Sariel

A voice from the shadows · 7mo

What's your standard /preferred art stack / process? (Sorry if you've answered this before). Which mediums and software are your favorites?

I've been trying to experiment with my style lately because I've become a bit bored and I feel a bit limited, but usually when working digitally I start with thumbnails, then a sketch, then a tighter pencil pass, then line art, then flat colours, the shadows (multiply layer) and lights (overlay layer), then finishing details. I use procreate for all of my drawings (and sometimes a bit of Photoshop for formatting/resizing/setting up colours for printing). I've been wanting to give clip studio a try, though, since it seems quite versatile and like it might become the next industry standard. In traditional I usually sketch with a double ended coloured pencil that's red and blue, or with a normal pencil, and then depending on the day I line with fineliners or thicker markers or I ditch the pencil and go directly with markers or use colour pencils... Whatever I'm feeling. I'm also a huge fan of gouache and acrylic paint but haven't used them much recently and am not particularly good at it...

Sariel · 7mo

A voice from the shadows · 7mo

what's your favorite animal? do you have a favorite bird?

I answered the question about animals here: What are your favourite animals? — Oh! Hm... That's complicated. I love reptiles, always have. I also really like mustelids, hence why my fursona is a stoat, a… https://retrospring.net/@SarielSnowings/a/112370883650308749 But about birds... I like what I call "dinosaur-looking birds", so when their facial feathers start behind their eyes and beak, like it happens to boobies (great bird name btw). Also long beaked birds like the heron or storm. And corvids, of course. I like lots of different birds!

Sariel · 7mo

A voice from the shadows · 7mo

I can't think of a good question, but I do have a compliment! I really enjoy the rich and deep personalities of the characters you design. They feel very well-realized and are very interesting!

Thank you so much!? To be honest I really struggle with that, I find making deep, multifaceted characters so difficult so I'm happy to hear their designs speak to you <3

Sariel · 7mo

A voice from the shadows · 7mo

What are some of your favourite books?

I love science fiction, so Isaac Asimov's robot series are some of my favourites. Also Andy Weir's books. I also love gothic fiction classics and independent comics like Prokaryote Season by Leo Fox or Heart of Gold by Eliot Baum and Viv Tanner. Last books I read were Klara and The Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro (it was such a trip, I loved it) and Hell Followed With Us by Andrew J. White (lots of cathartic trans rage on that one).

Sariel · 7mo

A voice from the shadows · 7mo

Tea or coffee?

I like both... Tea for hydration, coffee (albeit decaf because I have anxiety) for dessert/midday snacks... But usually I drink cocoa.

Sariel · 7mo

A voice from the shadows · 7mo

What's your approach to using art references? Do you use photos only, or also look at art of other artists?

I look at photos for accurate anatomical or lighting references, and I look at other's art for stylistic choices (the colour palette, the rendering style, the way they simplify certain things, the inking, etc)

Sariel · 7mo

A voice from the shadows · 7mo

What are your favourite animals?

Oh! Hm... That's complicated. I love reptiles, always have. I also really like mustelids, hence why my fursona is a stoat, and hyenas and other animals in the order carnivora. Oh, and dinosaurs! Especially archaeopteryx and velociraptor.

Sariel · 7mo

A voice from the shadows · 1y

Who is your favorite Pen and Paper character you have made/played so far?

YOU CAN'T ASK ME TO CHOOSE AMONG MY CHILDREN! I love them all so much... I guess currently I think a lot about Lux (but more as an OC than a TTRPG character because I didn't get to play them much) and about Dazzle, who is my little perfect cryptid weirdo and I'm having a blast playing on the current Curse of Strahd campaign.

Sariel · 1y

A voice from the shadows · 1y

What sparked your desire to start your art career?

First it was the joy art brings me. And then it was the realisation that drawing was one of the very few activities I could do daily reliably without burning up or getting depressed. Even if I don't get to draw what I want, the act of drawing is bearable. Which is why I've been trying to make it my main source of income. Still working on that though...

Sariel · 1y

A voice from the shadows · 1y

What’s your favorite hot drink? Also sending lots of love your way this chilly afternoon 💛

Definitely hot cocoa. Specifically Cola-Cao, which is a Spanish brand. And thank you! You keep warm as well <3

Sariel · 1y

A voice from the shadows · 1y

Are there any towns aside from the one you live in, that you would like to live in?

Oh, I guess so? Except it's less about the town and more about the people in it. I think every place has its charm, but really what I want is to be close to my partner and my friends, however possible that might be.

Sariel · 1y

A voice from the shadows · 1y

How are you so cool?

I- well, thank you. I just do my thing regardless of what people think I guess? I wear the clothes that make me happy, draw what interests me... I'm just a human like any other though. I spend many days having no energy and wearing sweatpants. I doubt my life choices. I am as ordinary (or as cool) as most people irl ^^'