It's been five years, but I still come back to look this one over. I do miss your videos quite a bit, I started oil painting because of your work, and this helps remind me what I love of your work and how it's inspired me.
WOW, I think that was the equivilant of 2 years of art school in one video. So happy to have found your channel. Thanks for taking the time to show your process. Massive help.
Thanks for another excellent video, this is more useful information about how to physically generate a piece of work than I got from 4 years of art education. Anyone who aspires to a career in illustrator should be watching these.
This was so helpful! I have felt stuck doing portrait studies because I was lost about how to plan for a larger narrative piece like this. I think I could actually attempt some more intricate pieces now. Thank-you so much! :)
Whenever I hit a roadblock on a painting’s process, I come back to these videos to gain some further insight or inspiration! It’s saved many a painting of mine, for sure! So, thank you so much for sharing! 🖤
This has to be my favorite video so far. Mainly because of your preliminary sketches and the overall planning process. This is the part of art that I love.
Thanks Cynthia! It's great to see you going into so much detail with your process, showing just how much reference you're gathering together and to what lengths you go to make yourself what you can't find online. Also, I really appreciate the glimpse into your thoughts into the storytelling aspects and deciding which parts from the old painting you want to have in the new one. I often don't use reference or if I do, I only take 1 to 3 images, and I've been wanting to change that up a bit. This seems like a good guidepost pointing into that direction.
BEHOLD the Queen Swiffer! It is super awesome to see that you are willing to do as much as you can (including being a dork) to produce a piece full of wonder (pun intended). I cant wait to see Part Deux!
Absolutely brilliant insight. So tempted to get my Wacom tablet back out again! I work only traditionally at the moment and yet this translates so brilliantly. I can agree with some of the other comments... this channel is the reason I look forward to Sundays! Can't wait for part 2 xxx
The nice thing is this process works with any medium. ;) I'd love to do something more ambitious like this in oil for a video, but it would definitely take more than a week or two.
Thank you so much ! Sometimes i felt really guilty because i always take reference pictures of myself to understand the Charakter better. But somehow i thought, that i had to draw them from imaganation, so this put a lot of pressure and weight from me. Moreover, this video will help me a lot, to improve my workflow. Thank you so much again!
This is a really well made video, and watching your workflow process really gave me clarity to work better and professionally. Thank you a lot for making this info is available.
Absolutely loved it. I used to take photos of myself for reference but i couldn't get it to work right. Now I always shoot video and just pull screen shots as needed. Was awesome to see some of your planning process.
This is a totally amazing and very informative video this is. I have learnt so much more about creating a more imaginative composition. So thank you and look forward to seeing the second video
Your videos have all been really great, and your coming back to UA-cam for regular videos is a fenomenal gift for us, trying to get better and looking up to awesome artists like you. I don't tend to comment a lot (more of a "silent" UA-cam user :P ), but I really felt the need to say something after this one. This was a great glimpse into your process and although we may have already learned a big part of these things, you have really put it all in a great, comprehensive summary, and that was tremendously helpful! I've already implemented a lot of these things into my own process, before, but I'm rethinking it and improving it, now, after watching this video! Oh! And the last video about "being a detective", idea to which you even alluded here, as part of the process, was a really, really helpful one. It made me think differently about my approach to each piece, even a sketch, and I believe it has done so in a very positive and helpful way! So I guess all I wanted to say is: Thank you, Ms. Cynthia Sheppard! I am loving your videos nearly as much as I already loved your work. These are really helpful and inspiring. Please do continue. Also, I can't wait for next week, now! :)
Bow to the Swiffer! I honestly feel so much better knowing that you spend a lot of time planning. It feels like I take ten years on the planning alone! I very much enjoyed this video, thank you!
Love seeing the prep process! This upcoming year I'm planning on refocusing my creative work toward really trying to push my illustrations and trying to get something published. Actually using reference has always been a weak side of my work as I tended to work more "intuitively" however it's become obvious that in order to move forward and do the work I really want to do much more planning and sticking to a process is required. Your channel has been both informative and inspirational in that regard! Thanks! and I can't wait to see next weeks video!
