#this is what i get for trying to avoid learning to draw in more detail lmao

[tuunateeth]

hes doing linear algebra👍

danny design is mostly from the amazing @/nicktoonsunite !

[tomee--bear]

want my old art style back

[itsajollyjester]

yessss that defo answers my questions! ur thoughts on compassion & community intertwined w rebellion definitely show up in ur art lol. something more specific i have been curious abt is ur version of the endings of each specific hunger games & ur characterization/portrayal of the victors at those points! if u have any more thoughts abt any of those characters or their games id love to hear.... im also very not neurotypical abt hunger games

For sure!! But this is a novel and a half so I apologize in advance (also most of this is from memory so anyone can correct me if I'm getting any details wrong)

((TW: For visual depictions of Blood, Gore, and Wounds))

I realized I'd seen barely any art showing what the victors would have looked like when they won their games. They were all just kids and I feel like it can be easy to forget that sometimes

For all of them, I made the background one of their main "weapons" but tried to make it look like its turning back on them instead since there are no victors as Haymitch said.

I'll try to explain them all more in depth individually going in the order I drew them:

Finnick Odair, 65th Games:

His main weapons were his trident and nets that he made with vines. His background is one of the nets ready to trap him.

Finnick was the youngest victor ever at only 14. I really really wanted to emphasize just how little that is. (Especially since we know exactly why the Capitol loved him from the start…) Once I actually drew him looking that little I had to step away for a bit because I made myself too sad…

Outside of just how horrific his age is as a concept, I tried to think about what circumstances would lead to him actually winning when surrounded by older tributes. I think he would have had to avoid any kind of fight he didn't have the upper hand in. We know that he got the most expensive sponsor gifts in the history of the games (a trident), so he probably got plenty of sponsors outside of that as well. Because of that I doubt he needed to go looking for supplies much if ever so it was easy to avoid people there. He was also probably in a career pack, despite his age, due to his training and his popularity, and they would have hunted other tributes down together much like the one we saw in the first book (safer in numbers). Once it was narrowing down and the pack broke is when I think he started catching people in nets. All of that is a long winded way of saying that's why, unlike the other victors I drew, I only show him with minor cuts and bruises.

Originally I was going to draw him with a kind of strained smile like he was acting for an audience from the start. But I decided I actually think its sadder if he believed he was popular because of his skill and strategy as a fighter and only learned the whole truth after he won and that's when he started acting more for the camera. Instead I gave him a more muted despair kind of look, like his world is crashing down. One of my favorite parts about the movies, mainly THG and ABOSAS, is when they give the career tributes at the end a moment of realization about what they've done, and I wanted to give Finnick his. I'm a person that believes Finnick had to have volunteered for his games. I think he would have legitimately believed in the propaganda the career districts were fed and had a bit of a (very middle school boy) ego about his abilities. (I was NOT expecting to write so much about his lmao)

Enobaria, 62nd Games

She's most well known for ripping someones throat out with her teeth. (Her background is her sharpened teeth getting ready to eat her.) This is treated by The Capitol, and by Katniss, as grotesque and terrifying blood lust (Which obviously the Capitol loves her for). However, and I'm not at all the first to say it, that sounds more like a terrified and desperate attempt to survive a fight she was losing and an example of hysterical strength. We know that Career packs have had bloody betrayals in the past and I can see Enobaria being a part of one of them. Enobaria doesn't have a canonical age, but I decided to put her on the younger side (15 or 16.) I can imagine some of the older, bigger tributes deciding she was the weakest link towards the end and that was the result. I tried to make the blood around her mouth and down her shirt look more faded, like she tried desperately to wipe it off (Also I had to step away from drawing again after I drew her little tooth gap)

I think she probably leaned into the bloodthirsty image afterwards as a way to protect herself and (maybe even started to believe it too)

Annie Cresta, 70th Games

Annie's known for losing her mind after seeing her district partner decapitated in front of her. After that, she ran off and hid until the game makers started an earth quake, which made the large dam in the arena break and cause a huge flood. Annie was the only survivor because she was the strongest swimmer. So I decided to make her background dark water that's churning up and over her head. I also think it can work well as a way to show her mental state in the moment (and afterwards) Annie is actually one of my favorite characters in the series and I've been writing out a plan for a possible comic series about her that'll go more in depth about my headcanons for her. (when I say comic series, I mean sketches and oneshots, not a full thing lmao) It wouldn't take place during her games (outside of a few flashbacks when I need more context), instead it would start at her Victory Tour and go into her first (and last) year as a mentor for the 71st Games. Which is a perfect segue to-

Johanna Mason, 71st Games

Johanna is actually first mentioned early on in the first book when Katniss is wondering if the reason Peeta is crying is because he plans to act weak and helpless as a strategy in the games. (Katniss, he just found out he has to fight in a murder tournament with his crush. He's just Sad.) She bases her theory on Johanna, who pretended she was a "sniveling, cowardly fool" in the arena until the final stretch of the games when she proved to be deadly with an axe.

OR….. Katniss is an unreliable narrator and Johanna was actually a terrified kid from a district with so few victors that she was the only name in the bowl for the Quarter Quell… This is totally just a personal headcanon of mine tho lol. I think there would have been a point in her games where she realized she actually had a chance and that's when she seemingly had a huge character turn around. Maybe there was a infighting with the careers that ended in multiple deaths and there was only a few left along with any other tributes hiding away like her. Maybe she poked around what was left of their camp, found the axe, and felt strength from her district.

Her background was a little harder for me. Just slapping a big axe behind her felt cheesy. But them I remembered her saying there was no one left that she loved. So instead I put trees that could represent her loved ones (Two fully grown trees, a younger "teenage" tree, and a sapling) that are in the process of being cut down.

Haymitch Abernathy, 50th Games

Don't worry, I'm almost done. I don't have as much to say about Haymitch since we know SO much about what happened in his games. But his background was probably the hardest for me. His main weapon was invisible after all. I thought maybe the axe that was used, but again, That would look cheesy. I tried (and kinda failed imo) to draw the cliff side the force field was on instead. But the main thing I did was split the three panels I had on the previous drawings into six for two reasons. 1: Because he had to face twice as many tributes in order to win and 2: Being the only victor of a district that's tributes are seen as fodder for the blood bath means he had to meet and watch the death of twice as many kids every year.

[ohforfluffssake]

Jacob's No Pressure Guide to Learning How to Enjoy Art Practice

DISCLAIMER: I own none of this. All of it is just an abridged version of the Drawclass (link: Drawclass 04/29/2022: Jacob's No Pressure Guide to Learning How to Enjoy Art Practice - YouTube). Please watch the video for the full experience, context, and nuance.

So, recently Jacob Andrews from Drawfee taught a class on how to practice art without putting too much pressure on yourself, and honestly, it was excellent. Do give it a watch if you're also facing a wall in getting started on art practice (also subscribe to their channels and support them on Patreon for more excellent content :D). Since I don't really have a good memory for basically anything, I did what I usually do to memorize stuff: I made notes. This blog post is basically just for me, but I'll be glad if it helps other people too. (again, all credit to Jacob and Nathan for the excellent Drawclass).

The Rules

Rule #1: Pick any 5 days during the week to practice. Take your break days whenever you want.

Rule #2: Set a minimum time for each day that is easily achievable. Continue drawing after that only if you feel like it. 

Rule #3: If you miss a day, it doesn’t matter. Just try again the next day. (Avoid thinking of it as maintaining your “streaks”)

Rule #4: Do NOT try to do a good job (Practice is INPUT). The only judgment you get to make is if you drew or not.

Rule #5: Focus on something you want to improve on each week. It can be as general or specific as you want it to be.

The Schedule

Day 1: Draw from imagination to the best of your ability

the aim is to get warmed up and also to get a baseline for the week

Jacob’s Example: Jumping poses, 15 minutes

Day 2: Speed sketching 

numerous and fast drawings from reference

Fast is subjective, whatever feels comfortable for you (the upper limit is 3 minutes, Jacob does 30 seconds to 1 minute)  

Not going for detail, just capture the structure and vibe, as fast as you can

No need to even save it

Jacob’s Example: 10 minutes, ~1 minute for each reference photo (reference photos from Pinterest)

● Nathan’s sketches from the same reference photos:

Day 3: Reference drawing

Pick references (the number is up to you) and spend a little more time with each one

Capture details and complexities this time (like if day 2 was poses, then in day 3, try to capture musculature or folding of clothes etc.)

Doesn’t have to be a one to one copy, you can stylize

Another thing you can do is lower the opacity of the reference image and place your sketch over it to see which areas need improvement. In case of Jacob’s example, he mentions that the torso and legs are too short (areas of improvement which he was already aware of, so in general he tries to keep those in mind while drawing).

Nathan’s sketches from the same reference photos: 

Day 4: Style study

Take a look at how professional artists portray the topic you’re studying

It helps you to develop shorthands and your own style

Pull up references and try to imitate to the best of your ability

Can also draw over the reference pics to understand the shape language and flow (but don’t simply trace the drawing)

Also try to notice shapes made by the negative space

Basically don’t mindlessly copy, this is “active copying”

● Nathan’s:

Day 5: Draw from imagination again

Put together what you learned throughout the week

Compare with day 1 (hopefully, you will notice improvements)

Changes will be incremental, don’t be discouraged!

Jacob’s example: 10 minutes of free drawing:

● Nathan’s:

I hope this was helpful. Good luck with your art practice!

