Advice Column #1!~

Hello all! Your Warchief here!~

Time for the first issue of our Advice Column!~ This column is aimed at helping deviants with their problems and issues, whether they be personal or art-related (Or even if you'd just like to ask a question about our favorite anime - We'd love getting to know you all better!~) We'll do our best to give you several well-informed responses and answers!~

How this works:

Interested? Questions will be sent in a group note or a comment, and an admin will reply that they've received the question! Every week, we'll feature some notable questions in a journal~ Feel free to come to us for any issues! You may even chose to direct the question to a certain admin, if you'd like!~

Anonymous questions can be sent to the Warchief, LokiDalton or Lawli-Art !~ For everyone who's asking a question, you'll receive a note with our responses in a (hopefully) timely manner! If not, you can always give us a reminder!~

While not necessary, feel free to use the form below for questions!~ (In case you feel a bit confused about all of this)      -->

My question:
Directed toward: (All Admins or specific)
[Insert question here]
My Username/Anon Nickname:

~~~~~

Julia

"What are some tips you'd give for doing backgrounds?"

"It depends on what kind you're talking about; Background, like buildings, or a forest setting? Your question is a little vague, but I looked at your gallery and saw a lot of clouds/sky, and I'd recommend using reference pictures to make it more detailed.

If you're talking about simple back grounds, simply a colored background or even a circle would be fine." -Lawli-Art

"Backgrounds are easy, once you've learned its ok to cheat!

A lot of times you see these vary vivid and vibrant landscapes of city-scapes, and you think "how they hell did they do that so well?". Well a lot of times, even in fantasy art, the picture has a lot of basis on an actual picture. You can always add a little more here, and remove something things there to create the type of image you're after. One important thing to remember as well is Its ok to Trace. Yeah that's right I said it. The biggest assumed taboo in the art world, but really it is a wonderful tool. If tracing was so taboo and looked down upon then why do places like Micheal's and Dick Blick sell things like light tables? See, tracing is only bad if you're using it to blatantly plagiarize someone else's work. So the use of the tool to help build a background is actually not as unheard of. Looking at pictures of places and tracing bits of them to create the scene you're looking for is a great tool. However be aware of some picture who express copy rights on all of its content that would prohibit any recreation of the picture.

There is tons of stock images out there for artist to use, and people who want you to use them in order to create better art. Also, get out there! Explore the outside world, take your own stock and reference pictures. Heavens knows my back yard has been use in some of my older works from high school. Also remember this too, your ruler is your friend. Even when doing flowing landscapes, sometimes being able to throw a light straight line in to reference a horizon line, of to keep a tree standing up can sometimes help the overall look of the picture when you're done. Preferably, I kinda like my trees to look a little "busted" and crooked, but that's just me.

And of course that ol' dead horse me and other old times like to beat... PRACTICE! No one ever gets good because they wish to get good alone. You've also gotta do it. Do it! Do it now! One good thing to try out, is if backgrounds are one of your artistic hiccups, then try focusing on them for a little while. Spend a week just creating backgrounds. Once you've got a little bit more of a handle on it, then start designing some pieces that will have more going on in the foreground. Once you're at that level, then just keep going!" -Mtn-Man

"Start off with studies! You can learn to draw certain parts at a time, if that helps you learn. For example, you can study rock formations or clouds. Draw just those elements using reference images and then when you get the hang of it you can add them to any background you want!

Look up some youtube speedpainting too. It helps you figure out how some people approach painting/drawing backgrounds and helps you figure out how you want to do it  I've seen a lot of nice ones out there so if you need any help finding them, feel free to ask!" -Noctualis

"Make sure you use both soft and hard tones and only add details at the focal points, meaning where you want people to look. This will guide the observer through the point. Also don't be afraid to use stronger shades." -SarcasmNymph

"I myself do not create a lot of "backgrounds" (Since my main art form is Abstract), so what I would suggest is to look up some tutorials and guides to help you learn more to better your craft!~" -LokiDalton

"Think about the background you want to achieve. If it's a forest background then really study up on trees, bushes, and grass. Think about where your lighting source is going to be, and remember the color theory. There are SO many useful tutorials and resources on this sight to use!" -Summer-Lynx



Manga

"What are some tips for canine anatomy? Specifically, paws, legs and the forechest/chest/shoulders area."

