ArtFight! ~ Week 2

To find out more about ArtFight, see my Week 1 post, 

or the literally hundreds of Youtube posts out there about it. :)

 

Hello again! Here are the drawings I did for Week 2 of ArtFight 2025.  

Just a reminder that, to view the original artworks that I based mine on, you need a (free) ArtFight account.  

 

Original Character:  Jean-Cou from Utopique

Technique Notes:  I was immediately drawn to the colours and shapes on this monster, so I had to draw him! I tried some shading, and added the flowers for a little detail. The background is a photo I took a while back, which I darkened so Jean-Cou stands out more. I liked the idea of an imagined monster in a real garden. :)

I like:  That I tried to do shading! I also tried to make his neck/head more 3D by making it curl over and towards the viewer. 

Could Improve: the technique I used for the shading. My linework is also still very hesitant and kinda jerky. 

 

 

Original Character:  Yuhna from yYuhzinha

Technique Notes:  I tried doing her eyes without pupils, but with highlights. Also, I tried something new with her mouth. I found the green stripe in her hair difficult, and I'm not happy with how I ended up depicting it. I enjoyed drawing her fox ears. The polkadot background took longer than I thought it would, and was kinda annoying, but I like the colours I chose. 

I like:   The eyes, nose, mouth and ears. The bottom ends of the hair. 

Could Improve:  Her fringe. And obviously how the green stripe in the hair was treated. 

 

 

Original Character:  The Terbibble from nightynite

Technique Notes:  The moment I saw The Terbibble, I just knew I had to draw him! It was my first time trying shadows and highlights. I also added in my own character Elspeth admiring his cuteness, and was trying to show her looking through a window. tbh I didn't put much effort into depicting Elspeth as she'd be obscured by the window anyway. 

I like:  the linework on this one was a lot smoother and more confident. I gave him pupils, but in a darker green rather than the usual black/lineart colour. I *love* the expression on The Terbibble's face. 

Could Improve:   the shadows and highlights could have been blended smoother. I couldn't quite tell what the pointed things on its head are. They're not ears -- perhaps knives? It was hard to depict them well without knowing what they are, but I just tried to copy the original artist's painting. 

 

 

Original Character:  Sabrina Hargreeves (Umbrella Academy OC) from Queen_Atlas

Technique Notes:  Look, not every drawing can be a masterpiece, and I think it's important to acknowledge that, not try to hide it! Sabrina is a character from the Umbrella Academy universe. Her special power involves using fidget spinners to manipulate time, so I thought I'd try drawing her holding one between her fingers. 

I like:   Um, well, at least I tried. XD  I do like the shadows under the fringe, and the idea I had of depicting her holding the fidget spinner. Sometimes it can be hard to think of poses or situations that aren't already in the original.

Could Improve:   I used a reference for the hand and it still turned out totally janky! lol The hair looks strangely spiky and also lank at the same time. I did a style of lips that I've done before, but it didn't work out this time. I had trouble deciding on the lip colour, and I think I should have gone darker. 

Oh yeah, and I didn't realise until after I uploaded it that she's supposed to have glasses, and I couldn't be bothered going back and putting them in. Sometimes that can be a bit of a faux pas. 

 

 

Original Character:  Pine from blitzen ~ an amargasaurus

Technique Notes:  After my last effort, I decided to do something much more simple. I experimented with blocking in colour and not staying within the lines. The original painting only shows Pine in profile view, so I decided to turn her so she's in three-quarter view. 

I like:  how the blocky colour worked in some parts -- the head outline and especially under the neck. The linework in some parts I think is better. I drew her with an open mouth, and I like the way she looks like she's happily smiling at something out of frame. 

Could Improve:   I don't like how the blocky colour looks on the spines. I futzed with it too much perhaps? I tried to do shading on some of the spines to show they are further away, but I don't think it was successful. 

 

 That's it for Week 2. See you again for Week 3!

