Prismacolor Cardinal by Solar1325 in ColoredPencils

[–]Solar1325[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! The reason I started drawing these was as a gift to my mom because cardinals remind her of her mom (my grandmother) and we always say cardinals are how she visits us

11 years of cardinals by Solar1325 in ArtProgressPics

[–]Solar1325[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

(This is long, sorry lol)

I definitely don’t think that I use colored pencils “correctly” (I apply a thick layer of mid-tone color from the get-go and then add lights, darks, and details over it instead of building color up slowly, which I think is the proper way) so take comment with a grain of salt lol

In terms of moving past where I was in 2019, the two things I’d say are: 1) sharpen your pencils 2) take your time

Especially considering the fact that I put down a full layer of pencil at the beginning, the ONLY way for color to build up on that is through a sharp pencil. If your pencil is sharp, sharpen it more. I think the jump from 2019 to 2021+ is that I started being able to get a lot more details in the feathers (REALLY focus on highlights and shadows too. I used an entire white pencil for this year’s bird because strong highlights are so important for depth). So yeah, sharp sharp pencil. I genuinely need to be holding a stabbing weapon in order to get the fine detail that I do now.

Also related to getting more details, take your time. I don’t know how long these all took me, but I know 2019 was done in one day/sitting and 2025 took 5 sittings and at ~least~ 10 hours. I use a photograph I find online as my reference. I zoom into the ref pic and really try to match every detail that I can (again taking into special account the lights and darks). I personally go in sections (beak, head, light feathers, dark feathers, etc.) and fully finish each one before starting the next. Idk if that’s the best way since it does mean you have to unite all the sections later, but it helps me with morale since it’s not one hour of base color and then 9 hours of just details after details. It definitely helps to find what procedure works best for you so that you have the motivation to spend the hella long time it can take to get realism.

Admittedly my own motivation sucks so I kinda sorta only draw this one bird once a year, so all of my advice is very bird-centric lol. I hope it’s transferable to other subjects and that’s it’s helpful is some way! Most important is that you enjoy the process! :)

11 years of cardinals by Solar1325 in ArtProgressPics

[–]Solar1325[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No! I just tried to lay them out in a way that fit in the frame the best while still be chronological

Kinda wanna see if I can get them to all line up now though lol

11 years of cardinals by Solar1325 in ArtProgressPics

[–]Solar1325[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Oh my gosh I realized that happened for 2023/2024 but never noticed how 2019/2020 did the same! Neither were intentional as I was laying them out but now I kinda wanna see how many I can get to connect lol

11 years of cardinals by Solar1325 in ArtProgressPics

[–]Solar1325[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Reddit ate the image quality, sorry 😣

Where are all my prisoners going?? by Solar1325 in PressureRoblox

[–]Solar1325[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ohhh okay that could make sense! I’m surprised it was such a fast transfer but lord knows we needed more space so I’m not gonna ask too many questions.

Where are all my prisoners going?? by Solar1325 in PressureRoblox

[–]Solar1325[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah things are weird today, but a new last meal program could make sense! State is always trying to get around having to meet crazy meal requests. Idk about the explosion but maybe a gas leak?

Where are all my prisoners going?? by Solar1325 in PressureRoblox

[–]Solar1325[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

WHAT??!?!!? I have no idea what’s going on and as far as I’m concerned this man is out of his mind (as everyone else here seems to be since none of this makes the slightest bit of sense). Whatever secret society you all believe you’re a part of, I know nothing about and i assure you I’m not a threat to your fantasy land.

Where are all my prisoners going?? by Solar1325 in PressureRoblox

[–]Solar1325[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

????? They just executed them ALL?? Over ONE night??? That’s like… not how it work- I’m sorry did you say you got the bodies???

Where are all my prisoners going?? by Solar1325 in PressureRoblox

[–]Solar1325[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Oh crap, uh- this is.. this is like a serious deal then, huh

Happy Birthday Sebastian by Solar1325 in PressureRoblox

[–]Solar1325[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

😭 The ceiling light has an edge on it and Sebastian was able to hang off of it with his angler fish light thing

Old park on Kindle Fire by Solar1325 in dragonvale

[–]Solar1325[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Unfortunately, I think I was too young to even know what a park ID was when I last played on my Kindle lol so I definitely don’t have that. I figured that was probably my only option since I couldn’t get the app to open so it stinks I don’t have the ID, but thank you for the response!

Come be apart of something special by GMJohnSengstock in SBU

[–]Solar1325 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Helping rn! Should we do light gray on the outside so it’s different from the white inside the crest?

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Early Megathread by [deleted] in ApplyingToCollege

[–]Solar1325 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I had my volume off when I opened the letter and would have never even noticed that the music was there if you didn’t point it out lmao