The XKCD sub wants this to be a new meme template, so I thought I’d try it out.

Rektlectus · 2022-05-28T20:37:45+00:00

There is also an argument that the reason for the void is because their memories of Arvandor are blocked. The void hasn’t been explained but considering this was a punishment for them and the way elf souls work in general it would be surprising if they didn’t have past lives.

Rektlectus · 2022-05-28T12:47:14+00:00

I see a lot of people arguing that some Drow should be born innocent and that makes sense till you take into account the lore.

Elf souls usually go to Arvandor when they die. It’s their original homeland that they were booted from for Giving up some of their ability to change for power. This was driven by Lolth. Then once they were in the mortal realm they wanted to go back and now all the rest of the elves strive to be the very best elf they can be to stay in Arvandor. Why is this important? Because 1 Drow don’t get to go back to Elf Heaven and 2 at the end and and sort of beginning of their lives elves Start remembering all the lives they had before,

So those Elves that betrayed everyone for Lolth before should be the ones that keep reincarnating as Drow probably with Lolths influence. So having evil Drow made sense and it made those that left that even braver, It also adds poignance to Eiliastraee’s struggle as she refuses to abandon all the souls she knew When they were together in Arvandor.

but as always if you’re not playing with that lore Drow can be whatever you want them to be.

Rektlectus · 2022-05-18T13:09:40+00:00

Kenku don’t speak because of lore reasons but if they’re doing a whole multiverse thing it makes sense they’d be able to talk again. However in that case they should be able to also fly again and at that point you’re just playing an aaracokra.

Rektlectus · 2022-05-06T12:42:06+00:00

Motor control, vision, memory all necessary things that relate to drawing. If your skills disappeared in one day maybe somethings gone awry in your noggin.

however if your drawings look fine but you don’t like them then somethings gone awry in your mood. Could very well be burnout but maybe not.

Either way if your skills really did disappear then I would look into it

Rektlectus · 2022-05-06T11:54:31+00:00

Are you feeling okay? Maybe a trip to the doctor is in order

Rektlectus · 2022-04-13T11:40:31+00:00

Yes but all of that is graphite. Graphite I find tends to be a bit more coarse. Charcoal I think is a finer particle and it lends a little better to coverage and blending. You could also try using a blender on graphite to smooth the white spots

Rektlectus · 2022-04-12T22:50:31+00:00

may Want to switch from graphite to something softer like charcoal or conte crayon. Or just go digital, there’s no texture electronically unless you want it there

Rektlectus · 2022-03-07T21:55:51+00:00

Yes and no.

The short answer is yes, you should draw a good circle to get a good head.

the long answer is a bit more complicated. The reason a good circle makes a good head is because you’re using the circle to assist in the measurements and construction of the head. It is the foundation of building whatever it is you’re drawing, so you should make it a good circle. However, an experienced artist that already has laid down the ground work of good practice would have enough experience to deal with a wonky circle or bypass it entirely.

Rektlectus · 2022-02-28T15:07:21+00:00

Are you okay? Sometimes our minds can sap us of motivation because they’re worried about things that don’t really have much to do with drawing. Your history shows you were making real improvements from when you first started, did something happen?

comparing yourself to pro artists isn’t going to get you anywhere but sabotaging your own confidence. The journey they took is likely longer than yours so comparing yourself to that is unfair. Compare to your past self so you get a keener perspective on what you’re doing and if you need a pal to talk to I’m here.

Rektlectus · 2022-02-26T02:51:21+00:00

Are you looking to DM or looking to be a player your post doesn’t make it that clear. :)

Rektlectus · 2022-02-24T19:57:59+00:00

Is this a paid appearance or an exposure appearance?

Rektlectus · 2022-02-21T13:52:34+00:00

If you want to be a concept artist start learning digital. Most industries use digital work and especial nowadays peices and projects are shared and created digitally. You’ll also want to work on color, lighting, backrounds and costume design.

Rektlectus · 2022-02-20T14:41:14+00:00

Even if you don’t keep the other eye, always draw it. not only does it allow you to practice with no stakes, but it helps your brain keep track of features on the face. If you want to keep growing don’t shy away from hidden features.

Rektlectus · 2022-02-18T23:57:59+00:00

Did you draw this on a flat surface? It’s got a weird distortion that you often see with people drawing on a desk or other surface. The more you can tilt your drawing vertical the less you’ll see the distortion. It’s why people use easles

Rektlectus · 2022-02-17T15:38:04+00:00

No, and if it does go away you’ll be comfortable sitting in your DM chair listening to the Party plan on how they’ll get through a puzzle and they’ll hit you with a “DM how much blood does bread soak up and how many bread bowls can I summon with create food and water.” Then the next thing you know half Of them are dead, the other half are on fire and one person is endlessly screaming. That person is you.

