Entry 26: Mother's Day

   Since Mother's Day is soon, I wanted to share a card that I made for my mom! I painted it with my watercolor brush (Aquash) and kept it simple and big enough for both me and my sister to write on it. I love my mom a lot and I thought it would be cute to make her a card with my own love and passion in it.

   I already wrote on it before I realized to take a picture, so I scribbled out the words since it's a bit personal. Sorry about that. My mom also likes cats, so I painted a cat to resemble our cat a little (Russian Blue), then I cut it out, and glued it onto the card itself, so it looks like it's just sitting and chilling there. I think this little project can be used for other occasions instead of just Mother's Day, and I find it nice since you can customize it and make it how you like it. It kind of reflects how much you appreciate the event when you put some effort and work into it. In general it's fun to make something for someone and then see how happy they are to receive it.

   Anyways, I am excited to include this with the gift we got her, and spend the Sunday with her and doing what she wants to do. I hope you enjoyed this short and kind of cute blog for today.

Entry 25: Aquabrush Watercolor Brush

   So a few days ago I went shopping and I got a few new art supplies. I decided I wanted to do a review one of them and see how well it works as a brush. I got the Aquash watercolor brush and I'm going to test it out.

   Okay, so the way it works is you open up the cap, and fill it up with water to the fill line. Then, you just screw the cap back on and take off the cap that's covering the brush.

             

   

   Once that's out of the way, you apply a little bit of pressure on the container to let some water wet the brush. Depending on how hard you squeeze and the amount of water that comes out, determines how opac and vivid the color will be. I put a little bit of too much pressure at first so the color is extremely light and not very dark, but it works really well!

   In sure after awhile of practicing with it, it'll be a lot easier to use! I can also imagine myself taking it with me when traveling since it's super easy to carry. It's a pretty remarkable brush that is really easy to use and keep around with you without losing or destroying the brush easily.

Entry 24: Starting off with Anime

   Okay, so a lot of people who are interested in getting into anime, usually have a lot of trouble trying to figure out where to start. There are thousands of options and multiple categories to chose from. I thought it would be a cool idea to suggest different animes of certain genres for your certain tastes based on what I've personally watched.

   First off is the mystery and thriller section. Okay, so this is the category that gets you thinking and involved with what's going on in the show. It's personally my favorite genre of anime, movies, books, etc. I suggest Zankyou no Terror (Terror in Resonance), Psycho-Pass, ERASED, and Death Note. These are just the few, but all of them are super interesting and entertaining. It makes you want to watch all over again once you've watched it once.

   Next is the supernatural/psychological animes, and these make you feel a little dead inside after watching I guess. It's hard to explain but it gives you an empty feeling of thoughts that you can't quite grasp. Tokyo Ghoul, Wolf's Rain, Black Butler, and Aldnoah.Zero are a few of those animes that do that. I also love this genre of shows as well.

    I'm not even sure if you'd count this next one as a genre but it definitely falls under the category of sad and depressing, yet also beautiful in a way. These animes are for the days when you just want to cry: Your Lie in April, Parasyte, Death Parade, Beyond the Boubdary, and Charlotte. I recommend these 10/10.

    Now for some anime movies if you aren't interested in watching a whole episode series. Hotarubi no Mori e, Spirited Away, The Empire of Corpses, Kiki's Delivery Service, and Five Centimeters Per Second. All of these are such fantastic movies that I just want to watch over and over again.

    For now, those are some basic categories and genres that I organized. Some of the animes listed in certain categories may be a bit gorey, mature, or behind in other specific genres as well. It is a good idea to search a background of the anime before watching it so you don't end up starting on the wrong foot.

Entry 22: Tracing Technique

  Before I begin this, I do not take any credit for this idea!!!! I found it on Tumblr and I thought it would be great to share it. I have tried and tested it out with another drawing to see if it works, and it does! It's really good for transferring messy sketches onto a nice piece of sketch, watercolor, Bristol, etc. paper.

   To begin, you want to sketch your drawing onto a cheap, thin piece of paper (graph or lined paper would be best.) I personally used really cheap lined paper for this. So after you sketched it on it should look something like this. (Sorry for how messy it is.) 

   So next, you want to turn your paper over and using a 6B lead or harder, scribble the back of the drawing so it's all covered. It doesn't have to be perfect, just enough to cover the back of the drawing.

   Okay, now take your good piece of paper, put it behind the drawing and start tracing over it with a pen or pencil, preferably something harder and sharp. Once you are done, it should have completely transferred onto your other sheet of paper.

   

  Using this method makes it so much easier to fix and make corrections in your drawings without worrying about a messy paper afterwards! To show that it works for other, more complex drawings I'll show you the first attempt at me using this method.

  That is all for this blog! I hope some artists out there found it helpful in anyway possible. Thank you!

Entry 23: The Property of Hate

  So I found another webcomic!!! It's called The Property of Hate created by Sarah Jolley. It is relatively new and quick to catch up to, and still updating today! I am in love with the art, the colors, the characters, and everything, so if you are curious as to what it's about, read on!

  To begin, the art is very bright and vivid. It catches your eye, and you find yourself observing every little detail you can find. The characters' designs and color scheme add to this factor, too, so it keeps you wanting to read more and understand the world that you are exploring. On top of that, it has an amazing storyline and plot to it! It updates page by page, so once you are caught up, it's really irritating to wait for an update but it's totally worth it.

   The story is about the main protagonist known as Hero, and a monitor head RGB who shows Hero his world and takes her on journies to complete some kind of mission. It is unclear as to what it is yet, but you follow their adventures and watch the plot unwind.

   I am already caught up with the story and I definitely recommend it if you are curious about different kinds of webcomics. If Homestuck isn't to your liking or you are just too lazy to read it all, The Property of Hate is something better to start off with. That's it for today, and thank you!

Entry 20: Improvement

   So, during Spring Break I am usually super bored and have absolutely nothing to do. I tend to look around my room trying to figure out something to do. On my walls I have a bunch of old drawings taped to it, so I came up with an idea. I decided I wanted to redraw a few of my drawings just to compare how much I've improved over a course of a year or more.

 

  I redrew a few things but I'll share one of the things I drew. The first picture is the old drawing from about a year and a half ago of a character, Denmark, from an anime called Hetalia. The second picture is the new that I drew up on March 23, 2016. Although it isn't colored, you can still see how much of a difference there is. My style has become so much more characteristic and to my liking. I've also noticed that I struggle less with trying to make it look how I want it to look. It's honestly incredible to see an actual change! 

   

Looking at it really helped me feel motivated to continue to draw more and more often and on a daily basis. If you ever have a really bad art block or even writers block, just look back at your old work and try to redo it. When you compare the two afterwards you'll be surprised by how much you've improved, because I know I was.

Entry 19: Obsessing over Danganronpa???

   Okay so I finished watching this anime called Dangan Ronpa and I just have to let out how much I love the art style and the whole storyline??? Okay first of all, Dangan Ronpa is this awesome video game that was later created into an anime and it is seriously beautiful and amazing. The whole vibe of the show and game is very mysterious and almost nauseating because of how messed up the situation is and the way the characters deal with it. I'm not going to explain the whole thing but there are parts in the show where it is drawn and animated completely different from the actual show itself.

   Okay so after it goes through parts in the show called 'Class Trials' it shows scenes of what the punishment will be for executing the murderer. It is so interesting how completely different all the characters are and being put in the situation that they are in. It is really hard to explain, but its similar to those mystery murder mansion games that people play at parties. I love how morbid it is and how the characters react to being executed because it just adds to the whole feeling and vibe that you get when watching it. Okay and what's even better than the first one is the sequel that was made! It's not made into an anime yet but I played the second game and wow! 10/10 recommend to people who are interested in a really good detective game with amazing art. 

 It's been over two weeks and I can't stop obsessing over how amazing the whole concept is. I definitely recommend it to people who like anime and like to be involved and think in a show/ game.

   Not only that, but the coloring scheme and just the colors that are used in general adds to the whole feel of it! Just a small warning though it is gory and a bit more towards mature/adult audiences. Either way this is now one of my favorite animes that I have ever watched and game that I played.

Entry 21: Homestuck

   Today, I feel like talking about a webcomic that I really enjoy! Not just for the art but for the whole story and plot that people share. First off, a webcomic is basically just a comic created by artists and posted online. 

   First off,  Homestuck is something that a lot of people have heard of Homestuck but a lot of people also haven't heard of it. It's a very miscellaneous fandom and known to be a very weird concept. Homestuck was created by Andrew Hussie on April 13, 2009. This webcomic is one of my absolute favorite stories. It has a great mix of seriousness, comedy, and culture (maybe if you count an alien species.) Homestuck is roughly about these four kids who play an Internet game called Sburb. This game causes a rift in the universe and the kids were introduced to another universe but instead of human inhabiting a planet they were trolls. You may think of something else when you hear trolls but these take on a whole new idea that just blows your mind. 

