The "Can I have another fiver?" sketchbook

**ariel_medel** · August 29th, 2009, 12:30 PM

Try with 7 heads instead of 8... I had the same problem (and still do at some level), I had to unlearn a lot of stuff cause I drew very idealized bodies. The truth is sometimes the eye gets fooled and we tend to think that to achieve a perfect figure it needs to be very tall, which isn't the case. Just don't get frustrated, learning to draw takes a lot of practice. There are many useful sketchbooks here, look at how the best draw in a very natural form. Once you nail anatomy and proportions, you'll be able to stylize it without making it look too unreal. good luck

**PxelSlayer** · August 30th, 2009, 03:49 PM

Thanks to all of you who commented and suggested on my work. Something weird is in the air - sketchbook threads are starting to "thrive", people are commenting, posting like there`s no tomorrow...I like it

K, this is what I did today - 30 and 60 sec posemaniacs and a figure study that took way too long and still looks like crap.

Note to self - IT CAN ONLY GET BETTER, OK?

P.S. Does anybody know how to change threads thumbnail image?

**PxelSlayer** · August 31st, 2009, 06:45 AM

Value study

**illustrateth** · August 31st, 2009, 12:53 PM

Like the kneeling woman gesture.. . Her legs look right.

**PxelSlayer** · September 2nd, 2009, 11:06 AM

Thanks people! As already mentioned, any CC is welcome, but an occasional "heads-up" is nice as well. Should really have my parents have a look to see how to do that... LMAO

Sketches for this weeks ChOW. Leggy, tall figures is what I do best, so why not, right? Thing is, I love how it looks on paper drawn with pencils, but when it comes to digital coloring (or coloring at all)...X_X...

Tentacle hair? WHAT WAS I THINKING?! Who`s gonna shade it to look nearly as normal as possible? (insert Homer Simpson moment here)

**PxelSlayer** · September 13th, 2009, 07:18 AM

My first ChOW...yaaay...could have turned out better, but this is all I could come up with in 6 months of photoshop training...If you still didn`t do it, please go visit http://www.conceptart.org/forums/sho...d.php?t=168184 and cast your votes. There are some amazing pieces there, lots of them first-timers, so...spread the love, show support, comment. In the end, that`s what CA is all about, right?

**illustrateth** · September 16th, 2009, 02:26 PM

Beautiful!

PxlSlayer, I was wondering if, since you have a background in fashion design, if you're familiar with how to design textiles. I've always wondered how to go about it, and would be interested in reading it if you ever put up a small tutorial. . .

**PxelSlayer** · September 29th, 2009, 01:19 AM

@dragonroseart - Thank you! I have a class called textile pattern design, and truth be told, I`m not enjoying it that much...too abstract, just like the professor (the woman is crazy, I tell you

)

Just something little for now (this weeks ChOW, WIPs on char#1, inspired by Waltzin' Black - Stranglers and art by Lori Earley)

**p sage** · September 29th, 2009, 02:08 AM

The ballerina in the middle looks a little like Madonna (but better looking

) Intentional?

If you still want to know how to change your thread thumbnail:

The first attachment in post #1 is your thumbnail. Just change that.

**PxelSlayer** · September 29th, 2009, 02:15 AM

Originally Posted by p sage

The ballerina in the middle looks a little like Madonna (but better looking

) Intentional?

If you still want to know how to change your thread thumbnail:

The first attachment in post #1 is your thumbnail. Just change that.

Yes, she does, dosen`t she? I thought the same thing! I was too zoomed in to notice it, but when I zoomed out, there she was - queen of pop. NOT intentional.

Oh, and thanks for the info about the thumbnail issue, will take a crack at it ASAP.

**illustrateth** · September 29th, 2009, 09:37 PM

Nice character. I didn't realize Madonna right away. . .actually had a really strong Alice in Wonderland vibe (vein of American McGee's alice). But now that you say it, that is who she looks like.

I think it's right, but I wonder if you might want to double check her waist attaches to her hips normally. . .sometimes it's easy to disconnect it with a tutu. But it does look right. . . . (I'm presuming she's wearing a corset.

**PxelSlayer** · October 7th, 2009, 12:53 PM

Bad case of flu pinned me to my bed, so no ChOW for now, unfortunately...still, I picked up my sketchbook to make several drawings. I have a new class this year, drawing/making historical costumes, and I love it!It would seem this is the closest I`m going to get to character design at my college, but I`ve decided to make the most out of it. The professor is cool, as are the assistants, and the best part - they let you draw your own figure ( I`m, at last, not stuck with drawing leggy creatures, at least here), and they don`t want fashionable outfits - it`s all about how far you can take the idea. Last week we had examples of ancient Crete outfits (c. 2000 - 1200 BC), and had to make designs based on them. The first one is an original outfit (drawn at class, which is why it looks so %/#@&), and the other 2 were variations to the theme. Never thought I would have so much fun designing something NOT wearable. Costume design FTW!

**p sage** · October 7th, 2009, 05:36 PM

Nice costume studies. Good detail. The faces are looking good, too, as well as the general proportions.

I think the figures look a little stiff; what would cure that is a little more rhythm in the figure (the first several pages of Bridgman's book goes over that)... and it's basically what Vilppu terms "flow." Generally gesture helps sort that out.

