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Sylessae

@sylessae.bsky.social

21K followers 200 following 2.7K posts

Helping tired artists rekindle their love for art. ✏️Portrait Drawing Bootcamp: https://bit.ly/sylportrait 💌 Business: [email protected] 🖼️ https://www.sylessae.com

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Sylessae @sylessae.bsky.social · Aug 25

Here's a secret I've been keeping for a long time.

Daeanora is now a 3D figurine. She's graced your horn-loving timelines for years and now she wants to lounge on your shelf.

Preorder supply is limited 👉 bit.ly/daeanora

Sylessae @sylessae.bsky.social · 20h

I wrote about an exercise I use with my students that incorporates this iteration, turns it into a step by step, and only takes about 30-45 minutes.

Check out @trueref.bsky.social's article to try it!

bsky.app/profile/true...

TrueRef by Abbey Esparza @trueref.bsky.social · Jul 14

Our first article is up on TrueRef! 🤍

Learning to Draw With References: Tips for New Artists
By @sylessae.bsky.social

Includes a free reference, worksheet and process video!

Read: trueref.io/blogs/news/l...

a black and white digital art portrait of a woman by artist Sylessae.

Pose references of a woman in various sitting poses.

Sylessae @sylessae.bsky.social · 21h

I'm converted now

Sylessae @sylessae.bsky.social · 21h

Thank you!!

Sylessae @sylessae.bsky.social · 21h

Sure, go ahead!

Sylessae @sylessae.bsky.social · 21h

What's your next drawing subject to simplify?

Sylessae @sylessae.bsky.social · 21h

Eventually, you'll land on a method of drawing that particular subject in just a few lines.

This simplification also helps you begin to draw without reference if that's something that tickles your fancy, but it's completely okay to use references when you need them.

Sylessae @sylessae.bsky.social · 21h

To get the most practice with iteration, you can redraw your subject again and again with new approaches.

This might seem like a lot of extra drawing but it's actually very quick if you're using these simple shapes to represent your subject and adding adjustments.

Sylessae @sylessae.bsky.social · 21h

❓ Do you notice something that isn't exact in the reference but you think it will help convey your ideas? Add that.

There are lots of ways to iterate and all comes back to analyzing your concept and modifying it.

Sylessae @sylessae.bsky.social · 21h

Iteration is attempting to draw the subject as you see it, and then making gradual changes to see what the result is.

❓ What's currently working? What happens if you add more of that?
❓ What's not working? What if you take it away?

Sylessae @sylessae.bsky.social · 21h

You'll know if you're on the right track if you start to recognize the subject without "completing" the drawing.

Now the next step is iteration and this is where most people fall off.

Sylessae @sylessae.bsky.social · 21h

Your next step is to draw these shapes as you see them. Not details, just the elements that stand out to you.

Draw as few as possible needed to represent your subject.

Sylessae @sylessae.bsky.social · 21h

You have to get to know a subject's core structure before you can simplify.

Squint at the subject and look for areas that stand out. Artists might refer to these areas as contrast, or negative space. When you squint, they often appear as simple shapes.

This is the analysis.

Sylessae @sylessae.bsky.social · 21h

✏️ Simplifying a subject for stylization seems hard, but it actually takes two things: analysis and iteration.

Thread timeeee 🧵

Sylessae @sylessae.bsky.social · 2d

YEEEEAH

Sylessae @sylessae.bsky.social · 2d

Yes!! I pulled me out of my artblock, literally saved my art and now I cherish this approach <3

Sylessae @sylessae.bsky.social · 3d

I love the idea of a little travel set for painting! It sounds really peaceful to take it out and paint what you see in real life.

Sylessae @sylessae.bsky.social · 3d

Totally agree! Ever since playing around with traditional medium I completely understand

Sylessae @sylessae.bsky.social · 3d

Definitely!! It has a completely different feeling.

The digital to traditional movement seems to be really common right now. Maybe it’s just what we creatives need, almost like revisiting creative roots

Thank you though!! 💛

Sylessae @sylessae.bsky.social · 3d

I’m experimenting with oils and no one told me in the 10 years I’ve been working digitally this feels 100x more enjoyable than painting on my tablet

An oil painting of a blonde haired woman with a mild expression. The whole piece is of a warm hue with gold and browns. Brush strokes of white are visible in the hair, skin, and eyes and it appears very textured.

Sylessae @sylessae.bsky.social · 3d

Oh no!! How come?

Sylessae @sylessae.bsky.social · 3d

It's empowering to decide a painting gets to stay unfinished and move on anyway

Reposted by Sylessae

Sylessae @sylessae.bsky.social · 15d

Some unfinished horns ✨

Reposted by Sylessae

Sylessae @sylessae.bsky.social · 14d

freckles

study from today's stream

Reposted by Sylessae

Sylessae @sylessae.bsky.social · 12d

New artists don't need more theory, they need more freedom to experiment without judgement.

Sylessae @sylessae.bsky.social · 3d

‼️ 19 days left of the preorder pricing!!

Sylessae @sylessae.bsky.social · Aug 25

Here's a secret I've been keeping for a long time.

Daeanora is now a 3D figurine. She's graced your horn-loving timelines for years and now she wants to lounge on your shelf.

Preorder supply is limited 👉 bit.ly/daeanora