How to draw nsfw art

Artist Reference Blog (NSFW)

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Artist Reference Blog (NSFW)

Аноним asked:

sidekicksasks answered:

Sure thing! I don’t know how much of a help I’ll be, but I’ll share what I know!

Anyone who says you need expensive tech to get started is a filthy heathen. Or just trying to get top quality stuff. Either way, you don’t need it.

Paintsai would be a great starting point. It’s free(?), and comes with nearly everything you need. There are some minor glitches, but it’s a fantastic way to get your foot in the door.

If you get one thing out of this, you need to have a reference. Multiple, if possible! A great way to do this with pone is to go to derpibooru, and make a filter that has just the stuff you draw. For example, I have a “Male Pone Art” filter that blacklists “human” “anthro” “female” “futa” etc. Leaving me with a plethora of references. This will get your mind into how different positions are held.

As for specific anatomy references, I highly suggest this mega-source of all things pone; anatomy, muscle groups, general shapes, lewd bits, expressions, tutorials, it has everything. I always have it open when I draw.

For male junk, I always try to have Braeburned’s Junk Tutorial open. I know it’s a bit of a cliche to have it, but it’s hand’s down the most comprehensive and easy to understand approach to how to draw them, even if you’re not going for exactly what this look like. It covers how everything works, and mini-techniques for coming out nice.

It’s messy. It never turns out right the first time. But do like, 3. I know it’s gross. I know, I know. The first ones always are. Imagine if you just got out of bed and are tasked with running a quarter mile. Naturally, the second quarter mile is going to be better because you’re not so sleepy. That’s what sketching is; wiping the sleep from your eyes and getting into top form.

I’m going to say that about 90% of “Good” or “Aesthetically Pleasing” art is in the lineart. How smooth the lines are, how the thickness changes, how the curves move; it’s all there. Use a smoother, it’s built into most art programs, you’ll be glad that you did.

Easy trick for no white edges- Select everything that isn’t being colored with the magic wand tool, then hit “Ctrl+I”. Bam! Everything, including the lineart, is all selected for color filling! No weird gaps!

Use the “Lock transparency” tab and Clippling masks in your art program. It’s a lifesaver, and can make some awesome effects:

Arguably the hardest part of art. You get into art slumps, or hit a wall, or get frustrated with how slow you’re progressing. First of all, it’s okay. Seriously, it’s not a catastrophe. You’re not going to be publicly shamed, it’s just a hobby. Conquering this varies from artist to artist, so I can’t tell you how exactly how to conquer it, but I personally have a few folders to help:

For me, these images collected from tumblr are a mini library of art-block fighting squadrons. Plus, they are saved on my hard drive in case of a wifi-outtage.

Anyway, sorry that this was a bit more general-art stuff than just NSFW related, but if you have any other questions, I’d be more than happy to help! Thanks!

What do I draw when doing warm-ups for my NSFW art?

After releasing my art book, a lot of people have been asking what exactly I do when I warmup.

Should you do gesture drawings? Maybe value studies? What about deconstructing the body into shapes? It can be overwhelming deciding what to do.

But with warmups, that’s the opposite of what we want. Similar to how you warmup for a workout with low intensity, drawing warmups are meant to get you ready for a day of art.

The way I think of them, warmups are nice and comfortable. I’m drawing things that appeal to me, developing ideas I like, and using techniques that I’m used to.

That also means letting go of the fear. Accepting that you’ll probably do some bad sketches before the good ones come out.

Warmups = Drawing what you enjoy, and accepting whatever happens. Because it’s just warmups!

So what exactly do I do when warming up?

As mentioned, draw what you enjoy when doing warmups. For me that’s:

I started the day off surfing Reddit for reference. I found an SFM animation with super neat composition and posing, and it was a good challenge to draw.

Then I started warming up with some construction (drawing bodies with shapes). This is my preferred technique for drawing, and yours might be different. For example, I’m not into gesture drawing, so it doesn’t show up much in my warmups.

An added benefit of warming up is that it stops art block when you work on bigger artworks and commissions for the day. You’ll be loaded with a fresh visual library from your warmups.

After, I stumbled on a photo of Sigourney Weaver in Aliens. It got me thinking about Em in space.

