3h 12m

Realism asks: ‘What does the light do?’ Stylization asks: ‘What do I want the audience to feel ?’

Stylization is not ‘bad realism.’ It is controlled distortion . We are not fixing reality; we are editing it for emotional impact.

“Photorealists use the full value range: 0 (black) to 10 (white). Stylized artists live in the ‘Safe Zone’: values 2 through 8.

Here is a villain. I want him to feel intelligent and threatening. Triangle. All triangles. Sharp shoulder pads that point up. A chin that could cut glass. Long, spiky fingers.

Put a hard edge where you want attention (eyes, mouth, hands). Put a soft edge where you want flow (hair, cheeks, muscles). And put a lost edge (where the color blends completely into the background or shadow) to create mystery.