Dsmith's Sketchbook(mostly freelance stuff these days)

[Novbert]

Those backpack studies look really cool, man. The upper part of #2 looks kinda flat - not really three dimensional - and #3 could use maybe a little more detail, but apart from that they look fine. I especially like the flatness of the rendering. You really should push this style more - maybe use it for those cloths concepts up there. They are all in a bad need of some flattening.
Keep it up, pal!

[Lidiev]

Thanks man I will try, but do you have any tips on custom brush like making it more smoother I suppose? really would appreciate it, thanks!

[DSmith]

@Novbert:Thanks man,I see what you mean with flattening,because stuff looks much better that way!It's kinda interesting that without all that complex shading,they look more interesting and "real"!
@Lidiev:I've left a reply at your thread,not a big help I know,but that's all there is to it really!

Anyway,around 1h of clothing concepts(I wasn't at home today),this was before I read Novbert's comment about using flattening for clothes as well...I have to get better,because these are O.K. for some quick concepts,but I'll have to do finished,neat stuff as well,and I think I will have some difficulties there if I don't push myself as hard as possible...

Cheers!

[Novbert]

@Novbert:Thanks man,I see what you mean with flattening,because stuff looks much better that way!It's kinda interesting that without all that complex shading,they look more interesting and "real"!

Well it's a general misconception amongst beginners that you should use some really fancy gradients and an infinite number of values to create successful paintings. Actually the fewer well defined values you use the more effective your pic gets. (This set of Marko Djudjevic's work is full of good examples on how to use flats and only some well chosen gradients between those flats to achieve mindblowing results.)
I'd say you should do some studies - maybe some of your scheduled studies - with a really limited value range. (e.g. three or maximum four tones and a hard flat brush). You'll be surprised how effective you can get this way.
Keep it up, man!

[DSmith]

I'm sorry guys but I can't post anything today except for this quick doodle(5-10 min)...the guys at Vertalex told me that I shouldn't upload my concepts here because there could be security risks.
I'll try to get my scanner fixed as soon as possible so I can keep you updated.

Cheers!

[Lightmode108]

thank you so much for that skin tutorial im really grasping skin tones better than i used to, and that tutorial helped a ton, so thanks. i did a facial study and i can really tell where ive been messing up

[BluezAce]

The last Andraos' clothes are better than the ones before, more readable I think. And don't worry about those Vertalex guy, it's their right to forbid the spreading of their concept art. I have a friend who works as a freelance visual designer, and he seldom upload his artworks in DeviantArt (he only uploads his works which are personal). It's just fine. Professionality stuff...

Seems pretty busy, huh? Keep going, DSmith!!

That quick doodle guy is funny too hehe

[Zazerzs]

Wazzup DSmith! Good stuff going on in here.

Let me make a suggestion: When doing concepts of clothing make sure you have a good amount of reference material. Get a bunch of images of pants and wrinkles and refer to those when you do your own. You can even take the image, put it over your drawing on an another layer, set it overlay or whatever blend setting works best and continue on with those added details.

In concept art its about getting the idea across, use whatever tricks you can to speed up the process. I know of professional concept artists that work this way and they show it as valid work flow.

In the beginning keep your values extremely limited. Have a strong light source and keep it consistent. Start with black for your silhouette and add another tone only when needed to describe light direction, only adding more when needed(2 or 3 at this point).After the big things are blocked out then add local values,ie:if the shirt if lighter than the pants, is the belt dark than the pants ect. Once that's all figured out then do the last bit and render it out.

yeah don't post stuff that's for a job, sometimes you'll never be able to post it , other times you can post it after the project is released but that depends on the company.

[DSmith]

@Zazerzs:Thanks for the rendering tutorial,I'll try it out tomorrow,most definitely!
And I'll use more reference for clothing as you suggested,it can be damn hard to draw from imagination!Again,thanks a lot and keep up the good work!

@BluezAce:It's good to know that at least I am improving,though not at the rate I would like to improve...I am in desperate need of some money,but I need skills to get jobs!Thanks for the comment,I'll check your sketchbook in a min!

@Lightmode108:I'm glad I could help,keep up the fast improvement!

Okay,I think I'll be able to post some work stuff tomorrow,until then,here is two 30 min and one 10 min doodles:

Cheers!