   Homestuck has this amazingly complex storyline that is just absolutely crazy it's wonderful. It's hard to explain so much of it since it will spoil it and is just too complicated to form into words. The characters are also really complex in their own ways as you continue to learn more as you read. I really recommend this amazing webcomic for people who enjoy a very different and unique story.

Entry 18: Speedpaint Video

   I decided to try out something new and I recorded myself painting! If you were able to guess the character, good job, but if not, it's Kuroo Testurou from the volleyball sports anime Haikyuu. This came out pretty good, but the only thing I wish is that the lighting was better and the video was a bit sharper and clear. It was also kind of frustrating trying to get it to look the way I was imagining it, but it met to my satisfaction. It's also pretty cool that I was able to share this since it's my first time experimenting with it. Anyway, here is the video (I seriously hope that the video works oh no):

And here is the finished picture:

   

   This whole watercolor painting took about an hour, but with the sketch and lining process it took about two hours or more all together. When I finished recording the video, I added some extra details off camera that you can notice in the picture compared to the video (if the video actually works). That's all for today!

Entry 17: Traditional Vs. Digital Art

   So I really wanted to talk about the pros and cons of drawing traditionally and drawing digitally. First off, if it wasn't obvious, traditional art is on a paper and you are using mediums such as colored pencils or markers. Digital art is through a computer on some sort of drawing program like SAI paint, or Sketchbook Pro. Okay, so I am mostly experienced with traditional art rather than digital, but even drawing digitally once, you can already feel and see so many differences. Don't just listen to my opinion but give it a try and you'll see what you think. This is just based on my own account.

   To begin, the pros and cons of traditional art! For me, it's easier for me to feel and see how much is too much on the paper and when I feel it is to my satisfaction. It can be hard to get it exactly the way you want it to look, but in the end it feels so good to just look at it; it was a blank piece of paper and now it's all colorful and unique. It personally makes me feel more accomplished since traditional art is known to be harder to work with. Also, when you make a mistake, just hope you can fix it.

   Digital art is much more forgiving when making mistakes and trying to make it exactly how you imagine it. It can be difficult trying to get used to the tools that your program offers. It can also be annoying not being able to feel how much pressure it being applied to the drawing since it's through a tablet. What I really like about it though is that there are so many settings and tools to experiment with! It's so much easier to make it look how you want t to look without worrying about mistakes. The main thing you need to worry about is if your program crashes on you in the middle of you drawing: your hard work will be deleted unless you constantly save it.

   Yeah, this is just based on my own experience and what I've heard from other artists. Don't let this discourage you into trying out different formats and mediums of art! Try it out yourself!!! Thank you very much.

Entry 16: Plans for Future Blogs

   I wanted to make a blog just to organize my plans and ideas for future blog posts. Slowly, I am using up all of my ideas and I may start to blog about other things than art. When I use up all of my potential for creating blog posts about art, I'll talk about anime that I find really amazing, but mainly focuses on the art of the show so it still relates to art. 

   For now, I do have a few of ideas left, and one of them I am trying really hard to figure out how to put it together. I really wanted to do a video of me painting using watercolor. My main trouble is that I can't find a good time of day for painting while there is good lighting outside for me to record. This blog might take me awhile to do but it's something I really want to do, so if anyone has any suggestions or can help that would be great!

    I plan on also discussing traditional art vs. digital art, and comparing the two mediums. So once I gather a bit more information and experience, then that should go up next! Lastly, I have an idea to talk about colors and what they go best with so they contrast and suit each other at the same time, but that also requires me to do research, so it'll take awhile for me to organize. That's all this blog was for the week so the next few weeks should be a bit more interesting!

Entry 15: Incorporating Art in Your Future (RANT)

   Many of us always get the question of, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" For an artist, many people look down at your future due to the doubt of not being able to sell your art or connect it to society, but that is not true. Art can take you in many directions in your life, so it bothers me when people laugh at that idea. There are many ways to continue doing what you love and proving everyone wrong that art has the potential to make a living off of. 

   First of all, as you continue to expand your boundaries with your artwork and learn, your art becomes much more eye catching to people. You need to be able to share your artwork with others in order for people to know about your talents. There are hundreds of websites to share your artwork on; Tumblr, Deviantart, Society6, inprnt, ArtAmino, coroflot, Flickr, and so much more to explore! By creating an audience for yourself, you can promote the idea of selling your art and people who are willing to, will buy your artwork! That's a first step to earning money for your future.

   With just that first step, you can set the idea of what else you can create with your artwork, go through college, and start your career. Sure it sounds easier said than done but it's possible! With the passion for drawing, you can become an animator, storyboard artist, concept artist, character designer, etc. Based on what you like to expand your talents on, you can continue your future through that!

