The "Can I have another fiver?" sketchbook

[JesseM]

Your drawings look awesome. There is no "right" or "wrong" in art, only "better" and "best." (and "worst," but you're not anywhere near that end, so it's not really wort mentioning). Be kind to yourself and explore art.
So in regards to those torsos--they look good. Abs can form in a million different ways; they vary with each body. If you're not satisfied with them keep drawing, but realize that there's nothing "wrong" with your current pictures.

I don't know what in particular is causing your woes (just art frustration?) but I can recommend a good book about self-growth, Mindset by Dr. Carol Dweck. After the first half the book kind of falls into repeating itself (but making its point very well), so that's a small drawback, but it's easy and interesting to read and not too long. Mindset creates a subtle change in your thought pattern. I don't know if it's what you need, but I definitely view the world differently after reading it, and it's in a good way. So I'm recommending it!
You seem to recognize that mental health is just as important (probably more, actually!) as your art ability. So do yourself a favor, get a copy of the book and have some faith in yourself and time!

[PxelSlayer]

Thanks, guys.

I`ve been thinking a lot about this situation I`m in, and I think I`m on to something - I`ve used up my starting potential. I`m now the best that I can be, driven solely on experimenting and figuring things out. No studies. Or, not as nearly as much as there should be. My work will always be and stay the same if I don`t put new stuff "into" my head. There`s nothing else left for me to come "naturally", you know. The fuel is gone.

This leads to frustration. Me, a person who is used to practically "breeze" through things (while interested in them), now has to sit down and put some effort into it. Normally, I`d drop it (like many things in life) if I didn`t care, but I do. I still care. And this is brad new territory for me. It`s an internal turmoil I`m not used to.

I actually sat down and pulled out my books to do some studies. And I can`t tell you how frustrated I got. It started with "How could I possibly learn something from these drawings that don`t look so good? How could just copying them teach me something, when I don`t even know what I`m copying? None of these make sense!" to "I`ll never be as good as people who can afford to go to art school or hire models to pose for them, go to a life drawing class, or even buy better books. How can I learn to draw anatomy and figures if I have no access to it? I`ll never figure it out."

Well, I have to figure it out. I have to find a way to compensate for being in this situation I`m in. I`m probably over thinking it, but still...It is frustrating. On top of being a self educated artist wannabe, I also have to become one heck of an inventor. I don`t have to re-invent the wheel. I have to find a way for it to work for me.

Eh...

And now to be a bit more specific - latest chow try.


Good thing is - I tried something new. a guy in a space suit of some sort. Never did that before, so it`s a plus.

Bad thing is - the figure looks awkward. I always have a hard time drawing a 3/4 view, because I don`t understand how everything is connected (skeleton and bones). This ends up with me trying to fix the angle over and over again, never producing a satisfying result. His shoulders are off. His neck is not connected. His legs are in a unnatural position. His entire gesture is unnatural. Also, material rendering is not that good, and his ornaments look out of place (mainly due to low understanding of perspective and how shapes translate into it).
All in all - a nice effort. But I have to do a lot better if I`m ever going to pay the bills and eat some food doing this. And I do like food.
Next one has to be better.

[Liberty]

Im loving your monologue.
But I doubt theres anything to figure out except working thru frustrations.

Take care.

[JesseM]

I'm sure you could find some figure drawing sessions nearby you? They're usually not more than $10, maybe $5 or something. Rebudget and give yourself $20 a month or so to go to a couple sessions. It is important for your career, and it's not that expensive. Prioritize it and you can make it work.

And yeah, keep playing, keep curious. I find changing medium is great when I feel like I'm in a stalemate. That, or just changing subjects (for me, that'd be animals or landscapes or something).

Last figure is looking good--the colors are kinda muddy, though.

