KT's Sketchbook. Joining in the Deathline Challenge.

[KT]

Hi. My names Kendall. I've been a lurker on here for a while now but I finally got up the nerve to start a sketchbook. I'm 22 and I'm currently attending community college. I want to improve and I appreciate any comments and critique.

[Featheredface]

Hello, Kendall!

Welcome and good idea on starting a sketchbook!

It's also good to see you did a skeleton sketch, and even made sure to keep proportions in check via the headcount. Just start reading any (or all) books on anatomy and drawing by Bridgeman, he's a good start.

Also, start to carry a sketchbook around with you 24/7, take it out and draw things along your daily activities, whether it be a plant, tissue box or other person. Just keep challenging yourself and try drawing EVERYTHING.

Another way to help improve is by doing Posemaniac's 30 second gestures at least one or two pages a day.

Link here:

http://www.posemaniacs.com/?pagename=thirtysecond


Anyways, enough rambling, keep going, you can do it~.

[KT]

Featheredface: Thanks for the comment. I try to bring my sketchbook but I dont always get to draw in it as much as I want to. Ill try though.

Heres some stuff from a few weeks ago.





And here are some more studies from pecks anatomy.

[KT]

Well I haven't been on here for a while due to school and finals but I fave a free week now so here's some stuff that I did during the semester.

Some skull studies and simple skeleton from Peck's anatomy.

[KT]

Here's some more stuff from the semester.

Some character designs for class.



And here's a drawing of the basic/simplified skeleton we went over in class.

I'll try to post some stuff from life drawing sessions tomorrow.

[shako]

I liked the wii remote sketches, reminds me, I too need to study my environment and draw everything!

[fransua]

Keep it up m8;p In some of your skulls the cranial mass is too small,one of the best books which gives you proportions and construction is Burne Hogarth's book on drawing heads ;p

[Dannyphoto]

I think your life drawing and anatomy drawing skills are good mate, keep referencing and use books by andrew loomis and George b Brdigman, they are similar to what you're doing, keep em coming

[KT]

shako:Thanks, although I never can seem to get the angles right even though I've drawn them so many times.

fransua:By cranial mass do you mean the cranium itself? Sorry if I'm misunderstanding you I just want to make sure. I am currently going through Peck's anatomy book but I have looked into Hogarth.

Dannyphoto:Hey thanks. I have Bridgman's books but I haven't gone through Loomis' books in a while and have been meaning to look back into them.

Sorry for the late replies, I've been a bit busy. I went to to WonderCon today and it was great.I got some art books and listened to some advice from the artists. All in all it was great and I'm going back tomorrow.

Here's some of those gestures from class.

[KT]

Well, I haven't posted in a while. I'll try to post more often but for now here are some gestures from last semester:

[KT]

Hey all. I have not been drawing as much as I should be, but I'm trying.
Some sketchbook stuff:


And anatomy stuff from last semester:

[KT]

Still don't have as much new stuff but I will be going to another figure drawing session on friday so hopefully I will have some stuff scanned by then.

Some figures from last semester's class:

[AnthonyV]

Good work with the anatomy. It's good that you're tackling the gestures, bones, and muscles.
What I think would really help you is practice drawing the large masses of the figure. It'll help you understand a streamlined outside appearance of figure (which connects with your knowledge of the inside of the figure, ex. bones and muscles).
Check out the sections on the manikin and block form in Loomis's book
Andrew-Loomis-Figure-Drawing-For-All-its-Worth
Also when you are comfortable, try out longer drawings, like with a photo (or from life if you can). You don't have to finish the drawing in one session. You will discover the more subtle things about the figure that you'll miss amongst rushing though short gestures.
And don't worry about knowing the names of the muscles , it's only used for explaining anatomy in classes and books. Knowing the 3d form and how it connects to each other is the goals.
Keep up the good work, also this is an amazing resource Gesture Photo Drawing tool thingy

[KT]

Hey Thanks AnthonyV! Yeah, my teacher also told me that I had trouble with masses and construction of the figure. I've also been meaning to do more from loomis but then I found out figure drawing for all it's worth was being reprinted so I pre-ordered it a while ago and have been waiting for it to arrive. And thanks for the gesture drawing link, I'll try it out later.

