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About Me Varied / Student Premium Member AnimeFreak40KMale/United States Recent Activity
Deviant for 8 Years
55 Month Premium Membership
Statistics 228 Deviations 17,244 Comments 57,065 Pageviews

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AF40K Q&A

Q: What do you use to create your art?
For my lineart I use .5mm pencils with either regular office-supply graphite or blue-lead. In both cases I prefer to use 110lb cardstock, but regular printer paper works just as well in a pinch.

For digital work I use Photoshop CS5 or Paint Tool SAI, depending on what it is I am working on.


Q: Where do you purchase your materials?
In the event that I need pencils and paper, I usually go to office-supply stores, such as Office Depot or Staples. If I need blue lead, I normally order that online from Pentel (art supply stores are notoriously out of stock). For my other artistic needs, I either go to Utrect or Plaza.


Q: For your traditional artwork, how do you manage scanning your work? Do you feel the brand/type of scanner makes a difference?
For the time being, I use an HP Officejet v40 (…which is about 12 years old now). This is why I don’t have anything from sketchbooks or stuff from art class posted; there is no way for me to scan it in.

As far as the hardware is concerned; no, it doesn’t make a difference. The only thing that matters really is how large your scanning area is.


Q: How long does a drawing take, in all your chosen mediums?
Depends on far too many factors for me to answer easily. Some sketches have taken me a few minutes while there are some drawings I have lost track of how many hours I’ve put into it.


Q: How often do you draw?
I *try* to draw a little every day…even if they are mindless doodles when I should be taking notes in a meeting.


Q: Do you have any tips for lineart/coloring?
Yeah, draw and color. If you have a digital art program, don’t be afraid to screw around with stuff. If you don’t and money is not an object, do the same thing with any manner of materials of your choosing.


Q: Do you sketch your drawings and trace later over them for lineart or do you use the same page/layer?
Yes.
Ok, seriously, it really depends on the situation again. I’ve sketched out ideas only to expand on them further on the same page because I liked what came out, others get entire new pages. Sometimes I will work a sketch, take it to a light table to make some cleaner lineart, only to take that to the light table again 2 or 3 more times before I’m satisfied.


Q: Do you draw with any tutorial-style guidelines when you begin?
While I certainly apply the concepts I have picked up from a number of tutorials (such as setting up a skeletal structure/framework), I avoid a lot of tutorials like the plague unless there is a specific effect that I am looking for. I don’t need my work to look like it came from the exact same cookie-cutter styled colorist.


Q: How do you get over an artist's block?
I usually take four or five steps to the right (or left) and then press on.


Q: What is your favorite thing to draw?
My favorite thing? Mecha, armor, weapons and atrocities…what appears in my gallery tells a different story. You see, I am actually pretty good at the stuff I like to draw, but I need to get better at the squishy stuff (and I’m not necessarily talking about female body parts).


Q: At what age did you consider/begin getting into art?
No idea. I’ve been doodling and drawing ever since I could remember. That may be a painfully common answer, but it’s true.


Q: Did you ever attend art classes/school/academy/college? Did they benefit?
Yes; I took the required classes in high school, but I also took some basic classes through the Art Academy of Cincinnati for a painfully brief time and a number of courses through University of Maryland University College. And yes, I do feel that the more consistent and recent classes have helped me a lot.


Q: Did you ever try to adapt to someone else's style or start with developing your own?
I think I have always had my own style. Even when I was a lot younger when I traced pictures from video game manuals, they still looked different from the picture I traced from. Never could figure it out really…


Q: What types of color combinations are your favorite to experiment with?
Hmmm… well, I can’t say for sure, as I really don’t color too often.


Q: Do you prefer digital or traditional? Does either have an easier skill level/set of benefits over the other?
I prefer traditional, as that is where I have the most experience. I am working to change this by doing more digitally, but that doesn’t come overnight.
Both mediums I think have their own learning curve, and you can do things in one medium that you can’t do in the other. So I really can’t say if one is better than the other. It all comes down to personal preference really.


Q: Are you happy with your current level of art? Do you wish to improve?
Fuck no, I’m not satisfied! I am always looking for ways to get better. Of course actual execution is another kettle of worms and I need to put the time into that… which I have been lacking lately. But I do what I can…


Q: Do you plan before touching a layer/sketchbook, or make it up as you go?
A little of column A and a little of column B.


Q: What kind of tablet/sketchbook do you use?
For my digital work, I have an Intuos 4. Traditional stuff is pretty much regulated to whatever is within reach.


