Daestwen's Sketchbook (Update 03/31/10)

[daestwen]

Newest Stuff is on the Last Page

So, I've been humming and haahing over making one of these, but why not? :/ Anyway, so here we go. I'm going to start with the life drawing portfolio that I just handed in to my life drawing class...

[daestwen]

Alright, and here as some of the CHOW contests that I've done so far... Not so happy with them, but there you go.






And a couple of sketches for it...




And the two COW contests I attempted (one of which I didn't finish)...

[Newbs]

the life drawings are pretty nice!

[daestwen]

Life drawing I did last tuesday:

[matejkovacic]

I like the life drawings very much!
Post more.

[Viking Raider]

Love the life drawings, simply great! Especially the very first one and the very last one. I see I need to practice. Definitely post more.

[daestwen]

Viking Raider and matejkovacic:

I'll post more life drawing when I get the chance to scan them...

I freaking hate working on newsprint because it's so bloody big I can't scan it.

[daestwen]

So... here's some more stuff. No life drawing, but.

The first is an ink picture I did... I didn't use a pencil line or anything to set it up first, just straight to ink. I think she was supposed to be a lesbian gladiator or something.



Here are a couple of the rough action sheets for my character emily, which I did for school :




And a background design I did for an "elven town":

[JARhead]

Like that elven town, do you have more sketches of that idea?

[daestwen]

Jarhead: Only some very rough stuff, as this was for a project. I will eventually be rendering it in 3d, probably, and will then be doing some more concept sketches for it.

[iMaiM]

Awesome life drawings. Especially like the second CHOW (the one with the Templar tabard).

[alesoun]

I like the Emily sketches. I hope you let us see how you develop that.

[daestwen]

sketches for this week's character contest:

[Newbs]

hey there, that elven town looks really cool. sort of reminds me of Alan Lee's stuff for LOTR but you know that's a good thing.

keep it up!!

[ProgDraws]

hmm, your paints need a little more work

but your life drawings are sooooo good!

show us more!

[realitychek]

Awesome life drawings! Really like your newest CHOW sketches too

[daestwen]

Newbs: I'm glad that it does, since I grew up with Lord of the Rings as illustrated by him. It's definately inspired by him, to be sure.

ProgDraws: I've been drawing a lot longer than I've been painting, haha. I still don't understand colour... My value perception is a lot better when I'm working black and white. I wish I could show you guys more life drawing, but they schedule the extra life drawing classes for a time that I have a class during... sob! I'm single and broke, so no other way to get nude models.

realitychek: Thanks!

And here's the final version of the Apple Gatherer...

[daestwen]

Okay, here's the stuff I did for this week's CHOW:

[JessiBean]

For one, your life drawings are stunning, especially the very first one. You definitely have some drawing chops, but you seem to lose confidence when you veer from your references or life drawing -- like some of the earlier chows, they've got a great basis, you just need to push them further... stronger values, more volume to the figures. With the bohemian troubador, the whole piese feels a little busy with all the competing colors in the same tonal range, maybe stick with blues and greens, make it feel watery and soft (I like your softer coloring bestest) The last Chow is your strongest, and I RELLY liked this one. The figure is more polished and the colors more unified, now all it needs is a background of some sort -- but a soft one... the colors are great now, it's just a wee bit too simple.

I LOVE seeing your progress, and you are making leaps and bounds, keep going! And use lots of reference, and RUN with your pieces, don't be hesitant.

[GiantRibot]

i voted for him!

[daestwen]

JessiBean: I know exactly what you mean, which is why I tend to get buried in reference if I have a chance. It probably comes from once being a history major. I think I'm improving, and I think CHOW has a lot to do with it, even if I really haven't felt inspired by the last two. (That, and I just have way way too much stuff on my plate.)

GiantRibot: Thank you!

[daestwen]

Anyway, here's a self portrait that turned out to not look much like me anyway, at least the nose.

[daestwen]

And here's what I did for CHOW this week. I hate it I hate it I hate it. >O

[Newbs]

that squirrel is really great!!

[Rabid]

Furry caped squirrel is my favorite the cape just grabs me. Nice work.
The life drawings are great and I can see that they are beginning to show in the fantasy renders too.

[daestwen]

Newbs: Thanks! It's definately the best thing I've done in a little while, though I'm still not totally satisfied with it. I have to try harder at including backgrounds!

Rabid Peanut: Thanks! Have you seen the other squirrel mage renders at CHOW? It was a pretty fun week.



And on a completely different side note:

I'm going to Revelations! Wee!

[idoru]

I know tons of people have already said it, but I do so love your life drawings!

[BohemianChaos]

hey daestwen, nice start to your sb. my only real comment (that hasn't already been said here) is to make sure your base drawing is really on... whether that be proportion, or proper muscle insertion, etc... before you start rendering it. Since it appears you tend to rely on your linework a good deal with your colored pieces, I know it can be hard to try and fix the lines after you've colored it and realize something doesn't look quite right (I'm quite guilty of this myself), but taking an extra few minutes to check some references and make sure everything looks right with the drawing will save you a lot of time and heartache later on. Good luck! I'll check back again soon.

[joaKimArt]

The first have some interesting poses, and are very well done. All the life drawings are great. Keep on posting!

[daestwen]

idoru: Thanks.

BohemianChaos: I know exactly what you mean! It hasn't been said here, but my teachers tend to point it out. I'm trying to get better at it - i think one of my major problems is I have a hard time finding resources for reference. I want a giant book of naked people. >O heh.

joaKimArt: Thank you! Hopefully I'll have some good life drawing stuff to post after Seattle.