I'm a little late to this but I found your art a while ago and I want to say that you're a big inspiration to me as an artist, these videos are beyond helpful learning to create my own references to create things with having to reference others photography
Thanks for this video. I had problems on how to make up my own original designs and haven’t had ideas on how to do it properly . This give me a clue on how to go about it..👍🏻
Every time you upload I get so excited to see what you've done next. Your advice and demonstrations give so much insight and it's truly invaluable. I can't wait to see the next part of this! :)
I absolutely LOVE your artwork and your process. This video was so enlightening and inspiring to me - thank you SO much!! I learned a ton that I am going to incorporate into my own artwork. I've been looking for a process on storytelling, and you totally delivered that for me. Awesome! I can't wait for the next installment of your process. 👍🏻👍🏻
Love the idea watching from your shoulder while you work in your studio! Great video Cynthia, for me this is one of the most interesting ones! Show us your legendary process which allows you to create such amazing masterpieces.
CYNTHIA THIS WAS AMAZING AND SOOOOO USEFUL!!!! Especially going into the mood boards, references, thoughts behind your decisions, just WOW!!! I would love for you to do more videos like this, even on past paintings if you still have paint docs/ photoshop or whatever, of other mood boards you have used for inspiration!!!! ahhh!!!
I've been difficulty when it comes to the planning stages! (not as much since watching Donato's Joan of Arc, which helped a little. I bet his mechanic goes way more in depth.) However seeing how you go about it and what is actually needed when it comes to planning is super beneficial I cannot wait to use what I have learned from this on my next image! THANK YOU!
This is awesome! So much helpful info. Never thought to take pictures of variations of a pose (I often struggle with copying reference too much) or a video for movement. Looking forward to part 2.
YESSS!!! so good to hear about your digital process. This stuff is so important, and really eye-opening how much you stressed your photo references. I shared this on the art group at my school. can't wait for part 2.!!
I just realized you have a deep, wonderful voice! I enjoy listening to it, especially when you sound like you're in a good mood. However, I luv the art more!
Your process is amazing-and is giving me some great ideas as to how I can better plan out my own pieces. I just recently found your channel...and I’m pretty sure I’ve found a goldmine of information!
Excellent look into the world of a commercial illustrator! I very much enjoyed seeing your process and matching it against my own. Can't wait for Part 2! :) BTW: You're obviously a very good graphic designer, too.
As a student I’m thankful for this informative vid. Also, it’s great to see that even professionals have to do the slightly awkward bit where we pose as our own models.
holy crap this is so good! i initially loved the first piece and was thinking... how can she make that better? but it looks like you took it up like 50 notches. lol looking forward to seeing the next episode!
This was so great to see! It was a lot of info to take in and I'll definitely need to watch it again. Also really makes me understand that I need to rethink the way I use reference and shoot more of my own. I'm guilty of only using a few self taken shots and relying too heavily on google images. I cant wait for part 2! I look forward to your videos each week they are really inspirational and I'm learning a lot. Thanks for making them.
This is so amazing! People will really get to know how much work ...thinking and planning goes in creating a work of art. You might think it demystifies the process, but it's the opposite. It's an absolute delight to watch ur videos. Totally love them. Thank u so much for making them. One request though, could you consider walking us through how u use the digital painting software and your general workflow in it? It would be so much helpful for those who are not going to art school. Thank u so much for the videos. And I love ur voice and accent. 😊😊 Good day.
Wow, thats an amazing process. a lot of information condensed into 16 minutes. And all of it is usefull. I dont do much digitally. But im looking to add that to my skill set. And again, all seemingly helpful throughout all mediums. Thamk you for sharing.
I've been refreshing youtube all day for this, and it's worth the wait. lots of invaluable information here. No joke, if you had a Patreon, I'd sub to that too.
I apologize for the wait! I had to do fantastical combat with Premiere to get this to export (after seven failed exports I was beginning to lose hope too), so I appreciate your patience :)
Thank you for this video. It is inspiring to watch how you go through the thumbnail and reference process. (Now I want to paint Alice. Haha.) By the way, your original painting is incredible. I can't wait to see the new version.
This is so interesting to watch. I love the composition, it's so cool! I kept thinking "noo stick with that thumbnail", but then the next one would be even better :)
Hello Cynthia. First of all, you are one of my favorite artists and a huge inspiration. Thank you for your insights. Second, can you give me a tip for taking self photos indoors for reference? What do you use to place the lights in specific directions? Can you give me some tips for taking better photos? Thank you!
