This one's for you Mr.Delicious

[_Chainer]

He brought me here. I have always known about this site... but he brought me here. Personally... I am scared to death of you guys. So much so that I couldn't even look at you for inspiration. You are so far beyond my understanding... I opted for something more accessible. Namely random people from DeviantArt and Sijun's speed paint thread. I am still far away from approaching those that I admire from either communities, but that's besides the point.

Meh.... some notes about my background. First of all, some of you may know me as Adeux. Some as Chainer. Others as Ahtu... depending on how long you've known me.

I started drawing a few years ago due to an obsession with Magic the Gathering. Namely John Avon's, Kevin Lewellyn's (Puddnhead's), Kev Walker's, and Justin Sweets works. But... since I started with no artistic background... I went towards something a little more accessible. Manga/anime. And now (like far too many others) I am trying to shake it off. It's so hard wired into my system though... losing it is taking some time.

I never took a class for art. I am going to college for Graphic Design/ Multi Media, but it has precious little to do with my interests in concept / comic art. Everything I know, I know from forums.

Enough of that drama. On to the pics. I will show the most recent ones without exception. This includes new ones to come. Please tear me up.

[ChaoticKnight]

Cool stuff mate!
Definitely have more confidence in your work. It looks good, without a whole lot of problems (anatomy, value, line etc), so if I were you i would definitely not be so cautious. You can only get better from here.
Welcome to the forums!! Keep posting!

[RaistlinTheDark]

omg awesome drawings! Mr. D will aprove!

[agelaos]

sup chainer. Good to see your work again, definatly love your colors as always. Keep it up. You got major skill.

[Mr.Delicious]

HEY! you finally made it! I mean, seriously, if you wanna focus on shaking off the anime then focus on doing more portrait work, work from other artists examples, try to mimic another style as best you can. Basically anything to get a better understanding of what makes a character realistic let it be the eyes/color/anatomy. Something I did to help my anatomy studies is I took one of my older anatomy books and hacked it up, cut out all the pages and tapped them up all around my computer. That way if I ever needed to better understand something it was right there, no excuse to be too lazy to look it up.

I dont really see an utter attempt to break away from the anime just yet, I'd like to see you focus on your studies, you have the general idea down its jsut the technical part and minor details. I just ordered a bridgman book and its so awesome. I really suggest it for dynamic form and a better understanding all around.

As far as actualy crits on the work posted:

1st: torso isnt long enough, necks too thin(for regular anatomy's sake).

6th: Her right upper arm is way too long, the elbow should fall just above the navel.

Other than that man just keep on workin at it.

Heres to hoping you stick around!

[Dan Valkar]

nice paintin' man good stuff, live colors...i like ur anime style..keep postin'

[_Chainer]

I appreciate the help, Mr D. Yeah... I'm still into comic styles... and it's kind of hard taking a while to make the transition of anime inking => comic without ripping off someone's comic style entirely. I'm in no rush to drop inking styles... so I will just ease into something different in time. My main focus though is digital painting. Ala speedpainting styles as seen here and Sijun. Custom brushes... that whole deal. Basically everything that you hate.

As for staying here.... seeing as Agelaos is here (how you been, man?)... I gots to stay. I was never much for giving compliments or crits (I suck at it, actually) so I won't look like I'm particuarly "active". I'll definately be here though. That photoshop section is shaping up to be my new home.

[o00o0o0o0o0o]

Dang, that is some sick stuff.
I like how angular things are and stuff. Makes everything look cool.

[sweet_sorrow]

I like your anime work, beautiful colors!

[_Chainer]

I'm just experimenting with different tools and techniques. I'm not getting very far.

[agelaos]

god damn that first one is looking HOT, I wanna bang it. The second one is a bit off the leg thats behind the one in front is looking strange, and the arm holding the knife is bending too much, I would probably give it an angle where the elbow meets. Keep showing more, i'm lovin it.

[loveandasandwich]

I can't believe youve never had an art class. Dave showed me some of the other stuff you didnt post, why didnt you post them!? theyre fuckin awesommme. cant wait to see more!

