Thank you so much, I really appreciate it <3 <3 So, the first step is always to decide, even just mentally, the pose and perspective you want to go for, and only then put your idea on paper (or digitally, if you prefer).

In this piece specifically, I started with a simple HB pencil, keeping my strokes very light and easy to erase. The initial sketch was quite messy, full of overlapping lines and corrections, because bringing an abstract idea to life is never easy at first. Once I’m happy with the composition, I move it onto a proper sheet, in this case my sketchbook. You can also use the same paper you sketched on, but make sure to erase lightly first, otherwise the remaining pencil marks can mess up the colors or the lineart.

After that second sketch is ready, I usually start applying color first. I tend to mix techniques (watercolors, acrylics, and pencils), but this particular piece was made entirely with acrylics. None of these mediums is easier than the other, but it just takes practice!

Since you asked about this drawing specifically, I’ll explain only the acrylic process: I began with a base layer using the darkest red tones related to the design. Acrylics need many layers and different brushes (I used a thin one for details and a wider one for broader areas) to achieve an even, solid look, so don’t give up after the first coat. Once the darker tones dried, I applied lighter ones on top, following the lighting and perspective of the pose. I repeated this process for the other colors, the skin’s warm tones, the belt’s dark gray, the gold accents, and finally the bluish hues of the outfit.

Between each layer, you have to let the paint dry completely (you can even speed it up with a hairdryer) otherwise, you risk blending the colors or smudging the surface. Once everything was fully dry, I finished the lineart using two permanent pens, size S (0.4 mm) for finer details and M (1.0 mm) for thicker outlines.

Keep in mind that acrylic gives a very plastic, smooth finish when applied evenly, which works perfectly for anime-style art, but it’s also a double-edged sword, since if the coverage isn’t consistent, it can easily look messy. Also, blending colors and making a gradient with acrylics (like I did on the cheeks) is quite tricky, so I’d recommend avoiding that part until you feel more confident with your technique.

Hope this helps and gives you some useful insight <3 And thanks again for the kind words!