[shewreckz]

Hey your art is pretty whimsical and radical my gender non specific broseph, per chance would thou be able to enlighten us on how you draw such bodacious fine art? Like how you draw bodies and fave and what have thee. (Fr tho your art really cool and I'd like to see how you make it)

okay i have whipped up a quick little visual of my thought process while drawing!! it might not be the best cause im not the greatest at teaching but if anyones curious ^_^

first lets start with how i draw bodies

a lot of people like to do the "skeleton" method which is where you draw lines and circles to plan out where the limbs should be. honestly i really dislike doing that because i like to always have volume and shape in mind when drawing bodies, but if it works for you thats great.

instead i separate the body into different pieces, kinda like an articulated doll. i think it helps visualize all the moving parts in a 3d space and makes posing and perspective a lot easier. i can also always add the detailed anatomy on top of this basic model like you see on the left. its always important to work from simple -> complex. drawing a pose while being too worried on anatomy will really hinder your drawing process.

to improve doing this it really just takes practice and observation. i could be here all day talking about proportions, and how many heads high a person is, and each specific muscle group, but i reccomend you go and watch videos and study professional artists on your own. as someone who has been drawing and studying these things for so long, i barely think about how many heads high a person is when im drawing a body. its kind of like learning how to play and instrument or driving a car. it becomes second nature eventually, but you have to apply those skills and work through that period of time where youre still trying to program it into your brain.

after you get a hang of the basics you can take this basic model and draw all types of body shapes with it. i say its always important to play around with making your body types diverse. its not only fun to do but helps make all the characters you draw unique and recognizable. (dont be like vivziepop).

dynamic posing can be the hardest thing to master for a lot of people. the best way to learn how to pose is to not think about it too much and just doing it. for example in my figure drawing class we had to sketch out gesture drawings from a picture in 15 seconds. excercises like that help a ton in making you feel more comfortable when drawing from a reference. you should definitely reference a LOT when it comes to poses, it helps build this visual database so that eventually you can get to the point where you can just draw accurate and dynamic poses from memory. after getting to this point eventually you kind of start thinking of your canvas as this tangible 3d space and considering your characters in 3d space helps make the poses feel a lot more realistic and interesting.

ok now a quick little tour into how i draw different faces yaaaayy!!!1!1!1

main thing with my art is that i LOVEEE drawing dynamic face shapes i think its so important to avoid drawing the same slim faces over and over. shape language plays a big role into this. like for example the face on the middle is more square, the one on the left is more oval and the one on the right is more circle. shape language helps communicate so much about your character without even saying a word about them and just helps differentiate people from a glance.

facial features also play a huge role into making your faces different. these are all drawn from the same exact face shape but look like entirely different characters by adding variety in the features. different noses, eye shapes, lips, etc. can make such a huge difference

i think before any of that its important to learn the anatomy of the face though. again im not gonna go into how many eyes wide a face it or how far the nose is from the mouth but like its always important to learn the fundamentals before stylizing stuff. again the face is a 3d space and if you dont consider your face a 3d plane the features will kind of just look like theyre floating on your characters face like soup...theres a lot of great resources and tutorials online take advantage of those!!! and reference from artists you like too it helps a ton.

and then you mix that all together and Boom you have cool and interesting faces. you will best that same face syndrome in no time if you take my advice Trust...

anyways yeah thats the soda design philosophy hit that like button if you liked it or douse me with tomatoes and kick me off the stage if you think i give bad advice ill leave the decision up to you

[thegoblinboy]

I’m going to toss my hand in and try something new let me know if it makes sense. Also, I wasn’t sure what to tag so I tagged a little bit of everything lol.

Gareth was on book return duty. Taking a book from the over-growing pile of books, opening the back to check when it was taken out. Before going to the persons name and stamping that they returned the book.

Moving his ringed fingers up he swooped his hair off to the side a bit. Not sure if he enjoyed the middle part yet, deciding to give up on the product and just let it fall loosely down the sides of his face.

Moving he picks up the hobbit next. Tapping his fingers to the rhythm of a Black Sabbath song. While Eddie seemed to be going through a hard core Metallica phase Gareth was enjoying the stonerish vibes of early Black Sabbath. While he preferred Ozzy, Eddie enjoyed Dio more. If the Dio shirt sewn on the back his vest said anything.

Flipping the book over, a piece of paper falls out of the book. Groaning Gareth rolls his eyes as he moves bending down and picking up the face down page that had landed itself on the carpet. Kids really needed to fucking learn how to remember to pull shit out of their books before returning them because Gareth was not going to go on a witch hunt to return shit.

Glancing down he raises a eyebrow feeling rather impressed with the drawing in front of him. Looking around he was curious to see if who ever returned this book would still be here. He moves rolling back to the desk quickly as he checks who had the book last.

Will Byers.

The kid must have forgotten to pull it out, using it as a book mark. It was a pretty sick drawing of a boy. Who after a moment or staring Gareth recognizes as Mike. He snaps his fingers as he spins in a celebratory circle of knowing who it was. It was a very detailed piece of work, a little sad as he looks closer. Noticing scratch marks from where the pencil dug into the page a little to much, leaving not only scratches but little idents as well.

He carefully folds it back up, hoping that it wasn’t to weird to be carrying around a fellow hellfire club members portrait. Gareth had heard Will also played but it seemed like he was avoiding the club.

Who knows and who fucking cares.

Gareth decides to make an acception just this once. It would be a pity if this drawing was thrown away. So he uses his library access to look up the kids locker number. Abusing his powers if you will, as the stupid thing makes a soft beeping noise as it loads up. Rolling his eyes he slams the side of the computer a little before groaning loudly when he realizes he’s only made it go much slower.

Huffing to himself he begins to work on returning the other books. Forgetting about the whole thing until he went to shut the computer off. Quickly scribbling the number down and sliding that along with the drawing as he gets ready to leave. Picking up his flannel vest and sliding it over his shoulders as he picks his bag up and starts to leave. On a mission to get this drawing slid into the locker. But his plans are forgotten as Eddie stumbles in a run, nearly knocking him over in the process.

“What the fuck Eddie!” He sounds annoyed, glaring his best resting bitch face at the other who simply grins. Softening Gareth’s reaction just a smidge as he shakes his head trying to stay annoyed with the other as he begins to close the library doors. School had been let out almost a hour ago, so why was Eddie still in the school.

“I need your help, I have this friend right. And I’m trying to get him to read the hobbit. And well he has this problem. Where he can’t see the tiny words … and read at all because the words move. I heard there were talking books. Hypothetically where would I get one of those Gare bear.” His ringed hands are clamped shut, in a sign of pleading. He’s pretty sure the guy was going to drop to his knees and start begging for his help.

Gareth rolls his eyes as he pops the library key in his pocket. Forgetting about the two papers inside as he raises a eyebrow. “You mean audiobooks?” His tone is a smidge patronizing but that was just Gareths lack of self awareness when it comes to tone.

“Yes that!” Eddie snaps his finger as he moves to wrap his arm around Gareths shoulder, slowly beginning to move him around a bit. Ignoring the uncomfortable look the other has just for a second before quickly pulling back when he realizes his mistake. “Sorry Gary, wasn’t thinking.”

“Kind of hard to do that with no brain.” Gareth says in a slightly dull tone. He was exhausted and ready to go home. Curl up in a ball and watch Voltron or something that was really easy to digest because there was no working brain cell in his head right now. Something that was very typical of him after reading so many names in one sitting.

“Oh you pain me Care Bear. You pain me so.” Eddie dramatically tosses his head back before he straightens up a bit more serious. “Though where would I find these ‘audiobooks’?” He puts quotations around the name as he does a side shuffle down the hall so he could keep looking at Gareth.

“Hawkins free library, should be a small pile. If they don’t have the hobbit then you’re going to have to read it to this person.” Gareth says, grin pulling its way to his face as he watches Eddie grow flustered.

“No can’t do that, um- okay! Thank you Sir Gare’alot, you’re character shall have many rewards if this pans out.” Eddie salutes before he’s stumbling backwards and sprinting down the halls before a teacher caught him.

Gareth rolls his eyes as he leaves the school, forgetting all about the drawing until it fell out on his bedroom floor. Pinching his eyebrows together he groans as he realizes that he was going to have to return it first thing in the morning or else it was never going to be returned.

Which he does as he fiddles with his drumsticks in one hand and carry’s the folded paper with the other. Grumbling under his breath as he realizes the boy was currently at his locker. Silently pulling books from the top shelf as he gets ready for first class. Gareth should be to but this was something he had to do, his brain was refusing to let him back out.

Sliding up against the lockers he tries to muster his best Eddie impression but instead he ends up seemingly more bitchy then before. “Think you forgot this in your library return.” He says tilting his head a little as he holds the paper out between his two fingers. Watching the shy boys eyes grow wide, face blooming red as he snatches it quickly and hides it in his locker. Hands shaking and he looks like he’s about to piss himself.

Gareth realizes now that this situation could be misread, he really should start to look out for every outcome possible as he groans. Pulling his flannel out like a drug dealer with a trench-coat. Revealing the little rainbow pin that hides itself on his belt loop. Wills shoulders relax a bit as Gareth moves awkwardly patting his back.

“It’s cool man, but Mike fucking Wheeler?” He teases with a amused smile. “Way more sheep in the sea or whatever,” he grumbles a little with a soft flush to his cheeks as he stumbles over his words with the way the other looks at him.