   I just wanted to rant because it bothers me so much when people look down upon the idea of becoming and artist of some kind in the future. It isn't impossible if you go about it the right way, and it shouldn't be something to be ashamed of. Thanks for the little rant that I just needed to let out.

Entry 14: Art Amino

   So a long while ago, I discovered an app called Art Amino. I totally forgot, but I really wanted to share it for people who are interested in it. Art Amino is a community of artists from around the world who post and share their artwork. It is a great app for absolutely anything art related: tutorials, advice, discovering new artists, critique, contests, sharing your own art, challenges, trades, etc. There are a lot of endless possibilities with this app and anything art related! I do use this myself, and I have met many wonderful people along the way and just enjoy everything about it. 

   Art Amino also has a whole other assortment of other communities, such as Cats Amino, Anime Amino, Harry Potter Amino, Makeup Amino, and a lot more that I recommend some of you to check out if you are very passionate about things like that. I just wanted to share this because I feel like it deserves much more appreciation and attention because it is just such a fascinating way to share what you like and express that to other people who feel the same way! Anyway, I hope that this can be helpful to any artists who are looking for a kind and helpful community, so goodbye!!! 

Entry 13: Favorite Artists

   I really wanted to share a few of my favorite artists mainly because I feel like they need to be noticed more and I just want to share my inspirations and influences. They are absolutely amazing artists and I hope someday that I can get on their level of skill. Please enjoy their artwork and what I have to say about them.

   First up is Ilya Kuvshinov. Ilya is a russian freelance illustrator and comic artist, but he usually draws personal illustrations for fans and uploads them online for free. He has been a professional digital artist for five years and gets his inspiration from his surroundings in Yokohama, Japan. His field of work relies on games and animations, being he is a lead artist and story artist for it. Kuvshinov's artwork is just so amazing and elegant! I love everything about it.

   Second in line is Sui Ishida. Ishida is a famous and well known manga artist for his series called Tokyo Ghoul, and his continuation called Tokyo Ghoul:re which was later adapted into an anime. He has just an amazing art style and the way he colors just makes it even more aesthetically pleasing to look at! I especially love it for how gentle yet how harsh it looks.

   Lastly is another Japanese artist, Shiho Enta. She mainly works on drawing book covers, illustrations, and drawing for manga. Shiho also creates and sells book compilations of her artwork. I discovered her from my cousins who bought me some of her books of artwork for my birthday. Her art looks so fragile and gentle, but also this feeling of strength comes off of it, I just love every bit of it! Her artwork is something that you just keep staring at and find something new every time.

Entry 12: Art of 2015

   For my first blog of 2016, I wanted to do a wrap-up of my artwork. It's a great way to see your improvement throughout the year, and using that to see how much you might change the next year. I am super excited to see how much I will improve in 2016, because I have been feeling really motivated in improving my style and trying out new techniques! Anyway, I'll be ordering these from the beginning of 2015, to the end. Let's begin!

This first one was made around August, but sadly I don't know the exact date. He is a character from a podcast called Welcome to Night Vale, and also features in the podcast creators' book that was released on October 2015.

This one was made on September 26. It is one of my characters that I made when I was struggling with trying to change my art. Honestly, it is seriously terrible and I want to burn it! Quite exciting to look back at old art, right? I really want to redraw this and do a side-by-side comparison.

You've probably seen this one already if you have read some of my previous blogs. It was from the three marker challenge and was made on October 6. Not much to say about this one since I made a whole blog post dedicated to it.

Aha, wow. I remember how much I messed up on this one. It was made on October 14 and this was when I really was trying to change my style or drawing. Now, the skin is tinted pink because I took the wrong marker for the skin color on accident, and now she looks like a tomato, but hey, what can you do! I did a lot of experimenting on this drawing, so I wasn't expecting it to come out to my satisfaction.

This one was made on November 15, and it's just a simple sketch that I don't really like. I was just bored and testing out new pencils that I had gotten. Not only that, but practicing at drawing hands!

I made a blog post dedicated to this drawing, as well. It was made on November 28 and was something really interesting to experiment with! It was also my first time trying out digital art and messing around with the settings on it.

This was created on December 20 and it was more for testing out on drawing hands. I'll admit, it's really simple, but I love the background of it!

Alright, this is the last one. I started drawing this around the end of December but finished it on January 8, 2016. It's one of my favorite drawings that I've done, and I love how I colored the hair. It'll be exciting going back to this at the end of the year and criticizing myself and seeing how much I will have improved! I hope you liked this small 2015 wrap-up of my art.