DTIYS: part 37-Aveline Stokart [2022]

Hey everyone! I'm so excited to dive deeper into my recent DTIYS entry for the incredible Aveline Stokart. If you're an artist, or even just someone who appreciates unique digital art, chances are you've come across the "Draw This In Your Style" challenge. For me, it's one of the most fun ways to push my boundaries and experiment with my "alt art style." This particular challenge from Aveline Stokart has been on my radar for a while, and I finally carved out the time to bring my vision to life! What drew me to Aveline Stokart's art, and specifically this challenge? Her characters always have such distinct personalities, often with a hint of rebellious charm and vibrant color palettes. The original reference for this piece, featuring a character with that iconic short green hair, playful freckles, and a black choker, really spoke to me. I loved how her design used simple yet striking elements – like the plaid cardigan and cuffed blue pants with sneakers – to create a modern, effortlessly cool vibe. It's these subtle details that make her work so inspiring for developing an "alt drawing style." When approaching any DTIYS, my first step is always to study the original piece. I look at the pose – in this case, the character sitting cross-legged or standing with crossed arms – and the key features. The goal isn't to copy, but to interpret. For this digital drawing, I started with a rough sketch in my preferred software, focusing on getting the proportions right while injecting my own stylistic flair. I knew I wanted to keep the essence of the short green hair and freckles, as they're such signature elements, but I played around with line weight and expression to make it truly "my art." Next came the line art. This is where the digital drawing really begins to take shape. I experimented with a slightly thicker, more textured brush than I usually use, aiming for a hand-drawn feel within the digital medium. Then, for the digital coloring, I tried to maintain the original's muted yet impactful color scheme, especially the plaid cardigan and the light blue pants, but I pushed the saturation in certain areas to really make the character pop. Shading is always a fun challenge; I focused on creating depth that would highlight the character's features, like the subtle contours of her face and the folds in her clothing. Adding soft light sources helped give it that "modern" art feel. For those of you looking to develop your own "alt art style," my biggest piece of advice is to experiment relentlessly. Don't be afraid to try new brushes, different color palettes, or even unusual character features. Look at artists like Aveline Stokart who have a strong, recognizable aesthetic, and try to deconstruct what makes their style unique. Is it their line work? Their color choices? The way they draw eyes or hair? Then, try incorporating elements you admire into your own work, but always filter it through your personal artistic voice. It’s about learning and growing, not replicating. For me, embracing the slightly unconventional, like unique hair colors or fashion choices (like that black choker!), is key to crafting a distinct "alt girl art" look. Don't be afraid to make mistakes; they're often the stepping stones to discovering something new and exciting in your digital art journey. I hope this gives you some insight into my process and encourages you to try your own DTIYS challenges!