And finally, a skater girl sketch because I felt like it. Combining hobbies with art gets me more excited to draw. Hopefully you’ll feel the same when you do warmups.

What about challenging warmups?

Warmups can be hard, but there’s a difference with being challenged and seeking out a challenge.

When I do warmups, there are poses that I just can’t seem to get right. That’s when I’m being challenged. However, I don’t hold it against myself. I try again or move on.

On the other hand, you might enjoy warming up by seeking out challenges. It could be doing master studies or trying a technique you’ve never done before.

Personally, I don’t like challenging myself when I warm up. It’s hard to prepare for, especially first thing in the morning. I also want to keep my warmups light, so I don’t get frustrated the rest of the day.

Conclusion

And that’s what I do when I warmup! Whether I’m drawing from reference, studying other artist’s works, or just doodling, warming up gets me ready for a day of drawing.

What do you enjoy drawing? I want to see your warmups, so feel free to share and tag me on Twitter @hbeatsart, or join the NSFW Artists Guild and share your sketches.

If you want to learn more about warming up, check out the Red Pencil Art Book, which compiles 4 months of warmup sketches and art lessons into an 85-page e-Book.

How to Improve Your Chances of Getting Your First NSFW Art Commission

New artists to the NSFW art scene might find it difficult to get NSFW art commission work. Even after you upload your commission info (you have, right?), there seems to be nothing but silence.

Don’t worry, that doesn’t mean you’re a worthless artist. Rather, getting that first NSFW art commission is a matter of improving your chances.

I won’t discuss art commission sites like artists&clients and sketchmob. Though they might be a source of work, I don’t think it’s worth the effort. They take fees, have an oversaturated market, and do nothing for your long-term growth.

Instead, I want to focus on a more active approach. Think of the veteran artist who seems to fill their commission slots in a blink. They’ve done a lot to build those connections and generate demand. Now, it’s your turn.

Keep Your Commission Info Upfront

Regardless of your social media platform, your commission info should be one of the first few things a visitor sees.

If you want to get work, that is.

I’ve noticed a lot of artists hide their art commission info in a linktree (link compiling website). It takes two clicks just to get to their info. That’s two clicks too many.

Make it easy to spot and access your commission info. Pin your post, if possible.

Your commission info is also your opportunity to impress a potential client with your best works. If you can’t fit it in your info sheet, link to a different page. For example, I have my main info on Twitter, with more samples on this website.

Some artists also changed their username/handle to indicate they have commission slots open.

What’s obvious to you might not be to me
One of my clients has worked with a good number of artists. When I asked him about artists who ‘hide’ their comm info, he told me he was hesitant to reach out to them. Maybe they just had it closed? Maybe they didn’t do commissions at all?

“Just ask!”, you might say. However, consider the perspective of your potential customer. They are:
– Worried about annoying an artist they look up to
– Unsure if they passed over the information somehow
– Concerned they might not have enough money after learning your prices
– Scared of being judged for the kink they want drawn

Clear and visible commission information minimizes these risks, making it easier to hire you. Remember, buying is as much about the experience as it is about the product.

Action Points
– Keep your commission info in sight at all times, so even a stranger can find it easily
– Showcase your best artwork on your comm sheet, so you can hook in clients. Formatting is important, use more image than text
– Use other available areas like profile description and name changes to advertise open slots

Constantly Promote Yourself

After you first post your commission info, don’t expect to be contacted by anyone right away. It’s awesome if that happens, but it seems to be the exception to the rule.

It’s tempting to give up and blame the fact that no one likes your art. However, from experience, it’s usually because your potential first client just hasn’t seen your commissions post, or doesn’t have the money. I’ve been surprised many times when a long-time follower I’ve never talked to messages to ask if I have commissions open.

Get used to promoting your commission info. Link it whenever you post new artwork and include a call to action, a prompt that compels potential clients to take action. For example,

My commissions are open! Check out my pinned tweet, and message me now for your own slot.

Of course, someone with 20 followers would do better to focus on building their audience than to blame their ‘bad luck’.