[Aresa]

I definitely see improvement from last year! Great job! I really like your concepts and ideas. I'd say just define your renders more. It's great that you started with black and white before adding color, though. Keep drawing and having fun!

[DSmith]

@Aresa:Thanks a lot,I'll keep your advice in mind!

[Bombur]

You scare me, man. So much improvement.

[DSmith]

@Bombur:LOL,thanks man!I can say the same for you,keep it up!

[DSmith]

I did some pages of studies today,I tried to fix my scanner but still no progress with that.
I've got green lights about sharing the concepts here,so I'll upload some stuff that I do every day,just please don't repost them elsewhere and share,because that will result in my head cut off!
But the ppl at Vertalex are really nice,and they mean some serious business,18 people on the team so far and growing,and they have some industry professionals who worked with EA on some AAA titles,so I am really happy to be there,maybe I can learn a trick or two!
So,here are some concepts I made,nothing finished,I am just trying to create as many iterations as possible to get as close to the best design as possible!(sorry for repeating repeating words so much!)

BTW,I think I'll go for buying a quality scanner,so I can show you a lot more stuff!

Cheers!

[Novbert]

About your yesterday doodles: It's good to think in terms of structure (and even perspective) even if it's only a 30 minute doodle - especially if you push them behind thumbnail state and do some rendering work. I mean you tried some posing, put hands and feet on them but any sketch works only if the underlying structure is okay. Can be a good idea to draw 'naked' monsters or humans with tight gears so that you can't hide all the structural issues behind large clothes and fur - so they get more obvious for you too.
Still about those monsters: The brushes you use are way too small and transparent for efficient, fast doodling work. This prevents successful rendering of large forms and also leads to unwanted texture effects. More flattening, more focus on large forms is needed - also a more limited value range.
About the last Vertalex cloth concepts:
Keep an eye on contours of forms and shadows. Definite contourwork is essential for any rendering, but it's also true to shadingwork. Good to see that you try to push flat rendering but when using this technique you have to be extra careful when definig the contours of the shadows and highlights. In flat rendering flat lit areas represent the flatness of the lit surface so if the flat area is jagged, blurry or undefined, the viewer will see jagged, undefined surface or unvanted texture. Keep that in mind. Doing kinda comic-style cell shading studies with a flat brush that has no transparency at all is still highly recommended (of course you should lay down the structure first).
Keep it up!

[DSmith]

@Novbert:Thanks man,I'll keep these in mind,and I'll do some flattening exercises today,and try doing a cel-shaded character.Thanks for the help!
I also bought one of Jason Chan's character videos,maybe I learn some stufff from there as well!

Also,I think that the quote that you have in your signature applies here as well:

"Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter.
Try again. Fail again. Fail better."
Samuel Beckett

Just a quick update guys,I wanted to share some of my earlier 3D work(these were made 2-3 years ago)since I'm going to start doing 3D work again,so I don't forget it,maybe I'll need it sometime!
One thing is common in these:none of them is finished,I just didn't have the patience back then...

Cheers!

[DSmith]

Well,I managed to fix the scanner but after 4 scans it died again...Sorry for lack of updates,I will post some more concept art stuff tomorrow!

[DSmith]

Sorry,I didn't update yesterday,I had no internet connection...Here are some stuff,work in progress...
Also,I am getting a tablet pc,so I can sketch digitally on the move,I'll post a mini review as soon as I get it and try it out.
Also#2,I need to get a new scanner because I can't really show everything I draw,only the digitals...

[BluezAce]

Aaagghhh... Finally, I've been ressurected! Hahaha

Sry for not dropping by for so long. I don't even know why I couldn't get online this whole time

The 3D looks nice and pretty detailed! Just look at the ship and the tank, nice one! Can't imagine a 12-13 years old did that...

Good luck on your scanner. Go buy a new one, my boy. Haha

It's good that you could convinced Vertalex's guys to let you share some concept here! Good comments like Novbert's are always useful to improve it. A little comment, Andraos' hands. The first thought in my mind everytime I saw hands in pocket is that's the way me and my friends always draw people in elemetary school (sorry if offended, but it's brutal honesty hehe). For us, it was kind of "cheating" to make our life easier. I know that hands are hard. I couldn't draw hands properly too, but I think if I draw hands in the pockets is just like trying to hide my weakness. For normal people, it'd do fine. But a pro would notice it immadiately (a more-pro friend of mine once scolded me and called me "lazy" because of it).

