Make sure you check out the other tutorial subjects available. I’d love to help you learn to get the realism in your drawings you’ve been wanting. Visit: www.jdhillberrytutorials.com/tutorials.html
There isn't cheating in art, at least from what I've learned. Art is about expressing any idea or concept on a material. The process of the art is up to the artist's style, technique, and skill. So those who say that blending is cheating, like it's some kind of international Olympic sport should be ashamed to call themselves artists. After all if everyone used "correct" ways of art then every artwork would be relatively similar.
That’s right! I hate seeing “do’s and don’ts” videos. All they focus on is showing “how it’s supposed to be done” and ‘this and this and this is a common mistake that people do’
I also suggest using stumps and tortillians at an angle rather than the point. However, the reason I suggest softening the tip of stumps and tortillians is that it is much less likely to damage the paper. Many students push to hard with these blending tools and once the tooth of the paper is compromised it will react differently than the rest of your paper. For extremely realistic drawing, it's best to be "nicer" to your paper. Of course, the paper you use makes a difference also.
I've just now discovered that you have a RUclips Channel - and don't know how I could miss that up to now. I use your book quite often and it has been helping me a lot; watching your videos is somehow "different", I enjoy it very much. Thank you!
Definitely used every bit of this information. As I have really never took the time to test bends. Plus, I didn't know I was damaging the paper. Until you said something. -- Thanks for sharing!
There are several things you can do. First of all, I love dirty stumps and use the loaded stumps to add shading with no pencil lines. I keep a few handy that are loaded in various degrees. If you need to clean one, try erasing the tip with a kneeded eraser, rubbing on some sandpaper or shaving the tip with a razor blade.
A thing that changed my art life is a dollar bag of makeup (foam, size of large bean) that makes the softest blend in the world. Thanks for taking the time too make this video.
just came back to your video to tell you that even i dont received my stumps i tried learning on my current drawing the blending technices you showed with just a normal paper towel like you do it with the papers.. and my drawing looks so much better with the improve of your technic .. its suits my style.. thank you very much :)))
My gosh you have no idea how much this video has helped me. I had to subscribe. Thank you so so much. For the longest time I never knew the proper way to use certain tools. I'm so glad I came across your channel!
You can scribble the graphite or charcoal on to another piece of scratch paper and load the blender from that, or even dip it into graphite and charcoal dust.
Also known as Q-tips. I have used those as well. I try to impress on my students to try anything that doesn't leave a stain or damage the tooth of the paper. Each object you blend with can create a slightly different texture.
You can load a blending stump with graphite or charcoal by just scribbling on another piece of paper and rubbing the stump over it. There are many other ways to use them as well.
I suggest you just Google "paper blending Stumps" you will get man on-line stores to choose from. Stumps and tortiallians are great, but don't get hooked on them. There are many other items (many of them cheap) you can blend with to create a variety of textures. Also, You may try making your own tortillians by rolling up a piece of white paper very tightly and taping it so it doesn't un-roll.
I haven't done quick life drawings for quite a few years. I wish I had time to do more. As for tips, keep in mind (or draw lightly on your paper) horizontal and vertical lines to help compare angles and also constantly compare common measurements.
Thank you for making a proper tutorial,yours are among the best on You Tube.I have made some of the mistakes you point out so I am very grateful for this excellent advice.
I use a napkin, or tissue for blending large areas, and used to use my fingers too. I liked the way that the small amount of moisture helped move the charcoal, or graphite. I have found though that after a few years, the oils from your fingers, turns the paper yellow
I did "The Man Behind the Artwork" over 23 years ago so I don't remember the time it took. I'm guessing maybe 75 hours or so. I believe in viewing your work with fresh eyes often. Our minds can trick us into thinking things look okay when in reality it is just because we are used to seeing them a certain way. I recommend looking at your artwork in the mirror occasionally to see it with "fresh eyes".
Excellent tutorial!. I've been using stumps for a couple of months now and your tutorial will help me get the best out of them. Greetings from Oz Thanks!
I would suggest you use something bigger than a tortiallion or stump. Try a paper towell, tissue, chamois, or a piece of felt - depending on the texture you would like. I also try to always blend from the dark towards the light.