“Freak!” A fit of laughter is heard right before Gareth is slammed into the locker. Groaning as he glared at the guy who did it. Moving to throw his drum stick at the back of the assholes head before Will stops him. Hand barley wrapped around his wrist to stop him.

“Not worth it man, only going to get your stick broken.” Will says gently as he lets go of his hand before stepping back a little closing his locker door. Gareth felt so embarrassed, heart racing as he wished he could meet someone new without some asshole ruining it for him.

“So, freak huh?” Will asks gently with a soft smile. “I don’t know if you’ve heard but I’m Zombie boy.” He awkwardly holds his hand out for the other to shake.

Gareth furrows his eyebrows before he decides the other wasn’t picking on him. Wrapping his hand around the other in a shake as he grins gently. “Sounds like we are from some marvel comic, freak and zombie boy.” He jokes. Watching the way the others eyes bright up with excitement.

The damn breaking as they both start to talk about everything and anything they can within ten minutes. Info dumping as much as possible.

So I set this up to where that it could be purely platonic greatwise with byler in the background or romantic greatwise with one sided byler. It’s up to interpretation (: for that, I just wanted Will to make a friend.

[petricorah]

Heya! As a baby artist I was just wondering how long it typically takes you to draw a character? And if you have any tips for getting the lines to look so clean :-) I love your art sm it always makes me smile

Hi! Ah, I'm so glad my art makes you smile! :')

I have...several possible answers for you, lol. First of all, the time it takes for me to draw a character varies. Something I’m working on to speed up my process is learning anatomy. Most of my time is spent trying to get the anatomy of a drawing down, and the more you know it, the quicker it can go. 

But as for lineart, the number 1 way I've found for having clean lines is having a detailed sketch.

While the sketch was messy, around the face especially, all the lines were "in place." I wasn't having to resize things or change the shape. This makes lineart completely mindless for me, and that means I don't have to do as many corrections while drawing, keeping my lines clean.

However, when I first started out, it was hard to get here. If you're starting out, your art may look like this, with a bunch of short strokes:

There are two ways I've found to combat this (and it's honestly something I'm still working on...) Short strokes like this tend to happen when you're unsure of what you're drawing, which happens a lot when you're starting out. Planning out a drawing in your head and knowing where you're going to end each line when you start is helpful. (I.E. "I know the side of the face needs to go down enough to reach where a chin should be, so I'm going to try to do it in one stroke instead of seven). Proko has a good video about this here.

You can also practice drawing longer strokes just on their own. Lots of drawing books will tell you to start by practicing ellipses and lines from different directions to help you get used to longer motions. Becoming more confident in drawing full lines will help!

But, as you're learning, tools can help. I draw with a tapered pressure sensitive pen, which allows me to have some shorter strokes while hiding the results of it. (Although it's still good to practice avoiding this, because it'll help your drawing even with a brush that hides it a bit better.)

i hope this was helpful!

[valhethella]

I got quite a few DMs over the weekend on twitter asking about my brushes, and as with anything, your mileage may vary, and digital art isn’t made or broken by brushes, but having them never hurt! Talking about how you use your tools is just as important as talking about what tools you use, so consider this a small breakdown of my process for digital sketching.

First thing’s first, I avoid sketching on an untextured canvas. If you like to have a flat, solid canvas, I recommend working at 50% grey, or adjusting your canvas to be slightly off-white. The harshness of black on pure-white can be a hang-up for many people, including myself.

I sketch on paper textures sourced from my own old sketchbooks and papers. The one I use most frequently is available in my Sketchbook Paper Pack, and named Off White.

While a true-to-life pencil look is not what I’m actively going for with my sketches, these papers certainly help achieve it.

I do almost all of my work in Procreate, but learned digital art first in Photoshop. Anything I share here in regards to how I use brushes can be applied to any brush, I’m certain!

For my sketches, you’re seeing the work of one brush and one eraser.

For my brush, I use an altered version of Procreate’s native HB Pencil brush that I’ve named HB Pencil Beefy. It’s available in my 2021 Brush Pack.

For my eraser, I use Alexa Sharpe’s Soft Eraser. It’s available in their Eraser Brush Pack.

I use my brush at pretty consistently set sizes that are based on my standard canvas size, which is 6″ x 9″ 400 dpi or I use a double spread of 12″ x 9″ 400 dpi.

(If you work in pixels that’s 2400x3600 at 400 dpi and 4800x3600 at 400 dpi)

HB Pencil Beefy I use at 4%, 15%, and 50% size, with the brush’s opacity set to either 60% or 15%.

I set the brush to 15% opacity when I want to go in very softly with lots of that pencil texture. I use this when I need to scale back and really rough something out, or if I’m trying to get a sense of volume with some shadows or contours.

With Alexa Sharpe’s Soft Eraser, I use the eraser set at 2%, 10%, and 25% size. I only scale back the opacity on the eraser if I want to take something back to nearly gone, but still want those lines, faint, there as a guideline.

Jumping back to my file setup really quick, I like to work in a digital sketchbook! It’s just a procreate canvas with a paper texture that’s creased down its center, and all the added layers are my pages. This helps me feel less pressured to create something perfect or finished; It gives me the illusion of just noodling in any old sketchbook.

Okay. Back to the pencil. Below, I have a small idea of my process in sketching and drawing. This is not a how-to-draw demo, and it’s definitely not an anatomy demo – it’s just how I approach drawing using this brush. The page below, and the one above, were both done on a 9″x 6″ canvas at 400 dpi.

01.

Loose and light

using brush at 50% size

this brush does have a tilt dynamic, but I’ve never used it

02.

Nastiest phase

building up a little opacity

still only using brush at 50% size

use eraser at 25% size, if at all

03.

start refining

come in with 15% sized brush

at no point do I abandon larger brushwork, it just becomes about more careful and purposeful use

use eraser to hatch and cut back roughs

04.

hello 4% brush my beautiful little boy ♡

hatching in detail

build up opacity, using eraser to bring it back and to carve volume

jump back to larger sizes for larger forms and volumes

fiddle until “finished” 

P.S. the liquify tool is my best friend

[umbrvx]

i like ur art. its great and interesting!! i really like your artstyle and i really like the way u draw hsy, yjh, and kdj. you captured them so well in terms of vibes/character. also i was wondering do u have any advice to improve on drawing anatomy/poses/faces?

wahh thank you so much...!! i feel like im still trying to figure them out in a lot of ways but i do really like ironing out my visual interpretations of them so im really happy to hear if people like what im coming up with

also anon you super activated the part of my brain that cant help but yap about art theory... i spent some time writing as many tips as i could think of. unfortunately i dont think i have the time currently to do a fully illustrated guide, but ill still try to include some visual examples:

[incoming wall of text lol]

ANATOMY:

to preface i think that like 100% of the time you should reference a real life photo for anatomy rather than other artwork or drawn references. the best way to learn the body is by… well, actually looking at the body! but also artwork is informed by a person's own artistic ability/stylization choices/sense of idealism, so while looking at art can help give you an idea on how to break down forms, i think you would be best served observing real life references. i labor on this point because i do think that having over relied on drawn reference material and avoiding photographic references on the basis of not being interested on realism hindered me as a largely self-taught artist as a kid, so i want to encourage live or photographic reference since anatomy is one of the foundations from which everything else is built on. that being the case, all of my doodles i'm doing for this are going to be for the sake of example rather than to strictly say how you should or should not be drawing something

-> when you are doing a study of a photo, just try copying it as best as you can. pay close attention to the natural lines and shapes of the body -- the S-curve shape of the leg, the triangular shape of the forearm, the trapezoid shape of hips/thighs when they sit, and so on. note where the body folds or squishes or pulls; how mass will shift to accommodate a certain position. if a form is hard to visualize, focus on the negative space and carve that out, rather than strictly drawing the positive space.

don't expect to get it perfect the first time. in fact, iterate on it multiple times to build understanding. try doing it to a timer of 15, then 10, then 5 minutes. doing this will force you to have to prioritize the most important shapes. you can help reinforce this by using a thicker brush or a brush with no pen pressure (no joke ms paint works great for this) to force you to be loose and not become preoccupied with details.

-> pinterest is a great resource for finding and compiling photo reference material

-> organic shapes are curved, so embracing/emphasizing that (particularly for the extremities) can help make your drawings look more natural or fluid

POSES: -> it all begins & ends with contrapposto… you've probably heard of the line of action, which is related. if you're offsetting the shoulders & hips, it: makes poses more natural, more dynamic, and helps the pose sort of "draw itself" -- the legs will follow the direction of the hips, and you can use the arms to reinforce the angles

-> context is key. don't ask: what pose should i draw? instead ask: what do i want this character to convey? what does happiness, anger, sadness, and so forth look on this particular character? how do they express that? consider these drawings: these are both ostensibly the same pose, but look at how changing just the shape of the spine recontextualizes it.

for more on pose design i recommend watching Tracer & Pose Design 101 - The Animation of Overwatch by New Frame Plus (i promise this is a genuinely super informative video).

to expand on this, in general, all of the components of a piece (background, composition, pose, etc.) are best considered in conjunction rather than separately. it is difficult to choose a pose and then choose a background because they are missing the context that would make a piece cohesive. when you are planning a drawing, try to begin with your general concept/idea/prompt and then do several thumbnails -- small and quick doodles that should take no longer than 5 minutes each -- developing it: you may find that the pose and bg will naturally fall into place.

