Blotter updated: 06/17/12Show/Hide Show All

Image

Tag History
(edit info)
Rating

Prev | Index | Next

Comments

DeeperMadness
#495372
10 months ago
My first GIMP picture. I'm still trying to get used to all the functions and tools in it, hence why it looks so blocky and generally rubbish. It's all done freehand because for the life of me, I can't fathom geometric shapes in it either.

Any pointers you guys have that you can share would be great. :)
DeeperMadness
#497622
10 months ago
I didn't think my pic was that bad. :(

Ah well, I guess I'd better carry on doodling 'til I get better.
Anonymous
#498647
10 months ago
What are you talking about? For a first go in a new program this isn't bad at all!

Biggest thing i notice is that the colors are a bit off. Try opening any of the nice medley screenshots on ponibooru in GIMP, then use the eyedropper tool to select the appropriate colors. a bit of change from the standard colors is fine, but using show colors goes along way towards making a pony look a lot better, in my opinion anyway.

next, for this particular piece, i would suggest matching her mane a bit closer to the screen shots. see her curly mane? unless a more straight look is what you were going for, which is fine.

third, if you're not already using them, remember that in a program like GIMP layers are your best friend. i recommend doing all your line art on one layer, then coloring on another beneath it. that way you can fill all the way to the line with color without worrying about covering your lines.

lastly, i notice the outline in the face is a bit smoother than the outline of the ears. a bit of a sketchy look is fine, but the eraser can do wonders for smooth lines ending in sharp points like the show if your looking to clean it up a bit. i'd like to see you take another crack at medley, though i may be a bit biased as she's my favorite background pony.

sorry if i went over stuff you already knew, I wasn't sure how much you knew about GIMP. hope this helps! ^^
DeeperMadness
#500732
10 months ago
^Who says all anons are bad? This is going to be a massive help, thank you!

I was trying a mane-down look just to get a feel for the brush, but you're right, it doesn't look all that special. As for the ears, well, yeah I kinda forgot to refine the edges after I'd done the nose and snout. Being hopeless is my talent; I'm certain that if I had a cutie mark, it'd be that. :)

I'll have to read into how to get the most from layers. I was more or less trying to use the same methods as I would with physical colouring pencils.

Anyway, thanks again for your help! I'll redo Medley again as way of saying thanks and take everything you've said onboard. :D
sparklinglimeade
#501771
10 months ago
I wasn't sure what to say (I'm not much of an artist myself) but #498647 covered it very well. The only thing i have to add is that Medley's eyes are very easy to do using the gradient tool.

About digital art in general though. It is different from traditional art. It has many many tools for you to take advantage of that aren't possible elsewhere, and there are a few things it can't do (or that are much more difficult) that other mediums can do. In general, layers are the most important tool digital art adds. Try playing around with selection and coloring tools (like gradients) to quickly and easily manipulate large areas or create effects.
Old-Roots
#535130
9 months ago
Doing some digital artwork now, eh?
Looking forward to it.