Joe`s Sketchbook Journey

[joe`]

Hey all,
im a new member to the forums but have been checking out the sketchbook forums for a long time and figured i might as well post some of my own sketches.

here's a few figure sketches from sketchbookpro to start things off.

comments and crits appreciated!

[joe`]

here they are*

[Zipfelzeus]

Looks like I'm going to take yours sketchbook virginity... by leaving a comment on this fresh meat.

First of all: Very nice sketches, the one reminds me of masterchief.

As always, I guess you are a beginner to art so I guess you should start practising. Becaue with most of the sketches the anatom< seems quite of. I think the legs are to short and some other stuff.

But this shouldn't keep you from sketching, which is very important to.

I hope I'll be able to follow your progress Keep it going

[Samszym]

Nice start! Your drawings have some really cool shapes and gestures! I like the look you're going for but zipfelzeus is right, you need to do some proportion and anatomy studying and really tie down your drawings. You don't seem to understand how breasts hang from the female torso and your deltoids are another major problem. The issues in your upper body anatomy are the most noticeable, but you're not even drawing the lower body so that probably needs a lot of studying too.
There's a lot to learn, but don't let that stop you from having fun. I think seeing this style in a more accurate and drawn out version would be really interesting. Welcome to CA, Keep posting!

[raminafshari]

keep them coming ... these are good studies , my suggestion is to add bit more shadows to feel more 3d .

[joe`]

@zipfelzeus, thanks for the feedback i can see what you mean, i've been drawing for a long time but i am relatively new to figures so your comment is really helpful!

@vertical, thanks for the comments, i can see what you mean about the breasts and deltoids i'll try sort these issues out. The rough nature of the sketches is mainly because im still getting used to a wacom, i'll post some pencil and pen sketches soon!

@raminafshari, thanks! i'll have a look at adding better shadows to future sketches!


Here are some more sketches!

[joe`]

Heres a few more sketches

The bottom image is my first attempt at a digital painting, its a work in progress and tips/crits would be greatly appreciated!

[joe`]

ideas of how to improve this latest image would be greatly appreciated!

[Zephyrion]

you're doing pretty good. I like the details on the eyes in your first post, very lifelike. Anatomy can always be improved. However, you should practice more with shading and values and such.

[Lightpunk]

Hi Joe,

Thanks for the comments on my sketchbook! You are on to a good start here, keep going with the anatomy and gesture work they will pay dividends. If you've not already discovered him, try reading Loomis books on figure drawing (actually read all his books, they are gold dust), they are out of print now and free to download here: http://acid.noobgrinder.com/Loomis/

With regards to improving that last environment, here are a couple things to consider:

1. Establish your foreground, middle ground and background more clearly. At the moment the middle ground is not clear - whats the glowing pond/portal sitting on?

2. Atmospheric perspective is key to establishing depth. Basically this means dark (black) values/contrast recedes with distance. Your middle ground and foreground are competing with each other at the moment (i.e. the darkness of the grey and the trees are quite similar) making it look flat. Try making the closest trees etc darker in value, middle ground in the middle and far trees lighter. I'd also add some more trees (or something) even in lighter in value beyond the ones you already have.

Hope this helps, keep it up!

[joe`]

Thanks carnivale i'll try experimenting with values more!

thanks lightpunk, thats all really helpful stuff! i really appreciate it!

[TookMyPearl]

Thanks for looking at my sketchbook!

I really really love your traditional work - your shading is immaculate (and sooo so soft).

As far as the digital artwork is concerned, your drawings are excellent but my only bit of advice would be to use hard brushes rather than soft ones. Soft brushes tend to make the piece lack in a dynamic quality. Just my opinion, though!

Again, great work.

[Tides]

Graphite work is definitely your forte'. Wanna see your digital painting of the girl with the red hair pushed further. Good start of a sketchbook.

[Ludic]

Hey, i feel that the latest image has very little contrast, try adding some really deep darks and i think you'll find that the image becomes a lot more 3-d looking.

