Candragonart's Sketchbook

[merl1n]

Nice sketchbook you have here..
It would be nice to see you updating more often though.
And do more stuff from life, that will help the most.

cheers

[Candra H]

Thanks Merlin. I really do need to study more from life and post more often, but I don't have much time for art, less my own stuff, so it's a case of squeezing the odd hour in when I can.

You've brought me into the third page of my SB though, so I'll try to keep the posts more regular!

A couple of bone studies first, then some landscapes with bits and pieces from outdoors and exercises from the book I'm reading.

The last picture is a restart of the eagle I'm doing in digital. I made the same mistake with it I made with my last digital attempt - blocked in using less than 100% opacity and left myself extra work for layering and blending. I figured it was quicker to start over.

[madelly]

Those landscape studies are pretty neat. Blocking in areas with black is a good idea, too. It helps you to visualize what you otherwise would see in lines. The eagle is really sharp and defined. Nice stuff.

[Derra]

Looking good!

[Candra H]

Thanks Derra, it really means a lot that you're sticking with me and seeing improvement.

Madelly, I'm really pleased you like the eagle because it's fiddly as hell for me, not being very good with digital yet. But I'm not sure what you mean about blocking in areas with black. Can you explain that a bit more?


No colour studies yet. Weather here's being crazy so I havent had any time for landscapes at all. Hoping to get a break next week and try some new stuff.

A mixed bag today. Some bone and arm studies along with a couple of komodo dragon studies and composition doodles for possible paintings.

[madelly]

Blocking in with black is basically just laying down shapes in one color so that you can visualize a concept better. It's more for digital work, since with traditional mediums, you don't have the luxury of being able to slather on whatever and then refining it. It's basically the equivalent of contour drawing or negative space studies in traditional drawing. Does that make sense? I'm sure you already have done this at one point or another without realizing it. lol

[Candra H]

Ah yeah, cool. I get what you mean now and I have used it. I think I got confused when you mentioned black, which even though I use it a lot, I try to avoid when blocking in because it's too unforgiving.

Thanks for coming back and explaining to my slow brain!

[Candra H]

Been working on other projects, mainly writing, so not much in the way of progress on studies, but I'll add what I've got.

Rough layout for book cover - needs lots of work but posting it here will give me a new angle on it and help me see my mistakes and where I need to go next.










Dug a set of pastels out of a cupboard for the practice, but the colours are diabolical so I've ordered a decent set because I like the feel of them.






Slow progress on the eagle study. Will hopefully get some time to finish it this week.

[Candra H]

Quicky landscape and some arm schematic studies.

[Candra H]

More arm studies. Onto the torso next, and I got my new pastels today so will be trying some stuff with them soon too.

[Candra H]

Couple more anatomy studies. I tried out new pastels for one of them - I think need a lot more practice before I attempt something more complicated.

[shiNIN]

Yay, anatomy studies Mine are never this nice detailed. The pastel one looks cool.
The eagle study has nice colors, I'm looking forward to see it more finished.
I'd love to give you some visitors, you deserve more

[Candra H]

Thanks Shinin! I'll admit, I'm frustrated with my anatomy studies at the moment, probably because I thought I was getting along well until I started working on the torso. Everything about it is complicated.

I'll try to get some work done on the eagle but I'm struggling through a digital book cover and only have enough energy for one of those babies at a time.

I feel like everything I'm learning or trying out right now is falling flat so I'm just trying to keep it simple and work through things slowly, which means I have very little to update this SB with. Thanks though, for taking the time to visit and comment.

[Candra H]

Bit more anatomy and figure work, and a small pastel landscape.

[Candra H]

Couple more pencil studies. It's daffodil season here so I might try a colour study of those too. Seems a shame not to indulge in all those glorious yellows.

[Candra H]

First acrylic painting from life in... wow, ten years. I need to do more of these.

There's lots wrong with it, and I ran out of time, paint and patience so things get a bit scruffy on the left two daffodils. A good learning experience though and I had fun doing it so it's all good.

[Candra H]

Just some torso/pelvis shorthands and an underdrawing for a painting.

[Candra H]

Some anatomy bits and pieces and an update on the coffee pot still life.

I'm going really slowly on it because I'm discovering I've been painting all wrong for the last fifteen years. So I'm not only on a learning curve re observing from life, I'm also trying to break old habits and learn new ones re colour mixing and application.

And lastly a dragon. Got to keep my hand in with those.

[Lightship69]

Hi matey

I was sure that I had been here before but it seems not, sorry about that! It must have been in the WIP section where I commented on something, Anyhow! Thank you very much for the SB visit and the comments that was good of you and I appreciate it.
I like your Sketch Book you have an attention to detail that is an inspiration, I especially like the way you are trying to get your head around the dragons anatomy to that they look more realistic and make more sense its a good thing to see in an artists work. I just wish that more people would do that in here rather than presenting us with a finished article in the WIP section saying what do you think? and then getting upset when we say what is wrong.

enough rambling now, keep up the good work and now that I know where this is I will visit more often and help if and when I can OK!! All the best to you and thanks again.

[Candra H]

Hey, thanks for stopping by my SB Lightship! Thats really cool of you.


Just a couple of updates today, nothing new. Lots of personal shit going on so no time for art other than a stolen hour here and there.

The eagle was unsuccessful. I lost the angle of perspective so it looks like a side on view when it should be viewed slightly from behind. Lesson learned - don't work from refs when concentration is off. I became a slave to it and the picture suffered.

Was going to also give up on the still life because I thought I'd ruined the fabric by mixing too much black into the shadow tones. But looking back, I think I might just about get away with it so I'll keep going for the learning experience. Lesson learned - try to avoid black when mixing shadow tones, or at least use a lot less.

[americanheadcharge]

Great and interesting studies!

[Candra H]

Some random bits and pieces today.

Going to move on from torso studies and start working on the head and hands next.

[Cojac]

Hi, I love your dragon drawings. And it is really interesting how you are studying anatomy.

[Candra H]

Thanks, Cojac! No idea if my study method for anatomy is helping but I cant approach it any other way, and I'm really glad you like my dragons.

[Candra H]

A quick landscape and a sketch for a horror illustration I'm working on. Posting it in here because I need some distance from it before I take it any further.

[Candra H]

Progress update on the horror illustration. I think I should have stayed longer in the develpoment stage because I'm seeing lots of errors in it now. Oh well, lesson learned for next time.

[RV-]

Hey! I like your pencils landscape, specially the last one ! Keep posting :-)

[Candra H]

Thanks, RV! The weather here's been crazy recently so not much in the way of landscape work. Just some random five minute doodles before getting chased back indoors by the rain.

Working on head anatomy now. Got some basic studies going and will hopefully get on to facial muscles next.

[Candra H]

Some quick landscape and dragon doodles. The dragons are frustrating me. They still look really awkward and stiff but I guess thats part of the learnig process. Hopefully the more I draw them in various poses, the better they'll get.

And the start of a new acrylic painting from a photo. I messed up the still life so had to abandon it. Hopefully I'll get this one completed.

[Lhune]

I think the main problem with your dragons is a lack of understanding of animal anatomy. I know you're going for dragons with human-like anatomy, but you're portraying them as beasts. You'll need to understand both to find the right balance and lose the stiffness. Also, you'll want to try and curve the body while keeping the tail straight rather than the other way around.

Good luck and keep workin'!