"From that scant little I've noticed, the top of the legs and arms seem to be at the same height, though the legs are little longer. The back part of the paws seem to rise up, a bit, I guess? I found these tutorials helpful: lhuin.deviantart.com/art/Tutor… and fav.me/d41i697

Using reference pictures will probably help out a lot, too!" -Lawli-Art

"Canines can be hard to get right, but using references helps me a lot. I usually look for a few pictures that are similar to the pose that I want the canine to be in. I also try to look at their bone structure sometimes, so I know how it can move.  Then I look up videos! This helps me the most. I can pause if I see a pose I like and it shows me what they can realistically do with their bodies.

Pay attention to how their legs bend close to their bodies, so their elbows are close to the belly. For drawing paws, its important to look at the length of each toe. The middle two are usually longer than the ones on the outside. they will also curve up more when the paw is down.
This is a good source for wolves s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/o… " -Noctualis

"I myself do not create Canine art, so what I would suggest it to look up some tutorials/guides/references to help you learn more to better your craft!~" -LokiDalton

"The greatest tip I can give you is to do this--
-Get a paper and draw a before picture of Canine legs, paws, etc. without references. Then just set these pictures aside.
-Find some canine pictures on google of paws, legs, chest, etc. get about 1-3 good ones and trace them a couple times just to get the feel of how they should be drawn. Pick out some shapes like circles.
-Now draw beside your reference photo. DONT trace it, but reference off of it. When you get the feel of that one pose of the leg, paw, etc. try another pose, and keep drawing until you rarely need to look at the reference anymore.
-And finally go back to your before drawing and critique it yourself. Draw an after drawing, and see how much you've improved. I hope this is useful! Keep Drawing! " -Summer-Lynx



Elizabeth

"I've been having a hard time getting attention directed for my page. ;w;; In my last account, a friend of mine paid for watchers and views for me. I did not like that, so I decided to start over and not cheat. Do you have any tips? :'D"

"Ahh getting watchers and attention for your page is not difficult but A LOT of work.
There are a few simple ways to acomplish what you want.

1) This is the most important one~! Get out there~!! Fave things, comment on things, make friends, do things! The more active you are the more likely it is for people to stumble across your page. Its a huge effort, i know, but it works the best.

2) Put your art in groups, that always helps as well. Your art is basically what gives you watchers (no, really?) so the more people that see your art the bigger the chance that someone will watch you. Groups have large watcher bases and can show your art to thousands of people. Don't hesitate to put your piece in 15 diffrent groups~!

3) Give people llamas, for some reason people will come back to your page to either thank you or give one back. Sometimes they'll love your page so much that they'll watch you~!" -LenaMoongrove

"Basically what Kath said: Be active! Interact with your watchers. I also suggest holding events like kiribans, art trades, and raffles, etc; these can generate alot of interest, and you can get to know people better. Features are always a plus as well!" -Lawli-Art

"I've read quite a few journals that said, that commenting on other's work, and posting in forums, typing in chat, etc would be helpful, but honestly I don't think so based on my personal experience (but I'm not really the social type anyway ha)...

Though commenting sometimes works, and posting in the deviantthumb section of the forums helps a lot too. So I'd recommend you to try those out, at least.

From my own experience, the most important thing is to submit your works into groups. (Submit the heck out of it!) Being the perfectionist being I am, I even noted down, how much a group would fit to my genre of works, and yea, you'll find, some groups won't do anything for you at all, while others are super helpful...

