SketchbookNoir In reply to rohtie [2012-11-13 19:53:05 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much for the support, it means a lot! I'm really enjoying your work too dude, I'm really loving your style.

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rohtie In reply to SketchbookNoir [2012-11-23 12:55:51 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome

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SketchbookNoir In reply to RustyStones [2012-08-25 05:44:00 +0000 UTC]

Haha, as long as people keep posting, I'll try my best to keep helping out.

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SketchbookNoir In reply to clanc [2012-08-25 05:43:37 +0000 UTC]

D'awwwww, this is such a sweet comment! Thank you so much! I'm really happy my work can inspire you in such a way. I'm glad you enjoy it!

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SketchbookNoir In reply to fangdangler [2012-08-18 06:29:57 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much!

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SketchbookNoir In reply to hempz [2012-08-10 11:15:39 +0000 UTC]

That's a me!

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SketchbookNoir In reply to Hopedrop [2012-08-04 18:31:22 +0000 UTC]

Haha, thank you! I'm glad you like the work I did.

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Hopedrop In reply to SketchbookNoir [2012-08-04 21:09:21 +0000 UTC]

My pleasure!

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SketchbookNoir In reply to JasonWordie [2012-07-21 06:47:37 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much! I'm glad you dig my work haha.

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SketchbookNoir In reply to xXxbrianxXx [2012-07-12 04:55:03 +0000 UTC]

D'awww, you're too kind. Thanks!

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SketchbookNoir In reply to TH3RTYSE7N [2012-07-08 00:15:48 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoy it.

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SketchbookNoir In reply to TessicaTKirk [2012-07-05 18:08:45 +0000 UTC]

Haha, I'm not quite sure what exactly qualifies for being "tumblr famous". I have about 70 followers but I'm guessing that's not anywheres near close enough to be famous haha.

Yes, I've attended a couple different art schools in southern California. Thank you so much for that nice compliment! I'm glad you enjoy my work. Are you going to art school too? It's neat that you want to be a comic artist, where would you like to end up working? It's pretty tough to get a job doing that but as long as you're passionate, study hard and draw a lot I'm sure you'll get there!

Thanks again for such a wonderful comment!

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TessicaTKirk In reply to SketchbookNoir [2012-07-06 19:12:26 +0000 UTC]

DDD: Only 70? Not cool. You are just... WAH. You blow me away.
That would explain your skill. I plan to take as many as I can afford. I want to be very good because I am really only mediocre right now. And I don't just enjoy it xD To put it in perspective, most of the time when I see a good piece of artwork I say, "Wow, that's beautiful! But I would never buy it because I would like it better if I painted it myself and hung it up." All your sketches - I would buy. And Frame. And Treasure. Not to sound creepy or anything, xD.
I would LOVE to work for DC, but it will take many years for me to be good enough to be considered. I have had this idea in my mind for a Batman comic, just a short one, and it keeps me going and determined to get better.
You are so very welcome!

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SketchbookNoir In reply to TessicaTKirk [2012-07-08 00:43:09 +0000 UTC]

Yeah, classes definitely help develop your skills much faster than on your own. There are a ton of great schools in southern California that I could recommend but sadly I'm not familiar with any in Canada I could recommend to you. Even so, there's a ton of great places online such as CG Hub, Concept Art.org, The Art Department.org, CG Master's Academy, etc that you can go to for classes / tutoring / professional communities. Outside of that, there are great DVDs and books (lemme know if you'd like a list) that can be ordered thru amazon or by less legal means like pirate bay haha.

However, nothing really beats good old fashioned elbow grease and putting the time into your craft. One of my favorite artists, Kevin Llewellyn (www.kevart.com), has told me that during his student days he'd spend 16-18 hours a day drawing to get as good as he is. Several of my teachers have told me similar numbers (14-18 hours a day) that they'd spend drawing before they became professionals. While I was taking classes I'd push myself to fill up at least 1 sketchbook a month (in addition to homework). So really, putting in the time really helps. And don't worry too much about mediocre right now, you're always going to be your worst critic and I'm sure that your work is better than you think it is. Another thing to remember is that everyone you respect and admired didn't start out that good and were at the same skill level as you are. That being said, just keep in mind that one day you can be a professional as well!

Awwwwww, that's the sweetest thing I've ever heard! I'm so flattered you like my art so much! XD And no, you don't sound creepy at all! I'm very, very flattered.

If you're thinking of getting into comics professionally, I'd recommend going to the Comic-con in San Diego or New York (or other similar conventions) and start introducing yourself to the artists in the artists alley and the people in the DC / Marvel / Darkhorse / etc booths. You can get valuable critique information from them and advice on how to approach getting jobs in the industry / introduce you to the people hiring. They could also probably recommend schools and portfolio review places that could help you improve.

Hopefully I haven't been too long-winded and this has been helpful to you haha. Thanks again for such a wonderful message!

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TessicaTKirk In reply to SketchbookNoir [2012-07-11 17:19:34 +0000 UTC]

I would love a list of books! I looked at all the websites and they look awesome, and I think I might join one in September or something. I am going to college for Baking and Pastry because I have been told my whole life that I will never have a stable job being an artist, so I am getting my Red Seal in Baking so I can have a permanent job and then become an artist in my spare time because that's the only way I feel I can become an artist.

