#spin talks

ok first of all i use procreate, so i'll go over what works for me in that program, so keep that in mind.

basically the number 1 thing to get that effect is texture. i get that sort of "old illustration" texture from 2 things: texture layer and brush. every piece i do for touhou has a simple canvas texture added to the very top layer on a certain setting (i do linear burn on a low %opacity). you can download textures online easily and pick and chose whatever setting works for you, this one works for me for that subtle effect.

the brush i use to color is called eaglehawk. i use it for flats, shadows, lights, rendering, everything. the flats mantain that delicious "dry" but soft texture:

for shadows and other shades, what i do is i work on the same level. i know this does not work for anyone but i like adding colors on a single layer because i like the way it blends. you'll need to lock it though, so that when you go over it, the texture remains nice and crisp. that's the button:

that way you can add all the color you want and you'll keep seeing the texture underneath it. that's when you get to the fun part: going crazy with the colors until you get something you like. what i like to do is i never use black or change layer for shadows, I go over my flats on the same locked level with saturated colors. i tend to go with blue/cold shades over my flats bc my flats are mostly warm: it adds character and looks very tasty. or viceversa if the flat is a cold color, i go with a warm secondary color. same thing for lights:

what i can recommend in the end is really spending hours and hours painting and letting your instinct guide you and decide what looks good to you. trust yourself and be happy about little accidents bc they can lead to amazing results, and play around with all the settings and brushes! even the ones that the program you use provides for free, i always find hidden gems there 😊

i tend to stray away from pure black/white hues and try to play around with more vibrant shades. you'll also notice to get a more softer effect i tend to color some of my inks too. i think it suits this particular style and makes it more dynamic.

i dont always color this way, this is my touhou coloring process bc i think it goes well with these characters :)