[Aresa]

Hello! Very nice start to your sketchbook! As many have said already, just practice more with anatomy. I think you have improved since your first post, which is great! The graphite portrait is nice and the digital portrait is looking good as well. The only thing I have to say is just push the contrast more in your digital pieces. Very nice work so far! Keep it up!

[joe`]

Thanks for the suggestions! here's a few more sketches

as always crits appreciated!

[Rhubix]

Big improvements so far! I think the best advice is the basic stuff, anatomy / perspective / proportions blah blah blah.
I feel like that last pose is a bit of a tease, there's the beginnings of an adorable dinosaur there and I want the rest lol.
keep on trucking, your clearly on the right track.

[joe`]

Thanks a lot Rhubix, i'll be sure to work on those aspects!

Here's another WIP, struggling with light and colour on this one.
And another landscape from imagination

[joe`]

Made some more progress on the snake man along with some studies from pictures of an orange and a soldier, bit of a random mix

[joe`]

First some old grahite work from photos then some more progress(?) on the serpent man, I have changed the head to make it seem more alien/threatening.
Any comments suggestions are always appreciated!

[Bing!]

your studies are really good...do a ton of those! you'll see urself using the stuff you learned into your imaginative work...check this page out too... http://www.howtodigitalpaint.com/

[Jephyr X]

Hi,

Thanks for stopping by my sb. I can easily return the compliment...you do really well when it comes to getting the essence/likeness of your subjects!

Keep up the excellent work!

[visoutre]

Your studies are really good but it might help if you did more studies of environments and mechanical stuff. You're good at drawing a face, but your environments are weak. Some general rules are as things go further away they become lighter and more desaturated since air particles and stuff interfere with the light. Having objects in the direct foreground (like a branch, bushes, wires, etc) will increase depth, so it's a nice cheat to use! A huge part of environments is the composition and focal point; you need to have a focal point in the middleground or somewhere and use angles, contrast, etc to lead the viewers eye to that point. Narrative is important too. For example, the Snake Man painting looks cool and it's nice how you used perspective, but other than that the background doesn't do anything to the figure. It's just a green monster on a greyish plane with mountains in the background. You could add the silhouette of rocks or something in the foreground to suggest the type of environment he is in. Maybe he is semi aquatic so there is a lake nearby? Or there is a volcano in the background which is why it's hazy? Interest the viewer by drawing them into the scene and show things they know. Look at movies to study awesome compositions and environments. My points are scattered, but hopefully it helps and you have more fun with narrative in your art.

[crowbones]

hi there, thanks for visiting my sketchbook.

this looks like a great start, you really rock the graphite!

i like the chunky design of the snakeman, that boxy face is pretty cool, but the way the head attaches to the neck looks a little off, like there is no underlying structure on the skull to anchor those massive muscles, they just sort of stop when they reach the back of the skull. i hope that makes sense, i'm having trouble putting it exactly into words.

[joe`]

@visoutre, thanks for the in depth crit. I have to agree, my environments are definitely my weakest aspect, i guess thats why i havn't done too many, theyre so hard! lol
@crowbones, i think i understand what you mean, but ive scrapped that image for now.

In this latest post are some landscapes, working from images.
A drill in the style of a leica camera.( I am actually an Industrial design student)
and a value study.

Crits appreciated, as always.

[joe`]

Been a while, heres a value study of kristen stewart. its a bit of work in progress. please point out any obvious issues at this stage, thanks!

[joe`]

another painting, this time with more emphasis on speed and i more finished version of the last portrait.

I feel as though the skin tone is off in Kristen, any one care to comment? thanks.

[Snyder]

Hey joe,
I really like what you did with Kristens skin in the portrait - the bright sparkles at the nose etc make it looks really vivid. And I don't feel like the colors are off at all (But maybe they are if you know the original photo )

Hope to see some more works of you soon! C ya!!