alice's sketchbook

**alice_** · August 27th, 2007, 01:40 PM

I don't draw nearly as much as I should. That's all about to change, I need to get better.

these two are for a little illustration I might do for my website layout -- maybe. The second is the one I'll probably paint up, the first looks like she is in a school or something.

warm-up sketch for today. Got the idea from browsing posemaniacs. Entirely unhappy with the limbs but 30mins was my limit. I might work on it more later.

full size face close up

crit away!

**alice_** · August 28th, 2007, 10:32 AM

I worked some more on a COW entry that I particularly liked and wanted to make into a portfolio piece. Not sure if it is 'there' yet, but it is getting close I think.

drawing:

entry:

current:

Comparing it now with the pencil sketch it seems like a lot of the energy has been lost, it could be a struggle to bring that back into it. Perhaps the figure is too static.

**spudstudios** · August 28th, 2007, 10:37 AM

wow. Lovely illustrations. Love your colour choices. Is the last one Photoshop?. Looking forward to more. :-)

**bluefooted** · August 28th, 2007, 10:40 AM

Sooo happy you started a sketchbook thread - I love your work

As for the dragon pic - it looks fine to me, great even. Maybe for the non-entry you could lose the green slime theme and add some red to the innards? It might help add some more interest to the 'action'.

**throtailer** · August 28th, 2007, 01:35 PM

WOWOWOWOW! That dragon my fav! Very good, maybe some background?

**Dished** · August 28th, 2007, 01:38 PM

Cool! that cow is great! Although just a suggestion--it might help if you turn up the contrast on that dragon--add more shadows maybe. Im looking forward to the updates!

**scottmcd** · August 28th, 2007, 02:44 PM

Hey there - I like the dragon a lot too. It does lose just a little from the pencils, but maybe not as much as you think. There's still a good sense of movement.

Thanks for your comment in the ChOW thread - that's very nice. I'm glad you liked the "Stud Who Lived" thing -- that was for my wife, who is quite the HP fan and has read a fair amount of fanfic. I'm not surprised it didn't make the poll, though. It's not the typically rendered piece that shows up there. I can't really compete at that level (yet), so I sometimes look for slightly different takes that I can do with pencil, pen, and ink.

I like both of the girls that you started the sb with, and I did in fact think she was in school at first. I don't know that I'd have her tossing the coffee cup quite that way, though the hand position and everything looks good to me.

**alice_** · August 28th, 2007, 03:21 PM

spudstudios-yeah, it's photoshop, a combination of photographic textures and painting

bluefooted-thanks for stopping by! You know, I didn't even think about changing the green gore - that would probably solve all the colour issues as well. I'll go try it out.

throtailer-thanks! I was thinking about a sort of chinese painting style background (you know, fog, mountains etc) but I can't decide whether it would be too cluttered or not.

dished-I might try more contrast, but the lightsource is so confused (well, non-existant) that it would probably just make the lack of consistancy even more obvious!

scottmcd-thanks, I agree about the hand- I'm probably going to change it so that she has already let go of it in shock

**alice_** · August 31st, 2007, 03:22 PM

I bought a new sketchbook this week, I've been enjoying drawing in it.

Concept for this weeks CHOW, junk collector. I got a bit bored of drawing this one, I became too eager to colour it in.

some illustration work-in-progress (not sure if I should really be posting this, but.. eh.. I like the drawing as it is right now). Perspective is a bit off but that was an intentional decision (dream-like atmosphere, etc...). Don't know if I pull it off or if it looks like i got lazy. It's part of a set so the wrongness will at least be consistent within itself.

I drew these both on the same afternoon which is why they look a little similar. I don't just draw girls. Honest.

**jedininjaman** · August 31st, 2007, 04:26 PM

ya man looks great but you should add some contrast to the dragon, and to the guy, to make him stand out more, looks really cool though
-jedininja

**Saturns Gate** · August 31st, 2007, 07:30 PM

That dragon type thing is absolutely gorgeous!

more more more!!!

