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DrTofu83

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I open this update with some suggestions and showcasings, like the gorgeous gallery of :iconxstockx:, a thrice blessed model with a lovely and gentle figure, incredible and stunningly acute modelling and acting skills to grant you a whole range of poses and inspiring expressions, and a gallery that showcases models as inspiring as her. Or the :iconsadestock: stock gallery, where you can find the finest mermaid tails ever, or :iconenchantedgal-stock:, a brilliant artist and a hound for the best marvel of nature, to use and employ in granting life to your dreams. Or :iconwojtar-stock:, DDed because he's really good, and his galley worth a million faves. There's then :iconshoofly58:, whose creation are able to break the boundaries of standard digital art, :iconlunanyxstock: and her detailed stockpacks, :iconilargi-stock:, :iconmgb-stock: and their common items turned into parts of your art. Like the photos of :icondella-stock:, the backgrounds of :iconuntitled-stock: and the textures of :iconemothic-stock: and :icondazzle-textures: There are many stock artist to thank, that's just for beginning... As you saw now, using the slight stop&go in my everyday academic duties broght to me by some local holiday I taught myself some photomanipulation. To that, I must thank :icondreamweaverno1: and :iconshimafox: for their encouragement and counseling. In fact :icondreamweaverno1: was ever present in my very first manips, goofier than the still, I think, open-to-improvement learning tinkerings of today, and :iconshimafox: had to listen me in the long nights when inspiration kicked in, answering even to my most moronic questions (something on the line on "Shima, do you know if the most common monitor in Deviant homes is the standard 15", the standard 17" or the 17" 16:9... no, 'cause I know an accountant with a cinematic 16:9 so...") to keep me company and good counseling. Thank you Shima, it was truly appreciated. I want to share with you the things I taught by myself. I don't pretend to write a tutorial, in fact I cannot, I don't know how, and I don't deserve to write it, and my "teachings" will seem to more experienced ones a silly collection of misconceptions and kludges. But at least it's a start. You know, I'm not a real artist. :icondreamweaverno1: is. :iconshimafox: is. I'm not. If you're reading this, and not the tutorials offered by real artist like :iconkitsune999:, maybe you're feeling a bit blue yourself. But don't worry, I'm not an artist myself. If you watch the anime Naruto, a very common fanfavourite, you can compare my position in confront of a :iconshimafox: at the relationship between Naruto, the main character, and Rock Lee, one of the comprimaries. Naruto is a natural: he has unlimited supplies of spiritual energy, he's kinda the hotheaded hero, he does what he wants, and he can, and he does good. Rock Lee is the common guy: he has a friend who sees through things, and in a world in which even 10 yrs old have amazing powers, he's just a guy in a jumpsuit that does cool kung fu moves. But he just keeps going, and exerting himself, so he does by careful studies and lots of training almost the things Naruto does. He's nothing like him, but he's happy of doing his very best. That's my position, that's what I hope for you, if you don't believe in yourself. Never ever let your lack of experience stand between you and your dreams.

So... some random suggestions


* Pick up carefully your stock, but give yourself the advantage of suprise

That's simple: If you've got a concept in mind, search for something can express it. Do you envisioned in your mind a pretty lady holding a picture of a distant past? So, search a woman holding a sign... but if you found her in a gallery, and you find other interesting pictures, note down whethever they can inspire you

* Brain is a buggy supercomputer, use it in your favour

Rummaging in my gallery, you'll find the lovely :iconxstockx: giving her face to a cute mime, with her pasty faced looks and a cute little heart to 'tell' you what she feels. Giving the mime her makeup was more difficoult to think that to do. You know, have you ever seen a mime giving herself makeup? She just applies some white, gooey stuff to bleach her face, than makeup herself.

I think God as a sysadmin, working with what he/she had. So he just put in out brain some subroutines. For a man or a woman white is just "the absence of colours", so, if you can't actually apply makeup to a lady, use the "level" function to take a snip of her face, than toy with the "colour" and "contrast" menu to carefully alter the colours of her skin, without smothering the texture of her face.

