Ally Albon's Sketchbook

[AllyAlbon]

Aaand a couple of more. The Tuvok one - I like! The other, well, I don't think it particularly looks like the person. Interestingly, women seem a lot harder to caricature - can't push things as hard or they really look grotesque - and many "mainstream" women are really, really hard to figure out. I like a challenge though. This gal didn't work so well, but she does have "something" about her of the actress, so I won't call it a failure.

[Gorbax]

women do tend to caricature harder than men, since overdoing pretty much any feature makes it very manly. One thing I find that usually works is overdoing the mouth. There's a latent stereotype of women talking a lot, so it naturally doesn't feel that off (even if the woman in question doesn't talk that much). This is in turn strengthened by the fact that usually women (and not men) use lipstick and the like to accentuate their lips. These two things generally avert the attention from other features that otherwise would feel very manly (like a large or strong jawline, which is often present in caricatures).
The same goes for the eyes and eyelashes (to a lesser extent), too.

I really like the piece with all the birds you did from a while back, by the way. I absolutely love the colours. How did you go about picking them, if I might ask?

[Rhubix]

Haven't been by here in a while- see you've kept busy! the zebra in 310 made my day- I have an affinity for zebras ^_^.

The caricatures are fun- I found they really helped me understand the structure of the face as I played around with them. I agree with the above where you say women are a pain to do. I find young, attractive women to be my least favorite thing to draw. Their face is too boring. weird looking people and old people are the most fun to draw. Their face just has so much more to play with.

happy sketching!

[AllyAlbon]

@Gorbax - interesting points about a woman's mouth - thanks. Glad you liked the bird graphic! Initially, I will just throw a group of colours down in Photoshop, normally complimentary, and then pick out the interesting ones - although in the case of the bird pic, the texture I overlaid changed the base colour and made it more interesting.

@Rhubix - hello hello! And I completely agree with what you say about caricatures - I have learnt a lot about underlying structures because I could relax and not have to do it so "perfectly" - and pretty women are hard. Would rather be drawing someone like Alan Rickman. hmmmm!


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DECEMBER ALREADY???

Couple new pics. I am currently trying to learn how to record videos and building a website. Frustrating to no end, and it is taking away from valuable drawing time! A necessity, alas.... and then it is time for Christmas shopping - ARGH!

You may recognise the bull as a revamp of a creature I drew for COW a while ago - I was never happy with the final version and had to go back and try again before I went mad. Much happier this time around.

[AllyAlbon]

Couple more, including character from one of the best books ever written, and one of the best tv series....

[ja1307]

Really like that you have such a good individual and bold colourful style. Your faces are so full of character and and quirky. Good twist on the game of thrones character. Digging the pose. Maybe his head is a little too big for his body and his arms a little short. not sure if this intentional though as it could be a stylistic thing you are going for. Nice work all the same.

[AllyAlbon]

@Ja1309 - Stark's slightly larger head was intentional, but I may have tried to push it too far. Glad you like the pics!

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............... MUPPETS!!!

[AllyAlbon]

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope santa brings you all the art supplies and books you ever wanted ( I would love a Cintique... hint.. hint) and that you have a lovely, lovely time with your family and friends.

[AllyAlbon]

Hope everyone had a great day yesterday!

A few older bits and bobs I never got around to posting until now - emptying out my sketchbook in preparation for a brand spanking new year - and finishing up my website this week!

[choopcheek]

can't believe you don't work as an illustrator. these would make great childrens book illustrations. well except for the nudes of course.

[jondawo]

Your rendering and colours are looking great. I really enjoy the caricatures. Your facial construction is getting a lot better, keep it up

[AllyAlbon]

@Choopcheek- thanks very muchly. I have actually just landed my first large-scale gig as an artist, very exciting indeed

@Jondawo - thank you, glad to know it is improving. Lots of practice, practice, practice and soon; more practice!

