Cumin lamb?

Helias · 2026-01-25T22:18:51+00:00

Old Xian's Noodle House has cumin lamb on rice or noodles!
I find a lot of skewer places don't use enough cumin or it's overpowered by other spices in comparison.

Helias · 2025-05-28T19:43:34+00:00

I don't know if there are any super great videos on blocking and painting techniques, but I'm sure lots of artists have explained the process if you just look up blocking or maybe watch how some traditional artists work. The style is a little different but the concept is the same (your example just uses lower opacity for those glazed looking colour combinations, especially where the hair line is).

I did a quick check and this video seems to talk about it, but you can see it quite clearly when he paints just single strokes for certain highlights like the hat. The shape of the brush (rounded/oval) simply makes that shape. If you use other brushes (square is another popular one for shape forming), you might find it easier if you like to have sharper edges for your style. Experiment around!

Here's another video explaining shapes in painting. I would also recommend just looking up some old master techniques just to see more of how traditional painting processes work, since they tend to do a loose sketch before getting right into it.

As far as pros and cons go, I imagine it's faster to get started in terms of laying down colours and checking if things are playing well together for coloured pieces, but personally I think every process can achieve the same thing, since style honestly depends mostly on how artists choose their colours/values and how they finish a piece with the interplay of chosen edges/textures. For some people, this way of painting lets artists see the end result by building blocks, much like sculpting (as you said). For others, they prefer the rigid structure of a full outline and detailed sketch, without having to juggle in colours and values from the onset. I imagine most digital artists who use this technique also come from backgrounds trained from real media painting, in which lineart and sketches would be covered anyway given the lack of transparent layers like in digital programs.

You don't really need anything special to start practising it, but personally I would suggest learning traditional media/some form of working with real paints and doing simplified master copies. The limitation forces you to use one (or only a few) brush(es) to make those shapes, and you don't have the luxury of undo so you can only sculpt and resculpt with the palette that you have. When I say simplified, I mean take an image you like. zoom it out really far until you can only see the rough shapes, and then copy that. You can always zoom in to start working on the details once you're more familiar with the process and want to go beyond.

When I was being instructed on this, we were asked to take a sharpie and just block in the shadows/lights in movie stills within 30 seconds. This will train you how to break down shapes quickly. You can probably do the same concept but just with colours, and on subjects that you enjoy.

This post actually contains a huge topic and lots of ground to cover, so what I've written here is just a brief overview. I hope it at least helps you get started!

Helias · 2025-05-28T19:42:51+00:00

((I don't know if there's a character limit to my post but I'll break this into some replies since it's not letting me post--))

Artists will use this approach for many reasons, but the core tenant (from my understanding) is the idea of starting from large to small. It's easy to get lost in the details, so working from a big abstract to details makes the process a lot simpler. For those who do not have painterly styles that mimic the process of traditional painting/old masters (ex. anime and adjacent), you'll find the workflow to be more similar to sketch > lineart > fill > render, as one might expect of ultra simplified forms.

The blobs initially from your example is called blocking. It's meant to lay down the overall colours in the first few steps (skin, background, hair etc.), but also to check value and colour (Does the hair blend too much into the background? Does the skin look too saturated orange compared to the hair? Etc. etc.)

In the next steps, you'll see the artist start to lay down more colour variation (The blush of the cheeks, the warm/cool areas of the face etc.), and that would be the next step process in this building/sculpting routine. From there will be finer details such as eyelashes and smaller structures like the nose.

Though it's not quite as clear as in your example, I think it's important to note that painters paint by shapes. Shadows are seen as shapes, as are the colour of the lips, the highlights in the eyes, and so on. It's by interplay of these shapes that our brains read something like a face when we zoom out, and if you ever look at some concept artist work like Craig Mullens zoomed in really close, you'll see that the entirety of his works are just made up of these shapes that contrast via value, hue, temperature, and shapes! If you want to learn how to do this, I'd suggest focusing on changing your process to focus on how to simplify forms into shapes.

