Insatiable Curiosity

[Marlo]

I am wondering, how do you see buildings? Can you tell me your secret, not matter how much I practice them I simply don't get on how to get the links of the building. I've read perspective books and stuff... should I just keep still practicing? Is there a way to see it ( like there is with anatomy?)

You have an outstanding sketchbook that is oozing with lovely creative juices. Very inspiring for someone like me xD;...

[I-Bomb]

What I meant was that doing perspective is a pain in the ass in general lol

[ThomasM]

udonhead - haha sorry man, didn't get that at all, perhaps its all the spanish I've been learning recently. My english is definitely getting worse

Marlo - thats a difficult one to answer. I suppose you just need to work on perspective and keep practicing really. I would definitely recommend getting the carl dobsky perspective downloads (very cheap at the moment), and other than that really try and get some practice in and around local places. Personally, I don't like my ink architecture drawings much but I like to keep practicing them so that one day I can do some really polished architectural drawings.

Kino_Pua - gracias, I'm glad you liked it


Ok.. here is the finished thing. Excellent practice for these watercolour pencils. Each time I pick one up it feels like a more versatile tool. In fact, I'm pretty much in love with watercolour pencils at the moment. I assumed that once I was away, and without the comforts of home I wouldn't be able to render things in colour like this, but they have proven to be so accessible as a medium that I'm sure they'll be well used in my trip away!

[asa]

wonderful

[TwoDD]

Amazing sketchbook, I just love your nitty gritty style. I look forward to seeing more!

[ThomasM]

asa -thanks

TwoDD - haha nobody has ever called it that before, but thanks


OK... bleurgh! - started a new sketchbook with my recent comeback to drawing, and it feels good to have a clean slate again! Been doing lots and lots of perspective work, and these buildings were done partly to consolidate that. Also, I am trying hard to start to draw-through, as I have never really tried that before, and it has come as a bit of a revelation that drawing things exactly as you see them (flattened) doesn't quite do your subject justice. Never too late to learn those basic lessons!

[JFierce]

Wow another one of those SB's that's a journey of pages. Literally can click any page randomly and find goodies. Digging the creatures and architecture in the recent posts!

[Marian Rowling]

As usual Tom you are working hard on what you see as your weak spots. I was surprised to read further up the page that you don't like your ink building drawings. I always thought they looked really good. That said we can always get better and these latest perspective drawings with the drawing through will take you to the next level. Did I say it's good to have you back posting.

[Incipiens]

I'm loving this sketchbook! Can't help drooling over those watercolors!
Nice progression too

[orochigenocide]

Hey Thomas,

I forgot to post this last time I visited: http://calnewport.com/blog/2011/11/1...ite-achievers/

It talks about the importance of deliberate practice, and how it can make a difference in improved skill level. I thought this might help you on your path towards mastery.

[AckermannPhilip]

The anatomy of 1509, and also the perspective does not convince me. Its really just a little snap that you still need to get that stuff a level higher.

Can I recommend you to watch the carlos huante dvds? It will teach you much.

Sorry if that critique comes out of nowhere and a bit harsh. But I want everybody to get better, and damn, you have some potential.

[ThomasM]

JFierce - cheers!

Marian Rowling - thanks as always Marian, I left a comment a couple of weeks ago in your sb, but ill check it out again soon for the progress (which is tangible)

Incipiens - gracias amigo

orochigenocide - ahh yeah, interesting, thanks for sharing that with me. I have been thinking about that a lot recently. Gracias por todos!

Ackermann Philip - I would, but I really dont have the cash to spare to buy those DVD's. Particularly as Im starting TAD in August and the last thing I can afford to do now is spend.




Anyway, I'm still in South America (for another three months). The Spanish is coming along brilliantly, and I'm pretty much where I want to be now. I expect to be pretty much fluent by the time I get back, so I will be able to focus almost solely on Art for the first year of my course.

And speaking of focusing on Spanish, I have managed to sneak in these while learning full time. Not everything I've done, but its a selection that represents it pretty well.








A Hodge Podge from life, observation, study

[Shadow Stalker]

Nice sketches, man. Thanks for sharing your studies.

