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loish.net:
Frequently Asked Questions
Categories:
Background information, plus tips and techniques relating to my digital artwork.
Info about drawing traditionally, my animation work and my web designs.
Info about where I studied and what I do now.
Permission for PSP tubes, tattoos, layouts, and more...
Info about requesting commissions, art trades, etc.
How to ask questions which are not answered in this f.a.q.
1. Digital art
1.1 Background info
1.1.1 How/where did I learn to draw
I’ve been drawing my entire life, ever since I was a tiny little kid. It was always something I enjoyed doing and put a lot of time into, which helped me to develop my skills gradually. I started drawing digitally with a mouse when I was 15 and got my first tablet when I was 16, after which I spent a sizeable portion of my free time drawing digitally. All of this was self-taught. When I was 18 I decided to study animation in college, which taught me how to animate, but didn’t teach me a great deal about drawing (besides the influence that animating naturally has on how someone draws). So in short, I taught myself how to draw by spending a lot of time doing it.
1.1.2 Inspiration
Many people ask me where I get my inspiration and ideas from. I am often inspired by other artwork that I find on the internet, through DeviantArt or browsing websites. I watch a lot of movies and animated films which are sources of inspiration too. I also have a lot of friends who draw or animate. The things which most often inspire me are colors or color combinations, which usually give me an idea for a drawing and motivate the drawing process.
1.1.3 Artistic Influences
When I was 15, I was inspired by japanese drawing styles (animé and manga), as well as various french comic artists (particularly the work of Aurore BlackCat) and Art Nouveau (particularly Alfonse Mucha). After joining DeviantArt I became very inspired by a wide range of other artwork on the site, mostly digital paintings. My DeviantArt favorites (a collection of images on the site which are my personal favorites) gives a pretty good idea of the type of artwork that inspires me, as well as this influence map I created in August 2010: [link]
1.1.4 Developing my own style
Some people ask me how I managed to develop my own style. It wasn’t really a conscious decision I made, nor do I have any specific tricks or methods to doing this. As lame as it sounds, I suppose developing your own style has to do with drawing a lot and very often. The more you draw, the more your work evolves and you start to find the ways of drawing which suit you best. It's important to nurture these unique approaches and not to be afraid to approach things differently if it feels right to you.
1.1.5 Getting started with digital art
I’ve been asked by people who are just beginning to draw digitally for tips on where to begin. In my case, I started by just messing around in photoshop and other digital programs, not expecting too grandiose of an outcome. I draw a lot of smaller drawings in a day, rather than putting a lot of my time into larger, more elaborate pieces. The more detailed digital works came gradually as my skills improved. So a more concise answer would be: draw a lot, draw fast, and experiment!
1.2 Approach
1.2.1 How often do I draw
When I started out drawing digitally, I made something like 2 – 5 small drawings a day and basically spent most of my free time drawing. Nowadays, I draw all the time because it is my job, and the amount of time I spend drawing outside of work varies so much that I can’t really say how much time I spend doing that. Let’s just say it’s an almost-daily activity.
1.2.2 Using reference
Most of my finished artwork is created without reference. The lighting, shading, colors, anatomy, subject matter, and any other aspect of the drawing are pretty much always created from my imagination. If I do use reference for my personal artwork, I take the drawing as far as I can before I feel the need to consult photographs or other reference material to refine details, such as hands. Sometimes I draw caricatures or realistic images which mimic photos, which are always made using a ref. As for advice, my opinion on using references is that it’s just an all-around good thing to do for your drawing skills, and it’s also fun. I recommend it to all! I just personally prefer not to use references as a starting point for most of my illustrations.
1.2.3 Life drawing
I took some life drawing classes in college, but they were not intensive and were only given once a week for one semester. Although I really enjoyed them, they didn’t have a gigantic impact on my drawing style or technique, probably because they weren’t given that often.
