Cedric's Sketch Compendium

[ceddo]

Hey there!

Thanks for taking a look at my sketchbook. My name is Cedric, I am an illustration student at University College Falmouth. I want to become a concept artist for the entertainment industry. You can view my portfolio at ceddo.carbonmade.com.

As usual, I really appreciate any crits you may have so fire away! I find that the hardest part of progressing as an artist is not being able to see your mistakes and limitations. If you point out my weaknesses, I will be very grateful and set out to turn them into my strengths!

And so, we shall go to sketch!

Please go to the last page for recent artwork!

[ceddo]

More stuff (does anyone know what the maximum number of image attachments is?)

[Novbert]

Let me be the first one to comment on your stuff. I'm glad you've gained the courage to finally start a sketchbook of your own.
some great studies above. I'd say perspective and structure are crucial things many beginners miss. So you're on the right track, don't stop doing this stuff.
The only thing I'd say is you should finetune that scanner 'cause those thin grey lines on the large white background can be really eye-hurting - at least on my monitor.
Anyway - I've already setup the first assignment in my little group - I hope you'd still like to join.

[Naidy]

Ah hello there.
A good start, already you have some studies, and the last portraits looks good- though you could make them even better if you put some more contrast in there (something I have to remind myself too)

Anyways, I hope to see more soon, so keep up the good work!

[ceddo]

@Novbert: Thanks for the feedback! I disabled color correction on the scanner which was making those blinding whites, hopefully it's a little better now. Some of the stuff I'm posting here will also be posted on the mentor thread. Sorry I've been gone a while, I'll explain in the other thread

@Naidy: Thank you for your comment I'll definitely take that into consideration for future portraits!

Anyway, here is an update. I think I'm getting better!

[ceddo]

2nd part of update.

[ceddo]

Another update!

[deadlyhamster]

hey ceddo, you got lots of thumbnails I see. I especially like the head study part from it, its very good. your also good in rendering, your using good contrast and values. so keep up the good work and good luck

[ceddo]

Thank you very much for your encouragement, deadlyhamster! I will be posting another update soonish

[ceddo]

Last update before I'm off to Switzerland! It might be more difficult to upload high quality scans over there but I hope I'll find a way.

[DZA.2]

Looking hot dude! Im liking the experiments with composition

[ceddo]

I wasn't sure whether to create a whole new topic or not - I decided to just update this thread with some of the stuff I've been doing this year. Here we go!

[ceddo]

Second part of update.

[ceddo]

Final part of update!















Any constructive criticism is very appreciated! I could always use some pointing in the right direction Thank you!

[DamnStraight]

I like the perspective practice. I'm a beginner, so your sketchbook has given me some ideas, thanks.

[ceddo]

@DamnStraight: Thanks! Yep, the perspective exercises are great. Focus on keeping the lines clean and connected, and always push your comfort zone! (I kept doing simple cube arrangements for too long, try to go more complex as you progress).

Here is an update from the past week - I started a new sketchpad, and wanted to focus more on precision and clarity when drawing shapes. I think that a clear, concise style is essential for concept art since your main duty is to create artwork so that others can work from it. So there's a lot of observational drawing here (especially of my fancy new chess set pieces!) and I was practicing the use of shoulder and elbow to create curved and straight lines with precision. But the most important for me was to create the illusion of space and form so that it looks correct and in perspective!

[ceddo]

These are a few color studies I've done in the past few days as well. They are approx. A4 format and I try to finish them in about an hour. From the few I have done I have learned a LOT, so I will definitely keep doing them. So far I have only done studies by the candle light on my desk but I may begin to branch out and do studies outdoors soon!







As usual, critique and other comments are very appreciated

[ceddo]

Hello again!

Here is some more of the artwork I did during the year for a personal piece. I never got to creating the final painting, with the excuse that I needed more experience dealing with paints!

Well, that excuse won't work anymore since I do feel more confident with paints. I guess I'll just have to get to it!

























Thanks for looking!