Same thing applies to makeup: what's makeup if not a layer of paint applied to a pretty face? :icondreamweaverno1: taught me a clever trick: create a transparent layer over a face, or nails, than apply with the "airbrush" just a shade of the colour you wanted over the eyes. Then smudge them with the smuge tool, the one resembles a finger... even the classiest ladies sometimes use fingers to fix some details. You may erase the details way too smudgy with the eraser, but it will be helpful using the "fuzzy" pencil to do the trick. If it seems just a little bit smudgy don't overdo... I'll tell you later

* Use a lot of levels

A good artist can do the best with the right amount of level. A learning one must, at least at first, keep a level for everything. Personally, I keep a level for the background, a level for the main character, a level for eventual modifications to his/her body, a level for makeup if present, and a level for every items. When applying a texture, sometimes I use levels to fragment the laying off the texture in different points of the intended part of the picture. So, if you mess something, just erase. If some levels, like the textures one, become complete, you may merge them, and keep working with the others. Then you can merge them all, doing the final touches and export

* Be very careful with details

Mind may be a buggy computer, but it's a naggy one. Don't take shortcuts. If you're going to add a mirror image of your character, like some classy lady looking at her reflection in a mirror, remember to put in the frame not only the mirror image of the lady, but, if it's applicable, and if you want to put it, a _mirror image of the portion of background behind the lady_, even if not really so precise. Just laying the same background even behind the mirror frame could bring to a little "incongruence". Brain will not register it at the moment, but your viewers would feel something "itchy and wrong".

If you're laying a texture on background, no problem. If you're laying a non-organic texture on a body, it should be fine. If it's organic, be careful: my suggestion, if your model is posed on a very "lively" motion, like with arms folded at various angles, a tilted head and an angled torso, divide your model at least in six parts: left and right leg, left and right arm, torso and face (if hands and feet are really tilted, do the same things), and apply the textures on different level, following the "main direction" in which the limbs are folded. You'll give the same impression that organic skin does.

* Rationalize your character

I take myself as an example, not because I'm a vain loudmouth, but because I know my mind well. For example you want to create a mermaid. Do some brainstorming. The one gave me: scaly skin because she's a pretty fishy maiden, ocean tones because a "rosso corsa" red mermaid would attract every sort of mermaid-killer sharks and some evil dudes and stuff, and shells as buckles and jewelry, because the average little mermaid has not a "Funkyland shop" to buy inexpensive jewelery, but she lives under the sea.

You may for example think ad at a fairy as essentially a petite creature, because she doesn't need to be strong to fly, and she has to be lightweight, always barefoot because she rarely walk, vain but covered in leafs and stuff
That will help you in categorize and accessorize your creation.

Think at his/her emotion and story too

* Don't forget prospective!!

Remember: the farther something is, more little and slightly "confused" becomes. So, scale it, and toy a bit with the "opacity" and the contrast/light effects (you remembered to put every item on a different level, don't you)? Some more transparency, but _never exagerate_ or it will become some sort of freaky ghost can be expected to represent the underwater or misty ambients, were water filters light. Toy slightly with colouring and light in every other cases, but look carefully at the monitor, eventually with only the background and main characters levels around to check the final effects.

* Black and White is your friend

You found a lovely photo of a mode. Alas, she gave you a sepied photo, and you think with green eyes she'll be so pretty. Copy her eyes in another level, made them in tones of grey, then use the sliders that GIMP and Photoshop have to choose her colours. From grey to colour your inexperienced (as mine) eyes will follow the colouring until you'll find the right one

* Applying makeup: part two

So you may want to know everything I learnt about makeup: you may freshen the lipstick of your model by copypasting her mouth from the main level to a new level, and balancing the colour, just it, in a different way. Then, cancel the skin you copypasted in excess.
On the same level, you may do the same thing to change the colour of her pupils. Then airbrush her eyeshadow, if you want.

If her mouth seems a bit smudgier on the edges, or her eyeshadows a bit imperfect, be careful without trimming and perfecting: for a classy girl, correcting will be a good thing. But a mime would be interesting in making her mouth really big, for example

* "Imperfections* are life

Your model has a tatoo. Or a skin blemish.
Well, think well before removing. It adds he/she character. Would you redub Robin Williams because he talks "faster than you thought", or refuse Monica Bellucci a role in which she's otherwise perfect only because "she has a funny accent"? No? Then ask to yourself... would my model be more perfect with an uncrooked nose, or just a "commoneer?" Would my model be more perfect with less tatoos, or she'd lost part of her glamour?

* Always read the journals, respect the rules

Models and stock artist deserves your respect. So, give them plenty.

Then, writer's block, or artist's one, is a bit*h. So your muses could help you in more than a a way. If your model writes on his/her journal some suggestion, you may grab it. You'll be happier. Both of you.

