Ally Albon's Sketchbook

[liquorbleu]

Your line quality is excellent, I'm really jealous of your clean lines and I need to work to be more like you!

I've noticed your heads are anatomically a bit off pretty consistently. I think it might help to do some bone or muscle studies inside of the head again. And honestly I see some studies that you have been achieving understanding of proportion - I'm thinking it'll just take you time and you are doing all the right things.

Cheers!

I might have to try illustrator now, looks interesting.

[AllyAlbon]

@ShiNIN - thanks! And I know what you mean about misbehaving brains...

@liqorbleu - thanks muchly. I didn't think my linework was particularly great yet, but glad you like. And I do struggle with people. Time and patience. Looking at your most recent works, I really do think you would like Illustrator. Give it a try, it is fantastic.

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New rules in place. I am getting up 15ish minutes earlier each day (might try for 30 mins) to do a quick sketch before work. Second rule, is to do at least 2 hours art every day. Struggled at first, getting easier!

Going to start lifedrawing classes soon, probably only once or twice a month at 4 hours a pop, but will be interesting to see if it helps.

1. Sketches from imagination
2. Silly ferret
3. Trying to take things slower, work out composition and ideas before diving in...
4. a Strawberry. Snarf.

[AllyAlbon]

messing around thinking of ideas for illustration. Most of this week has been eaten up by my first fully finished(hopefully) digital piece. Should have finished it by tomorrow...

[AllyAlbon]

T'was my birthday yesterday - doesn't mean I don't keep up the two hours drawing a day. This was my baby last week, spent a great deal of time on it. Now time to move on to the next one. title : "There was something a little off about that cat".

[Marian Rowling]

Hey Ally many Happy Returns for yesterday, I hope you had a fab Birthday. This last one is looking good, my only crit is that it looks a little dark in the shadows and that the edges need to be a little softer as it's a lady. Hope that helps.

[AllyAlbon]

@Marian - thanks, it was quiet but lovely!

Big old art dump. All of these are a couple of weeks old now and I already hates thems. Time for new, better stuff.

[shiNIN]

You might hate them but I really like your little illustration pieces

Happy belated birthday!

I don't think there's anything really off with the cat in the lady's lap. It's just more honest than the average cat and clearly shows it's a little devil as most of its kind The cat itself is my favourite part of the painting. It's not the first time I notice you are good with drawing/painting animals...

[AllyAlbon]

@shiNIN - thanks - and yes, very much an average cat. I love the beasts but have a very mixed relationship with them. My last cat... wore her pointy tail and venomous teeth on the outside.

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Second art dump! This will take me up to last Monday and gets rid of all the old stuff. Today: Haircut and then illustrator practice. Perhaps some cake. I like Saturdays.

Most of the animal characters are for a set of illustrations I am going to do. Can't decide what medium to do it in, hence the procrastination. Really enjoying India ink and watercolour.

[AllyAlbon]

weekends go by far too fast.

first one from photo, second from life. Love my orchids.

[gamersgene]

your pencil/pen art is really good. not my style but i aprreciate skill when i see it.

As for you digital painting...wellll...it needs work. Your shading looks patchy and feathered and that's just horrible for painting skin. What helped me was watching this loish livestream.
watch 43:00 (the nose job) and 48:00 (the boob job) to see how she does her shading. basically leave the opacity at 100 but fiddle with the flow to you hearts content

[AllyAlbon]

@gamersgene - had a look at the vid, not my style but I see what's happening there. Will def keep it in the back of my mind next time - actually planning on a self-portrait again soon...
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My first full pic in Illustrator from last week. Evilly frustrating and wonderfully joyous program. Happy with this pic. The two seal-like creatures are based on "toys" I used to make as a child out of blue tac! Didn't matter what fancy toys I had, I always ended up playing with these "sea-nymphs" as I named them. Whole clans of them at a time. Thought it would be fun to revive them.

Second pic is from reference, in painter. Set myself an "100 dogs" challenge. I think this is dog number...6? Plenty of time for the next 94.

[AllyAlbon]

About to do a huge arting session.

Thoroughly thrilled by the UK after that awesome ceremony last night. Had been rather worried that we would fall flat, but that was pretty epic. Go UK! Plus, Voldemort!!!!


1. enviro sketch. Still completely brand new when it comes to environments. That's the next element I want to work on.

2. designs for an illustration I am starting this weekend.

3. Me! From last week, looking more like me, although still not there. A quickie pic, about 45 minutes. Still needs lotta work...

[SpaceJelly]

Your cartoon critters are adorable! Also your painting skills and studies are excellent. I love the style you have developing here, especially the chunkiness to the digital works.

[Marian Rowling]

Go Team Ally, Go, last self portrait is looking good. You are making great progress with them.

[shiNIN]

100 dogs? OMG... There will be a lot of fur rendered by you, it's always a joy to see.
Your latest faces looks good and less stylized than your older ones but they are still unmistakably yours I like them better and better.

[The Electric Ant]

tThanks for stopping by my sketchbook! I really love the way you paint and draw fur! keep it up! I wait for more dogs

[Neyut]

Hey thanks for visiting my sketchbook, you got a nice colouring
just a little advice: I think the bridge of your noses is a bit weird, they are a bit too straight from the forehead on in my opinion

[AllyAlbon]

Thanks everyone!

Couple of quickies to keep active. Have been working on two pics over the weekend that are not yet ready to show.

1. Sketches for illustration ideas.

2. King Charles spaniel

3. Quick illustrator image based on a photo. Not too happy with it, but learnt a few good techniques for the future...

[shiNIN]

That little rat is ADORABLE...

[AllyAlbon]

@shiNIN - taaa! He is going to be a sidekick in my Red riding hood illustration... which at this rate will never get made.

I can't believe it is the 01 August. Where did it go? And what did they do with the SUMMER?

1. I have been playing too much "Secret World" and I want one of these as a pet. It will eat wellies and shall be named George.

2. WIP of a picture that has been driving me insane the past two nights. Finally winning...

[Satu]

Oh maan I really love your illustration pieces. All those little animals look just so adorable. I also love the sidekick-mouse! And this newest creature. Your portraits are also getting better and better!

[AllyAlbon]

@Satu - thanks hon! Cute rodent going to get some colour this weekend methinks.

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This has been my baby all week. Learning some new techniques, exploring where I want to go and what I want to be as an artist. I can see so many things I would change now that it is finished. I wont say how many hours was spent on it as it was far too many... but I learnt so much.

[Cyberman]

really like your sketchbook Ally, I admire your creativity, very contagious...Cheers.

[Ainuwolf]

What can I say?
Your animal stuff are exquisite!
Your rendering is awesome and your characters are lovely!
Gimme more, please!

[AllyAlbon]

@Sean - thanks!

@Ainuwolf - Thanks, glad you like the animals, they are my favourite to draw.

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Drop of last week's work. Currently working on an actual-to-goodness commission for someone that will be finished up tonight. someone loves me

[shiNIN]

I mostly can say just what I already did. I like your heads better and better (in general; not the last one) and I love your animals. If I must find some flaw in them, it's the paws. They could be better. I'm fascinated by everything else, I wish I had books with illustrations like these when I was a kid.

[Aaron_]

What a lovely sketchboook. The stylization is just beautiful, I just love all these animals. They're just wonderful to look at.

And the last painting is a great improvement in rendering!

If I have any critique, it would be that most of your sketches seem a bit static(but quite natural though) in gesture. Would be interesting to see you experimenting with more dynamic poses(should really take my own advice actually ;D).

[gamersgene]

good work on your animal drawings. u planning on becoming a childrens illustrator?

[AllyAlbon]

@shiNIN - thanks! and your comment about the paws are spot on; they were bugging me too and will pay more attention in the future.

@Aaron_ - thanks! and how odd you say that as I have just been watching videos about capturing motion and energy and trying to work on that. I tend to be very tight and frustrated when drawing, so it's a new thing to me...

@gamersgene - not sure at all yet. I started this all for fun but now... I am wondering. I do have a fondness for the fanciful and whimsical, the gentle fantasy and was thinking of taking a kids course in the next few months to see what I really do think. nice to know that you saw something there tho!

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All are 10-12 minute studies just to keep the practice up, and a lizard cos they are awesome.

[AllyAlbon]

It's Meeeee! Each one gets a bit more "like" me. Seeing as drawing people, and drawing people and having them look like people is the hardest thing in the world for me, I am delighted that I am actually starting to succeed. (although I was actually really ill when I drew this, hence the bad shading. Says it all, really.)

And have a dino. Sorta. This is an old character of mine revamped, waiting to be coloured.

Working on a couple of big pieces today. Going to try some more acrylic today as the stuff still frustrates me, and also watercolour again - which I am astonished to say I am enjoying more than the acrylic. I really need to find a teacher so I can get some more guidance.