Sparrow's Art Blog

this is old please just follow my main @sparrowsgarden

[cleverlikeaphlox]

three mims! @seekerquest

[cleverlikeaphlox]

This post is about why you should be using India ink!

The columns here are, from left to right, the coloring medium alone, a new Micron liner (alcohol based ink), a Pentel gel pen (water based ink), and a Rapigograph full of good ol India ink. The top row is watercolor, the bottom is a Copic Sketch marker. The inks were given about five minutes to dry.

So what makes India ink great is that, once it dries, it’s both waterproof and alcohol-proof, which is important if you like to mix your media or just don’t want to have two sets of lining pens. This is because, though india ink is mainly water, any india ink labelled as “waterproof” contains a binder to hold the water-soluble pigments in place.

I’m told by my professor that Microns used to contain India ink, but they’ve since switched to an alcohol-based ink, so they’re waterproof but smudge under markers. This is also a problem because if you work on smooth surfaces like acetate or Denril, the new ink sits on top and never dries. This is why we were all instructed to either get refillable technical pens like my Rapidographs, or to buy black Faber-Castell fineliners, which have India ink. I highly recommend the Faber-Castell pens, though they don’t have as many sizes as I would like - Copic Multiliners also look like a good bet since they claim to be waterproof and alcohol-proof and run at a similar price.

[cleverlikeaphlox]

Three Seekers for @seekerquest! Been wanting to design her some outifts for ages. Please click to see the pins, they’re different in each one!

[cleverlikeaphlox]

The two quick paintings I made for the commission examples!

[cleverlikeaphlox]

I could really use some commissions so here’s some examples I’ve scraped together! Here it is on DA if tumblr destroys the image quality. All prices are USD.

These are the things I have recent examples for but I’m also open to doing just lineart/flats and character designs! c:

[cleverlikeaphlox]

I’m on Art Fight! That means this month, I won’t be taking any commissions. I will be trying to return all attacks, even friendly fire. If you aren’t on Art Fight, I’m also open to general art trades this month!

https://artfight.net/~sparrow-garden

[dragofelid]

Phlox for @cleverlikeaphlox

[cleverlikeaphlox]

I forgot to reblog this but I really love it, thank you so much!! <3

[cleverlikeaphlox]

Some cats! First two are from @ardegiwc, third is from @wtms-rp. I’ve been having fun with a softer shading style and colored lines lately.

[cleverlikeaphlox]

Trying to relearn digital painting but better this time, this is just a study so it’s pretty loose.

Character is @redlobco‘s

[cleverlikeaphlox]

Did these for my half of an art trade with @dracofelin!

[cleverlikeaphlox]

huh it turns out DA is trash now so looks like i’m reviving this art blog instead.

gotta change the theme and stuff but i’m just gonna start dumping art in the meantime

[cleverlikeaphlox]

Relearning digital painting. Took about two and a half hours. Some bits look a little wonky now that I see it on my other screen, but it turned out ok!

Critique is welcome!

[cleverlikeaphlox]

A little late to the party but it’s Goblin Week!

Goblins are amphibious. While they can live their whole lives on land, most prefer to live near to a source of water. Goblin settlements are often built around and in swamps. Because they like to spend a lot of time in the water, clothing is designed to be loose and easily removed. 

[cleverlikeaphlox]

Designed a bunch of furries last night bc I felt like it! I’m really having fun with this lineless style. I’m seeing influence from my friends @kiwistickers​ and @momoyurei​ in it, which is cool bc they’re both really great artists who you should check out!

In order, they are Kendra the black sheep, Ezra the bat-eared fox, Berry the tigoat, Kadal the komodo dragon, and Durian the sunda colugo.

I’ve still got the itch to design but I don’t have interest in keeping more characters than this so I might sell some designs if people would be interested?

[cleverlikeaphlox]

Immediately after my last drawing of 2017, I decided I liked the character design and made her a proper character.

2018 is gonna be the year of me actually having ocs I guess!

[sparrowsgarden]

makin it happen

[sparrowsgarden]

happy new year!!

[cleverlikeaphlox]

My hand project from this last semester! Colored pencil on Canson Mi Tientes toned paper.