[Caskin]

Great way to kick of a sketchbook man! Your creatures have that appeal and style that I've always found so addictive and intruiging, especially that last one in your first post. My suggestion would be to work on your feet, they look a bit awkward, and not quite quadrupedal enough. Other than that looking good so far, post more for us to see!

[Coinpurse]

yup, Dave's a sexy basterd. Luvs that guy muchly hehe,
Lets see some life studies now

[Mr.Delicious]

haha, ah sexy. I like the chainsaw guy, I agree on the feet. The anatomy on the last one is wonky, but lets see some anatomy studies and life ones! Woo yea!

[Doudou]

Noway man! ya havent taken any art class... i'm enjoying it in here i love the witch craft, and Magic stuff too, i love the lantern woman the mauve and black colour mix is giving an awesome atmosphere... Bless tha' Head 'o' yours man! your work is awsome keep postin

[_Chainer]

I can't believe youve never had an art class.

Digital photography is an art class. Typography, print publishing, design strategies, and the like... all art classes. But I know what you mean . I wish I had taken some drawing/ painting/ fine art classes. But alas... I'm not going to an "art" school.

kekeke

Well... here's my sketch of the day.

[Mr.Delicious]

nice one man, lines look jagged, what are you using to draw them so consistently small? Her butt looks too small, her elbow is too high(only a little). But anyways, keep on workin like this man you got the right idea drawing everyyyday.

[Miles_]

love that last one. Have more confidense in yaself.

[_Chainer]

nice one man, lines look jagged, what are you using to draw them so consistently small? Her butt looks too small, her elbow is too high(only a little). But anyways, keep on workin like this man you got the right idea drawing everyyyday.

It's the pencil tool in photoshop. Incase it isn't in the newer versions (I still use 5.5 dude) ... it's basically a 1 pixel brush with no gradation/dithering/antialias. Basically what it would look like if I was drawing in paint. There is no real reason for using it over anything else other than looking different.
__________________________________________________ ________-


What up homes?

[agelaos]

hey, nice updates man. keep up the pace, you'll get better and better without noticing. also don't be afraid to post some life stuff you got, some figures or something, people walking down the street. I think when you post stuff on concept art, you begin seeing ways to improve yourself. Keep it up man.

[_Chainer]

I think when you post stuff on concept art, you begin seeing ways to improve yourself. Keep it up man.

That's one way of seeing it. I myself am starting to see how bad I actually am, and how far I have to go. It's going to be a fun ride though!

[_Chainer]

+ for another one. This is actually my fourth for today... the sketch before being my third, and the one before IT being my first. I'd post my second... but... well.. no. Just no.

[spudstudios]

great work. Love the style..SOTD Armour chick works for me.. Love to see it finished.

[Mr.Delicious]

awesome man, youre gettin these out quick! If you keep at it long enough when you actually spend time on one it'll be really awesome. catch my driiift? That way you don't lose interest so fast. Lighting on the face is good in that one, I think the inside of the hood could be alittle darker to make the face pop out more.

[Miles_]

Cool stuff. keep posting.

[_Chainer]

There is a long story behind this one... but I had a good laugh. You will never see me to this again... that's for sure.

:edit:

God damn that is huge. I thought I shrunk it. How do you edit attachments?

[agelaos]

hey nice portrait. I like that crisp look in your paintings, you using some special brush or something?

nice cat girl, she has pretty good proportions and form too, nothing seems to be throwing it off.

Keep it up.

[_Chainer]

No special brushes being used here. No... the crisp look is due to emboss/ sharpen filters on duplicates of the entire image on a separate layer. Some strategic erasures here and there.... some choice blending modes... and voila. The crappy filters are tolerable enough to make drawings more interesting without detracting from them completely.

[_Chainer]

Sketch Angel v2!

I drew this during a lecture on my laptop when I should have been taking notes, woo~

One complaint from the last one was that I was being too safe with the stroking, colors, and textures. Well... this is my reply!