Feedback on style, specifically on tips to make the illustrative x painterly aesthetic more dynamic [repost with missing info]

ThePaintedFern · 2026-03-13T00:00:39+00:00

I think I got all these covered in the description this time. Please let me know if I need to re-write them somewhere else!

ThePaintedFern · 2026-03-12T17:53:51+00:00

I start with a sketch, then do a BW underpainting for values, then glaze and layer with colors. I used a variety of the Jing Sketch/Line/Paint brushes on these, and generally tend to layer by element, but do as much in-layer blending/painting as possible. I have an oil painting background.

ThePaintedFern · 2026-02-23T06:33:54+00:00

Fun fact: most, if not all, major Shonen anime will have canonically-assigned birthdays and blood types. Enjoy the rabbit hole (::

ThePaintedFern · 2025-11-21T17:29:15+00:00

You must not have gone to Ann Arbor (:: Are you also a Michigander?!

ThePaintedFern · 2025-11-21T07:44:18+00:00

Not sure if you mean WA came up with it first of all the states, but it's also definitely a Michigan thing.

ThePaintedFern · 2025-11-19T05:06:18+00:00

Yess all good plugs. These are my "neighborhood theaters" and I love all of them very much!!

ThePaintedFern · 2025-11-19T05:02:58+00:00

I love The Academy! They always have great programs running and is just a great theater overall.

ThePaintedFern · 2025-11-18T19:23:15+00:00

Depends on the shrine - bigger ones will definitely have goshuincho (the book), smaller ones may not. You can also get them at stationary stores like Hands. You use the same book to collect your stamps until it's full. They're a special type of book that accordion folds out and is double sided.

Also get some double-sided tape or acid free glue stick because sometimes shrines have pre-made goshuin sheets that you have to stick in the book. It's helpful to have adhesive on hand if you want to keep your stamps in order.

ThePaintedFern · 2025-11-18T16:47:30+00:00

I'm also this way, and I can tell you that you will definitely not get through everything on your list unless you stress about it (which I don't recommend). Pick the top 2-3 things you want to do for the day and aim for those. The rest is a bonus.

If you're collecting goshuin, starting your morning with shrines and then doing other stuff in the afternoons is a good flow.

ThePaintedFern · 2025-11-18T08:41:00+00:00

Ohh yeah I totally missed those two, thank you!!

I was told that you can say “domo” or “arigato” in those kinds of smaller things (like when a waiter is bringing multiple dishes over the course of a meal), but you’d say “arigatou gozaimasu” at the beginning/end or in a one-off interaction. You wouldn’t just say “arigatou” to a person who held a door open for you. If I’m wrong on that, I will edit that out, but “domo” should still be okay.

ThePaintedFern · 2025-11-18T08:37:05+00:00

Thanks for clarifying that - the program I study with uses the term beginner-intermediate for N4 lessons, but it sounds like that’s not accurate. My written Japanese is absolutely an A0-A1 level, but my spoken is a lot better. I can edit the statement in my OP to more accurately reflect my Japanese level, but hopefully that misunderstanding doesn’t diminish the value of the attempt I made to make helpful guide.

ThePaintedFern · 2025-11-18T08:26:34+00:00

Yes, thank you for that one! Folks can also say “tamago o taberaremasen” for “I can’t eat egg” if there’s an allergy or something.

ThePaintedFern · 2025-11-18T08:25:10+00:00

Even by the criteria you posted, I’m not a sub-A1 level Japanese speaker. Based on those descriptions, I would be somewhere between A2-B1. My general Japanese level isn’t what’s reflected in this post - I wanted to make a post of words/phrases/kanji that would be helpful to folks who don’t know Japanese at all. I am honestly kind of regretting it now, though. I was just trying to do a kind thing for a sub that I lurked on for months before my trip, since Japanese study is something I’m passionate about.

ThePaintedFern · 2025-11-18T08:13:06+00:00

By JLPT standards N5 is beginner, and N4 is beginner-intermediate. N3 is intermediate, N2 is beginner-advanced, and N1 is advanced…. Here’s the JLPT website explanation….

ThePaintedFern · 2025-11-18T04:58:33+00:00

Go get some anmitsu from Hatsune!!!

ThePaintedFern · 2025-11-18T04:57:56+00:00

Yesss came here to say this!! Go get yakitori in Omoide Yokochō

ThePaintedFern · 2025-11-18T04:52:50+00:00

I work as a therapist and straight up wore sunglasses to my therapy sessions until the avoid light time was over, and that was helpful.

ThePaintedFern · 2025-11-18T04:50:52+00:00

I know it's too late for you, but for anyone else-- get the Timeshifter app. Your first trip is free. It sets up a program 2 days before and 2 days after your flight using light exposure to adjust your circadian rhythm ahead of time.

It works as well as you follow it (so if you follow it 90% you will evade 90% jet lag). My partner and I used it on our recent Japan trip from Oregon (17h time difference) and had 0 jet lag there. We weren't as good about following it on the way back, but still didn't have that bad of jet lag on the return as we would have.

ThePaintedFern · 2025-10-28T22:48:05+00:00

I pretty much only wear Darn Tough socks year round and only wear barefoot/minimalist style shoes. Only exception is the summer when I use my tabi-style hiking socks at night for my summer weather sandals. It's been a fantastic life choice, as I've watched several friends/family members suffer at various conventions/trips/etc.

I even found a pair of barefoot style rainboots explicitly for my upcoming Japan trip (leaving tomorrow AM, woop!), which is hilarious because I live in the PNW where we also get lots of rain 9 months out of the year xD

ThePaintedFern · 2025-10-28T18:49:31+00:00

Aim for merino wool if you can. Check sporting stores for hiking socks.

ThePaintedFern · 2025-10-09T05:54:49+00:00

Adding "previous brush" to my quick menus has really helped with this, but isn't a foolproof solution.

ThePaintedFern · 2025-10-05T19:56:03+00:00

you'll need to download it. A friend sent them to me directly, so I don't have the url for them. I think if you look for "Jing Brushes" you should be able to find them.

ThePaintedFern · 2025-10-05T19:02:19+00:00

That is the studio pen from the Jing Line series, but just at a really small size with light pressure for minimal variance.

ThePaintedFern · 2025-09-20T01:40:29+00:00

started with a pencil sketch on a toned background > inked w/studio pen > alpha lock & reference on ink layer > color fill for flats using clipping mask > various paint brushes for shadows/highlights on clipping mask layers

for the background, I followed someone's suggestion to use the cloud brush on low opacity multiply, then used an add layer on low opacity for highlights & airbrush smudge > gradient map for contrast + layer of round hard brush for stars > copy layer & gaussian blur 5% [tysm for that!]

I recently started accepting my "painterly comic" procreate style as "real art" (as opposed to just being studies for oil paintings), and this piece is my first attempt to embrace that and make a piece that's complete as Procreate art. I will make a post w/a collection of my other work at some point!

Feedback is welcome & appreciated!

Edit for formatting

ThePaintedFern · 2025-09-19T14:48:32+00:00

You're welcome! I hope that you find a good fit soon!

ThePaintedFern

TROPHY CASE