[LastGen]

Wow, you really spend much effort into your studies. Nice to see that you filter out the most useful information from Vanderpoel. You're showing solid drawing skills in any way.

[Collin Smiley]

great sb, loving the anatomy studys~!

[n1frit]

Great studies! Keep it up!

[ThomasM]

Will definitely reply later, for now though here are today's offerings to the gods of art!

[teapo]

the gods of art will be pleased with this offering. but damn, you have some serious note-taking in them studies i guess whatever works to help you remember and reinforce the knowledge right? please scan in the rest when u get the chance

[ThomasM]

teapo - thanks amigo, yeah I was watching the week of free programs that they offered and I was interested in what some of the TAD instructors said about sketchbooks. They said, if it isn't filled with notes, then something isn't right. I thought about it for a few days and since then I have just started note-taking at every opportunity. Its definitely helping me be more analytical and extract more from life and copying.


Playing around with edges with watercolour. Got up at 6:30 to do this and I'm not even that pleased with it. Oh well, you live and learn!

[Vritra]

Hey, great updates as usual. Having fun with Spanish? It's a beautiful language, and I've found that those who know English generally tend to do well.

As usual, your updates are stellar. I'm still looking through your studies of the landmarks on human faces. Those studies remind me of Mentler. Have you seen his sketchbook?

Best of luck with Spanish, and your art as well. Keep up the good work.

[Trixtar]

OMG!!!!!!

If I could, I'd move into your sketchbooks! But since that isn't possible I'll just stalk it
This is what people mean when they say "excellence" I guess?
I just love your art, especially the animals!

May I ask how many sketchbooks you have completed so far!?

[ThomasM]

Vritra - yeah its a lovely language. As always Im enjoying it. To be honest I enjoy learning about anything, the most important thing to me is that I'm learning (or feel to be moving forward). I havent seen his sketchbook no, but Ive heard that he likes to study Vanderpoel's anatomy, which is where my studies are from. He has a great book about the human figure which is available free online if you can get your hands on it and have the interest.

Trixtar - haha calm calm. I have completed about 11 sketchbooks in the last year two years I've been drawing (with a 6 month low-period for learning spanish). I'm glad you have like my sketchbook.

Bleurgh! Something from today. Pencil and Chalk

[ThomasM]

Más





p.s. graphite and chalk except the eye which is courtesy of 30 seconds of photoshop when I photographed it.

[david skeleton]

Very cool sketchbook, thank you for sharing your in depth studies, I really dig this stuff, and really need to do more myself.

Inspiring stuff, and I really like this last piece right up my alley with tentacles on humanoid figures which I actually do a lot of!

Well done.. subscribing!!

[Vritra]

Ah, beautiful update. Love the softness in your rendering process, always brings out the organic feel of the subject matter. Wish the eye was traditional as well, though. That would have made the work even more incredible for me. Although I'm sure a little bit of chalk can do that.

Keep drawing, and best of luck.

[merl1n]

I love that you work traditionaly without any need of pushing into digital. Great thread.

[Veneq]

Ah really cool sketchbook! I love your creature designs - inspiring stuff!

[ThomasM]

david skeleton - glad you like, thanks for stopping by

Vritra - yeah youre right about the chalk being able to do it. Unfortunately I could only buy a huge piece for school-use and the piece isn't really big enough to get in there.. Still, lesson learned for next time, if youre using big tools go big! (seems obvious now in hindsight)

merl1n - yeah its not so much that I don't value digital work, but I have no choice at the moment. And I'm determined to take this sketchbook to alpenfleger-fame but still include pencils in every post. To me the pencil is the best tool available to an artist, no matter how technology advances.

crazy pills - cheers, thanks for stopping by

Some messing around from imagination and testing out a slightly "rougher" rendering style. I tend to polish things too much and it removes a lot of the character which lines describe...

[ezekrialase]

Awesome work! I really like everything, especially the studies.

[Marian Rowling]

Hey Tom great updates. I really like the tree and the little character being pulled along in a ladle in post 1518, and the native women in post 1523. I guess that is the great advantage of staying in different countries that you can draw and soak up the whole place.

Good to see you are still hitting those studies and I always like your creature concepts. Can't wait to see how they develop once you get some TAD input.

Thanks for your comment in my SB you know I appreciate it.