"Elf in Green" - Digital art by @julstamban

As a 32-year-old Pinoy artist, my art process always starts with a rough sketch, yung sobrang basic lang muna. I like to keep the lines loose and spontaneous para hindi ako ma-pressure agad sa details.

Dito sa unang phase, I focus on the pose, proportions, and overall feel ng character. The goal is to just get the idea out of my head and onto the canvas. In this piece, I started with the character’s face and hair, then built the rest of the form around it. I made sure to establish the main features, like the pointed ears and calm expression.

Next comes the lineart. Eto na yung part na kailangan ng konting patience kasi dito ko na nililinis yung sketch. I use clean, confident lines and make sure each stroke has purpose. Minsan dito ko na rin ina-adjust yung proportions or fix small anatomy issues. It’s satisfying to see the sketch evolve into something more polished. Lineart, for me, is like giving the piece its final shape before it comes to life with color.

After that, I apply the base colors. Solid fills lang muna—flat colors without any shading. I usually stick to a simple palette at first. In this case, I picked a neon green for the jacket para may pop of color, then matched it with soft greens and blacks for the hair and sleeves. I also keep the skin tone light and natural to balance everything out. The base coloring stage is all about laying down the foundation.

Then I move on to rendering, or what we usually call "kulay-buhay." Dito na pumapasok yung shading, highlights, and subtle gradients to bring depth and mood. I experiment a bit with soft and hard shadows, especially sa hair. I added some glow effects sa highlights and used gradients to make the tips of the hair look vibrant and unique.

Finally, I refine the piece by adjusting the colors, adding small details like the eyes, highlights sa cheeks, and even final lighting touches. I sign it with my handle and date to mark its completion. It's always fulfilling to see how it transformed from a rough sketch into a clean, lively character. This process helps me reflect not just on my technical skills, pero pati na rin sa growth ko as an artist.