Long Thread with Important Information! Â Free Art!
The artist community here and the wait for beta/launch has slowly inspired me to do what I swore to myself I'd never do when I signed up to the forums: open an art thread. Even though my style is widely nonstandard, (not even considered "art" by some due to the liberties I take with linework) I thought I would post here. Maybe some people won't mind. Maybe they'll like it, and ask me to reproduce their characters. Maybe I'll improve and be able to use a more traditional approach someday.
This thread is supposed to be an art thread, but unlike some of the more basic original posts, I'll be going into detail with an FAQ on my style, my tools, and the sort of things I'm capable of so you can decide if my "art" is for you. If you'd rather not read it, you can skip down to my example section, and the instructions for reply format.
If you are one of the first people to request art, your resultant image will probably be used as an example. You allow me the right to post completed works to my Flickr account so I can link them and send them to you.
That's fine. How do I request art?
Reply to this thread or send me a PM with the following information:
An attached or embedded desired reference(s) of your character. (Your work will be the size of this reference and will resemble it--I cannot do a full-body with a portrait reference!)
Any notable personalized details. Do you want different armor? Do they look different from their model? If yes, how? Do you want a certain color scheme to be used? Do you want the colors flat and un-layered?
What kind of motif you would like (Watercolor, pencil/fine pen ink, pastel with blends, or stained glass)
Some people say "do what you want" but I'd like the extra info, because it makes it easier for me to give you something you will like.Â
How can I thank or repay you for your work? Do you charge?
I can't accept real money because things aren't in place for that. Especially now, since it's beta and I'm bored, I'm doing work for free! When the game starts, I'll  optionally accept gil tips, or mats, or dungeon help, though! I'll also accept art trades--just make it clear in your PM. Rep is nice too.
Art is first come, first serve--I'll do them in order, but I'll never stop people from posting. If you'd like a piece, you'll get one soon!Â
Thanks for putting up with the long thread! I look forward to drawing your character for you!Â
The artist community here and the wait for beta/launch has slowly inspired me to do what I swore to myself I'd never do when I signed up to the forums: open an art thread. Even though my style is widely nonstandard, (not even considered "art" by some due to the liberties I take with linework) I thought I would post here. Maybe some people won't mind. Maybe they'll like it, and ask me to reproduce their characters. Maybe I'll improve and be able to use a more traditional approach someday.
This thread is supposed to be an art thread, but unlike some of the more basic original posts, I'll be going into detail with an FAQ on my style, my tools, and the sort of things I'm capable of so you can decide if my "art" is for you. If you'd rather not read it, you can skip down to my example section, and the instructions for reply format.
FAQ
Why is "Art" in quotes? I'm sure you're fine!
This is because many fine artists or DeviantArt posters do not consider my work to be art at all. In turn, this is because I am reliant on tracing references due to a moderate defect in the tendons of my hands. I can hardly hold a pencil or stylus correctly; my hands are so unsteady that I have trouble drawing the most basic of shapes. Having a non-screen tablet does not help things, and due to space constraints and money I'm not able to use physical media like some of you do. Having a reference or lines already there makes things much easier on me, and allows me to focus more on the creative matters (like color and effects). Without a reference, or even with, my lines have a severe wobbling or erratic quality, even with repeated cleaning.
I have never hidden that I trace images. Frequently, I change enough of an image that this is not recognizable. In fact, I use references primarily for shapes and composition--I don't explicitly copy the image itself. I always use photos off Google, and never use other people's artwork as a reference (or try to pass things off as my own.) I do do my own colors and never even copy those from references.
The fact that I have to take these liberties to get anything decent after years of practice is frustrating. Many other artists don't like my art and often do not excuse my techniques: it is for this reason that I left the DeviantArt community (where I was a non-participant and basically used the site as a backup service.)
Because drawing characters usually hinges on using references anyway, and this community is kind about it, I've decided to start up again. My work will only be visible here and offered to the users of this forum.
