ART BLOG
Technique, the business of art, and what it looks like to build something on the side.
Written by Ivan Castro, marker artist, product manager, and AI professional based in Orlando. This blog covers how to render by hand, how to sell what you make, and what the creative life actually looks like from the inside.
THE CRAFT
Marker technique, color theory and rendering by hand
THE HUSTLE
Selling prints, commissions, social media and the business of art
THE LIFE
Working in AI at Companies like Disney and Wells Fargo while running an indie art brand
How to Draw Tattoos on Characters with Copic Markers
A step by step guide to drawing tattoos on characters with Copic markers. Render the skin first, build layers with cool grays, and make tattoos look believable.
How to Draw Clothing with Markers: Folds, Wrinkles and Tonal Values
Learn how to draw clothing folds and wrinkles in marker art. A breakdown of compression wrinkles, hanging folds, tonal values and shading using Black Panther as the subject.
How to Draw Glowing Hands with Markers: Copic Glow Effect Tutorial
Learn how to draw glowing hands and energy effects with Copic markers. A step-by-step breakdown of temperature, core glow, muscle definition, and outer fade, using Iron Fist as the subject.
How to Scan Original Artwork for High-Quality Art Prints
Three practical tips for scanning your original artwork to create better quality art prints — covering file format (TIFF vs JPEG), scanning resolution (why 600 DPI), and color mode (CMYK vs RGB).
Best Art Supplies for Marker Rendering with Copic, Prismacolor and More
The art supplies I use daily for Copic marker rendering, from Staedtler non-photo blue pencils and Prismacolor to Strathmore 400 paper. Real recommendations from a working illustrator.
What is Contrapposto? Drawing Tips for Dynamic Poses
Learn what contrapposto is and how to use it in your figure drawing. A practical guide from a marker artist covering weight shift, S-curves, and dynamic poses.
How to Color Comic Characters with Copic Markers: A Beginner Guide
Learn how to color comic characters with Copic markers. Working light to dark, non-photo blue pencils, and white paint marker highlights explained step by step, using Black Widow as the subject.
SHOP PRINTS
Hip-hop, anime and culture art. Drawn by hand, limited by design.
Hip-hop legends, anime icons and comic book characters. Rendered by hand, ready for your wall.
• 16x20 Poster
• Hand signed and numbered
(frame not included)
• 16x20 Poster
• Hand signed and numbered
(frame not included)
• 16x20 Poster
• Hand signed and numbered
(frame not included)
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New tutorials, limited print drops, and the occasional honest take on the creative life.