**Ian Miles** · October 8th, 2009, 11:18 AM

Man thanks for the Artist´s joke in first page.

**PxelSlayer** · October 8th, 2009, 02:06 PM

@ Sage - Yup, you`re spot on. I`m still having problems with achieving a natural posture on a figure with right proportions. Proofs to show there`s still a long road in front of me.

@Ian Miles - thanks, though I didn`t make it. It just fits sooooo good, you know. I really hope people will start looking at my sketchbook b/c of my work, though...

K, new ones. These are for my fashion design class, and I had to design outfits based on Rubens paintings. Thing is, most of his work includes nudity, and the costumes he did portray are from 2 very opposite periods - 16th century "stiff" Spanish court fashion and 17th century baroque fashion, known for it`s looseness and flowing lines (diagonal cut). Good luck trying to combine those O_o

Also, about figures...I almost got into a brawl with the assistant, turns out I HAVE to draw deformed, long-legged "creatures", b/c that`s the way it`s "supposed to be". I hate it. But, if I want to keep my grades up, I have to be a good little student and do what this neurotic, anemic and anorexic woman wants me to do.
I`m also uploading some of my 1 year old drawings (made while applying for college) I stumbled upon while going through my papers. And go figure - she loved them...Can someone please tell me I`m not loosing my mind?

**PxelSlayer** · October 12th, 2009, 04:39 PM

A request...

**PxelSlayer** · October 15th, 2009, 11:48 PM

Still nature (from class)
doodle
this weeks ChOW WIP/self portrait

in that order

**p sage** · October 16th, 2009, 12:12 AM

Congrats on the good likeness of yourself there, yeah?

Looks like you had fun this week.

I would suggest on the gladiator's helmet in the still life--try to use pencil strokes that describe the form. In other words... the strokes should run along the contour of the object and describe it, not just provide value.

Good work.

**ark1** · October 16th, 2009, 12:23 AM

asdfghjkl

**SaintAsh** · October 16th, 2009, 12:25 AM

I really enjoyed looking at your progress -- the anatomy of your female figures is growing stronger with each post.

**NickyBeats** · October 16th, 2009, 12:57 AM

holy shit pxl!!!!!!!!!!!!!

your improvement since i last looked at your work is out of this world dude!! you must be working mighty hard. im seriously impressed, and kind of jealous... uh i mean inspired. god damnit, now i have to go do like a hundred studies to try and keep pace. jerk.

keep it up man, your persistance is contageous.

**Hellfire** · October 16th, 2009, 01:27 AM

Bloody hell man, your sketchbook is great!!!
You have to do more finished pieces, I can see lots of potential here.
Cheers mate!

**PxelSlayer** · October 17th, 2009, 06:06 PM

Thank you, everybody! I have been getting some info from my friends that I`m getting better, but dismissed it b/c...well, they`ll say anything to buy them a cup of coffee

Coming from you people, though...might be some truth there. Did spend up to 10 hours on drawing during some days. Could it be that hard work actually...pays off?!

This time -
Sketches (including a banshee, have to work on that idea)
finished ChOW (give or take a tweak or two)
and...Nibru...b/c he IS the supreme commander of the universe as such.

Again, in that order.

**Lav** · October 17th, 2009, 06:43 PM

hey, really nice sketchbook

the way you draw your women seems cute but very sensual at the same time, i love the long legs. I'm not too fond of the style you used for the last drawings in post 76 tho, but it's still interesting to see
And nice nibru btw

**andres333** · October 17th, 2009, 07:39 PM

I laughed for hours with that one of nibiru

**andrea w** · October 17th, 2009, 08:11 PM

Whooaa some sick improvement since the first post! Your ladies are all so lovely and you're getting better by each post...! I'm really enjoying your digital work, but may I suggest using more varied skintones? Some blues, greens, warm reds, purples etc really add more life to skin. Here's a small tutorial on skintones by Linda Bergqvist. Keep it up, post mooar!

**The Whistler** · October 18th, 2009, 02:28 PM

Hej!

Ovaj zadnji CHOW ti je odlican, opcenito se vidi jako velik napredak od prvog posta.

Post #58 je odlicna slika, jedino sto mi se cinilo da je osvjetljenje na kosi malo bolje u prethodnom WIP-u, al svida mi se svejedno

And in English because I don't want to be rude ALL the way, check the tutorial andrea w linked, it's awesome stuff. All of Linda's tutorials in general are extremely helpful.

Keep up the good work and see you around

**PxelSlayer** · October 19th, 2009, 01:00 PM

Thanks guys! Posts like these really are encouraging for an old fart like me. There`s a lot of "kids" out there who are ahead of me skill-wise by miles, which is depressing by itself, so...gotta keep grinding.
@ Andrea - thanks for the link, I already have that one stashed in my "tutorials" folder. Shading skin is really hard - there are just so many things to look out for - lightning, tone, texture...enough to spend a lifetime studying! But hey, if that`s what it takes...

Had a bad day today hen it came to drawing, so I decided to cheer myself up and make a study. Also realized I did only 4 (!) in these past 7 months, so I HAVE to do more of these...

Go, Pxel, GO!

**illustrateth** · October 20th, 2009, 09:26 PM

wow. You are getting really good. You're drawings feel a lot more solid now (as in they have meat on their bones, hopefully you know what i mean). Hope you keep at it!