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So yes, I have just landed a large, scale freelance project that should keep me fairly busy for the next few weeks. Hoping to keep up the personal art at the same rate though.

A few more pics from 2012 before the year departs.

[Cojac]

Great work here. Great drawings. Great illustrations. I love it all. If you don't mind take a look at my sb and give me some tips to improve. And keep posting.

[DizzySun]

Sooo impressed. :0 you really pull your characters together so nicely! And it's just awesome how well you've clicked with caricatures, they can be so challenging to get right. I can't wait to see more!

[Marian Rowling]

Happy New Year Ally, great to see the progress you are making. I think you are really coming into your own now. Any chance of you making it to the Conceptart.org workshop in London this June?

[AllyAlbon]

@Cojak - thank you!

@Dizzysun - thank you - caricatures are my new challenge, rather hard but so much fun!

@Marian - Hello Marian! Happy New Year and thank you - and YES I fully intend to be in London this June! Not buying tickets yet but the date is well and truly in the diary!!! Are you going?

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YAY! looks like Conceptart is back (For good?!). I have a few bits to post, but for now please have a sketch for my Schoolism course....

[AllyAlbon]

It's been a little while! Just to prove I am not slacking, have some sketchings. Have been working on a freelance project that is eating up most of my time.... so tired! Thank goodness it is the weekend. All I am planning on doing is drawing and watching Game of Thrones again...

[AllyAlbon]

Muppet, Muppet, Muppet.

Muppet or a man?

Currently working on a new technique for drawing fur. It is insanely addictive and fun. However, inbetween this I am finishing the muppets lineup – Four left to go! I am planning on making a video of the process for these guys as I have had quite some interest in them – watch this space.

[AllyAlbon]

Aaand another two Muppets for your delectation. Coming to an end with these guys soon, I promise! Only three to go (I think!)

[AllyAlbon]

Something a little bit different to end Saturday night on.

[AllyAlbon]

Realised I hadn't posted Robert here!

Roll on season 3 WOOOO!

[AllyAlbon]

February ALREADY?

Have a doggie. Playing and experimenting with fur techniques - not there yet, but this was fun. Need to find a technique that is less consuming though!

[Chompi'n]

Muppetsss
So lovely.
I enjoyed this page so much! all the caricatures and illustration (and..and.. )
I will definitely stay around

[AllyAlbon]

@Chompi'n - then you will hopefully like this next post!


The eternal hero of this adventure (farce?) - Kermit!


And a quick pet portrait - English Bull Terrier. Woof.

[AllyAlbon]

Aaaand puppy! And a few variations trying to work out which I prefer.

[AllyAlbon]

Aladar and Pallandro... the two as of yet unseen Wizards from Lord of the Rings. My entry into a competition on a certain place that isn't CA... *whistle*

[Marian Rowling]

Hey Ally great progress and great updates. I really like the wizards and I've been enjoying your muppet series. Also for it's worth I like your very detailed very time consuming dog technique. It's a very distinct style which I think marks you out from the rest.

Also yes I've brought a ticket for the CA do in London, but the lack of updates has made others restless and I think they are all about to rebel and demand their money back. I'm just hoping it goes ahead as it would be great to meet up with other sketchbook artists here like yourself. So fingers crossed it will happen and maybe we will get to have a chat in person!

[Betty86]

how come i never visited this SB before? so great, lovely style and characters. doggy from #384 is so cute. keep it up !

[AllyAlbon]

@Marian - glad you like the dogs, it is an area I am still exploring in (probably far too much) depth and wondering if I can actually do something with it. I still plan on coming to the show, I will play it by ear - but I think it will be great fun if it goes ahead!!!

@Betty 86 - glad you like the pups!

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Oh what a surprise - another dog. Still exploring ideas, should probably get back to concepting, but quite excited at the niggling thought that I can do something with the dog art... watch this space.

[V3T]

Your stuff is crazy good. Can't wait to see more =].