Walking above Water

**Trudy** · May 22nd, 2009, 08:33 PM

I wanted to open a sketchbook for a long time but everytime I look at those already existing - my jaw drops and my confidence goes down.
I really want to be as good as everyone else here - so I´ll start my walk above the water. It´s a bit unsure, a bit impossible, but hey I love water. ^__^

I need to practise: using refereces, lights and darks, anatomy (of course), general composition, persepektive, city and all kinds of technical stuff ... nearly everything.

the picture below is a practise with photoreference I did just now. You can view the photo here

**Flashback** · May 22nd, 2009, 08:46 PM

If you need a confidence boost just look at my sketchbook. Don't try to be better then other try to improve yourself for your own satisfaction. Don't rank yourself.

**Trudy** · May 23rd, 2009, 01:56 PM

@Flashback: you´re right ... but I just don´t seem to be able to stop the ranking thing. Of course I want to improve for myself - to get a professional ad fullfill my dream

( to get where some already are ... and thats where my ranking/ comparing sets in again ^^" )

reference
As you see I have big problems with foreshortening - I just somehow take it out of the picture O.o

I had many issues with the leg too. earlier version :click

**kuni-bob** · May 23rd, 2009, 02:01 PM

Wow, this is looking great so far. Don't worry about comparing yourself to others -- what matters most here is attitude and determination.

Beautiful work on the colours and form especially. I can't wait to see you progress even more!

**Trudy** · May 24th, 2009, 05:47 PM

@kuni-bob: thank you!

I didn´t have much time today since I wasn´t at home so I decided to do something more relaxing and practise some faces:

the mistakes I see:
her nose is tilted slightly wrong/ her eye area isn´t really right if I mirror - please tell me if you note something else

(I did this last night before going to bed (around 3 am

) - I am aware that especially the eye-area looks extremely distorted
(it´s widened too much I think) )

**kuni-bob** · May 25th, 2009, 01:03 AM

I love the colours in these new ones. Beautiful expressions on their faces, too -- very calm and serene!

In the first piece, I believe her ear looks as if it's too far forward (as if it's on plane with her cheekbones instead of on the side of her head.) I hope that helps!

**Marshall Stevens** · May 25th, 2009, 01:25 AM

most definetly an inspiration to me, I just started a sketchbook too, and well I'm kind of nervous too, but your paintings look nice and I was wondering where you learned to use that computer program, and which one is that exactly?

**Trudy** · May 27th, 2009, 08:08 PM

@ kuni-bob : yes you´re right (since I watched one piece as a child I tend to draw the ears too low ^^")

@Marshall Stevens: maaaany practise. I know thats a boring answer but it´s true. I draw digital for about two and a half years if that helps. yes for now I still have photoshop ... I could use it in my school, but since I´m nearly finished now I need to get it somehow for myself D: (testversions don´t run forever it´s so sad... xD )

here´s what I did today
My life is so busy nowadays - It´s 2 am already again - but I so wanted to draw. (please bear with me but I´m too tired to search the reference -link out again it´s a photo from click )

3 hours *dies* I need to get faster.
Edit: fixed the link

**strings** · May 27th, 2009, 11:07 PM

keep it up! The last one is looking really good

**Trudy** · May 30th, 2009, 10:49 PM

thanks

ref link: click

I know its very rough - I have so many problems with complicated poses its horrible - it took me an eternity to get it somewhat right.

also my normal drawing style is annoying me lately *gah * I need to change it. I´ll post something soon.

**Trudy** · June 7th, 2009, 04:42 PM

I think somehow the contrast is weak.
I originally intended to finish this- but I forgot to give them clothes and can´t fit them in anymore without destroying the composition. (I was so fixed to get the anatomy right... ah *sighs* )

Done without any references.

my problems: his head / his left arm / her neck / darks on his back

**Caboodle** · June 13th, 2009, 05:47 AM

Wow, truly impressive stuff!
I especially like the two portraits, the first study and the last one of the lying man. Very nicely done!

And I can completely understand your nervousness... I am kinda feeling the same, especially because here are so many stunning artists..

But I told you before, I find it very impressive that you constantly try to improve and always question your art and style. - Keep that up!

Hrmm.. considering the last piece I agree with the points you've spoken of..
maybe you should lengthen the left arm (viewers point) a bit more?
Also his right arm lacks a bit of the power which is suggested in the movement. It is the bending of the arm that is damping the power. Maybe it would look better if the arm was shooting straight forward to her?
Anyway, I am hardly an expert, but that's just what I would suggest.

But the picture looks really interesting so far, and I'm curious to see the further progress of it! n.n

**Trudy** · June 14th, 2009, 06:27 PM

@Caboodle:

thank you for the suggestions. I think you´re right about the arms. >___> ah noes. well see. I´ll have to change alot anyways because of the clothes so the arm wont make the big diffrence. ^___^ I´ll try to make him more energetic.

so hm no I am not dead. I just did more finished looking things, wich are already online at my dA... but I´ll link them here so I don´t look lazy.

probably the oldest of the following and personal.

click here if you want a short explanation

again a photo practise: (but I liked it enough to put it into my gallery)
I can´t find the photo again. I have it on my harddrive but I don´t want to hurt any copyrights by uploading it to photbucket...