That said, I wouldn’t say there’s a minimum follower number to have before you open commissions. If anything, the earlier you start promoting yourself, the better. Here’s an article from Hubspot on how repetition can be helpful to compel buyers.

Action Points
– Include a call-to-action whenever you post your commission info
– Link your commission info whenever you release a new artwork to remind your followers you’re open for work

Upsell and Generate Demand

If you’re a newer artist, you can create demand by giving art away for free.

But Beats, people say you shouldn’t do art for free!

True, you shouldn’t do work for free. However, giving away art is a marketing move. You want people to become familiar with your works, so you can start widening your reach. Do you think artists hold raffles out of the goodness of their hearts? Many of the people who participate in raffles are also the people who commission art.

Besides, you don’t have to make detailed artworks. Consider doing sketch raffles that people can join after sharing the post and following you. After you deliver the sketch, you can then upsell.

Upselling is a sales technique where a customer is invited to purchase a similar but more expensive product. In this case, you could mention to the raffle winner (or to participants) that your commissions are open. There’s a much higher chance they’ll upgrade it, netting you your first commission.

I don’t know if it was a conscious marketing decision, but many of my earlier artworks were requests. I came to understand that I could add more value to my art by drawing others’ OCs, rather than focusing on my art style.

Action Points
– What are opportunities for you to make quick but relevant art? Do you have followers who like roleplaying, or maybe a fandom you’re in? Make quick art for them then upsell
– Comfortable with doing an art raffle? Awesome, it’s a great opportunity to promote your commission info

Cast a Tighter Net

Consistently sharing your commission info is good, but it’ll be a lot easier to find work if you’re actively engaging with people who need your work.

This goes back to what you draw. If you’re a furry artist, hang around in furry groups. Bondage artist? Bondage groups!

I like this approach because you’re no longer throwing stuff out hoping it’ll get noticed. Instead, you’re actively marketing to people with your resonance point.

Your Resonance Points
In my previous article about building your following, I talked about resonance points as the things both you and your potential followers enjoy.

Use resonance to guide your marketing and networking efforts, rather than tout your art as the main focus.

Inexperienced artists try to market themselves as all-around, drawing anything and everything. The problem with this is you aren’t speaking to a specific group. You cast your net so wide, fish are slipping out.

As you probably know by now, I actively engage specifically with OC owners. I send them art that reminds me of their OC, ask them about lore, and involve them in my art process. These small things set me apart from other artists.

As a result, I’ve had no problem filling my commissions queue for more than a year now.

Cast a tight net and be the artist that comes to mind when someone asks “Hey, can you recommend someone for me?”

Why your first commission is the hardest one
Opening commissions is a milestone in any artist’s career. You’re moving beyond art as a hobby and accepting that your art has value.

It’s also very scary. You probably have a million worries racing through your mind. Are you charging too much, or too little? Does anyone actually want your art? Are you an imposter, after all?

If there’s any advice I’d give, it’s to separate your self-worth from your art. There are many reasons people don’t buy art, including reasons out of your control:
– Many art commissioners are paying out of their pocket and might like your art but not have the cash
– Someone might want to approach but be unsure of themselves (especially for kinkier content)
– Others might have wanted to commission after spotting you were open but forgot after a busy day
– Your style/content might not match their persona/branding

The more commissions you do, the more you’ll see that buyers are influenced by their own motivations and anxieties. The business-minded artist knows how to minimize those anxieties, and tap into those motivations to create more value.

Action Points
– Where is your target market hanging around? Start joining Discord servers or groups where you can share your art with them
– Figure out your resonance point, and think about how you can use it to market yourself as the right artist for the job
– Rather than depending solely on your art uploads, think about other ways to engage with your audience. Post ask memes, daily QnA’s, curiouscat doodles, and the like.

Conclusion

Hopefully, you see that getting your first commission is more about persistence and strategy. Ignore anyone who says your art by itself is good enough to get work and focus on getting your art out as much as possible.

To recap, keep your commission info visible so even strangers can see it. Pinned posts and banner photos are perfect.

Promote yourself when you can, like in your art post descriptions. Keep it low-key, while consistently letting others know you’re open for commissions.

Shift to a value mindset. Remember that your potential clients have their fears and motivations. Minimize their fears, and make art that fulfills their wants.