That were my two cents... If I'm wrong in something, please, correct me. If you liked it... I liked working with you, I like this place
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Just an update to keep on with the short comeback message. As I said to mariehchan, apparently my life is just about to get more interesting.
When I disappeared two time ago, I was getting my law degree, but Italian law system is quite a bi*ch, even more complex than the solicitor/barrister system adopted in England, but much more complicated for the students.
When I started my studies, we used a 3+2 system. Three years full of exam, discussion on two given subject picked up out of three given by three different teachers, and bam! I got my first grade (American could call it "junior") Law Degree with access to paralegal professions and stuff. Plus, I could go on for the "Magistrale" (or "Senior") Degree. Two years more of exams, which I crammed so I've got only two of them left in six "slots", and I've got to write some original stuff (called a "Tesi") about bankrupcy and checking accounts.
Guess the issues are not over yet, but I've managed to balance my first experience in the field, thanks to my "junior degree", and conquer me a little bit of free time. A commodity I never had in the past year, when, in fact, I was cramming a lot of interesting stuff together.

So, I'm coming back. In the time, I've got to thank :icondreamweaver1:, because she gave me some interesting insides on photomanipulation I've put to great use. As you could see, I wandered into the new, at least for me, field of photomanipulation. It's just an experiment for me, so I didn't bother to buy Photoshop, and I smuggled on the laptop I use both for photos, both for academic purposes a copy of GIMP. I saw the gorgeous stuff of :iconliquid-venus-stock: and doodled. The first experiment was just a kind of conceptual, early photomanip: a touch of paintbrush on a model talented enough to be a canvas of her emotion. The second one, more a pointed finger against the kind of guy who sees a model only as a pretty face. You know, you'd have to respect models, especially the ones the media does not talk about. They're artist on their own, using their bodies and the help of a photographer to tell stories, feelings and emotions, or to lend you their words. They're so much more of a pretty body to put on a wall...

Then, I've got to thank :iconmariehchan: for her kind comeback. You know, as I've got accountants in the family, following the steps is some kind of obliged path, but after the "Magistrale" upgrade to my fully legittimate law degree, I'll have so much more opportunities in my life. I don't ask life to make me a Supreme Judge or something similar. A down-to-earth, honest accountant who uses the summer "stop&go" on the Judiciary Year in our legal system to go around my country with my trusty Fuji will be enough for me.

I'm amazed of how much I seem to have missed in this year. When I see young artists as :icontodo-el-mundo:, so young yet so complete, able to play with composition, colours and even raw photomanipulations to bring out the best from a landscape or a natural view, I don't feel envious. I feel proud of having seen the artistic birth of someone who'll be very great, if she allows her genious grow.

Guess a little mention goes to :iconducca: . In this times of extreme commercialization of the format, a funny approach to mermaids merits :)

Cheers and see ya soon.
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I left you wondering about my bout of absence. I excuse me, but I had lots to do. In extreme syntesis:
The graduation I was talking two years ago? It's done. Currently, I got my law degree, and I'm up to specializing.
My absence? Well, I had really a lot to do, between post-grad issues and things. Hope to see ya later soon... at least once a week.
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Taggin' Time

2 min read
E così la carissima :iconkitsune999: ha ben pensato di taggarmi. Avendo ormai cinque nanosecondi di tempo al giorno per ora rispondo alle semplici cosette curiose su di me, poi penso a sei taggabili. Abbiate paura, molta paura... in fondo come dire di no ad una cara illustratrice e buona amica? ^^

Currently the dear :iconkitsune999: had the idea to tag me. Living between nanoseconds at time I relpy on the six weird things about me, and I'm going to think about six names to tag. Have fear, lots of fear... how I can say no to a good friend and great artist? ^^

1. I collect comics and scientific magazines, but I keep them without any order, neither numeric neither for year... but I find the number I need at the moment anyways
2. Train, car or every other form of transport make me sleepy... so I had to pospone my driver's licence for a while, taking the final exam only recently ^^;
3. I'm both a sporty guy, both an accident prone guy: I've got to live with some band-aids and some ointment always at my side
4. Usually, I'm the only one able to operate the snack machine at the local college. It would be a very regular and un-weird thing... if such machine wasn't always broken.
5. Some friends of mine, even if it's not my real name, calls me "Benedetto", like in "Lucky Guy", 'cause, sport accidents apart, they think I'm very very lucky.

Today, I'm feeling lucky to have some good friends even here
Oggi, mi sento abbastanza fortunato di avere buoni amici anche qui

:iconshimafox: :icondemica: :iconsanchine: :iconilcorra: :iconmariehchan: :iconcringer1980:
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Hi!
I'm not the journal type guy, being always on the move, and without any time for relaxation. I prefer goo to think, but I felt the need for stopping, and thinking at a way to thank some wonderful artist who pushed me into this adventure. Or, at least, people who currently resides in my watch, exemplars of art and what being an artist means.