Q: What digital painting program do you use?
Paint Tool SAI and Adobe CS5


Q: Do you feel supported with your artwork? How do you deal with the choice of life/school/work/parental advice when pursuing your art?
Not really, no. I get very little feedback from my friends, and my parents can’t be bothered to give a damn (the ones that are still alive anyway).

Right now, work and school go hand in hand, with life and art taking a back seat to them. While I don’t decline going out with my friends in favor of art…I often bring my drawing materials with me.


Q: Do you listen to music/watch TV/read while drawing?
WinAmp is always running when I am at my computer. Enough said. If I watch anything, it would be fellow artists as they stream, but that is rare because it is a distraction.


Q: Who/what are your inspirations that you feel show in your artwork?
Most “Old School” anime (mostly stuff from the 70’s through the 90’s) has been an influence. Some artists like Joe Mad, Newt Ewell, Masamune Shirow and Fred Perry have also added some influence to my style as well.


Q: What have you done in order to obtain the financial necessity to purchase your tools?
I work, duh.


Q: Do you do requests/trades/commissions? Do you have a link that explains more in depth?
I very rarely do requests. I have done one or two at conventions, but I have to remotely feel like doing it. I would do trades if I felt that someone would want to trade with me. I offer commissions when I am at conventions.


Q: Do you have any final words for me?
Reality is for those who can’t handle √-1.

0360012M03 Update thingy I guess…

Journal Entry: Thu May 10, 2012, 10:01 PM



Convention Status


MAGFEST 5-8 January, National Harbor, MD

Katsucon 17-19 February, National Harbor, MD

T-MODE: 20-22 April, Rockville, Maryland
Artist Alley Space Acquired!


Otakon: 27-29 July, Baltimore, Maryland
Registered, on the waiting list

Anime USA: 27-29 July, Baltimore, Maryland
Registered and on the waiting list







Ok, first thing's first *kicks old journal out* There.

Right then, so it's been a little while and I guess it's time for some sort up update on what's going on in the life of AF40K. Well… let me tell you not a whole bloody lot.

I mean, right now I'm doing this whole full-time work thing in a job that I'm not terribly happy with. It pays just barely enough to cover the bills and everything and not much else. The benefits though are that the site has parking (so I can drive into the office) and it's not very far away. In addition, the dress code is pretty lax (jeans are allowed and a collared shirt at minimum). They also don't care what I do during the day as long as I complete my assigned duties and meet SLA's. Not many workplaces are this cool.

Studystudystudy… quite possibly the most brutal semester in my career of ever is coming to a close. Why is this brutal? Well, I was enrolled in a grand total of 7 courses. Granted because of the way UMUC does their classes I was active in no more than 4 courses at any given time this doesn't seem like much. But when you consider that 3 courses is usually accepted as being a full-time student in that they are expected to put in approximately 4 hours of work both in class and out of class per credit hour per course each week, this means that 3 courses equates to at least 36 hours devoted to sitting in class, reading, writing, working on homework, etc. Four courses is 48 hours per week…which may seem alright on the surface, but consider that a good portion of this I have also been working a job that is also 40 hours per week…social life? What's that?!?
Of course all that ended several weeks ago…and I am (and have been for the past 3 weeks) down to a more reasonably 3 courses plus work (which I have done before, so I'm okay with this)…but that doesn't change the fact that for a time, I was running myself ragged. Never again! Never again will I let myself be enrolled in four courses at the same time that I'm also employed full-time!
What was that? Between 0482012M03 and 0520012M03 I'm going to be doing exactly that because of how UMUC likes to dick people around with course scheduling and the VA requires at least 2 courses per 8-week session to get benefits? :iconfffuuuplz:

…meh…

…at least I've been keeping my grades up. 3.6 or 3.7 or something. I don't know. Just as long as I stay on the Dean's List…

Anyway, moving on a little…
I've tasted the awesomeness that is Gild Wars 2 thanks to their Beta Event Weekend. The only issue I have is targeting, but that is a minor quibble at best. I am certainly looking forward to the next Beta Event and even more so to the actual game release itself.

A minor update to my con-schedule is that I will not be going to BronyCon. As much as I would like to, due to school and pay (or, rather, lack thereof), I will have nether the time nor the money to make the trip. Dammed shame too.
Speaking of cons…T-Mode came and went and I had a grand-ole time hanging with :iconkevinbolk:. T'was a shame that I had to cut that visit short due to a great friend of mine being in town for that weekend. Next up is Otakon…not sure if I have table space, but even if I don't I'll still be there one way or another.

