A Portrait of Secretary Diamond Dust · 7:37pm May 1st, 2023
(Some quick things, because a lot's been going on and don't want the posts to be buried:
- I'm running a GoFundMe for a loved one and her dog. GFM itself is here, blog post first talking about it is here, the update I gave a week later is here.
- I have commissions open, for MLP and potentially non-MLP works. Rules and rates are here.
- I have a blog post about possibly starting a Patreon here, looking for input from my readers.)
Anyway. So.
When I was teenager, I went through a "I'm going to be a comic artist" phase. I acquired a whole bunch of "how to draw" books that I am still, well into adulthood, trying to pawn off on somebody who'll buy them, and I'm sure I still have at least one old sketchbook around here somewhere, since I kept accumulating them.
I ended up leaving it by the wayside, deciding to focus on the written word instead. But recently, very tentatively, I've been picking it back up. I tend to write in bursts, and need something to do in between as a recharge activity. So I'm trying to make art into that activity. I can listen to Youtube videos or podcasts in the background when I do, too, which I can't while writing. I may actually catch up on Worldbuilding for Masochists one of these days...
MLP characters have a very simple style, one that, even with some personal tweaks and flourishes, feels ideal for practicing on. So I created a fledgling DA account (possibly a poor idea given the state of the site, but hey, I'm a beginner, this is a side-hobby, and it's a convenient location to place my scribblings for now) and decided I'd try drawing a character from The Long Eventide.
In my great wisdom, my first thought was to try drawing Penumbra. Who has full-body markings. And a complex cutie mark. And wings.
Then I slapped myself upside the head and decided to draw Diamond Dust instead
Now keep in mind, I didn't get very far in learning back then, and I feel like calling what skills I have "rusty" would be an understatement. However, for a first time pony drawing?
I'm kind of proud of it.
(full DA page is over here.
Also, next chapter is over halfway done and should be out tomorrow, the day after at the latest.)
Yes, that's a recognizable pony!
Nice work! Certainly better than anything I can manage in that medium.
Nice
Well, you've certainly proved you have the aptitude to become a competent artist. You've got a million things to learn yet, and unending hours of practice and exploration to go through if you want to get really good, but that's kinda true of everything that's worth doing. To me, the best thing about this drawing is the things you didn't do, which are the hallmarks of a beginner trying to shortcut the process of working toward becoming skilled.
If you don't want unsolicited advice, feel free to skip the following paragraph.
The thing that I think will help you the most right now is to get a better grasp of 3D forms. Those boring-looking parts in your drawing books with the cubes, cylinders, and comes will get you drawing forms rather than outlines. Even for highly abstracted cartoons, built around aggressively 2D software, the knowledge of form and shape will give you an advantage in your rendering.