Jack's Concept Art

[Jack B]

Not exactly concept art, but a drawing of one of my friends game characters.

[Russ Van Dine]

do you draw on a wacom or a cintiq?

[Jack B]

@Russ-Van-Dine

I draw on a Wacom Intuos tablet.

I hope to someday save up enough money for the Wacom Cintiq though!

[Russ Van Dine]

I was very lucky to get on ebay for 800 bucks from a business that was bankrupt. They had about 16 of them and the one I bought had a scratch on it... so I got it cheap. When it came in the mail I discovered the scratch was on the plastic cling protector. So, perfect condition and cheap!

[Chip Valecek]

I always wanted a cintiq but to pricey, when my computer started to die i decided to go with a surface book and love it. Computer and tablet all in one and I am not stuck in my office when I want to draw.

[Jack B]

@Russ-Van-Dine Thats awesome, so you suggest just keeping up with local ebay sales and such?

[Jack B]

@Chip-Valecek Thats awesome, I was looking at the surface vs ipad pro with the apple pencil. Do the surface tablets allow pen pressure?

[Chip Valecek]

@Jack-B yes the surface pro 3, 4 and book do. I have the book which is more like a laptop. I used to have a monoprice 19 inch tablet monitor which is a cheap version of the cintiq. It was ok. But the surface feels better when drawing.

[Russ Van Dine]

@Jack-B I have never seen one at such a low price since. I would like to upgrade to the model that doesn't have to connect to a computer...

[Russ Van Dine]

I would definitely have a surface book if I didn't have the cintiq...

[Jack B]

@Chip-Valecek If you rest your hand on the screen when drawing with the pen does it mess with anything? Thats another thing I tend to do haha

[Chip Valecek]

@Jack-B I don't think so, but i usually wear a glove because I can not stand smudges on the screen. So i got a pair of stretchy knit gloves and cut the thumb, index, and middle finger off. Works great and cheap compared to the gloves that wacom sells. I know Will Terry puts a towel under his hand so it moves more freely across the screen.

[Jack B]

@Chip-Valecek You are the best dude! Thanks for the recommendations!

[MOO]

Wow! Looks like you will do very well and I've heard they have a great program at BYU

[Jack B]

@Marsha-Kay-Ottum-Owen

Thats great to hear, and thanks for the wonderful comment

[Jack B]

I am really struggling to build an audience. I really want to be able to do more freelance projects for clients so I am trying to promote myself on the internet and social media but it is so so difficult. I don't want to sound arrogant but I think I have the skill and consistency but nobody seems to be taking notice. Any tips? (here is a little sketch I did for fun)

[Chip Valecek]

@Jack-B My tip and this is what I keep telling my kids, if you are passionate about something just keep trying. No matter how many times you fail, get back up and do it again. Eventually it will come. My path till now being 38 is I focused on college, found a career that would make money and was secure. While in college I got some contract work with a company doing web design, I worked hard and 16 years later I am still there and very comfortable. I about 12 years free lance work in the evenings building websites for extra cash and always continued to draw for fun. Now its time for some change so I am pushing myself into illustration more. I will do the same as I did with web design, take my time and things will fall into place. I will fall and get back up. I set goals for myself and work toward them. Bottom line, you are young take your time and put in the work.

[Chip Valecek]

Also cool piece you got there, the blue rim light seems very hard. Maybe soften it up the edge a little.

[Jack B]

@Chip-Valecek Thanks so much man, not only for the life advice but the advice on the piece. This is super helpful and gave me some hope

[Jack B]

A 3D character I started. I have to take a 3D class for animation next year as a freshman so I thought I would try and get a head start!