I have about 250 16x24 old figure drawing’s (charcoal, pastel, etc) from art school, and am wondering if anyone has any ideas on what they could be used for; or should I just throw them away.

I’m trying to find a fixative and/or varnish that could work to protect all of those materials on one piece, would need to be something available in the UK. Thank you!

Let's make this short. I like a south-korean artist called mossa, who makes arts about historical related things, fantasy, science fiction, popular media and sometimes satirical stuff. The reason why his art is very controversial is that in the past, he made heavy stuff that itsn't very much allowed in everywhere, making him and his work disliked by most people, and i can comprehend why. But from my part, i find his artwork very interesting to see with how he depictes the stuff i mentioned previously and his linework and coloring is somewhat unique let's say. Sure it's not for everybody but i can consider his work kinda artistic towards avant-garde. This is why the problem happens. If me liking their works it's ok or not. Also, this might break some rules due to the controversial nature of his work, let me know if it is or not. Thanks!

So I wouldn’t consider myself an artist, I just like to make stuff sometimes. Sewing, 3D modeling and sometimes ‘drawing’. 

I tried for about a year to actually learn drawing properly, and while I was ok the first year by year two and I just couldn’t do it anymore. As much as I said I enjoyed the process of learning I didn’t actually do much of it, so don't think I really did. The only drawing I seem to like doing is making up designs for characters while using a 3D base, and I don’t even know if that counts as drawing since it's such a crutch for me.

It usually doesn’t bother me much, I just do my stuff in peace and have fun. But recently I'm really thinking it’s a sign I’m just mentally lazy beyond belief and that if I can’t bring myself to progress in a hobby then there’s little chance I’ll progress in life or improve as a person. 

Anyway that probably got a little ranty, curious if anyone else shares this kinda sentiment of feeling frustrated for not being constantly under a grindstone or not feeling authentic

I have an art project I'm working on as a gift for a friend. It's nothing crazy, I've just stippled designs onto some Vellum Bristol paper and then glued them onto cheap panels of birch.

What I'm wondering is, what is the best way to display these? It's going to be a set of 4 panels that are meant to be displayed next to each other (all with different related designs, in a grid fashion). I want to cause minimal damage to the wall it would go on. I thought about gluing a little rope on the side of the panel that she could use to hang them?

Any tips/thoughts would be appreciated.

https://imgur.com/a/CgGkMeT

Just like in the title, I'd love to know about everyone's inspiration. 🥰

For me, I get the tingling sensation of inspo / excitement is when I see thick sketchbook and colorful spreads, which can be clear proof of hard work and the joy in creating. (I have this weird love for sketches. I love little expressive sketches more than sparkly, fully finished finals) Seeing people practicing hard makes me wanna practice too.

It's also when I see something or a drawing reference that strikes me visually or/and emotionally. It's also when I see amazing and worship-worthy art pieces.

What about you? What makes you notice that feeling of wanting to draw or practice drawing?

(Pls excuse my English if I have any grammar mistake)

I have some oil pastels that came in a box that has a separate slot for each pastel, but unfortunately it's a little too big to fit properly in the place where I keep the rest of my art supplies. I have a box that I could keep them in, but I'm concerned that, without dedicated slots to keep them from touching, the pastels will get dirty and colors from other pastels will get on them, or that they could melt and get stuck together if it gets hot (where I live it usually peaks at about 30°c in summer). Does anyone here who has tried storing oil pastels like this know whether or not this is actually an issue I'll face?

Edit: thank you all for the advice! In the end I did decide to go for the box, but ended up putting them back in the original packaging because having to root through to find the color I wanted started to get on my nerves lol. But I'm glad to know that this isn't something I should be worried about doing if I ever change my mind!

IIiiiiiiiiit's Friday! Share your work below in the comments! Works in progress, stuff you are strugglebussing with, and so on, so forth. Please read our rules about image posting. Please do not post other people's work and also do not post AI images, or "what is this style?" questions.

Images are now allowed to be uploaded and shared directly in the comments.

