Officiallamp's Stumbling Sketchbook

[OfficialLamp]

I've been meaning to create a CA sketchbook for awhile, but have been too lazy to do so in the past. I've been trying to kick myself into gear lately as I have oodles of time on my hands that has been, frankly, wasted on my favorite hobby of doing nothing.

About me:
I'm an aspiring animator, trying to enter the Commercial Animation Program at Capilano University. I was rejected last year so I'm all aflame to get in this time. Ironically, I feel greater confidence in my more realistic work then in my cartoon or simplified work, so I hope this sketchbook will get me feedback on both my portfolio works and personal cartoon works.
Currently, I am taking Art History and Life Drawing courses at Capilano while I waste away in boredom waiting for my next chance at entrance to the animation program.

[OfficialLamp]

...and also some 2-3 minute figure drawings:

[OfficialLamp]

One thing I'm never quite sure about is my proportions. I always think I'm drawing people too short, too wide, too long, etc.

Here's some 1 minute gesture plus 4 minute negative space drawings:

[OfficialLamp]

Finished, and submitted, my portfolio for Cap's Commercial Animation program. Now I get to stress for the next month over whether I get in or not. Joy!

Here's some of my favorite parts from it:

[Ixallus]

Hey man, seriously, best of luck to you. Hope you get in! Like your studies, though you ought to post more here yo.

[OfficialLamp]

Yes, I really should post more, so here's something different:

A painting I did for my bro.

[ikken]

I think your proportions have improved quite a lot, you have really nice gestures as well.
Good luck!

[OfficialLamp]

I did a self-portrait using the reflection in my bedroom window. My value control is getting better, but it's not where I'm content with it just yet.

[OfficialLamp]

A quick back-muscle study from a photo for this rainy day, less then an hour or so. I really have difficulties with this muscle group:

[OfficialLamp]

I got a letter today informing me that I wasn't accepted into Capilano's Commercial Animation program. I'm super pissed off and depressed.

I just don't have the spirit to finish CHoW this week, so I'll just post what I got done here:

[BlightedArt]

Hey, I read your thread in Lounge and thought I'd have a look at what you got. You've got some good work here, but one thing I'm picking up on is a lack of confidence in your painting: All of your brush strokes are with a with a low opacity brush slowly digging away some form into your image, and while this careful application of brush strokes can indeed be very good at being precise, it's also important from time to time to have a 80-100% opacity brush and try to pick the correct tone / colour yourself, without "easing into" a final result.

It's tricky, and damn frustrating, but my god you'll learn a lot and learn to work quickly if you try it every few paintings. What this also does is make your brushes look a lot more deliberate, and feel a lot bolder. You can always go back and digitally refine an image, so don't worry about "fucking the drawing up", instead be aware that you can, then make it better.

[BlightedArt]

Also: Plot out perspective lines in images with environments!! (saw a few on your DA page)

[kitfox]

Hello,

sorry to hear you weren't accepted, I can relate to that. Just keep your head straight and walk on. Where there is will, there is a way.

Your figure work looks solid and that self-portait rocks. Keep up the good work.

[OfficialLamp]

Thanks for the comments, I've been trying really hard to increase the confidence in my brush strokes, but been really difficult to not pick away at paintings like I usually do.
I've also been drawing on large newsprint pads lately (just covering my desk like one of those restaurants with paper tablecloths) so scanning those is too much of a hassle. I'd like to get some more non-digital stuff up, though.

Here's a 1-hour portrait of minamongoose from the "draw me" thread and my WIP from this week's ChOW. The file for this corrupted on me for some odd reason so it won't be finished.

[OfficialLamp]

Here's another unfinished CHoW:

[OfficialLamp]

I'm working on my portfolio for Sheridan's animation major and I thought I should post progress here. Crappy photos until I can get my scanner up and running.

The hands portion and a section my my character rotation rough:

[Bobojaws]

I like your character design, and the hands are okay, but I recomend you show structure, even if you have to draw it in afterwards in blue col-erase.

[Alex.Zelenski]

You should keep working on the fish man. Impressive ;P

[Samszym]

Sup, thanks for taking a look at my SB! Your Sheridan stuff's going good, I'm liking your character design. Kinda makes me want to rework mine...
Good luck on your application!

[Rhubix]

Good choice with animation- it's the best job in the universe

This line:

I feel greater confidence in my more realistic work then in my cartoon or simplified work,

leads me to suggest you do more cartooning. Your rotation's looking pretty good, clean - nothing seems out of place.
Your life drawing isn't bad ether- except for the volume of missing or rushed heads. You do it sometimes with the feet and hands too- if your struggling with them do a crap load of studies on them.
Practice drawing simple box / wedge style hands so you can block them into your gestures quickly.
Gestures are invaluable for animators so do as many as you can squeeze into your day.

Good luck & happy sketching!

[OfficialLamp]

I like your character design, and the hands are okay, but I recomend you show structure, even if you have to draw it in afterwards in blue col-erase.

I did do so, the picture just doesn't show it. Which is a problem because neither does my scans. Eeek. It's not even non-photo-blue.

Here's most of my portfolio so far, the character rotation was really cool because I've never done one before:

[D4ni3l]

I really like where your portfolio is going so far, especially the character rotation and the action poses. Although I have a few comments on the Storyboard, is there a reason why you dont show the bottom half of Carol? could be something to look into. And when she sits, I don't see any indication of a chair, unless that was on purpose. Anyway, good luck on your application

[OfficialLamp]

I am just terrible at keeping an online sketchbook. Let's see if I can remedy this problem.

[kabewu]

Oh, Carol, you little devil XD

The whole post #21 looks amazing to me, especially the shot tomato.
(I also like the terrified fish guy from #15, nice pose and emotion )
keep updating!

[OfficialLamp]

The whole post #21 looks amazing to me, especially the shot tomato.

It actually makes me really happy to hear that, because I thought my household objects section was good, yet, it was my lowest scoring part.

Here's a teeny tiny metal vase:

Two days in a row, i'm on a roll! Let's keep this going.

[OfficialLamp]

Another. I need to post something more interesting.

[OfficialLamp]

Have some quick hands and clothing studies.

Funny how the first hand turned out really well (in my opinion) and then just went downhill for the rest.

[themegagod]

wow. Your bowl studies. quite nice, as borat would say. The mug I thought was a photo when I first scrolled down. If I didn't see the signature, I would have scrolled passed thinking it was a reference photograph. really impressive technical skill.