November Q&A - leave your questions here!
Added 2021-11-17 07:38:06 +0000 UTCHey!
Hope you're well! Please feel free to leave whatever questions you may have for me here - they can be about process, my interests/inspirations, how I'm able to eat all of my used batteries in order to help protect the environment from pollution - whatever you like!
Also, Kim will be joining me as always so feel free to ask her whatever as well!
Thanks for your support!
Dave
Comments
Hey! Idk if im qualified to make any specific recommendations, but I used an XP Pen Pro 15.6 for about 2 years before getting the new iPad Pro if you have any questions about either!
Louis Whitworth
2021-12-01 20:39:56 +0000 UTCHappy Thanksgiving Dave and Kim, I hope all is well. I was looking at some books by the great Andrew Loomis and found myself thumbing through "Fun With a Pencil". After going through the first 25 pages I thought he should rename the book to, "How to Draw Bloated old People". thanks and stay well.
Ian Marshall Pellerin
2021-11-30 20:51:44 +0000 UTCHey Dave, Have you checked out Timofey Stepanov's artwork? His recent line-art work blows my mind and I feel like you'd dig it.
Andrew Glassman Art
2021-11-30 10:40:11 +0000 UTCDave, if someone close to u passes away, and u get to keep their phone. If people keep messaging the deceased individual, should one reply just to spook them out?
Colorblindraws
2021-11-30 04:28:01 +0000 UTCHey Dave, Would you have any advice on starting a comic and putting it out online? What was the process/timeline of creating Steve Lichman?
Conon Kudo
2021-11-29 22:12:24 +0000 UTCHi Dave and Kim I have a question in regards to memorizing anatomy and proportions, or really any visual library expansion. Right now I spend a lot of time copying anatomy from books and then attempting active recall after, as well as the next couple of days until I can recreate it fairly well without reference. However, I get worried about forgetting material and not knowing when to move on. I know Kim was a nursing student so if she has any studying thoughts I’d love to hear them as well! Thank you for all you do!
Hunter!
2021-11-29 20:48:25 +0000 UTCHey Dave and Kim, happy thanksgiving! I finally thought of a question. In terms of concept work for clients, do clients always want concept work to be nicely presented? Or it just depends? Like if u have ideas pencil sketches or doodled. Do you always make the effort of cleaning them and putting them on a typical presentable file? Thanks
Alfred Manzano
2021-11-28 17:15:32 +0000 UTCHey Dave and Kim, I’m restructuring my schedule so that I can have 20 hours a week to focus on learning character design concept art. These 20 hours are for character design alone; I have other time in my schedule allotted for fundamentals, anatomy, figure drawing, portraiture, and still-life painting. For context, I teach and keep a studio at an atelier on the side. My question: how should I spend these 20 hours a week? How can I get the most value out of this time so that I’m able to start taking on jobs? Dave, I know that you’ve said that concept art is the most lucrative field, more so than comic cover illustration or table top gaming commissions. I also really love and enjoy the craft, so it’s not solely about the money. How can I get started learning this stuff? My ultimate goal would be to do things in the vein of Dark Souls, Bloodborne and Tactics Ogre. How can I use the 20 hours a week I have to get to a place where I can really start to grow my career? Thanks as always, this Patreon has been so valuable to me and I really appreciate everything you both do.
Rauv_Art
2021-11-28 01:03:47 +0000 UTCHey Dave and Kim, first of all thanks for everything you are doing on this patreon. I learned so much, because of you. Here's my question, how do you prepare your illustrations for print? I am doing some work for a client and the art is gonna be printed, kinda like a mtg cards. I paint in RGB and when I try to see how it looks in CMYK, it looks like crap,colours can be washed out, dull. I'd love to know a better way how to approach this for a future clients, as well as my own prints. Thanks Lukas
Lukas Vasut
2021-11-27 15:20:40 +0000 UTCHey Dave and Kim. There was a big hole in my heart where your painting process videos used to be. But now there is no hole anymore! Looking forward to everything coming from this channel! The process videos are so useful to learn from and improve.
Zack Thornhill
2021-11-27 13:33:41 +0000 UTCI relate to this so much. Good question.
Oronoro
2021-11-26 20:14:18 +0000 UTCHey Dave and Kim. Pineapple on pizza… yes or no?
