Headcanon: Sapphire loves to squish her face into Ruby's excellent hair.
These two are the sweetest. I would love to see them cuddle more in the show, even if it meant a short vacation from seeing Garnet.
This took 4.5 hours in Paint Tool SAI.
I am trying to learn how to art digitally. I'm not satisfied and I feel like I absolutely don't know what I'm doing. I think I lose it with what I'm supposed to be doing with the shading and highlights. They look sloppy and amateurish to me (which is fitting since I am an amateur but still). I can do much better shading when I work traditionally, like this:
But digitally it seems imprecise, amorphous, childish looking. There's a time and a place for that, but I want variety. I just don't know how to use my tools yet.
If any digital artists want to give me beginner-level suggestions to help me improve, that would be awesome!
Here is my process so you know what I'm doing.
1. I started with a pink canvas and another layer with a sketch of the characters.
2. Then I did Ruby's lineart on a new layer.
3. Then I gave Sapphire's lineart its own new layer, because they overlap and I wanted to be able to control the drawings separately if needed.
If I take away the sketch, I have this.
4. Another new layer gives Ruby flat colors.
5. The next new layer gives Sapphire her flat colors. Sapphire is in front of Ruby so her layers are above Ruby's layers.
6. Shading gets a layer. I actually did this cheaply: It's black with around 20% transparency.
I don't know if that's a good way to shade. I have also done it with deeper colors instead of black with transparency, but I didn't like that either. Here's what it looks like without the drawing beneath it.
7. Then I did another new layer with DARKER shading--black again, with less transparency, to get the darkest places where light is more blocked.
Shading by itself now looks ghostly.
8. Now I add highlights. This is white with similar transparency as the shadows.
9. A new layer for blushing. Just because.
They look cool on the pink background with only highlights and shadows.
And I guess that's done! Here it is with the lines taken out, which looks cool but even less defined.
What do you think, can any digital artists suggest ways to improve or tricks to try? I know absolutely nothing about pressure, textures, effects, brush settings--not a ding dang thing. If you have a thought or a beginner-level tutorial or video I should check out, I'm interested! (Every video I've tried to watch was completely over my head right at the beginning.)
Thanks for looking. 🙄
Comments (20)
Ruby looks nervous
:heart_eyes: :heart_eyes: :heart_eyes: :heart_eyes: :heart_eyes:
Aw they are SO CUTEEEE!
Ruby, Sapphire, and Garnet all have such amazing puffy hair X3
I think you did a really amazing job personally :P
Also I don't think I'll be of any help whatsoever because I've never used paint tool sai and like I said, I'm no good at giving advice or constructive criticism. But maybe try using a big brush (apparently you can change brush size by hitting the "]" key) and draw the shading in one big stroke rather than coloring/scribbling it (see idk how to describe things :sweat_smile: ). It would make the shading look smoother.
Also idk because I've never used Sai, but I've heard there's a stabilizer that automatically makes lines that you draw look smooth. Like if you draw a line, it smooths it out for you. Idk how to activate it but I was wondering if you know of it.
Sorry for wasting your time if this didn't help. TBH I feel more rude than constructive when giving Criticism. I think you are really good at digital art and you will only keep improving. :smile: :heart: :blue_heart:
Thanks!! Yes I love their hair!
I do know the stabilizer and have it all the way turned up.
I think one-stroke shading looks cool like those drawings Rebecca Sugar does but if I want more precise shading it won't work for me. :(
I don't think the suggestions sound rude at all, especially if they are for someone like me who solicited it!! Thank you!
It looks great actually! Though, I have to agree that your traditional art looks better. Still, your art looks good no matter what. :D
Thanks so much! Yeah my traditional art looks WAY better, which makes sense since I have practiced and the tools are known to me! I plan to keep doing both. But I think I need some instruction on what to try next for digital so I can keep improving.
That's really good! And I think the way you shade is nice! I may try it myself
Reply to: swankivy
I think my best pieces were sketched out traditionally and colored/lined digitally. Even then, I still have trouble keeping lines clean looking.
And i think whichever style you choose looks lovely. You have a wonderful art style
Reply to: Spoopy Plum
You're a gorgeous person and thank you for the confidence boost. :)
Reply to: swankivy
Ah thank you!!