How do you happen to do your shading id you don't mind sharing? Its so subtle and soft that you can't tell its there but it really helps highlight the characters
Phew, finally got some time on my hand to answer this one! It's a fairly simple/fast process so I figured I'd make a tuto once I'd get started on the shading for the next part, and here we are!
Alright so, we've got the panel (lazy screenshots cuz I'll never finish this if I have to export everytime ahah)
The advantage of digital art is that I don't have to think about color harmonies right from the start, I can always add filters and fiddle with the hues at any stage, so I just apply base colors at first and draw the background (it will help me build up a palette for the shadows later).
Okay, now the fun really begins. First I need to know which direction my shadows are likely to go and what atmosphere I want for the panel (which element I want to highlight? palette idea? etc). A sketch is enough to establish your intentions. Sometimes I'll mess up the lighting but it's okay to cheat if it looks coherent enough xD
(Patreons exclusive, shhh)
Now to create palette and apply the said shadows. I have a hand made one for TMS, but I had to make a special one for Ebott since there's a lot bg and kinda heavier atmosphere (I'll prbly have to make one for each part frow now on too hm). It's mostly made up of blues and greens (no black or greys here, but it can be fun to use in other styles! Purple too, so have fun!)
(My configuration - Produit=multiply?)
There, cast shadows (clothes, faces, folds, etc.) are roughly in place and looking sharp! Maybe a little bit too sharp actually... Let's smooth all that up
I use an airbrush eraser to soften a few shadows. Not necessarily all of them or the whole shape, you have to find the right balance of soft/sharp.
Now to spice things up a bit-
On a layer linked to the shadow layer, I add a lighter color that matches my light source or the environnement. Here it's a light blue, but in part VII I used a lot of orange (sun)! It makes the shadow much richer and the whole palette more vibrant!
(Again, you don't have to do it on all of them)
(not sure if you can see it lol but there's orange!)
And last but not least: Global shadow and filters (? never had to name or translate it bwahaha)
It's a lot of fiddling to achieve a result where the character looks more or less rooted in the background (=blue layers and filters to harmonize colors) and where I draw the last shadows. They're often the biggest ones (=on Axe's body+ leaf/tree shadows etc.).
You can use the techniques I've described above, or just go for it, it's completely freewheeling from here, ahem. Just make sure to step back regularly to see where you're at and stop.
(You can also add lights layers and spots if it's too dark but in this example, I use the base color as a light layer + their skulls are such a bright white already xD )
Just wanna say that I love to reread your comic a lot. 🫶 thank you for sharing it with us
Aw, thank you mothie, it means a lot (*´▽`*)
I tend to be more excited with what's to come since I have to reread the old parts so very often while writing the script, but I'm relieved you still find them enjoyable the second time around! ;;
This was so fun to draw LOL it's basically SE1 in a nutshell! This is semi-official artwork due to the poses completely being inspired/taken from The Afterparty cover.
For the thousandth time, thank you guys for the amount of patience and support you've all given me. It means the world to me! I'll continue to release these lil' official artworks in advance ^^.
NOTE: there are so many more AU characters that will be added. This is just the main cast for the first few episodes.
Mel by @seirindono!
Underswap sans by (AU Community)
Shattered Dream by @shattereddreamsau (AKA @galacii-gallery)!
Dust sans by @ask-dusttale!
Killer sans by @rahafwabas!
Nightmare by @jokublog!
Horror sans by @Sour-Apple-Studios!
No-Name by me.
(claps) alright, finally got to finish off this which i started back in January! Definitely one of the more fun animatics I've done with UTMV personalities!
Personalities based on original AUS and @seirindono's The Missing Scarf comic(you should totally read it!). Their character Mel joins all the boys at the game table
Wake up guys, @theshiningdiamond just dropped an animatic based on TMS, featuring our beloved skelegang ?? I'm flabbergasted
Wow, you're really appealing to me as a fellow animator there, diamond! Animatics are hard work but you pulled it off and it's so just hilarious (╯✧▽✧)╯ I'm still shocked at how accurate they all are...even though you only had the classes as a starting point bwahahah
Like- that's canon. This "chaos, afternoon activity at your relatives place, confusion and giggle" vibe, heck yeah! Even the uno prompt can't top it.
My favorite part must be Red hijaking the dice, or Mel trying to understand the rules but failing her first roll, even Rus stealing the axe only to get beaten up, or maybe Frisk just wanting to join in and- ... *and so the list goes on*
But that's not even the best part... Remember that post you mentionned? Well as it turned out, I tried my hand at some d&d recently (bg3 ahem) and got recommended this song on yt <<
And, guess what-
IT WAS A WIP!! Heheh, couldn't do much so it remained as a future project, but the coincidence really made me laugh, and you have no idea how thrilled I was about watching it xD
Two of the same mind~
youtube
(claps) alright, finally got to finish off this which i started back in January! Definitely one of the more fun animatics I've done with UTMV personalities!
Personalities based on original AUS and @seirindono's The Missing Scarf comic(you should totally read it!). Their character Mel joins all the boys at the game table
Hello! I just binged your comic and adore it! I love the mystery around Mel and her dynamics with the other skeletons - especially her and Blue's bond! His characterization is lovely and bounces off the others well. The backgrounds are phenomenonal, too, and I can't imagine how much time and effort you've put into drawing them and learning how to draw them so well. Thank you for sharing your comic with us!!
Also, one question for curiosity's sake: are any of the skeletons romantic interests to Mel? Or familial? Or just platonic? Thank you again!
Ooh, thank you anon!
I enjoy working on character interractions and dynamics so that's really speaking to me, ahah. Blue and Mel are two friendly Monsters who met under less than ideal circumstances. It's interesting to see how a friendship can still develop under these conditions, and how they can influence each other.
The same goes for Black, Axe and the others. It's just too bad I don't have the time to showcase it more often (eventually!)
As for the art part, obviously I can't spend too much time on each page or the story would get nowhere, but thankfully I'm starting to get the hang of it, and I'm ever so thrilled when you guys take a minute to enjoy a bg, pose or a panel you find pretty. The pride of the artist within (*¯︶¯*)
Regarding your question, without going into too much detail, none of them currently have any "romantic interest" so to speak.
Depending on the skeleton, it ranges from curiosity to wariness, but it's bound to evolve, that's for sure! Perhaps even to an almost "familial" attachment, as you say.