[ceddo]

Hi all. I'm not dead, I've just been really busy. I started using Trimble Sketchup a few days ago and it's such a dream to use! I don't think I've ever used a 3D program that is so intuitive, highly recommend!

Here I've just been having fun and practicing my skills by making a hammer and a basic human figure.

[ChisLu]

So many amazing studies, please keep it up!

[ceddo]

Thank you very much ChisLu

I have begun digital painting on Photoshop, and while I've found it a bit awkward to begin with, I think I am now getting the hang of it. I've been following a couple of tutorials around CA which have been very helpful. By far the most useful thing I have learned, is that by taping a piece of cartridge paper over your Wacom, you can get rid of the awkward plastic-grippyness and it feels just like drawing on paper. For someone like me who is used to only drawing on traditional media, this was a really nice adaptation.

Anyway, here are two color studies I did very quickly on Photoshop. The girl is from photo reference, the outdoor scene is from life.

[ceddo]

Another update - I recently discovered Matt Kohr's website ctrl+paint.com and it has been such a pleasure to learn more about digital painting through his videos! I strongly recommend it for those who are starting digital painting and don't know what to do. You won't find a better teacher!

So here is one of the pieces I've been working on. I'm slowly beginning to realize how versatile, fast and fun the digital medium is. At the moment, it's kind of like some wild beast and I can barely hold on to the reins.



And progress picture:

[elpez]

I really enjoy going through your thought process in #18. I'm wondering at what point you've got that piece. You were getting there and it had so much potential.

cheers

[ceddo]

Wow, thanks for reminding me about that Elpez. Initially, term time has started again just as I finished the preparation and I lost the momentum to finish the piece. I will definitely finish it sometime in the near future, probably digitally, to see if I can actually make something beautiful with a tablet!

I am happy to announce that I am an intern at an independent game studio! For the past 3 weeks, I have been making concept art for a new game project pitch. I can't show most of what I am doing nowadays, but I will keep this thread alive with my digital studies for the moment.

I am trying to do as much digital studying as possible to bridge the gap between my traditional and digital skills. I have been focusing a lot on drawing constructionally, to bridge the gap between my life drawing skills and imaginative drawing. I think it's very important not to only copy the 2D shapes you see when drawing from life, but use 80 percent of your attention to make a 3D mental image. This forces you to simplify, and also engages the memory part of your brain, which expands your mental visual library and makes you a better concept artist!

So here are some quick fashion studies and a rendering study of a metal bar fashioned into a weapon. Again, huge props to Matt Kohr from Ctrl+Paint.com for making the art world seem less scary





Thanks for looking!

[ceddo]

Another little update, here are a few more fashion studies. I really feel like I am starting to understand the forms of different types of clothing now, at least much more than a few days ago. It's crazy how studying from photos in the right way can make you learn fast. I have always been resistant to using reference material, stating that my art must originate from my own imagination, and not someone else's work. I realize I was wrong

[ceddo]

Hello again!

As I only recently started digital painting, I have done a lot of stumbling in the dark trying to find the methods that work for me. Here are some of my experiments











Thanks!

[ericdelacruzgarcia]

Just wanted to say how cool it is to see your progress since your earlier posts. The digital stuff looks great I hope to get there one day. Also, thanks for letting me know about the cntrl paint site it looks awesome. cheers

[Jaik]

Progress in this sketchbook is pretty remarkable, you look like you have a lot of fun in the digital media adventures. Good stuff, keep it up, looking forward to seeing more

[ceddo]

Thank you Eric I can't begin to express my adoration for Matt Kohr, and he doesn't even know me!

Thank you Jaik, that is very encouraging!

Here is my latest lineart for the "Droiders" gang - steroid-pumped bodybuilder dudes with mech augmentations.

[ceddo]

Hello!

Here is a character I have been working on (the undefined part will probably be a flamethrower attachment, either replacing or around his arm)



and some more fashion studies. I think I might be stagnating with these now. Will see next time if I can change the way I break the clothes down, understand them from a different point of view.



Thanks for looking!