I'll put them in strictly alphabetical order, 'cause I don't want to offend anyone of those wonderful people, but currently I watch the galleries of all of them with big pleasure, and I'll be watching more, for more and more artist. But I'm here for only a month, so, I must give some thankings, and mixed some notes to some beautiful art :)

:iconcringer1980: 'cause he's a good friend, an amazing photographer and an even better Terragen and Mojoworld user. If Nature likes to be photographed, I can also say she likes a good portrait too. And Cringer can do wonders with Terragen, really.
:iconbrianreber: An incredible comic artist. And for a guy who lives at bread and Comics, see a first look to a gorgeous table still unmarred by the postproduction due to translation issue... is Paradise
:icondemica: A wonderful person, able to draw wonderful art. She seems to known better than everyone else the tourmoil of the human soul, an portrait them with her peculiar style, a good one, that can surpass the limit of the drawing itself, showing feeling, emotion and stories through the speechless media of portaits
:iconilcorra: One of the best friend you can have. Friendly, merry and always devote to his art. He's a webcomic artist, so non-Italian speakers would lose his witty puns and agile humour. But his sprite art remains still impressive
:iconjfarchaul: His photo are beautiful, a true diary of voyage, that give life to the very natural elements.
:iconmariehchan: An artist as wonderful as she is as a person. One of the first to cheer me up when I was more newcomer that I'm now, able to draw gorgeous art, impressive from every point of view. She recently decided to turn a new leaf in her art, so pushing herself from wonders to the absolute perfection. Her galley must be seen, even her scraps can leave you speechless. And she has always good words for everyone, even if she's the one who deserves them. So pay her a visit, you won't regret it. She's really gifted, both as an artist, both as a person
:iconmariethefalconer: Her art can be everything. Give her some colours, and she can draw something of witty, sharp and full of humour. Something cute, or very sexy, or both things at the same time. And she will always be able to convey exactly what she thought to express. An outstanding part of DeviantART
:iconmaxwindy: A stunningly beautiful artist, who can give life to the very concept of sexy, or cute.
:iconmeroko-rio: So young, yet so gifted. If only fifteen she's able to draw true masterworks, with more practice what wonderful wonders can she give to the art world?
:iconmichellehoefener: Simply wonderful. Her characters has everything they need to capture you, soul and mind. Beauty, expressivity, wonderful background stories... she has an entire world to show. Can you imagine something more?
:iconprincessdhaimish: So young, yet able to use her camera as only a professional photo artist could. Give her more years, she will be famous. Her skills in composition, both of natural, both of city photos and portraits are outstanding.
:iconpi-kyu: Her fantasy is... outstanding. And she can give body to her though in such a perfect way. Her CG colouring is impressive, her caracter so realistic, so beautiful, so expressive. Every detail converge in a masterwork. Every time.
:iconsanchine: The absolute mistress of cute. She enjoy and cherish her art, and you can feel it. Looking at her cute drawings can cheer you up for the whole day. She really enjoyes Naruto, yet her original and other characters too are so cute that you wanna hug them ^^. She's so cheerful, so cute and nice that paying her a visit is the only way to enjoy a day under the most cute auspices
:iconshimafox: A true friend. And an amazing artist. His anime knowledge his big only as his friendship. He has always a good word for everyone, and his art too has everything you can expect. Over the lines, witty, funny, yet cured and true food fot thoughts. Another artist to cherish, a good friend I'm glad to know.
:iconsilentdragoness: Of silent on her there's only her nick. Her art... is no mute at all. Her dragon princess are so detailed, so different, so lovable as the backstory she gave them, and ranging from the cute to the sexy, her character can be the sun on a day.
:icontasuki-no-miko: Her alphabet series... she has a keen artistic sense, and lots of determination to gave life to it. She's a true artist, able to carry on a very difficoult job only for art's sake. Stunningly talented, amazingly determinated.
:icontomuyu: Gifted and able to range with many characters and styles. A gallery to absolute pay a visit
:iconbea-gonzalez: Her art is stunning. Beatiful, mesmerizing, charming. She can draw beautiful characters, with beautiful and fitting details. Eyes that pierce the very soul of the watcher, lovely colours, and characters that ranges amazingly from the exotic to the nearby, from the fantastic from the beautifully real :)
:iconzairyo: A gifted artist with a fantastic humour, and a knack of drawing beautiful characters, who enjoys his art, and gave us beautiful characters ^^
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Featured

Almost a tutorial...more a FAQ and some thank you by DrTofu83, journal

Coming back... for now - Update by DrTofu83, journal

Not dead... just sleepy by DrTofu83, journal

Taggin' Time by DrTofu83, journal

Showcasing, for the first month by DrTofu83, journal