[Ghast]

First off, love your sketchbook and your character designs. They're quite inspirational, as I'm trying to improve doing digital creatures and characters while I have some time off. Especially looking at the first few pages compared to your latest posts. So keep posting so I have someone to look towards! hahaha

Secondly, I read your last little rant and I really feel compelled to say that as someone who isn't in art school, you are doing a DAMN good job from what I can see here and in ChOW. Experimenting and problem solving often lead to good things so don't sell yourself short on it. Just try doing something different everyday, including the studies and experimenting. Variety really helps me clear my head whenever I feel crappy artistically. And perish worry about people in art school. I'm in one and I wish I produced work of your caliber (and feel lucky that you don't have to spend a FORTUNE on supplies and books that you will rarely to never use). It has benefits but even our professors have drilled it into our heads that improvements and self invention, etc. come from us experimenting and practicing on our own rather than with the assignments. So If it helps I suppose you could think about it as you having time to improve in that respect without having the distractions of non art related requirements and other distractions (I relish summer since I get to go back to doing work for myself again). If anything I learned that every artist feels like you do more often than not. Comes with the territory

Keep pushing dude. You'll get through it.

[PxelSlayer]

I got a bit more into why I`m snapping every now and then - insecurity. Well, mostly.There are no promises that my life will get better if and when I get better at this. There are no promises that one day I won`t just end up hating it all, being a chore or a "job" I`m expected to do (and don`t get me started on that whole freelancer lifestyle...from what I read, it`s nerve wrecking...), and I`ll just end up being another little cog in the machine. A nameless nobody who draws chicks with major anatomy issues and comes up with really uninspired designs. A mediocre art twat.

Actually, I kinda like that phrase.

I did, however, put some things into motion. Nothing major-major, more like minor-major, so now I have to see how it plays out. In the meantime, I picked up Painter again, and...I love it. Spite the fact it`s unintuitive, crashes a lot and dosen`t recognize my tablet, which is not a Wacom. It puts my computer on a hiatus, making it produce all these sad, sad noises, but boy - does it handle color well.

Doodle dump.

Past Chow, reworked a bit.


Current Chow...meh...

And Painter stuff

[Izaya-Shirow]

You are truly inspiring! I will start a sketchbook too, maybe I can improve as you did.

oh and yes, this is my first post after lurking all this time since I registered.

[GEB]

Fucks sake dude drop me a line when you're in London next and we'll get fucked up and bitch about how untallented we think we are confidence is your issue. Don't worry about what life might be like or will be like, just deal with it day to day. You got some great skills you just need to learn to enjoy it again and stop putting pressure on yourself...

Fucks sake

[PxelSlayer]

So I spent the whole night doing these sketches. Believe it or not.
Why am I posting it here? To accept my mistakes.

There will be lots of those from now on.
I have less than a year...to learn, well - everything. Crap...

[PxelSlayer]

Sketches...



And a "doodle". I know there`s A LOT of things going wrong with it, but...whatever. I enjoyed it, had fun. It counts as well, right? :]



I`ve also been thinking about doing live streams. No idea if my net connection could handle it, but why not give it a go? Would you guys even be interested in seeing me doodle and talk nonsense...?

[PxelSlayer]

Ok, lets`s try it - TEST LIVE STREAM in about 10...ish minutes.
Don`t have a mic yet, so I`ll just be doodling and testing if my net connection can handle it. Fingers crossed

Edit - Ok, seems to be working. Live streams for everybody!
Also, daily doodles.

[GEB]

They look fucking great man!

[PxelSlayer]

Todays work!

My first perspective study! Well, it would probably look more like a study if I didn`t go nuts with...whatever it is.
I learned that perspective is fun. I never thought I`d say that.


A doodle of a hipster looking guy in a jungle. Yea, I don`t know either.


And a daily character. Would have spent a lot less time on him, but I kept fixing his face. Have to study faces, a LOT! And arms! And anatomy. And design.
...
Well, at least I can`t say I`ll be bored.