If you're really determined to only get watchers for your art, and want to make sure it's not because of something else, it's really hard to get watchers. Since watch backs would feel like cheating even. xD" -ametotaiyou

"Here is a list of some things I'd do in your situation~ -->

~Join a handful of groups to help promote your art

~Comment on a lot of artist's pieces so that they will come to your page to thank you

~Give out Llama badges so that people will come to your page to return them

~Create feature journals to feature other artists so that they will visit your page

~Feature your own work whenever you feel the need to (For free, of course )

I hope that this helps, and I'm sure you'll be getting more traffic on your page soon!~" -LokiDalton

"My advice is to be active here on DA. Join groups for instance. There are BILLIONS of groups on here and most likely you'll find one that suits you! For instance if you like creating cute dragons and other creatures Lifes Of Cetris may be a good group for you! Commenting, and giving out llamas will also help you get more page views." -Summer-Lynx



Actualgudetama

"I always have quality issues after uploading my drawings, whether it's scanning or taking pics with my phone. Is there any way I can fix this with a free editing  software and little skills?"

"I don't know much about scanning or free editing software because everything i draw and scan/make a photograph of will be used for digital art purposes.
What i do know if that you can brighten up your drawings and get rid of the murky background by using the CMYK/RGB sliders and the brightness/contrast layers.
This tutorial explains it for photoshop: fav.me/d2u6t9b
Most free programs like Kirta or the trial of Paint tool SAI have the same sliders/filters. So the technique applies to every program. You only need to find the sliders/filters." -LenaMoongrove

"I see that it looks like you kinda went from a scanner to photographing the art. I see the quality issues in both, and while they're cause by slightly different reasons, there's one thing I think could help you overall. Add more 'value' to your art. Now I'm not talking about a price tag either. What I mean is the black and white values, or how much contrast is in the art. I see that you color, and by means of color pencil I assume. This is fine, but when it comes to editing software, free or otherwise, adjusting contrast would certainly lose a lot of the coloring work you did. So what I'm trying to say is, make the black and dark areas stand out a bit more, then use your colors to create a rich mid-tone value, and remember to keep your whites as white as you can. Also, funny trick, but you can use a white color pencil to help blend areas of color. Its a bit tricky, but even wax based color pencils like crayola can do it.

Now as for the photographs of the art, the next real big thing with quality is the light source. I know most phones have flashes now a days, but even those suck. Any time I need to photograph my art, I always make sure I have abundant lighting. Sometimes I'll even step outside to snap the picture, and I STILL bring one of my spot lamps, just in case.

As for some free programs, always gotta be a little wary of things that are free online, but Paint Tool SAI ( www.systemax.jp/en/sai/ ) is a good digital art tool that is free. I don't know if its exactly what you're looking for but its an ok program for being free and all. There are also sources online such as Pixlr ( pixlr.com/editor/ ) who allow yo to edit without downloading anything and are a bit more basic.  

So pretty much, to sum up off of my part, add more value before the upload, plenty of lighting, and then move on to the final edit. Also, make sure your camera is stable and not moving by placing it on a flat surface or tripod if possible and try to avoid "yellow" light. Get as much florescent light as possible, but don't drown the picture out in it." -Mtn-Man

"Ohh yes, that problem. I think most traditional artists could sing a whole song about it
I can only tell you how I do it:
When photographing, sunlight is the best, DEFINITELY. So it's best to photograph next to a window or outside when the sun is shining. this way, the photo will be much sharper and the colors more differentiated.
When scanning, I always use the best quality settings. With my printer, I also have the possibility of editing the scan with the scan program. There, I darken the middle tones a bit.
But regardless if I scan or photograph, I always edit the picture with picmonkey.com. It's quite useful and easy even if I don't have the "royal" version. The basic edits are most important, there I can rotate and cut the picture, but even better are the "exposure", "color" and "sharpen" edits. with "exposure", I can darken or lighten the picture, or emphasize shadows and lights. Especially scans are always too bright, so I use this a lot. With "color", you can adjust the saturation of the colors or make the colors appear cooler (blueish) or warmer (yellowish/orangeish). Mostly I just add a little "warmth". With "sharpen", you can - wooow - sharpen the picture or add clarity to it.
And these are just the basics, there are many other functions (e.g. filters, text, stickers, frames, textures...). If you want to, just try it out! c:
Just make sure, when saving your picture, set the quality to "sean", that's the best quality you can get!
