Benjaminba's Sketchbook (Updated Oct 22, 2011)

[Benjaminba]

I think I got to page 3 finally?

Just a small update today with some small sketches and studies. Despite a lot of trying and a great deal of thumbnails and sketches, I seem to get stuck every time I attempt any kind of illustration work. Ah well, hopefully soon I'll manage to do something.

Btw., the comments and critique I've received so far have been so helpful, so please keep them coming! Something I should focus on, comments on specific pieces.. It's all good. Thank you!




Two photo studies. Photos are from mmaphotography.com.

[Benjaminba]

Some more studies... Gotta get started on some drawings from imagination again soon.

Three photo studies (landscape photo, screencap from the movie "Hanna" and photo from mmaphotography.com):




And finally a work-in-progress still life... Going to continue with it tomorrow once the lighting is right again. Having some problems with the blue-ish natural lighting coming in from my window on the left.. Natural lighting is so difficult x_x

[Nemome]

Hey dude!

Your figures and the last still life are looking great.
Can't wait to see the finished piece.

Keep it up.

[NothingbutZack]

Beautiful stuff. Love that illustration on page 2.

[Benjaminba]

Pretty funny how the two posters before me both had portraits of red dragons.. NothingbutZack's is gone now though. :<

Valoo - Thank you for leaving a comment! Still life is done, I think.. Hope you like it.

NothingbutZack - I don't know which illustration you're referring to, but thank you anyway. :E

So yes, still life is 'done'. Spent a lot of time on it; getting the natural lighting coming from my window right was stupid insane difficult!! There was actually a bit more blue-ish light going on on the book, but couldn't get it to look good. Despite the fact that the still life didn't turn out spot-on, it was quite fun to do and a good learning experience.


This is the setup. The photo is horrible, sorry, I don't know much about photography. It turned out way too dark and contrast-y and the colours aren't right.

[Kvenh]

Thanks for vising my SB and your crits! Really helpful

Really digging the selfpotraits and the recent still-life. Sometimes I feel like I'd like to see some more hard edges, like on the knight last page and the recent screen-cap. It's so easy to go muddy. I gotta tune in again to see if I can come up with more profound crits.

Keep up the good work!

[Bleurgh]

Good stuff! Like the real life painting on the book and the candle.

[JamesSimons]

Really awesome stuff here I especially like the warrior & the first mma study in post #61

[Benjaminba]

Kvenh - You're welcome, and thank you! I think I have to try disabling pressure on opacity in photoshop to avoid the muddy look. I agree.

Bleurgh - Thank you! Your recent master studies are excellent.

JamesSimons - I like your sketchbook, nice work. And thank you!

Bunch of sketches and a failed, abandoned illustration for EoW; it wasn't turning out good... Nothing noteworthy, but just want to keep this sketchbook at least slightly active.

First three pages from photo ref, rest from imagination.

[raminafshari]

very good art pieces , keep them coming .

[Benjaminba]

raminafshari - Thank you! I will do that right now.

First up is an illustration I'm working on - I have a thread going in the critique center about it. If you like, you can follow the progress here: http://www.conceptart.org/forums/sho...19#post3189319



And some horses and hands from life.

[alexson]

I really like your sketches, really great stuff. Your painting is not yet at the same level but I think it will be in no time with the practice you do. Keep up the good work!

[Me,Myself & Me again]

I'm really excited about what your gonna come out with next. I'm loving the direction this last page is taking. Cant wait for more!

[Gilles]

Great work in here, I really enjoy the pencil sketches.
G.

[LordLouis]

Your development is stunning. Are you a TAD student?
Really inspiring.

[Benjaminba]

alexson - yeah, you're right, my painting is not that good. Should focus on that for a while. Thanks for the comment!

Me, Myself & Me again - Thank you very much! That's encouraging to hear

Gilles - Thank you! Great work in your own sketchbook. I'll be sure to watch for updates from you!

LordLouis - Thank you! Happy to hear you see improvement and I'm flattered you'd think me a TAD student. Sadly I'm not, but did take the sketchbook class with Sterling Hundley and Ron Lemen.

Okay, the illustration from before is done, I think. Took a while, too. Got a lot of useful critique in my WIP thread, here: http://www.conceptart.org/forums/sho...91#post3188191

[Lightship69]

Hi there matey

I just had a good rummage around your book and subscribed, thanks for posting mate its very inspirational. Thats the best compliment I do mate so enjoy! LOL

I really like the general sherman sketch, good likeness i thought and the landscapes above are pretty cool too well done.

all the best mate

[twilightmoon777]

Beautiful sketches! How often do you draw?

[Benjaminba]

Thanks to both of you, Lightship69 and twilightmoon777, I appreciate the nice words! I draw every day, but how many hours depends a lot. Sometimes only like an hour, other times all day. When I have a project to work on, I can keep drawing/painting, but if I don't know what to draw, it's a different story.

Think it's time for an update again

Photoshop CS3


And figure studies from photo ref... There is no life drawing class close to where I live, unfortunately, so I've been thinking about organizing one myself, because I really need the practice!

[Samurai_Nik]

Lovely studies keep at it. The statue study is really strong.

[Benjaminba]

I feel like it's time for an update, even though there's nothing special to show.. As always, I'd love to hear your feedback. It is always very helpful and I appreciate it very much!

Samurai Nik - Thank you! I will, then

A WIP of a mage being attacked by gargoyles waking from their sleep.

The sketch below was done for a thread in the critique section of the forums - I wanted to illustrate how a different point of view could make for a more interesting illustration, but didn't end up posting it after all. It was a quickie, but I actually quite like it.



Last few drawings are from photographs by mjranum on DeviantArt.