your clients to be happy.

I hope you’ll find this post helpful!

Peace out,

Gabrielle

Follow me on Instagram - ArtStation - YouTube

[marszen]

Your ONLY CHANCE THIS YEAR to get my TRILOGY of drawing tutorials BOOKS (including the NEW BOOK THREE!) is coming up on KICKSTARTER on a SECRET DATE in MAY this year! The ONLY WAY to know about it is to mail “Add me, Lorenzo!” to SecretBookList@yahoo.com to be on the SECRET LAUNCH WEEK MAILING LIST - if you’ve joined our mailing lists in the past, you’re already on it!

And I have TONS of additional tutorials, tips and references going up on OUR TWITTER throughout the day today and EVERY DAY THIS MONTH!! Lorenzo!

[marszen]

‘A Day Beautifully Squandered’

[marszen]

It's a sketchy kinda week for this sketchy looking dude

[marszen]

It's a sketchy kinda week for this sketchy looking dude

[marszen]

Don’t be afraid to dream

This beloved Cartoon series

started as this webcomic

This best seller Manga

and critically acclaimed hit animated series

started out as this webcomic

And this best seller novel

And award winning blockbuster movie

started out as a serialized free story on somebody’s website.

Don’t be afraid to write big even if you start small.

[marszen]

I’m not really good at explaining or teaching things… so… Here you go. This is more like an example of how I draw noses, rather than how you need to draw them. I mean, it’s pretty basic, but maybe some artists have other ways to do it }: ? I hope it at least helps a little bit! (nothing fancy, but… yeah). sorry it took me so long to produce this half-assed thing }X D

[marszen]

[marszen]

“lol Android users be like-” your phone is designed to break down after a year, your apps are all programmed to draw unnecessary power after 2 years, all your accessories and hardware are arbitrarily made with only 1 kind of plug in mind so you can’t use them with anything else or get them from anywhere else, the cables are 150$ and break in a year, your phones will not charge if there is lint in the port, the stores will ask you for 150$ to remove that lint, the phone itself is 900$

But your chat bubbles are blue so that balances it out right

[marszen]

how to draw arms ? ? 

[marszen]

Looking for Something? (Mobile)

21/01/2019: *I tried updating it so it can Mobile friendly, but it still isn’t working well. Since the tumblr update it screwed both Android and Apple users. What I tried today is replacing http:// to https://

Unfortunately it barely made a difference. If you can still manage to get through to a post with the tag you’re looking for, click on the tag itself applied on the post. Sorry for the inconvenience

I am not one to know anything about coding and please consider my Other: Queen Speaks tag before heading to my inbox. Thanks

-QueenSweeties 

Anatomy:

Arms

Breasts

Body Types

Feet

Female

Hands

Heads -Ears -Expressions -Eyes -Facial -Hair -Mouths and Lips -Noses -Tears

Humans

Legs

Male

Muscles

Pelvis

Proportions

Shoulders

Torso

Animals:

Anatomy

Antlers

Beaks

Behaviour

Ears

Facial

Feathers

Fur

Hooves

Horns

Insects

Legs

Paws

Talons

Teeth

Wings

Backgrounds:

Cityscape

Indoors

Organic

Perspective

Quick BGs

Simplistic

Brushes:

Photoshop

Paint tool SAI

Design:

Buildings

Character Design

Clothing

Environments

Folds

Heights

Maps

Names

Sketching

Skin Tones

Drawing and Colouring:

Canvas Size

Colour Palettes

Colour Theory

Comics

Composition

Lighting

Lineart

Painting

Quick Tricks

Shading

Traditional

Fantasy:

Armor

Archery

Horns

Mythical Animals

Mythology

Power Ups

Weapons

Wings

For the Artist:

Copyright

File Types

Exercises

Motivation and Inspiration

Portfolio

Reminders

Tablets

Tips and Advice

Tools

Languages:

ASL

Ancient 

French

German

Grammar

Italian

Japanese

Korean

Morse

Spanish

Misc:

Animation

Commissions

Cosplay

Crafts

Life

Master Lists

Psychological

Resources

School

Writing

Nature:

Blood

Clouds

Fire

Flowers

Grass

Landscapes

Lightning

Metal

Plants 

Rocks

Space

Trees

Water

Wood

Poses:

Angles

Animals

Draw Your X

Humans

Movement

Multiple Persons

Programs:

Clip Studio Paint

Krita

Paint Tool SAI

Photoshop

Etc

World Building:

Buildings

Culture

History

Historical Clothing

Video

Links

[marszen]

wнαт тнe ғυcĸ ιѕ тнιѕ?

[marszen]

Today’s How to THINK when you draw QUICK TIP for #LEARNUARY is on TREE ROOTS!

#LEARNUARY continues over on our TWITTER HERE, and there’s SO MUCH for you to check out, loads of tutorials, reference sets and drawing tips going up over there EVERY DAY this month, just GO HERE and start scrolling to see it all!

Tutorials BOOKS 1 and 2 coming EXCLUSIVELY to KICKSTARTER in March, just mail “Add me, Lorenzo!”tomisterlorenzoboy@yahoo.co.uk to be on the SECRET LAUNCH WEEK MAILING LIST - the only way to guarantee you don’t miss them, since the books will NOT be made available anywhere else this year (online, Amazon, bookshops etc)! Lorenzo!

[marszen]

Owo

AAAAAAAA PLAY WITH SOUND AGAIN OMG MY HEART

[marszen]

A small tutorial on how I approach the normally time-spending task of getting details on armor and save myself hours of work I would eventually hate after 30 minutes. Hope it’s the first of many!

[marszen]

A tip for blending when painting digitally: use a transition color! I quickly made this when my brother asked for art advice while I was working on a painting for my best friend. (I was watching a lot of makeup videos to pick out her gifts).