Digital Sketchbook

[thegrayslayer]

Right, about time I updated this thread so I'll be posting my first scribblings on some ongoing projects. In the meantime, these are what kept me busy through January (Team Chow III).

[thegrayslayer]

To kick off a new personal project; some sketchbook work towards 'the Cavalier'. I'm updating and restyling characters from Dungeons and Dragons. That's the cartoon series of course, not the film-durge with Jeremy Irons in it.

~Slayer

[thegrayslayer]

'eric', again.

[Reedux]

I'm just gonna go out on a limb here and assume you like Vikings and Medieval stuff :p

I really liked the crazy old man in the lower right of post 61.
You nailed the Values.

I think you should spend more time on your sketches and drawings.

The way I learned was to just keep going until it looks right.
Or until I'm about to jump off the balcony.
You'll draw faster the more you do it, so at first it'll take hours, maybe days (Which it did for me) but later it might take you one or two hours to get the necessary info down.

Thanks for dropping by my SB

[thegrayslayer]

Cheers, Reedux.

In terms of looking right with the drawings, I generally keep going with a sketch until it fulfills what it was supposed to. For example, the latest project where I'm looking at poses swiftly and colour swatches, etc. Am not too concerned about hitting every detail and value at this stage, that will occur when all the prep is done and I'm working on the 'final' piece.

I probably did rush the last 2 portraits - as I did each during a half-time of the footy (FA Cup weekend is a hinderance!) - but I still think they answered the question. Am happy with the look of the dude for the Cavalier, and I can move on to the other characters now.

Thanks again for stopping by though, and your comments. Keep your stuff updated, also.

~Slayer

[Istmin52]

The way I learned was to just keep going until it looks right.
Or until I'm about to jump off the balcony.
You'll draw faster the more you do it, so at first it'll take hours, maybe days (Which it did for me) but later it might take you one or two hours to get the necessary info down.

I do agree with this comment. I notice sometimes in your paintings that you can spend a little time on your values. For example:
in post #61, the legs still feel flat because there aren't enough values. Your figure drawings are really good. Keep it up.

[thegrayslayer]

Hey Istmin52, thanks for stopping by. Fair comment on the legs of the goddess - was pushed for time on this one and didn't really spend enough at the front-end sourcing reference. I'm not so restricted on the current project so will make sure I give it enough time in the right places.

~Slayer

[thegrayslayer]

Small update, quick sketches; poses and costume ideas.

[Liz Edwards]

Lovely dynamic poses! Last one is looking great too, very solid

[thegrayslayer]

Thanks for the encouragement, Liz. Am determined to maintain impetus on this one!

Another quickie-study. May need to bulk him up a bit, he was the leader after all.

[AG.]

Really nice work on the last archer. The confident pose and witty expression give him a lot of personality. Also a fan of the woman in post #68. Love the lighting. Painted from reference?

[Peetaer]

'eric' looks a lot like colin farrell...

anyways...good shit here mate. would love to see more of the royal imperial guard. you rocked those hardcore...

[thegrayslayer]

Hey AG. Yeah, I've been plundering 3d.sk during lunchtimes as it's a great resource when you're not completely struck on pose.

Cheers, Peetaer. I want the characters to 'exist' as though film actors. Eric will indeed be 'played by' Mr. Farrell. As for the Royal Guard, he's still being worked on. I'm making a more 3d-heavy conclusion to that project, (progress below).

Thanks for stopping by.

~Slayer

[thegrayslayer]

I made this for a friend, but it never made it to print. It was meant to be CD art for a Chillout album.. not terribly original, I guess.

[thegrayslayer]

I dug these out too, whilst tidying up / archiving. I've posted them as I'm due to start classes again soon and thought it'd be a nice yardstick to gauge them against.

~Slayer

[thegrayslayer]

Hey jencruz.

If you mean the Guard head - it's a render from 3d Studio Max. As is the ice head, straight render. Texturing is done in Photoshop.

3ds Max isn't free unfortunately, but you can get a trial version from Autodesk's website if you fancy a dabble.

[Liz Edwards]

Yo got any rad new work?

Love your life drawings, when is the new class starting? Hope to see you outdo yourself!

[thegrayslayer]

Hey Liz. Been a while.. I'm putting a few bits together for the latest ChOw (Robin Hood), if it doesn't get finished in time I'll post here. More Life Drawing after Easter, apparently...

Hope you are well, and still turning out the fun stuff?

[Kambei Shimada]

Nice sketchbook! loving the lightsaber/staff.

Your life drawings are good too.

[Liz Edwards]

Hey Liz. Been a while.. I'm putting a few bits together for the latest ChOw (Robin Hood), if it doesn't get finished in time I'll post here. More Life Drawing after Easter, apparently...

Hope you are well, and still turning out the fun stuff?

Ah I look forward to seeing your ChOW stuff, its always good

How are your paintings coming along?

Everything is feeling a lot more like work at the moment - the 3d stuff is still good fun but the rest is feeling like a waste of time and it's getting me down. Hermited myself away trying to get it done, haha. Not done any proper drawing or painting for a while - it sucks! Almost done with the year though.

[thegrayslayer]

Oh no! Am sorry to hear it's gotten to be a chore of late, Liz. Especially if it's not feeling useful. Painting will be picked up again tomorrow, as I've got the whole family together for a week (as it's Easter). I want to break the back of underpainting another big(ish) canvas before spending time with the girls. Ping me a mail at home if you want to chat / moan - or I'll check my work mail at some point too. Hope things improve for you, soon!

Chow complete, or rather... abandoned so I can get on with other stuff!

[Liz Edwards]

Niiice! Dude has attitude. He's perhaps not quite grounded on his chair, but that's my only crit, I love it, and his ominous forest lair. Great job on the boots too!

Yea I'll shoot you an email sometime, will try not to mope too much in your direction though haha

[thegrayslayer]

Thanks. I agree, should really seat him better... will send you the self-portrait photos (me in a duvet-cover) when I feel brave enough. The boots were actually used in one of the 'Pir of the Carribean' movies. I'll have you know.

[Jephyr X]

Cool sb...great wurk through-out!

[thegrayslayer]

Thanks, Jephyr_X. Like the musculiture(sp?) studies on your site, btw.

~Slayer

[elpez]

That´s a great Robin Hood characterization!
I love the general mood of the canvas, and with that pose you´ve just nailed it. If you think on a forest outlaw, that is the kind of man you´ll like to expect.
Another nice choice is the light source, although I miss a little more of black on the branches and darker tones on his face. But it is a great piece. I imagine it as a really fine book cover. It has so much power.
congratulations.

[thegrayslayer]

Thanks for the positive feedback, elpez - really encouraging. Given that it's made from photo-reference of myself, also a tad worrying! Perhaps I just have that moody outlaw look about me after a day at work?

~Slayer

[B-zilla]

Heya! Thanks for stopping by my SB. I really enjoyed looking through yours! You've been improving so quickly, it's a real inspiration! Loving your life drawing work. The colors and values are done very nicely!

looking forward to seeing more!

[JawaEater]

Dude! I love your Imperial red guard you did. Its rad.

[jigje]

Sooo good in here Slayer. All great, especially those gesteral thumbs in #62 and 68. Makes me realise that if I can't capture a gesture, the drawing won't work. Thanks for showing.