But if you don't have an adblocker (e.g. adblock plus) for your browser, you will get annoyed by ads which also can make the flash player crash while editing and your edited picture will be gone " -Pinjachi

"Gah, I completely understand how you feel! I had to use my stupid phone's camera for the longest time to upload my Traditional pieces, and the quality would always upset me! Now that I have a scanner, I am MUCH more pleased with the quality of my works~

The easiest answer would be to save up money to upgrade the camera/scanner to use. That can be difficult for some people though, so an alternative is to use an editing software. Photoshop is a REALLY awesome photo editing software you can use to help touch up the quality of your pieces~ Photoshop, however, is not a free software (You have to pay Adobe small monthly payments for the program) and if you cannot afford the payments, then sadly, you cannot get the program =[

If you are looking to pay little to no money, then I'd say firstly look for someone who has Photoshop to help touch up the quality of your pieces either for very little pay or for free. If you cannot find anyone, I'm sure that you can use Google to help you find a free photo editing software that you can play around with to help touch up your pieces~

I hope this helps in some way, and that you are able to become more satisfied with the quality of your pieces!~" LokiDalton



Strudel

"Hi! This question might be a little silly, but sometimes (a lot of times, actually) I feel like I have to post a drawing on a schedule, like once a week or something, or finish an aspect of my drawing before a deadline. Kinda makes it rather "stressful" to keep up with, and makes me not want to draw for a little after I finish...
I was told to "just throw away the clock and let yourself sink in the drawing", I'm gonna be doing that, but I was wondering if you have any other suggestions? Thanks!"

"If you really feel like you are stuck to a schedule and its stressing you out. Extend your deadline, what will happen if you don't post on time?
Nothing much i presume.
Nobody will complain if you don't post regularly, in the end everyone of us is human and we all know what it is to have a life outside of dA. Unless you have commited yourself to a deadline because you are drawing a webcomic or the likes there will be no one who will get mad or upset if you don't post every week. Finished work is always nicer to look at than rushed art. " -LenaMoongrove

"I think taking your time is something really important, and if you do rush, some details can get overlooked. Relax-even if you don't update as often, you can still post journals and polls so people know you're still being active." -Lawli-Art

"I sometimes get a similar feeling, but it mostly happens when I get off schedule haha. When that happens I always try to remember that if I rush to meet the deadline it may not be as fulfilling as it would be if I waited and got inspired by one more work of art or by something I see in my life. I've learned to wait until it feels right to draw, or I have an image that I really want to make.
Ask yourself why you feel like you need to stay on a schedule. Is it so you are always practicing? Or is it so your watchers stay with you? Figure out why and then you can target it!
You could also post progress! If you feel like you really want to show off what you are making, but you need more time to finish you can post what you finished for the day or even hour. I'd suggest trying to post only once you finish a certain stage, like lineart or coloring the base. That way there aren't part of it that look more complete than others." -Noctualis

"I think I can feel you I often get the feeling I'm not drawing enough. "If I don't post more of my work, people will lose interest", maybe that is what I am afraid of.
Well, I don't think watchers will lose interest just because you don't post something regularly, most of them watch also maany other people besides you and maybe not even notice that you aren't posting regularly. It could also be that they are even happier to see something from you when they can't see it as often. So, don't feel pressured because of people on the internet, just do your thing.
I think it's no use rushing pictures if that isn't your way of drawing, please take your time as you would if you had all the time of the world.
It's also important to pay attention on your drawing condition. If you feel like drawing, do it if you can. If you start drawing and you get into it, if it's fun - DON'T STOP even if it's in the middle of the night, draw until you collapse (sorry, I'm just exaggerating of course). I always find it so hard to motivate myself to continue a drawing after I already had several "drawing sessions" on it.