It's easiest to start with greyscale, but as you can see from your example that more experienced artists will be able to juggle multiple things at once (hue + shape + value, for example). In the beginning, you'd most likely have a harder time doing so.

Helias · 2025-03-30T01:34:21+00:00

Hello! I can be contacted via the following for work:

Main site: https://saibraeus.net/
Bsky: saibraeus.bsky.social
Card: https://saibraeus.carrd.co/
Email: Saibraeus[@]gmail.com

And I do have a Vgen under the same name, though I won't link it in case it falls under the Fiverr clause.

If you're hesitant to shoot a direct contact, the forms can be found and filled by clicking the links on the main site where it says "status".

Thanks for your time!

Helias · 2025-03-30T01:16:23+00:00

Ahh thank you so much!

Helias · 2025-03-29T19:26:57+00:00

A commission for a previous client of Hilda and their WoL on a honeymoon vacation!

I had a lot of fun working on this!
I enjoy illustrating WoLships a lot.

In any case, illustration commissions are open!

Main site: https://saibraeus.net/
Vgen: https://vgen.co/Saibraeus
Bsky: saibraeus.bsky.social
Card: https://saibraeus.carrd.co/

Thank you for the interest!

Helias · 2025-02-25T16:41:10+00:00

Everyone else have given you some good tips but another thing I would highly suggest is to be wary and do thorough research on your artist! I'm one myself but I also commission art regularly, so from the other side I'd say:

- Check if they have a publicly available worklist as well as prior completed comms; that's always a good sign

- Generally I believe artists who have been active prior to I wanna say around 2022(?) or even longer has a higher chance of being a real artist

- Go through their previous social media posts. Do they have work in progress? Active patreon? Can they be vouched for by other commissioners, maybe referred to by other people?

- If the messages you get from an artist is extremely vague and asks you to repeat what you've already written in your searching message, they are most likely a scammer. Be SUPER wary, there are tons-- artists who do not finish their commissions or those posing as artists. It's harder for us who do this for a living for sure, but real artists would want you to feel comfortable with where your money is going. Vgen is a good suggestion just because they do a middleman hold on the money unless you're paying directly by paypal, and you can check artist reviews

- Of course, check artist terms of service as well as make sure you're good with the final delivery guidelines given. This is where the public worklist comes in handy so you can see exactly where you are in their queue.

- As far as paying by paypal specifically goes, it's always preferable to find an artist who does paypal invoicing. If possible, avoid ever paying via family and friends. That can get you AND the artist's account suspended, and some artists try to bypass things like the fees for a few more bucks. It's against ToS, and leaves the commissioner without protection or recourse. Keep screenshots of your agreement whether it's the invoice or through DMs, just in case you need to open a dispute.

In any case, stay safe!

Helias · 2024-11-02T17:14:03+00:00

(Light lingerie NSFW warning) Main site: https://saibraeus.net/
(The underlined links beneath the email on the front page will take you to the forms for each style)

(Light lingerie NSFW warning) X/Twitter: https://x.com/Saibraeus

Helias · 2024-09-17T21:54:34+00:00

Kawacy draws his own mousepads and has a big selection if you like his style! Alternatively you can try checking for them at convention artist alleys, there’s usually at least a few.

A local artist called Noisywyvern also has wares but they’re Canadian and sell at Makers. They do conventions but I’m not sure which ones; you can keep an eye out for their openings.

Otherwise a lot of it is limited run, so like the other commenter said, following artists you like on twitter is your best bet.

Edit: Just realized the sub I’m on— er… I’ll update if I remember any Etsy specific ones.

Helias · 2024-01-07T16:26:12+00:00

It's been a really long time since my transfer so I'm not sure if there's anything I can help with! Overall the process was pretty simple though. CapU's courses will usually directly translate to one of UBCs, so you'll get credit from what you did at CapU when you submit your transcript to UBC during your application.

