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Subeta Forums > General Creativity

#1 :: August 1st, 2012 @ 3:14 PM

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Hey everyone! I would love for you to critique my work and like my facebook page. Also let me know if you are interested in anything! I do more than just band merch.

https://www.facebook.com/smashgraphicsillustration

#2 :: August 1st, 2012 @ 7:40 PM

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@smash19;; personally i find it extremely 2d.
amature-ish in a way. some of the lines aren't steady when they need to be straighter and not so shaky and it could use some shading to add a less 2 dimensional feel to it.

do you mind me asking how long you've been work on merch?

#3 :: August 1st, 2012 @ 7:42 PM

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Understandable; I'm sixteen and these are my first pieces in this artistic style. Ever.

#4 :: August 1st, 2012 @ 7:52 PM

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@smash19;; well for amatuer work it's pretty good for the most part. i hope to go into the same field hopefully, i'm just waiting for the funds to purchase the tablet i want.

and i wouldn't have 'i specialize in band merchandise' if you're just beginning. you don't specialize in anything yet.
if anything, put 'hoping to specialize in band merchandise'. it lets people know that you understand that you aren't great yet you're looking to improve so you can be.
to have the former will make you seem a bit of a joke.

if i wasn't so terrible with the orientation of my current tablet, i'd show you some edits of your work where shading can make them seem more 3d and a bit more professional.
you have it kind of... blobbed on there.

#5 :: August 1st, 2012 @ 7:57 PM

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@ Well, as for the whole "specialization" comment, I put that there because that is the only thing I am selling off of that page. Band merchandise. I've already done 3 commissions with a fourth on the way. However, I do agree with the shading. Could you explain to me what you would do? I try to limit the color choice so that it could be printed as a shirt cheaply, but I know I haven't gotten the placement down yet.

I'm used to drawing traditionally, with pencil, and I'd say I'm good at realistic shading. I can't quite capture this style yet, but I really want to.

Thanks!

#6 :: August 1st, 2012 @ 8:06 PM

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@smash19;; i highly recommend changing it.
specialization means you are trained to do that work. which you, currently, are not.
put something along the lines of 'currently accepting commissions for band-style merchandise.'

and when i return i'll attempt to show you with my tablet. i'm terrible at explaining things.

and as for it being 'printed cheaply', you as the commissioned have the right to charge a reasonable price that correlates with the work you've done. if the item requires more colour and has more detail, then charge more to compensate for the printing.
don't short yourself.
worst is the person doesn't like the price and you have another example ready to show people interested.

#7 :: August 1st, 2012 @ 8:12 PM

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@ Do you find Derek Deal to be a good example of what you are trying to explain? Google his page if you haven't seen his work.

Another person I take inspiration from is Alduane: https://www.facebook.com/AlduaneMano

And as for pricing, my plan is to just start off small. I'm a kid, I'm selling my work to kids, nobody needs to pay or ask for more than 25 dollars at this point. I'm not going to sell to any big bands any time soon.

#8 :: August 1st, 2012 @ 8:23 PM

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@smash19;; no because your style is more coloring-book while his is more surreal/semi-realism.

however i feel alduane is a better example for you to start working on your shading and getting it right.

set a range of what it could cost and then discuss it with them when you finish. a consistent price will have your art coming out somewhat the same as when you first started.

Last Edit by: Felix 8/01/12 - 8:24:22 pm

#9 :: August 1st, 2012 @ 8:28 PM

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@ Fair enough. Do you recommend any forums or sites for self-taught beginners like me? I'm looking for more inspiration and critique, and I just don't know of that many artists in this style. I usually look at shirts online from Hot Topic or at Derek and Alduane's works for inspiration. As for critique, I don't get much. I guess that's why I'm not very good yet! haha

#10 :: August 1st, 2012 @ 8:39 PM

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@smash19;; personally, i can't for i don't work well from sites like that. i'm a self-taught myself, being 16 and all like you.
i feel there are plenty of artists in the style, you just need to find them.
i've seen plenty a shirt done professionally in a style similar to yours.

don't look at shirts like that. it's setting a bar that you can't reach yet.
look at shirts done on sites that accept amateur artists designs and makes them into shirts if they're good enough and you get a cut of all sales made.
i had 3 sites like that listed, but i can't remember nor find the urls for the life of me.

