127: 5 Questions From Artists

Something a little different...

This week I thought it would be fun to answer 5 random questions sent to me this week.

But first.. housekeeping!
ITEM - a reminder that PROMPTOBER is coming in hot! (Our October Drawing Challenge) Download a copy of the official prompt sheet at Promptober.com, check the prize details, and share it to your socials if you’re participating. Be sure to tag us up!

ITEM - It’s DRAW CLUB Night this Tuesday in Pittsburgh. 6-8pm out on the patio at Federal Galley on the North Side. (park at the Nova Garage) or street parking is free after 6pm. Here’s the FB Event link if you want to share.

ITEM- FIELD NOTES IS F#CKING AWESOME.
Our friends at FIELD NOTES, are not only sponsoring prizes again this year, but have given us a special coupon code through October for 25% off the STREETSCAPES sketchbook. https://fieldnotesbrand.com/products/streetscapes Just use code OCTOBERDRAW in the checkout!

AND, if you’re drawing in Field Notes in October, TAG them up, they want to share some of your art to help support! Thank you Field Notes!!

5 Questions From and For Artists

1. What’s the best way to find paying gigs?

Your network is your networth. Start with who you know. This can be friends, family, right in your local backyard. Maybe try to specialize in ONE THING instead of just being the “jack of all drawing trades”. I would also offer something that’s not going to burn you out.

What if you feel like you don’t know anyone??? Well, it’s time to get out of your shell. Here’s a simple scenario. Draw a few shirt style designs for fake coffee shops, or breweries, or niche shops. Make a little flyer for yourself and your offering, and then go strike up some conversations at your favorite businesses.

Don’t get discouraged right away. Maybe your art isn’t ready for primetime yet! And that’s okay! Keep working to make it better and more appealing.

2. How can I improve my art FASTER?

I might sound like a broken record here.. but DRAW EVERY DAMN DAY. And in the case of wanting to improve faster, I would challenge myself to watch at least one tutorial video per day on Youtube, maybe something like PROKO- here’s a playlist. While you’re on Youtube, make sure you subscribe to my channel too!

If you have a couple bucks, I would invest in going to some local life drawing classes in your area as well if you have them. Worth a little drive too.

3. How do you make your livestreams look so good with multiple camera and angles?

I use a free program called OBS, Open Broadcaster Software, that allows you to setup “scenes” and different camera sources. Without going into too much detail I have 3 “sources” pulling in. 1. My main digital camera (or you could us a webcam) for my face. 2. My iPad drawing screen view, sourced right from the iPad. 3. My iPhone is a source for the 3rd camera view looking down on the iPad. - The other graphics are just pulled in randomly and on different layers. You can see my livestream setups on VeeFriends Comics live here.

You can then toggle through “scenes” where it’s different combinations of views. You can also use this as a “virtual camera” view for yourself on Video meetings or record directly into your computer.

I don’t have time to give or record a full tutorial… but I can tell you I learned everything on Youtube just watching videos like this one.

If you don’t know a thing and want to learn it, just simply block an hour or so per week or day to dive in and fuck with it. It’s how I’ve taught myself everything.

4. Is there a sketchbook that won’t bleed through with ink, I don’t want to waste pages…

I thought for sure I had some that were solid and wouldn’t bleed, but i did a test with micron, brush pen, sharpie, and felt drawing pens, and almost ALL of them bled through in some way. I guess it depends on what kind of ink you’re using. The best one I tried was Strathmore 400 series paper. Or cheap ass BienFang drawing pads. Barely any bleed… unless you’re a barbarian who draws with sharpies. :D — I recorded some short videos I’ll put together, because this was kind of surprising and interesting rabbithole I fell into 😂. (subscribe to the youtube so you don’t miss them)

5. Do you prefer drawing digitally over traditional? Wondering if I should make the jump…

I like ALL drawing. I guess it’s safe to say almost 100% of my professional work right now is draw on iPad Pro in Procreate, and I do prefer it but mainly due to the speed and efficiency. But I still love drawing and doodling on paper.

I encourage artists to try ALL tools. I personally love to be able to draw with ANYTHING, ANYWHERE. Hand me a fucking crayon and challenge me, BOOM! I’m gonna do something. It may not be GREAT, but I want to be able to draw with anything. Sticks in the dirt? Chalk on a wall? I’m gonna make something.

But yeah, I do my best work on iPad Pro currently.

Second choice is drawing on smooth bristol board with Blackwing Pencils, and I like Pentel Brush, Microns or Sakura Sensei felt markers for inks. Still love COPIC markers or Prismacolor pencils for colors.

Questions for me? DM me or email dj@drawordieclub.com

The Daily Drawing Club!

In October our DAILY DRAWING club will feature some quick daily drawing exercises you can do in minutes, focusing on fundamentals and strengthening your imagination muscles, and hand-eye coordination.

JOIN the DAILY DRAWING CLUB!

only 5 bucks a month.
5am DAILY Drawing Prompts
Quarterly Member Sticker and more

I hope this week’s newsletter brought you some value of some kind! Back to the drawing board for me!

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