1.2.4 How long do I take
I spend on average between 6 to 10 hours to make a detailed digital piece. Sometimes I take longer and sometimes shorter. On quicker speed sketches such as the ones found on my sketchblog, I spend between 1 to 3 hours.
1.2.5 Original size of the images
When drawing digitally it’s important to start at a large resolution, and downsize later for viewing on the web. This is essential to being able to make high-quality prints of digital work. I often start with a canvas that is at least A4 format (300DPI) or larger.
1.3 Tools
1.3.1 Programs
I use Adobe Photoshop for practically everything. I am currently using CS5.5. In the past I have used Painter, Opencanvas or OekakiBBS.
1.3.2 Brushes
I tend to use the standard set of brushes that come with Photoshop, and mess around with the flow and size until I like what I see. I don’t make my own brushes or use downloaded sets. Click here for a rough indication of which brushes I use.
1.3.3 Mouse or tablet
I haven’t used a mouse in years and only use a digital drawing tablet, which, for those who don't know, is a kind of surface on which you can control your computer's mouse movements with a pen. I use a Wacom Intuos3, A6 wide format.
1.3.4 Tablet advice
Sometimes people approach me for advice on which tablet to buy. I would suggest buying a Wacom tablet, since it is said to be the most reliable brand out there, not to mention that I am completely unfamiliar with any other brand. As for which make and size, it depends on your needs and budget. In my experience, larger tablets are not necessarily better than smaller ones, and the more expensive the Wacom tablet is, the better it is likely to be. I have always been very pleased with the Intuos model, and my personal favorite is the Intuos4, because it is precise and responsive. The cheaper Graphire4, which I owned for a long time, works fine as well.
I have used Cintiqs in the past and find that they are amazing but am not compelled to switch from the good old fashioned USB tablet. Any other info can of course be found on the Wacom site or through Google.
1.4 Techniques
1.4.1 Sketching
For sketches, I try to put more emphasis on flow and expression than on anatomical precision. Shapes, movement and direction are more important than details, which can be added later. This approach reduces stiffness in the final drawing. I often sketch digitally using Photoshop, although sometimes I also sketch using pencil. For examples of how I sketch, please see the following links: [link] [link] [link] [link]
1.4.2 Lineart
Lately I'm not a big user of lineart, preferring instead to paint over a very rough sketch and just wing it from there. When I do use lineart, I often draw my lineart with pencil, scan it in and then color it digitally. I usually do the coloring on a separate layer, and then eventually merge the two and paint it all on one layer, which helps to blend the image into a unified whole. As for digital lineart, I tend to draw it freehand on a large scale and downsize later, which helps smooth out the linework. I’m not a big user of the pen tool or any other non-freehand tools.
1.4.3 Coloring
People often ask me how I choose colors. This is largely an intuitive process. I just slap really rough colors onto the image and mess around with it until I like what I see. Using color editing controls plays a huge role in this process – hue/saturation, color balance, and replace color are the options I use most. When I’m happy with the colors I see in front of me, I start adding more details. A useful tip is to avoid using shadows or highlights which are simply lighter or darker versions of your base color. Try using a different color for the shadows or highlights to give more dimension and life to your picture. For examples of my coloring process, please see the following links: [link] [link] [link] [link]
1.4.4 Textures
Textures play a huge role in all my work. They have an effect on the colors and overall look of all my illustrations. I use a method which is described here. I also tend to add a texture early in the painting process, merge it with the coloring layer, and basically paint on the texture, which helps blend the texture in with my coloring. As for the types of textures I use, I often use images of concrete or plaster walls, which have fine, grainy details and give a grungy look. I get most of my textures from cgtextures and lost and taken. For some before/after pics of textures in my artwork, please see the following links: [link] [link] [link] [link]
1.4.5 Layers
Nowadays I almost always use one layer to paint, adding extra layers for small tweaks and adjustments throughout the painting process but merging them with the main layer frequently. Especially when I’m painting in the details, I like to use one coloring layer and add layers only when I add textures or other details, which I end up merging into one layer after a while. I find this easier and that it brings the image together, so to speak, even though it is occasionally a very impractical approach.
