EXPEDITION SKETCHBOOK C YA R I N
Inspiration and Skills for Your Artistic Journey
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CONTENTS
This is me 13
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
ON DEVELOPING A PERSONAL STYLE
TOOLKIT & BASICS
Forest 19 Inspiration 23 Arcade 25 Collect 29 Hopper & Eleven 31 Influence 32 Share your sources of inspiration 32 Your own style 33 Vanilla 34 Style study 36 Laia, Cynthia, and Claire 42
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What you need 47 Hot and cold 48 Digital vs. traditional 50 Sketch techniques 53 If you have little time 56 Character 59 Percer 61 Outfits of the day 64 Shape 66 Demon sketches 66 Light 70 Color 72 Translucent 72 Values 74 Perspective 77 Constellations 79
CONTENTS
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
NOT ALL PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
FINISHING TOUCHES
BECOMING A PRO
Deliciosa 103 Rendering 106 Fur coat 111 Blending 112 Process 115
Fiji 119 Own spot 120 Modern revolution 121 Business 122 Group selfie 125 Social media 128 Mental health 130 Using talent 130 Peace with imperfection 132 Art block 135 Two blue-haired ladies 136 Request Feedback 138 Demons lineup 139 Other important issues 141
Demon expressions 85 Practice 86 Observe 87 Anatomy 88 Redraw 96
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EXPEDITION SKETCHBOOK
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THIS IS ME Maybe you picked up this book because you know me, Laura, or you know Cyarin (my artist name). Maybe you're just curious, but in any case, I would like to thank you. Because I often have to summarize my thoughts as an artist in short, time-sensitive answers, I wanted to write a book that gives people the answers they deserve; long and thoughtful ones. This is my personal expedition and on the way, I’ll give you all the advice, tips and tricks that really helped me get to where I am today.
Professional Doodling
I'm still in the initial phase of my expedition, a voyage of discovery for myself and my work. I am an artist, illustrator, designer, or whatever you want to call it, and I kind of just fell into this field. My drawing skills are self-taught and I got my start with few resources in the professional world. I post much of my work online where I have a lot of personal friends, professional contacts, and followers. Although I sometimes doubt the value of my work (like many other artists), it’s these people who remind me that all the hours I spend behind the drawing board are worth it. I will never find the right words to express my gratitude but without them, there would be no Cyarin; there would be no me.
This is NOT a How-To-Draw Book…
In this book I share my experiences with you and show you what I do for inspiration. You can do the same exercises that helped me to develop my style, in hopes to improve your own. A drawing is never finished and as a creative, you are never done learning. So, this is not a book that says how it should be done, but shows how it is possible. I hope to provide inspiration with my pieces and notes, as this book is meant to be a sneak peek into my sketchbooks. It includes notes and sketches for everyone―experienced or new to drawing, character artist, comic artist, painter of landscapes, or illustrator of animals. With this book, I want to remove the mystery that cloaks the world of artists and shine some light on my own experiences. You’ll discover that we all run into the same challenges and problems,whether you draw professionally or not. The mountains we must constantly climb are just part of an artist’s existence. Let me guide you through all of the peaks and valleys I’ve experienced in my journey. Laura
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two colors of blue: cyan + aquamarine = cyarin
WHO ARE YOU
Draw a self-portrait. Draw it as you see yourself, not necessarily a literal representation. Think of things like body language and external characteristics. If it fits better with your character style, you can also draw yourself in a more abstract form.
This assignment comes back at the end of the book, so hang on to the drawing.
#EXPEDITIONSKETCHBOOK
Share your results of the exercises in this book. Post your drawings with the hashtag #expeditionsketchbook on Instagram and tag @cyarine.
Cyarin/e
Two colors of blue—aquamarine and cyan—delivered my artist name, Cyarin. For my Instagram account I chose @cyarine, because the @cyarin handle was already taken. @cyarine
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'Nothing is more unique than your own style, you ju st have it!'