PHOTOSHOP TASTES LIKE CHICKEN -A Portfolio by Liah-

I've been using Photoshop for about five months now and it's been an interesting journey, particularly with my sig-making stuff. I've still a lot to learn, I know that, but I thought to show you this five-month journey so far (: Though I've done quite a bit, I thought just to show the best examples of where maybe I've learnt new things.

This was my first ever PS piece, all airbrushed:



After this, I had a go at manipulating images:



It was a first attempt and a pretty bad one, I know xD I mixed Golden Eye and OoT. I think out of most of it I enjoyed making the little '64 ocarina-controller in the corner! Through this, however, I learnt I much prefered doing things from scratch rather than from already-made images.

So! I had a go with some transparency, making things from scratch and stock images:



I then decided that I wanted to go completely from scratch:



Aaaand then had a go with some transparency:



After a few entries in the Sig of the Week competitions, I saw my sigs weren't doing so bad in terms of votes which honestly surprised me. This made me think of opening a siggy shop, but I was apprehensive because I wondered if anyone would really want a hand-drawn sig. Brandon encouraged me to do it. Also, I thought it would be a good way for me to get to know the graphics community on ZU, which it has with some other very good sig-makers, and also with my requestees! Speaking of requestees, this was my first sig for a requestee, namely Pani <3, where I worked with transparency and my airbrushing style:



The next sig was a toughie for me because it involved making a steel-like image--a sword--and I knew nothing about making backgrounds. For the first time, I tried using the dodge tool on the highlight setting and a petal brush for the BG and tinkering with the airbrush/dodge/emboss for the steel:



I started playing more with BGs. Lelouch's sig was more brush work and discovering I could stroke things with different brushes (I really am a beginner, gimme a break xD):



I started getting a bit more creative with my transparecy and colours:



I then tried mixing shapes for a BG:



This next sig forced me to move away from blending colours with the airbrush since it was an anime-styled pic, but it was good to learn something new:



Playing with perspective in a sig was also new for me, which I tried with this one:



I now have been messing with vector stuff. This thingie I did of Frank Sinatra was reeeeaaally interesting to do:



I also went back in time to try and hone my drawing/colouring skills by doing something on Paint:



Ignore the comments all over it, or try to xDD. And just to end things, something I'm just playing with at the mo':



That's a quick overview of my five-month use in Photoshop. Still, I've got a ****load to learn:

*I know absolutely NOTHING about blending layers, special effects with lighting/renders/all that kinda stuff.

*I SUCK with backgrounds.

*Right now I'm still very limited with just my airbrush, though trying to branch out with vector.

*I'm still working on my sketching skills, particularly with diverse poses and perspective.

I consider myself very much the amateur, but enjoy learning new things with Photoshop. There are other programmes I'm interested in, but I want to get better with PS first before trying other stuff.

Love your artwork, Liah. Keep up the good work!

I'm so proud of you, baby! You're already my favorite sigmaker, and you're getting more flexible and skilled all the time!

Your drawn stuff is easily among the best on ZU.

Originally Posted by Hyrule

Love your artwork, Liah. Keep up the good work!

Man, you've always been supportive of my art (: I really appreciate it, hun, I mean that.

Originally Posted by Ja-kun

I'm so proud of you, baby! You're already my favorite sigmaker, and you're getting more flexible and skilled all the time!

My sig shop wouldn't even exist if it weren't for you (: To think I almost turned the idea away! Thank you, baby (: <333

Originally Posted by fratey

Your drawn stuff is easily among the best on ZU.

Duuuuuude, I've seen your work and I'm totally jealous of you xDDD Your compliment means the world to me, so thank you <3

why does most of it have booby shots on

I love them all, Liah. :>

The Frank Sinatra piece is my personal favourite; flawless transparency.

it's also one pic where you managed to restrain yourself

Originally Posted by Kitsuné

why does most of it have booby shots on

I love them all, Liah. :>

The Frank Sinatra piece is my personal favourite; flawless transparency.

it's also one pic where you managed to restrain yourself

<333! Thanks, man (:

On the Sinatra thingie--do you mean I made it simpler than my other stuff, in that way I restrained myself? Because I was trying to do that with it--I seem to go overboard with my art xDD I was actually looking at some of Fratey and Umi's stuff and loved how they can make things look so simple but so awesome at the same time, hence the inspiration. Are we talking simplicity here, or something else? *ruffles hair*

EDIT: DON'T HATE ON THE BOOBS, DUDE.

I actually meant retrain yourself from putting boob-shots in it!

But it's just the most effective, to me. Everything just... fits.

