Joining this raffle for the core membership.

(dA why do I need CORE just to change my username? T ^ T)

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It has been a while since I have last written an entry, almost forgotten that this feature even existed on dA haha ;;.

I have 4 fat buttery exams coming up, and I have not been the most attentive student in uni so I will have to learn them all from the beginning hehe, and I have 18 days left orz. So I will most probably be reading the replies after my exams, but I may take a peep beforehand (if I do you can berate me for not focusing on my studies).

I have been emailed by a friend asking how to improve in art, but I just couldn't give him/her the right/definite answer because I am still really really bad at it (maybe I have no talent, but then what is talent? Ohhhhh.... sry I'll find my way out). Or maybe I just haven't become serious in trying to learn it properly. I feel very uncertain about many things.

Basically my question is as the title, because I don't know how to improve. I am actively practicing, stupidly a lot, but I am not seeing the improvements I am desiring. I am improving here and there, but still struggling here and there, like life haha. To those who are reading this post, I want to ask how to you learn art? The below are some prompting questions that strongly relates to personal questions that I have right now, if it helps you answering:

1. Do you see things in 3D when drawing? Is that something you can just 'see and do' when drawing? Or is it something that you need to start learning and actively (then slowly passively) be aware of?
2. How important do you think basic shapes, structure and form are in drawing (i.e. modeling the human figure in basic cubes, spheres, cylinders in 3D space)? Do you think they are important in drawing the human figure? Do you feel that the understanding of shapes and forms will, or have, contributed to your artwork? (recently found a YouTuber Proko, and I am actively practicing what I have learnt from him atm, www.youtube.com/user/ProkoTV)
   
3. When you draw, do you actively think, or does it just flow, or is it a combination of both? How often are you able to draw with the flow, and otherwise without?
4. Is learning art something natural to you, something just 'ticks' in your head and you can do it? Or is it something that takes hours and hours of practice and hard work, where each step may not necessarily bring you closer to your final destination?
5. How do you feel about referencing something for an artwork (i.e. poses, artworks, backgrounds, something that I just cannot bring myself in doing for some reason)? Then what about the same with copying and tracing (applicable for both real life photos and artworks)?
6. What is originality and style? Is a copied style same as one's style? Can a modified style still be called one's true style? How did you first find your style?
7. Being at a stage such as where you are now, how do you know where to go next? How do you know what you need to improve, and how to go about it? (i.e. if you are very talented in your area relatively, how do you know where to aim for next?)
8. Finally, what do you feel when learning art? Is it fun, refreshing and exciting? Or is it boring and monotonous? Or is it frustrating and painful? (don't really have to answer this, because this is kind of a weird question lol)

Thank you very much for your time reading this post. I am really looking forward to your replies and to see what you think.

I will be posting this on the forums as well, because I want to know how as many people think.

As some of you might know I am a big fan of RPGs. If you have been following my twitter then you probably know that I've spend quite some time not studying for the exams (sobs). So to cut straight to the point! I am going to make (and hopefully finish) a RPG this summer (by around September)

Having done 2 years of Computer Science at uni now (fun... lol), I have made some progress in understanding game engines etc, won't put too much details but I have been making a prototype RPG game engine, in which functions similar to pokemon. This is purely because pokemon is one of my favourite games I've played, and now it is my turn to make a game now, and it is no big task. (Everyone told me that... and I never believed them, now regretting not listening to them lol)

The game will be a Touhou fan game, so I won't be selling it (FREE FREE FREE FOR ALL).

東方謎物語 (Nazomonogatari)

About the game:

The game will take place in Gensokyo (obviously), starting in the Hakurei Shrine. One, two, three, poof! The Hakurei donation box has disappeared!

Won't go any further into it because that's spoilers. The story writing and ending is already set. All that's left is the make the game happen!  

Progress made so far:

Very very basic game play features (i.e. interaction, collision and movement implemented)
Graphics pipeline complete.
Tile loading and maps are 100% functional!
UI and convo stuff working!

Screenshots (so far, will be updated >.<):

Hey there Marisa! (using self-drawn tiles and sprites :3 )


Yes we should totally take her books huehuehue. (using Alphes portrait for now)

Map-editing (for reviewing my progress, won't be released >.<):

Custom framework lighting:

Look at dem Reimus (yes actual in game footage)    

Things to be done (will be added as the project continues):

UI (currently in progress)
Inventory and Items (currently in progress)
Trading system
Battle system
Event/Cut-scene system
Quest system
AI convo system
Smart AI system

Planned features:

Completed by the end of the summer holidays and released
Supporting Japanese

Demo:

Not available yet (will be coming soon!)

Currently I am a solo dev for the game, and I am trying really, really hard every day to hopefully realize this target. This project is a very bold one but I am sure that this can be made a success. Help for the following would be really, really helpful:
- Pixel art
- Portrait art (exclusively so!)
- Battle portrait
- Effects (idk anything about it o_O)

If anyone would like to contribute to the game with artworks, then I would be really happy. Just note me that you are interested and I will message you specifically about what is needed for the game. You will be credited at the end of the game for helping my making my project come true! (>.<)

I hope that this post catches your interest with the project. I will be uploading regular updates on my Twitter, and will be making core official posts about the game in Tumblr (shameless self-advertisement): ^-^
twitter.com/inori_tsuki
nazomonogatari.tumblr.com/

Thank you so much for reading this journal to the end.

It has been 2 years since I wanted to join a dA santa event because a really good friend introduced me to it, and I was so hyped about it lol, but then I was always too late to join in  

Not really the Christmas event, but I suppose it's winter over at the other side of the Earth, so it counts in a way

If you would like to join Summer Santa, better join now!  
-> <-

Along with it, here's my wishlist for the event ^^ (the OC part may be changed within a few days because I'm working on colouring atm @.@, sry I'm so slow D: )

Username: TouhouSuki

Traditional or digital illustration: Digital illustrations please! ('owo')

Preferred media that I would like to use: I can only do digital drawings, because I suck at art orz (please forgive me ;_; )

Character(s) (will be updated soon!): I would like my secret santa to draw any of my OCs . Feel free to draw one or more if you like >.<

Kyria:
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Ichigo: (totally just came up with it, see the horrible and desperate naming measure on the left)


Themes: Whichever you like! But if you need some ideas, I would suggest Fantasy :3

Extra notes: I hope you have fun whilst drawing my characters!  

I finally have a little list of request omg hahaha. Here's the list :3

REQUESTS:
Cute nekomimi Yin chan (Adjustment in progress... :3)
Naily~ (NEW: Not done yet :3c\m)
Rei-chan~ (NEW: Not done yet >_<)
Julie and Chives (NEW: Not done yet m(_ _)m )
Memo-Rei! (NEW: Not done yet (/>_<\) )
Lenalee from DGM (NEW: Not done yet @.@ )
Reala-chan (NEW: Not done yet >.<)
(PENDING...)

Hahaha my list is so long I can't keep up lol     //jk

(Sorry for dragging this too long, It is a bad habit of mine to produce the best results for others so it may take a little long. I will try to not keep you waiting!)

Will be quite busy for the following 2 weeks because I have to help my sister to prepare for her piano exams, and got my uni project ending in two weeks ;v;. So sorry if I have gotten back to you a later than expected >.<;;

  Hope you all have a fantastic week

EDIT: Wow so many new requests already, I'm really happy that my artworks interests you ;v;. I will try my best!

//EDIT: Requests are closed now (Much wow? ), they will be opened again as soon as a slot becomes available again! (Thank you for taking interest in my work, it means a lot to me ;v