What is your style like?
I'm going to preface this by saying that my art does not resemble the CG-colored computer art that is common on the internet. There's nothing wrong with this, and I wish I could do it, but due to my inability to draw, my work is more evocative of paintings, even though it is all digital. Some people say that my work is actually heavily evocative of Yoshitaka Amano (it was from looking at his works that I learned how to do lines, anyway.Â
Abigael Causland (sp) says in her thread that she draws to color, and I'm in much the same boat. My work contains absolutely explosive use of vibrant and beyond-life, brilliant color, which is often its only redeeming quality. No one does colors quite like me, and some artists have remarked that I seem to have an innate knowledge of color theory. I know what goes where without really thinking.
I have several different motifs, including Amano-esque watercolor, flat pastel with heavy blending, colored pencil/ink combo, and "Stained Glass Woodcut Paintings." You're free to choose any of these that you like, although I don't yet have examples of the latter three.
What tools do you use and how? How long does it take you to finish a piece?
I use Corel Painter 12, with a variety of brushes depending on the motif, including: Watercolor, Pencil, Liquid Ink, and pastels. I also use the Woodcut effect filter for my stained glass paintings. I don't like using burn and dodge that much, unless it's a Stained Glass Woodcut, which relies on that for its effect. Of course, I wouldn't be able to do this without the tracing paper mode.Â
Typically, I'll trace the reference you give me, make any needed changes, and start throwing color on. Tracing is the longest and often takes several hours due to my physical issues. I'll then upload the image and give it to you. Pieces can take anywhere from 3 hours all the way up to 8 hours, although I usually work on them straight and attempt quick turnover times.
I have a small 6 inch Bamboo tablet that is about 4-5 years old. I'd love to have a better one.
Do you have any restrictions?
Yes. I need references, preferably ingame screenshots. Right now, the benchmark is a wonderful source of these. You can use other screenshots, but please don't link me art done by other people. Get a screenshot that has the pose you want, or take a screenshot of your character and find a pose on Google Images, etc. I can "draw" a pose as long as I have a picture; multiple references are fine.
I won't do characters in suggestive poses or skimpy clothing/swimsuits. (but the female Miqo'te pose is fine, if you want.) I don't feel right about doing that. I also can't do multiple characters in one image right now, because that's hard to reference, but I plan on doing so eventually.
I also don't have to draw the armor your character is wearing--I can draw whatever set you want as long as I know what it looks like!
Can I see some examples?
Yes. Here's a watercolor painting I did of FreelanceWizard's L'yhta Mahre.Â
![[Image: 9481284017_c1672572e8.jpg]](http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2834/9481284017_c1672572e8.jpg)
If you are one of the first people to request art, your resultant image will probably be used as an example. You allow me the right to post completed works to my Flickr account so I can link them and send them to you.
That's fine. How do I request art?
Reply to this thread or send me a PM with the following information:
An attached or embedded desired reference(s) of your character. (Your work will be the size of this reference and will resemble it--I cannot do a full-body with a portrait reference!)
Any notable personalized details. Do you want different armor? Do they look different from their model? If yes, how? Do you want a certain color scheme to be used? Do you want the colors flat and un-layered?
What kind of motif you would like (Watercolor, pencil/fine pen ink, pastel with blends, or stained glass)
Some people say "do what you want" but I'd like the extra info, because it makes it easier for me to give you something you will like.Â
How can I thank or repay you for your work? Do you charge?
I can't accept real money because things aren't in place for that. Especially now, since it's beta and I'm bored, I'm doing work for free! When the game starts, I'll  optionally accept gil tips, or mats, or dungeon help, though! I'll also accept art trades--just make it clear in your PM. Rep is nice too.
Art is first come, first serve--I'll do them in order, but I'll never stop people from posting. If you'd like a piece, you'll get one soon!Â
Thanks for putting up with the long thread! I look forward to drawing your character for you!Â
