Here’s another how to draw video for the visually-minded. Two much shorter videos this time with much of the redundant parts edited out so that you can really quickly get to the good stuff. This was a really experimental tutorial with a bunch of new techniques thrown in. I don’t usually draw this kind of stuff, but I had some visual images for different scenes. I hope you find these videos helpful in some way!

Tags: drawing, Photoshop, shading

I just discovered the power of youtube and desktop recording software

I love to write more than anything else in the world. But there are some things that you can’t really show with text and pictures. Also, some people just learn better with video. So to be helpful in that way, we’re going to be posting videos in some of our tutorials on how to draw and create other forms of art. Please comment and let us know what you think.

These tutorials were done using Photoshop CS2. Don’t worry, we’re getting a digital camera soon so that we can post video tutorials on how to draw traditionally.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Tags: Art Tutorial, Digital Art, Photoshop, realistic, shading, Tutorial, Tutorials

Good afternoon everyone! Oh my goodness, Alex and I apologize for our VERY LONG absence. As mentioned in a previous post, Alex and I had a summer class, and it involved A LOT of writing and research for our final paper. So again, we apologize. For those of our faithful viewers who stuck with us through our absence, thank you. Faithful viewers like you keep us alive. I’m sorry for sounding like a public access television station, but it’s true.

I’ve received emails from people asking how, when an image is colored, to shade white objects and clothing. One of the main complaints is how an object looks “dingy” or “dirty” when people shade using shades of grey. Well, shading white objects and clothes is something I learned a few years ago when I was still in high school. Grey does drag white down and often makes it look dingy. White is suppose to be crisp, clean, and fresh. I discovered that using shades of aqua help with the shading process. Why? Aqua plays off the white, making the white pop off the paper/screen and shout “CRISP!” Additionally, the white also makes the aqua pop creating the illusion of true shadows. Of course, in the non-drawing word, objects that are white often have grey shadows, but remember, when drawing, sometimes art doesn’t intimidate life. Let’s that a look, shall we? Click to read more …

Tags: Aquas, coloring techniques, coloring white, drawing tutorial, shading, shading techniques, shading white, white

Good afternoon! Marisol here with a Photoshop tutorial. Hooray!

Since summer vacation began, I’ve had the opportunity to draw more and experiment with new Photoshop brushes. Previously, I shared some of the drawings I did using some of these new brushes, but those images were on a smaller scale, so it may have been difficult to see the effects. As mentioned before, one of my favorite brushes is the downloadable skin texture brush, simply because the brushes make skin appear more porous, eliminating the smooth airbrushed look that Photoshopped skin usually has. Here’s how to draw textured skin using skin texture brushes. Click to read more …

Tags: Art Tutorial, How to Draw Skin, Photoshop Brushes, Photoshop Tutorial, Photoshopping Skin, Skin Texture Photoshop

Hopefully, these images aren’t as blurry as they appear.

Hello everyone! Mari here. Boy, have I been busy! Between cleaning, cleaning, and cleaning (as well as yard work), I haven’t had time to breathe, let alone post anything. However, the past two weeks, I have been working on the above two images in order to show you what effects you can achieve by using downloadable Photoshop brushes. The majority of the brushes used were found on My Photoshop Brushes, a site I mentioned in a previous post. As I mentioned before, I love unique brushes simply because the default brushes are dull and don’t have much leeway when it comes to creating awesome images. For instance, if you want flower petals floating around, there isn’t a default brush for that. For example, there’s a grass brush in the default brushes, but it faces one direction or comes out in a string of multi-colored clumps that look like confetti at a parade. By searching a brush database, you can find a grass brush that suits your needs if the default brushes don’t work for you when learning how to draw. Click to read more …

Tags: Default photoshop brushes, downloadable photoshop, downloadable photoshop brushes, Flower Petal Brushes, Obsidian Dawn Photoshop, Obsidian Down Brushes, Photoshop Brushes, Skin Brushes

Now that it’s summer, I’m happy to say that I can draw daily. I’m in my element once again; woohoo! I haven’t done a lot of traditional art recently simply because I haven’t found my groove with that yet (I lost it over the LONG semester). However, digital art hasn’t been much of an issue, especially since the image is literally right in front of me instead of flat on a table. For those who don’t use a Wacom tablet, believe me, there is a world of difference. Especially when learning how to draw. Sometimes, stores like Best Buy offer a “Try Before You Buy” deal if you ask the sales associate (the hardware is hooked up to one of the in-store computers); if you’re curious, try this.

