Well to be honest the only reason I’m at the level I’m at (which is maybe a step above novice..maybe) is because of my stubborn determination to get better.
So, tips for getting better at art from Fresh the noob:
Tip #1: Draw a lot. As often as you can, even if that’s one circle once a day. Keep it up and eventually you’ll draw the most perfect circle that’s ever been drawn.
Tip #2 (for digital work): If you have shaky hands, find the thing on your art program called the “stabilizer”. If you can’t find anything called that anywhere, look it up on google for the art program you use (I use Firealpaca). Set it as high as it will go and see if that helps. If it makes it too awkward, lower it little by little until the lines are straight and smooth but it doesn’t feel jerky to draw.
Tip #3: Draw the things that interest you. You wanna draw Sans? Start doodling him. Draw him a million times, and then draw him one more time for good measure. Wanna draw Papyrus? Start doodling him. Draw him a million times, then one more time for good measure. And so on and so forth for whatever character or object you want to draw.
Tip #4:
“But Fresh!” you say. “I don’t know how to draw bones/fire/hair/people/anything and everything.” This is when you make use of a magical thing called References. Some people will make out like using a reference or tracing is the devil’s work and is stealing another persons art. The only way either can ever be considered stealing is if you directly copy every bit of another person’s art and then post it saying its your own.
References are the best for figuring out how the hell to draw that pesky pose, how to get that hand just right, how the hell a human’s face is supposed to look. And if you’re worried about your art looking too much like the artist you’re using for your references? Don’t. The more you draw the more your own style comes into play as you become more comfortable with what you’re doing.
Tip #5: Try out different things. Try the different pens on your art program, try using different kinds of paper to see which one you like the best. If you’re doing traditional, try using markers or crayons to color instead of colored pencils. There are tutorials for how to color efficiently for both, just google it.
Tip #6: I think I’ve made it clear by now, but Google is your best friend. Don’t be shy about searching for what you need, even if you think it won’t be there. There’s a pretty good chance it will be.
Even if you’ve hurt other people in the past, or have been the kind of person that you really don’t respect, you can always make the decision to change. The tips below might be helpful for this.
1. Look for the good in the people that you meet, and try to empathise, and understand others’ viewpoints.
2. Remind yourself of this: “That it’s not all about you” … and the feelings and the wishes of others matter too.
3. Be polite; try saying “thank you”; and don’t take people for granted. What they did took thought and effort, and it’s nice to be acknowledged.
4. Think before you speak. This will save a lot of grief. For once those words are spoken, they cannot be taken back. They may never be forgotten, and can haunt you later on.
5. Check your tone of voice and the words you choose to use. These can cause misunderstandings, or create a bad impression.
6. Don’t gossip about others; look for things to praise instead.
7. Don’t take the bait and be pulled into arguments. Just let the comment go. You don’t need to rise to that.
8. Make the effort to be kind, and offer others your support. And do something that’s special, and which demonstrates some thought.
I know this isn’t my typical content, but I thought this was important. It can be difficult to acknowledge your toxic habits, but doing so is the first step to bettering yourself. There’s no shame in admitting you have bad qualities–everyone does. The important thing is that you recognise them and work to change them.
Pairings: Atypical-verse, primarily Spicyhoney, finishing with TwistedSpicyHoney
Tags: Teasing, sensitive bones, shifting power dynamics, fucking in personal rooms without permission, edging, altered states—very minor, but Rus uses his projecting to good purpose and Twist might not be all there—, penetration (lingered on), very minor choking, ecto-cock, ecto-pussy, soul sex. There is some consensual nonconsent. Meaning a character says “no” but it is understood by all present that they do not really mean no. It isn’t mentioned explicitly, but assume the boys have a safe word, please.
I loved everything about this. From the shameless Spicyhoney treasure room fucking (fem!dom Edge, yes!), to the possessive dragon interruption. This was so well done.
“Stretch, where are you? We have a gift for you.” That
was Razz’s voice, coming from the living room. He and Fell had presumably just
returned home.
With a sigh, Stretch heaved himself
off the bed the three of them had been sharing since he and Razz had gotten
trapped here in Fell’s world due to all the machines deciding to randomly burst
into flames. He’d been trying to nap but even he could only sleep so much.
Unlike most of his lazy counterparts he wasn’t a scientist and had no idea how
to fix the machine, meaning like Razz he had to wait until one of the others
fixed it before he could go home. It would be a while because Red had gone to Lust
and Pink’s world shortly before it happened so he had to get back here first
and then fix the machine here so Stretch could go home. Or Slim could. But no
matter what it’d still be a while.
He dragged his feet as he exited the
room – he’d left the door open so he’d hear when Razz and Fell returned – and
walked over to the top of the stairs to look down at them. “What sort of gift?”
Hopefully something to relieve the boredom of being trapped here. He wasn’t
allowed to leave the house because it was too dangerous, no amount of dressing
tough would make him tough.
I really love how you did this. “Fell-verse collaring” (the Fell-verses having a collaring system where the gentler monsters are collared by the harder monsters for their own protection) is a favourite trope of mine.
You did a great job on this. I like how Razz is a little more enthusiastic, while Fell wants to get Stretch’s full consent before proceeding. You established their relationship well in a very short space of time.
Dragon Blog 