I use clip studio paint for drawing normally and that's great but for just casually sketching I haven't really found a good way of doing it. With traditional art I have a sketchbook I can just open and quickly sketch some ideas or something but digitally idk what the best way to do it is. Do I just make a new file on CSP everytime I feel like drawing? That feels like it would quickly get messy cause id have a million different files and I wouldn't be able to actually find anything or look at old sketches or anything. I also don't want to just delete them after I'm done cause I like keeping everything.

How do you like to sketch digitally and organize your sketches? Do you use a different program for it? Do you just have a folder with all your sketch files? Do you just delete them afterwards? Also, what canvas size do you use for it (and for drawing in general tbh)?

I know this might get some pushback, but hear me out. I started off with a basic stylus, the ESR Geo Digital Pencil, and honestly, it forced me to really figure out pressure control from the ground up. There was no tilt sensitivity or extra features like the Apple Pencil, just me, my hand, and a simple tool.

After months of using it, I felt like I had full control over my strokes, even without all the bells and whistles. Now that I’ve switched to the Apple Pencil, it honestly feels like I’m cheating. I’m getting perfectly smooth lines with less effort, and all the pressure sensitivity is just automatic.

Anyone else feel like starting with basic tools actually helped their technique in the long run? Or am I just crazy?

Hi! I'm going to japan and want to take a sketchbook for both travel journal things but that also can handle Ohuhu alcohol markers with little to no bleeding so i can use both sides. I love the look and set up of a Talens art book! but it bleeds through to the other side :( any sketchbook like this that won't bleed? I tried crescent rendr and it's great with no bleed! but i don't like the style of the sketchbook and afraid the binding won't handle me adding more like tickets and receipts for the travel journal aspect.

I don't know if I've seen a rise in popularity of this question lately. But the subreddits I dwell in are full of people asking to rate their art.

I can't really blame them, because societal conventions imply that art can be rated one to ten. You're graded for it in school, you're given a numerical value for your effort. Then if there's a movie you want to see or somethething, metacritic does the same thing, more or less.

Chief, I'm tired. You can't rate art like that. If you ask people to give you a number, it's arbitrary.

It tells you nothing. Unless the commenter comes in and tells you their whole standardised grading scheme and how weighted those different criteria are, it does nothing to help you. Nooothingggg. Stahhhhp it.

Everyone values different things yes? If your colour selection is harmonious then someone who loves colour will come in with their arbitrary score and rate it so. If I think the perspective is wonky and don't care about colour then I will value it differently. Numbers. Mean. Nothing.

Please. My proposed solution is to ask for nuanced feedback if you want it. If you've been working the perspective then ask how's my perspective. You been studying hand bones? I don't doubt some hand bone experts are out there to come in to help you. Phalanges and shit bro.

So yes. I make post this in my own selfish desire to stop seeing this annoying question man. Stop it! Get help! (Full transparency, I am referencing a meme when I say that.)

Hello, I’m new to painting and I want to paint a frame from SpongeBob, but I’m not sure if I should do the black outline first or the color first?

I'm drawing scrolling comics, but I need to slice it to upload to websites that don't support it.

But for that I need to crop canvas to only one panel, export, go back, crop it to the other panel, and repeat for every other panel. It's too tedious.

Or I could make file for each panel instead, which is even more tedious because I need to go back and forth each file to draw and revise.

Any way to like, slash it all at once and export each segment of them?

Hey all,

I'm trying to reframe how I approach making art. I've been avoiding painting in part because I'm avoiding the disappointment of unmet expectations. -Those expectations being results like a physical painting or enjoyment of the process. You're not guaranteed to enjoy painting every time, nor is it a given that you'll finish a painting or like the finished product.

When I paint but don't get the 'promised' benefits from it, it eats away at the fuel that drives me to do it. So, why do you make your art?

I'm starting to get into hand care since my fingers and wrist have been hurting and I learned that it's important to have a pencil gripper helps with hand fatigue and comfort. But there are many kinds, so I was wondering what are the best ones you have used and a general consensus on the best kinds of pencil grips?

