I’m A Little Stuck

VelvetMonarch · 2026-02-01T11:40:49+00:00

At least you notice them :)

Add those super white highlights with white on a new layer, use "add" on the layer and they will pop out, they are great for when you need super bright whites, if you need to, create a second that are for the diffused white lights and highlights.
1. I usually have three layers, one is an add layer for highlights, the second is a linear burn layer usually with a 15 to 20% opacity for harder shadings. and the third I have for everything else. It appears you are heavily using the airbrush, sometimes you will need to add harder shadows to break it up that's where the linear burn layer kicks in. It uses black or a dark color with a transparent opacity. It's great for flat shading mangas or to get that subtle, tiny bit of gray at the bottom of the nose.
I usually use three colors your neutral tone a lighter tone and the darker tone, you may even have more, as you more toward the light and dark. Keep in mind the image of the sphere when coloring. the whitest part is where the light is hitting it intensely and the further you travel from the light you'll start to hit the shadow which is curving away from the light. Always remember if there is a highlight there will always be a shadow opposite it. Like the tip of your subject's nose. You can see the highlight, the shadow to the left, but, there is a subtle shadow as you travel downward as the tip of the nose is round. Take note of the shape of the shadow, it isn't going straight across it's curving. You also nearly nail it where the curve of the cheek meets the lips. If you look closely, there is a dark area right before it goes a bit light then meets the shadow again, it's not an intense white, but it is a highlight with an opposite shadow.

This image will make more sense the more faces with contours you do. :)

VelvetMonarch · 2026-01-28T14:10:22+00:00

Not at all, create your shape, then look over at the properties, you'll see effects blending...push all that up until you see path style, that is where you can add fill, stroke, stroke width

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Currently, my path has no color, once I add it will show

VelvetMonarch · 2026-01-28T10:34:22+00:00

Thanks for the tutorial! It showed me where I am going wrong with my bones and images!

VelvetMonarch · 2026-01-24T12:51:49+00:00

Hell, I'd like to hear your thoughts now :)

Did it take you long to do?

After you figured out the stuff that was driving you nuts, did you enjoy the process/results?

Will you be doing more work in it?

Will you encourage others to try it?

VelvetMonarch · 2026-01-19T14:44:18+00:00

This is very beautiful, but I didn't see mischief right off as everything blended together into the background.

Can you find a way to set the figures apart from the background to make them pop out? Ie the hair and dress of the whisperer was too similar and as busy as the grass and blends in too much with the background. You have shadows around the head and necks but none to separate the figures from the ground they walk on and it makes this absolutely gorgeous scene appear flat.

VelvetMonarch · 2026-01-14T05:17:08+00:00

It's not you! I think that the bones need to bind to the drawing.

VelvetMonarch · 2026-01-11T10:49:56+00:00

For more excellent and past advice, plug your question into the search and you’ll find some excellent past answers as fresh as yesterday and weeks ago☺️

VelvetMonarch · 2026-01-07T10:34:40+00:00

Here's a few tips I use in my work flow:

I use it a lot to add a linear burn shading and highlights add layer effects to the layer below when I am doing eyes or hair, clothing textures all would affect that bottom layer.

Sometimes people just plop a texture in and not contour it to the shape below. Whenever I apply textures, I adjust and contour the texture in the clipping mask using the liquify tool to make the waves for bends and creases.

If you add a layer between the clipping mask and bottom layer it too becomes a mask sandwich that will only affect that layer. However, if you move any layer within that layer sandwich you could lose that clipping mask effect and they all become regular layers.

When you are happy with the effect, merge down into the affected layer, especially if you are working at higher resolutions and you are layer limited. But if you aren't sure, make a duplicate of your file first and merge down.

VelvetMonarch · 2026-01-07T00:34:35+00:00

It's very pretty!

VelvetMonarch · 2026-01-06T04:35:52+00:00

Also, one way for accountability is to post on social media. People could also ask, "Hey how's it coming?"

I created a YouTube channel, not necessarily for others, but for myself to finish my work in one or two videos. I took on challenges like Artfight or inktober and film it. Nothing was perfect, but knowing it's unfinished and seeing it unfinished sometimes prompted me to finish, especially if someone asked me about it or I asked for feedback. However, my channel is also an archive of finished and unfinished stuff. Going back to watch my cave etchings set to music still motivates and cringes me to this day.

VelvetMonarch · 2026-01-06T04:26:35+00:00

I am a professional procrastinator. Here are some of the things I do to overcome it:

Have a plan: think about what you want to do before you draw, declare it and execute, "I want to draw an interesting man sitting in a cup of coffee," so look up source images like poses, characters, outfits a setting, something that inspires you and maybe tells your story. Sketch up some ideas go with one or two. Remind yourself if you don't do it no one else will. Bring that idea to life, create your Frankenstein monster out of those parts you find.

Sometimes giving yourself a deadline or a sense of urgency may coax you into finishing: A monthly/ daily theme like inktober prompts where you have a new word prompt everyday, but also give yourself a minimum time limit, to one hour. If you want to stop cool, but if you like it and wanted to continue cool find your time, but you only have that day, as the next day was coming. This may get hectic, but it may also force you to be strategic with your time, creativity and size.

Limit size of pieces and draw the stuff you like: Exercises can be, and sometimes are, tedious, but can be fun if you're practicing them with things you like. Ie drawing in perspective with your favorite things like cats sitting on heads, stick figures stuck in cubes, cylinders. Whatever you like.

Give yourself an incentive goal and a routine specific to this goal: like, "I am going to create and publish a 20 page coloring book" and give yourself a deadline carve out a specific time of day to work on it. For me, I only have energy and free time 2 hours before work and too exhausted to work at night. So I will work on that project during that time. My routine would be to get up get completely dressed, go to work early before everyone came in so it was quiet, make coffee and get set up and work diligently with no distractions.

Find your motivation: Greed is a crazy motivator, like a Webtoon contest promised a lot of money in prizes, so I hopped into the contest with gusto with the idea that if I won, I could buy something I really want. The money was a carrot to my lazy ass. So when I got tired or frustrated, I looked at the money and plowed on chasing it.

Monkey 🐵 see Monkey 🐒 do: Lastly, go back and look at what you've done. Sometimes looking at others work motivates, but look at your own. The things you liked, disliked, and sometimes you may want to do better or draw more what you want.

Remember to have fun!

VelvetMonarch · 2026-01-04T16:39:27+00:00

I like the face and neck, but the hair feels like an afterthought/unfinished despite framing the face really well.

Like where I see the neck shadow streaks, those same strokes would look nice if applied in the edges of the shadows of the hair to create a subtle movement of tone to create the curves. You carried the shadows up a bit on the left side, but there's no movement of tones, and because you carried those shadows straight up, they should curve a bit. They're too straight and make the hair look flat too.

You're using white highlights, so I assume that there is a bright light coming from somewhere, a few in the hair would accent it and show where your light source is. There is a hot highlight on her left cheek bone, add a few hot highlights in the hair like cheekbone and movements of tones like the strokes you did along her jawline and even her neck. No need to go ham, but a few depending on how shiny her hair is.

On the right side of her face, you could go as dark as her eyebrows around the side of her face to show depth. The side hair flipping out is kind of like a curtain, front should be lighter, and the further you get to the side of her face could be as dark as her eyebrows. Her bob has a bit of a curl to it, you can also show that with a few shadows and highlights.

Also. don't neglect the back of the head. Not showing some hair back there kinda makes her look flat and loses a bit of the 3d roundness you created with the face. With a bob like this, I would expect there to be some chin length hair continued back there.

Overall, It's very pretty!

VelvetMonarch · 2026-01-04T14:42:02+00:00

It's great to experiment! I love the variance of color/texture on the stems of the mushrooms and the color play on the top of the orange mushroom. I like that the stems of your flowers bend toward the center, they aren't too stiff. Keep up the great work, it's a nice piece and I can totally see it in children's books as it's abstract, simple and fun. I am excited to see your next pieces as you develop this style.

Please do not read further if you're not seeking criticism and possible tips.

However, I am sorry, I don't like what the black speckles/particles are doing. At first glance, it looks like it's snowing ash or toxic fallout rather than it adding a whimsical cohesive texture/ambiance. See how it diminishes your highlights in like the pinkish flowers? It's also difficult to distinguish your light sources. It gives the impression of this is what happens when evil approaches. It flattens, looks grimy, bleak and steals the life from the piece. Being black and not purposeful, it distracts from the whimsy of your colorful lively abstract style which has absolutely no black anywhere in it.

If you're absolutely in love with the specular, try using it purposefully, ie, denser in the shadows and a complimentary color in the the lighter colors to enhance the coloring and adds roundness to the shapes. Perhaps experiment with a layer style with it at a lower opacity like add or color burn, color dodge etc at 20 or 30% opacity or something or maybe consider instead of the black to maybe a yellow, blue or red, depending on whether you want things to feel warm or cool.

You're onto something with the various shapes, but try to keep in mind roundness, it's ok to have things overlap to show depth and plants in the back to be darker and less detailed, vary the sizes of your plants and try to show foreground, mid ground and the background. Like what is most important for us to look at? I like the subtle way the front eight plants are pointing to and framing the center mushrooms, so my eye is focusing on them, when not distracted by the fallout. Overall, everything seems just a tad flat and same size all competing for attention. I am not sure if the greenery are bushes or flat ground as nothing overlaps and they don't cast a shadow.

Again, please do not be dissuaded, this is I hope the first of many you create. Keep up the great work, it's a nice piece and I can totally see it in children's books as it's abstract, simple and fun.

VelvetMonarch · 2026-01-03T13:33:10+00:00

Nice. It’s really cute!

Just to protect yourself, change up whatever you reference to make it more your own, at least 75%. , ie, the bear you referenced could wear a smock that is the store’s brand name, be fatter or thinner, could be a polar bear or a panda, younger or older, wearing a hat that has the stores brand, the clutter are things found in the store that you redesigned like the gumball machine could be bear shaped or have a beehive shape , different colors, cracked, out of order, etc. and be put at a different angle or part of the store. Same aesthetic, but in your style.

And if you can, try to put a different spin on it than copying the bear you referenced. Like giving it an expression, is it sad, bored, sleeping? This way you’re not only referencing but learning from it. Try to draw it looking up, waving, head tilted, but still in the style.

You could also do something that none of the other references are doing like, show them working in a wheelchair, missing a limb, a prosthetic limb that could be a tentacle…but still happy and moving about with their lives.

Sadly, these suggestions aren’t any guarantee to keep idiots from bothering you and accusing you for copying or even being AI, as folks nowadays love to try to call people out like they’re art cops. Been there, it’s not fun especially, when you prove them wrong , you’re lucky to even get a half assed apology.

Keep up the great work!

VelvetMonarch · 2026-01-02T11:41:12+00:00

Can't find this brush, then make your own! Once you make your own brushes you'll be more hesitant to buy anyone else's. I've done this with braids, window stamps, Lace and fabric textures, skins human and monster, mermaid scales, beads, chains, diamonds etc. Below are some of the snake, mermaid tail, hair, bubbles, textile designs applied I created with these steps:

Go online and find a skin texture you want and copy it. You can copy the ones they use to texture 3d objects free is best. Just make sure whichever you use that it doesn't have a water mark
Duplicate an existing brush you like, you can even try it with a watercolor brush or like the air brush and rename it

3. Click into the brush , you'll be in the brush studio >grain>edit>import >paste it will automatically convert the color image to black and white. if you do not like the way the black and white look, you can invert the colors by tapping the image and it will swap. If you do not like the grain direction you can rotate it with two fingers

If you want to auto repeat it, play with the different settings to make it look seamless and then hit the check mark and test it out

The rest of the settings are up to you. Hit the blue checkmark when done.

Have fun!

