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September Q&A - leave your questions here! (Patreon)

Published:
2021-09-14 16:00:05
Imported:
2026-06
Tags:
Q&A

Content

Hey!

Hope you're well! Please feel free to leave your questions for this month's Q&A here - my wife and I will be doing a long form Q&A video at the end of the month addressing whatever you'd like to ask - personal, professional, confessional, transgressional, etc. - more than open!

watch the previous Q&A here & here!

Just don't ask about the rats again, I couldn't take it. 

Thank you all for your support!

Dave

Comments

artofamiel

Time for Q&A already? Nice! Here’s my question: You’ve mentioned more than once in past Q&A’s that aiming to be a high-level artist would be the best bet, for a number of reasons like there’s less competition at the top. What do you then consider the behavior/skills/indicators of high-level artists? For example, versatility? Track record of getting things done? What separates the high-level artist from the average level ones? Thanks again for organizing this. It’s immensely educational and entertaining. I sometimes listen to these while doing my (non art-related) day job.

Fethennour

Hi, hope everything's fine for you guys. Quick question: how's the pdf stuff doing? Think it'll be available anytime soon? Thank you.

Nick Yourkonis

Dave, Kim, how the hell are yah? Dave, Did you ever find a balance between doing studies and creating your own art? As I learn I find it hard to not focus on studies, so while my sketch books are filled with hands, eyes, and other parts I don’t have a large collection of my own original work. Stay cool.

Esteban Sanchez

Hey Gorbino, what's a building/place you've been trapped in? Also would be interested in hearing something about those thieving bastards that Dan has mentioned in the past Also, how have you gone about respectfully declining work from clients when your workload is too much / life stuff is getting heavy?

André Alessi

Hey Dave and Kim, question for both of you about relationships: I hope this isn't too personal, but I would like to hear what are the main things that made the relationship between the two of you to be healthy and engaging, and what are the things you would advice to avoid as much as possible to not let things go toxic? Was any of that fundamental for you two to decide to get married with each other? Thanks!

grundalug

when you first started getting magic the gathering jobs how long on average were you taking to finish an image. how long have your most recent images taken.

Sebastian Posada

Have you ever thought on switching to oils for your personals? Your originals would sell for gazillions of dollars

BaltarBD

Hey Dave, new patron here. I love everything in here so far! I've been meaning to ask, how long (on average) did a Destiny page take you? Some panels are crazy detailed haha. Thanks!

Ahmed Alqirsh

Hey Dave how do you get jobs based on you or your style instead of being brought on to imitate or draw in that studio/client style? Meaning get hired for you not for anyone else style

Michal Macko

Hey Dave, i'm about to start studying anatomy hardcorely by investing a lot of time that i wish to be used efficiently using the right mindset. My current planned approach is to simplify - isolate piece of body part, gathering references in 2d or 3d forms, organize them, which will become the basis for thinking / studying / analyzing - through shape and form mindset predominantly. But still, i am wondering what is the rightest mindset i should go with, that would be efficient in extraction of the most usefulness, mainly to extract, inject, retain, recall and rebuild from imagination? Was you developing in your lifetime period in isolation mode your form skills only? Would that unlock and increase proficiency to build, modify, see, feel, form and afterwards, that would be used as primary skill, tool / mindset behind to study/analyze/practice specific subject to extract, inject, retain, recall and rebuild from imagination? If you practiced your form skill, how much of it is needed or how much you did emphasized this area and are you still doing so nowadays? Lastly, was you learning anatomy from inside out, meaning: you would draw the bones first, then the muscles using origin and insertions over wide range of custom bone poses and lastly, doing fully skinned supported from the practiced knowledge of underlaying?

Senna Prahara

Hey Dave and Kim, I have a question about the travels/ adventure you guys did over the years. What was the general experience when you traveled to Bali some years ago? What are the things that you like/ hate about Bali? I hope you guys had a local there to show you around, I hope you didn't get scammed. people are generally nice there but some of them needed that extra scam money to survive... Last one, Which country do you guys like to visit next time as a family (with them Rapoza boys!!!) in the future (when traveling protocol is easier)? Blessings to you and your beautiful family Thanks guys, take care

Max
>>67840824

Hey Michal, may I can tell u my two cents about learning anatomy. Take the energy and effort you took to write these question and just draw the hell out of u. XD My experience about learning anatomy is, just draw what you like and put the exercise in you drawing. So you draw a fantasy character or a creature then hardly focus on anatomy or on special parts of anatomy u want to learn. Hope you know what I mean. Cheers, keep on drawing.