Anywho, but most of us use programs like Paint.net, GIMP, or Photoshop to create digital art. However, a lot of the default brushes, I find, are not as helpful as one may hope. Personally, I do like the airbrushes because of the soft colors and the softened look to the images, but sometimes, I need a little more than default brushes. Now, occassionally, I use Paint.net and GIMP, but I haven’t in awhile. So today, I’m going to focus mainly on Photoshop. So, Photoshop users, are you tired of default brushes? I am; so I’m going to show you some of the best places to find brushes for Photoshop. Here are my top three. Click to read more …

Tags: Art, Free Gimp Brushes, Free Photoshop Brushes, Gimp Brushes, Photoshop, Photoshop Brushes, Tutorials

Good afternoon everyone! How are you today? I’m a little chilly. The other day, it was 75 degrees and wonderful outside, so I spent much of my time out on my deck. Today, it’s sunny and 39 degrees and very cold! Normally, 39 degrees isn’t bad, but since it was 75 the other day, it feels much colder than need be. I hate it! Where’s the warm? Of course, the temperatures are suppose to be in the 60s and 70s next week when I go back to class. My campus annoys the heck out of me simply because we ALWAYS have spring break in winter. Why? To torment us poor souls who can’t fly to warmer locations due to lacking money. Nyah! I want to go to Disney World!

So, for the past few months (since December), I’ve had a picture working on my featuring Kitana and Ikura and their love, yet, I can’t seem to figure out how to draw it. The picture is to be based on Yuki Kajiura’s song “Vanity,” a song I’m totally in love with!

My idea for this image was to place Kit and Ikura in water, floating next to each a la Yuna and Tidus from Final Fantasy X. However, I can’t seem to execute this idea as well as I like and my drawing looks like boogers on stick–ew! Click to read more …

Tags: "You'll be there by my side/ you may never know my devotion", Art Tutorial, artist help line, Artist's Block, Disney World, drawing tutorial, Final Fantasy X, Kalafina, weddings, Yuki Kajiura

Good morning all! How is everyone today? Me, I’m pretty good. I took some pictures today and worked on dying my hair pink. The streaks I wanted to be pink turned blonde. My hands, however, are very pink. I can’t wash the dye off, which makes me grrr! It sucks.

So I got a request from an acquintance from the SoapNet forum for a tutorial on how to draw a Disney-like fairy. Luckily, I did one last summer for E-How. So today, for LaVerne, I will post my fairy tutorial here. This fairy is drawn in nine steps and is fairly easy to do. So without further delay, here’s the Disney fairy! Click to read more …

Tags: Disney Art Tutorial, Disney Fairy, Disney Tutorial, Fairy Drawing, Fairy Tutorial, Fantasy Drawing, How to Draw Fairies, How to Draw Fantasy, How to Draw Fantasy Characters, Tinkerbell, Tinkerbell Drawing, Walt Disney, Whimsical Drawing, Whimsy

Hi guys! Marisol here! For those who are regulars at Sketching House, don’t be alarmed by this post. The image below is a picture request that I did for my friends at Soap Net, especially Peep. I hope you enjoy! I will explain later. Right now, bed time!

Goodnight!

Click to read more …

Tags: All My Children, Cameron Mathison, Ryan Lavery

Sub-subtitle: And other stuff…

I’m back with part two of my assorted brushes guide for Photoshoppers. Why? Because picking the right brush is essential when learning how to draw with a tablet or a mouse. If you’re short on time, go ahead and skip to the calligraphy and Paint.net sections because the rest of the assorted brushes aren’t that good. Just make sure to check out brushes 14, 15, 18 and 20.

Click to read more …

Tags: Alex, brush, brushes, gimp, Photoshop, photoshopped, tablet