Randomeister's Path to Improvement [[UPDATED!! 8/21]]

[Randomeister]

Hello, there. I've been lurking, and well, I think I have enough confidence in myself now to actually put some sketches up regularly. I'll start right here, and post some older ones.
I'm hoping for the best advice and critiques I can possibly get, and don't be afraid to be really nitpicky. I like nitpicky, because nitpicky will make me better.
Anywho! Here you go, some hand/eye studies:

[Randomeister]

And here's some digital work as well:

[Randomeister]

So...... I've been working on some figure studies.

[Randomeister]

So........ I guess from now on I'll actually upload all sketches I draw. Even if I think they're godawful.
Talking about godawful, have some old, old art. And unfortunately, old is only perhaps a year ago. T.T

[Randomeister]

More old work!

[Randomeister]

More sketches

[Randomeister]

I decided to try one of those 'tone study' things, and although I've got a looooooong way to go, I'm pretty happy with what I've learnt this time.

[boj]

thanks for the visit. very nice sketches.. keep on improving

[daflom]

yeah do more of this studies, you'll get alot out of them i think... you couldtry one where you limit yourself to lets say three values and focus just on the shapes to get them right.

keep it up!

[Randomeister]

Boj- Thank you very much. I'll try.

Daflom-Three values? Sounds interesting! I'll try that, yeah! Thanks for the suggestion.

[Randomeister]

Okay. I limited myself to 15 minutes on this one for today, but here's my three tone study of a Keira Knightly pic.

[CakeFACE]

Hey

On the figure studies quite a lot of them look out of proportion in areas. Maybe try doing quick 30 second gesture studies and then go in for some longer poses. Longer poses will give you time to really concentrate on the proportions and make sure you're happy with them.

Another thing I would suggest is to study some anatomy books, Bridgman has some nice hand studies which you might find helpful. I noticed your hands lack sharp edges to define bones and tendons, so Bridgman will be able to give you guidance on that. For anatomy I would suggest Loomis.

On your digital work try blocking out the picture first. Then use a mixture of the hard brush and the soft brush, because in your current studies it looks like you've only used the soft brush. The soft brush is great for the lighter areas, but when it comes to getting definition the hard brush is better

Other than that keep on sketching

[Randomeister]

Oh wow, CakeFACE, thank you for the advice! I'll go stick my nose in all that now. The hand studies will def benefit me, because, to be frank, I've got no idea how to draw hands yet. XD

[CakeFACE]

Anytime

Your hand studies were improving in the pictures you had so keep it going

Don't worry, I really -really- struggle with hands too so i'm in the same boat as you :')

[Randomeister]

I looked at your sketches, though, and your hands, even in the first post, are far better than mine.

[Randomeister]

Okay, so I did some Bridgeman studies:



And also some 30 sec Posemaniacs:




And now I'm off to do some Loomis in my BIG sketchbook.

[CakeFACE]

Ayee those bridgman studies are looking good The clamped hand one is your best yet.

I personally try and stay away from posemaniacs because they tend to feel a bit rigid and unrealistic for gesture purposes. Try using http://lovecastle.org/draw/ It has lots of different options.

Keep up the sketches

[Randomeister]

Ooooh, I've been gone too long.
Have some stuff

[Bami]

just had a quick scroll through your stuff you progress especially with the painting stuff is really good, I think your a bit like me your learning paint at the same time as drawing, although i have to admit I think you've had a lot more courgage with your work, the digital painting of the girl in pink with a rose was amazing and also the boats above are impressive, You following the loomis books?

[Randomeister]

Bami- I sure am following Loomis, mate. His work's really great, it reminds me of old-style realism comic pictures, which I'm really into. I hope to progress even further. Thanks for the comment! And about courage or whatever--just like in acting, if you don't make a fool of yourself every once in a while, you never ever get better!

[yaravel]

What kind of pencil do you use? I'm guessing it's a bit too hard, but maybe it's only the editing/contrast

[Randomeister]

Usually I use a 4h for basic sketching, and an h for details. Should I be using more Bs?

[bish0p2004]

I'm not the best advice giver, but I'll try.

You show promise, but I think there's still a lot of work that needs to be done. I mean, you should really stick with the basics and practice with traditional media as much as you can. One thing that pops out to me is proportion. Your figures look really short and stumpy. Your Loomis figures on post 18 look better, but still a little stubby.

If you want to continue with digital painting, try placing a picture of some object that you want to draw on a layer, lower the opacity, then make a separate layer and trace the image (I got this idea from Matt Kohr at ctrlpaint.com). Get the basic shapes down first and don't worry about the details. Trace and copy as much as possible.

When you copy, try to draw exactly what you see. If you're copying from a master work and you sense that your picture still doesn't look like the artists rendition, then you are probably right. I think every one has that ability to see that something is not quite right with their own image and I think that they are usually right in this case.

Keep going though and you'll do great.

[Naidy]

Hullo there! Some definite improvements since your first post. Keep up those digital studies, you seem to be learning a lot from them.

Ahh, no real crits from me I'm afraid, just keep up the good work.

[James Thomas]

ok if u want picky PLEASE for the love of god make ur images smaller...
it took me like 10 minutes to scroll down!
secondly i think youve got a good large amount of work and you are doing quite well.
maybe steer clear of the hardcore anime for a while till your faces are superflat and your linework is a bit more fine. Anime is very relient on clean lines, both for the eyes and the hair and so forth..so perhaps stick to observational studies in real life, and drawing normal people, then apply those skills/anatomy to anime as you wish. unless u prefer to stay in pure comic type style (manga) ie. square torso's and pointy chests. upto you. enjoy.
xo

[Randomeister]

Naidy- Omg, thank you so much for seeing my sketchbook! I think your work is super rad. Like, super-super rad. Anyway--yes! I'll def keep up the digital studies!

Prov- Thanks for the crit, and I did go ahead and delete all the pics that I thought were way too big. There are still a few big ones, but I think for the most it's fine.

[yaravel]

Usually I use a 4h for basic sketching, and an h for details. Should I be using more Bs?

Ok, so this is the exact opposite - I though you were using 8B's or something. It really is the editing.
I think you should, it's easier to sketch because they're softer. H's are normally used for technical drawing, although some people like to sketch with, say, a 2H. This will vary, as much as there are people who prefer drawing with mechanical pencils, and I can't work with such fine lead
Try using a 2B or a 3B for basic sketching, and see if you like it (:

[yaravel]

Oh, and I think you have the same problem that I do (feel free to correct me). Not having much patience, that is. I want quick results, and when I can't get them, I try to finish things quickly in the hope that will result in anything. And I can say that's one of the worst things about the way I work. What I mean is, basically: be patient, look, observe, analyze. See how things connect to each other in space, how they're positioned. Concentrate on what you're doing, repeat, repeat, repeat, but never erase! Just do it again

[Randomeister]

Okay, big update, guys.

[Randomeister]

HALP?
Lots of more shit. I suck at anatomy, don't I??