It's been five years, but I still come back to look this one over. I do miss your videos quite a bit, I started oil painting because of your work, and this helps remind me what I love of your work and how it's inspired me.
Agreed. Im back again.
WOW, I think that was the equivilant of 2 years of art school in one video. So happy to have found your channel. Thanks for taking the time to show your process. Massive help.
I'm self learning how to digital paint right now so this is extremely useful! thanks so much for sharing Cynthia!!
I'm impressed by your skills.Your a very knowledgeable young lady! I hope to see more of your work n the future.Leo
I have learned more in 15 minutes of this video than in 3 months of painting !!
Thanks for another excellent video, this is more useful information about how to physically generate a piece of work than I got from 4 years of art education. Anyone who aspires to a career in illustrator should be watching these.
This was so helpful! I have felt stuck doing portrait studies because I was lost about how to plan for a larger narrative piece like this. I think I could actually attempt some more intricate pieces now. Thank-you so much! :)
Whenever I hit a roadblock on a painting’s process, I come back to these videos to gain some further insight or inspiration! It’s saved many a painting of mine, for sure! So, thank you so much for sharing! 🖤
Cynthia this is fantastic content. Thank you so much for sharing it with us. I've loved your work for a long time, so it's great to see your approach!
This has to be my favorite video so far. Mainly because of your preliminary sketches and the overall planning process. This is the part of art that I love.
T Rex Alice resulted in nasal coffee. I love your process and appreciate the time you take to share this. Thank you
Wow. Your channel only gets better!
This is the best process video ever. I thank you so much for sharing and all your tips. You're an incredible artist! :D
Awesome. Can't wait for the next video!
Thanks Cynthia!
It's great to see you going into so much detail with your process, showing just how much reference you're gathering together and to what lengths you go to make yourself what you can't find online. Also, I really appreciate the glimpse into your thoughts into the storytelling aspects and deciding which parts from the old painting you want to have in the new one.
I often don't use reference or if I do, I only take 1 to 3 images, and I've been wanting to change that up a bit. This seems like a good guidepost pointing into that direction.
Even the final values thumbnail is beautiful!!!
Perfect. I will be revisiting this video repeatedly
That swiffer scepter doe 👌👌
This was one of the most useful and interesting art videos I've watched. So glad I happened to stumble upon your channel!
So cool, so awesome, so helpful! so grateful for this channel! Can't wait for part 2! :D
I wasn't ready for this video when I watched it 4 years ago, but now it makes so much sense. Thank you past Cynthia!!!
i LOVE sundays JUST for this reason!! CS upload Yassss!
Awesome
Neat video this one, and the thumbnail went the way I'd hoped you'd take it. Looking forward to the next one.
Great to see the process. Thank you for sharing. Love to see you in the dress and the coffee maker :D
Everything on this channel is a godsend to me!!! and the more you do these the more It help me to understand things in other places. Thanks
Cynthia, I adore you and offer you eternal gratitude for sharing this kind of content with us : )
very solid video, really love how detailed you explain your process, this really is a gold! thank you so much Cynthia!
BEHOLD the Queen Swiffer! It is super awesome to see that you are willing to do as much as you can (including being a dork) to produce a piece full of wonder (pun intended). I cant wait to see Part Deux!
Because of this, I think I'm going to rename my brush "The Queen's Swiffer."
Absolutely brilliant insight. So tempted to get my Wacom tablet back out again! I work only traditionally at the moment and yet this translates so brilliantly. I can agree with some of the other comments... this channel is the reason I look forward to Sundays! Can't wait for part 2 xxx
The nice thing is this process works with any medium. ;) I'd love to do something more ambitious like this in oil for a video, but it would definitely take more than a week or two.
I love the investment into finding and creating meaning, interest, and love for your art, it really shows!
Thanks a lot for sharing your personal process and thoughts! Unbelievable talent.
Thank you so much ! Sometimes i felt really guilty because i always take reference pictures of myself to understand the Charakter better. But somehow i thought, that i had to draw them from imaganation, so this put a lot of pressure and weight from me. Moreover, this video will help me a lot, to improve my workflow. Thank you so much again!
This is a really well made video, and watching your workflow process really gave me clarity to work better and professionally. Thank you a lot for making this info is available.
