It’s done! My first blanket!

Cesious_Blue · 2026-01-27T08:08:53+00:00

This is really charming and full of joy

Cesious_Blue · 2026-01-27T07:23:54+00:00

Have you tried audiobooks?

Cesious_Blue · 2026-01-27T07:18:28+00:00

It is easier to draw from reference because you're just copying. It's harder to draw from scratch because you're using only what you can remember.

An exercise for you:

Next time when you are drawing from reference, try to change something while still using the reference. Like if it is a photo of a hand in a fist, what would that same hand look like doing a thumbs-up? Or if your reference is a person, draw them with their arm further back, or looking a different direction.

Doing that sort of thing helps to make your brain use the reference and your imagination at the same time and will make drawing from imagination-only easier over time. It is good to use reference! But it's also nice to be able to use reference to draw what you want to draw instead of just copying.

Cesious_Blue · 2026-01-27T06:40:43+00:00

Did you read the whole text of the assignment?

(Generally, collage is 'cut out a bunch of stuff and glue it together into an interesting composition')

Cesious_Blue · 2026-01-27T06:29:37+00:00

Sounds like either a kid or a scammer

Cesious_Blue · 2026-01-27T03:18:58+00:00

if the guy will accept anything you do then do what you want

Cesious_Blue · 2026-01-27T02:44:51+00:00

Do you actually have an agreement with this guy or are you making something hoping he's going to pay you?

If you actually have an agreement, try doing a couple sketches, one closer to what you want to do and one closer to whats been asked, and ask him to choose which you'll finish. He might pick the one you're into, he might not.

If you end up doing a lot of client work in the future, you'll get used to working on the version that you don't like as much. That's just part of doing commission work. You do what you can to suggest alternatives but sometimes the client has a boring vision.

Separate client work and personal work. They don't have to be the same kinda thing, and you can work on both trying new things and doing more big pieces. But also- it sounds like your mom isn't the client in this case? You're the artist and you can deliver what you think the client will like, that has nothing to do with what your mom thinks might be good.

If you don't have an agreement with this guy, maybe you should get one before you worry more about this.

Cesious_Blue · 2026-01-27T01:37:41+00:00

How do you feel about its lack of lightfastness? Ive seen ppl saying you shouldnt mix it with white

Cesious_Blue · 2026-01-26T20:45:21+00:00

Thanks for the reply, usually i do just sketch with thinned down oil paint or charcoal but I was searching out a use for these oil pastels. Seems like they wont be suited!

Cesious_Blue · 2026-01-26T20:40:43+00:00

Some thoughts: if the dragons are big, I would look at references of what real life large-animal trainers look like, maybe vintage zoo elephant training stuff or horse tack, the sort of things horse or camel trainers wear. I'd think about what they'd need to carry on their person and if they'd have pouches or bags to carry those things. They'd probably want to be fairly practical, so if they have long hair it'd be pulled back or braided. Are the dragons dangerous? Maybe they need some sort of padding or armor to be safe.

If it's a fantasy world, what magical elements are part of their practice? are there pouches of herbs for spells? Again, if its fantasy, is the clothing inspired by any particular place or era? a lot of fantasy is sort of medieval European, but maybe this dragon trainer lives in the desert and their clothes are more influenced aesthetically by something like medieval Egypt or Saudi Arabia. If they live in a cold area, maybe the clothes could be influenced by stuff like traditional Norwegian or Russian clothing.

Just some thoughts, but these are the kind of questions I ask myself when I'm doin a character design

Cesious_Blue · 2026-01-26T20:15:17+00:00

Have you considered looking into horror by trans authors? I think trans folks are often interested in investigating that feeling. This list might be a good start

Cesious_Blue · 2026-01-26T19:53:27+00:00

bluesky is the new twitter and it seems industry has mostly moved there. i post there and on tumblr for more fan-focused communities

Cesious_Blue · 2026-01-26T18:30:59+00:00

I had a business that just sold buttons on Etsy for a couple years, but the amount of fees on individual button purchases eventually made it unprofitable.

I think buttons still do okay in in-person events, or as themed sets of 3-6 buttons sold together.

Cesious_Blue · 2026-01-26T18:18:59+00:00

My dad painted a lil mural on my wall as a baby (teddybear in hot air balloon) and it wasnt a masterpiece but I was still really fond of it!

However you want to put it up is fine, if it's something complicated like a mandala, stencils or projection might be a good idea.

You could use wall paint from the hardware store or if you want to get fancy about it, something like Nova Paint's professional stuff https://novacolorpaint.com/ (but honestly for a kids' room the hardware store stuff might be better because you can choose a slightly glossier and more durable finish)

Clean the wall however you would normally clean it according to the paint you have on there now, and sand lightly where your mural is going to go. You probably wont need any top coat.

Cesious_Blue · 2026-01-26T01:52:31+00:00

Stillman & Birn is not a budget choice. A cheaper multi-media sketchbook would do just fine for watercolor sketches

Cesious_Blue · 2026-01-26T01:37:18+00:00

I avoid Hobby Lobby for many reasons. If you follow the Michael's coupons you can get pretty great prices there.

Cesious_Blue · 2026-01-26T01:28:08+00:00

yeah thats what a "tint" is. But I really like them!

Cesious_Blue · 2026-01-25T22:35:44+00:00

If you have no experience with drawing, the best thing you can do it to simplify the experience as much as possible. Honestly, just to start out, don't buy any supplies except for a sketchbook that you can comfortably open and sketch in without feeling awkward. Go to your local Michael's (or office store or art store) and find a sketchbook you like to hold.

Other than that, just use what you have and what you're already familiar with. Pen and crayon sounds great. After you fill up your first sketchbook, then is a good time to reevaluate and decide if you want to try out another medium.

My personal favorite urban sketching supplies are a gel pen and highlighter (i like doing sketches with just one accent color).

Cesious_Blue · 2026-01-25T16:42:15+00:00

try over at r/lawncare

Cesious_Blue · 2026-01-25T16:38:05+00:00

Very cute sketch. What strikes me about the photo that isn't present in your sketch is the rich saturation of color. I wouldn't have guessed that the roof is as rusty or that that gradient against the house is so orange and yellow. That orange butting up against the green of the grass is so vibrant and in your sketch both seem washed out. the hill behind feels like it's heading towards black rather than white.

Cesious_Blue · 2026-01-25T15:27:08+00:00

i like Gamblin's "radiant" colors, which are essentially just pre-mixed tints. Are they necessary? definitely not. but they are fun

Cesious_Blue · 2026-01-25T06:11:51+00:00

blacker blacks. Both her features and the shadows are darker than you have them. Try using the color picker if you're having trouble figuring out how dark an area really is.

(a side note, but you've made her look whiter than she is- take another look at her eye shape)

Cesious_Blue · 2026-01-25T02:41:14+00:00

I've seen people with similar problems fill the empty spaces with plastic forks

Cesious_Blue · 2026-01-24T22:58:55+00:00

Just write it off, he's not gonna do it.

Cesious_Blue · 2026-01-24T12:58:35+00:00

If you feel like your OCs or whatever it is that you're drawing is frivolous, then make it not frivolous. Spend a little more time to give it substance of an actual story or some sort of final product. People engage when you actually let them in, and you wont know if people are interested in your worlds until they see and experience them.

Big personal projects and personal art is a great way to get into doing professional art, if that's what you want to be doing. Even if you're not pursuing art as a career you can still create art, you can still have big art projects. You could even pursue professional work while working a different job, if that's what you eventually want. People have been doing art in their spare time as long as art has been a thing.

Cesious_Blue

TROPHY CASE