1.5 Resources
1.5.1 Tutorials
I do not have any full tutorials posted online. I do have two step-by-step guides with some tips and explanations on them. These can be found here: [link] [link] [link] There are also a number of progress pics posted on my blog. Finally, I have written a digital painting tutorial for Digital Artist Magazine, issue 5, which can be purchased here, as well as a tutorial for ImagineFX, issue 65 (no longer available for pruchase). I have received many requests for tutorials, but making them is very time consuming and I try to provide as much information as I can through this F.A.Q!
1.5.2 Videos + Livestream
I also have two videos posted online which show the process of a quick digital painting I made, they can be found here: [link] and [link]. For the time being, I don't do livestreams.
1.5.3 Resources I use
People often ask me for links to good tutorials, but I don’t use tutorials myself so I can’t really give any tips on that. The only resource I really make a lot of use of is cgtextures.com.
2. Other activities
2.1 Traditional art
2.1.1 Pencils
The pencils I use are just good old mechanical pencils – the kind where you click on the back and more pencil comes out the front. I don’t have a specific type of mechanical pencil that I use – just whatever’s lying around.
2.1.2 Other tools
The other tools I have lying around are Pantone Tria markers and Van Gogh colored pencils, plus artline pens for inking. I don’t use these much. Since I scan the lineart into the computer, the paper type is usually just standard printer a4 sheets.
2.2 Animation
2.2.1 Links to my animation work
Besides here on loish.net, my animation work can be found on my vimeo page and my youtube page.
2.2.2 Animation programs
I use TVPaint for frame-by-frame animation, a useful program which offers good digital drawing tools and a timeline. I usually make the backgrounds for my animations in Photoshop and composite my animations in Adobe After Effects, as well as animate with it. I sometimes edit my animations with Adobe Premiere Pro, and in the past I have ocassionally used Anime Studio Pro to animate. Sadly I do not have much experience in 3D programs or compositing traditional pencil-drawn or cel animation, although I plan on changing that in the future.
2.3 Web related
2.3.1 loish.net
I used to code loish.net using notepad, having learned some basic html and css from various resources online. I moved on to Dreamweaver eventually, coding most of the website myself and using Simpleviewer for the galleries, but am now using Indexhibit with the styling and graphics made by me (and some jquery help from my boyfriend Arjen Klaverstijn).
2.3.2 Learning how to code
The best way to learn how to make your own website is search (with, for example, Google) for tutorials, websites, and so on. I learned by starting simple, learning how to make a basic html page and then finding ways to expand on this basic knowledge. However, my skills are far from professional! If you want a strong website and have no coding skills, it’s best to just have your site made for you by a professional.
3. Education and work
3.1 Work
3.1.1 Current work
I've been working as a freelance animator/illustrator in the Netherlands ever since I graduated in August 2009. I’m also working on producing two animated shorts which I am financing myself (for more info visit the Trichrome website).
3.1.2 Future plans
In the future I’d like to set up my own illustration and animation studio with fellow artists. However, I’m open to other possiblities too; it all depends on how my life goes the coming years.
3.1.3 Work tips
People sometimes ask me for tips on getting work, building a portfolio, etc. It’s important to keep in mind that the commercial art industry is different from country to country and I can’t give a lot of advice unless you also live in the Netherlands. It also depends on what industry you want to get into. In all cases, only include your strongest works in your portfolio and, if you’re looking for advice, consult someone who is in the specific field of work and location that you are interested in. In my experience, promoting my work online has been the most fruitful way of finding freelance work.
3.2 Education
3.2.1 My education
I studied animation for one year in Ghent, Belgium (at the Hogeschool Gent), and for four years in Hilversum, the Netherlands (at the Utrecht School of the Arts), obtaining a European Media Master of Arts and a Bachelor in Design. I chose animation because I thought it would be a good way to expand on my drawing skills.