Finally, look for the groups that want your art. Actively engage with them, letting them know that you exist and are available for work. It’ll only be a matter of time until things line up for your first commission.

I hope the article helps you. Let me know when you get your first commissions!

The NSFW Art Workflow: From Sketch to Finished Illustration (Complete with Examples!)

Welcome to the first article in the NSFW Art Fundamentals course!

I want to start by introducing you to the typical art workflow. As your illustrations get more complex, you’ll want to spend more time planning things. Be creative and make mistakes while they’re cheap, early in the process.

So, where do you begin? What happens at each stage and why? Let’s go through some examples!

Do you need to go through each step each time?
These steps are not rules. As you draw more, you’ll include some steps and drop others. Maybe you’ll do all of them. Your style, what you draw, and how detailed your art is will all influence your process. My only suggestion is don’t knock it til you’ve tried it, especially because each step has a purpose!

Research & Studies

Could you draw the layout of your house? Even if you’ve been living there for a year or two, that might be a bit difficult.

The same applies to drawing NSFW. It’s reasonable to expect you can draw people after seeing them all your life, but that’s probably not going to happen.

Even pro artists know that, which is why they start the illustration process with finding or making their references. Using reference isn’t a weakness as many beginner artists think, but a powerful tool to make sure your interpretation has a solid foundation.

Using ref allows you to focus on creative choices rather than worrying if your drawing looks right

Once you’ve assembled your references, you might notice gaps in your skill. Maybe it’s your first time drawing a character, or rendering swimsuit texture.

Artists do studies to overcome this gap. When you understand something, you can stylize and interpret it confidently.

Without these studies, I wouldn’t have known what a boot would look like angled

Studies aren’t just for specific artworks. Exercises to improve your art fundamentals are also key, which I’ll be sharing throughout the course.

One of my favorite exercises is warm-ups, which helped my art immensely after a few months. See how it can help you too!

Thumbnails

Armed with your references, its time to begin the creative process.

Thumbnails are small and quick sketches where you figure out how to visually communicate your idea.

Thumbnails vs final. There are a lot of ways to communicate something as simple as beach lounging

It might seem more fun to jump to drawing. After all, who cares about these small sketches if you have the final artwork in mind already?

But our first idea is rarely our best. Much like you stretch before a workout, thumbnails help you cut through ideas that don’t work. And find the ones that do.

Notice how messy my thumbnails are. That’s important; you want to think about big picture things such as arrangement of elements within the canvas, camera angles, and the action of the character.

Roughs

Once you’ve chosen a thumbnail, it’s time to start adding in details. But wait! Make sure you stay loose.

From rough to lineart. Notice how I leave out fine details like the beads of the bra top, and the gems on her choker and belt.

This is the time for you to figure out the big picture technicalities, like perspective and construction (breaking down complex forms like the body into simple shapes like rectangles and circles).

Value and Color Comps

This is a more unknown step in the illustration process. I only learned it a few years into my NSFW art career.

Comps are short for “comprehensive”. They’re quick works that show the client (and yourself) a rough idea of the final output.

They’re commonly used to figure out the values (how light or dark objects are) and the colors. Similar to how thumbnails are quick and cheap, comps allow you to test ideas. You might have spent hours coloring, only to hate how the color palette came out. That’s why we comp!

It can be tempting to get into details when comp’ing, but stay loose and focus on the idea. In this case, I wanted a yellow sickly color that faded into a complementary violet to create a focal point

If you work with strong lighting, a value comp is important. We’ll go into it in more detail later in the course, but value is just lightness or darkness of a color.

It’s an odd concept at first, so let’s visualize it. Here’s a red apple:

What happens if we strip away the color? We’re left with black and whites, or values.

You can tell where the light is coming from through clues such as highlights, rim light, and cast shadow.

Values are a powerful tool for directing the eye. For example, see Feng Zhu’s work below:

Despite the complexity, he’s able to make your eye go to the creature’s head before anything else. Its low-key (darker) head against the high-key (brighter) sky creates a strong contrast (and thus a focal point).

It’s easy to miss those things when you jump straight into color, which is why we do value comps.