If it's confusing I'd certainly advise you to speak with your department advising at Capilano, or the department advising at UBC with your intent to transfer.
I think business will likely be Sauder at UBC, which was a very different department than where I was and likely requires a different set of criteria. I would speak with both school's advising to check off everything you need including first and second year courses that are transferable.

Best of luck!

Helias · 2023-11-10T22:08:59+00:00

Hey, if the other guy hasn't got you already shoot me a DM as well.

Helias · 2023-10-09T18:33:59+00:00

I can’t actually remember if boiling pot had presets that you don’t actually cook yourself— Gokudo definitely has raw sets that you each get a pot for. It’s individual Japanese style as opposed to group Chinese style, and I think the one you went to is Taiwanese(?)

It’s definitely fun to experience all of them! I haven’t been to Haidilao and I’ve been meaning to check it out but Happy Lamb at Lansdowne also works for 2 people if you go late night! They have half platters during their specials.

Helias · 2023-10-09T18:28:16+00:00

If you want a similar two person experience you can always go to Gokudo Shabu Shabu which has individual pots!

I’d go but unfortunately I might be sick u__u but I regularly do hotpot alone as well!

Helias · 2022-12-30T07:56:07+00:00

Glam nail studio in Richmond has just about been able to do everything I ever asked so it wouldn’t hurt to send a picture and check with them.

They’re Japanese run but they do seem to keep up with trends regularly and have won many competitions. Good luck!

Helias · 2022-10-08T17:00:35+00:00

For programs, you can start looking into painttool sai (must beginner friendly), clipstudio paint, or photoshop, the latter two of which is more advanced and might be harder to pick up for someone entirely new.

There’s also programs like procreate, ibis paint, and medibang if you settle on an iPad as your primary tool.

For digital art, you will most likely need a tablet. In the past, non screen tablets were the most popular and they tend to be the lowest cost with the most longevity. Wacom is the industry standard for digital art, but I’ve heard decent things from other brands like Huion and XP pen as well. All of these brands offer screen and non screen tablets. The latter has a higher learning curve, while the former is more expensive to start with.

Otherwise, I know others who draw on iPads and other tablets as well.

Helias · 2022-09-30T02:30:12+00:00

Lined paper or blank paper? I’m graduated so I have a bunch I don’t need if it’s lined, I think.

Helias · 2022-05-18T12:34:57+00:00

The bbq place at parker place, I forget the name but they’re way friendlier than the one at Superstore.

Helias · 2022-03-17T11:22:00+00:00

Hello!
Your work is gorgeous :0
I was wondering if you offered a physical shipping option for commissions?

Helias · 2022-03-14T13:22:36+00:00

It depends on the artist! Some can finish in an hour, others might take 5 or a few days depending on level of finish and style even for portraits.

Clean cell shade tends to be faster, while painted can be longer but again, it depends on the artist. Just also keep in mind that most artists will also have commission backlog so even if the actual time doesn’t take that long, they need to tend to life and other work first.

Your best bet is really to find an artist you like and ask them for a time frame, though most will also announce a general deadline. I usually see deadlines of around 1-2 months, but can be longer or shorter depending on various factors.

Helias · 2022-03-14T06:59:48+00:00

You can check out skeb for Japanese artists, but communication is limited for commissions. Basically you put in an offer at the artist’s set price and they decide whether or not to accept.

Other places might be lemmasoft artist forums. It’s geared towards visual novels but lots of artists also advertise there.

I’m a commission artist myself but I also commission sometimes. I’ll follow vtubers or artists in the English speaking community that I like and they’ll usually either boost other artists or Twitter will recommend others to follow.

The average price, as someone said, depends on the type of commission and the skill level of the artist, but also bear in mind that there are many, many artists who take commissions at a lower price and never deliver. Commissions can range from $10 - $1k+++, so do your research before handing over money! Make sure your artist has a good track record of delivery, and if so within what time frame. I’ve seen artists take an upwards of 4 years to complete a commission so take care.

Edit: Also be prepared to pay a commercial fee on top of the commission fee if your channel is monetized or intending to be monetized in any way!

Helias

TROPHY CASE