-> silhouette: the degree to which you need to push this varies by style but generally speaking the pose needs to be readable; i.e. instantly recognizable. try to keep important elements of the gesture outside of the silhouette. for example, if the character is pointing, keep that arm out of the interior of the body. the same pose can be more or less readable or dynamic depending on where the character is pointed in relation to the viewer

-> exaggeration!! goes along with the previous point. push the pose as much as you can (and what makes sense for your style) to communicate your pose as clearly and as intensely as possible.

FACES: -> i highly recommend the app Handy Art Reference Tool by Belief Engine for all things related to drawing hands/heads/feet. its on both android and ios. it isn't free -- it costs around $3 -- but that is seriously such a small price to pay for the amount of utility you get out of it: the hands models are fully poseable (there's also pose presets), you can rotate the head models however you want, and there is 3-point customizable lighting. it is really helpful for getting those super tricky and hyperspecific head angles that you just can't find a real life reference for. that being said given that there's only a few different head model variants, bear in mind how differences in features can affect what exactly a face will look like in those angles.

-> i still recommend doing studies of real people. as with anything else, learning generalized proportions is important, even if you are going to later on bend or break this depending on style

-> as for my own approach... it kind of depends on the style i'm doing at that particular time. for my paintings (what id consider my main style) i approach a character with a few real-world features in mind and then apply them to the best of my ability. it usually will take a few iterations to land on an interpretation i really like as i try out different things. a lot of the face also gets developed during rendering rather than through my initial sketch too, as i adjust for lighting and correct proportions on the fly

(look how much this image changes between sketch and render lol)

if i were to recommend anything, i think it would be to nail down your most distinct features first -- the ones that will make your character's face recognizable, and could apply regardless of art style. in my case with kim dokja, i knew when i first started drawing him that i wanted to give him a longer face and down-turned eyes. when i decided to do the disco elysium inspired set, in which i was breaking out of my comfort zone by letting go of any idealizations focusing on conveying characterization/making them feel "real", i landed on some more specific traits (defined lower lids/perpetually tired eyes/eyebags(?) the crease there idk how to describe it) which i continue to try to evoke even if im drawing something much more cartoony

(pictured are my first kdj -> disco elysium style -> my post de-style kdj)

as a side note, this very same process changed yjh much more dramatically

(^ that first guy is mad someone else)

those handful of key features will be the thing that you can then take into a simpler style and simplify or exaggerate to whatever degree suits you. you can also play with shape theory (square = sturdy/solid, circle = natural/smooth/welcoming, triangle = energetic/dangerous). shape theory doesn't necessarily need to be so rigid -- you can combine shapes as you please to convey whatever vibe you're going for -- so please think of it as a tool that may help rather than a rigid law you must abide by.

-> expressions: exaggerate them. thats kind of it!! make it big!!! you wanna be able to really feel those emotions. the principles of squash & stretch help here: think of how the muscles move when you, say, open the eyes or mouth really big. as one side of the face stretches open, the other side squashes to accommodate it

even without changing the position of the jaw here, moving the nose and scrunching the eyes will sell the expression

you can also play with squash/stretch to break proportions to sell a feeling more

since expressions are just, well, poses for the face, everything else for poses applies here (and facial expressions & pose should also be considered in tandem). while the term contrapposto itself just refers to the offset of the shoulders & hips, the similar principle of asymmetry also carries here as that will help make the expression a bit more dynamic.

and i think... that's it!! all i can think of at least. i hope it helps anon!!!

[ratrrriot]

Sonic art tips for a young artist pleasee :)

wow thanks for thinking my advice is worth asking for, i'm flattered! here are some tips that helped me learn how to draw them:

Starting by drawing a structure of basic shapes always helps with proportions,but if you decide to use one,don't let it make your drawing stiff! make sure to draw that structure with loose lines and don't think too hard about it. Movement and dynamism are core aspects of these characters,prioritize that over things like symmetry.

Unless you want the characters to look like they're made of rubber or super soft,avoid working exclusively with round edges. instead try making part of their bodies a litttle more sharp and exaggerate some corners. Try finding the perfect balance between sharp and round lines for each one so they look more natural and dynamic.

Pay attention to the proportions of the characters heads in relation to their hands,the length of their legs,the shape of their tummies and eyes,etc. but more importantly,pay attention to the spaces in-between all of those things. For example,the space between their eyes and the end of their foreheads varies from character to character. Details like where the ears are placed in relation to the eyes or how far their quills reach in relation to their backs are just as key as obvious things like what color they are.

Try to find at least a bit of volume in their muzzles. You don't need to take it as far as me cuz i like to exaggerate it but always remember that they aren't plain and try to visualize them separately from the character’s heads before drawing them.

To understand what makes each character recognizable shape-wise, i suggest using more than one pic of each as reference and seeing if there are any differences between them. then choose what you want to keep in your drawings of them and what not.

Don't feel preassured to always draw these characters in any of the official styles (if not ever), just draw them the way that’s more comfortable and fun for you!

Understanding and studying what you draw is important and incredibly useful, BUT it can become very stressful and frustrating when the results aren't what we wanted, Plus, practice is the most important factor when it comes to getting better at drawing and if you don't enjoy the process you don't practice as much. So if you stop having fun at some point or frustration starts taking over,make sure to take a break from working based on how the drawings is “supposed “ to look and instead think about your work process and see what needs to be changed for it to be enjoyable again (Even if it means ignoring all the tips i just mentioned until now and literally not thinking about what you're doing for a while!!). I certainly know i need a break from using my brain while drawing from time to time so i let myself momentarily forget everything I’ve ever learned about anatomy and structure and just doodle Sonic like a kid who just got new pencils. It's good for the heart and recharges motivation!!

And lastly, if you feel like Sonic & friends are hard to draw,it's not just you: they ARE hard to draw and for most it takes years to be able to draw them with ease. I still struggle with them from time to time even when in'm drawing them in my own style.

Hope these help! idk if these tips will be useful for everyone and i still have a lot to learn, so if you decide not to use any of these, that's cool. Good luck drawing these guys regardless!!

[hanjisungs-bigtittyg0thgf]

Muse

music major!bang chan x art major!reader

Trigger warnings: none

Content warnings: your teeth might fall out over how sweet it is??? that's literally it. it's all fluff lmao

Summary: after what you believe is a chance meeting, chan becomes your muse.

Word count: 3237

Author's note: omg hiiiii babes it's been a minuteeee. this is kinda short but it was the first thing i wrote after finally working through some stuff. shoutout to @hopelessromantic5933 for requesting this, sorry for making you wait almost two years 🥲 anyways, i hope you all enjoy it! don't forget to check out my other work ❤ and don't hesitate to send in asks! also redoing my tag list so comment or dm to be added! much loveeeeee

Tags: @bahng-chrizz

content after the cut

You let out a soft sigh as you grabbed your bag and stood from your desk. You were contemplating changing your major as you made your way out of the classroom, digging through your bag to find your phone. You loved learning new concepts and trying new things but the technique you were learning this week was one you’d never appreciated. You didn’t hate it per se, but you definitely avoided that style. It just didn’t speak to you.

You finally found your phone and began scrolling through your notifications as you made your way towards your favorite food truck. You made a confused face when you saw an Instagram notification from right after your class started. You clicked on it and were greeted with a page full of photos that screamed music major. “Who the fuck is this?” You didn’t bother to go through his pictures, choosing instead to scan his bio for any indication that you knew him. All you came up with was that you attended the same university and shared some mutual friends. He was cute from what you could see so you shrugged and approved the follow request, pocketing your phone as you reached your destination.

You placed your order and stepped to the side, turning to survey the quad. It was a beautiful day and everyone seemed to be taking advantage of it. Maybe inspiration would strike if you sat and people-watched for a bit.

You heard your name a few minutes later and gave a polite smile as you took your food, then scurried off towards your favorite tree. Campus staff had placed a massive wooden lawn chair and some fairy lights under that tree and it always felt so cozy. Plus, you had the best vantage point from there. You could almost see the entire quad from that one spot and you often found yourself sketching study groups there. Today would be slightly different since you were trying something new, but you found a sense of comfort as you settled into the chair and happily munched on your lunch.

As soon as you’d finished eating, you grabbed your sketch pad and pencil and allowed your gaze to sweep across the open field. It was teeming with life so all you had to do was choose someone and start sketching. You shook your head and chose a stationary subject first, needing to build up the courage to locate someone you’d consider asking to model for you.

Your eyes settled on a petite young woman who was seated a few yards away, sipping on coffee with her nose in a book. She almost seemed out of place here given how regal she appeared. Her posture was perfect, shoulders squared and back straight, and her hair fell over her shoulders in romantic waves. She was a picturesque beauty.

You began drawing, allowing your pencil to glide along the paper and create a version of the woman that you felt did her justice. It was far from perfect but you were certain no artist could truly capture her beauty so you gave yourself some grace. You were adding more detail when she began to pack up her things. You let out a soft sigh, knowing you’d likely never see the goddess again and this was as far as you’d get with this sketch. You flipped the page and decided to take a different approach as you spotted two men throwing a frisbee. Both were attractive, though one had a more athletic build.

You focused on the athletic one and took mental notes on the way his body moved as you began to draw him. First, you sketched out the general shape of his body as he twisted in preparation to throw the disk, then you began to add more details. You focused on the way his clothing fell and the way the midday sunlight bounced off his caramel brown hair, getting a strange sense of familiarity as you scrawled notes in the margins on the colors you’d incorporate when you got the chance.

