Joe's Sketchbook

[JoeS]

LastGen - Thanks, Yea I frequently try to paint my scans, though I'm still learning,

Care - Thank you,

Jablar - Cheers, perhaps I will!

ja1307 - I will try to keep updating often as I can, thanks,

takashman - Ah thanks for the material! Yea his work is pretty good.

Some more studies from Bridgman -

[JoeS]

a couple of landscape colour studies from terragalleria.com, not feeling too imaginative recently so mostly studying

[takashmen]

thanks for comment, I was talking about using abstract shapes as an startup of course

and hmm for block-out I'd recommend you do some thumbnails, then find the shape and create some loose and quick paintings

portraits, creatures, characters are the easiest ones.

[PeteJ]

great studies, mines always get messy.

[JoeS]

Takashman - Thought so Yes! I'm gonna do some of those, I need to work on getting information down,

Pete J - Thanks! Yep, has a tendency to happen. Mine did too, its just practice,


Bad drawing day yo! Couldn't seem to get anything going down smoothly and kept struggling with colours, here's one study though. From terragalleria.com again

[JoeS]

Some more colour studies from Terragalleria,

[JoeS]

.....

[JoeS]

Here is a couple of more, trying to integrate the lasso tool for blocking in.

[JoeS]

Some more! I've been working on one from imagination, so I'm going to post that soon too. These are very good for learning.

[JoeS]

Further studies, I tried taking Takashmens advice on blocking in and also turned off the brush opacity.
I've been working on these studies no larger than the size you see them here, as I'm trying to focus on colour and readability rather than getting caught up on details.

[wutangclam]

incredible! you're painting's improved so much! i am loving the studsies LOL

[JoeS]

Hey thanks man!

Here's something from imagination, I rather like how it turned out. The enormous dutch windmill was an afterthought; I needed a focal point and wanted to add something that suggested fantasy.
I was also just trying to put into practice the things I have learned about light and shadow from these studies.

[takashmen]

turning really nice
interesting color scheme for windmill and mountains

i think you should change ground color to one that goes well with red and blues https://kuler.adobe.com/ it can help, you can download is as app for PS
also try to play with textures (brushes or references)
check out this guy blog ( his crazy with his digital plain air) http://www.shaddyconceptart.com/

keep it up!!

[JoeS]

Cheers Takashmen, always appreciate your feedback. That is a pretty useful tool :o I think I see what you mean about the ground colour, and I probably should have pushed the yellows some more, though I don't want to linger on it any longer. Thanks for the link again, that guy's got some nice work!


Also, this post marks the third year of this sketchbook! I feel I've come a long way in my three years posting here, but I know for certain I could've gotten much further than where my art stands now. I am mostly guilty of procrastination, and avoiding the things that require most attention. I've nine free months before starting university, and I hope to make the best of that time busting my butt for some serious improvement.

So anyway..some cloud/sky studies. I was really feeling the intense reds/oranges, and I also need to work on painting sky all round.

[SophieW]

I’m liking your recent digital work It’s great to see that you’re really focusing on colour. Your character sketches show a lot of potential as well and it’d be nice to see one taken to finish if you have the time. There’s been a great deal of improvement and I’m looking forward to seeing your work get even better over the next nine months.

[JoeS]

Thanks Sophie

Here's another environment from imagination, I spent a few days on and off this one but its about 5-6 hours work. I probably spent too long embellishing this thing but it was fun working on. I still see where I need improvement.

[kevin_]

anatomy studies are coming along great and these latest environments are amazing! nice updates!

[ja1307]

Really liking your environment studies for sure you seem to have a really natural way with them. Your colour choices are really spot on, do you get much opportunity to go out and paint from life. Think if you did it would take your environment work to the next level. If you can do this from your mind then your off to a great start. I can see a budding environment artist in you. Keep rocking the house.

[JoeS]

Thank you Kevin

Thanks Ja1307, going out and painting from life is something I seriously keep considering, and you're probably right, I'm gonna make the effort to do that sometime

Some more studies, without opacity.

[KiBa]

That´s some progress right there. Great stuff JoeS!

What´s up with the colors in the windmill picture? They are gorgeous!

[LastGen]

Sweet colors in your environments, I like the opaque shapes - good job!

[JoeS]

Thank you Sirs!

Sketch thing from imagination, I not quite sure where I was going with the colours, I wanted the reddish streaks in the sky to compliment with the greens and blues, but it doesn't feel right somewhere?
I also went too far with the smudge tool

[JoeS]

And not for the last time! more studies from http://www.terragalleria.com/

I spent more time than I usually allow on the first one, and less on the other.

[ja1307]

I like the new imaginative sketch. Maybe push the pose a bit on the troll creature so he is a bit more threatening, but the colours are pretty good. Nothing jumps out at me as looking odd. Maybe just the highlights on the water. Not sure where that light is source is coming from to create these espc since the sky looks so dark and over cast (which I love very moody) Maybe pick up some of the red in the foreground colours to tie the whole composition together. Its def a good studying combing your recent enviro studies and still allowing you to work on illustration and compositions ect.

[JoeS]

Hey Ja1307, thanks. I agree with you, the random highlights on the troll and the water despite the sky being overcast come from me trying to create a focal point in the image. I wanted more focus on the troll, but you're right it doesn't make sense. Thanks for the crit, and yes I am trying to apply my studies

I haven't done any character related stuff in a while so here's some sketches -

[Kerro Perro]

Wow your progress in three years is amazing! You went from average beginner - no offense - to ass kicking artist!
I really love the female warriors on page 11!

[ja1307]

Think one of the things that could create interesting focal points in an illustration like that this is overlapping forms or repeated or contrasting colours in both the characters to draw your eye. around the composition. But also think about closing the distance between characters to heighten the intensity of the stand off.
Its always good to play around with things its the only way you'll learn I guess. You are def very good with character design maybe research clothing ect from different cultures or periods in history to give your self different design ideas to play around with. Keep it up its all looking good.

[JoeS]

Kerro Perro - Hey man thanks! lol. I'm still just an average Joe though.

ja1307 - Again thanks for your frequent returns and crits, very helpful.

Another assassin sketch, going for a middle-eastern feel with the design.
I'mma get to posting some more stuff from over Christmas soon too, I've been focusing on values recently and also faces and head construction which I've always put of doing for some reason.

Even in these "character" sketches I don't even draw a face, so I guess in a sense they are not even characters at all. Most of the time I draw a face it usually looks really immature in comparison to the rest of the drawing, so i've been hammering out studies from Loomis' Head and Hands book as well as doing self portraits in to improve.

[syrella]

I'm definitely liking all of these environment thumbnails- too cool! Out of curiosity, have you tried doing any plein air painting (aka on location)? It might be a fun challenge.

[Istmin52]

Cool sketchbook you got here. Your figures and line work are really strong. I would agree with you on faces. Are you going to post some of your face studies too? That would be interesting to see.