Is there anything else? Yes. Yes there is. I got myself a Tumblr. Right now I don't do much other than reblog other people's silliness, post up some of my own silliness and exercise my fanboy a little. God, I'm such a brony :icontrollunaplz: A consoling factor is that this is helping me draw a little every day  (even if I don't post anything) and improve on my writing a bit…except when school gets in the way (which it has lately).
More importantly, it's helped me be a bit more social and start making better use of social networking. DeviantArt is all well and good, but not good enough…and Twitter is just limited. Tumblr is a little more effective for me at this time.

So there you have it…



Commission List:
1) Undisclosed Customer - All 4 turtles from TMNT, Splinter, April and Casey Jones
Sir, I misplaced your contact information! Please, if you are watching this space, PLEASE drop me a note or an email! Thanks!

2)
3)
4)
5)




Convention Info
T-MODE: 20-22 April, Rockville, Maryland
I believe that I am going to have an extra chair, so if someone want's to join me let me know!
  • Listening to: Whatever happens to pop up on WinAmp
  • Reading: varous school reading assignments
  • Watching: My cats...
  • Playing: Guild Wars, Iron Grip: Marauders, Skyrim
  • Eating: Something Edible...or at least I think it is...
  • Drinking: Something with plenty of caffeine in it

deviantID

*AnimeFreak40K
has a low Idiot Tolerance!
Artist | Student | Varied
United States
Current Residence: My own little world somewhere between the State of Insanity and the State of Confusion
Favourite genre of music: Stuffs...some techno, Heavy Metal, J-Pop, J-Rock...y'know...Anime Stuffs...
Operating System: Windows 7
Skin of choice: my own? but only because im attached to it at the moment
Favourite cartoon character: you just HAD to ask that one didnt you?
Personal Quote: Sanity...is for the WEAK!
Interests

Twitter

Webcam

Comments


:icon:
Add a Comment:
 
:iconflausch-katzerl:
*Flausch-Katzerl May 14, 2012  Hobbyist Digital Artist
[link]

A little "thank you" until I finally manage to get something done XD

--
A Phan is a Phan is a Phan.

I'm also known as "Nia".
Reply
:iconanimefreak40k:
*AnimeFreak40K May 15, 2012  Student General Artist
You didn't have to go and do that. Thanks though, I really do appreciate it ^_^

--
Hope may be the first step down the road to disappointment, but reality is for those who can't handle √-1...

...for everything else there are luftwaffles!

Twitter: [link]
Reply
:iconexmedal:
Mood: Llama ~ExMedal May 11, 2012  Student
thank you for the LAMA
Reply
:iconanimefreak40k:
*AnimeFreak40K May 11, 2012  Student General Artist
Not a problem

--
Hope may be the first step down the road to disappointment, but reality is for those who can't handle √-1...

...for everything else there are luftwaffles!

Twitter: [link]
Reply
:iconexmedal:
~ExMedal May 11, 2012  Student
:3
Reply
:iconal-failkawi:
~al-failkawi May 6, 2012  Hobbyist Digital Artist
thank u
Reply
:iconanimefreak40k:
*AnimeFreak40K May 7, 2012  Student General Artist
Not a problem ^_^

--
Hope may be the first step down the road to disappointment, but reality is for those who can't handle √-1...

...for everything else there are luftwaffles!

Twitter: [link]
Reply
:icongooballgirl:
Hello :) I have something important I need to tell you. There is a under-age, lying art thief on dA, and I need your help to get rid of her. This is the little liar's account ---->:iconmaidenofthedawn: She has stolen copyrighted works from me and many other deviants. Report all of her works, then report her and block her after you're done. Don't let her steal the things you worked hard to make; Help dA be rid of this pest.

--
I am a freakin' Rainbow Ninja from the Moon. DEAL WITH IT.

~Seven letters, six letters, five letters; they all mean the same thing: The Wisest Princess of them All~

I am the Guardian Assassin of Dragon Clan. Fight me, if you dare!
Reply
:iconanimefreak40k:
*AnimeFreak40K May 6, 2012  Student General Artist
Can you please cite evidence that this person has stolen work from you and others. Explain to me how this person is a pest, a liar, etc.? Also, please define “underage”. Underage in relation to what? Because anybody under 18 is underage to me.

The fact of the matter is that regardless of any given cause, I am not inclined to take any sort of action without just cause and with evidence to back it up.

--
Hope may be the first step down the road to disappointment, but reality is for those who can't handle √-1...

...for everything else there are luftwaffles!

Twitter: [link]
Reply
:iconh3rrd3rr:
thank you for the badge!
Reply
:icon:
Add a Comment: