Artist: Catbuck

HOW NOT TO DRAW ARCHERY: AN ART TUTORIAL.

DISCLAIMER: I was going to make this “how to draw archery”, but that would probably have taken the rest of my life. This is all stuff I’ve learned from practicing archery in the past, and the tips I’ve given should translate to many, if not all styles of archery. If you take issue with any of the information given here please contact me, as I’m aware I’m not an expert!

Okay, I’ve seen too many bad drawings of archery online. Most of the time I can overlook it, but I’ve made this guide to address drawings where a) the character would hurt/maim themselves if they shot like that, or b) if you tried to shoot like that, the arrow would just make a sad trajectory to the ground, the aerodynamic equivalent of a “WAH-WAH” on a trumpet.

With this in mind:

POINT ONE: WHY IS YOUR ARM LIKE THAT

If successful archery is about one thing, it is about consistency - being able to make your body take exactly the same stance over and over and over again. Your body is a key part of the weapon, and just as you wouldn’t want a gun that had components that wobbled and shifted, you don’t want your body to.

With this in mind, characters shooting, particularly at full draw (this is when the arm pulling the string is stretched all the way back), should have the arm that is holding the bow straight. Not locked - I’ll get into that - but straight. A straight arm is easy to replicate - a bent arm could be at a different angle each time. Simple as that.

POINT TWO: DON’T SHOOT YOUR TIT OFF

See this diagram

the dotted line is the path the string will take. The string is extremely tight - it has to be for the bow to work. It will therefore move extremely fast. Do you want any part of your body to be in the way of that.

if you have any part of your body (elbows and breasts/pectoral muscles tend to be the worst offenders) in the line of the string, they will get hit. And this will hurt. A LOT. Google “archery bruise” to see how. Yikes. Furthermore, if your arm or chest gets in the way, it’ll knock the arrow off course, and in addition to having sliced your nipple off you’ll have missed your shot too. So KEEP STUFF OUT OF THE PATH OF THE STRING.

side note: this is where the myth of amazons chopping their boobs off came from. Also, why archers sometimes wear chest-guards - this looks like a one-cupped unisex bra. Stylish. Also why archers often wear protective gear called a bracer. This goes on the tender inside of the arm and wrist that might get clipped by the string, not the outside that is nowhere near it.

POINT THREE: WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH YOUR FINGERS STOP THAT

Okay I keep seeing this

Having the fingers clasping the arrow like this makes it highly likely that the pressure from them will send the arrow off-course.

Many modern bows have an arrow rest so you needn’t rest the arrow on your hand at all. If that isn’t the case, it works better to rest the arrow on the first knuckle of the index finger (where it meets the hand). If it’s just being used as a platform, the finger shouldn’t be able to exert enough pressure to make the shot go all over the place. Also you won’t end up shredding your fingers with the fletchings.

Talking of that…

POINT FOUR: DON’T SLICE YOUR FINGERS OFF

remember what I said earlier about how incredibly taut bowstrings are

imagine pulling that back with your soft fleshy fingers

it is basically like cheesewire through…soft fleshy fingers.

Use protection. Illustrated below are the tab and archery glove, or just go to google or something, stop the madness.

POINT FIVE: PHYSICS DOESN’T WORK LIKE THAT

A strung bow is taut. The body of the bow is pulled by the (very tight) string, making a D shape. An unstrung bow will be straighter.

The tension in the string means a string should always be a straight line. If the bow is drawn, it’s two straight lines. 

If there is any curve in the string, the arrow will probably fall limply to the floor.

ALSO. When the string is drawn back, it exerts more pressure on the bow, creating that really exaggerated curve. This is where the power comes from. (I think. I am not physics). Basically, if you’re drawing a character at full draw, the string should be straight and the bow should be curved. If the opposite is true something very wrong has happened and you should be sad.

OKAY! I hope this has been helpful, if you have any questions or concerns let me know. And if in doubt, doctor google will help you - look at olympic or professional archers, and see how they’re standing and how their bows behave.

GOOD LUCK DRAWING!

Military Dress Sword

Dated: circa 1787-91

Culture: English

Medium and techniques: gilt brass, wood, fish skin, silver wire, gilt, blued steel/etched

Measurements: overall length 95cm; blade length 62cm

The sword has a gilt/brass hilt with an oval pommel cap. The oval wooden grip is covered in grey fishskin bound with herringbone of silver wire. The straight steel two-edged blade features etched gilt and blued panels decorated with Royal Arms and military trophy.

Source: Copyright © 2016 Royal Collection Trust/Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Tea spirit prints are now available!

My favourite character designs from Monster Hunter Illustrations Vol. 2 (2013), a 400 page art book featuring a crap-load of creature, character, armour and weapon designs. The armour designs are so detailed and varied in cultural influences. Non-stop inspiration in this book.

Lavenderwhisp’s Witch Type Masterpost (edited)

Witch: magical practitioner

Elemental Witch: Witches who work around the 5 elements: Water, Earth, Air, Fire, and Spirit.

Earth Witch: Witches who specifically work with their magic around the element of Earth, through grounding exercises, rock/soil collecting, crystal magic, and Green Witchery.