Frustrated with my traditional supplies (hard to get quality materials on a budget, hard to achieve the effects I want) so I've been saving for an ipad air and I'm really excited about it. For those of you who made the switch to digital, was it worth it?

Hi! I’m not sure if this is the appropriate sub, yet found myself here after struggling to come to a conclusion on how to tell a peer that their project in progress is immediately reading as phallic. I’m new to giving critique and want to go about this professionally and honestly, yet in a kind way. This is an assignment in a young adults’ beginners club where we all will change roles of critic and artist. This artist has been working on this project in private for at least 3 weeks for an 8 week project. They’re also fairly reserved as a person.

For context, the image focuses on a mushroom cloud caused by an explosion. Fair to assume that the mushroom shape itself is what is causing this comparison. However, the first thing I noticed when they showed me was the rounded shape that looks like testicles about 3/4 of the way down the cylindrical portion of the cloud (implying dimension in the smoke) . I prodded as kindly as I could to their influence behind the shape of their image and there seemed to be no desire to reference such a shape. Rather, they gave an emotional testimony for their inspiration. It doesn’t help that this portion is highlighted with reddish/orangish tones that mostly apply to the cylinder.

Any advice is appreciated and I apologize if this is not the proper sub.

I used to be pretty decent at art in highschool but sort of gave it up going into college to mainly focus on a biochemistry degree, but now that its over I've realized I just don't enjoy that life and I began doing art again.

If I theoretically wanted to find a job or a gig as a concept artist/character artist/comic artist, what are some of the things I should begin working on for a portfolio? How long should each piece take? I have a couple things but I haven't really worked on a piece for over 2 days, is this not enough?

I'm not really sure where to move forward if I want to break through past a hobby.

Hi! I was wondering if anyone has any tips on making bar coasters pliable so I can bend them without ruining the images printed on them. I rember doing something like this in college but can't remember exactly what I used, vague recollection of watered down nail polish and spraying it on. Any tips and tricks much appreciated!

I noticed he’s offering his dynamic sketching class through his personal website. I’m wondering if it’s worth paying the $800 for the 8 week session with feedback if I won’t be able to attend the weekly live lectures due to work (I’d only be able to watch the recording). I wasn’t able to find much info on this.

I feel I’m really at the point in my journey where I could benefit from critique from an advanced artist, and I’d like to be part of a community of artists better than myself.

Any thoughts or anecdotes are helpful

I just discovered this great artist named Peter Mohrbacher on YouTube and I am infatuated with his work. I like how he draws his sketch in pencil and colours it digitally, I like doing this as well because I struggle with digital. Do you guys know any other artists who work this way? I'd love to get some more inspiration on this to see what can be achieved with this method. Thanks

Hi! Hopefully I chose the right tags for this subreddit. Longtime lurker for this sub, but first time poster.

Writing to ask if anyone knows if Sycra is still active. I'm interested in maybe signing up for monthly critiques on his Patreon, but was discouraged to find that the last post was from 2021. I saw the hacking controversy on YouTube in 2024 that appeared to get resolved, but haven't been able to find anything about him since. Does anyone have any insights? Thanks so much :)

I tend to always buy the Art Creation leather sketchbooks because they are reasonably priced, case bound, lay flat, and can handle some watercolour. They are 140gsm or 90lbs pages.

I’m looking to buy a sketchbook that fits most if not all of those descriptors but with pure white paper, as the Art Creation ones are much more ivory or cream toned. I’ve read that the company did do a run of white paper, but I can’t seem to find it so i’m on the search for the next best thing.

Thank you for the help in advance !!

So the title pretty much sums up what I’m needing help with. I can’t find a solid answer on google or really anywhere. I’m working on an acrylic painting on canvas, I’d like to try and use a paint pen of sort to do my outlines and detailed because it’ll give me more control than brush and paint. I just don’t know which pen works the best, I’m worried about smudging when I go to varnish it but with giving it dry time, would it even matter depending on the pen? I have Poscas but google said yes it’ll smudge because they’re water based, then the next google search is said they were the best paint markers on the market sooo I’m confused