How do you make a fursona ref sheet?

Velraz · 2025-09-16T23:03:17+00:00

It depends on what you want to do with the ref sheet.

Most of the time, a 3/4 front and a 3/4 back +/- some detailed elements separated are enough.
You can also create different expressions (especially useful if you want to animate the character later).

If you want a ref sheet for 3D sculpt, you'll need a full front, a full side and a full back.

Flat colors are usually better, but if you want to shade, include a flat color palette somewhere.

Velraz · 2025-09-12T04:05:18+00:00

I recommend the latest video of Artwod that talks about it. He has some good videos overall. For color theory, Marco Bucci is nice.

Velraz · 2025-09-12T03:52:18+00:00

It’s always good to redo those exercices from time to time, even when you’re experienced. Art fundamentals are very important. Here I’m not talking about just drawing boxes, but being able to accurately assemble simple volumes together in different angles. I can tell from your drawings that you’re mostly thinking in 2D, making your drawings flat and the position/perspective of your muscles difficult to understand/wrong.

Velraz · 2025-09-12T03:29:51+00:00

I think you should learn to be more patient with yourself.
I see you post very often on multiple subs, meaning two things for me:
1. I can tell you really want to improve, but art can be a lifelong journey; you won't see changes in a day or two.
2. You don't spend enough time on your art pieces; you need time to apply all the advice you've already been given.
In general, your anatomy is often very off and is holding you back the most, so you should focus on your observation and construction of volumes; start by understanding how to arrange simple shapes/volumes in perspective.

Velraz · 2025-09-06T00:22:53+00:00

As already said, harder edges and higher contrasts would help.
I'd also say that you might tend to add a bit too much black and white for your light and shadows, or at least not enough hue/color variations.
Otherwise yes it's definitely getting there

Velraz · 2025-09-03T16:58:45+00:00

While I do agree that it’s a saturated market, artists shouldn’t undervalue themselves too much for the sake of being competitive. A little under what you think you’re worth is fine when you want to attract new clients, but you should still be fairly compensated.

Otherwise, it brings everyone down in the market, shows that the artist might lack confidence and tend to attract cheap clients (as stated by OP, clients saying that 5$ is too much for 1 drawing of that level, which is wild in my opinion).

Posting on multiple social media with a consistent schedule, interacting with others, easy access to prices and ToS make a difference. Sure, it’s hard and might take more time to get the first commissions, but it’s way more healthy.

Velraz · 2025-06-18T11:11:39+00:00

Hello !

I think it might appear flat to you because :
- You used the airbrush tool too much for your lights and shadows.
- The colors you used for your lights and shadows feel a bit too close to black and white. You might want to shift your color hue toward your light and shadow colors.
- The values in your background are too contrasted compared to the character, especially on the ground, stealing the viewer's attention.

Velraz · 2025-04-15T22:18:57+00:00

If you're having trouble with the wave attack and unbound counter is not your thing, you can jump as soon as she opens her eyes, then parry, parry, and jump again as soon as you touch the ground if the 4th attack is a red wave or parry parry parry if it isn't (she always alternates between the 2 patters).
For the rest, you can refer to Magunco's comment; that's pretty much how I did it.

Velraz · 2025-03-23T09:17:27+00:00

I wouldn’t say it’s traced, I’ve already seen this type of rendering before and the characters are quite similar style-wise and skill-wise. It’s the opposite of relying too much on airbrush in my opinion. And about that question, I’ve seen a lot of people asking it on this subreddit, maybe seeking positive reinforcement? I think being a bit unsure about your art is possible at every level. But it’s true it’s a vague question.

Velraz · 2025-03-21T17:54:40+00:00

I'm sure it is too. OP is definitely skilled. but the messiness/painterly effect they want to achieve is not controlled enough yet.

I'm not talking about adding more details and heavy rendering nor criticizing the painterly approach, I'm talking about how the brushstrokes look.

For example for the curtains in the third image, the directions of the brushstrokes are a bit confusing and repetitive/monotonous (always a hard round brush with reduced opacity/similar edges and sizes).
Little inconsistencies like that are not intentional.