#11 :: August 1st, 2012 @ 8:46 PM

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@ Have any example of your own work then?

#12 :: August 1st, 2012 @ 8:51 PM

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@smash19;; as i said, i'm waiting for my new tablet before i begin working digitally.
but i have one image i'm particularly proud of. mostly because it was one of my first pieces on my tablet.
it's not band-style, tho. it's just a doodle; but, it could help with your shading and what i meant by making things more 3d. here it is.
this was back in december at like 4 in the morning, however. so it will probably suck compared to what i'll most likely be putting out with a decent work utensil.

#13 :: August 1st, 2012 @ 8:55 PM

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@ Well of course I also think I can do better than what is represented on my page, but I can't prove to you that I'm a better artist unless I show you. I'd say the same goes for you, haha.

#14 :: August 1st, 2012 @ 8:56 PM

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@smash19;; everyone has the potential to go above and beyond.
it's all about execution.
i'm currently working on some hand drawn sketches for band-style merch so i have practice material with the cintiq.

#15 :: August 1st, 2012 @ 8:58 PM

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@ I'd love to see them if you get the chance! I'll show you some of my non-band-style work as well if you'd like.

#16 :: August 1st, 2012 @ 8:59 PM

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@smash19;; you can comment them to me.
i'm probably going to trash the ones i have now and start over, but i'll scan them in eventually and hopefully remember to show you. XD

#17 :: August 5th, 2012 @ 8:45 PM

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This is also the field of work I plan to go into. haha.

Besides the shading issues already mentioned, I also see some anatomical incorrectness in your work. I suck at explaining things verbally, so if I had the means to, I'd red-line it for you, but I don't have a working tablet at the moment. xD

I'd say that the best work you've posted so far is the one you did for "For the Republic". The shading is better, but could still be improved upon, but it looks more or less like a shirt that could be bought at Hot Topic or something. His arms are what bothers me about that design though. They seem a little short and just... odd. I get that he's wearing a baggy hazmat suit type thing, but still. Do you draw the actual person's body before drawing the clothing over it, or do you just draw the clothing immediately? I've always been taught to draw the body first and then draw the clothing on, so you can see how it'll fit the body better.

Last Edit by: HeyBrittany 8/05/12 - 8:48:15 pm

#18 :: August 5th, 2012 @ 10:53 PM

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@
I think they are nice

Like said they come off as a bit amateur-ish but that's just lack of experience. As general compositions they are pretty good. And it's smart of you to think about the shading in terms of printing on various materials. I'm at university for graphic design right now and I took a class solely on printing and making your work be as universal as possible. It's good to think about printing but don't limit yourself so that it hinders your quality; work with what you're able to your advantage.

Also this is just a thought to consider, but the style you are going for may not be the best for these 'hardcore' bands. One of the reasons these pictures may come off as kind of off-putting to people is because they don't really advertise what the product is. They come off as very silly-looking; like something that would be more suited for a Weird Al-esque band.

@ woops sorry I ping the wrong person all the time it's terrible

art

Last Edit by: Follywood 8/05/12 - 11:23:20 pm

#19 :: August 5th, 2012 @ 11:19 PM

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@Follywood;; pinged the wrong person. haha

#20 :: August 5th, 2012 @ 11:44 PM

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Just wanted to pipe in and tell you that your last statement isn't necessarily true. A lot of hardcore bands opt for cartoon-ish designs on their shirts.

Examples:
X
X
X

Last Edit by: HeyBrittany 8/05/12 - 11:49:58 pm

#21 :: August 5th, 2012 @ 11:52 PM

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Just because some bands have cartoony-silly style artwork it doesn't mean it's good design. But that's beside the point because I wasn't saying that hardcore bands can't have cartoon designs, but that something that comes off as silly isn't the most effective. None of those designs are what I'm talking about in regard to that either; they are either punches at culture, gory and/or creepy which is what I would expect from a hardcore band.

art

#22 :: August 5th, 2012 @ 11:56 PM

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Your first statement made it sound like you meant hardcore bands never have cartoon t-shirts. hah.
The Suicide Silence one is the only one I would consider to be possibly creepy; the other two are just cute to me, but eh, that's a different conversation.

If the op keeps practicing, I, personally, could definitely see her designs on a hardcore band's t-shirt.