Isaiah Zachary

What does separate a high level artist from an average one? And do you think it's possible to become a high level artist whilst maintaining your health and having a somewhat normal social life ?

Cryogen

How do you make connections within the industry without going to art school? I'm looking to be a concept artist and it seems like the best thing you can do to get a job is know people.

Adrián Hernández

Hello Dave & Kim, loving what you are doing with everything. My question is in relation with your compositions. I really love those compositional posters kinda old school, with a lot of baddies and the protagonist being very intense. Where do you start? With a figure in your head, like a triangle composition, or do you make a list with every character? Or just start sketching every character and you follow the mood and then put them together?? Thank you !

Frederik H.

Hello Rapoza Gang, thanks for answering my questions last Q&A. Hope all else is well! I have a question regarding the comics industry: One of my career goals is doing comic covers, particularly one for Marvel. I'm already working freelance and I know the goal is still a little further off, but I wanted to ask how exactly I should get in touch with the people in charge or land other comic cover gigs first before applying to Marvel? Thanks in advance and good luck Dave with the broken Cintiq situation!

Zachary A Knapp

Hey guys! Long time lurker, first time lunger. First off, glad to see you both are doing well and that life has calmed enough for you to go full steam into Patreon; for the past few years I've scrounged around the slimy sewers of the internet to find as much creamy, delicious content of yours as I could. So thank you! My question(s): I imagine it depends on the job, but how often are you blue sky/shotgun designing where just throw stuff at the wall and see what sticks? What percentage of those kinds of ideas actually stick around through the design process? And finally, I know you do so much of your own personal design work, but do you enjoy the open ended prompts from clients as well, or do you prefer narrower, more focused requests when you're gettin that paper? Thanks again Dave and Kim for what you guys are doing. Keep the cream dream alive.

Alfred Manzano

Hey Dave and Kim! I have question about the time you get on each client project. Have you ever had an issue with a client who wanted something within a couple days, but originally told you, you had a month to do it? What would you do? besides smashing them with lightning...... <3

Luka Arh

What's up Rapozas? Long time stalker, first time talker. I've been following you since Mike Mignola (I think) picked your piece on Chiustream. Anyway I remember seeing that piece and thinking, god damn it these fucking professionals! Always coming in and showing off! So I set off on a quest there and then. A quest to gain knowledge about your family name and your first given name, because frankly I wasn't interested in any of your family members. Anyhow, alas! I found a woman, who was in fact an old man dressed as Chuck Norris, but without a hat and beard. He danced and roundhouse kicked around the fire and chanted your name to the stars. "Dave...Rapoza.....Dave...Rapoza..." As I approached him, he told me in a creepy old woman's voice with a Russian accent (kindly do the voice, Kim) "He.... be of the same age as you-uu be, but he be the chosen one, you-uu be not!" Then he got naked and wanted me to chant and dance with him while we'd be holding each other's penises, so I left. Crying. Cursing. Creaming. So, to avoid another quest, I'm asking you directly: How does one not get mad thinking about "You'll never be as good as the magnificent Mr.Delicious - Dave Rapoza - The Master Creamer - The Cream-arian" In other words, how does one not compare to his or her idols too much? Now, to a more serious question that I'd like some help with. My girlfriend, she is constantly getting sick for one thing or another (doctors don't know nothing and everything seems fine on paper). The situation got a bit better this summer for about 10 days when we took a vacation after two years. And now it's gotten even worse. She's depressed and sick of being sick, says she can't do anything which drains her even more. She want's kids, but then I'm too pussy about it because of everything that's going on right now. We want to buy a house, but things are getting ridiculous because of the CoVID in our country. She says, she's probably gonna have to close her business soon because she can't bring herself to work (been going on for 6 months) in these conditions, and that's not helping her either. So, I'm here for her, acting stupid tryin' to make her laugh and ease the physical and emotional pains. Telling her, it's OK and it's not the end of the world, and she shouldn't worry because I have a full time job and if needed I'll go chanting with the old man for money, even if I'll have to hold his dick so it doesn't flop around the fire while doin' the roundhouse kicking dance. We got her someone to talk to and all that but I thought you guys might have some input on how to deal with all that. Any suggestions, ideas, advice... anything really. Sorry for the long and weird questions. Thanks to both of you and much love to your family! It helps just listening to you talk and how you deal with stuff and yeah. Much appreciated, you've no idea. PS: I'll support you, till I die! And then I'll make my kids support you. If they won't, there's going to be an old man roundhouse kick dancin' for 'em.