Thank you for taking the time to make this video. Could you maybe do a video explaining how to draw hair? Most videos offer very poor explanation and I don't normally like the result.
wow...great blending tutorial. thank you. you're a great teacher. very thorough with so many unexpected tips and instruction. I'm very fortunate to have found you and will check out your other vids. thanks again.
Very cool thank you very much. As I am teaching my self to draw better through RUclips. These techniques are a god send to getting my a more finished and polished drawing. Thank you for your time to share.
I'm glad these videos are helping. When you feel you are ready for it, I have more full length tutorials available on my website here: jdhillberrytutorials.com
Also no need to apologize for having a life outside youtube. :) Though i will most certainly keep a lookout for your new vids. Thanks for taking the time to do this stuff on youtube. Its really helpful to hear from an expert what one can do to get better, and not everyone has the cash to go get some expensive "how to" DVD's.
I would suggest you make the surrounding values very dark adjacent to the flame. That will make the flame look the brightest and give you more values to work within the flame.
@animefreak7918 Yes. you can use anything you can think of to blend. I encourage all my students to experiment using anything that doesn't leave a stain. Tissue is excellent. I prefer soft paper towels because they don't break apart as easily.
Have just watched a number of your tutorials. What an impressive willingness to share real and important information. Large scale, freehand realist oil painter here who has shelved his passion for drawing for too long. You've really piqued my interest. I'm looking forward to adding drawings to my shows to flesh out the "texture" of the work. Cheers and grats.
Try actually applying the graphite with the bush, as well as using circular or straight strokes. It all makes a different effect that can be used to create different textures.
wow, your drawing of the man coming through the paper is so awesome. it would be awesome to have art skills, i have none but its still fun drawing!!!!!!
Yes. Brushes make excellent blenders. And different kinds of brushes will create different results. As I said in the video, anything that doesn't leave a stain or damage the paper is worth experimenting with.
Scribble some marks on a piece of scratch paper, then rub the stump on it to "load" the stump with the charcoal. Then you can draw with it. I hope that answers your question.
Thanks Mr. JD, My drawings have improved since I read your book. I really need you tutorials in videos for drawing rough skin, wood texture ...etc. It will be very useful.
Try using a softer pencil. Harder pencils tend to get embeded into the paper making them hard to blend away. Try one of the" b" hardnesses or if you need extremely light shanding try an hb or 2h. Also use more of the edge of the pencil for shading, not the point. The very smoothest shading can be acheived by applying the medium with the blender, not the pencil.
Would you be so kind as to name examples of where you would use the four textures you demonstrated in the last half of the video (with those arcs made by different blending materials)? Would especially love to hear how the 3rd one could be used. The first one looks like it could be used for a sky gradient. The rest not so sure. Thanks for these videos, I'm learning so much! :)
I have been an pencil artist for most of my life. I have struggled to get the realism I so desperately wanted to show in my work.You explained everything so simply and brought to light some issues I have never even thought of such as graphite shine. Thank you for sharing your talent and knowledge.
Super helpful... I've never used blending before as it's not my style so this was really fascinating... I was always taught not to blend (art school) but at 44 I am starting my masters and I'm going to blend blend blend... I love mixed media so the fabrics is an interesting idea and i think I'll then integrated into the finished work... have subscribed as your work is so different to my own, it's great to keep learning new things. Thanks xx
wow, ty so much, this is literally the best blending tutorial that I have seen. I am pretty good at drawing, not in your league but pretty good but only considered myself ok at the shading part; ok had a grunt to it because it really is just alright, passable and considered good to an untrained eye but to anyone who draws on a daily basis like I do or someone who has a much more extreme level of talent like you do the shortcomings in my blending techniques are easily identifiable. After watching this tutorial and learning the things you taught I'm thinking "OH MY GOD!!! THAT IS SUCH A SIMPLE CONCEPT!!! HOW ON EARTH IS IT THAT WITH THE UNTOLD HOURS OF PRACTICE I HAVE DONE THAT I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT NOW SEEMS LIKE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE SECOND NATURE TO FIGURE OUT!" and I realize that I was trying and trying but the things I was practicing were the same things over and over and so while I was getting better with the techniques I was using I could never become as good as I wanted to become because I was using inherently flawed technique and you cannot get a flawless result with flawed technique, as a rule anyway (sometimes someone will fall ass backwards into something good while doing the wrong thing and with zero comprehension of how it happened but that is rare and they can't reproduce it ever again, I want to reproduce beautiful results consistently and get better and better and this is going to flip my work on its head. These simple changes have completely changed my artwork and in one day my blending has made the biggest single day leap it has made since the day I first discovered blending tools. Please make more tutorials like this one about all the different drawing techniques. You have a very good technique for creating tutorials that makes sure everything is clearly and easily explained and demonstrated without treating people like they were dumb and lingering on things far too long or even worse barely mentioning them at all and not delving in with any good instruction. You boil it down to concise, accurate, helpful and detailed information and keep it interesting enough to hold anyone who even has a passing interest in drawings attention and so someone who loves drawing like me is hooked in deep. so PLEASE bring on the tutorials and you will have a very happy subscriber
Thank you so much for your comments. I appreciate you taking the time to write and it is so good to hear that my techniques and ways of explaining them have helped you with your work.
I only have time to ship orders out once a week, usually on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. It only only takes 2 days to arrive. You would most likely have your order by next Thursday or Friday.
Just found your videos on line and have watched 2 so far. I have only a basic 9 session drawing class that touched on still life, perspective and intro to portraits. I really enjoyed the portrait part of the class and have been practicing at home and expanding on what I was taught. I found "stumps" in the craft store and taught myself to use them for shading portraits. I found your blending video extremely helpful and I am inspired to get back to drawing.
I kept going back and forth while shading and going all over the place with my stomps . That caused the graphite to stain the paper and not only that but reduce or even deplete the value I was looking for . Thanks for the help, I can't wait to try this. I had never learned to use tortillions nor stomps and have been looking desperately for help to make my drawings look smooth.
Cotton will create a slightly different texture than a stump. I say try anything you would like, but keep in mind that everything you blend with will create different results. I know many people that love to use q'tips.
Make sure you check out the other tutorial subjects available. I’d love to help you learn to get the realism in your drawings you’ve been wanting. Visit: www.jdhillberrytutorials.com/tutorials.html
I'm surprised you helped artists 11 years ago and is still here!
Thanks for the tips by the way.
There isn't cheating in art, at least from what I've learned. Art is about expressing any idea or concept on a material. The process of the art is up to the artist's style, technique, and skill. So those who say that blending is cheating, like it's some kind of international Olympic sport should be ashamed to call themselves artists. After all if everyone used "correct" ways of art then every artwork would be relatively similar.
I agree totally!
I feel exactly the same way. Individual expression, that’s what it’s all about 👍🏻
No rules and no shame in art.
We fite tilll moon and andromeda is oursssss
yeah definitely thats like saying an eraser is cheating....it isnt a sport whatever gets the job done more power to you
I hope you realize how much your generosity of knwoledge, time and talent are appreciated. Thanks you so much.
There is no cheating in art. Everything is permitted by...YOU! Thanks for sharing your techniques.
I found several useful tips. You’ve helped me with my drawings because I’m self taught. Thanks very much 😊
I love your book, it drastically change how I draw! God Bless you!
I'm so glad my techniques have made such an impact on your drawing ability!
there is no cheating in art. there is no right or wrong only different methods.
Well said!
That’s right! I hate seeing “do’s and don’ts” videos. All they focus on is showing “how it’s supposed to be done” and ‘this and this and this is a common mistake that people do’
🙏🏾
Very well said, no better way to put it.
I also suggest using stumps and tortillians at an angle rather than the point. However, the reason I suggest softening the tip of stumps and tortillians is that it is much less likely to damage the paper. Many students push to hard with these blending tools and once the tooth of the paper is compromised it will react differently than the rest of your paper. For extremely realistic drawing, it's best to be "nicer" to your paper. Of course, the paper you use makes a difference also.
great tutorial! you are the first person to do realism videos and not put me to sleep!
I appreciate you taking the time to post this video.
I've just now discovered that you have a RUclips Channel - and don't know how I could miss that up to now. I use your book quite often and it has been helping me a lot; watching your videos is somehow "different", I enjoy it very much. Thank you!
I'm glad you find my RUclips videos helpful. I also have full length tutorial available on my site here: www.jdhillberrytutorials.com
Definitely used every bit of this information. As I have really never took the time to test bends. Plus, I didn't know I was damaging the paper. Until you said something.
-- Thanks for sharing!
Yes. Q-tips work well for certain types of textures. I like to use a variety of blending materials to easily create a variety of textures.