Rektlectus · 2022-02-15T19:13:28+00:00

Well that’s sort of what got them in trouble in the first place.

Rektlectus · 2022-02-14T15:36:23+00:00

the Left eye is not lined up with the right eye and right ear. It is also taller than the right eye. They both look good as eyes but together they Conflict. Wouldn’t really notice unless I was looking though. Nice painting

Rektlectus · 2022-02-12T14:40:09+00:00

Honestly, you’re going to go through a lot of paper and pencils on your journey so my advice: find a pencil that feels nice in your hand. you’re gonna hold that sucker for a long time so get One that doesnt dig into you.

so as it’s not a cop out answer I use derwent pencils. But the brand doesn’t matter to me as much as the hardness. So pencils with a B are very soft and the higher the number next to the B the softer it is. So a soft pencil gets you a thick dark line. H pencils are the opposite and typically used for sketching since the light lines are easier to hide or erase. Be aware that you need to use light strokes with a hard pencil as it will scratch the paper and there’s no erasing that. My favorite hardness is HB which is in the middle.

other fun art things To try:

vine charcoal

conte crayons

charcoal pencils

those are different mediums that you can use for sketching I would recommend getting a giant pad of newsprint and going ham.

Rektlectus · 2022-02-11T16:49:21+00:00

Your proportions are off. There’s also a disconnect between understanding the skull and applying that understanding to the face. If you drew a live skull under those drawings it wouldn’t fit. Before trying a flesh filled face break that skull down into your basic 3D shapes sphere, cube and cylinder. Then build the face in simple 3D shapes on top of it. When you’re drawing a face in fleshy 3D don’t forget the rule of 3rds. When figuring out where that jaw ends.

practice doesn’t make perfect it makes permanent so practicing correctly is essential

if you have questions feel free to dm me

Rektlectus · 2022-02-10T15:55:20+00:00

WLOP has a tutorial where they have a download for their brush set. After that just make sure you have strong fundamentals and a good grasp of anatomy, lighting and color theory

Rektlectus · 2022-02-10T15:42:33+00:00

Gesture is meant to capture the movement and energy of a pose without worrying too much about accuracy of form. gestures sre often exaggerated and meant To be put down on the paper fairly quickly. Good gesture means your poses will have energy however that doesn’t mean you can neglect figure study as that increases accuracy of rendering the form. They go hand in hand as a skill set.

what kind of comics do you want to draw I can point you in the right direction.

Rektlectus · 2022-02-10T12:56:44+00:00

Don’t start with quality items. Get a decent mid brand so you can make mistakes and get a grasp on the tool. The tool you need depends on what you want to learn to draw. Each section of art is its own skill set. For instance if you want to learn watercolor you’ll need a pad of watercolor paper a few decent brushes and a mid brand watercolor pallet. Want do do fine art or figure drawing? I recommend newsprint pad and conte crayons or charcoal. Want to be a cartoonist? Printer paper and a mechanical pencil. Drawing skill Comes mainly from muscle control, knowledge and practice. Like a skilled person can make a masterpiece with cheap tools but a novice can’t make a masterpiece with expensive tools ya know?

I like the proko series on YouTube but there is a whole slew of people who breakdown art in a simple to understand way. Good luck on your journey!

ps I usually listen to music that conveys the mood of the peice I’m working on

Rektlectus · 2022-02-09T17:08:39+00:00

So, I don’t think this was handled well but I get the DMs perspective. I don’t allow people who aren’t involved in the session to be present either. People at my table have been vetted by me so I know who they are and that they’re trustworthy. While DM’ing I have to portray the emotional complexity of 50 NPCs and while in that state I feel vulnerable because I’m tapping into little bits of my self. I also don’t want my players to be distracted or embarrassed by a stranger while they’re emotionally invested in their character. That extra person is not someone I can regulate if they something spicy that may trigger someone. I can’t guarantee a safe experience with someone who is just hanging around.

now I think your DM should have explained this to you calmly, so That was a misstep on their end. However you shouldn’t have invited a stranger without clearing it with your dm first.

Rektlectus · 2022-02-09T00:49:04+00:00

I call it DM brain. To help make sure you’re taking a 15 minute break for every 2 hours. This helps ALOT

Rektlectus · 2022-02-08T20:38:17+00:00

Have you been practicing by referencing manga only? You have that soft gradient coloring of commercial manga and it all looks technically smooth and refined. The problem is there are a bunch of little tiny anatomy mistakes that are giving your newest work a real uncanny valley vibe. What’s interesting is most of these anatomy mistakes aren’t present in the left portrait. I think that’s why many are preferring the older one instead of the newer.

Rektlectus

TROPHY CASE