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The Pitfalls of Speed PaintingI've been meaning to write about this for a while now, but recently a video popped on up Ctrl+Paint about the same topic and it encouraged me to finally talk about it. It's a practice that's been misconstrued and misunderstood for a while now, so I wanted to help people get a proper understanding on the subject.
Speed painting has been something of a fad for 4 or 5 years now, even back when I was first starting digital work. Like many artists out there, I thought, "Sweet, I can do really cool work, really fast!" And like many artists out there, in the back of my head I was probably thinking, "This is easier than learning the normal way!"

Well, here's the main problem in regards to speed painting. Any of those really cool, realistic and well done speed paintings you see are done by professionals who have been painting for years and years. These a

Online Figure Drawing AidsIf you're like me, you might have gotten lazy when it comes to practicing figure drawing. Sometimes it's difficult to find decent photos to reference, to do gestures or otherwise, so it's easy to do a couple drawings for practice then throw in the towel.
Well, there are a number of sites out there that I've come across over the years that help with that sort of thing. They pull stock images and such from different sources and give you a randomizer and timer and other features, or show anatomical structures that you can manipulate. Below I'll list some of the ones I've come across that might help you. Some of them have the same images, so you can probably just pick a couple favorites.
Pose Maniacs
An oldie but goodie. I've used this site for ages and it's only gotten better. On it you'll find 3D models of poses that you can rotate around, and they all show the musculature. You can browse the poses, or use the random viewer, or the timed v

Is Reference Bad?I feel like I've addressed this before at some point, in some other journal, but I find myself either discussing this with people a lot, or coming across people who on their work proudly claim to have "used no reference."
The biggest problem, and misconception, regarding references is that people feel like it's cheating or that it somehow cheapens their work. While I can understand the sense of accomplishment coming from using no reference to finish a painting or drawing, people who consistently do it are only hurting themselves in the long run. So in short, no, reference isn't bad.
Artists have been using reference since the days of the old masters. They would reference life, whether it be landscapes, objects on a table, or models standing in a studio. They would even reference their own sketches or other people's work in order create convincing paintings.
For some reason, a lot of people today seem to think that in order to be a good artist, they have to be able to do things without

How to use DPI properly.This is one of the biggest problems I see other people running into, and I've had to explain it a countless number of times. The bummer is that it's really quite simple, but if you don't know how it works it's easy to get mixed up.
The following is more or less what I'm going to tell you, but in a less comprehensive fashion. So if these 2 main points make enough sense to you, then you can decide if you need more information and explanation:

You only need to set DPI when working with actual dimensions like inches or centimeters, etc. So if you're working directly in pixels already, it's useless.

Therefore, the only time you really need to set the DPI is when you need to ensure good print quality, and know your real world dimensions but not the exact pixels. The program will set the pixels for you based off the other information.
First and foremost, you REALLY don't need to work in real world dimensions such as inches or centimeters unless

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I need a challenge, help me out.

Journal Entry: Sun Mar 6, 2011, 5:36 PM

I don't have a ton of time on my hands at the moment, but I'm really looking forward to finding time soon to do some personal paintings. I have a bunch of ideas, but I kinda want to try something fun and new to change things up a bit.

Anyway, if you have any cool ideas, like a neat concept or different style I could jump at for fun one of these days, hit me with it!

I just ask that you don't suggest your own personal characters or something like that. Sneaky way to get a free commission, I'm onto you...

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Mood: Joy

I need a challenge, help me out.by `Rahll

Journals / Personal

©2011-2013 `Rahll

~Imthenats Mar 16, 2011 Hobbyist Photographer

How 'bout an alien family going to the beach?

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~PureExploit Mar 15, 2011

Lord of the Rings Fan art

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~Frazzled-Niya Mar 14, 2011 Hobbyist Digital Artist

a flustered clown jungling a gun trying to escape a mass of zombies trying to eat him

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~BroncBuster Mar 14, 2011

I would continue with what your are already doing so well. Many would enjoy viewing more of your unique Halo/Alien Cross over art. An image that comes to me as striking would entail the legendary ending of Halo 3, when the Master Chief returns to the cryo sleep pod, to await for rescue. The drifting ship wreckage is tumbling in the void of empty space with the only illumination beign given off by the A.I. Construct Cortana as she watches over her ward sleeping in frozen stasis. The cryo pod, swirling with steam/frost is embraced lovingly in mockery by an Alien Zenomorph curled around the illumanited cryotube, dripping pools of sliva onto the pod, with the construct watching in horror, unable to stop the terror that is to come. The darkness of the compartment...enveloping all. Cheers mate and best wishes!

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~HeyMrKindred Mar 14, 2011 Student Traditional Artist

A little TEKKON KINKREET style never hurt anyone. [link]

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~Skellagirl Mar 11, 2011 Hobbyist Digital Artist

Do something TOTALLY different than what you usually do. Do something soft and romantic.

Or, do something more... abstract.

OR DRAW CHUCK NORRIS, PLEASE?

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*WhitneyDewel Mar 10, 2011 Professional Digital Artist

Something with a more feminine theme?

Less mechanical? Maybe more painterly?

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~BenRR Mar 8, 2011

Looking at the work you've done so far, I notice that you paintings tend to use a limited number of objects and characters. You'll have a ship and a character, or a two characters in combat. (I'm not criticizing it, it's a great style and you use it well) My challenge to you would be to paint a busy scene with a subtle, but distinct, focus. Something the viewer has to look at for a while before they realize what they should be paying attention to. Something like this: [link] The focus is the gentlemen in the center, but it takes a while for the eye to find it because there is so much else going on.

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!Celphirio Mar 8, 2011 Hobbyist Digital Artist

A good challenge I always try is to design a unique weapon (for example, a metal boxing glove with shotgun barrels in the knuckles, so when you hit something, it shoots) thats deviates from all your typical ideas, then design the weapon and the character that uses it, and try to explain why the character uses it and if it is practical for that use.

or...

nature is always good. But I understand your pain! Finding inspiration at times is not something a non-artist can understand.

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~Aeromotion Mar 8, 2011 Hobbyist Digital Artist

What about new styles? Pixel art or something like that...

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