Usually I try to do everything neatly and perfectly when drawing, but of course that started getting exhausting and, as you said, stressful. So recently I started drawing some quick pictures, more like elaborated sketches which are fun and relaxing. It doesn't matter if they fail or don't get finished. It can also be combined with practicing, e.g. human anatomy. If you are interested in that, I can recommend you posemaniacs.com or quickposes.com. I started doing the drawing challenges on these websites, around 10 minutes everyday I drew poses, and for each pose I had 30/45/60 seconds (depending on my drawing condition). This was very fun, even if it didn't look good! Now I just use the sites for references, I draw the pose and invent a scenery. I challenge myself not to erase when doing these kind of pictures. It's a bit tricky and takes getting used to in the beginning, but it's interesting and a very good practice

I hoped I could help you somehow, good luck with your drawings! c:" -Pinjachi

"I think having a space just for doing art helps. It helps me keep a clear mind and focus. What I mean by this is, this place needs to be reserved for doing art and nothing else. When you go there that should be your intention and that's all you should do. When you take a break or decide to eat or anything else leave that place. This might seem strange but it boosted my creativity like a ten fold. I hope it helps." -SarcasmNymph

"I understand how you feel! Sometimes, you can get caught up on your own personal "schedule," and feel as if you have to submit a piece within a certain amount of time to make your watchers (or even yourself) happy. Trust me, this is NOT fun, and it WILL stress you out!

Art is NOT something that can be given a set schedule! It's not a 9-5 job that you repeat every day of the week. Art is based off of inspiration, and inspiration cannot be put upon a clock. It will come and go whenever it pleases, heck, half the time it doesn't show up when you need it most, and it does show up whenever you really don't need it, like whenever you are taking a flipping shower! (I REALLY hate that...)

If you have been going off of that "schedule" for a long time, it will take a little bit of time to pull yourself away from that! Don't give up though, because I know you can do it!~ Try creating a piece in double the time your "schedule" makes you feel like you have to create it (If the "schedule" makes you feel as if you should finish a piece in a week, try to finish it in two weeks)~

I hope this helps, and I know you'll be also to break from that "schedule" soon!~" -LokiDalton

"Just throw away the clock is a very good tip! I get the same feeling sometimes and sometimes it actually causes art-block afterwards. Most people on here watch so many other artists that they may not even know you have a regular schedule. I know from personal experience that it is WAY better to see a drawing from an artist who hasn't posted in a while then seeing art every day from that artist. Also when you rush through a drawing you make more errors that you will notice later, some of them silly errors. The longer you take on something, the more detail and less errors there will be in the picture. As they always say "Better late than never." -Summer-Lynx



Rather Not Say

"I kind of feel a little uneasy on this site right now. I've already been here for the past one month (I'm probably close to being here for nearly TWO months) and I haven't updated my art a lot (even though I love to draw). I didn't write too much either, and I love to write as well. I can't even find too many great groups that are my type. The groups I mostly find are FNAF fan clubs, Fetish groups, Anime clubs, and the best groups I can find right now are those "promotion" groups (but even "promotion" isn't my type either).

The worst part is that I'm not even active, at least not in the groups I'm in. I don't think I comment a lot either, and for some reason, I only fave a few times a day. I don't know WHAT people I should watch (I also feel like a bad watcher myself). I also get a little shy when it comes to commenting, just like I get nervous when I try to talk in real life. (Sometimes, I also don't know what to say.)

I really want to be active and draw/write/comment more, and I don't want too join TOO MANY groups, just the right kind of groups. I also feel like I'm not fit for this site already (even though it hasn't been too long), but I also don't want to quit it. It's pretty much the only best site I can find to put my drawings here, and it has some good features.

BTW, I mostly like to draw original stuff and fan art of my favorite cartoons, and I like writing some short stories, poems, and some fanfics. This may give you an idea of what groups I can join (if you CAN think of any groups). Thank you!"

"Unfortunately I don't really have any specific group recommendations, that's something based on personal taste and ones own involvement. I know you said you're sometimes apprehensive about talking/commenting but sometimes any easy route to find groups and like minded deviants is to head over to the chat or forum area. There yo can find people who can point you to specific groups that would be more suited to you. Also you might be able to find deviants that are closer to your caliber of art, which makes watching and talking to them less intimidating. Still though, don't feel like you're NOT allowed to watch awesome deviants, I can't hold a candle to most deviants, but that that doesn't keep me from enjoying their work. There are no real rules as what 'makes a good watcher' so don't feel too bad if you're thinking that you're lacking. Even if you don't Fav any art from a watcher, I'm pretty sure they're appreciative of the gesture regardless.