30 mins speedy out of boredom. ... we all knew link would be alot faster with a REAL waepon xD
(people in dA chat suggested to do something with zelda/ another wanted to see a futuristic waepon ... wich I am bad at drawing ^^" )

and finally the one I need crits on :
I seldom color lineart. But my paintings (if not referenced) miss details... So this is a try to colour one. what do you think in general?
I also have big problems with her hands and feet :/

**Trudy** · June 27th, 2009, 08:57 AM

soo I finally scanned in some of my traditional sketches - wich are really bad.
ah sighs.

thats 13 pages:
bigger view: http://cheezycat.deviantart.com/art/...ches-127407747

and one with a bit more effort - somehow it´s far easier for me to draw women.
I always struggle so much with muscles...

**Rotor** · June 27th, 2009, 09:19 AM

Nice, keep up with the studies. I see good use of colours here.
I'll try critting the horned female: Although it seems to be quite stylised, I think the hands and feet are very small compared to say, the face. Also, is her right hand bubbling?

Maybe give even darker/sharper shadows. Also check reference on how fabrics fold and contort with body forms. Other than that it looks promising, I'm a noob with colours so no tips from me but I really like the palette on this one.

Keep it up, you'll get there.

**Trudy** · April 8th, 2010, 03:38 PM

so I am slowly getting back to draw daily practise stuff. I really feel like I've gotten worse at those and looking at older pictures - I have D:
so these are from today / yesterday and the landscape one is a little bit older.
I have some pencilsketches lying around too but I haven´t scanned them yet.

the first one is ugly I know. ^^" I am still trying to somehow merge my two styles because things I draw and things I paint look so awfully different.

I hate the face at the second one too. I tried a new brush here after watching charlie Bowaters livestream (though I made the brush myself ^^)

well the other three... I need to practise more - I know and I will.

**Zeitwolf** · April 9th, 2010, 01:00 PM

Good to know, you're back! *sends waves of motivation*
I like the pencils and the ref'ed pics, you're good at picking colours and seeing the proportions

**Caboodle** · April 9th, 2010, 02:44 PM

Good to see you back and going again!
And don't be to hard on yourself... the pictures are good.

I especially like the landscape and the nude-study. I wish I would have such a good understanding of blocking out colours yet. Your figures always look very solid.

Just don't try to be a perfectionist. I know it ruins a lot of enthusiasm and motivation, I threw the perfectionist-concept away a while ago and since then I'm working a lot more freely and better.

Anyway, I hope to see a lot more from you here!

**Trudy** · April 11th, 2010, 04:17 PM

thanks for your kind words you two

here are some traditional sketches:
the first two rows are very quick lifedrawing pictures - done with ink and the back of a matchstick - it´s just the small ones that fit into my scanner (and not all of them either) I´d love to have lifedrawing lessons regularly but sadly I haven´t

small dragons - I kinda like them - even if the don´t resemble the picture in my head.

and more sketches ^^

the first two rows are very quick lifedrawing pictures - done with ink and the back of a matchstick - it´s just the small ones that fit into my scanner (and not all of them either) I´d love to have lifedrawing lessons regularly but sadly I haven´t

**Trudy** · April 12th, 2010, 08:02 PM

me and Zeitwolf are from now on the "Chubby Sharks"

**Trudy** · April 13th, 2010, 12:58 PM

^^ page I like from my sketchbook

**Trudy** · April 17th, 2010, 09:55 AM

yay a new picture again ^^

**Zeitwolf** · April 17th, 2010, 05:17 PM

is this rumo the wolpertinger? it is extreeeeemely cute! the paws and snout look awesome!!

**Trudy** · April 19th, 2010, 08:35 AM

zeitwolf - yes inspired from rumo ^^

here are the sketches from yesterday night and today morning. All but one from observation.

**Junpei** · April 19th, 2010, 08:55 AM

wow, everything looks pretty nice, I like the sharks, almost looks friendly but I'm not sure. Your sketches are great.

Hope to see more. Oh, and how far above water are we taking about? Like, diving board or airplane?

**Zeitwolf** · April 19th, 2010, 12:39 PM

I like the fullbody sketches. the proportions work out so well!

@junpei: making some steps in the plane between the seats you can hardly call "walking above water" - but nice demur!

**Trudy** · April 23rd, 2010, 04:30 PM

junpei: getting to the surface would be fine for a start . thank you very much!

zeitwolf: *hug* thanks :>

so here are some more sketches - I am sorry they are so big v_v
first are anatomy sketches done from the photos of bammes Zeitwolf was so nice to send me. (I want the whole book *whines*)

Also I got back to pose maniacs because of my proportionproblems, the next two are done with that.

The other two are plain photo studies - the don´t look that special scanned but I like them on paper. stock ref used for the first here and for the second here

the last one is the Anima charcter of a friend.

**DenisM** · March 10th, 2011, 03:13 AM

hi man, thx for visit. i love the way u mix ur colours on canvas. and the house with the mountains in background on post 16# are awesome. i try to go that direktion. maybe u like to hav little conversation about colour and mix them together. i think u can go more crazy with that.