Here are three recent life drawing sketches I made in Adobe Fresco.
These are quick studies focused on movement and form rather than detail. The goal was to stay loose, not focus on details (especially the first sketch), and work fast.
#LifeDrawing #AdobeFresco #DigitalSketching #SimonLocheArt
A quick digital painting study based on the streets of Rabat, Morocco. Painted in Adobe Fresco using a limited brush set and a limited palette.
#AdobeFresco #UrbanPainting #DigitalPainting #Rabat #Morocco #SimonLocheArt
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This one's been sitting in the archives for a while. I don't think I ever posted it here.
#Sketchbook #ThrowbackArt #SimonLocheArt
#InkDrawing #DigitalSketch #Rebelle7 #PortraitStudy #Brushwork #SimonLocheArt
Inking is one of the most rewarding parts of the drawing process, and also one of the most unforgiving. There’s no undo, no erasing, no backtracking. But that’s what makes it powerful. Ink rewards bold decisions, controlled rhythm, and a sensitivity to surface and stroke.
Here are a few essential ink drawing tips to help you build more confidence, clarity, and expression in your work:
1. Vary Your Line Weight
Think of line weight as a way to guide the viewer’s eye. Use thicker lines to emphasize structure, form, and objects in the foreground. Use thinner lines for detail, texture, and elements that are farther away.
The contrast between thick and thin adds visual interest and helps separate planes, even without any shading.
2. Use Your Whole Arm, Not Just Your Wrist
For long, flowing strokes, engage your shoulder and elbow, not just your wrist. This gives you smoother curves and more confident lines. Before starting a drawing, warm up with quick, loose gestures, 10 big curves or ellipses with no stopping.
The more you move your arm, the more energy and fluidity your lines will have.
3. Let the Paper Add Texture
Don’t fight your surface. Work with the texture of the paper by varying the pressure of your strokes. Let the brush or pen skip and break a little, especially for rough textures, shadows, or organic surfaces. These subtle imperfections add character.
A heavy press gives you solid blacks. A lighter touch lets the paper show through, giving your work atmosphere and grit.
4. Embrace Imperfection
Ink is about decision-making, not perfection. If a line wobbles or breaks unexpectedly, use it. Fold it into the drawing. Sometimes the best part of an ink drawing is the mistake you didn’t try to fix.
5. Commit to the Line
Hesitation shows. Commit to each stroke with purpose, even if it’s not 100% right. Confident lines, even if slightly off, are often more appealing than over-cautious ones.
If unsure, lightly pencil your structure first, then ink with clarity.
Inking isn’t just about control; it’s about rhythm, sensitivity, and letting go of perfectionism. Like all skills, it comes with mileage. So grab your favorite brush pen, turn off the pressure to be perfect, and let the ink flow.
#InkDrawing #DrawingTips #LineWeight #BrushControl #TraditionalArt #SimonLocheArt
This piece is a quick three-value study I painted using Adobe Fresco. The goal was simple: focus purely on shape, contrast, and atmosphere without letting details take over.
Working with only three values, light, midtone, and dark, forces you to make clear decisions about composition and structure. It’s an exercise I keep coming back to because it sharpens the fundamentals that every painting relies on, no matter how complex the final result might be.
It’s always worth taking a step back and reconnecting with the basics. I’ll definitely be doing more of these.
And if you want to see another 3 values study I made, just follow this link:
https://simonloche.blogspot.com/2025/02/quick-digital-paint-3-values-study.html
I’ve enjoyed my trial of Rebelle 7 so much that I decided to purchase it and spend more time exploring what it can do.
After spending some time with the trial version of Rebelle 7, I found myself coming back to it more and more. What started as simple curiosity quickly turned into a genuine appreciation for what this painting software offers. It didn’t take long before I decided to purchase it and dedicate time to really explore its full potential.
What makes Rebelle 7 stand out to me is how effortlessly it bridges the gap between traditional media and digital flexibility. Coming from a background rooted in traditional drawing and painting, I’ve always found most digital tools a bit too clean, too polished, often lacking the tactile nuance I love. Rebelle changes that.
The software simulates the natural behavior of real-world media incredibly well. Whether you’re working with oils, impasto textures, pencil strokes, or fluid washes, Rebelle delivers a surprisingly authentic experience. Its fluid dynamics system is particularly impressive, perfect for simulating watercolors or oils heavily diluted with turpentine.
The portrait I’m sharing here is the first piece I’ve made in Rebelle that I feel genuinely satisfied with. It was a smooth blend of experimentation and discovery, and it gave me the sensation of working on real paper and canvas while retaining the convenience of digital control.
If you’re a traditional artist looking to move into digital, or a digital painter wanting a more organic feel, I highly recommend giving Rebelle 7 a try. It’s a rare tool that feels both professional and intuitive, and it’s one I’ll definitely continue using in my own work.
I’ve been pushing my experiments with Rebelle 7 a bit further lately, and this time I focused specifically on the oil painting tools. After spending some time with them, I can confidently say I’m seriously impressed.
What stood out to me immediately was how naturally the paint blends, smudges, and reacts with the canvas. The experience goes beyond surface-level digital simulation, there’s a sense of depth and tactile response that feels remarkably close to working with real oils. The textures of the brushes, the subtle resistance of the strokes, and the way paint interacts with layers make for a surprisingly immersive workflow.
For artists who come from a traditional background and still crave that physical connection with the medium, but also want the flexibility and efficiency of digital tools, Rebelle 7 is a compelling solution.
It’s a tool that respects the feel of real-world media while expanding what’s possible in the digital space, and for me, that’s a game-changer.