I was going to tell you that you've got those idea from a book, then I learned from your channel that you're the author of that book!
LOL! :)
you are so blessed with ur talent thanks for sharing knowledge god bless u w8ing for more videos
Nice video please continue making tutorials you do a really nice job.
Thank you sooo much fot sharing you portrait drawing techniques these will help me so much in creating my own portraits. Thankd again!!
There are several things you can do. First of all, I love dirty stumps and use the loaded stumps to add shading with no pencil lines. I keep a few handy that are loaded in various degrees. If you need to clean one, try erasing the tip with a kneeded eraser, rubbing on some sandpaper or shaving the tip with a razor blade.
A thing that changed my art life is a dollar bag of makeup (foam, size of large bean) that makes the softest blend in the world. Thanks for taking the time too make this video.
just came back to your video to tell you that even i dont received my stumps i tried learning on my current drawing the blending technices you showed with just a normal paper towel like you do it with the papers.. and my drawing looks so much better with the improve of your technic .. its suits my style.. thank you very much :)))
FANTASTIC!!! Very valuable information.
My gosh you have no idea how much this video has helped me. I had to subscribe. Thank you so so much. For the longest time I never knew the proper way to use certain tools. I'm so glad I came across your channel!
You can scribble the graphite or charcoal on to another piece of scratch paper and load the blender from that, or even dip it into graphite and charcoal dust.
Isn't technology amazing! I'm glad I'm able to help with your drawings
Also known as Q-tips. I have used those as well. I try to impress on my students to try anything that doesn't leave a stain or damage the tooth of the paper. Each object you blend with can create a slightly different texture.
You can load a blending stump with graphite or charcoal by just scribbling on another piece of paper and rubbing the stump over it. There are many other ways to use them as well.
I like General's Pencils. They are a great quality and the only pencils made in the US.
Very informative. That Shamy thing there looked great!
Thank you so much for sharing!
I suggest you just Google "paper blending Stumps" you will get man on-line stores to choose from. Stumps and tortiallians are great, but don't get hooked on them. There are many other items (many of them cheap) you can blend with to create a variety of textures. Also, You may try making your own tortillians by rolling up a piece of white paper very tightly and taping it so it doesn't un-roll.
I haven't done quick life drawings for quite a few years. I wish I had time to do more. As for tips, keep in mind (or draw lightly on your paper) horizontal and vertical lines to help compare angles and also constantly compare common measurements.
Thx for Sharing,this is so helpful 😁😁
Ty for making this video..I'm not able to take art classes at the moment..it was very informative. I def enjoyed watching
I love cartoons, great line drawings and all sorts of artwork. It simply isn't what i do or teach.
Really good tips! Thank you!
So glad that I found you! I just ordered from your website. Can't wait to receive. Thanks for shipping so fast!
Nice artwork, Watching while I paint. Keep up the awesome videos!
Thanks, SoloArt Studio!
Thanks, SoloArt Studio!
Great video! Thank you very much and please post more :)
Through your videos I improved so much - thank you for your videos!
Thank you for making a proper tutorial,yours are among the best on You Tube.I have made some of the mistakes you point out so I am very grateful for this excellent advice.
This is awesome! Thanks a lot for sharing!
I use a napkin, or tissue for blending large areas, and used to use my fingers too. I liked the way that the small amount of moisture helped move the charcoal, or graphite. I have found though that after a few years, the oils from your fingers, turns the paper yellow
This is so helpful! Thank you for making these videos! Looking forward to more!
I did "The Man Behind the Artwork" over 23 years ago so I don't remember the time it took. I'm guessing maybe 75 hours or so. I believe in viewing your work with fresh eyes often. Our minds can trick us into thinking things look okay when in reality it is just because we are used to seeing them a certain way. I recommend looking at your artwork in the mirror occasionally to see it with "fresh eyes".
Excellent tutorial!. I've been using stumps for a couple of months now and your tutorial will help me get the best out of them. Greetings from Oz
Thanks!
I would suggest you use something bigger than a tortiallion or stump. Try a paper towell, tissue, chamois, or a piece of felt - depending on the texture you would like. I also try to always blend from the dark towards the light.
I don't know what long cub charcoal is. You may try a different brand. I use Generals Primo Charcoal Pencils. They are very smooth.