Craig Herbert
2021-11-24 23:20:15 +0000 UTCHey guys! Dave, one of my favorite things about your Patreon is how you're such an open book with your techniques and thoughts as an artist. I think it's rad as hell how much work you and Kim have put into this place so far. You've made this Patreon an outstanding resource for learning. Big thanks! 🔥 For people who want to git good, the artist currently known as Dave Rapoza is a great example of a self-taught illustrator who made it through the hardest part of the grind. I've attempted to use mystical means to siphon away your work ethic and combine it with my own powers. Since all of my blood magic has failed so far, I'm reduced to the pettiest tactic of all: asking nicely. With that said, would you consider providing something like an ongoing interactive version of your semi-famous art schedule? For instance, twice-monthly drawing or painting targets for various fundamentals, along with some guidelines or tips. There could be a Discord channel for patrons to post their work. And if you want to get really crazy, you could do occasional critique videos and demonstrations. (You can say no -- I understand you're busy!) I realize this will come across as overly hand-holdey to some people, and I know that you can't plan your way around the hard work it takes to get somewhere as an artist. Still, I'm the kind of person who is most productive when I have an assignment. Especially when that assignment comes from someone who has personal experience with developing professional skills. And also, feedback from people who know their stuff really helps! Regardless of your answer, I'm no quitter. So if the inside of your skull develops an itching or burning sensation that doesn't subside for more than a week, or if your toilet water turns an alarming color after you've done your business, don't worry about it. Your curse of free will is soon to become a distant memory as my dark star rises. Enjoy your weekend!
Oronoro
2021-11-24 01:10:34 +0000 UTCHey Dave, fellow Dave here. I was recently listening to your old podcast with Dan from like 8 years ago where you were both talking about the misery of being in "the middle", how you essentially sacrificed having a life for a few years in order to "make it". I know you both said that that's not the healthy way to do it, but at the same time, if you really want to shorten the amount of time where you're in "the middle", I get the feeling I have to do this to an extent? Just wondering if you have any more insight on this topic looking back. I'm also probably not even 10 percent close to where you guys were at the time of that podcast so I feel a bit worried about my own progress, it feels kind of daunting to think about. PS you should absolutely do more podcasts with Dan if ya'll ever get the chance to, absolutely love the dynamic.
Lorian
2021-11-23 06:31:45 +0000 UTCHi Dave and Kim, what do you guys do to de-stress/relax after a longday of hard work and taking care of them kids? Thanks for doing these guys, keep it 55th street.
Senna Prahara
2021-11-23 06:26:45 +0000 UTCHi! What is your opinion on NFT's, are you interested in it? In me eyes, it's like a fuckin scam. No matter how many times I process it with good intentions, I can't shake off the scam side. Every artists I've respected jumped on the NFT train xD
flou
2021-11-22 20:56:15 +0000 UTCHi Dave and Kim! Hope you're all doing well there. I have two questions, actually. 1. You've mentioned once before that you started out illustrating for people's personal character commissions and stuff, but eventually landed a project with Wizards of the Coast with D&D stuff. I'm currently making a living out of being a freelance fantasy artist, but struggling to make the transition from working for personal projects to commercial ones. Any tips for artist wanting to shift from personal projects to commercial ones? 2. Since the pay for personal commissions isn't as high as that from commercial work, one can only allot so much time for each project. And I polished work takes significant time to produce. And Sometimes I find that what people want in their personal commissions isn't really viable for a portfolio piece either. Did you deliberately carve out time to create fantastic portfolio pieces outside of doing people's commissions back then in order to make the leap to commercial?
Figmenter
2021-11-21 22:43:38 +0000 UTCHello, Dave and Kim, I hope you and your sons are doing well. I would like to know what struggles you have encountered since deciding to become an artist, specifically struggles that have taken a long period of time to overcome, if they were overcome at all. I want to compare the problems that I personally face with the ones that you may or may not have faced in the past or present. I would greatly appreciate it.
Van
2021-11-21 02:07:48 +0000 UTCHey Dave and Kim, what's something you were really scared of as a kid from movies/TV/games? For me it was the Michael Jackson Thriller music video and the infested boar from Princess Mononoke. Also, did any of those fears transition into adulthood? Thanks for all you do as always!
Frederik H.
2021-11-20 23:24:18 +0000 UTCHello, how did you study lighting and shadows? Did you study other artists or looked at photography and life? Thanks
Flame 999
2021-11-20 07:02:00 +0000 UTCTo whom do I sacrifice my firsborn to become better at art?
john doe
2021-11-20 03:45:42 +0000 UTCHi Dave, I'm going to be shopping for a new drawing tablet w/ screen, and was wondering if you had any recommendations. Also, what was the push you had to start making money from your art? I find I am very anxious about even showing other people my art, and wondering how I can take the plunge.
