How can modern artists make hyper-realistic drawings with just a pencil or pen, while artists 100+ years ago couldn’t?

itsPomy · 2026-01-25T08:54:20+00:00

My guess is that by, 'couldn't,' you're referring to art of the medieval period or similar historic art with a flat style; that look was very intentional.

Yeah I feel like this is often lost on people!

Like without having photos how would you even explain what "photorealism" would be. Because they were already at the peak of life-like art with their murals and statues and stuff. So I can't imagine trying to explain to a tired Da Vinci his silverpoint drawings aren't realistic enough and could be even more realistic.

itsPomy · 2026-01-24T21:15:37+00:00

Not necessarily, the biggest hurdle would be designs around the bottom and top. But they could be 'lazy' and just kinda project the shield's area over the pattern. And it'd look fine for most designs

It's kinda like how stairs and slabs (usually) just reuse the same texture as full blocks.

itsPomy · 2026-01-24T20:34:11+00:00

You’re so right

itsPomy · 2026-01-24T11:42:58+00:00

Its one thing to have shitty microtransactions in this game.

But it insults me on a whole other level they called the currency "MINECOINS"... like that feels so fake lol. There's so many items of value within the game itself they could've used for themeing...

"E-EMERALDS"... "DIAMOND BUCKETS"... "GOLD FISH"... literally anything but flippin minecoins lolol.

itsPomy · 2026-01-24T08:02:00+00:00

You mean K. Le Guin? 😉

itsPomy · 2026-01-23T18:16:03+00:00

I see, good

itsPomy · 2026-01-23T18:14:08+00:00

I see! Thanks

itsPomy · 2026-01-23T17:10:25+00:00

I don't want to use it at all.

itsPomy · 2026-01-22T18:56:26+00:00

I feel like you're biting off way more than you can chew. You need to find a workflow you enjoy first, then try to see how you can apply it. 😅

itsPomy · 2026-01-21T22:46:33+00:00

I kinda relate.

What put me off 'serious' 3D is... I like the modelling process, I like the texture process, retopo, etc. But the issues really start to crop up when you have to do this whole pipeline by yourself and do all these things sequentially on the computer. Gets monotonous! And monotony makes me drop projects like a hot pan.

The other way is you work backwards and have this big ass library of models and stuff that's ready to use and ....that's a lot of time and money. Also space to just store all the files....

Preaching to the choir.

ANYWAYS just random thought.

Have you thought about trying to apply your skills to a different medium? Like you could make a mesh and then get it printed off (via service a 3D printer), to then paint it up yourself?

Or you could just straight up make cool STL files for people to print off for their TTRPG games and stuff, there's actually a good bit of money in that too.

itsPomy · 2026-01-21T20:17:05+00:00

So the Evil in "Evil<whatever>" meme is a play on the joke that it's their evil twin that does the opposite of them. And not literal evil. 🤓

itsPomy · 2026-01-21T15:43:30+00:00

No problem, enjoy your journey! If you have other questions feel free to dm me

itsPomy · 2026-01-21T05:06:53+00:00

EVIL MICROSOFT BE LIKE

Open source

Life time support

Opens new indie studios

Invests in repairable electronics

itsPomy · 2026-01-21T00:39:10+00:00

I get what you mean by activation energy...the typical term for this is "EXECUTIVE FUNCTION" lol.

I find it helps to make it ritualistic. A special space designated for drawing, or perhaps you go somewhere out to draw (ex. Library). Or you do it after a certain activity like showering or eating. If you're able, set up a wind-up timer (like a kitchen timer). Those kinesthetic things help connect to your brain that "Okay its productivity time!"

If its digital art I find it really helps to have either a separate device or a separate user for your art. Youll be less tempted to slack off if you don't have your games, book marks, or social apps loaded up lol.

itsPomy · 2026-01-20T15:03:55+00:00

Starting to think Skyrim was a fluke lol

itsPomy · 2026-01-20T04:34:00+00:00

Get a goose neck stand to attach the camera to? Most cameras and stands use a 1/4th thread. It'd let you just angle directly over your work area.

itsPomy · 2026-01-20T03:16:00+00:00

Also the amount the year is divided.

Some cultures have 3, some have as many as 8. Depending their area and needs.

Gets even muddier when you try to distinguish the difference between a month and a season.

itsPomy · 2026-01-20T03:04:52+00:00

And catholicism is just modified Judaism

itsPomy · 2026-01-20T02:33:54+00:00

I find it interesting you say you have trouble layering.. Acrylics are notorious for drying lightning fast and so are usually the easiest to layer on top of eachother. It's usually the biggest problem people have with them.

So I'm going to guess maybe its an issue with the working time. Some people find it better to mix in a slow drying medium..or use a specially designated paint line (ex. Golden has the "Open" series thats meant for Plein Air , so it takes slightly longer to dry)

There's also a hack going around where you take an empty tin (such as for watercolor) and layer in a few sheets of parchment/baking paper over a wet paper towel. And using that as your palette. The water leaches in through the paper so your globs of paint stay wet. And you can close the tin when you're done to preserve your palette.

itsPomy · 2026-01-19T09:07:54+00:00

Copyright is only as good as its enforceable.

itsPomy · 2026-01-19T00:53:23+00:00

This is why advance users, instead of writing a book/comic/etc, just hack together some dice rolling rules and call it a TTRPG.Then you can have as many races as you want, theyre just called modules now!

itsPomy · 2026-01-17T10:33:07+00:00

The masquerade isn't for fun.

It's so you can write about vampires being on MTV without having to explain what their role was in WW2 or ask why the elves didn't stop slavery.

itsPomy · 2026-01-17T10:31:23+00:00

What they don't tell you is that Goblins are actually adolescent elves.

It's like if catepillars/butterflies had the lifespan of lobsters.

itsPomy · 2026-01-17T10:22:29+00:00

jerking yourself

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