Thank you for taking the time to make this video. Could you maybe do a video explaining how to draw hair? Most videos offer very poor explanation and I don't normally like the result.
Great work!
wow...great blending tutorial. thank you. you're a great teacher. very thorough with so many unexpected tips and instruction. I'm very fortunate to have found you and will check out your other vids. thanks again.
this tutorial is amazing! I am totally using these techniques on tommorow's exam :D
Thanks. Good luck on your exam!
JD Hillberry Thank you sooo much ! The techniques worked out really well and the result was much better than usual! :D I'm totally subscribing to you!
Very cool thank you very much. As I am teaching my self to draw better through RUclips. These techniques are a god send to getting my a more finished and polished drawing. Thank you for your time to share.
I'm glad these videos are helping. When you feel you are ready for it, I have more full length tutorials available on my website here: jdhillberrytutorials.com
Thank you and will check them out!
Also no need to apologize for having a life outside youtube. :) Though i will most certainly keep a lookout for your new vids. Thanks for taking the time to do this stuff on youtube. Its really helpful to hear from an expert what one can do to get better, and not everyone has the cash to go get some expensive "how to" DVD's.
I've been drawing for a while, but still found this video helpful. thank you.
you deserve every penny you make...thnx.
I read your book ''Drawing realistic textures with pencil" and ur drawings were amazing
I use a fixative on some of the darker backgrounds to keep them from smudging into the subjects as I draw.
What type or brand of fixative is best for graphite or charcoal? Thanks in advance!
I would suggest you make the surrounding values very dark adjacent to the flame. That will make the flame look the brightest and give you more values to work within the flame.
@animefreak7918 Yes. you can use anything you can think of to blend. I encourage all my students to experiment using anything that doesn't leave a stain. Tissue is excellent. I prefer soft paper towels because they don't break apart as easily.
Amazing art! Thanks for sharing with us.
great tutorial 👏👏👏
Have just watched a number of your tutorials. What an impressive willingness to share real and important information. Large scale, freehand realist oil painter here who has shelved his passion for drawing for too long. You've really piqued my interest. I'm looking forward to adding drawings to my shows to flesh out the "texture" of the work. Cheers and grats.
thank you. two years of art classes gone. I'm out of practice and i've quickly learned that its not like riding a bike.
Try actually applying the graphite with the bush, as well as using circular or straight strokes. It all makes a different effect that can be used to create different textures.
really nice tips ! Learning heaps! Thnxxxxxx
sir , i just want to tell you that all your videos was help me to improve my drawing technique .. Thank you , i hope u will success in your carrier ..
Great Video!
wow, your drawing of the man coming through the paper is so awesome. it would be awesome to have art skills, i have none but its still fun drawing!!!!!!
Really liked this well done video. Thank you.
Yes. Brushes make excellent blenders. And different kinds of brushes will create different results. As I said in the video, anything that doesn't leave a stain or damage the paper is worth experimenting with.
So Awesome! Thank you!
I'm learning. From all this art!
Thank you very much, your tips are very useful! Greetings from Italy
Thank you so much for all these great tips!
Awesome tutorial, just tells me about the dos and donts of blending...
Mother of Christ that intro scared me....
Sorry. That was a bad idea. With nearly 700,000 views I don't want to delete this video and start over though.
JD Hillberry It's fine XD my volume was just really loud, plus the static noise.
i had earphones on... on highhh X(
lol i was seeing if someone was gonna say something about that and i come to find "Mother of Christ" lol hahahahahahahaaahah!
Hahaha!
Scribble some marks on a piece of scratch paper, then rub the stump on it to "load" the stump with the charcoal. Then you can draw with it. I hope that answers your question.
Thanks Mr. JD, My drawings have improved since I read your book. I really need you tutorials in videos for drawing rough skin, wood texture ...etc. It will be very useful.
Great and clear explanation , thank you so much!!
Try using a softer pencil. Harder pencils tend to get embeded into the paper making them hard to blend away. Try one of the" b" hardnesses or if you need extremely light shanding try an hb or 2h. Also use more of the edge of the pencil for shading, not the point. The very smoothest shading can be acheived by applying the medium with the blender, not the pencil.