Gnomegod
2021-11-19 19:29:54 +0000 UTCYo Keeim and Dave! Would love your advice. I feel like I am in an intermediate purgatory where I can draw/copy really well from references, but when it comes to executing my own original ideas/poses/faces without references, they are flat and shitty. Was there a point where you ever related to this? Any advice on how to progress through it? I know I should probably just be more creative with using references but this doesn’t always seem practical for executing ideas from my imagination (or if one is doing tons of drawings like in a comic book) Thanks!
Gero
2021-11-19 00:37:57 +0000 UTCHey Dave I have been going down the rabbit hole of trying to understand the wonderful and complex compositions you use in your big murals. Things like the really awesome multi character art of Marvel/Capcom/Guilty Gear has always been inspiring to me. I really like the styles of Drew Struzan/Noriyoshi Ohrai/Yoshiyuki Takani as well. Do you have any advice on understanding what constraints or useful rules these compositions use to read well? Thanks!
Matt DiVietro
2021-11-18 23:22:48 +0000 UTCGreat question I wanna know this too
Alfred Manzano
2021-11-18 01:20:10 +0000 UTCHey Dave and Kim! If you had the means and the team. What kind of video game would you make?
Alfred Manzano
2021-11-18 01:16:34 +0000 UTCHey Dave. Whenever I send WIPs to clients I always have this thought at the back of my mind that I need to prove to them that I actually know what I'm doing, which usually involves wasting time overpainting my roughs just so that they look pretty / understandable, especially focal points like heads and arms. So my question is - can you briefly describe what's your process for working with bigger clients? Which steps are usually required for feedback? Do you send the ugly steps too that can look sloppy and awkward or it's best to avoid showing these stages to people who don't know anything about art? Thanks
Anton
2021-11-17 22:11:02 +0000 UTCWhen you decided to become a full time Artist, What was that final push to make the jump? What held you back? And any advice for people who may want to make the same decision?
Ash K.
2021-11-17 20:59:31 +0000 UTCHey Dave, how were you able to build a following for yourself & create a patreon & everything. I know it's probably been some time since you blew up but I've never been able to consistently post work online. Maybe it's due to work, I work as an artist for a studio & it's very easy to burn yourself out. Doing work for them & for yourself. If you need to understand what level of art I do to really judge wether or not I can build a following this is my work here https://kenanj8.artstation.com/ if you don't feel like checking it out, understandable just wanted to help with your assessment to see if it's the art that needs work or something else to build a following. Not really trying to promote my work, just getting a little burned out only because it feels like I really haven't been able get much work outside of the studio I work for and I just don't know what to do anymore.
Kenan Jackson
2021-11-17 16:50:23 +0000 UTCHey Dave,
Kenan Jackson
2021-11-17 16:32:01 +0000 UTCHi, I'm new to your Patreon. Love your work. Don't really have a question. If you ever feel like drawing Akuma from street fighter that would be rad. :)
Nick
2021-11-17 15:20:16 +0000 UTCHey guys, Considering Kim is a health professional and Dave is a professional goblin painter, y’all are ostensibly both pretty familiar with human anatomy. My question is which one of you do you think would be able to name more muscles and bones? Also, glad to hear that Amy is gone. I never liked her. She’d always called me condescending names like her little elf boy and baby eyes. Actually, now that I’m thinking about it, that might’ve been my mom who said that stuff. Hm. Either way I hope you two are well
Louis Whitworth
2021-11-17 14:48:20 +0000 UTChow is it going I have some questions I wanted to ask, the first is how many Manga/comic pages can you draw a day? Because last time you said about 3-5 pages if that’s the case how did you do get to that and what’s your advice on that? Another I wanted to let you was that your peatron motivated me enough to be mentored by artist Ron Lemen.
Ahmed Alqirsh
2021-11-17 14:34:24 +0000 UTCHello Dave
Ahmed Alqirsh
2021-11-17 14:30:04 +0000 UTCYo Dave, Yo Kim I'm glad to be back here on this patreon, i was a supporter for some months but then i stopped because of some personal issues :c but your tweet about studying really inspired me to be back here, and I'm glad to see your stuff again. My question is how did you dealt with your procastination/stuff that held you back to get on the production/crunch mindset? I'm really addicted right now to guilty gear XX and I'm starting to think the best option is to isolate myself and crunch a lot to really improve in drawing.
Vincenzo Laruccia
2021-11-17 14:23:05 +0000 UTCHey Dave, I used Shinji's EVA01 as a backdrop for my Voron 2.4 350mm 3D printer. Good stuff! I'm building an EVA02 version with Asuka https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOttzamn1X4
Irwin Santos
2021-11-17 07:51:34 +0000 UTC