Amazing video! Thank you so much for taking the time and thought to put this together 🙏💕
So very informative. Thank you for shooting this "master class".
gosh this channel remains my favourite art channel on youtube,,, really hope it will return with new vids some day!
Absolutely loved it. I used to take photos of myself for reference but i couldn't get it to work right. Now I always shoot video and just pull screen shots as needed. Was awesome to see some of your planning process.
Excellent, just what I needed to watch. I love this channel!
Thanks Cynthia that's great useful tutorial 👏❤
This is a totally amazing and very informative video this is. I have learnt so much more about creating a more imaginative composition. So thank you and look forward to seeing the second video
Cynthia, your work and process are both amazing. You have a new subscriber.
Your videos have all been really great, and your coming back to UA-cam for regular videos is a fenomenal gift for us, trying to get better and looking up to awesome artists like you.
I don't tend to comment a lot (more of a "silent" UA-cam user :P ), but I really felt the need to say something after this one. This was a great glimpse into your process and although we may have already learned a big part of these things, you have really put it all in a great, comprehensive summary, and that was tremendously helpful!
I've already implemented a lot of these things into my own process, before, but I'm rethinking it and improving it, now, after watching this video!
Oh! And the last video about "being a detective", idea to which you even alluded here, as part of the process, was a really, really helpful one. It made me think differently about my approach to each piece, even a sketch, and I believe it has done so in a very positive and helpful way!
So I guess all I wanted to say is: Thank you, Ms. Cynthia Sheppard!
I am loving your videos nearly as much as I already loved your work. These are really helpful and inspiring. Please do continue.
Also, I can't wait for next week, now! :)
Excellent video because people to hire artist like to know how they think. Well done.
Bow to the Swiffer!
I honestly feel so much better knowing that you spend a lot of time planning. It feels like I take ten years on the planning alone! I very much enjoyed this video, thank you!
Absolutely brilliant Cynthia (as always!!). I'm passing this link on to our 3rd-year students at the Angel Academy of Art, Florence.
Thanks so much for your kindness, Michael! I hope your students enjoy it, and cheers to all of you.
Thank you very much. I love this video. I send you a hug
Love seeing the prep process! This upcoming year I'm planning on refocusing my creative work toward really trying to push my illustrations and trying to get something published. Actually using reference has always been a weak side of my work as I tended to work more "intuitively" however it's become obvious that in order to move forward and do the work I really want to do much more planning and sticking to a process is required. Your channel has been both informative and inspirational in that regard! Thanks! and I can't wait to see next weeks video!
Wow! As someone who have been following your art for quite some time this is really inspirational and insightful! Can't wait for pt. 2! Cheers.
I'm a little late to this but I found your art a while ago and I want to say that you're a big inspiration to me as an artist, these videos are beyond helpful learning to create my own references to create things with having to reference others photography
You're so brave for doing this. I get triggered looking back at my old paintings haha
I've been waiting for that for ages! Go, Cynthia, go!
GOLD!!!!!! EXCELLENT!!!
Thanks for this video. I had problems on how to make up my own original designs and haven’t had ideas on how to do it properly . This give me a clue on how to go about it..👍🏻
I love your videos. They are really different and useful!
Every time you upload I get so excited to see what you've done next. Your advice and demonstrations give so much insight and it's truly invaluable. I can't wait to see the next part of this! :)
your videos are really a treasure, i love your approach too
I absolutely LOVE your artwork and your process. This video was so enlightening and inspiring to me - thank you SO much!! I learned a ton that I am going to incorporate into my own artwork. I've been looking for a process on storytelling, and you totally delivered that for me. Awesome! I can't wait for the next installment of your process. 👍🏻👍🏻
Love the idea watching from your shoulder while you work in your studio! Great video Cynthia, for me this is one of the most interesting ones! Show us your legendary process which allows you to create such amazing masterpieces.
I'm deeply inlove with your art! Thats it I'm done.
CYNTHIA THIS WAS AMAZING AND SOOOOO USEFUL!!!! Especially going into the mood boards, references, thoughts behind your decisions, just WOW!!! I would love for you to do more videos like this, even on past paintings if you still have paint docs/ photoshop or whatever, of other mood boards you have used for inspiration!!!! ahhh!!!
I've been difficulty when it comes to the planning stages! (not as much since watching Donato's Joan of Arc, which helped a little. I bet his mechanic goes way more in depth.) However seeing how you go about it and what is actually needed when it comes to planning is super beneficial I cannot wait to use what I have learned from this on my next image! THANK YOU!