That said, I don’t do value comps often for NSFW given the single-character focus. I do them mostly for my SFW art, which is lighting-dependent

Lineart

Awesome, we’re making good progress!

Lineart may seem tedious, but it’s also an opportunity for your style and artistic choices to shine through.

First, what genre is your artwork? Will it have thick, graphic linework like a cartoon? Or are you going for a semi-realistic, thinner lineart? Maybe a painterly lineart so you can jump into coloring faster?

Art by Gerph, Reiq, and CuteSexyRobutts. Once you find inspiration artists, study and add to their techniques until it becomes yours!

I like lining with a sketchy brush, suggesting depth with thick and thin lines. I also incorporate a lot of hatching, using it to create focal points.

Some sketchy linearts from my YCH series

Flats

This one’s easy enough. In preparation for shading and lighting, artists usually color in the flats (as in no indication of form or 3d-ness).

The important part here is how you structure layers to save yourself time later on. For me, having each different colored thing on a separate layer works best.

I layer based on what’s on ‘top’. If Chloe had clothes on, they’d be above her skin layer.

Shading

And now the moment you’ve been waiting for!

Shading is all about adding light sources and their equivalent shadows. At this stage, you’re thinking about the shape and form of things. For example, how would circular shapes like the head and breasts catch light and cast shadows?

Cel shaded drawing by InmaR

The simplest approach would be cel shading, as seen in anime and cartoons. You simplify shadows, use hard edges to depict light and dark.

Cel shading can also vary in complexity. Art by Gerph, Urec, Hidebou

Going a step further is soft shading, since shadows get softer the further away from a light source they are.

Notice how shadows have straight edges underneath forms hit by light like heads and under-boob, and softer edges as light hits less and less of circular forms like tummies and legs. Art by Nakamura Yukitoshi, knatb, chagama

When soft shading, be careful of pillow shading, where you evenly the body without establishing a directional light source. If you use it too much, your art might look same-ish.

Going a step beyond shading is rendering. Instead of just adding light and shadow, we’re approaching realism by adding textures, details and effects. Rendering captures a lot more subtlety, like shadows within shadows and material textures (clothing, fur, cum, sweat).

Rendered works often have a variety of lighting, and look less like brush strokes and more like the real thing. Art by yd, yutsuki, sakura

There are many other ways to shade and render. Some artists like digital painting, using color blending rather than blurring. It’s a bit more difficult because you lean less on lineart, and more on light/shadow to depict forms.

Notice how brushstrokes are visible, but describe the texture, form, and lighting. Art by lack, CSR, Aleriia

It’s a lot to take in, but the more you try these techniques out the more you’ll find what works for you.

Ushiwakamaru in different types of shading. Art by Ikue, Pinta, Jiki

Great, I hope all the examples left you with a better understanding of the NSFW art illustration process.

Next up, we’ll go through an exercise where we finish an artwork. I’ll join you in the process, and show each step.

4 Ways to Make Money as an NSFW Artist

When I started drawing, my only source of income was through art commissions. I was constantly worried. How could I sustain myself and make money as an NSFW artist if it took me a few days just to finish an illustration?

While making better art usually means more demand (and the opportunity to price higher), this isn’t a course on become a better artist. Instead, our goal is to become better business people so we can leverage what you have right now, instead of waiting for “my art to get better”.

Why build multiple sources of income?

As artists, we need to work smart with our main business offering: our art. Consider:

Aside from maximizing earnings from your artworks, you’ll also gain more security through multiple sources of income. What if your main social media platform shut down tomorrow? Would you be able to recover, or would you have to start from scratch?

If you’re interested in creating more security, or just want to earn more, here are several sources of income you can start building as an NSFW artist:

1) Art Commissions

When a client commissions you, they pay you to create art based on their needs.

However, before you become hireable, you’ll need to decide what kind of art you make, and who to market it to. Are you a hentai artist? Perhaps a furry artist? Maybe you do semi-realistic artworks like Dandon Fuga or Sciamano?

Ashe by Sciamano240

Regardless of what you draw, consider specializing in a niche and creating art for a smaller group with unique preferences. Because of how saturated the art market is (and NSFW especially), you want your works to be recognizable, which will generate client demand and trust.

