Art FAQs

What program and tablet are you using for digital art?

My go-to program for drawing is Clip Studio Paint EX and the tablet is the XP-Pen Artist 15.6 Pro. For traveling, I use the Cintiq Companion 2.

What was your first tablet?

My very first tablet was a long discontinued Wacom Bamboo MTE-450a. I then took the leap and upgraded to the Cintiq Companion 2 on July 12, 2016, which is not only my first screen tablet, but is my first tablet that's also a full laptop as well. As of March 13, 2019, I use the XP-Pen Artist 15.6 Pro tablet in conjunction with my desktop computer while the Cinitq Companion 2 is for when I'm traveling.

What medias do you use in your traditional art?

I like to use Dr. PH Martin's Hydrus Watercolors, Copic Markers, and Chameleon Pens. Occasionally I'll use Prismacolors as well, but they'll eventually be replaced with Faber Castell Polychromos.

How do you draw and color your digital works?

I just use the default brushes that come with CSP! For sketching I use a pencil tool; for line art I use the G, Maru/Mapping, and Turnip/Saji pens depending on what I'm currently on (e.g. backgrounds or characters); for coloring/shading I used the default watery brush that I modified and duplicated so I have a variety of easy-to-access brushes  with different properties.

What do you use to scan your traditional works?

I currently use a Canon LiDE 110 Scanner to scan my smaller works at 600 DPI. Anything larger than 8.5 x 11 inches I'll just use a camera.

Why the occasional emphasis on lightfastness?

Lightfast refers to how long an art piece can withstand lighting conditions such as the sun or a museum or gallery setting; even the lighting in one's home counts! It's especially important if you plan on selling your originals or have them in a gallery or museum. If I do use media that's not lightfast on a piece, I put a warning in said piece's description box.