**JPW** · September 2nd, 2007, 10:26 AM

Fantastic work, I really like your sensitive use of pencil. I'm looking forward to seeing more of your work.

Total nice one for the link to the graphic short story comp too. I had already heard about it, and I've entered something, but many thanks for the thought.

James

**alice_** · September 8th, 2007, 01:26 PM

jedininjaman-will try out more contrast, soon as I can be bothered, heh
Saturns Gate-thanks!
JPW-thanks, and I'm glad that you entered! Hope you do well

Two more pictures, some more commissioned work-in-progress and eh.. something in colour because I was sick of all the pencils.

**Mydrim** · September 22nd, 2007, 07:49 PM

Holy %#!!!
I'd just removed the green thing dropping from the rock- it loses the great momentum then

Well, subscribed.

**fydbac** · October 1st, 2007, 11:36 AM

Hi, I really appreciate your work. Your style is refreshing.

I first saw you over at Chow 90, then I visited your site, and now I'm here. I definitely look forward to seeing even more. I'm sorry I don't have anything really helpful to add at the moment.

**Blaz** · October 1st, 2007, 11:47 AM

Hey very nice SB. This illustration with a dragon is, altough a disturbing scene , quite soothing...or is it just me with my twisted view of reality?

Either way nice job, love the colors.
Your pencil drawings are also beautiful.

Keep updating

**zeitgeist** · October 1st, 2007, 10:21 PM

alice! your latest chow is effing brilliant, I don't even know how you hid all the spooky elements in it... but i want to ready/see/play a book/movie/game about it!

and while im here.. great sketchbook... i really like your relaxed yet precise linework!

**Dan Valkar** · October 1st, 2007, 10:45 PM

ur girl faces are really neat alice, sweet style...also nice chow...very good creature

**alice_** · October 2nd, 2007, 09:06 AM

Well, its back to school time... don't have internet access at my new flat yet, hence rather sparse activity online. I have been drawing away though!

Thanks for comments about chow90, here are my pencils for it. I think I prefer the pencil treatment to the finished product (although that might be because of the pain associated with having to buy a new laptop). Also some other stuff I have been idly working on. Not really sure where anything is going though, I need to start working on my painting again.

**zeitgeist** · October 2nd, 2007, 05:40 PM

great stuff! the little animal monsters remind me of the book where the wild things are but with a much more alarming since of impending danger!

and the "lynx girl" is terrific!

**spudstudios** · October 4th, 2007, 03:50 PM

OK.. I have to admit I am completely smitten with your work. Jus wonderful. Your Stormbringer chow just blew me away...wonderful style.

**alice_** · October 15th, 2007, 09:55 AM

Still no net access at home, bleh, so annoying

some painting practice - I haven't painted from scratch for ages and I really need to work on it. So here are some studies I did the other day. Reference was from this blog. It was not as easy as I remembered, haha

**zeitgeist** · October 15th, 2007, 11:05 AM

lol what a great blog.
nice mustaches, btw. i like the second one best. nice texture and shading around the eyes and cheekbones.

**alice_** · November 1st, 2007, 10:52 AM

Well, my most significant work of late is in a certain thread in the finally finished forum, and I'm not going to post any studies for that until voting is over so here are some other things. Unfinished wolf skull study (never going to be finished - i had to stand up in the sweaty taxidermy section of the national museum drawing that... next time its going to be something near the floor) and a concept for a short comic i am writing.

(i have internet now!)

**smws** · November 3rd, 2007, 03:37 PM

I really like your style and the feeling of your pictures. What's the thread in the finally finished forum?

Good work and I admire your imagination.

**mrgrumble** · November 8th, 2007, 08:41 PM

fantastic

loved your piccie for the fairy tale competition - and i must say, having peered through these sketches and your site, you're doing everything i wish i could - and so well!

wheresaboots in edinburgh are you? ive traveled through there a few time - hopefully get back there once i graduate
keep up the great work, your rendering and colors are simply amazing!

-tim