[Gii]

Just thought I could post some art here and get some critique!

But before that, quick question: does this forum accept image links from deviantART? I've been uploading stuff to imgur because I know it works for sure, but I would rather use dA if I can.



This was for a contest on dA. I had a more complex background in mind for this, but the original paper got ink splotches and I ended up cutting the girl out. Fortunately I'd just bought a calendar, so I took the cardboard backing, colored it with chalk pastel (which apparently works beautifully with cardboard!), glued her on, and drew approximately 5 billion feathers in gel pen.


My first time using markers! I'm happy with this background, even though it looks really simple. I used a blender marker on yellow colored pencil, and then used chalk pastel to make a gradient. I'd love to try the blender + colored pencil technique again, but it does use up a lot of the marker.
You can also tell I do a lot of Sailor Moon fanart. This is a gift for a friend.



Just some outfit designs for an art trade. I'm not really sure what the original inspiration was. I think it was like "Victorian mages at a wedding", because that's really all I'm getting right now. (full view is probably better for this one)

I know these three have really simple backgrounds, and I definitely want to work on more complex ones -- I've done them in the past, I just never have good background ideas.
 
Anyway, critique is appreciated! Especially on anatomy and definitely coloring, colored pencil gets eaten by the scanner and I'd love to know how to fix that.

[Pennydox]

A tradionalist! TuT
Regarding clear blending medium, copic is aware people love that stuff, so they actually sell colorless blending medium in 6.7 fl oz bottles (it says 200c.c. on this thing). Hopefully you're aware you can refill those markers over and over and replace the nib if they break.

HERE IS THE LINK (BOBO EDITED BECAUSE IT WAS TOO LONG)

I usually wait until I have a 40% off coupon at dickblicks and get mine :3

[Gii]

Yeah, I never knew how useful a blender was until I had one! I actually use Prismacolor markers though, so I'm not sure if they have bottles of blending medium or even refills. I'd probably have to buy new markers if I ran out.
I've heard great things about Copics but I was always hesitant to buy them because they were so expensive. The Prisma markers were actually a gift!

[Pennydox]

I am sure prismacolors would accept it. As long as the fibers are moist and intact in the marker, any marker an accept anything, technically. If your prismacolor is drying up, a few drops of rubbing alcohol will moisten up the inside as well (but fade the pigment if you do it too much). My first set of copics was a gift as well, I got them when I was sixteen, and It's almost an entire decade and I've only replaced two of the nibs. Prismacolors smell stronger than copics, imo, but that's just me having a personal preference of markers.

[Gii]

Oh, that's good to know! I'll keep that in mind when I have to replace them. I actually don't mind the smell haha

By the way, is there a reason why the forum is stretched out? I tried shrinking my images but it doesn't seem to have changed anything.

[Pennydox]

probably some minor web bug issue, it'll be fixed eventually.
As a health issue, make sure to have ventilation when using markers. Sniffing too much markers is very bad. First symptom  is a tummy ache. You can guess what the symptom is after.

[Gii]

No worries, my place has a lot of open air!

Also here, have a drag queen.



Tried blender marker + colored pencil again, background is cardboard + chalk pastel. And all my inking pens are running out of ink D:

[Rose]

I LOVE IT.

[Gii]

Hello! I am kinda sorta back from the abyss that is real life! I don't think people remember me but that is o k

Long story short I spent the summer interning at Ubisoft (booooo hissssss it's okay let it out), got to witness an amazing lipsyncing competition, and now I'm currently working designing outfits for a fashion show! I've never sewed before so RIP

But here are a few of the drawings I did in the meantime! I mostly spent my summer drawing magical girl versions of the lipsyncers. These three happen to be drag/faux queens, but there were a ton of non-queens too.







There's like a ton of others too, which I put into an album here: http://imgur.com/a/ZDNT1

And then before that, I did a ton of shitty anime fanart for RuPaul's Drag Race that somehow got noticed by a few Drag Race queens and I am forever embarrassed





More of THAT can be found here: http://thelettergii.tumblr.com/tagged/drag-race-anime-school

Last but not least, designs for the fashion show! It's, uh, totally not themed around magical girls, nope. Nuh-uh.



That's all for now! I'm still like super duper busy but I just wanted to share more art -w-

[Rose]

Gii, I remember you! I'm still loving your work, although it feels like they could use some more cleanup or a better method of getting them on the computer. Are you using a digital camera? Scanners are always better, although there is a lot you can do if you have Photoshop or something else that can do cool things like levels adjustments or color adjustments or stuff like that.

[Gii]

Thank you Bobo! Yeah, all the pics in the last post were taken with a phone camera - I'm in a new apartment now and don't have access to a scanner, but I'm in the process of hopefully changing that!

[Black Spaghetti]

The work is beautiful, your colors look great to me.  If I had only one critique... I'd ask if you'd thought of going digital, like doing your work with an art program?  Also your clothes designs are amazing, my favorite would be the sailor princess and the poofy dress with the girl that has pigtails.

[Gii]

Ah, thanks! I can't take too much credit for the sailor princess, since it's based on a dress that the queen already owns and I just made some tiny embellishments. P:
I love designing outfits though! That's totally my shit.

I'm more comfortable doing traditional work tbh, but I have dabbled in digital stuff before! I designed this business card (and mascot) for a friend who does crochet and amigurumi work:



So yeah, any knowledge I have of digital programs is pretty elementary, haha!

[Rose]

Oh my gosh that's ADORABLE Gii!!! As far as I can tell, you're very talented regardless of your medium. My recommendation is just to play with both traditional and digital media and then just do whatever you enjoy more!