Black Spot's Sketches

[MoKhi]

Your still lives are getting really realistic. The plumb is my favorite so far, but I don't know about those oranges. I agree with the above that they look dry, almost too realistic or finished. Still, they look amazing. Keep it up.

[Black Spot]

Well they were a bit passed their best. I might get some fresh some fresh ones later.

[Ian Barker]

Hi there, great sketchbook you have here. The animals are quite good... post 482seems too light or washed out, but post 490 in particular looks very good, much improved. I like the texture on the oranges, but agree with other people that they look too dry... maybe looser rendering would help them out.

Keep it up, things are on the right track!

[danlambert]

The still lifes (lives?) are looking great, the texture in that last one is particularly good. How long are you spending on these if you don't mind me asking? If your children would permit it I'd love to see you tackle something more complicated.

Have a good New Year
Dan

[Black Spot]

The plum took about an hour and the dried out tangerines two. I do have plans to make a more complicated picture soon, both still life and compositional.

[Giorge]

those fruit studies look promising , the question is now ... did you learn something from doing them? keep it up!

cheers

[Black Spot]

I learn from everything and take no prisoners.

[Black Spot]

Time to stick some work on this page. Last night when travelling back home there was this great sunset which I've tried to capture.

[GoGoJojo]

Oh...that looks like the sunsets we have here in Oregon except the hills would be more bumpy in the background here (/\/\/\/\ < that's the coast range ). You're making me homesick, and I already AM home! I'm just wondering if the trees in the foreground would be darker, since they are backlit.

Oh, and about you talking about your kid being a little Mr. Magoo, my brothers cheeks were so fat when he was born, that he couldn't even open his eyes!

[seagulls]

The tangerines look very good, just the shadow stands out a bit. you gotta paint some fruit that nobody is tempted to eat.

The sunset is also looking good. Is it from a photo?

[Nemome]

Did you take a photo from the sunset or did you have your utilities with you ?

Anyway nice photo's!

Greetings, silwynar

[Black Spot]

I drew from memory this morning, but I spent some time trying to imprint it in my mind yesterday.

[Black Spot]

Time for some compositional work. This is still a WIP from a B&W photo of a RL friend who lets me use her photos.

[Black Spot]

Did some more today. More to do.

[Rotor]

Nice skintones!
I see you are doing some glow effecting, I'm not sure but I think effects like these are best left last. Giving a hint of where the light will be placed and how the hues will work is good though.

Looking forward to more stuff.
Oh and I enjoyed seeing a bit of an enviro as well, it's really hard to capture the massive amount of different colours the sunsets usually have, it's crazy beautiful.

[Black Spot]

The sun is on a different layer, I wanted to to check the overall effect I'm going for.

[Black Spot]

Because I wasn't feeling that brilliant today, thought I'd do a master study instead of my composition. Should finish it tomorrow. To make things even more difficult for myself, I'm doing this on just one layer.

[tobbA]

The values in those animals looks a lot better.

For the tangerines, perhaps stay away from the swirley markings with the thing brush as it almost makes it look hairy/moldy to me

Still nice tho

The girl. I think you need to think in bigger shapes. The hair for example, looks really flat. Look at your ref and squint you eyes. See what portions are darker and which are brighter. Paint those in big and then when you're satisfied start to add details like tiny strands and such. But don't overdo that either. Hair is difficult tho... just keep it up

[SMILEFACE]

I luvs me some 518 an the comp study patterns in the master copy look great so far

[Black Spot]

Here's a thinner, taller, dare I say slightly better looking, younger brother of the Laughing Cavalier.

[a la bapsi]

I like your eye for color, black spot.

[seagulls]

There a lot of detail in the original painting by Hals you have transferred across pretty well. I'm sure I would freeze up with some of the decorations on the sleeve. The canvas proportion I'm almost certain is causing problems.
I think the composition of your friend has better skin tones than used previously.

[Black Spot]

i love colour a la bapsi. To me life is coloured to the extreme and I have to try to capture that.

I love the details in the painting seagulls. i did an oil (actually 2) 25 years ago of this for a amateur dramatic production - one had a hole cut out in the middle. Took me a few weeks painting them side by side, using the hair dryer to quicken the drying process. Think I might have one still in the attic somewhere.

Here's the original next to mine and then overlaid. There are differences, but trying to capture the feel in the original was always more important that slavishly copying it.

BTW you guys really should start wearing stuff like this - it is so sexy. The laundry bills might be a bit much though.

[NicG]

Wow you got a lot done this week! I like the master study and really like the nude, especially the light around her hand.

[GoGoJojo]

No! I was hoping it wasn't that painting! Ughh, a while ago I did a huge picross puzzle of that, and I haven't been able to look at it since. That being said, lovely job!

[Black Spot]

Don't you just hate it when you have to clear up after your pet?

[NicG]

Haha. I just took in 2 foster-cats so I can relate .

[Black Spot]

Being back at work has meant drawing has taken a back seat while I equalise my energy levels again.

Channel 4 did a short life drawing program and these are done from it. I did the second first, but worked on it the next day from memory. I know what I'm learning and where I'm going with it even if it doesn't always show.

Serif, the sidtware I use have asked to use a couple of my pictures for their next release. To say I'm chuffed, might be an understatement.

[vardoburrito]

Phoawww, these are still vectors? Phenomenal!
Your vector works are one of the few that I don't mind staring at all day.
It looks like oil paints in Art Rage. (noob eyes though).

Being back at work has meant drawing has taken a back seat while I equalise my energy levels again.

*Jumps on for a piggy back* - My mind is still in slumber.

... have asked to use a couple of my pictures for their next release. To say I'm chuffed, might be an understatement.

Awesome!
Your old pieces with the older versions still holds up nicely.

When I use "Chuffed" I can never pull it off, I'm too laid back me thinks.

(Cat nap time)

[Nightblue]

The master study looks great! Don't worry too much about overlaying it. what's important is your understanding of why the shapes are there and how to express it. Also, you might want to finish the colors in the background, given that the rest of the master study looks very finished and good