You watched him closely as you tried to find another position to sketch him in, perking up instantly when you caught him with his arm outstretched, the frisbee leaving his hand. He was smiling brightly, displaying the most adorable dimples, and your heart sped up for a moment. You quickly began to sketch, memorizing as much detail as possible before he moved too much.

You gulped but drew even more frantically when he lifted his shirt to wipe the beads of sweat rolling down his face, revealing a six pack and prominent v-line. His proportions were perfect and if you weren’t so flustered by how attractive he was, you’d ask him to model for you. He was exactly what you needed for this project.

That strange familiarity came creeping back in as you drew but it was only when you made brief eye contact that you recognized him. He was the owner of the mystery account who’d requested to follow you less than an hour ago. You frantically looked away and continued drawing, praying he wouldn’t have anything to say when he undoubtedly recognized you from your photos.

You thought you were in the clear when he didn’t approach you after about five minutes but just when the thought crossed your mind, your luck ran out and the frisbee came flying at your head. You ducked your head quickly and listened as the disk crashed into the tree behind you.

“Felix, your arm fuckin’ sucks, bro!” Your breath caught in your throat when your unwitting model’s Australian accent reached your ears as he jogged towards you.

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry!” Called the man who’d lobbed the plastic at your head - Felix, as you’d gleaned from hearing the athletic man mocking him. He looked panicked, hands covering his mouth as he watched from where he was frozen in place. He was just as pretty and you certainly wouldn’t mind him modeling for you sometime. He had a wholesome, warm appearance.

“Sorry about him, he’s usually not such a klutz.” Your mystery man flashed a smile as he rounded your chair, taking a glance at your work as he reached down behind you.

“Ah- no, it’s not a problem. I wasn’t paying much attention.” You offered up a shy smile before looking back down to your paper. You didn’t notice him studying your pad as he retrieved the disk so you were startled when he attempted conversation as he righted himself.

“You sure about that?” He chuckled softly as he leaned over your shoulder to get a closer look and you froze. “Looks like you were paying plenty of attention.” He teased as he studied your art. Who was he and why was he so comfortable? Your heart was thumping and you wanted to vanish. “You an art major?” He asked as he stood straight once more and came around the chair to properly look at you. He was still closer to you than a stranger should be but at least you could breathe again.

Your cheeks were flaming red at being caught and you simply nodded as you began to gather your things in a rush. “I am. Sorry, this is probably really weird for you. I should-”

“What? No! This is really flattering. I don’t know a whole lot about art but you did an amazing job. Can I take a look at some of your other stuff sometime?” You froze once more but his blinding smile won against your nerves and you found yourself nodding. “Great! Can I get your number to get in touch? Or is Instagram better?”

“Ah, so you recognized me…” You let out a single huff of air that somewhat resembled a laugh as you closed your book.

“Of course I did. It’s not often I come across such a beautiful woman.” His dimples appeared once more as your cheeks went pink and your jaw dropped slightly, a smile slowly taking over your face. “Here.” He handed you his phone and you took it slowly, trying to collect yourself and remember how to use your thumbs to type your number out. When you passed it back, his fingers ghosted over yours and you retreated quickly as his smile faded into something far more flirtatious. “Thanks, I’ll text you. I’m Chan, by the way.”

“Y/n…” You murmured, enraptured by the man before you. You were dumbfounded at the way he spoke so comfortably and seemed to take an interest in you. This man was Adonis and was looking at you with an unbelievable level of interest.

“Pleased to meet you, y/n.” He began to back away as he pocketed his phone, his carefully crafted confident facade beginning to crumble, revealing a giddy young man who was thrilled to have gotten a girl’s number so easily. “I’ll let you get back to it. But do try and get my left side. That’s my good side.” He winked and you involuntarily rolled your eyes as a smile finally appeared on your lips as he made his way back to his friend with a triumphant grin.

————————————————

Your phone buzzed just after 6pm that night and you froze at the unfamiliar number.

Hi pretty 👋🏻 it’s Chan. How are you?

You quickly saved his number before responding.

hiii i’m good how are you

Much better now that I’m talking to you 😉

You were at a loss for words but he quickly sent another message.

I’d be even better if I could take you to get coffee in the near future. Are you free next weekend? Say Saturday at 11am?

You felt a jolt of anxiety shock your body but shook it off. You’d never grow as a person if you continued to shrink away from people who wanted to get to know you. Plus, he was cute. Which is why we’re anxious, dumbass. This isn’t about human connection, this is about a beautiful man flirting with you. You shook your head and typed out a response.

i think i can manage that 😆

Perfect! I’m thrilled to see you and your amazing work. 😌

————————————————

The coffee date had gone smoothly, with Chan gushing about your work and lighting up like a neon sign when you asked him to model for you. He’d been so flattered and excited that you’d asked and had immediately set up a time for you to draw him. After you’d gotten home, you texted him with more details, including where to meet and what he should wear.

Now, he was standing in your living room and you were circling him with one arm crossed over your middle while you drummed your fingers of the opposite hand against your chin. He was fighting the urge to shift around under your scrutiny and let out a tiny sigh of relief when you stopped in front of him with a smile. “I think I have an idea.”

“Have your way with me.” He grinned, ears going red when you stared at him somewhat surprised by his words. “Uh- I just- h-how do you want me to pose? That’s what I meant…” 

You laughed at his flush and shook your head. “Don’t make it weird.” You warned playfully as you pushed him towards your bedroom. You had a daybed with warm-toned sheets and pillows and knew instantly that it was the perfect backdrop. “Come on, I know what I’m gonna do with you.” He seemed to grow more flustered as he processed where you were guiding him and you almost laughed again.

Over the last few weeks, you’d grown quite comfortable with him but he seemed a little less outspoken. He was still very flirtatious but in a more genuine, careful way. He didn’t come on as strong as he did at first. While getting to know each other, you’d come to realize he was a kind man with a lot of love to give the world and a strong sense of self, not just your typical college kid. Most of your late night conversations were deep, thought-provoking, emotional discussions about life where you could see his soul was just as beautiful as his exterior. So while he certainly had his moments of being just some guy, he saved his perverted humor for his friends and kept most things with you pretty PG and entirely sincere.

When you reached your room, you nudged him towards the bed and turned to set up your easel. “Take off your shirt and socks and get on the bed.” He hesitated at first and was on the verge of sputtering some shy response when you turned back with your bottom lip poking out. “Oh come onnnn.” You whined cutely, further exaggerating your pout. “It’s for class.” Your pout was quickly replaced with a little grin as you grabbed your canvas and placed it on the easel. “Plus, it’s not like I haven’t already seen your body before.”

“Right.” He cleared his throat and began to unbutton his shirt. You watched him in your peripheral vision as you continued to set everything up and had an idea.

“Actually, hold on.” You stopped him as he began to slide the linen off his muscular shoulders and he slowly put it back in place. “Just leave it open like that, that’s perfect.” You smiled as your vision fully came to you. “Socks off and get in the middle of the bed.”

He followed your instructions while watching you scurry off to your en suite bathroom to fill a cup with water. When you returned, he was sitting almost awkwardly in the center of your bed and you chuckled softly. You approached him wordlessly and knelt beside him to arrange your pillows so they were nestled in the right corner. You gestured for him to recline and stood back once he was slumped. He wasn’t lying down, he was simply sprawled across your mattress at an angle.

“Okay, bring your right knee up and sort of prop on your left elbow.” You watched as he complied and scrutinized his positioning for a moment before crawling back onto the bed. “I’m gonna make some adjustments.”

You noticed his flush creeping down his neck as you adjusted his open shirt how you wanted it to lay. “Put your hand like this.” You instructed as you demonstrated how you wanted his hand to rest across his bare torso and he complied. “And relax your left leg a bit. I want you to almost lay like Adam in Creation of Adam.”

“I think I get where you’re going with this.” He nodded, a tiny grin settling on his lips. You lifted a brow as you waited for his guess and instantly rolled your eyes when he spoke again. “You’re trying to tell me I’m a classic beauty.”

“Yes, but no.” You laughed softly as you shook your head. “Look over there.” You pointed to where you’d be sitting and made some final adjustments to his shirt as he followed your instructions. You noticed him forcing his breathing to remain steady and his flush reaching his chest as your fingers accidentally brushed against the waistband of his cream colored linen pants.

You didn’t allow yourself to worry over how you’d just touched him or to get flustered at the effect your proximity was having on him and pushed ahead, reaching to fix his hair. You adjusted a single curl and brushed a few strands away from his eyes before your gazes met and you lost the battle to remain calm. Your cheeks went a soft pink as he smiled up at you. “Hi.”

“Hi.” You whispered back, smiling back at him and allowing your fingertips to trail down the side of his face. Seeing him this close made you even more certain of your decision to cast him as your model. His skin was flawless and his bone structure was heavenly. He truly was a god among men. And his lips…

“You’re staring.” He whispered, his smile slipping away as he noticed the way your eyes locked on his full lips.

“I’m not…” You refuted his claim but still couldn’t look away.

“You are.” His face grew redder and you thought he might kiss you but he didn’t dare move after you’d finally gotten him perfectly positioned. It was almost maddening.

“I’m not.” You finally looked towards his eyes and found him staring at your lips as well. “You are.”

“Can’t help it. You have pretty lips.” He slowly met your gaze and something in you snapped. You’d been wanting him to kiss you for a couple weeks and he hadn’t so you took matters into your own hands.