I also looked at Kevin's work and it is fantastic. I think I might tray and draw for at least a couple hours each day, because it is true that the only way to get really good is to draw. You can't get good at drawing if you don't draw xD I have read that it's good to draw from famous peoples Sketches, like drawing one of Da Vinci's sketches is a good way to refine your skill.

You are so very welcome I'm glad that I don't sound creepy xD

I have thought about that, but then I think I shouldn't go see them till I think I am skilled enough from them to be interested but the advice they would/could give me would probably help me out a lot. They are experts xD

It was very helpful! I love long messages

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SketchbookNoir In reply to TessicaTKirk [2012-07-12 05:17:31 +0000 UTC]

For books, I'd check out the ones listed here:

[link]

All of the books on those lists are excellent resources but there are a couple extra that I'd recommend that are not listed. Michael Hampton's Figure Drawing Design and Invention (for human anatomy), and Blake Snyder's Save the Cat (for storytelling / graphic novels / comic book writing).

Hm, I'm not sure who has been telling you that you can't make a stable life as an artist because that's my current job and it's pretty stable for me and my coworkers haha. XD It's cool that you're deciding to do baking and pastry though! I've heard baking is one of the hardest (but perhaps most delicious? haha) things to do in cooking. It's good to have multiple avenues open to you, that way you can have some flexibility between a possible baking career and a possible art career.

Yes, studying other artists is a great way to help yourself improve! We used to study the old masters all the time during class and copy their drawings for homework. It's a great way to expand your visual library so you have more information to pull from when you're designing your own art pieces. It's also useful to reverse-engineer their pictures while studying so you can get an idea of how they did their construction or composition. Some of my favorite artists to study from were the following: Norman Rockwell, JC Lyendecker, John Singer Sargent, Heinrich Kley, Ivor Hele, Alphonse Mucha, Windslow Homer, NC Wyeth, Andrew Wyeth, Adolphe-William Bouguereau, Arthur Rackham, Andrew Loomis, Frank Frazetta, and any of the books from the Repin Academy in Russia. If you get a chance, google these names and take a look at their work. It's AMAZING!

More often than not, the artists you'd be talking to at these conventions are very nice and patient and will be willing to help you out if you ask and seem eager to learn. The other problem with that way of thinking is that you'll never be satisfied with your work to think you're "good enough" to talk to professionals. I was either brave or dumb enough to talk to professionals (and, *gasp* show them my shitty artwork) when I was a beginner (i.e. REALLY bad) and was a really good thing that I did because if I hadn't, I probably wouldn't have met one of the best art instructors I've ever had classes with. If it wasn't for taking that risk and actually asking professionals for advice and how to improve, I wouldn't be where I am now.

Anyways, it was a pleasure reading your message and I hope this helped point you in the direction of some good resources.

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TessicaTKirk In reply to SketchbookNoir [2012-12-29 00:50:19 +0000 UTC]

I've had this sitting in my inbox and every-time I need inspiration I read it again Thank you so very much!

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SketchbookNoir In reply to kittygrl63 [2012-06-18 04:27:26 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much! I'm so glad you enjoy them!

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SketchbookNoir In reply to relaxeder [2012-06-17 05:35:04 +0000 UTC]

No problem, your work is awesome!

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SketchbookNoir In reply to scarrart [2012-06-15 18:47:02 +0000 UTC]

It's my pleasure, your work is awesome!

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SketchbookNoir In reply to dosh0 [2012-06-13 19:24:42 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much! Your work is pretty awesome too. Thanks for the watch!

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SketchbookNoir In reply to pulseoflight [2012-06-13 08:33:24 +0000 UTC]

Haha, I'm flattered. Thanks for the watch / add! Your work is amazing, I'd love to see more posted.

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pulseoflight In reply to SketchbookNoir [2012-06-13 14:51:26 +0000 UTC]

I love your lines, so you gotta keep posting too!

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SketchbookNoir In reply to pulseoflight [2012-06-13 19:23:56 +0000 UTC]

Thanks dude! Yeah, I've got a couple that I need to scan in so hopefully I'll have them up in the next day or two.

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SketchbookNoir In reply to Desert-Spirit [2012-06-10 18:36:32 +0000 UTC]

It's from a French movie called "Made in U.S.A" and was directed by Jean-Luc Godard. Sadly, I have yet to see the movie but when I came across the image I found it so striking (and partially hilarious / overdramatic) I fell in love with it. Here's more info about the movie:

[link] (film)

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SketchbookNoir In reply to youngwhitedragon [2012-06-05 18:28:24 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much! I'm glad you like it.

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SketchbookNoir In reply to thdark [2012-06-05 04:59:55 +0000 UTC]

Haha, well thank you sir. I was admiring your gallery earlier, you've got some sick skills. I'm super jealous of your metal rendering technique!

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SketchbookNoir In reply to Loah-Velovan [2012-06-04 22:28:34 +0000 UTC]

Haha, that's so sweet! Thank you so much!

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