So, I guess I found a way that works for me. I keep myself busy. This way I don`t have time to flip out and feel all sorry for myself. So far - so well.

[PxelSlayer]

Some more one point perspective practice and a daily character (redesign of one of my old doodles).
Busy, busy, busy!

[AllyAlbon]

That last character is great, and your recent digital sketches are beautiful. You don't have anything to worry about

[WoofyDesigns]

Great work! I love the environments and the character designs! Subbed.

[PxelSlayer]

Some more crappy doodles...




And an announcement.

It would seem that I got a job.

As in, a concept artist job.


...


God, I hope I`ll float. And that my shitty skills will do for now. (pun intended, btw )

Stay tuned. And fingers crossed!

[meth]

congrats man, i wish you all the best

M

[Alexandr Pascenko]

you really got some strong characters dude! i especially fell in love with that one:
http://conceptart.org/forums/showthr...154088&page=15
i hope to see more inspiration and congrats on the job, give your best !

[Qikalain]

congrats on the job. i would suggest you to push your colors a bit more, work on color theorie, how to make contrast with not just light and dark but also using more vibrant and dull colors, etc.

[PxelSlayer]

@Mateja - Thank you, kind sir! I`m going to need buckets of that "best" stuff, I tell you...ohboi...

@Alex - Thanks! Also, thanks for dropping by this SB! Now I can make another scrawl on my "awesome peoplez who visited my SB trololololol" list.

@Qikalain - Thank you, an yea - you are spot on! Just the other day I started experimenting with adding splotches of color of different saturation but same temperature and value, and I`m starting to notice some things. Definitely must continue experimenting*.

*note to self - running low on baby tears, internet troll fingernails and toilet paper. Go shopping. Also, remove blood stains from walls, starting to stink. Feed the sharks. Call mother


Oh well.

Doodles!

[meth]

everything will be ok(just fix those feats, they seams to big imo )

M

[F-inked]

Woah man, seriously nice work. I really like 471 and 463, killer concepts. That hipster jungle is amazing.

[PxelSlayer]

Oh, wow...would you look what time it is. Long time, no update. And everything here is so...shiny. And...new. *_______________* Major overhaul, eh?

Well, ok, so...still alive, thank you for asking. Oh, you didn`t ask? Yea, I really don`t care. I just shoved that piece of information right in your face. You can thank me later.

Also - some art. B/c that`s how people roll here. Apparently. Unless you are in the lounge. All bets are off there.

Images! Been doing some enviro designs for work lately and I definitely don`t count that as my forte , but hey. I`ll evetually whip up something. I hope. o__________o
Warm up sketches are probably the only thing I can show you, so..bleh.





And while doing these, I had to make some characters, just to balance things out, so...alchemy doodles


and a monster dude I did 2 days ago. I just felt like rendering. So, I rendered. I had fun. Also, my OCD - completely satisfied. For now...


Have some pencils as well, but those will have to wait a bit more, till I make a bigger batch to upload. And, of course, I expect you to rip it apart. Like, ALL of it. No need to be nice, PC or polite. Right now, you guys are those with better judgement than mine.
Which is not surprising.
I have bad judgement capabilities.

...it`s genetic. I swear.


More to come, hopefully, soon. In the meantime - crit me.
Crit me hard.

^_^

[kasblue]

A+

and it wants me to lengthen my message? Why?

[Eleyon]

I really don't now how to critique them XD Maybe just le last two landscapes need a bit more definition, but that's all...

[PxelSlayer]

Still alive. Barely. Job was a scam. Freelancing now.

That`s life, I guess.

Not giving up.

[crisimikiwiki]

fantastic sketchbook mate. keep up the good work - your progress is amazing

[Dayle]

Sorry to hear about the job man, but yeah, don't give up. All the best for 2013, I look forward to seeing what awesomeness you come up with.

[llex_paul]

you have some cool cloth design in older posts! I like that, i think thats your strong point, try to use that for your best