How I use smudge brushes, a high-yield technique!

Converting Line-work

I love this technique, and I don't think it's very well known or commonly used, but it's been a huge time-saver and a boon to my productivity, so I wanted to share it with you today.

It's simple. If you want to "convert" your linework into something that looks painted, you can smudge within your subject on the linework layer. Here's an example of what I mean.

It's subtle, but if you do this on your lines, it's a really quick way to get a painted look without having to actually paint. You may have already seen this tip on my Instagram, but I really wanted to share it here.

For me, this has worked insanely well for converting my sketches into finished assets for production - and my quick turnaround has allowed me to receive more artistic responsibilities and has given me senior roles that I wouldn't have had the opportunity to fill otherwise. And if you're trying to maximize your productivity, this is a quick technique that will help your brain not get fried after a heavy day of work. It works perfectly with the smudge brushes found in my brush collection.

In an average freelance workday, I would usually render 6-8 assets like the one above or 2-3 character illustrations using the same technique. It saves me a lot of time, and I guarantee you it will save you a lot of time as well.

The best part about using this technique is that you don't lose the charm of your sketches. I commonly see artists lose some of their initial energy after painting over their sketch layer, but with this technique, you're essentially preserving your sketch while also turning it into a painting.

I'll conclude this email by strongly urging you to try out this technique to (1) retain the charm of your sketch layer, (2) become a productivity beast, and (3) get to use the smudge brushes at all, because who doesn't love smudging? It's so fun!

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