So, now that we've decided to make a SSG, I'll try to do more studies and post more in everyone's sketchbook and my own.

Here's a spine study I did a while ago.


And here's some stuff from drawing on the bus. Bus drawing is fun although a bit difficult when it gets bumpy or turns.(the leaves were drawn when I got off the bus if you were wondering.)

[hala]

Hey KT!! Don't worry about replying to sketchbooks right away, we understand that life exists too outside of CA :p
I really enjoy your skeletal studies. You seem very comfortable with the bones. I notice though that you are often not as confident/accurate with the lower half of the body though. I think doing some photo studies or master/book studies will help you with this. Sometimes just copying something an excessive amount of times will get your hand and brain familiar with the shapes and flow of those body parts. Then when you go to do your gestures and figure studies, your brain/hand will pretty much already know how the legs should be, and it's just a matter of putting what you see on the page.

I know Anthony suggested Loomis already, but Loomis' basic anatomy book has wireframe anatomy figures that look similar to the ones you drew---I think you should take a look at them and see how he draws the hip and leg region. Right now you are putting the leg lines on the outside of the pelvis, which is making the joints and bends look a little off. The leg wires actually sit somewhat inside the pelvis. I've attached a pic to show what I mean. I hope it makes sense ^^;;; Not everyone makes wires this way, but I think it will help you get the bends and joints in the right place.

(This is the worst wire frame ever, as I am a little sleep deprived ;p i apologize)

Edit: i notice you put your lines on the outside because you're probably trying to capture the gesture. If that's the case, do some contour drawings of figures, to get yourself more familiar with the flow of the body from the outside lines.

[Reutte]

Well, I think your spine studies are incredible. Were you looking a life size skeleton for the study?

I am impressed that you can draw on the bus. I would end up really sick if I tried. I can also definitely see that your gesture sketches are getting better over time.

[ranunkel]

Great studies! Keep up the good work!

[Bing!]

Digging your commitment! try some master studies or some cast studies! keep it up

[KT]

@hala:Thanks for the illustration/diagram! I'll try both approaches and I'm still waiting for the loomis book to be delivered from amazon.com heh heh. Yeah, I haven't even got through the lower body in my anatomy book(it's Pecks anatomy book) just the sacrum, and I really need to get to it. For the master copies who would you suggest? I think I might have some Michelangelo stuff in a book somewhere....

@Reutte:Hey Reutte. I just draw from peck's anatomy book. I wish I could afford a life size skeleton. I guess i'm cheating when I draw on the bus because I usually wait until it stops or slows down enough for me to draw

@ranunkel:Thanks, I'll try!

@Bing!:Thanks for the suggestion! I think I can attempt a master copy

Really, Thanks guys for the critique and encouragement I appreciate it.
I wish I had more to show you guy's. I was kinda sick this memorial day weekend so I didn't get to draw as much as I wanted too.(I also procrastinated and had to hurry to finish some non art related school work)
First some composition/perspective stuff for my class.The first layout assignment is a high angle shot. I'm in the group that's doing the Aztec's and the ball game they played.For the first image's thumbnails I tried to emphasize the rubber ball as an important object.

These are for the parallel assignment to the first: a low angle shot.

And this is the close to final image before I expand it to 12". The blue pencil lines are where my teacher corrected my perspective.

And a page of bus drawing.

[Reutte]

Haha, actually only drawing when you're not moving makes it seem more impressive. Your new bus sketch is better than the last one with the added texture of the hair.

I like that you actually draw the vanishing point outside of the panel for your assignment. It's a great combination of gestureish stuff and perspective.