Christopher

Hi both I hope you are having a good day! Dave, you’ve worked on a bunch of cool stuff, are there any dream IP’s out there that you would be super jacked to do some work for still? Or is doing your own work like you are now the dream? All the best, Chris.

Félix Hinojosa

Hello Dave and Kim, Hope you're well. Do you have any advice for couples? you guys look very happy together! Love from México <3

Arcturus

Somebody said that you shouldn't try to draw things but lines and shadow. What do you think about the statement? How do you think about things you draw/when you draw?

Paul M

Hey Dave, I’ve been trying to establish neighborhood dominance by obtaining succulent gains in my overall physique, (mostly pectoral.) Do you recommend any particular oils or catch phrases to use while I cruise the sidewalks? Thanks

Eustass

Hi Dave and Kim, hope you are well. Dave, I need some advice. I can't stand to study anything except art and I've got the looming threat of being sent back to college if I can't make any money to prove to my mother that dropping out wasn't a mistake. I have around a year to get some type of work. I'm hopeful with enough effort I can get a low level job within a year as I've been working on my skills consistently for a year and a half. My questions are, what kind of low level jobs are out there? How do I focus my studies towards getting a specific job? and should I be doing comissions as well or just study and application? Thank you for all the amazing content.

Oronoro

Hey Dave and Kim! Dave, can you talk about your early days on ConceptArt.org? How did you get started on there? What did you see other artists doing to improve their skills, and how did that influence your studying approach? (If these questions suck and you've already answered them a lot, I want you to give it to me straight.) Second, do you have any tips for stress management when it comes to art? I feel a lot of pressure when I see other artists who are so much better than me. Sometimes I feel paralyzed when someone's work is so good and I can't see how it's possible to get to that level. Lastly, can both of you share your thoughts on whether or not zombies poop? This is an important subject that isn't covered enough in zombie fiction, so please take it seriously.

justin ong

Hi Dave, How zoomed in are you usually working at when you are at the detailing and polishing stage? Have you ever faced a problem where you were zoned in doing the details and then when you zoomed further in everything looked off and you have to paint over again? Thanks!

André Alessi

What's up Cream Puff and Donut Hole - I have two more questions: 1. I've heard kickstarters are a nice place to look for work, since a lot of them need artists. I think I've even heard Dan talking about doing a lot of stuff for kickstarters (aside from consulting). If you didn't have the connections, how would you go in contacting people to bridge that gap in this specific context? And how would you go about making those connections with people doing those awesome stuff? 2. Also, what's the meaning of life for both of you? Thanks!

Rauv_Art

Hey Dave and Kim, I wanted to ask a question about concept art. Everyone says that nobody “REALLY” knows what concept art is, and the stuff that we see in all the “Art of” books is not really concept art, but promo art, splash illustration, or character art that was made after the fact to pretty up the book. I would like to be a character designer and concept artist, but I want to do it right so I can actually get work in this field. What type of work should I be making? My current plan was to do all of your character design challenges, like the F-Zero one, and also to create a personal project where I create new character art for a redesign of an old video game – sort of a half-fan-art/half-concept-art thing. Is this the right strategy? From a personal standpoint, I am immensely inspired by the Tactics Ogre and From Software art books, as well as your Paragon concept art. If I did work like that – that style and level of finish - am I on track to become a working professional? I'd like to get more insights on character design as a profession. What kind of quality and quantity of work is typically expected. How many character designs are are considered "a day's work?" Thanks as always, much love to you both and the boys.

Chris Pittas

Hello guys! Hope everything is well! First of let me tell you how excited I am about the F-Zero challenge! I'm huge fan and I was considering doing fan art of all the different characters at some point! Looking forward to participating! I was wondering if you could make wallpaper versions of some of your pieces. I'd love to have the Bloodborn piece as a background on my PC but it is vertical and every crop that I tried looks kinda weird.

Alfred Manzano

Hey Kim and Dave. I have a 2nd question about DPI. Is there ever a time where you go beyond 300 dpi on a piece? If so how do you know when you need to increase it? Thanks!

Louis Whitworth

What's the weirdest commission you've ever done or been asked to do? And if you didn't do it, is that person still around? Because I need money

Cirilla

You might have answered this one before, but when looking at your sketches they seem to be pretty wild with a lot of lines going everywhere in (seemingly) random directions at times. Latest example would be your Char Aznable sketch but I've noticed it in other sketches as well. How do you keep the sketch still legible to yourself? There is obviously a system/process involved that I guess is in your head. Whenever I try to sketch in a similar way my lines end up all the same thickness/strength by the end so it's hard to see the natural flow of whatever I am sketching. Hope the question makes sense, and as always thank you for the awesome work you put and for taking the time to answer questions!

