Penarddum's Journal //trying to get better....

[Penarddum]

Hello!

I joined this site because I want help in improving both my IRL drawing skills and my cartooning. I'm nowhere as near as good as some of the people on this site, but I really want to try and get better.

Right now, I'm looking for some advice on crosshatching--I'll get to that later tonight, as I have a few sketches in a notebook of mine. In the meantime, I have a couple of old sketches from a class I took last semester.

The first one is of a dog named Jake, from an assignment to do a quick 15-minute sketch. I had a little trouble with this one--he just didn't want to stay still. I eventually got it, though. I think if I were to go back and revise this, I'd add shading.

The second is from a modified contour line picture assignment I did. Again, I would go back and definitely add shading, as right now it seems a little flat. And the second-to-last finger is a bit thin.

[Penarddum]

Okay, I'll post a sample of my cartooning.

The following is a character named Candy that I was commissioned to create. I was experimenting with her appearances and facial expressions in this particular piece--so it is chibi and not really anatomically correct, but I do plan on coloring her in sooner or later. You'll be able to see my progress with her as I go along.

My scanner is very bad at lighting. I'll see what I can do to fix that. So don't worry about that little face on the bottom, you'll see it soon enough.

[JellevdVegt]

good start! if u want to get better, dont do manga is my tip. also, when you can do good life drawings, cartooning will become a lot easier. so i would concentrate on that for sure! for now, just draw as much as you can

good luck

[Penarddum]

Thank you for the tips. Yeah, I have been doing manga since I was in 6th grade, and I was a bit apprehensive about posting that character concept here, because I thought that people were going to say things like that; I want to truly get better in the style, rather than just abandon it altogether. But I'll do IRL drawings, too--and who knows, maybe someday I'll find my own style of cartooning.

It's hard to find models, though . I need to get a mirror to try and draw my own face realistically....

[0shade0]

I have to agree to Teh Gosu, Don't do manga YET.
that may sound a bit harsh, hahan don't stop drawing manga, but focus more on life drawings. It will make things a lot easier for the more stylistic style of drawing. as manga is a stylistic way to depict life, not the other way around. keep going at it and you'll succeed.
and prepare youselve for a lot of anti manga wa of criticing.
remember we are only here to help ^^
enjoy and draw a lot!

[Penarddum]

I know that. And I'm prepared for whatever comes my way. I decided that I was going to try and improve in BOTH areas, whatever the consequences may be.

I also joined because I fail at crosshatching and I don't think I'll be able to pass my Printmaking class otherwise =.=;;

Just scanned in some crosshatching samples and will post as soon as I touch them up a bit. They're a BIT too light.

[Penarddum]

Ookay, folks, here are my crosshatch pics.

They are in chronological order so that you can see what I've done on separate days and how I did them.

1) The inside of Buhl Hall. I'm not too proud of this one, since it was the first crosshatch I attempted. The perspective is off-kilter and...gaagla. *flail*

2) A Dell computer. This one went slightly better, or at least I think so. The straight lines are a bit off-kilter, but I seem to have at least a better grasp on gradient shading w/crosshatching.

3) A gym ball I drew while waiting for my weight training class to start. Out of all of these, my printmaking teacher personally liked this the best, because he said it had an abstract quality to it that allowed you to imagine it as something OTHER than a gym ball. Me...I'm not quite sure what to think.

4) Jake, again. I can't help it. He's great to draw xD. He moves around a lot, though, so I might have to start taking pictures for reference. Soooo...yes, this is the worst of the lot because it's so light, and the printer doesn't make it any better. ...I do like his eyes, though. He has such pretty eyes.

5) Ah, the sandals. Drawn while waiting for water polo to start. I...do not know if I like these. On the one hand, they're probably the best out of this batch of cross-hatching, since I'd gotten a bit more of a handle on how to do it. ....I still can't shake the feeling I'm doing it wrong, though.

[Penarddum]

SOH. Now I can has be posting--*bricked*

J/k. Here's some reeaaaaaally quick sketches I did in my Linguistics class. Not my best work by a LOOOOOOONG shot.

1) Girl in my linguistics class. She was sitting across from me and she didn't stay still/in one position. Gah. So...I did the best I could, and only realized AFTER the fact that not only is the shading complete and utter crap (her cheek is too dark, dammit), but the entire thing is crooked and her arm looks weird. Ah, well...better luck next time, I guess?

2) Something a LITTLE bit better--my HP Tablet stylus. No, it is not a penis. It never was a penis...even though it looks like one =.=;; But..yeah. Shading on this one's a BIT better, I think. ...now I just need to figure out how to do the perspective on the table. I wasn't really certain how to do it...I'll do better next time.

So! Things I learned from this:

1) Never ever ever ever ever draw with your sketchbook off to your side, for slanting is bad.

2) Ballpoint pen is a LITTLE bit better, but I need to stick with my Microns from here on out. ...which they're getting low anyway, meaning I need to go for a ride out to Michaels or Artists & Craftsmen for some more.

My two new IRL drawings in lieu of my cartooning. Have at it, folks!

EDIT: ...I uploaded the wrong file, dangit. *goes to fix*