Not the best but working on it!

[kinekun]

I've been looking to and from on this webpage a while now and finally decided to make a sketchbook here of my own. I figure that if I really wanna improve my drawing and get better, this is a good place to start. If I can get some feedback and improve myself that's really all I could wish for.

I'm currently doing a 1001 selfportraits challenge in which I'm drawing 1 portrait every day. So I suppose many of the drawings I upload here will be portraits of my own face. I also recently started working with values and realized I am weak with environments. Environs is something I'd like to become better at, they seem fun to do once you get the hang.

I will update this sketchbook daily, no matter what kind of "bad stuff" I come up with. So please, give some honest feedback and I am looking forward to doing this!

[kinekun]

Here's a portrait I did today



edit: image size changed to smaller more comfortable view

[kinekun]

Another portrait

[Stryno]

I would read Betty Edwards Drawing on the right Side of the Brain, if you have not already. Especially if you are serious about putting in three years worth of self-portraits. Also I would set up a spot in front of a mirror, I only say that because you drew yourself in profile and I just don't figure you set up the mirrors it would take to do that from life. But If you are going to draw yourself 1001 times, most should be done from a mirror, it is amazing how much it means to draw from real life. It is hard, and on top of that you will move around, and it gets even harder... but, that is what dedicates the practice to memory, tough scrutiny of what you are doing.

A little something that is I guess a pet-peeve of mine, so take it for what it is worth, I would ditch the signature, make it smaller or hide it. The greats didn't sign their works in a part of the picture that was ever meant to be seen, they signed on the back, under the matte or under the frame lip.

Good Luck man, and have fun.

[kinekun]

Thanks for all the feedback, stryno! I started reading Betty's book and it seems really well done. I've decided to go through all of if, word for word, so I might put the 1001 portrait challenge on hold 'til I've chugged through all of it. It seems like the better way to go, atm. I also agree with you that it's better to draw from real life. I've been doing that all the way, until the profile portrait which I used a photograph to do. You caught me at just the right opportunity! I dunno about the signature, I recently started using it. I'm not really comfortable with it, so I'll try going back to not using any and see how that feels.

A mirror-portrait this time, along with a quicker sketch in which I tried to draw a friend from memory and my own hand. Didn't spend too much time on these last two, it's getting very late.

[Stryno]

I didn't Mean to Hijack your thread, but I really think this is a good move for you.
About the signature, I am also glad you have reviewed it, I mean Signing and dating pieces is a great Idea for anyone, but a small penciling in the corner, or on the back works better then a bold line that competes for the viewers attention.

A critique or two on the latest self portrait, I hope you feel good about it, because you should. But, there is a few things I will mention. The sternal mastoid has clearly been drawn using a preconceived notion of what it should look like, as opposed to what it actually looks like. Also the Nose, it shows form and volume that most people at your stage miss, but it is more stylized and less "observed". Keep at the observational studies they pay dividends. I am far from an expert, but your pencil work has nice solid, confidant lines, and I like them better then the first two digital works you have shown. I would revisit digital, later, right now I think it would be great study to work through your observational practices, using the pencils.
Awesome start Man! I am going to keep an eye on your thread .

[kinekun]

Thanks stryno. Really good advice, I'm happy you're giving them, gives me some proper direction and food for thought. Compliments make for happy reading too =)

I won't be able to drop digital altogether since I'm studying concept art at uni. But I feel that the analogue drawing is really helpful, so I'll be mixing between them from now on.

Two pictures based on lineart images from the book, drawn upside-down as per instructions(flipped right-side up afterwards). I think I'm starting to understand now what my art teacher used to say in croquoise when she was comparing angles and talking about "drawing with your eyes". It nevre made much sense back then.



edit: the floating text are just comments I made to myself. the picture on the left is based on picassos "portrait of igor stravinsky" if you're curoius

[kevin_]

cool challenge that you are taking, hope you will be able to get other work done as well though. anyways its looking good so far, keep it up!

[kinekun]

Cheers kevin. The challenge is on hold for a while, but I'll get back to it eventually

A hand exercise



Same exercise but in photoshop. Numbers indicate what order I did them in. I haven't tried this out in ps before, so it was a jumpy start

[kinekun]

I did a character and realized I don't really have a good grasp of hands and poses, so I did some sketches bases on ref. material

[kinekun]

Negative-ish space drawing

[kinekun]

A bunch of concepts, mixing gypsy and 60s space fashion with some random elements at times

[kinekun]

An environ based on modern day Istanbul in ruins and a 60s futuristic backdrop

[kinekun]

A carconcept. Really want to continue reading Drawing on the Right side of the brain, will have some time during the weekend!

[kinekun]

A couple of concepts on futuristic wagons

[kinekun]

First is an image of the view out of my door. Second is a study based on another study. Third is a profile image I did based on a photograph (hard to find live models!). Composition could have been better, but I'm happy with the result

[kinekun]

Study of Gustave Corbert's "self portrait"

[kinekun]

Finally read through "Drawing on the right side of the brain"! Was quite useful, will keep on making more real life studies from now on. For now, selfportraits are back again =)

[kinekun]

[kinekun]

I played some Super Mario Bros 3 as player 2 and my friend wanted to see me as Luigi =)

[JFierce]

One of the best ways to improve is observational drawing. So keep doing those studies of what you see. Actively try to get things as you see em' since the mind tries to naturally fill in info that isn't there. You'll find yourself improving without even knowing it...... or maybe you will know if you look back in your sketchbook. But it won't be obvious at first anyways lol. For self portraits once again just really focus on getting those proportions right and things how you see em'



Just keep crankin them out

[Stryno]

Finally read through "Drawing on the right side of the brain"! Was quite useful, will keep on making more real life studies from now on. For now, selfportraits are back again =)

I am really glade it helped

[kinekun]

Thank you, JFierce. It's good to be reminded about these things every once in a while

This one is kinda scary in hindsight

[kinekun]

I'm starting to get a grasp of how to work with values in PS, so I decided to speed up my drawing a bit. Was fun =)

[AriyaLothiriell]

I like your portraits and I'm impressed by your challenge. You really need a lot of self discipline. I wish you luck for that!

Maybe you should just focus on the portrait then to add a background to your pictures? I like the last one but the bg is kind of disturbing the balance of the picture.

[kinekun]

Cheers AriyaLothiriell! I rarely do backgrounds and yesterday I just felt like adding my room as well. I think it's good training though, especially when based on observation, so I think I'll continue adding them whenever I feel like it. In any case, thanks for your feedback. I've been thinking lately that I should expand with "proper" environmental pictures as well and your comment motivated me =)

Another portrait


And an environment quickie, based on a pic of salem mass

[kinekun]

So i botcher the portrait. Then I decide to use only black and white on a round brush to do my environ. Man, it turned out to be one of those days... Oh well, better luck tomorrow!

[kinekun]

some loomis techniques next. also, did a colortest

[kinekun]

a portrait and a quick doodle of a character

[Umbravita]

Try doing some face anatomy studies. Like eyes, noses, etc. Also keep up with the facial structure studies! You've been doing a lot of work, keep it up.