Bogsloth

Hey south African rap duo Die antwoord, My art work is unremarkable, it feels like everything is a step and a half below where it needs to be. How should I tackle this, one issue at a time, or just hit something different every day? Should I only study what feels off in each of my pieces?

Conon Kudo

What do you usual say when you reach out to a studio or client that you want to work with for the first time?

Colorblindraws

Dave, what u think is the accent u can replicate best? And why is it the Bostonian? Also, which one is more menacing? Bostonian or Russian?

Colorblindraws

Dave I have recently begun an artist writer duo project with a friend, and its going super well, and as the writer I would like to ask u How does one brainstorm alone? I mean it flows super well when we are together, but whenever I have to just sit alone and come up with different alternatives, I often get caught up in the first/second scenario/idea, and find it hard to just keep pumping one after the other

Colorblindraws

Also, writing is really fun, and I wonder if u could share a bit of how ur process goes, its different for everyone, and I specially want to know if u ever compared ur writing process to ur drawing/painting process :)

Colorblindraws
>>68689880

Also also Do u think of characters first? And then bend the narrative to fit them naturally? Or do u think of stuff that needs to happen, and then use those things to come up with the characters?

Colorblindraws

Btw, do you have any good horror creature design references to recommend? It can be movies/manga/artists, anything, just not aliens

Colorblindraws

For Dave and kim Before finding each other when yall were hustling through this cursed world of ours, what was the most insane single life experience yall had? Like going on SpeedDating events or just the trashiest u ever been when by urself, like: gigantic dishes mountain, trash on the floor of the house, etc. (Not that those are exclusive to single people, its just easier to fall in those bad habits if no one is holding u acocuntable/u young and lack discipline)

toto ro

hey, I started getting into 3d and really liking it also got my first job in games doing 3d stuff. You talked about how you changed your style to come closer to what it is that you like to do but did it ever felt like you giving up on something? hope my question makes sense thanks

Wesley Edwards

Are you paying attention to the A.I. stuff that is coming down the line, what are your thoughts on it and do you plan on incorporating it into your workflow? Some character designs people have used with generators look pretty damn good even if its just a base to work from I imagine this will change the industry in a big way down the line. Also will you smoke weed with your kids on stream when they are old enough, k thx bye. <3

JVMES16

Hey Dave Hope you’re well-er, I was wondering if you think looking at work from other artists, analyzing it and experimenting until you get the same result, make up a large percentage of growing as an artist? Whether that by studying anatomy, or just how someone else draws a particular facial feature or trying to replicate a color scheme? Thanks for your insight

YoPotato

What were the inspirations for Skull and Shark and Starveil?

Anton

Hey Dave, I'm more used to starting with masses and shapes so here are some drawing-related questions. How do you fix mistakes mid-painting? Do you go back and re-do the sketch and drawing, then re-do the fills and then rendering all over again? Once I'm deep in layers I'm afraid to even look for mistakes because a minor fix would require tonnes of work so I'm wondering if there's a better way of doing this. Also, unless I fill my drawing with values I'm completely blind to some of my mistakes, I can turn off fills and literally see no problems with my work although I already identified them a moment ago. I wonder if it's something that is inherent to drawing with lines in general or you get better at it with time.

tyler kp

Hey Dave, did you ever have trouble filling 'dead space' in your illustrations? I struggle with fleshing out my ideas when I'm confronted with actually composing the whole scene rather than just drawing the initial inspiration

Louis

Hey Dave and Kim ! I'd like to know you do you deal with client with "bad taste". That situation where the client ask you to do something, sometime at the end of the process, and you know that's a shitty idea. I'm trying to "guide" them, explain why it's bad idea and propose an alternative solution but it's hard to not to sound like an asshole. Thanks for everything !

Tooth Goblin

Hey Dave and Kim Just want to say, thanks for being the creamiest homie out there. I'm having fun with the f zero challenge and it's made me more motivated to do art. Here's my question. I have this dilemma where I constantly feel as though I'm doing something wrong. When I try do personal work, I feel more confident to apply what I studied that day to my ideas, but then I hit a wall on a lot of subject in my personal work, so I end up taking a lot of time to draw what I'm trying to convey in my drawing until I get it right, which ends up with me not finishing the work to study more. I end up in this back and forth loop of feeling like im spending too much time studying, because i should apply the things I learn, but then doing personal work makes me feel like i should be spending that time studying before I execute certain ideas. It never feels like I'm doing enough. What should I do to combat this feeling of being unproductive in my journey?