MM Howard's Sketchbook - May Cause Temporary Blindness (Update: March 08,2010)

[Eclair]

DO NOT STOP YOUR ART WAY! You need to develope your talant!

[MM Howard]

ekler: Thank you ekler, don't intend to

I start figure drawing studio at a museum downtown next Saturday. Can't wait

In the meantime, here is a sketch I finished last night and a sort of pinup WIP. Feel free to critique (I think after I work on it a bit more I might post it in the critique center or WIP forum too).

Edit: I decided to try somthing different with the pinup. Its not as exaggerated or well put together as it could be.

[Grafguy]

nice sketchbook, would love to see more

[TASmith]

Is the pinup from imagination? The gestural lines of the shoulders and breasts don't line up. The only time I've found they don't line up is if one arm is raised and the other is not, or something else odd like that.

Also, with her leaning far forward, the weight should bring her belly down more into prominence. Her arms are a bit thin, but mostly, I imagine sitting on a bar like that would require alot of balance. Maybe have both her legs in front of her, and leaning forward? Or try and flesh out what you've got.

[~KJK~]

Dude thanks for your comment! It helped me alot and ive improved alot since last time!

[MM Howard]

Grafguy Thanks for visiting. Hopefully I'll post more.

TASmith I understand what you're saying. I did use a reference photo and now I see I have to probably resketch it. When I do, I'll post the edit and the reference photo in here and the critique center. Honestly, I'm trying to get a really cartoonish style out it, which is why the arms are so thin, but I'm going to fix a bit better so it won't look too out of place. Thanks a lot. If you or anybody else wants to do a paintover to help me out before I post it in the critique center for final criticism, I'd really appreciate it.

Parsakoira No problem, glad I could help. Please, tell me if there's anything wrong with what I post when you get the chance!

[TASmith]

If you're going for a cartoon look, I wouldn't blend at all. I'd make her body flat and sharp, with a couple levels of shading, just as sharp and crisp. Of course I'm thinking of the newest style of cartoons you see these days, but that may not be what you're going for. Main thing though, is even if her body's exxagerated, it still needs to be curvy - find ways to exxagerate the curve of her arms, elbows, etc. Also, simplify her face.

[MM Howard]

Okay...so I entered a CHOW round last week and stood against some really great artists. Of course, I'm not going to win and didn't think I even stood a chance, but it was a nice try anyway. It was a great exercise to push me in the right direction. The anatomy is complete off...but I plan on reposting it on DeviantArt once I fix some issues. I'm not going to post this in the Critique Center, but again, this doesn't discourage critique.

I was going to try CHOW this week, but I have too much do I. I do, however, plan on fixing these images hugely. Any critique, again, would be much appreciated.

I also included some sketches of some of my characters from a novel I'm working on called Day Blood, which will probably never see the light of day. In order. If you notice, I suffer from drawing "massive" heads on characters, but I'm getting better. Hopefully newer sketches will be a bit better.

[DigitallyDumbfounded]

Holy macaroni!!
Your portraits are sooo good and alive!
I do however, see some general proportional issues popping up here and there.
Your rendering is very nice and the single parts, torso, legs, arms look fine if seen isolated, put together they don't match anymore.
Just keep the head as the measurement device in mind and a few other marks (hands end ca. halfway down the thigh, elbows down to the end of the ribcage, etc. ... these are all my aproximations anyway and I'd check back with Loomis or so. , I Should prolly do so )
Wich of these are unreferenced?
Oh, and the piercing on the last girls nose seems to be too far in the middle.

Keep it up!

[Larriva Art]

Those faces are charming!

[Silvenon]

May I say that IT IS ABSOLUTELY AWESOME?!!

The faces are really pretty and cute indeed. The anatomy is great. Jennifer is freakin amazing, excellent shading on that one, especially the eyes!


In other words, if I was sick enough, I would marry your skecthbook.

[James.C]

Dude nice work, just stopping by again. Whoa that mermaid is fantastic, like really really cool! I really like your approach to character design. Keep it up, I'm looking forward to more!

[Justice Von Brandt]

Hello
Cute girl drawings
I really like the mermaid but the way her arm dissipates into her hair bothers me abit

[tonynokills]

Awesome work, keep at it. Your Winehouse portrait is pretty spot on.

[Ashie87]

Hay I know its a little late in the game to start commenting on ppls stuff. But, I really love ur stuff and was woundering if u had any observational drawings? and what are or did u send to Ringling? I would love to know

[~KJK~]

Heyy those last few pencil renderings look great! more of them! You should be posting more often man!

[silvestri99]

Looking better and better ech time I stop by. As far as the big heads...it fits the design of the characters for the most part unless you are trying to stay strictly realistic. Keep it up!!

[BlackDelphin]

hey great job with that apple on your first page! the colours are really good and it has a lot of details!!! you make myself ashamed of my own apple haha

and i think those digital portraits of yours are stunning!! lots of secure strokes, and the colours are eye catchy too

just keep at it~
but i think you'll do that anyways ^^

[MM Howard]

Its been so long since I've posted anything!

I decided to start my sketchbook backup and post somethings I've been working on. I did stop with art for a while, got discouraged because I couldn't do the things I had planned to do as far as school, I've decided to get an associates in fine art at a community college and where it takes me from there, so be it!

Anyway here's some new stuff, mostly digital, some speed paints and such. I still need to improve, but I'm getting there. Used Gimp (oldest to newest)

[Rich_C]

Looks like you're improving nicely! The last ones are nice, especially the clothes and skin you've done. Keep going

[Mac Con]

Never feel discouraged things always work out for the best in the end fine art courses are the way to go anyway anyone can draw on a computer but to enhance those skills you need to a good fine artist I’ve been out of the game for a while but that doesn’t take away the fact I can achieve my goals if I stick at it all the best to you