I’m going to assume you’re the same anon who sent me this: “Cuando alguien hace lo que le gusta nunca es una perdida de tiempo, y mucho menos compartirlo. :) enjoy girl. bye.”

Gracias! :D And that is exactly the point. I don’t draw as a career path or for a job, I do it because I truly enjoy doing it (especially the coloring part, and seeing how everything seems to come to life on paper). So I don’t really understand the need/desire/impulse to bring me down about it.

You are really kind. And this message made me smile :) So thank you.

Alright.

First of all, there is only one person on tumblr that I know in real life who knows more about drawing and scaling and proportions than I do, and who can make a much better job with this drawing than I can. But he is the sweetest, and if he had any criticisms about it, he would have told me so already any of these days (on any of the many occasions on which we discuss our drawings before/between classes). And he would never tell me not to color it. (Yes, 2crimsonstream, you are super sweet).

Secondly, I am not making excuses. What would I even be excusing myself for? To whom and to whose authority? And why would I make excuses? I know that there are millions of people who are far more talented than I am and can do a much better (and more accurate) job, but just because I scaled something poorly it doesn’t mean I shouldn’t continue working on the drawing. What I meant when I mentioned my lack of proper learning in the area is that I am aware that in certain aspects of drawing I get a little lost at times, and that for someone who’s merely been drawing since the crib for fun, and as a hobby, I think I did a decent job. Because yes, it is incredibly time-consuming, and time is not precisely something I have in heaps these days, with college and exams and shit (and no, before you message me again saying that’s yet another excuse, it is not. If you know me as you claim to do, you know this is the truth).

Clearly, you have some background in visual arts or something of the kind, because you know your tools well. I’ve always stuck to pencils, and I can assure you that the final product of this drawing, despite the lack of proportion in certain areas, will look a whole lot better than the outline did.

I did take photos. And I did my best. I’m “sorry” if my best wasn’t to your pleasing, but you can always not look at the drawing if you don’t like it, you know.

I admitted (more like stated the obvious) to any mistakes I am aware of in the drawing in my previous answer to you. But no extra time and no extra attention would have helped. Besides, what is it to you if it’s not perfect? It’s not your drawing; they are not your mistakes; and I’m certainly not getting evaluated on the basis of whatever the end result (or half-way result, which is what you seem to have judged) is. 

And for crying out loud, my previous response was not rude. Had I been rude, it would have been obvious to absolutely everyone who read that response and their mother. I could have insulted you, but I didn’t (although when I read this message there was a slew of insults dancing around my brain ready to get out). 

Actually, I found your previous criticism a little bit insulting to me and my efforts (a person can only go so far in their abilities); and I found your unfounded accusation of my making excuses insulting and rude, so choose your words before you speak.

Also, if you know me in real life, and you really knew what I’m like, you’d know that giving me constructive criticism on my work face to face would result in a much better reaction than doing it through here (and through anon, no less) does.

Lastly, I’m inviting you to submit a drawing (you can do it on anon, if you so wish) to teach me whatever “lesson” it is you’re trying to teach me (and you’re failing thus far…sorry). If you can do much better, then I will admit defeat to your knowledge on drawing. I promise not to publish either way (although I can acknowledge receiving it, if you’d like). 

Otherwise, either show your face (figuratively speaking), or get the bloody hell out of my inbox :) (and yes, that was rude.)

PS: and with that, I’m off to bed. Thank you, anon, for taking away from me about 40 minutes of sleep *thumbs up*

I don’t paint; I color. I didn’t make her out to be perfect, either. I am very much aware of the fact that I totally messed up the proportion of her bust and that the shape of the face is not the same as in the original picture. But you know what, this is the best drawing I’ve ever made, and I’m really proud of it. 

I don’t really remember whether I’ve posted the after-coloring pictures of it here yet, but perhaps that could lift your opinion of my drawing, if only slightly. Also, I’d like you to know that I’ve never received any kind of training in the visual arts, and I’ve never taken drawing classes, so all I achieve is through innate talent and years of practice (and lots and lots of patience and dedication).

When I first finished outlining, I thought I had messed it up really badly, but it changed a lot after coloring. Another thing that doesn’t make it seem as good as the original is that I’ve outlined with ink, whereas the original is digitally made and realistic 3D has been achieved chiefly through the removal of black lines (which my drawing has).

Oh, and, if you were me, you WOULD color it, because if you were me you’d know I don’t give up on shit I love doing and have already started.

Either way, do you have any tips on how my Lightning drawing could have been improved? Any particular wrist movements? Any scaling advice to transfer a half-screen sized image to a 5x1.5ft sized drawing? I’m open to any suggestions on improvement, if you’d be so kind as to give me any you have, dear anon :)