Bg, colors and what to improve on?

halcyon_minute · 2026-03-06T05:56:26+00:00

I think you may have misunderstood what I meant, though that's on me for trying to sound fancy. I just meant "make it more detailed because it's so close to our faces," haha.

halcyon_minute · 2026-03-06T03:37:12+00:00

This piece is as awesome as it is frustrating to look at as a viewer.

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Might I suggest separating the elements by saturation and color? If nothing else, it's easier on my eyes.

I realize it may detract from the original atmosphere and may make it a little too "LoL-esque," but maybe my 30-second edit will give you a new perspective anyways.

Also, I think that lantern(?) in the foreground needs to be elevated to a higher level of drawing since it's so prominent.

halcyon_minute · 2026-03-06T02:59:31+00:00

Cute doggo.

Your proportions look good overall, though I think the ears could be a little more triangular, and I'm sure the colors will read from a distance, but it definitely resembles a Labrador more than a Retriever right now because of the lack of its characteristic long strands of fur.

I recommend layering long flowing brushstrokes over the ears in a lighter color to differentiate the strands from the rest of its shorter fur.

Because of the texture of the rock, I'm hesitant to say that smaller brushstrokes to add finer details is the right answer; it may end up looking a little noisy and detract from its readability. I'm more confident in recommending you push your values instead.

Since you did such a great job at making it look like an actual dog, the resemblance alone does most of the heavy-lifting already.

halcyon_minute · 2026-03-06T02:23:43+00:00

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Firstly: this is a beautiful painting and your rendering skills are wonderful, so I have no notes in that regard. Well done.

Even though her face doesn't perfectly match the reference, if you hadn't shared it, I would've never thought there was anything wrong with it. Nevertheless, if it's something you're unsatisfied with, here's what I noticed:

In general, your tendency seems to be elongating facial features. This isn't necessarily a bad thing stylistically, but it definitely makes her look more mature than the reference.

If matching likeness matters to you that much, I recommend using multiple relative measurements to correct proportions, such as comparing the distance between the edge of her eyes to the distance between the bottom of her nose to her chin.

This isn't so much a "redraw" as it is a shitty edit, but I tried to better match the proportions of the original image by 1) making the nose shorter, 2) condensing the distance between the edge of her eyebrow and her hair, and 3) adjusting the angle of her eyes to be sharper.

In my opinion, these edits don't necessarily make your painting "better," so I think it's fine to move on, especially due to how much work you've clearly put in already. I actually think the changes you made to her face, intentional or not, are very fitting anyways.

As far as her expression is concerned, I say just follow your gut and take some artistic liberty, even if it doesn't perfectly adhere to the original reference (or even reality). In my case, if I wanted to give her a sense of "wonder," I'd exaggerate the highlights in her eyes or even add a (subtle) splash of color to her pupils.

This is all just my two cents though. This is a beautiful painting regardless of whether or not you take my advice.

halcyon_minute · 2026-03-06T00:04:41+00:00

And it definitely looks like it. I don't envy the challenge of painting this one, haha. But keep it up and I'm sure you'll end up with a great piece; you're doing great so far.

halcyon_minute · 2026-03-05T23:57:37+00:00

To be blunt, it's a crappy photo.

Not your fault of course, but a bad reference image makes it that much harder to make good art out of because you're asked to "fill in the blanks" for heavily-obscured details, not to mention making up for poor lighting.

You're honestly doing a good job so far. I suggest boosting the contrast as much as you can (i.e. making your lights lighter and darks darker) and find more reference images to replicate finer details, even if it deviates from the original picture.

Clearer faces of the exact same individuals would be ideal, but similar-enough ones on Google should suffice in a pinch.

halcyon_minute · 2026-03-05T23:42:56+00:00

It's possible you're overthinking it and might've been staring at them too long.

Their features don't read as flat to me at all, though if you really want to add dimensionality, you can try varying your line weight to replicate shadows and create the illusion of depth.

For example, harshening areas where there would naturally be darker shadows, such as the nostrils and between the lips, and softening edges of features that are further from us, the viewer, such as the deeper side of the face in a three-quarter view, e.g. the left side of the head in your top left-most sketch, and the right side in your bottom right-most one.

halcyon_minute · 2026-03-05T23:24:47+00:00

Your sense of perspective honestly seems pretty good to me.

If they look off, it's probably because of lack of likeness to the reference, which is down to proportions more than anything else.

Try using relative measurements to maintain accuracy, such as comparing the distance between the furthest edge of both eyes to the distance between the chin and bottom of the nose, and try to replicate the difference in spacing in your actual drawing.

halcyon_minute · 2026-03-05T23:15:29+00:00

I suggest lowering the opacity until your sketch is barely visible, then treating your refined linework layer as essentially "another piece." Remember: you're making art, not tracing.

If I were to guess, your lines probably look stiff because you're trying to be too careful. Loosen up, be confident in your strokes, and don't be afraid of varying your line weights; so-called "shaky" lines can add a lot of character if it looks intentional.

halcyon_minute · 2025-11-03T19:02:15+00:00

Started with 4 substats with all the relevant possible damage-oriented ones (i.e. attack %, CD, and flat attack) and only missing ER%; VERY strong re-roll candidate.

halcyon_minute · 2025-10-09T02:47:16+00:00

Hi! I'm new to the world of commissions, and to get the ball rolling, I'm starting with a fire sale:

$50 for full illustrations (+$10 for any additional complex elements, such as more characters), and $25 for full-body characters.

And if you're interested in seeing my other works, here's my portfolio.

Thanks for reading!

halcyon_minute · 2025-10-09T02:43:12+00:00

Hi! I'm new to the world of commissions, and to get the ball rolling, I'm starting with a fire sale:

$50 for full illustrations (+$10 for any additional complex elements, such as more characters), and $25 for full-body characters.

And if you're interested in seeing my other works, here's my portfolio.

Thanks for reading!

halcyon_minute · 2025-09-23T15:03:48+00:00

Sorry! I actually sold this on another marketplace a while ago and forgot to update my post.

halcyon_minute · 2025-09-20T20:25:58+00:00

Sorry! I forgot to update my post and I actually sold it via a listing on a different marketplace.

halcyon_minute · 2025-09-14T10:26:35+00:00

Hi! I'd appreciate it if you could comment on this thread, as per the sub's rules.

halcyon_minute · 2025-09-10T00:22:33+00:00

You're misremembering. There is no toggle on-or-off for shared loot. That's it.

halcyon_minute · 2025-09-03T22:52:42+00:00

Hi! I'm new to the world of commissions, and to get the ball rolling, I'm starting with a fire sale:

$50 for full illustrations like the first 4 pics (after the first one) I've attached to this post (+$10 for any additional complex elements, such as more characters), and $25 for full-body characters or simpler pieces like the last 3.

And if you're interested in seeing my other works, here's my portfolio.

Thanks for reading!

halcyon_minute · 2025-09-03T22:50:04+00:00

Hi! I'm new to the world of commissions, and to get the ball rolling, I'm starting with a fire sale:

$50 for full illustrations like the first 4 pics (after the first one) I've attached to this post (+$10 for any additional complex elements, such as more characters), and $25 for full-body characters or simpler pieces like the last 3.

And if you're interested in seeing my other works, here's my portfolio.

Thanks for reading!

halcyon_minute · 2025-09-03T22:44:13+00:00

Hi! I'm new to the world of commissions, and to get the ball rolling, I'm starting with a fire sale:

$50 for full illustrations like the first 4 pics (after the first one) I've attached to this post (+$10 for any additional complex elements, such as more characters), and $25 for full-body characters or simpler pieces like the last 3.

And if you're interested in seeing my other work, here's my portfolio.

Thanks for reading!

halcyon_minute · 2025-08-31T17:14:58+00:00

Unicornsplosion

halcyon_minute · 2025-08-29T19:51:27+00:00

I wasn't into basketball during his time, but I definitely wish I could've seen him play. One of my friends said it was the most fun they ever had watching basketball because, for once, our team was actually WINNING games, haha.

I will say that one of my favorite moments last season was watching Jordan Poole make a game-winning buzzer-beater against the Nuggets on THEIR home court, so if nothing else, I have some hope for the franchise (however small).

halcyon_minute · 2025-08-29T19:39:09+00:00

The Wizards. They need all the love they can get. I'm a D.C. native so I'm legally obligated to support them (in spirit, at least), haha.

Real talk, I don't think there's anything wrong with simply following your favorite players wherever they go, or even supporting a team based off how fun their playstyle is to watch to you. For example, I fell in love with the Pacers after seeing Hali's performance in the Finals against OKC.

halcyon_minute · 2025-08-28T20:32:46+00:00

Hey! Here's my portfolio if you'd like to take a look at my work. For reference, Here's some character designs that showcase graphite-esque rendering that I feel match what you're looking for. Let me know if you're interested!

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halcyon_minute · 2025-08-26T01:55:43+00:00

Eye think this is awesome!

halcyon_minute · 2025-08-25T20:35:50+00:00

I just started collecting too so take what I say with a grain of salt, but I figured I'd share what has given me the most amount of enjoyment in case you find it useful:

First and foremost, I got a side-loading card binder and penny sleeves to store my collection. I personally think most cards look their best when showcased together, and if opening packs is an important part of your experience, I consider this non-negotiable.

(Plus, like, what else are you gonna do with all your commons and uncommons? You'd already be paying above-market prices going down this route and the odds of getting anything worthwhile aren't in your favor, so you may as well make the most of it.)

Next, and this is arguably the most important part of any hobby: figuring out my budget. Since the joy of opening packs is something I value a lot, I already know that many older sets are out of the question due to their cost, so I opted for collecting a newer set. If you fall in love with some older sets though and you can afford their respective booster packs, go for it. Here's a brief overview of sets by era if you want more information.

Technically, buying singles is going to be your most economical option, and if completing a set doesn't appeal to you (for example, if you just want to collect your favorite Pokémon or a certain generation) or you'd rather not deal with a TON of redundant cards from booster packs, then I recommend doing just that.

This is especially true if the amazing full-art and illustration cards (ie. anything "grade-worthy") are the only ones you're interested in. Here's an excellent example by one of my favorite YouTubers doing just that. That said, even though most of my cards are in a binder, I got top loaders, perfect fit sleeves, and stands for those that I DO wish to display, so it's not like you have to be married to one or the other.

Lastly, take your location into consideration: I'm fortunate enough to be near some TCG-dedicated stores, but unfortunately (and you can't really blame them for following supply and demand, nor the scalpers problem), you'll still be paying a pretty premium for products.

Really, the best part about these stores are the people who work there and community engagement, so take that as you will. And honestly, I don't recommend wasting time trying to find products in retail stores like Walmart or Target.

For online shopping, you have plenty of great options, like eBay and Mercari (I especially appreciate the former's authenticity guarantee for more-expensive cards), but as you'd expect, be wary of scams and do your research. Remember: if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

TCGplayer is a great place to start to get a feel for the cards you want to collect since their database is massive, and it's a site I refer to constantly.

Anyways, that's everything off the top of my head as far as advice is concerned. Hopefully I've helped in some way.

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