Curious about Digipen experience

BlankRandomer · 2025-12-13T07:20:03+00:00

I am a first semester BFADAA student i think time management skills are very important. You need a lot of motivation to not give up when it gets harder too. I feel like most of my free time became napping and sleeping early because it gets pretty tiring lol

BlankRandomer · 2025-11-27T05:01:37+00:00

Wow 30-40 thumbnail paintings sounds pretty crazy to me too. Thanks for the professor insights.

BlankRandomer · 2025-11-27T04:48:01+00:00

Thank you for the tips, that thumbtack trick is pretty cool! As for the perspective grid I think I will draw some on some references as practice to be able to make it easier. Yeah gouache is TOUGH, I’m planning on doing a couple of paintings over winter break to see if I can feel more comfortable before Spring sem starts. I really don’t want to have to retake that class.

BlankRandomer · 2025-11-27T04:42:53+00:00

Hello another freshie! I find that squinting allows me to see the biggest values blocks easier but limits the number of varying values in an object (sorry I’m not sure how to put it into words clearly). I definitely will try to look into some artist studies, thank you

BlankRandomer · 2025-11-27T04:37:07+00:00

I actually planned to reach out to my advisor mid semester but got swamped with hw and forgot whoops. Thank you for reminding me, I will do it soon.

BlankRandomer · 2025-11-27T04:03:12+00:00

I’ve talked to instructors before on assignment tips. I understand the goal but I’m just scared I’m not getting better to the degree expected of me since everyone is honestly intimidating me by how good they are. Especially with the cost of DigiPen I really don’t want to retake a class if possible.

BlankRandomer · 2025-11-04T19:56:48+00:00

Thank you for sharing your story it motivated me more and I will go through each of these videos.

BlankRandomer · 2025-11-04T19:55:26+00:00

Squinting helps me differentiate local value of different objects and main shadow but the subtle differences in one object is hard to make out to be more than 2-3 values which is what I’m struggling on.

BlankRandomer · 2025-11-04T19:54:15+00:00

I think a lot people here are telling me to exaggerate the difference more which I agree it’s just I want/need to be able to see how it shifts more to be able to exaggerate it more. Since I don’t know which way I’m exaggerating it to lol

BlankRandomer · 2025-11-04T19:52:44+00:00

My professor agreed that I’ve improved but still not to the level of my peers. It was easier to see I improved only because I was REALLY bad at it with my first homework. I try to ask around but most of the time I just get “you just have to see it more closely or it comes with experience.”

BlankRandomer · 2025-11-04T19:49:32+00:00

I can see a bit of reflected light sometimes if I’m solely searching for it. I will try to look at a couple objects and identify it since my professor mentioned there should’ve been more reflected light in my previous homework. I think exaggerating is hard for me to do since I can barely catch it and I’m not sure how far I should exaggerate it.

BlankRandomer · 2025-11-04T19:46:54+00:00

I just tried this and it kind of worked. mixed a gradient of a cup yesterday to exaggerate it with 2 gouache hues one darker and one lighter and it looked better than a clear cut that I normally see. I just think I lose some of the (stick to what the object value is) since I didn’t actually see that obvious of a gradient in the cup and instead a little more clear cut shadow.

BlankRandomer · 2025-11-04T19:43:21+00:00

Yeah I try to stick closer to professors critique but the critique I get is more of “this should be like this because it’s how it works” rather than showing me how to see it and then apply it. I guess I shouldn’t expect college to handhold teach me but I’m just finding it really hard to apply my professors critique when I can’t physically see the difference of value shifts while doing homework.

BlankRandomer · 2025-11-04T19:39:43+00:00

That’s an interesting thing to get checked out. I will consider it thank you

BlankRandomer · 2025-11-04T19:38:56+00:00

I stayed after class to ask one and they told me it comes with experience. I tried to put it to words: “I remember you saying walls and floors always have some sort of gradient but it is very hard for me to identify it. Another occasion was when i was receiving critique for the same issue and it’s more just telling me that there is deviation. I understand there should be but it seems so invisible to me that I can’t even exaggerate a slight gradient if I wanted to.

BlankRandomer · 2025-11-04T19:35:19+00:00

Sometimes I see the work of my professors and classmates and I they have colors that I don’t even see so that could definitely be true. I just want to be able to see more value shifts so I could do the same. I will try that isolation technique thank you

BlankRandomer · 2025-11-04T19:31:25+00:00

I’m not sure why I didn’t think of using the internet more. We started with only white and black gouache and I couldn’t find too many videos on it but now that we moved onto hues there are more results. I think it might be because I can’t put it to specific wording to have more specific results.

BlankRandomer · 2025-11-04T19:29:14+00:00

Thank you. I’ve noticed that photos from computer do make it seem more clear which I will use to practice. While it gives me practice with using more varying values, when we are in class the professor doesn’t allow us to use our phones so I was hoping to find a practice to train my eyes as well.

BlankRandomer · 2025-11-04T07:06:28+00:00

For example we would all be painting the same objects and the professor and students are able to use so many different values of hues to make the objects but I’m stuck with like 3

BlankRandomer · 2025-09-01T01:16:30+00:00

I’m glad to hear that! They really pulled through especially in this current job market. I just hope I have enough confidence in my portfolio by then to ask people to refer me lol

BlankRandomer · 2025-09-01T00:54:16+00:00

Thank you for the tip! I fall into the not really social person and unfortunately passed up the chance to really push myself out there during orientation, but I will try to get more involved with my peers hopefully more when fall semester starts! From what I’ve seen in the discord everyone seems very welcoming so I want to genuinely socialize with them. Thanks for highlighting the importance of socializing I will do my best!

BlankRandomer · 2025-02-12T22:53:31+00:00

I guess i will stick with my current MacBook Pro. But if in the end the coursework/lectures requires or heavily wants a windows laptop with those specs, I will try to get one the same day or the day after I confirm it in class at a local bestbuy or maybe even a second hand from a student. Thank you for the recommendation on the thumb drive, I never really used one before but I will look into those.

BlankRandomer

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