[yogeshj25]

wow your line quality kind of resembles mine in a way. great studies and keep working hard at it!

[KT]

@Reutte: Hey, thanks Reutte.
@yogeshj25: Thanks I will.

Well, this is a bit late guys. I'm sorry I don't post as much as you guy's but that's one of the reasons I joined a SSG, to motivate myself to post more and think more about critique. Also, if you think my critiques in your sketchbooks are convoluted or lacking, please tell me and I'll try to get better. Sorry for the whole spiel, I just think i'm not doing as much as you guy's and I want to, so I'll try and do better.

I also got my loomis book on friday, which is really exciting, so I started going through it and did the male 8 head proportional model:

Here are some figure drawings from some weeks ago. These two I'm not proud of(the propotions on the neck are waay off ugh).


I like these I like better than the other ones, but they still suck:

[Dayle]

Hi. Your studies are great, I can't recommend anything new, everyone elses comments are spot on. Just keep at it and check your proportions, oh and don't worry about mistakes just keep posting your stuff. The last ones show good progress, I like the half hour pose, good sense of depth.

[Asatira]

Don't be so hard on yourself. It takes work and time. Your recent figures are pretty good, and your foreshortened pose is very good.

[Reutte]

Well the loomis model is great though his calves look a little off. They seem kinda bulgy. The neck is off but since you're aware, just be watchful. I tend to elongate my torsos myself. Also the hip on the one reclining kinda seems to be sprouting from the side a bit.

And they're better than what I can do, so I wouldn't say they suck per say. XD

[hala]

Hey man, don't worry about posting. Your practice shouldn't be about getting something up to post, focus on you and what you need to do! Also, your comments are great, you put effort into providing feedback, that's all that counts.

Keep studying Loomis, and really soak in what he writes about too. All I can suggest is to keep doing more, repeat things if you have to, until you are solid in them and can redraw them without looking back at the book.
KEEP IT UP!!

[AnthonyV]

Yea, what hala said
Getting mileage with your drawing is the most important factor for learning to draw well
Don't worry, you're on the right path

[KT]

@Dayle: Thanks! Yeah, that was one of the only long poses I got work on in the year. I wish I could do more although I do like the short poses.

@Asatira:Thanks. I'm glad to heart that I did better on my foreshortening. Still have trouble with, but who doesn't.

@Reutte: Oh, yeah the proportions on the loomis study are a bit off, even though I kept telling myself that the point of the study was to get the proportions down accurately. Also, thanks for pointing out the hip problem I, hadn't noticed, which shows that I really need to get through my anatomy book. I'll have more time in the summer so maybe.

@hala: I'm glad to hear that my posts aren't too confusing or poorly written. I will keep studying and I'll keep trying to get some practice in as much as I can.

@AnthonyV:Thanks AnthonyV, mileage is important and I will try my best.

Really guy's, I appreciate your comments and will try my best to improve, and to my SSG, I'll keep trying to give help as often as I can.
Well, today I went to the Oakland zoo and getting there was pretty difficult because I have no car and it takes 3 and a half hours to get there using public transit. I really need to learn how to drive.
I went to meet my teacher with his other class and listen to the lecture though I didn't get to hear because I was late.
Here's some stuff from the trip.


I like these more than the others. Pigs are fun because they stay pretty still while you draw them.

[Asatira]

I love looking at others' zoo animal sketches. Nice job with them, able to capture the gist of each animal and their poses. I enjoy the bats and the pigs. Yes, animals that stay put are very helpful models, but you probably improve your sketching skill with more active ones. As you do more, progress from the general shape to a few lines (simple sweeps, really) to help get form and overlap.

[AnthonyV]

Yay animals
You should draw very lightly with the big curvy sweeps (like you are doing) to capture the large masses and gesture. BUT THEN redraw the animal on top of your gesture with darker lines to fix the inaccuracies and really chisel the forms. For example the giraffe has several dark lines for the neck but we should only see two.