2) Like many, I was always a really crafty/creative kid, and I was one of those kids in elementary school who would share illustrations with each other and draw my own Garfield comic knock-offs. But I didn't start taking it seriously until age 13 or so, when I discovered the internet, was inspired by D&D 3ed, joined Elfwood, and started making my own cyberpets in the online custom cyberpet markets of the early aughts. I learned *SO MUCH* in those years!
4) I have all three! I don't use my DA account anymore, but you can see it (and some of my old artwork) here: http://rheall.deviantart.com/
I have a personal portfolio website and blog set up here: http://rheall.me/
Requested by @sikkdays
29) Traditional art is a tricky thing, and definitely benefits from as much preparation as you can possibly do. With my big watercolour pieces (Ex. https://rheall.me/portfolio/bouguereau-women/) I would always do preparatory sketches in a sketchbook, then properly soak/stretch my paper in preparation. Then I would make a light sketch, then start painting.
Sometimes I'll make a digital colour comp and use that as reference for the traditional piece. It's a lot easier that way!
5) Oh gosh, this changes all the time, but a few things that have always stuck with me: horses and thin, spindly-limbed animals (mainly canines and dragons).
You can see some old examples of those here:
https://comicscamp.club/@Rheall/101809728294408612
https://comicscamp.club/@Rheall/101809779895475697
https://comicscamp.club/@Rheall/101809910291560799
I really like drawing animals, especially animals where you can really *see* the anatomy under the skin. So much fun to draw!!
8) I have done. This is actually a difficult topic for me, since I wanted so much to be able to make a living off of my art, but when it came down to it I couldn't handle the responsibility and it really killed my creative drive. I've done commission work, storyboard work, concept art work, comic work… but yeah, I needed a break.
Now I just draw for me, whenever I can. :)
9) Honestly? I don't usually do any drawing every day anymore. I might sketch something once a week or two nowadays. When I was younger I used to spend hours a day drawing, basically any time I was home and not online or playing video games. I used to fill up an 80-page sketchbook each month when I was in High School!
These things naturally come in waves for a lot of people, and I might start drawing more again in the future… we'll see! A lot of things are in flux for me right now.
@Rheall BTW These images made me want to crawl into bed and forget my #watercolor altogether.
WOW! Just WOW! They're amazing. That level of detail, shading, and light is possible? Whoa.
3) I took art and ceramic classes in high school (in addition to band), but always balked at the idea of doing art in college. After a few years of general studies I finally decided to give art school ago, and did a two year fine arts diploma and finally my Bachelors.
I will say, though: Art school did *not* "teach me how to draw". It taught me a lot of very useful things (mainly how to think/conceptualize about art), but you still need to put the work in outside of it. 💪