 

 

 

I'm Doing ArtFight! ~ Week 1

 Firstly, I should explain what ArtFight is. It's an art gifting game that runs during July each year, where people draw each other's characters. It's framed as a friendly 'fight', with everyone divided into two teams. Points are allocated to each artwork depending on how complex it is, and the team with the most points at the end of the month 'wins'. But it's all in fun, really.

 

The game is for anyone, of any skill level, of any art or craft medium. Having said that, most of the people who participate are digital artists, so as a craftsperson myself, it's extra delightful when you spot a paper doll or a clay figurine or a cross-stitch.

 

I heard about ArtFight last year, but was too shy to try. This year, having been reminded of it 2 days before the start, I decided to go for it! Now, in the last few years, my memory, ability to concentrate and make decisions has declined quite a bit, plus I have Carpal Tunnel, so I wasn't sure how I'd go. I had also tried digital art about 4 years ago and it didn't work out too well, mostly due to technical issues. But this time, I was determined to overcome them!

 

I set myself a goal of doing 10 drawings and I'm pleased to say I've already surpassed that! So let's have a look at what I did in Week 1.

Before we start, I should mention that you need an account to view any artworks on ArtFight, but it's free, and this way artists are more protected from AI theft. I will link  to artists' profiles, but just be aware of that. :) 

 

 THE DRAWINGS

 

Original Character:  Cute Toedstool by LittleDragonPumpkin

Technique Notes:  I used a reference for the Pokeball, which is why it looks a lot more solid than the character! hehe

I like:  I tried to do a scene with my first drawing! I'm kinda proud of that. The character has a facial expression reacting to the Pokeball, which, while very simplistic, I think comes across quite well. I like how I used a thicker lineweight for the Pokeball. I also like the frill on the right side of Toedstool's body. 

Could improve:  Just about everything, lol. The linework is pretty shaky. I was out of practice with any kind of drawing, so I'm gonna be kind to myself!

 

 

Original Character: Blossom by tobwrld

Technique Notes:  I tried some shading around the neck and ears, and highlights on the hair. I added the pink bow around her neck. She loves bows and has a pink accessory elsewhere on the original, so I added that. 

I like:  her hair! Her mouth, I think. The shadows and markings on her skin. I managed to match the original colour scheme quite well. She was just an adorable character to draw. =D

Could improve:  Her eyes look kinda soulless, heh. More practice with linework, and to work out how to do highlights on the hair. 

 

 

 

Original Character: Moon Deity New by DustBunniRini

Technique Notes:  The original was an uncoloured pencil drawing. I made up the colour palette. 

I like:  the colour palette. :) The clothing with embroidered detail - maybe not so much the execution, but the fact that I tried it. The highlights in his eyes. 

Could improve:  the hair. I tried again to do highlights, but they turned out pretty bad. I think I'm more successful at drawing long hair. I tried the same style with the lips as above, but I don't think it turned out as well. 

 

Original Character:  Hypnos by Vic_Fandom

Technique Notes:  Hypnos is a planet, so I thought it would be fun to do something different. I also tried to create a story by adding in the satellite that he's looking at. The satellite is done from a reference. 

I like:  The colours, I think, but the original artist needs to be credited for that! The expression isn't too bad. 

Could improve:  So wobbly! But I deliberately decided not to correct it. Let's just call it a stylistic choice. :) I'm not very happy with the pattern of colouring, but perhaps I'm being too perfectionistic?

 

 

 

 

Original Character:  Heart Cookie Queen by CuriousFella

Technique Notes:  I included some of the accessories from the original, and added some new ones. 

I like:  I added more details in the accessories and neckline of the dress. I did the pupils with a rougher brush, and I think it looks less stiff ... though still kinda soulless, heh. I also tried something new with the background and I like it!

Could improve:   The original is supposed to be a cookie. I don't think I conveyed this very well. Should the hair drape naturally, or be completely stylised? I couldn't decide. I tried to add some shading under the chin, but again, I'm not sure it works with this style of drawing. Also, why do my drawings always have such long necks?? 

That's it for Week 1! Stay tuned for Week 2!