Want to improve your killers artwork? Learn from these amazing artists!

Okay, so I’ve been messing around with this art project lately, and I thought I’d share my whole process with you guys. It’s been a wild ride, and I’ve learned a ton along the way. The main thing I wanted to achieve was to create a “killer’s artwork.” I was really inspired by how serial killers sometimes see themselves as these twisted geniuses, and I wanted to reflect that in my art.

First off, I spent a lot of time just thinking about what I wanted to create. I knew I needed references, so I started taking a bunch of photos. Anything that caught my eye and seemed like it could be useful, I snapped a pic. I also started tracing things to get a better feel for shapes and forms. It sounds basic, but it really helps.

Then, I decided to dive into some of the technical stuff. I grabbed this book, “Color and Light” by James Gurney, and it was a game-changer. This book helped me understand, like, how light and color actually work together. It’s crazy how much there is to know about that stuff. I also looked up some stuff online – just googling around for tips and inspiration. This helped me figure out different approaches I could take.

Start Grinding

I made it a point to practice every single day. Even if it was just for five minutes, I’d sit down and draw something. Some days I’d do more, some days less, but the important thing was to keep at it. Consistency is key, you know?

One thing I tried was messing with the saturation. I’d make my drawings black and white, just to see the contrast between light and shadows better. It’s kind of like stripping away all the color to see the bare bones of the image. I started comparing my stuff to other black and white art, trying to figure out what they were doing that I wasn’t. I was looking for patterns, like where they put the darkest and lightest areas.

Experiment

• I used a mosaic filter to pixelate some paintings. Sounds weird, but it helps you see the basic color palette.
• Sometimes I’d just squint at the painting. Same idea – it blurs the details so you can focus on the overall colors.
• I spent time trying to understand the composition of famous paintings. Like, where’s the focal point? What’s the perspective? I’d even draw the perspective grid on top of the image as an exercise.

Keep Pushing

Another thing I realized is that you can’t procrastinate. Seriously, just get started. Once you start putting in the work, it gets easier. And the more you produce, the more relaxed you become, and the better your work gets. It’s a positive feedback loop, or something like that.

I also started asking for feedback. This was tough because it’s hard to hear criticism sometimes, but it’s super important. People would point out things I hadn’t noticed, and it helped me improve. I tried to keep an open mind and not take things too personally.

Throughout this whole process, I kept all my photos and references organized. That way, I always knew where to find them when I needed inspiration. And I made sure to reflect on my work regularly. I’d ask myself, “What went well today? What could I have done better?” It’s all about learning from your mistakes and successes.

So yeah, that’s basically my journey so far. It’s been a lot of work, but it’s also been really rewarding. I’m still learning and growing, but I feel like I’m on the right path. Hopefully, this was helpful to some of you. Just remember to keep practicing, keep learning, and don’t be afraid to experiment. And most importantly, don’t give up!