Types of Earth Witches:

Green Witch: use plants/herbs/flowers in herbal and natural magic, such as using them in spells and creating remedies with them.

Garden Witch: A version of a Green Witch, they enjoy working with the earth through gardening and using their herbs and plants to help and care for their families and loved ones.

Flora Witch: Similar to the above witches, they work with flowers in their practice. Their Book of Shadows would likely be full of Green Witchery, such as than herbs and herbal recipes, and flower classifications and associations.

Crystal Witch: Witches who work with stones and crystals, such as through crystal healing. Their Book of Shadows will most likely have information about the stones, chakra balance, and crystal meditation.

Forest Witch: A witch who enjoys the company of trees and live amongst them. The seclusion is perfect for cottage magic and tree magic. They also enjoy the company of fey and woodland animals, and use local plants. 

Swamp Witch: Witches who live within the swamps, use swamp plants, and enjoy the company of swamp animals. 

Desert Witch: A witch who lives in the desert, enjoys the natural desert scenery, uses desert plants, bones, sand in their practice, and collects desert rocks. They normally worship desert deities and study desert lore in their area.

Water Witch: Witches who work with the element of Water. Water magic includes water scrying, collecting water, swimming and other water-related actives.

Types of Water Witches:

Sea Witch: They work with magic and deities around the ocean and oceanic world. The practice sea magic using seashells and bones, sea weed, beach sand, driftwood, ocean water, etc. They also may worship sea deities and enjoy the imagery of sea creature, like mermaids.

Ice/Arctic Witch: A witch who lives amongst snow covered land for most of the year or have a deep appreciation for the cold and snow. They worship ice deities, use snow water, and enjoy the cold. 

Air/Wind Witch: Witches who center around the element of Air. They work with wind, using tools and symbols associated with air.

Fire Witch: Witches who focus on the element of Fire and fire magic, such as candle magic.

Other Natural Witch types:

Seasonal Witch: Witches who draw magic during a specific time of the year. They are known as Winter, Fall, Spring and Summer witches who have a deep connection to the season they love.

Storm/Weather Witch: Witches who combine one’s energy with the energy of the weather and storms. They collect rain water, utilize the energy of a lightning storm, and so on.

Sun Witch: A witch who enjoys sunshine, works with spell work involving the sun during the daytime, and sun deities.

Nocturnal Witch: A witch who works with nocturnal deities and magical work at night. They find solace in darkness, the darker side of life, and normally wear dark colors. There is a great book by Konstantinos called Nocturnal Witchcraft.

Lunar/Moon Witch: A witch who draws magic from the moon. They are nocturnal witches and do magic at night. They also tend to worship moon deities.

Astronomical/Space Witch: Witches who focus on the planets and stars. Their Book of Shadows will have information about each planet, the zodiac and astrology, and enjoy nocturnal magic.

Animal Witch: Witches who have a deep appreciation for all animals and use animal materials, draw on their energy, and most of the time worship animal deities.

Special Witch types:

Divination Witch: Witches who work with practices of divination, such as tarot readings, palmistry, tea leaf reading, and so on.

Hedge Witch: Also known as shamans. They use a type of magic that is oriented around the spiritual world. Astral travel/projection, lucid dreaming, spirit-work, healing, and out-of-body experiences are some of the magic they do.

Fairie/Faery/Fey Witch: Witches who communicate and work with the fey, such as calling on them and leaving them offerings regularly to thank them for their assistance.

Draconian Witch: Witches who call upon dragons, use dragon imagery in their practice, and worship dragon deities.

Modern and Domestic Witch types:

Kitchen Witch: Witches who enjoy working in the kitchen and put their magic into herbal mixtures, brewing, baking, and cooking.

Cottage Witch: A lot like a kitchen witch, they enjoy being in their home and doing things for their loved ones.

Urban Witch: Witches who live in a urban environment and use more modern practices of magic.

Country Witch: Witches who enjoy living in the country. Some may have a large ranch with livestock, while others enjoy the seclusion for their practice. Most likely they will enjoy the company of horses. 

Technological Witch: Witches who work with technology. They practice modern witchcraft through phone apps and most likely have a digital Book of Shadows.

Music Witch: Witches who enjoy music. They use magic in their singing, chanting, and playing instruments. Music is in their lives everyday is played whenever they do spell work.

Artist/Craft Witch: Witches who put their magic into art, such as drawing, sculpting, painting, and creating.

Literary Witch: Witches who enjoy books and literature. They enjoy reading and studying witchcraft, lore, and magical practices of every culture.

Athletic Witch: Witches who enjoy pushing themselves physically. This could be through yoga, running, or a sport. Their practice includes keeping themselves healthy and using their healthy energy to help others through physical challenges. 

Eclectic Witch: Most modern witches follow many practices and traditions, and go by many titles. 

Religious Witch: Witches who are Wiccan, Druid, Satanic, Christian, and so on. They practice their religious beliefs in cohesion with their craft. 

Any suggestions? Message me!

Tutorials by  Krenz Cushart

woopwoop. emoji meme

go ahead use it all u want idc

please excuse my messy lining, writing, and everything else

A dream made for dream

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France City View | Source | WAV