Furthermore, if this is for a job, it's really a different matter from study. For a study or just a sketch, I think it's fine. But for a job-drawing, it isn't. First rule (for me though), be professional. Professional I'm talking about isn't kind of working for big company or get big salary or else, but in term of quality! Like Jason Manley said, do whatever it takes to make it right. If the hands aren't right, go for reference, look in the mirror, take a photo, make your friend pose for you. Even if you bleed and puke blood, make it right! Even if you have to butcher your own drawing, make it right! Even if you have to start over, make it right! Whatever it takes, be professional, don't compromise with quality!


Mmmmm... is my word to harsh?


*edited: Didn't see today's post. No hands in pocket hehehe...

[DSmith]

@BluezAce:Thanks for the hones critique man,I really needed it!I really want to create professional material,and I will use reference if necessary in the future.Thanks again,I will work harder from now on!

[DSmith]

Just a quick update,I'll be on a team meeting and I don't know if I can update in the evening...
A speed concept again,the team doesn't need finished illustrations yet,we just want to figure out the final character design first,so that's why it's a bit dirty and messy...
It's a shame though that I can't draw neither heads nor hands...I'm gonna ask for a day off or two so I can practice these!
Also,I realized the importance of life studies(finally)!I was thinking about it,and Bridgman etc. do show the structure,but they don't show the variety of anatomy in life!And I can only learn how to render different materials from life as well...So I must do some of these!

Cheers!

[Bombur]

Sweet work! Have you gone through "Successful Drawing" by Andrew Loomis? It deals with the figure in perspective. I think it would help you a lot.

http://alexhays.com/loomis/

[Danny_K]

Heya thought I'll leave few words of encouragement.
for your age your are doing great! tons of effort and potential maaaad potential, in fact you encourage me to work harder as well!
I could suggest doing lots of anatomy studies from books like: Andrew Loomis which is very good or Books by George bridgeman or Hogarth. I don't know if where you live they have it but you can try look them up in your local library and see how you like it before you buy them online, or you can do as I do right now just take them home and study them.
Also don't forget doing life studies such as fruits or items around your house, this will improve your observation skills, hand mind sync skills, color, form, value and more, drawing from life is veeeeeeeery important, also people if you can start drawing people from life that could be great the sooner you start the more comfortable it will get along the way. lets say you are going for doctors appointment and you have to wait an hour and a half for the doctor bring a little sketchbook with you and sketch every one around you! but be careful not to make anyone angry....

Cheers
Danny

[DSmith]

@Bombur:Thanks for the suggestion man,I'll read into it!
@Danny_K:Thanks man,I'm doing at least one study from life every day now in my sketchbook,and it does help a lot!We don't really have Loomis and Bridgman in our library,in Hungary Jenő Barcsay and Andras Szunyoghy are the only two artist anatomy books available in real book format.

Sorry guys for the absence,my internet connection is going apeshit...I'll post some more stuff tomorrow,here is a character design WIP,2-3 hours:

Cheers!

[prsnsweeney]

hey really nice inprovement your deffinitely doing good and its great that your gettin serious bout art from a early age youll be way ahead of everyone by the time you get to college love your last post the lighting and texture on the chest looks pretty good i agree with danny k doing studies from life will help you improve alot good luck and keep up the hard work

[DSmith]

@prsnsweeney:Thanks man,I love your work!

[Novbert]

some nice shading on those muscles in the last post (though maybe it's not a good idea to render one part of the pic much more than others. I found that every time I do this I stuck at detailing other parts - but hey, maybe it's just me). About colored stuff: You definitely need to work on making those colors come together - on that guy in post #231 they look kinda separate. Try this: create a new layer above the colored piece, set it to overlay and fill it with a flat color. You can adjust layer transparency and fill and you should also play around with the color using Adjustments/Hue-Saturation. It's a cheap trick but can make miracles with non-working color schemes.
Keep it up, man!

[CarlSpringer]

the abdomen looks amazing

[Pedro Cardoso]

WOW! your progress is really inspiring!!
that last one is getting great, the chest is beautfull

later

[DSmith]

@Pedro Cardoso:Thanks man!
@CarlSpringer:Thanks!
@Novbert:Thanks man,I'll try that method for colours,it sounds really effective!

Thanks for all of your comments,I can't say this enough times,you motivate and help me greatly!