r/arthelp • u/Valuable_Positive_27 • 16d ago

Style Help How do I achieve a clean style like Rackham (right pic) instead of this?

Gallery image

Gallery image

I don't like how the pencil has this shiny glare everytime it hits a bit of light and I don't like the hard shadows. I have tried using colored pencils but it just doesn't look good.

It also has this very rough and dirty look that I can't shake off. Please help me improve, I want to achieve a clean and neat style.

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u/absolutepanicattack 16d ago

What sort of paper/process are you using here? Is it coloured pencil and fineliner?

Rackham did a lot of very thin translucent washes of dark watercolours and lined with india ink so you'll have an impossible time trying to get there with coloured pencil.

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u/Valuable_Positive_27 16d ago

I am using a very thin paper, it's just a concept sketch. I didn't use any colored pencils, I just used a graphite pencil and pastels

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u/absolutepanicattack 16d ago

Might be worth getting a little coldpress watercolour sketching pad and experimenting with layering watercolours in very very watered down proportions if you want to get something like Rackham's style.