3.2.2 College tips - Outside of The Netherlands
A lot of people from all over the world ask me for tips on choosing something to study and finding the right college for it. I feel bad, but there is little advice I can give! I don’t know anything about colleges outside of the Netherlands. The system in Holland is different than many other colleges (we don’t work with majors and minors, for example), and as mentioned before, the commercial art industry is also different, which of course has a large influence on your decision of what to study. Also, each college has a different view on what your portfolio should look like, so if you need help on what kind of work you should have, please consult someone at the college you’d like to go to.
3.2.3 College tips - The Netherlands
Here in the Netherlands, I can only give advice on the animation course at the Utrecht School of the Arts. At this particular school they focus a lot on training students to work in projects with a tight deadline, many of them interdiscplinary (working with filmmakers, game designers, and other students at the school). The focus is more on these projects than on training the students in animation techniques and skills. I really enjoyed my time at the Utrecht School of the Arts but found it to be a very flexible school where you can make or break your experience depending on how much effort you are willing to put into it. Information for international students can be found here: [link]
4. Permission
4.1 Licensing artwork
I am not interested in having my artwork licensed for use in signature tags or any other stock usage.
4.2 Layouts
I only allow my artwork to be used in layouts if my website link (loish.net) is visible on the image being used. Please e-mail me (info@loish.net) before using my artwork in a website layout so that I can indicate whether I approve of its use or not.
4.3 Avatars and icons
I do not allow for my artwork to be used in avatars or icons unless “loish.net” is visible on the actual avatar or icon.
4.4 Reference
Using my artwork as a reference is not a problem. It is only fair to link to the image you used as a reference and provide proper credit (with a link to loish.net).
4.5 Tattoos
No need to ask my permission to have my art tattooed on you. Go right ahead! All I ask in return is for you to send me a photo of your tattoo when you have had it done. (Some cool photos of loish tattoos I've received in the past: [link] and [link] )
4.6 Personal use
Using my image as your desktop wallpaper, printing out a small version for yourself, or any other small-scale personal use is perfectly fine. Please just don’t sell my art or claim it as your own.
4.7 Website or blog features
I am always happy to have my artwork featured on your journal, blog or website. There is no need to ask permission beforehand, and I'd love to receive a link when the artwork has been posted. Feel free to post my images with a link back to loish.net.
5. Various requests
5.1 Commissions
I ocassionally take commissions. For more info, please e-mail me (info@loish.net).
5.2 Requests + art trades
I don’t do requests or trades, sorry!
5.3 Free artwork
Sometimes I am approached to do artwork for free, in the context of projects such as games, comics, and animations. At this point in time I don’t do any artwork free of cost.
5.4 Buying prints and merchandise
Right now, the only place where you can buy my prints are at my DeviantArt prints shop, although I have plans to make my own web shop in the future. DeviantArt prints are all done through the internet – I upload the images to DeviantArt and the prints are all sent out via the website, so I never actually come into contact with them myself. For help with prints, please refer to DeviantArt’s help and f.a.q.
5.5 Interviews
If you’d like to interview me for a blog feature or basically any kind of publication (online or other), I’m perfectly willing to do that! However, I no longer do interviews for school projects or other formats which will not be published, since I get a lot of them and they are seriously time and energy consuming. In these situations, I hope my f.a.q is a good enough source of information! If there is anything which is not dealt with here and is very urgent, you can always e-mail me (info@loish.net).
5.6 Reviewing artwork & mentoring
I sometimes get requests from artists to review their artwork, give opinions and tips, and sometimes even mentor people in their artistic development (sometimes in the context of someone's schooling, sometimes not). At this moment I get too many messages like these and have too little time to actually fulfill all of these requests. Sorry!
5. Unanswered questions
If you have any questions about me or my artwork which are not answered in this F.A.Q, please do not hesitate to ask. You can do so with the form below or with an e-mail to info@loish.net. However, I will not answer questions that have already been answered in this F.A.Q, so please be sure to read through this page before typing your question!
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