This is awesome! So much helpful info. Never thought to take pictures of variations of a pose (I often struggle with copying reference too much) or a video for movement. Looking forward to part 2.
Awesome video. And great idea about using video for moving reference.
YESSS!!! so good to hear about your digital process. This stuff is so important, and really eye-opening how much you stressed your photo references. I shared this on the art group at my school. can't wait for part 2.!!
This is amazing, thank you so much!
can't wait, your video are really good !
Queen of ART!
Carefully thought out symbolism, I love the bridge of cards and idea of melting ink!
I just realized you have a deep, wonderful voice! I enjoy listening to it, especially when you sound like you're in a good mood. However, I luv the art more!
I found this video really helpfull , you did a great job explaining your process , i'm exited to see the next part : D
Your process is amazing-and is giving me some great ideas as to how I can better plan out my own pieces. I just recently found your channel...and I’m pretty sure I’ve found a goldmine of information!
that was really really cool.
Excellent look into the world of a commercial illustrator! I very much enjoyed seeing your process and matching it against my own. Can't wait for Part 2! :) BTW: You're obviously a very good graphic designer, too.
Awesome! Looking forward to part two!
As a student I’m thankful for this informative vid. Also, it’s great to see that even professionals have to do the slightly awkward bit where we pose as our own models.
Thank you so much, I like how many reference photos do you take. Looking forward to the next one!
Outstanding!
holy crap this is so good! i initially loved the first piece and was thinking... how can she make that better? but it looks like you took it up like 50 notches. lol looking forward to seeing the next episode!
Thank you sooo much for making these!! They’re so helpful!🙂
Great painting.
This was so great to see! It was a lot of info to take in and I'll definitely need to watch it again. Also really makes me understand that I need to rethink the way I use reference and shoot more of my own. I'm guilty of only using a few self taken shots and relying too heavily on google images.
I cant wait for part 2! I look forward to your videos each week they are really inspirational and I'm learning a lot. Thanks for making them.
Swiffer, the real mvp
Love it, ao interesting!
Amazing. That's a look behind the curtain you rarely get anywhere else.
This is so amazing! People will really get to know how much work ...thinking and planning goes in creating a work of art. You might think it demystifies the process, but it's the opposite.
It's an absolute delight to watch ur videos. Totally love them. Thank u so much for making them.
One request though, could you consider walking us through how u use the digital painting software and your general workflow in it? It would be so much helpful for those who are not going to art school.
Thank u so much for the videos. And I love ur voice and accent. 😊😊
Good day.
Wow, thats an amazing process. a lot of information condensed into 16 minutes. And all of it is usefull. I dont do much digitally. But im looking to add that to my skill set. And again, all seemingly helpful throughout all mediums. Thamk you for sharing.
your awesome ! I feel like you have a ton to teach us !
Great advice and video. I tend to skip this stage sometimes which is a bad habit i have to break.
I've been refreshing youtube all day for this, and it's worth the wait. lots of invaluable information here. No joke, if you had a Patreon, I'd sub to that too.
I apologize for the wait! I had to do fantastical combat with Premiere to get this to export (after seven failed exports I was beginning to lose hope too), so I appreciate your patience :)
I'm pretty familiar with Premiere, and it's definitely a nightmarish hell-thing I deal with as infrequently as I can. No apologies necessary... :)
This was so insightful video Cynthia !! Amazing content, learning a lot from you :)
Aww crap, the cliff hangar! haha can't wait til next week
thanks for sharing!
Wow. Intense.
Thank you for this video. It is inspiring to watch how you go through the thumbnail and reference process. (Now I want to paint Alice. Haha.) By the way, your original painting is incredible. I can't wait to see the new version.
More of this, please, Cinthia!
This is so interesting to watch. I love the composition, it's so cool! I kept thinking "noo stick with that thumbnail", but then the next one would be even better :)
Love it ... When you have time can you make a video of how to make a custom brush. Thanks.
Hello Cynthia. First of all, you are one of my favorite artists and a huge inspiration. Thank you for your insights. Second, can you give me a tip for taking self photos indoors for reference? What do you use to place the lights in specific directions? Can you give me some tips for taking better photos? Thank you!