Digital Sketch of Seulgi of Red Velvet

It's pretty exciting for an artist to try and capture the essence of a character with a few strokes. The other time, I chose to challenge myself by attempting to draw Seulgi from Red Velvet with Clip Studio Paint. It turned into a really simple yet expressive piece that captures her resolution, poise, and energy in a very fitting way to her stage persona.

The Inspiration
Seulgi has always struck me as an idol who exudes a lot of hidden strength and grace. She'll own the stage with a fierce dance routine, or she could easily just be there for a photoshoot with an emotion that evokes interest, all with a type of rare magnetism and ease that's rather difficult for one to emulate. I wanted my sketch to embody this exact same duality, when the eye-catching confidence sharply contrasts with the subtle, almost mellowed-out expressions.

Process in Clip Studio Paint
So, with this sketch, I chose Clip Studio Paint. It has been a great tool for me, very versatile, especially when doing quick studies. The process was so spontaneous, having in mind not to get sunk in the details but to capture Seulgi.

Starting from Loose Lines: So I would start by making the general lines with a material brush to mostly catch her form and pose. She was given an imposing attitude, with arms in a defensive stance, to better express strength and readiness.

Defining Features: With the basic shape finally in place, I was able to move onto trying to capture her facial features. Seulgi's eyes, in particular, are a defining characteristic, often seeming to depict a mix between determination and gentleness. There's a careful balance between the two that I wanted to get right. Her hair stayed simple; movements could be felt through quick strokes, indicating movement and volume without the complication of the sketch.

Depth: Further, shaded with little amount of depth, especially around her face and arms. The shading thrown in was very subtle, just to add a little more dimension to the depth given without taking too much from the mere simplicity of the sketch.

Signature and Final Touches: I signed the piece with my artist's mark, "Juls," in the bottom