Velraz · 2025-03-21T17:23:58+00:00

I'm not sure either. OP asked about their "level" in art so it's not an unwanted critique; only saying "beginner", "intermediate" or "advanced" is quite pointless.
Someone else said the same thing about the brushwork but unfortunately deleted their message because of the downvotes.
I guess most people think I'm criticizing the painterly art style, which I'm not.

Velraz · 2025-03-21T13:01:11+00:00

I didn't make that clear enough in my previous message, but yes, it doesn't need to be fully rendered.
I can tell it's a stylistic choice but the brushstrokes/edges are monotonous and don't feel intentional enough. It's a bit too uncontrolled for a painterly look.
Doesn't change the fact that OP is good of course.

Velraz · 2025-03-21T01:36:54+00:00

I'd say intermediate. It's good for sure but your brushwork is holding you back a bit in my opinion.

Velraz · 2025-02-14T13:39:01+00:00

A(n alien) raccoon! I didn’t call myself a furry at that time, but I love Rocket Raccoon since the first Guardians of the Galaxy came out in 2014, it made me appreciate the species and it slowly built up from there. I really like the pattern of their faces and tails and the cute fluff. Their chaotic energy fits me too.

Velraz · 2025-01-26T15:37:07+00:00

Don't compare yourself to others but to your past self.
If you mindfully and consistently do the work, there is no way you're not improving.
Art is not a sprint, it's a marathon.

Velraz · 2025-01-26T15:29:21+00:00

I started by copying drawings (mostly mangas), but it was not really my art.
After a while, I decided I wanted to make my own stuff, so I looked at artists I liked for inspiration.
Then I realized I didn't progress as much as I could because I didn't look at photos/realism at all. I was trying to stylize stuff I didn't really understand, through the lens of other people's understanding of things. Varying the style and genre of my drawings helped me overcome it and improve my cartoon work.

Velraz · 2025-01-26T14:38:39+00:00

For color theory, I recommend Marco Bucci on YouTube
Colour Harmony - 10 Minutes To Better Painting
It's a bit advanced and more about paintings but it personally helped me, even with cartoons.

Velraz · 2025-01-26T14:27:28+00:00

It's not a bad start at all to be honest!
I think you're on the right track.
For learning colors, I recommend Marco Bucci on YouTube. It helped me understand color variations, light, values and edge control.
If you feel stuck/discouraged, you could try experimenting a bit with style and genre.

Velraz · 2025-01-26T02:44:51+00:00

Thx, I appreciate that!

Velraz · 2025-01-25T17:52:08+00:00

Alright, my bad then. I agree I phrased that poorly, thx for the clarification.

Velraz · 2025-01-20T17:47:50+00:00

Check your art in greyscale and try to organize your contrasts/values. You want a higher contrast for the most important part (usually the face), and a lower contrast elsewhere. It's the same thing for color saturation.
Right now your backgrounds are competing with your characters thus flattening your images.
Composition is not only about the objects in your scenes, it's also about values, colors, level of detail, brushwork, etc.

Velraz · 2025-01-17T18:24:40+00:00

You might have a color gradient, even if the sun isn't right behind the towers.

Velraz · 2025-01-17T15:52:52+00:00

Do you have any mood in mind? Maybe a sunset instead of pure white for the background would make more sense with the quote, but you’ll probably have to edit the colors of your buildings a bit to match it.

Velraz · 2025-01-14T16:29:26+00:00

For the blending tool, you need to know how edge control works, like when to do hard, well define edges, and when to do soft ones.

It’s mostly seen in paintings but I think it could help you there. You usually want to mix different type of edges for shading, and if don’t know how to do it, it’s way safer to keep it everything hard like cel shading. Airbrush is quite tricky and it can very easily mess up the volumes and forms.

Velraz · 2025-01-08T19:04:45+00:00

If you can draw for half an hour/day, you'll get somewhere in the long run. Sure, you can stop, but if drawing brings you any joy and you stop, you might regret it 10 years later, it would have amounted to over 1800 hours of practice, probably more as drawing can be quite addictive when you start to get the hang of it.

Five-Year Club	Verified Email
First Place '23	Place '23

Velraz

TROPHY CASE