(8th January 2024, 4:48 PM)Different Wrote: From what I've seen, your storytelling is on a significantly, high level. I'd say it's a gift. Don't sell yourself short, bro. You're worth more than you give yourself credit for. I made a reference to you because you're probably the greatest storyteller on this site. It's like you have the ability to persuade people and resonate with them on a deeper level.

(8th January 2024, 11:05 AM)Different Wrote: It's pretty decent, just a small, imperfect indication regarding the hair overlapping the left eye.

(9th January 2024, 12:38 AM)Delphinoid_ Wrote: This was a stylistic decision. It's also kind of a technical problem to design the eye in a way such that it can render over the hair in a nice way, especially when the eye is 3D. This sort of thing was done in Windwaker for example (albeit in the simpler 2D case where the eyes are just flat textures).

(9th January 2024, 8:48 AM)Different Wrote: So where are your drawing skills, today? Would you say you've improved vastly over the years, a little bit, or have your skills remained stagnant?

For instance, maybe draw something like this:

*pic*

• The head in the old pic is too big (and is comprised of simple geometric shapes - triangle for chin, circle for head, etc.) and the limbs are way too thin. The new pic has much better proportions: the head is a slightly better size (still a bit big though) and, while the limbs are still kind of "tubey" (in particular I never finished the arms / hands lol), there's a bit more definition (visible kneecap on the left leg rather than just a spherical bend for example). There's still a lot of room for improvement here, and I think at this stage studying the underlying muscles more closely would be beneficial. The back for instance is especially bad and I had a lot of trouble with it, but I'm happy that I tried to do something harder - I think the visible spine is cool, even if it didn't turn out very well.
  
  
• The face is more detailed and WAY more expressive in the newer pic. There are visible lips and a nose, a subtle cheek rather than a flat line for the right side of the face, slightly more detailed eyes (nicer lashes and "bags" below the eyes, I wanted to draw one eye gouged out but never did) and a more passable ear rather than triangles. I didn't get around to drawing eyebrows, but even so the face has this sort of oxymoronic expression - it's crazed yet placid, and has this sort of distant longingness to it. It's really weird and unsettling. This is exactly the expression I was trying to execute, I was honestly really happy to feel like I got it.
  
  
• The hair is more detailed and natural looking. I want to practice drawing hair more honestly. I want to start doing thinner strands but more of them, rather than clumping it into one shape. There's still a lot of work to be done here.
  
  
• The pose and angle is more dynamic. Rather than a really basic front view picture, the character's body is at a weird angle facing away from the viewer. They're hunched over, on their knees and looking over their shoulder. It's just a lot more interesting (and harder to draw).
  
  
• I think what I'm least happy about with the new picture though is the gore. I want to practice drawing nicer looking gore more as well.
  

• The visible palmaris longus muscle below the wrists, as well as the cubital fossa on the right arm. The left wrist looks quite weird though, pretty typical AI stuff.
  
  
• The prominent jugular notch in the neck. Whenever I draw characters from the front I like to add the jugular notch and clavicle bones, they're a really efficient way of breaking up the neck / chest areas and making them look less flat. You can at least see the latter in the 3D model, although they look a bit deformed and the default Blender lighting doesn't emphasize them as much.
  
  
• The lower ends of the fibula and tibia bones around the ankle, as well as the (vague implication of) arteries in the foot.
  
  
• The creases on the jeans are a little random in places but still look really nice. I really love drawing cloth but haven't done anything crazy with it in a long time.
  

• Hands (obviously).
  
  
• Both feet are abnormally twisted, this is especially visible on the left foot (which looks like it's on sideways).
  
  
• Where the pelvis should be based on the midriff doesn't line up with where it actually is based on the jeans (i.e. she has two hips).
  
  
• The creases in the shirt make no sense.
  
  
• Inconsistent lighting.
  
  
• The hair is imbalanced in a really weird way, and the eyebrows look like they were painted on and then smudged.
  

(8th January 2024, 3:09 AM)Delphinoid_ Wrote:  

(9th January 2024, 2:34 PM)Delphinoid_ Wrote: I think the subject matter of what I like to draw is cringey / not very appealing to most so I can understand not wanting to look at it much (especially since it's kind of amateur), so maybe I can save you the trouble and elaborate on what I mean with words.

(9th January 2024, 2:34 PM)Delphinoid_ Wrote: I also never use any references, ever, and I think it probably hurts my ability. It's not necessarily out of stubbornness, I've just never really been able to find helpful references for things I've wanted to draw. I think the only time I've used a reference was when I did that 3D model I showed. But my reference for that was a 2D character design sheet that I did... without a reference.

One thing that I guess should say though that like... for various reasons I don't get much of an opportunity to spend time on my hobbies these days (in the context of drawing this means only sitting down once or twice a year to draw for example, really bad I know). When I do draw I end up spending only a short amount of time on line art and then never finish it, as is evident from the pictures I showed (since by the time I return to it I'm bored of the idea and want to do something new). Between those pictures I probably only did a handful of drawings, which were also incomplete sketches.

(9th January 2024, 3:12 PM)~JBG~ Wrote: Candy gore sketches?

(11th January 2024, 4:45 AM)Different Wrote: References are your friend. It's what allows you to stay inspired by new forms of art so that your mind won't develop artist's block. Use Pinterest as your avenue of inspiration. Their algorithm is pretty damn good at picking up on what your interests are. For example, I've just gotten really engrossed into the Japanese art culture. They just kept on sending me an abundance of different, Japanese artwork. Some of them were AI generated, some were paintings, and some were sketches. Here's an example of mine, below:

*pic*

(11th January 2024, 4:45 AM)Different Wrote: On the other hand, you just need to discipline yourself and make time to work on and finish the things that you love to do. Break the drawing projects into small chunks if you think you don't have time to finish them in one day. Keep a daily planner on your pc and look for intervals that allow you to spend time working on these drawings.

(11th January 2024, 1:02 PM)Delphinoid_ Wrote: The real plan that I've had for the past few years has been to kill myself at some point during 2024. Ironically, the thought of suicide is what gets me through each day. I'm just waiting for the right time to minimize any damage to my brother.

I guess that was a long way to explain why I don't work on my hobbies often.

(11th January 2024, 6:55 PM)Different Wrote: @Mia Please help me tell him that suicide is a bad decision.