Mike the Ninth 💙💛

Painter. Metalhead. A2A Simulations 3d artist. No NFT, no AI. He/him.

[devinellekurtz]

My very first tiger drawing and my latest

[formaldehydedoesstuff]

Your skill level is unquestionable but listen.

I love him.

[toasthaste-art]

me also. as well.

[devinellekurtz]

This is the COOLEST thing I’ve seen in AGES. You both completely made my entire week.

[enchantedbook]

"From the Abyss" by Yuko Morino

[leo-val-art]

Mermay 2026 is finally done! (few days late) My take on merfolk for my own worldbuilding project. More a creature or monster than your usual beautiful sea goddess :p Hope you like it! It was a fun painting to create!

[jodeeeart]

In-between feedback and client work, I'm picking away at my WIP pile just to try and get some personal work over the line and out of limbo. This beast has had many forms but I think it's time to open the gates and release it.

[michalputo]

And it's done. :) I'm very happy with how it went, hope you'll like it too :)

Oil on canvas, 54x73cm, three colours used - Permanent Red Medium (Rembrandt), Phtalo Green (Schmincke) and Titanium White (Rembrandt).

Full resolution on my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/underwater-green-158884086

[michalputo]

Almost done. One or two sessions left. Oil on canvas, 50x70cm.

#art #wip #oiloncanvas

[michalputo]

Almost done. One or two sessions left. Oil on canvas, 50x70cm.

#art #wip #oiloncanvas

[depsidase]

[rukitu]

and what if i said the petrova line was the red string of fate tying them together what then

[loish]

Fabric folds are so hard. At least for me. The more detail I add the more they start to look like frosting on a cake. Crispness does not come naturally to me. But I try!!

I drew these for my Patreon challenge. This month, we’re drawing gems and colorful rocks - join us!

[lackadaisycats]

Hey, Last Call won an Ursa Major award for dramatic short work! Thank you!!

All credit really belongs to Willow Wilde and Bryan Teoh for the music, Fable Siegel and the entire team of artists who worked on it, and to Olan Rogers and Glitch Productions, of course!

[leo-val-art]

The book cover for my portfolio is done! Hopefully this would attract some clients now D: I AM OPEN FOR COMMISSIONS :D This is also available for purchase/license if some writer/publisher has a book this would fit nicely :> Pls share around! I need work! 🙏

[michalputo]

My latest illustration, Misty City. This was both experiment and the exercise, I've learnt quite a lot. It also took way too long :)

Oil on canvas, 50x60cm.

Full res and wip steps on my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/misty-city-wips-154933864

[mistysblueboxstuff]

don't move

[jodeeeart]

Hi Jodie, i was wondering if you use photos for the poses of some of your work or do you pay for models to draw from, or you just draw the poses from your imagination, i personally i dont know what to do do you think its okay to work only from photos for you art

Hello there!

In short - Yes, I do use loads of reference from photos. In an ideal world, i would book models and shoot my own references but a lot of client work demands things move pretty quickly. I usually pay for a commercial licence on Artists reference packs. I was using the flipped normals market place until it closed recently as they had a decent policy against uploading AI reference materials. I also take my own photos on my phone to get the exact pose / lighting situation all the time. I think it’s about balance when it comes to reference and imagination. I will use reference when it comes to a getting a hand right, getting the pose or the face spot on but for the overall idea, I will usually have a concept in mind that i support with some references at hand. I won’t work from them anywhere near as directly. I save ideas and visuals i like all the time so i have a bank of imagery at hand whenever I need it. It’s what i loved about Pinterest. It’s a good way to kickstart your imagination, trawling through things that have previously inspired you that you may have forgotten about. I think sketching and ideating without reference is important too, especially for idea generation/concepting. As you get more experience working from life or photography, your visual vocabulary will build and sketching without the reference won’t feel as daunting. It all sort of works in tandem.

There is nothing wrong with using photography for reference, Artists have been using reference for a long, long time. As you improve, your interpretation of that photography will get more sophisticated and less literal, it just takes time. I think the idea that artists, especially those dealing in realism, shouldn’t use any reference is mostly held by people who don’t have that much experience in the field honestly. It’s some sort of romantic naivety. Of course, there is definitely a difference between ‘good’ reference and ‘bad’ reference when it comes to quality. Be discerning and know what you’re taking from it. Not all photographers are created equal. Heavily edited, fashion photography, editorial stuff or someone’s filtered IG grid probably isn’t the best source for a real or natural feel but, in the same breath, those same things might light up your imagination and inspire awesome ideas.

And it should go without saying - avoid AI references all together. Garbage. Trash. Shite.

Hope this helps!

[nigelgraz]

Comm🪽

[leo-val-art]

I might need to move out soon as I can't afford to live in my current place if I can't get any work to pay the rent and bills. Please, share as much as possible. Previously worked in movie VFX for 10 years in teams and solo, delivered about 1000 shots. Did work to SISU, SISU 2, Havoc, and many more.