Mercuralis's Sketchbook

[Mercuralis]

I've been told I need to start a sketchbook thread here. I'm still pretty squeaky new here... lurked for a long time, been doing the CHOW events for about a month or so, and I have a teensy little gallery lost among all the thumbnails up there. But I thought a sketchbook would be good practice.

So, below are a couple of master head studies, WIPs, and some old sketches and stuff that I like. Everything else, from now on, will be new.

[Dominicque]

Hey! I saw you do your 'Queen of hearts' pic on youtube, nice job.
Looking forward to seeing more.

[Mercuralis]

Dominicque Yeah, I think I get recognized more for that painting than anything else I've ever done. Hence the reason I use it so often for my avatar. People recognize that better than my name.

[Enydimon]

Really nice studies, I'm liking your style. I'll be watchin' this.

[Rafal Dorsz]

Great portraits,great style And that picture with the dragon is amazing Gotta check that youtube video Dominicque mentioned
Keep posting, I'll definitely be watching

[quickreaver]

*waves madly!*

[zephyri]

Welcome to the fracas, Mel. Good to have you here! Liking the dragon piccy a lot... watch the shadows on the underside of her chin though, it's making it look currently like her jaw bones are at a totally different angle to the rest of her features, which don't seem to be curving round her skull much at the moment? The studies are awesome too... might be an idea to try one just in one particular type of brush too, I did one a while back with just the chalk brush in PS, and it taught me a lot about defining edge when you've not got anything super hard edged.

[Mercuralis]

Thanks Sam.

RE: studies... the top two were pretty much done with only one brush. Exception for some of the hair. I was trying to do them in under an hour, so I cheated a little on the hair.

RE: dragon... yeah. I have a reference for most of the pose, but didn't have a good ref for the face at that stage. I do now, so hopefully I'll be able to fix that in the next WIP update (which will likely be posted on Twitter, not here. ) Cuddly demons will go here.

[Toffeeliz]

*swoons* http://www.conceptart.org/forums/att...1&d=1239556925 so glad you made an SB, how else would I have found this SB? Please post more pencil work, I love the bit you have here and need more.

[Hayds33]

WOW your art is really amazing very inspiring, espeicially to some1 whos just started keep posting cant wait 2 c more

[psantha]

Wow very strong start! I love the way you render! Yeah don't stop, keep em coming!!!

[Mercuralis]

Decided that my artwork sucks and needs a boost, so I'm going to try to do some master copies and studies for the next few weeks. Which, I guess, means it's time to dust off my sketchbook and start adding stuff.

Bouguereau master copy (3-4 hours), focusing mostly on facial structure and skin tones. Got bored with the lace.

[Mercuralis]

Another master study, this one a quick b/w copy of the head from Jean Leon Gerome's "Pelt Merchant of Cairo" (a personal favorite).

[KittyKaida]

wow, beautiful faces! very nice tone work!