#Rebelle7 #digitalpainting #traditionalfeel
This is a late afternoon sketch I made of Aubrey Beardsley, the brilliant and short-lived 19th-century illustrator whose work continues to inspire me. His sharp lines, bold contrasts, and striking compositions have always stood out as something unique, timeless in their graphic clarity.
I drew this using Infinite Painter, trying to keep the process simple and direct. No elaborate setup, just a quick session focused on capturing the elegance and eccentricity that defined Beardsley’s visual language.
Even in a short sketch, something is rewarding about spending time with the work of artists who came before, absorbing their choices, their rhythms, and letting some of that filter into your own practice.
This is a profile portrait I created on iPad using Infinite Painter, based on a reference photo and sketched with a red old pencil brush. I wanted to keep it simple while exploring texture and line flow, and this brush has just the right feel for that, soft, tactile, and a bit unpredictable in the best way.
Infinite Painter continues to impress with how well it replicates natural media like pencils, oils, gouache, and watercolor. The control it offers over paper texture, depth, and brush behavior makes it one of my go-to tools for digital sketching and painting.
Highly recommend checking it out if you’re after that traditional feel in a digital space.
#DigitalArt #InfinitePainter #iPadArt
Every now and then, I do a sketch that reminds me exactly why I love drawing. It’s not about the polish or precision, it’s about capturing something real with just a few lines.
This one is a quick black and white sketch made in Adobe Fresco. Simple, fast, but focused on what matters most: body language and the quiet confidence that comes from feeling at ease. It’s the kind of pose that doesn’t shout, but tells you everything through subtle gestures.
Sketches like this are a reminder that sometimes, the strongest storytelling comes from restraint. A few lines, the right posture, and just enough suggestion to let the viewer fill in the rest.
More studies like this to come.
During my time at THU (Trojan Horse Was a Unicorn) 2024, I took a moment to create a tribute sketch for Kim Jung Gi, an artist whose impact on the art world is beyond measure.
Kim Jung Gi’s unparalleled talent, creativity, and passion for art continue to inspire artists across the globe. His dynamic linework, incredible memory, and storytelling ability have set a benchmark that few can match.
While surrounded by other artists at THU, it felt natural to honor someone who changed the way so many of us approach sketching, composition, and even how we view the act of drawing itself. This sketch was my small way of paying respect to a master whose influence is still felt daily in the creative community.
I miss his presence deeply, but his energy lives on through every artist he touched. His work remains a source of inspiration for me.
Rest in peace, Kim Jung Gi. Your art lives forever.
#KimJungGi #TributeSketch #THU2025 #ArtInspiration #MasterArtist #SimonLocheArt #Sketching #DrawingTribute
One of the easiest yet most efficient methods to enhance your visual comprehension is to do quick studies with markers. Specifically, 1 value studies, which use only one shade of grey or black, compel you to concentrate solely on readability, composition, and shape.
Markers provide immediacy, something that digital tools can occasionally make more difficult. No undo button or endless tweaking is available. You learn to make decisions more quickly and confidently as a result of your commitment to each stroke.
Limiting yourself to a single value forces you to consider what is most important. Which silhouette is it? Where is the difference? What elements of the picture must be immediately readable, even at a quick glance? These exercises sharpen your ability to group information and simplify complex scenes without losing clarity.
Quick marker (or digital marker) studies aren’t about making perfect drawings. They’re about training your eye to see what’s essential and to strengthen your instincts. Over time, these fast, focused sessions have a real impact on larger, more detailed works.
It’s a habit I keep coming back to, and one I highly recommend to anyone serious about improving their foundations. Grab a marker and start with one value. You’ll be surprised how much you learn.
#ArtFundamentals #ValueStudies #MarkerSketching #QuickStudies #VisualDevelopment #SimonLocheArt
This digital landscape was painted during a walk in Collserola, the natural park just outside Barcelona. It’s a place I often return to, not just for the views, but for the quiet rhythm it offers, especially when you step away from the city.
I used HeavyPaint for this study. The app’s stripped-down interface and unpredictable brushes push you to think in broad shapes and color relationships rather than fine details. Perfect for capturing the mood of a place quickly, without getting stuck in technical execution.
This sketch wasn’t planned. It was more of a response to the light and how it moved across the hills and tree lines. Just a few colors, a few shapes, and an attempt to hold onto that feeling for a bit longer.
Looking forward to doing more of these, both in Collserola and wherever the next walk takes me.
I recently took a short break to do a couple of quick life drawing sketches, this time using Infinite Painter on the iPad.
No pressure, no overthinking, just trying to capture gesture, proportion, and energy in a few minutes per pose. These were fast studies, but that’s often when things feel the most honest.
What I really appreciate about Infinite Painter in this kind of session is how fluid and responsive the tools feel. The pencil brushes give enough texture and the simplicity of the interface makes it easy to stay focused on observation and rhythm rather than getting caught up in technique.
I still think nothing beats drawing from life to stay sharp. Whether it’s for warming up, loosening the hand, or just reconnecting with the fundamentals, these quick studies always help.
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Cassel’s face is a study in contrasts, sharp and angular, yet incredibly expressive.
I wanted to keep the rendering loose but intentional, focusing more on capturing his energy and presence than achieving photographic accuracy.
As always, painting portraits like this is a way to explore character through form. It’s not about copying a photo but interpreting a presence.
#VincentCassel #DigitalPortrait #InfinitePainter #PortraitStudy #iPadArt #CharacterPortrait #SimonLocheArt
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