As for improving activity, again the only way to do it, well... Is to do it. Seemingly if you have the time or not is really going to change the outcome. My real advice there would be that if you want to be more active on an art based website, would be to be more active with your art. Focus on doing art, even if you don't upload as often as you'd like. Sometimes as you're working on something it'll actually give you a reason to get on dA. It might be looking up reference material, or looking up a drawing tutorial, or even to hit people up for ideas and tips. Whatever the reason, producing art and appreciating art is kinda the whole point of this website. Everything else is secondary to that initial pretext. So if you can't upload as often then a good thing to try is to have several pieces of work to work on at a time so that way if you only upload once a month or so, you'd have multiple pieces to display.

Really though if you want to be more active, then Be More Active. You'll have to work on it bit by bit to lose a bit of your apprehension, but that's a normal part of the growing up process. Not worrying so much on surface value thing and what others think will help you raise your curtain a bit so you can be more outgoing. We here at rising-artist will always be here to spur you on. " -Mtn-Man

"Hey, don't worry on uploading "not enough". Drawing is a hobby of yours, so you shouldn't feel like there's any need to upload a lot or even on a schedule! Although you don't upload much now, maybe sometimes, spontaneously you'll feel like drawing. So just upload and draw whenever you want, and don't worry about it

Also if you want to upload more, just do it! (Unless if you really don't have the time.) But you can post anything you want, even if it's just a little doodle, that's just fine too!

About the groups, I'm not sure, if you know that you can search for groups: groups.deviantart.com/ Of course FNAF and anime groups seem more prevalent, since both of them is really popular. (Though honestly I've never seen fetish groups before lol) However, if you search for cartoon: groups.deviantart.com/?qh=&q=c… you can find tons of groups, and if you look at the siderail, you can even filter and order after Focus, Media, Location, Type, Watchers, and Founding Time. (Do the same thing for poems, fanfics, etc.)

And I think in those groups, you'll definitely also find people you'd like to watch. And even if you don't, again, you're not required to watch anyone. If you're just there to upload pictures, that's just equally okay. Don't feel pressured to watch people. If you find someone whose art draws you in, you'll automatically feel that you wanna watch them

And don't worry about being a 'bad watcher' either. What would that even be... Watcher just means, that you'll be notified if the person you watched uploaded something. Simply think of it as a service, that give you notifications. I think, if you're truly watching the other person because you like their art, in no way would you be a bad watcher.

Also I think it's okay, that you feel shy when commenting. Especially at the beginning. (2 months might seem much to you, but it really isn't that much) and eventually you'll be commenting. Even if your first comment is just a heart on a deviation that you like. Also the great thing with commenting, as opposed to talking irl: If you don't know what to say, just think a lot, and then reply when you've thought everything out. (I do it myself sometimes ) And if you really don't know what to say, just post a smiley (at least at the beginning.)

I don't think anyone is not fit for this site. deviantART is a HUGE art community, and with such a huge number of users, the probability of quite a lot people having the same interest as you, isn't low. But because deviantART is so huge, and sometimes complicated for newbies to navigate (I think it took me like at least 6 months to find out there's a forum LOL), it's also hard to find your peers among those other people.