Fulfilling a niche isn’t limited to genre. Consider popular hentai artists like ShindoL and Sakimi Chan. They’re known for their art styles as well. Wouldn’t you prefer to work with someone known for a specific style, rather than someone who can’t even pin theirs down?

I ‘brand’ myself as a hentai illustrator who draws original characters (OCs). Creating art for this niche influences my marketing and business decisions. I only create fanart once a month, and depend on client word-of-mouth to find work.

Once you’ve decided on what differentiates you as an NSFW artist, you can start looking for work and adjusting your commission prices as you improve.

The downside is that commissions can be time consuming. Even if you enjoy drawing for a niche, it can get tiring and uninspiring to create art for others. Some artists have even decided not to take commissions, like Gats. He’s a great example of how multiple sources of income create security, and even allow the luxury of choosing specific sources of income.

2) Crowdfunding and the Subscription Model

The crowdfunding model is so powerful, it helped Studio FOW raise over 1.5 million euros for their game Subverse. That kind of fundraising would have been unthinkable a few years ago, when anything NSFW had limited options for growth.

If you’re looking for continuous support, subscription platforms like Patreon and Pixiv Fanbox allow your supporters to subscribe to certain tiers. In exchange for paying a certain amount monthly, fans receive perks and exclusive content that you decide on.

If you don’t want to start a Patreon yet, you might like Ko-fi, which allows fans to donate to you (for free!). Both have their pros and cons, which I discussed last month.

3) Selling Merch and Making Continuous Income

As you grow your audience, you can create physical and digital merchandise for fans to buy. Not only is it a great way for them to engage with your art, but it can provide income for years to come.

Always make sure to check a platform’s policy on NSFW content!

Physical Merch

If you visit Comic-Con or anime conventions, you’d see artists selling merch like stickers, shirts, and art prints. You can do the same! Perhaps you have designs that would look good on a shirt, or you want to create stickers featuring OCs from your stories.

Reiq runs an online shop stocked with stickers, artbooks, and prints.

However, in his latest post he mentions how he’d often spend days fulfilling orders rather than drawing. If you aren’t keen on buying equipment and shipping things yourself, then Print-on-Demand sites might be for you.

Print-on-Demand (POD) Sites

POD sites like Printful and Redbubble allow you to focus on making designs, while they handle shipping and physical merch creation. This is a great way to build ‘passive’ income that doesn’t need much hands-on work, though you earn less because of POD fees.

My choice for POD is Redbubble. There are a ton of products you can put your designs on, and the quality is good! You can also set your margins for earnings on products.

Digital Merch

You can also sell digital merchandise like tutorials, eBooks, and files. This is a great way to make truly passive income, but it takes time to create content worth buying.

Gats sells short comics on his Gumroad (which is NSFW friendly!), offering thumbnail views so that viewers can decide whether to buy.

Digital merch isn’t limited to art. You could also create online courses and teaching material, like what Aaron Blaise does.

If you have a Patreon platform where you post exclusives and behind-the-scenes, you could also offer those as downloadable content, for fans who might only want said resources. Here’s an example from Sakimi Chan’s Gumroad, which is filled with tutorials and digital content.

4) Streaming and Making Video Content

We spend a lot of time drawing. You can capitalize on that by streaming and engaging with fans during otherwise lonely hours.

Some platforms allow donations and subscriptions, so it’s another nifty way to make income. Here are some sites that allow NSFW art streaming:

You could also post your speedpaints and video content to sites like YouTube for more passive income from ad revenue. NSFW artists have to work within YouTube’s SFW rules, though. For inspiration, you can check out MikeyMegaMega and Shadman.

I personally don’t enjoy streaming. Always remember that you don’t need to force yourself into a platform, just because it’s a potential source of income! It’s more effective to focus your energy creating what you enjoy.

While this isn’t an exhaustive list, it should give you an idea of how most NSFW artists make money. Regardless of which methods you choose, remember that your products don’t have to be limited to what others do. Experiment, find what works for you and your supporters!

Ready to make money? Read on to find out how to set up your own PayPal account, and how to stay safe and keep your personal information private!

Thanks for reading, let me know what you think!