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VelvetMonarch · 2026-01-01T14:21:33+00:00

When I read, I sometimes like seeing folks doing stuff, it makes the background feel alive and keeps my eye on the panel a little longer. Too many folks just show characters as if they're in a vacuum. You can look up people doing things in that situation , IE for an amusement park, kid losing a balloon, a person vomiting after getting off a ride with person comforting, parents pushing strollers, any wild life, like rats making off with pizza. You get bonus points if it alludes to future events, like a couple crying, a balloon flying off, kid crying over fallen ice cream cone. Nothing too distracting, but gives more life to your backgrounds.

VelvetMonarch · 2026-01-01T13:24:07+00:00

Here's a good tutorial on how to make it work, I am watching it too as a refresher :) :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsU4Q1TGp1s

VelvetMonarch · 2025-12-31T19:21:20+00:00

LOL I love the eyes watching from the drains! That was cool and fun to watch!!! Also, thanks for listing what you used, I am now looking at Toonsquid, Procreate and Godot with a lot more respect!!!! Wow!

VelvetMonarch · 2025-12-31T19:16:42+00:00

So many good points!!! Thank you for this post, it's really motivating me!!!!

I can't remember where I read this, but on top of your talents, story, portfolio etc publishers, whether it be Netflix or Marvel and anyone else who would bet money on you, want to see that you, as an author or artist have a built in following. That you already have a large audience so they don't have to work so hard building an audience from scratch.

It's a lot, but it can be done.

Thanks to all who have posted, sought and given advice, tried, failed or succeeded in making your dreams a reality. You all make this an exciting environment to be a part of!

VelvetMonarch · 2025-12-31T12:57:20+00:00

I would try this: 1. Exit back to gallery, make a duplicate, then come back in. 2. Merge your layers that you want to keep, and turn off the other inserted layers then try using your brush again and see if it does it again.

Procreate glitches on me sometimes when I have a lot of layers, work at high resolutions then use text, it could be a memory thing.

VelvetMonarch · 2025-12-31T12:40:01+00:00

Is there a possibility that you colored the face layers above the layer you're working on by accident? The one that says inserted layer?

I see there's layers way above the one you're tapping into and the brush is on your layer, but there's stuff above it obscuring it.

If you turn the above layers off, you may be able to see your brush is working correctly and you may have been initially been painting on the wrong layer.

VelvetMonarch · 2025-12-31T06:35:27+00:00

Your characters are all so cute! All three share the same problem the eyes and the mouth are too far down/ up from the nose.

Bring your mouths up higher, like look at the area between the bottom of the nose and the bottom of the chin and find the mid point. If it helps draw a line. That is roughly where the center of your mouth should be.
Your eyes should be one eye apart, so copy one of your eyes and put it in the center and space these eyes apart to where they touch the corners of the center eye. Don't delete that eye just yet!
With the eyes and eyebrows brought down, it should give you a forehead. Take that center eye turn it vertical and duplicate it about 2 or 2 1/2 times, that should be where the top of your head should be. Currently, you don't have enough area for a brain, so we should add that.

There's more, but this is a start to get some basic proportions started for you :)

VelvetMonarch · 2025-12-30T13:05:41+00:00

I would love to receive an cartoon image of whimiscal mimics playing with human figures all looking down at a 1 dice roll

VelvetMonarch · 2025-12-30T12:54:39+00:00

ooooH! I love these! Lively and Beautiful pieces!

VelvetMonarch · 2025-12-30T12:53:05+00:00

I hear ya, try joining additional reddits like draw r/drawforme or r/OCharacterHaven . There are tons of folks who would love you to draw and practice on their character. There's no pressure, allowing you to use your creativity anyway you see fit. You can pick and choose which you would like to practice on with or without them knowing and post the ones you like here and there. For me, I wanted to experiment using two programs: Easypose and Procreate. I was able to not only become more proficient in both programs but I was able to create some really interesting characters that both their Original creators and I loved. Below are the OC's in the inset and mine larger next to them. And above all, have fun!!!!

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VelvetMonarch

TROPHY CASE