December Pokemon Challenge - Day One

Day One: favorite bug type


I am using this challenge to experiment with different art styles! Scyther was always my favorite bug in Pokemon. Praying mantises are one of my real-life favorite bugs too. This time, it's a simple lineart/shading style with a texture overlay. It's definitely easy, but I'm not sure I like the way it looks. It doesn't seem unique to me.

Words from a Budding Illustrator

Hey all!

It's been a little over a year since I created my Blogger account for my business class. I never used it. I was such a great student, huh? In school, a career in illustration seemed ever out of reach, even though I was working towards my BFA in illustration. That's changed now. Once I started viewing illustration as an actual job, productivity and motivation followed close behind. I took some illustration jobs (one is for a family member) and started experimenting with technique and style. I opened a Storenvy with stuff I do in my spare time- mostly to see what people want to buy, but also as a way to keep myself creating. Perhaps I'll get into the handmade market instead of freelance illustration, who knows?

Though I still don't know exactly where I'm going, I know I'm going somewhere! It'll be a great journey.

Digital colored pencil brushes...

Who knew?

This week's experiment is to see how closely I can emulate real colored pencils in Photoshop. To do this, I work in lots of layers, each with its own color on it. I started with Stumpy Pencil's pencil brush, then modified it until it felt "natural" to me. This technique is best combined with washes and textures. As usual, it's best to play around until something cool happens.

Download the brush in .tpl format! Free! Comes with a free eraser!