Would you be so kind as to name examples of where you would use the four textures you demonstrated in the last half of the video (with those arcs made by different blending materials)? Would especially love to hear how the 3rd one could be used. The first one looks like it could be used for a sky gradient. The rest not so sure. Thanks for these videos, I'm learning so much! :)
I have been an pencil artist for most of my life. I have struggled to get the realism I so desperately wanted to show in my work.You explained everything so simply and brought to light some issues I have never even thought of such as graphite shine. Thank you for sharing your talent and knowledge.
Watched a lot of these videos , amazing
Super helpful... I've never used blending before as it's not my style so this was really fascinating... I was always taught not to blend (art school) but at 44 I am starting my masters and I'm going to blend blend blend... I love mixed media so the fabrics is an interesting idea and i think I'll then integrated into the finished work... have subscribed as your work is so different to my own, it's great to keep learning new things. Thanks xx
Awesome!
THIS IS MAGICAL IT HELPED SO MUCH
Excellent tutorial. Thanx!
Wonderful
wow, ty so much, this is literally the best blending tutorial that I have seen. I am pretty good at drawing, not in your league but pretty good but only considered myself ok at the shading part; ok had a grunt to it because it really is just alright, passable and considered good to an untrained eye but to anyone who draws on a daily basis like I do or someone who has a much more extreme level of talent like you do the shortcomings in my blending techniques are easily identifiable. After watching this tutorial and learning the things you taught I'm thinking "OH MY GOD!!! THAT IS SUCH A SIMPLE CONCEPT!!! HOW ON EARTH IS IT THAT WITH THE UNTOLD HOURS OF PRACTICE I HAVE DONE THAT I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT NOW SEEMS LIKE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE SECOND NATURE TO FIGURE OUT!" and I realize that I was trying and trying but the things I was practicing were the same things over and over and so while I was getting better with the techniques I was using I could never become as good as I wanted to become because I was using inherently flawed technique and you cannot get a flawless result with flawed technique, as a rule anyway (sometimes someone will fall ass backwards into something good while doing the wrong thing and with zero comprehension of how it happened but that is rare and they can't reproduce it ever again, I want to reproduce beautiful results consistently and get better and better and this is going to flip my work on its head. These simple changes have completely changed my artwork and in one day my blending has made the biggest single day leap it has made since the day I first discovered blending tools.
Please make more tutorials like this one about all the different drawing techniques. You have a very good technique for creating tutorials that makes sure everything is clearly and easily explained and demonstrated without treating people like they were dumb and lingering on things far too long or even worse barely mentioning them at all and not delving in with any good instruction. You boil it down to concise, accurate, helpful and detailed information and keep it interesting enough to hold anyone who even has a passing interest in drawings attention and so someone who loves drawing like me is hooked in deep. so PLEASE bring on the tutorials and you will have a very happy subscriber
Thank you so much for your comments. I appreciate you taking the time to write and it is so good to hear that my techniques and ways of explaining them have helped you with your work.
You are an amazing artist......I love to draw but at this time nothing comes to mind would love to draw realism it is beautiful artwork
This is an amazing tutorial! You corrected a lot of my blending mistakes. Thank you so much!!!
I only have time to ship orders out once a week, usually on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. It only only takes 2 days to arrive. You would most likely have your order by next Thursday or Friday.
Just found your videos on line and have watched 2 so far. I have only a basic 9 session drawing class that touched on still life, perspective and intro to portraits. I really enjoyed the portrait part of the class and have been practicing at home and expanding on what I was taught. I found "stumps" in the craft store and taught myself to use them for shading portraits. I found your blending video extremely helpful and I am inspired to get back to drawing.
this is going to help me out so much for my upcoming anatomy projects. thank you. now i know some really great techniques that i never thought of.
You are my master
most helpful your lessons 👌
This really helped my art as realistic as yours! thank u
wow nice art
I kept going back and forth while shading and going all over the place with my stomps . That caused the graphite to stain the paper and not only that but reduce or even deplete the value I was looking for . Thanks for the help, I can't wait to try this. I had never learned to use tortillions nor stomps and have been looking desperately for help to make my drawings look smooth.
JT84_456 I'm glad you found this video helpful.
Cotton will create a slightly different texture than a stump. I say try anything you would like, but keep in mind that everything you blend with will create different results. I know many people that love to use q'tips.
I kept getting chills cause the sound it was making .
me too :D
+Alana Shirah you must have ASMR :D
In Art, there are No Rules, how true.! Too many people tell us what not to do and a few tell us 'How To'. Thanks.!