When your lips met his, he hesitated. Not because he wasn’t interested, but because he was surprised that you’d initiated it. You’d given him the impression that you wanted him to take the lead and he wanted to be careful with you so he hadn’t dared to do more than hold your hand. But now your lips were on his and he was in the clouds.

He slowly brought his hand up to cup your face without disturbing the careful placement of his shirt and allowed his lips to move against yours. Your heart was racing at how slow and sweet the moment was. It felt like the stars had aligned and you found yourself smiling against his lips. “I’ve wanted to do that for a little while now.” You whispered and began to pull back.

“Me too. I’ve been trying to take it slow with you though. Didn’t wanna move too fast and risk scaring you off.” He explained quietly, not really letting you move as his hand slipped to the back of your neck. “So come back here, we’ve got a couple weeks of lost time to make up for.” He teased as he chased your lips.

“You did the exact opposite. You were driving me mad wondering what exactly was happening between us.” You laughed softly before allowing him to kiss you again. His lips felt perfect against yours and you knew instantly that you’d quickly become addicted.

It couldn’t have been more than three minutes of sharing chaste kisses but it felt much longer and you frowned a bit when you finally came up for air. “Unfortunately, I’ve got to get to work now or you’ll be stuck waiting here until late into the night.”

“I could wait an eternity for you, babe.” He winked before immediately cringing. You couldn’t help but laugh loudly at the face he pulled and he took a moment to admire your joyful expression before shaking his head. “That was so cheesy, I’m sorry.” He chuckled and settled back into his previous position. “Work your magic.”

“For the record,” you started as you stood and studied him once more. “I love little pet names like that.” You hummed, making your way to your canvas. “So I’d really like it if you continued to use them.”

“Of course, baby girl. But don’t be surprised if I rarely use your real name then.” He grinned and relaxed his hand, allowing his fingers to splay out against his stomach.

“I’ll hold you to that. Now give me an emotionally tortured smolder.” You smiled to yourself at his soft laugh and began to sketch out the god of a man lounging on your bed.

[usuratongaychi]

Drawings + Rants + Headcanons/Naruto AU

i finally had some time to draw my versions of tean seven (minus kakashi). im gonna detail more of my AU later in the post but here are the designs and some notes.

For sasuke, in one of my other posts i had the theory that sasuke keeps his hair short to avoid resembling itachi, and thats why it is longer in time skip, because he is coming to terms with his trauma and still loves itachi. I also gave him similar creases to itachi, just from stress.

tbh im not too sure about this naruto design…but at least he isnt balding like before💀.

for sakura, i actually really like her older design, so i just drew her working. she would have her hair up and i gave her sakura blossom hair pins and eyeshadow.

also i havent drawn in forever so..thats why its messy.

(the rest of this is me rambling on..)

Now for changes i made to the story:

1. Narusasu endgame (yk im a stan)

I would have both of them be joint hokages, so technically both are the 7th. I know Sasuke is referred to as the shadow hokage, but that doesn’t really entail anything. I think it’s important because Sasuke would know just how important reform is for the village and shinobi system, but since people are still suspicious of Uchihas, Naruto would be the face. This fulfills Naruto’s dream, which when you really think about it, his dream was just to be loved, not really to be a politician. Naruto has seen how unfair and corrupt their society is, so he would completely work with Sasuke to make sure things like Danzo and Hiruzen’s corruption, child soldiers, hyuuga slavery and the “Uchiha Incident” dont happen again. I could explain more of this in a later post.

2. I would have Hinata look up to Sakura more, instead of Naruto.

I think it makes a bit more sense, Sakura is brave, outspoken and independent, just like Hinata wants to be. I would have Sakura be her first friend, since she can’t stand to see people be excluded or alone. That leads me into changes I would make for Sakura’s story.

3. Sakura. In the original, I would keep her kind of bratty attitude until things get serious in the Zabuza arc. Seeing her close friends so close to death, while not being able to help much would challenge her to become a protector. This also gives motivation for her to learn healing and medicine when Tsunade comes around. Sakura would be the “rock” or “glue” of team seven, which makes sense because she is the only one of them that came from a stable home.

Sakura initially resents Sasuke for betraying the team, but seeing how dedicated Naruto is to saving him, she decides its worth it to help bring him back. Besides if she didn’t, naruto would just endager himself trying.

4. Sasuke. I would have Sasuke after he realizes Itachi was manipulated into a genocide to protect the village, still go through him “i’m gonna destroy the village” phase, but when Naruto defeats him, they make a promise to change things, so no one else will have to suffer like that. I would also show more of the psychological effects of witnessing Itachi’s murders. One of my headcanons is that he’s pretty thin, since trauma survivors tend to have chronic stomach pains. He’s probably pretty paranoid about others betraying him, so he does it to them first (probably why he pushes naruto away so much). Sasuke is also probably still ostracized or “othered” for being an uchiha, since that is what the village is told about them. People still pity him, but dont come near him.

5. Naruto. 😭I actually made up a whole theory on why Hiruzen didn’t take great care of naruto, bc to me it just doesn’t make sense. it’s kinda a dumb theory and doesn’t rlly have anything to do with canon, but- what if Minato wanted to expose the corruption in the hidden leaf and get rid of the foundation, so as a sort of revenge, or just general distaste for Minato, Hiruzen doesn’t really provide for Naruto. 🤷‍♀️idk. A change I would make is to have naruto mature more to match his age. Like ofc it makes sense for him to act out for attention esp when he was younger, but i feel like past shippuden..he didn’t really mature at all? maybe thats just me. I’ll probably have more stuff to add for him, i’ll think of it later or put it in my headcanons post.

😭im so tired yall i will make a better post later on.

[excali8ur]

How did you get so good at drawing? And do you have any tips??? (Pls I'm a beginner help)

Honestly dude you never get good at art. It's sweet that people like my stuff but I still feel like most of it sucks and I think that's sort of an inherent part of drawing lmao. You've just gotta decide to keep doing it anyway because it matters to you

I do have a few tips for improving your technical drawing though:

Do figure sketching. If you can go to in-person life drawing classes that's great, and there'll usually be at least a few running if you live in a city/big town, but you can do it online too. Here are some websites I use: Line of Action / SketchDaily / Quick Poses. Try drawing with different lengths of time (so start with poses appearing for 30 seconds, then move up to 1 minute, then 2, then 5, then 10). Also don't feel too bad if the first few times you try it and the sketches don't turn out quite right or the proportions get messed up or you run out of time. It's part of the process & you'll improve the longer you keep at it. Just try to use longer & messier lines and don't focus on the details until you have basic shapes blocked out. (This is literally what I tell anyone who asks me for art advice because it's about the only drawing exercise I ever deliberately do lmao)

Draw real life subjects and not just from photos- it's more challenging but helps you develop your observation & sketching skills. This includes still life and landscapes/architecture as well as living things btw

Use references as much as you can. I suck at this but it'll genuinely make you improve faster if you do lmao. You can find loads of references on Google or DeviantArt but I also have some specific places I get them from: JookpubStock / Fat Photo Ref (requires registering but I can verify they're legit) / AdorkaStock / Teamwarchicken (actually my blog that I use for collecting images)

When you're learning to shade remember that you're shading a 3 dimensional object, and try to avoid just doing shading around the very edges of things. Same goes for highlights.

Try drawing in different styles and subjects you don't usually draw. If you can afford it try out different physical art materials too. It helps keep the art block at bay if nothing else lmao

Don't be a perfectionist. Learn to just say "good enough" and not obsess over mistakes. It's better to draw lots of slightly wonky things than one thing that you freaked out about getting perfect.

If anyone else has any other advice/resources then please add them! I do not know as much about art as people think I do hjfgjkhdf

[hermit-lover]

Hi! Could you write a romantic Mumbo x reader where the reader is Iskall's sibling? Mumbo realising that he's caught feelings for his best friend's sibling, friends to lovers type beat, inspired by Accidentally In Love by Counting Crows? just lots of fluff :))

Oh no.

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Character: MumboJumbo X Reader

Type: Blurb (~1.5K)

Theme: Fluff, Romantic

Summary: Stealing materials from your sibling Iskall evolves into much more then you bargained for. Not that you're complaining.

TW: Innuendos, flipping someone off

A/N: I may have made reader too cocky- I just like flustered Mumbo, okay??! I don't watch Iskall much so I'm hoping this is alright, heard their character used They/Them pronouns so that's what I used :).

"Iskall!" You call, voice carrying through the warm spring air. It was excellent weather, and most Hermits were taking advantage of it by grinding out their Megabases or farms. You had joined the trend, digging into your shulkers and building as much as you could. That was, until you happen to run out of logs.

The cobblestone under your feet guides you towards your siblings base, placing your bets that they had the exact same idea as you. Buds and blooming flowers lined the path, inviting you towards the structure. You always admired their builds, but couldn't help mentally critiquing a few details. It was your relationship; advice through teasing. Helped you a ton to learn redstone. (Although there was still room for improvement). "Iskall!!" You yelled again, head tilting as voices fluttered through the space.

"Over here!" Their voice replied, and you adjusted your steps to be-line towards them. Stepping around a wooden post, you spot two figures hunched over a contraption, speaking in a low whisper. Dropping into a crouch, you take careful steps towards the pair. A smile tugs at your lips, and you have to stifle a chuckle. This was so dumb. As you draw closer you identify them, your sibling of course, and Mumbo. Perfect targets. Once you deem yourself close enough, you lunge forwards. Punching them both in one swoop.

"Boo!" You exclaim, grinning.