Originally Posted by Liah

I started getting a bit more creative with my transparecy and colours:

This one is probably my favorite. Everything is symmetrical and balanced - but there are three areas that your eyes are drawn to (threes appeal to the human aesthetic). I love the one you made for Davy, too. I'd be interested to see vector work from you - what program have you used or plan on using?

Originally Posted by Kitsuné

I actually meant retrain yourself from putting boob-shots in it!

But it's just the most effective, to me. Everything just... fits.

Oh. Well. Teach me to try and be technical with you when all you're really about is tits. I love you, Kitsoon.

Originally Posted by Blue Chuchu

This one is probably my favorite. Everything is symmetrical and balanced - but there are three areas that your eyes are drawn to (threes appeal to the human aesthetic). I love the one you made for Davy, too. I'd be interested to see vector work from you - what program have you used or plan on using?

Eeep, in the presence of the PS goddess *cowers* xD 'SUP BLUE. Is it important to keep things symmetrical/focal points for sigs? Honestly, I think one of my major problems with my work is I try to do too much. I think it comes from being an artist first rather than a graphics person, so I try to fit it all in and sometimes that can be a bit distracting. As for programmes, I started on Paint Shop Pro for my art, which I'm pretty familiar with now, but moved onto Photoshop, as I said, five months ago.

As for programmes I would like to get into, that would include GIMP and maybe something to do with moving animation stuff. I have a tonne of ideas, but no idea how to produce them most of the time xD

Good work for an 'amateur.' :3

Is she wearing pencils? Xp

Originally Posted by Liah

Eeep, in the presence of the PS goddess *cowers* xD 'SUP BLUE. Is it important to keep things symmetrical/focal points for sigs? Honestly, I think one of my major problems with my work is I try to do too much. I think it comes from being an artist first rather than a graphics person, so I try to fit it all in and sometimes that can be a bit distracting. As for programmes, I started on Paint Shop Pro for my art, which I'm pretty familiar with now, but moved onto Photoshop, as I said, five months ago.

As for programmes I would like to get into, that would include GIMP and maybe something to do with moving animation stuff. I have a tonne of ideas, but no idea how to produce them most of the time xD

'SUP!

I think symmetry can look very appealing or very boring to different people. I am one of those that likes everything meticulously aligned and made proportional relative to other components around it, so symmetry does appeal to my stringent personality. I think people who are more free spirited are turned on to art that reflects the same kind of nature - abstract and without boundaries. A point of focus is always important, though.

I should have been more clear, I was wondering what you use for your vector work, if anything yet? I can't recommend Inkscape enough as far as free vector programs go.

Originally Posted by Zien

Good work for an 'amateur.' :3

Is she wearing pencils? Xp

Thanks, man! And, err, yeah, they're pencils <_< >_> xDD

Originally Posted by Blue Chuchu

'SUP!

I think symmetry can look very appealing or very boring to different people. I am one of those that likes everything meticulously aligned and made proportional relative to other components around it, so symmetry does appeal to my stringent personality. I think people who are more free spirited are turned on to art that reflects the same kind of nature - abstract and without boundaries. A point of focus is always important, though.

*nods* Makes sense. I think I tend to be the more free spirited type, but I will take that into major consideration creating a focal point and all. THANKS HOMEGIRL.

I should have been more clear, I was wondering what you use for your vector work, if anything yet? I can't recommend Inkscape enough as far as free vector programs go.

Oh! xD *head-desk* You'll have to forgive me with my novice knowledge/questions on this, hun, because I've not gone far with learning about digital art--I've just been using vector stuff in PSP and PS x: Is that any different from using a programme specifically for it? I honestly don't know.

Originally Posted by Liah

Oh! xD *head-desk* You'll have to forgive me with my novice knowledge/questions on this, hun, because I've not gone far with learning about digital art--I've just been using vector stuff in PSP and PS x: Is that any different from using a programme specifically for it? I honestly don't know.

Photoshop is not technically a vector program since it can only produce raster output. Vector style art done in a raster-based program is referred to as 'vexel' (vector + pixel). A vector-based program, like Inkscape or Adobe Illustrator, can produce infinitely scalable and lossless output. Raster programs produce output by pixels, and vector programs rely on geometrics to represent an image (lines, curves, points).

However, while managing your "vectors" in PS, they are fully scalable - but I don't think PS can output to, for example, SVG, while illustrator can.

Wow. Thanks, guys, that was really informative. I've learnt something new today. Muchly grateful.

you're a pro amateur

Originally Posted by nod flenders

you're a pro amateur

GASP.

These are very good. You've got a distinct style.

also, you are bad with backgrounds, besides the frank sinatra one

but that could all just be part of your style in the end