So all in all, don't sweat it, 2 months is still freshman level (some people for example have been here for decades - literally). If you feel you want to do something, do it! And if you feel uncomfortable doing something, don't feel pressured to do so. " -ametotaiyou

"Do you create/enjoy art? I'm sure the answer is yes, so you DO belong on DeviantART!~

DeviantART is not a website for ONLY professional artists, it's for ALL types of artists, no matter the level~ There are even some people on the site who don't even create art! They are just here because they enjoy art, and love meeting artists!~

And you are only two months in, you WILL open up, and start becoming more active, trust me! With ANY website, it can be overwhelming being a part of a huge community of people, and you may feel lost within it, but do NOT give up hope! You just have to give yourself some time to open up to this new experience, and learn to enjoy it~ Before you know it, you'll be commenting/faving all over the place!~

Also, with the groups, I KNOW there are a LOT here on DeviantART, and trying to find that PERFECT one is almost impossible to some people! What you should do is go to the "Groups" tab (Go to the top left of your DA page, and click "Groups" under the "More" tab), and then search up either the type of art you create (Literature, Traditional, Digital, Etc), or the types of fandoms you are within (FNAF, Pokemon, Sailor Moon, Adventure Time, Etc). Once you search that, there are probably a lot of groups that pop up (Do NOT let this overwhelm you!)

Firstly, look at how many members and admins there are! If there's a LOT of members, but barely any admins, then the group is probably there for submitting art and Member to Member discussions. If there's a LOT of admins, but no Members, then it's probably a group of friends who decided to make a group because of their shared interest. You want to find a group with a lot of Members, but also a decent amount of admins to keep the group interesting and running!~

Secondly, look at how active the group is! Look at whenever the last comment was posted to the group page, when the last art piece was submitted to the group's gallery, when the last journal was posted, etc. If all you see are old dates, the group is dead, and you do NOT need to put your time and effort into it. If the dates are pretty recent, then I'd say the group is alive and running!~

Thirdly, just take a look around the group! Do you like what you see in the discussions? Do you like the art you see in the gallery? Do the Members/Admins seem friendly to you? If you like what you see, then I'd say go for it!~

Like I said, it WILL take some time for you to open up to the site, but you ARE only two months in! I KNOW you will open up and start doing what you want to do!~

I apologize for my humongous response, but I hope it helps!~" -LokiDalton

"I did some research and I believe I found a group for you (if you're not already in it.) It's called Cartoon-Creation and it's for fan art of cartoons.
I know exactly how you feel about being uneasy on the site to start off with. I'll be very honest with you, the first month I had I spent it trying to figure out this site The best way to find a group for you is to search up keywords of things you like. Do you like tigers? Big Cats? Dinosaurs? Then just type in those words and groups should start popping up! It's also very important that you check that the group you're interested in is still alive and running. Many artists on here says it takes about a year to really get into this site, so take your time! I hope this was useful, and Welcome to DA! " -Summer-Lynx



Manga

"Because I am an aspiring manga artist, I usually tend to use pencil during my rough sketches. However, actual mangaka use pens, markers, and screentones to create their works. Is it okay for an amateur like me (who will most likely never be at pro level) to use pencil when finishing up the final drafts of my pages?"

"Of course!~ I am not a Manga artist myself, but every artist doesn't have to use the same technique as the pros!

If YOU wish to use pencil instead of pens/markers/etc, then I say go for it! It's YOUR work and YOUR technique, you can do whatever you please!~" -LokiDalton

"Actually it IS perfectly fine to use pencils in the final run of manga styled art and comics. Sometimes you even see promo and preview comics/manga released by professionals which only take them to full run I their finalized pencil form. Also with technology how it is, as long as the lines are consistent, you can get free programs to improve the pictures contrast to make it look as though it was inked or at least full black on white. As for shading with the pencil, if you were to do that I'd highly recommend using pencils of varying density to help keep the tones consistent. As is using like a 4b for your really dark values, mid tones at 2b and hb, and a 2h/4h for your very light tones. Blacks should be in something around 5b or even a black prisma colored pencil works good as well. Another thing to consider is how you can approach your shading techniques. If you're ok with visible shading lines, with a rougher or scribbled look then just remember to keep it all loose. Dont fret too hard over the little things. If you want your tones real tight with a smoother look, I'd suggest practicing on shading techniques such as circle blend, which allows for more control, but takes a considerable amount of time, effort, and practice to master." -Mtn-Man

"Yeah! Go for it! There are plenty of artists that use pencil to finish up their pages when they work. I think as long as its clean (no tears or unintentional smudges) the finished page will look amazing. Whatever keeps you drawing it!" -feat-outsider