"OH MY-" Mumbo leaps up, straightening to his full height and then some. Nearly crashing into Iskall with the force of his reaction.

"AH-" Iskall flinches, narrowly avoiding Mumbo. You burst into laughter, doubling over from the force of it. You can hear the pair start to laugh themselves, Mumbo heaving with hand on his chest like an offended Victorian lady. The sight only makes you laugh harder. Iskall winds back and punches you, knocking you sideways into Mumbo, who struggles to catch your body, weak from laughter. "I hate you." Iskall decides, trying to push down their smile.

"I love you too." You wheeze back, clinging to the lanky redstoner for support. Its not hard to notice how Mumbo tenses up, and how he quiets down. He always seemed a bit shy around you, which was weird considering you were his best friend's sibling. He practically sees you everyday. If you said you didn't find it endearing, you'd be lying. Although it did get in the way of bonding, which was a shame considering your tiny, itty bitty, absolutely massive crush. Trying to hide it from Iskall was fruitless, they could read you from a mile away. Realizing you were still practically hugging Mumbo, you release the poor man.

"Sorry Mumbo." You grin, definitely not sorry at all. He sighs, running a hand through his hair to smooth it back into place. Cheeks flushed, avoiding your gaze. You wish you could reach up and tussle it, but you didn't want to give him a heart attack. Again. It always looked better when out of place in that messy, intimate way. A cough jolts you from your thoughts.

"Did you come over here just to stare at Mumbo?" Iskall asks, amusement coating the words. They have a hand on their hip, eyebrow raised.

"Maybe I did." You respond cockily, crossing your arms. "What of it?" Glancing back to aforementioned redstoner, his cheeks were even more flushed then before. A small surge of pride makes your own face warm.

"I'm flattered." Mumbo jokes, avoiding eye contact. You tilt your head back to Iskall.

"Besides enjoying the view-" you glance at Mumbo again to watch him choke on air. "I'm here to steal your dark oak logs." Iskall groans, turning back to their redstone.

"Just make a tree farm." A beat, "besides, Mumbo can give you all the wood you need." They wink with their one good eye, and its your turn to die.

"Iskall!" You screech, lunging forward to grab them and wrestle them into a head lock. They resist, plucking you off your feet and throwing you over their shoulders.

"I'm not wrong!" They assert, "All you need to do is-" You practically stick your hand in their mouth from how hard you grab their face. Iskall retaliates by licking your hand, causing you to jolt away.

"You're disgusting." You shoot back, face hot from embarrassment.

"And you-" They slide you off, "are incredibly annoying." You scoff, crossing your arms.

"Whatever. I'll just take the logs anyways." You turn sharply away from Iskall, holding your head high as you stalk away. They groan. "Bye Mumbo!" You turn to wave, shooting him a smile. He waves jerkily back, looking mildly horrified. Did you traumatize him with those comments? Once you make it to the corner, you hear a whisper. If it weren't for your excellent hearing you could've missed it.

"Oh no." Sighed from Mumbo's lips. Slipping around the wooden post, you pause. Pressing yourself against the wall and straining your ears. Spying was a bit low, sure. But you were curious! Plus, if you messed up and we was uncomfortable you could apologize.

"What's wrong?" Iskall asks, genuine concern tinting the words. There's another beat of silence and then Mumbo speaks.

"I-I" He tries to begin, taking a deep breath. "I think I like them." He sounds like he bracing for a hit. He...he likes you?

"Like?" Iskall repeats, now sounding more invested. "Like how?"

"Like-Like" Mumbo specifies, and you nearly laugh from the phrasing. But...he likes you. In the same way you like him. Excitement brings a grin to your face, pumping a fist in the air. Yes! You had a shot! Iskall's laughter brings you back to reality.

"Dude, you're just figuring this out?" They manage between pants. You can practically picture the scene, Mumbo standing too-stiffly as Iskall throws their head back howling.

"W-what do you mean?" Mumbo asks, genuine offense in the tone.

"You've been my friend how long? Of course I noticed you eyeing up my sibling." Their phrasing is more crude then you would've put it. But the point remains.

"I was not!-" Mumbo goes to defend, voice raising in octaves.

"Chill- I totally support you." Thats a relief. By now they have calmed, probably relieved they don't have watch the pining any longer

"Really?" Hope coats his words. Gosh you adored him.

"Yes. Now go get 'em. I know you're listening!" Iskall raises their voice and you jolt. Oh shoot. Rounding the bend once more, you hold your hands up in surrender.

"In my defense, talking behind someone's back is rude." You offer a sheepish smile. Mumbo stiffens, eyes wide. Iskall nudges him, and he breaks from his trance, stumbling towards you.

"I- um..." Mumbo rubs the back of his neck, eyes locked to the ground. Shoulders tense, legs locked. Poor man looked to be in fight of flight.

"Relax." You command, reaching a hand forwards to rest on his shoulder. He slowly relaxes. "I wont bite-" a cheeky grin, "unless you want me too." Mumbo sputters something and you retract your hand to cover your mouth as you laugh. His face practically glows with blush, small beads of sweat cling to his hairline. His tie is askew from nervous habit, and he has ditched the suit jacket. The sleeves of his shirt are stained red from the electric powder, some clinging to his cheek stubbornly. "sorry sorry-" you offer him a more genuine smile, admiring his features. "In all seriousness, I think you're incredibly cute, and smart, and uh-" you cant help but be slightly nervous. "I feel the same way." His eyes snap up to your own.

"Oh-" He deflates with how he relaxes, relief evident. "That's- that's good!" He smiles, nodding once. Unable to hold back any longer, you reach up to tangle your fingers in his sleek black hair. Shaking your hand vigorously back and forth to displace as much as hair as possible. It falls forwards on his forehead, creating that impossibly adorable look you hoped it would. Suddenly your stuck by how intense his gaze is, brown eyes glittering with what you could only describe as love. You lean forward boldly.

"So what now?" You murmur, staring up through your lashes. His blush turns impossibly darker.

"I um-" he fumbles only a moment. "May I kiss you?" His voice is husky, hope and affection spilling from every word. You sharply intake a breath. You hadn't expected him to be so bold. It was adorable.

"Of course." You reply, leaning impossibly closer. Your chests bump, and you link your arms behind his neck to pull him in.

Sparks fly, completion exploding in your chest. His lips are soft, and oh so gentle as they barely brush your own. Longing for more, you tug him more. Connecting them harshly. He hums surprised into the kiss, but melts under your touch. His mustache tickles, and sort of gets in the way. But its so charmingly Mumbo you wouldn't have it any other way. His arms are firm around your waist, shirt soft wherever it makes contact with skin. You want to kiss him until breathless-

"Get a room!"

You just flip them off.

[simonsquest]

Simon opens up to Selena about his absent father, and his concerns about being a parent.

Sleepless nights were commonplace now, Simon laments as he lays awake staring at the ceiling. His only comfort is the fact that his wife sleeps soundly by his side, unbothered, and unaffected. What a blessing that is.

Selena often falls asleep curled up against him, her head upon his bare chest. Simon’s arm is wrapped around her shoulders, ever-protective, even in the comfort of their bed.

The only trouble is that Selena is a very light sleeper. The smallest movement can wake her, yet she insists on sleeping in his arms. And while Simon has grown to appreciate sharing the bed with her, stillness has been difficult lately. When he can’t sleep—rather, avoids staying asleep for long periods, lest the nightmares plague him—he feels compelled to get up, move around, busy his hands. Anything but lay down and stare at the ceiling.

But Selena’s comfort is paramount, especially now that she carries their second child. Thus, Simon does what he can to stay completely still, fighting restlessness as it gnaws at him. Fighting the spiralling thoughts that enter his mind only in the quiet of night.

This evening, however, Selena wakes up unprompted. She lifts her head, blinking sleep from her eyes, before craning her head up to look at him.

“Did I disturb you?” Simon inquires, his warm voice a whisper.

Selena shakes her head, sliding a hand upon his chest. “I had a strange dream, I think.”

“Oh?” Simon adjusts his body, at last, as he draws her closer to him. “What did you dream of?”

Selena laughs a little in reply, minding her volume. “I cannot remember the details.”

Simon huffs a small laugh, leaning his head down to kiss the crown of her head. Selena hums agreeably in reply, nuzzling against him.

“Are you unable to sleep again?” Selena inquires instead, still hushed.

“It seems so.” Simon replies simply, shirking the question.

“Am I crushing you?” Selena asks suddenly, raising her head again.

Simon stifles a laugh—such a warm and rare sound. “No, rest assured.”

“Is there something on your mind?” Selena asks instead, her eyes closing as she settles against him again. She relishes the feeling of his firm warmth against her, his powerful arms wrapping around her, hands smoothing over her shoulder.

Simon hums something soft as he thinks of how best to reply.

He chooses honesty: “my parents.”

Selena blinks. This answer takes her by surprise. Simon has mentioned to her that he doesn’t remember much about his parents—no faces to put names to. What is it he could be thinking about? Selena is eager to learn more, but, she feels it may be a sensitive subject.

Instead, her fingertips run idly along a prominent scar on Simon’s chest. A minute, comforting gesture.

“Would you like to talk about it?” She finally asks.

Simon hesitates for a moment. Selena’s gesture stills. Perhaps it was wrong to ask.

With a soft sigh, Simon tries in a whisper: “my father deflected when I was a child.”

Selena processes this information. She had assumed Simon’s father died. Does he yet live? She chooses to keep quiet as Simon continues.

“I do not have the precise details, but…” Selena feels Simon turning his head to the side, grasping at his thoughts, trying to articulate himself. “I reflect on that fact, at times.”

Selena notes how his heartbeat quickens. Simon has always been one to shirk his concerns. She understood, early on in their relationship—they both hesitated to become attached, and open up—but now, all of these years later, after all they’ve been through, and the love they share… Selena wishes he wouldn’t feel the need to.

But the gears turn in her mind. His father must have been the Belmont descendant, for him to deflect. And for him to deflect, and neglect his duties as a Belmont… that must mean that Simon was raised by his grandfather. And Selena doesn’t have the most favorable opinion of him.

Selena smoothes her hand over Simon’s chest as she props herself on her arm, getting a better look at his face. He’s looking away, and there’s a tightness in his jaw.

“I am so sorry. I didn’t know.” Selena whispers in apology, genuine. Simon shakes his head, closing his eyes.

“I never told you. No need to apologize.”

Selena stays as she is, trying to read Simon’s face in the darkness of night. She doesn’t know what to say next. What would be appropriate to say, or ask?

She tries: “does his absence hurt you?”

Simon’s brow furrows as he opens his eyes.

“No,” he starts, hesitating. “Not anymore, but…”

Selena’s heart breaks for him. She envisions him, so young, shouldering the weight of his lineage, with no support from his parents. How cruel.

“It makes me reflect on my parenthood.” Simon admits in a whisper at last.

Selena blinks. “In what way?”

She can see how Simon’s mouth has twitched into a frown, he’s still looking away from her. There’s an incredibly long pause as Simon tries to put his concerns into words.

“I haven’t a point of reference,” Simon tries, so awkward. “I don’t feel as though I’m doing any of this right.”

There it is. Selena is grateful to know what’s plaguing his mind. She’s eager to reassure him.

Selena softens. “You’re a wonderful father, Simon. Mathieu loves you.”

She can plainly see that Simon is struggling to take her words as truth. He resists: “it is you who has raised him. I am hardly present.”

“That isn’t true,” Selena retorts, her voice still hushed. “He respects you, and misses you, and is always eager for your return home.”

Selena has propped herself a bit higher, now, choosing to brush her fingers upon Simon’s cheek, gently moving the red hair from his face.

He finally looks at her, and turns his head to face her again.

“He is kind and just. He has your heart of fire.” Selena underlines, rubbing her thumb upon Simon’s jawline. This earns her a hint of a smile, and her heart swells at the sight of him trying to take her words to heart.

But there’s something that stops him from doing that.

Looking down at Selena again, Simon hesitates before finally sharing: “he’s a Belmont.”

Smiles fade. She knows exactly what Simon means by that. Their boy must shoulder the same fate that Simon has. Perhaps not directly fighting Dracula—Simon prays with all of his heart that he’s put an end to that. But his children. Their children. All strung along in this awful lineage of bloodshed and fighting. Mankind’s evil deeds will never cease. And the Belmonts must always be primed and prepared to protect the people.

Mathieu will endure the same training Simon has.

And their second child yet unborn, too, will have to shoulder this fate.

“Forgive me,” Simon apologies, raising a hand to cradle Selena’s cheek as she ruminates the implications. His calloused thumb rubs on her cheekbone.

Neither of them can change the fate that God has willed for them and their descendants. This they know. There isn’t any point in wasting energy on it.

But it is so sad. And weighs so heavy on Simon especially: the progenitor of this perpetual curse. Selena, and their children, are unfortunate casualties in it.

“There is a difference between you and your father.” Selena tries, leaning into his touch. Simon’s brow raises, eyes searching hers.

“You will never abandon your children.” Selena underlines.

Simon softens. Selena’s right. He would never.

“You’re a good man, Simon,” Selena emphasizes. “You’re a good father.”

As if to illustrate her point, Selena closes the distance between them, claiming Simon’s lips in her own. He hums a soft sound, returning the gesture.

When they part, Selena moves to cradle his cheek in her hand. Simon relaxes into her touch, moving his hand to hold hers, kissing into her palm.

Such a sacred, soft moment, so private between the two of them.

“You need your rest.” Simon reminds in a whisper, gentle. Selena concedes, settling into the bed again, but choosing to lay on her back beside Simon, rather than upon him.

Noting the change, Simon moves to lay on his side, facing her. He watches her with a soft gaze, admiring her beautiful face in a mess of her golden hair.

Selena takes the opportunity to hold his hand, and guide it onto her enlarged abdomen. She holds it there, turning her head to look at him.

Simon softens at the gesture with eyes downcast as his thumb rubs the spot, so gently.

Simon will do all he can for their children.

Selena believes in him. And that’s more than enough.

[realspacejunk]

Motivated by this Tweet by @delta86-art I decided to share a Character description for Lito, the Quilava character from the cast of Pokémon I include in my drawings, which I wrote some time ago. I have not worked out the details for all the others, but I have solid ideas for what they are like.

I also have it as a PDF but Tumblr does not allow me to upload those, so here is the Google doc.

Here is the raw text without pictures:

Lito Ayrura, the Little Flame (or Flame Choker)

Race: Quilava

Gender: Male

Age: 14

Height: 0,87m / 2’10’’

Hobbies: Trying to learn high-skill magic, Hanging out with friends, causing mischief

Likes: Adventure Stories, Treasures, Strong drink called ‘Golden Elerin Brew’

Dislikes: Busy work, Foreigners, Fire, Hypocrites, Being broke, Medicine

Personality and Character:

As a young and energetic Pokémon and apprentice of an adventure guild, Lito values loyalty, honour and the desire to help those in need. He deeply admires the ideals and traditions of the guilds, but more in spirit than in letter. He presents himself as a carefree and laid-back individual, but he feels like he is constantly living in the shadow of the legacy of his older brother, who was an admired and almost legendary adventurer in the land and a reminder of Lito's weaknesses.

         Being very ambitious but impatient, he often loses sight of the small but important things. He often falls behind in combat training and class, which he believes are boring. He tries to hide his shortcomings under a mask of brashness and overconfidence and often boasts to his friends. In many situations, Lito wants to take the initiative, even if it jeopardises his personal goals or even a mission, causing him to be seen as an annoyance and a liability by others. As a result, he often gets relegated to busy work. Lito does not like to ask others for help and reacts antagonistically to those who offer it to him, preferring to solve his problems on his own. 

         Unusual for a fire Pokémon, he has a deep fear of flames, which causes him to be greatly insecure about himself. It greatly stifled his potential as an adventurer and earned him the nickname ‘Flame Choker’ from his rivals, which he strongly dislikes. Because his abilities are either useless or weak, he relies on magical items during combat. He is knowledgeable and skilled in their usage, but they are expensive merchandise, resulting in constant money problems for Lito. Thus he often finds himself forced to choose between money and guild ideals. He always wears a golden bracer and talisman, but would never sell them for anything in the world because they are invaluable heirlooms to him.

Backstory: 

Lito was born into the small Ayrura clan which ruled an unimportant island in the eastern Azure Sea near the Land of Winds. At a young age, his home town was ravaged and scorched to cinders by an enraged Groudon earth god which was set loose by an unknown foreign power. Lito lost most of his family and friends to the fires. Only a few Pokémon escaped this carnage, two of them being Lito and his older brother Lian. Only the bracer and talisman were left to them as proof of their lineage, and they became valuable artefacts to them. The brutal attack on his home and his utter inability to save his loved ones planted a deep fear of fire in his psyche.

After their escape, they began a long journey westward, on which they had to avoid pursuing bandits, bounty hunters and mysterious agents hellbent on capturing the remains of the Ayrura clan. It is only thanks to his brother that Lito survived this trip, even if barely. They ended up in the peaceful land named ‘The Golden Leaf’ where the two orphans were found and taken care of by a local adventurers guild. They adapted quickly to life in this new home. The guild master, who has had dealings with the Ayruras before, took them in as novices. Lian quickly climbed the guild ranks and became Lito's close mentor and somewhat of a second father figure. It became Lito's dream to get strong so he and his brother could go on great adventures together and save Pokémon who could not help themselves, something Lian promised him, despite Lito's struggle to learn fire abilities and techniques.

Powers and Abilities:

As a Pokémon of the Fire Nature, he has the same resistances and weaknesses against other magic forms as any other fire Pokémon. For instance, he is resistant to Grass techniques, but he is weak against techniques of Ground, Rock and Water.

Naturally, he can use four combat abilities consistently. His specific skill set consists of the techniques commonly known as ‘Quick Attack’, a quick physical strike, ‘Smoke Screen’, a cloud of thick smoke that blinds enemies, and his strongest moves, Fire Wheel and Swift, two powerful attacks which cause large amounts of damage. His fear of fire prevents Lito from using ‘Fire Wheel’ unless he is under dire stress. If he uses it, he passes out from mental overload, leaving him vulnerable for some time. ‘Swift’ is a high-level ability and thus often fails, resulting in an explosion which can cause Lito to take heavy damage.

To compensate for his flaws, Lito mainly fights using his good knowledge of magical combat items, which he carries around in his bag or a bundle on his back. Combined with his ‘Smoke Screen’ ability, he uses those items mainly for crowd control. Thus he can quickly either stun, slow, confuse, or make his targets fall asleep. But for the really strong foes, these effects might only last a short amount of time, so Lito often relies on the assistance of others. These items can also only be used a couple of times before they lose their power, so Lito has to use them sparingly.