Year Two - Take Two

[A-May]

Hey, This is the start of my second sketchbook here.. and hopefully a fresh start. I don't want to write a wall of text here, which probably won't get read, but just wanted to say- I came to a point this summer where I felt really down about my art and where I am, compared to where I want to be. It then occurred to me I wasn't improving while I was moping about this, so now it's time to get off my metaphorical ass and make myself better. With this in mind - here goes my resolution (made on my recent 20th birthday) to draw everyday and to get to a professional level by the time I graduate in June 2014 (I feel I have a long long way to go). Let's get going!

[A-May]

Okay well here's a first dump of recent work - any comments or suggestions are dearly appreciated!

[JanLoos]

I'm also doing anatomy sketches and studies. The thing i notice is that your porportions are a bit off. I really learned alot from Andrew Loomis - Figure Drawing, its available for free as e-book in the tutorial/reference sections

[A-May]

Thanks! Yeah I have played around with Loomis before.. those particular studies were done in a life drawing class, and the model was very strangely proportioned! Anyways I know they're a little off and I plan to continue going to life drawing classes at least once a week! Nothing beats drawing from life I think

[A-May]

Here's today's helpings, not much I'm afraid, cause I'm tired and need to go to bed, and didn't start painting until really late and have only half heartedly been doing it! Still it's something! Proper studies to follow tomorrow

[Kinhe]

First of all thank you so much for your comment in my sketchbook! Kind words are always welcome!
And I have to say that I really liked your work, and the medieval environment is astonishing, where I can see more works of you?

[A-May]

Kinhe - No problem and aw thanks I have a deviantart gallery here (http://a-may.deviantart.com/)

Here are a few bits from today!

Figure studies:


WIP photostudy:

[wutangclam]

hey im totally in the same boat as you (20 also) what program are u in for ur education??

[A-May]

I'm doing a BA hons in 'Design for Film and Television' which covers the entire art department skillset - design, 3D modelling (digitally and physically), visuals, storyboarding, technical drawing etc. so it's quite intensive! Yourself?

[A-May]

Heya just another little bit Here are some tonal studies from refs, to help me better understand muscle structure!

[A-May]

Couple more doodles

Expressions study:


Goblin Doodle:

[A-May]

Finished the frog painting! (:

[A-May]

Hey, sorry I've been absent, had a busy few days, I'v been trying to doodle, if only a little bit each day though (:

[Kinhe]

Wow you have so much imagination! I always loved the idea to have a treehouse and this one is great!
And about your post in my sketchbook we can trade some images to work in grayscale, what do you think? I always try to pick those who are more comfortable to me so this could be a good way to change that.

[A-May]

Photoshop speed-ish study! Took two hours (:

[ja1307]

Hey man some nice work here. The archer girl in the trees has a rather charcterful face I like the costume design although the over all image is a bit dark and there is no sense of a real light source. I know light sources can be hard to set up a light source for an imaginary piece. I guess thats where lots of life studies help to understand how light works in the real world.

Also maybe you could make your pencil rendering a bit smoother and make the hatching a bit more subtle and really push your lights and darks. I thinks its best to make your darks dark then you have a lots of values to play with for your half tones and lights.

Oh yeah one last thing I think its ok to be down on your art sometimes as long as you don't stop or you will just stay at the same place, i think sometimes its good to just do something different, so if figures are sucking go draw some apples or building just to keep urself fresh. Its sometimes hard to see your own progress but its a gradual process that does happen over time you just have to put in the consistent work. So keep it up and keep having un with it.

[anivy]

I really like your tonal studies and the way you hatch the shading, its really nice! And your photo studies are great! In terms of CC I think you just need to keep doing what you're doing, maybe do some more studies with a shorter time limit.

[A-May]

Hey guys, I'm sorry I've been absent so long! I was away from a scanner over the weekend and have been super busy... I'm still trying to draw as much as possible.. will try and get some greyscale speed studies done over the next few days!

ja1307: I totally get where you are coming from with the lighting. I know it's one of my major weaknesses. I figure the only way I can begin to understand light sources is through photo studies and observing existing pictures. Thank you for your encorouging words though, I will keep at it!

Anivy: Thank you! and Thanks for the CC, I plan on trying to do some half hour studies in greyscale so hopefully that will help me!

I do have work to post up but it's quarter to 2 in the morning where I am and I have to be up for lectures at university at 8 tomorrow so It'll have to wait till then! but I promise I do have lots to show! Much love to all (:

A-May

[SwedishMichelangelo]

Hey!

First, your digital stuff looks nice. I am referring to the frog and the bottle. I cant really give you any critique because i know nothing about colors and all that stuff (not yet atleast...) ^^

Now, your figures look okay. As for critique, here it comes.

When drawing the figure like you do, with depth and lifelike-ish i believe that construction is the key. And by construction i mean stuff like perspective, constructional anatomy where you understand form and stuff like that.

The best way to learn it is through Gottfried bammes i think. Vilppu is also great. Hummel1dane here at CA too. So check them out! (: Oh, i would also advice u not to study Loomis but thats my highly personal opinion.

Some examples: The ranger girl. If you would have visualized her head as a block u cold have made parallel lines for eyes, nose and mouth and her face would be more believable. Now its a bit crooked i think.

Same thing applies to your expression studies.

Now for the goblin. If u would have known the "mass-conceptions" (this is stuff like thinking the ribcage is an open egg or similar) for the human body plus anatomy you could have made it much more real (as in 3-dimensional).

All this stuff can be applied to inanimate objects as well.

I hope this can help you in any way.

Keep it up, man! (y) (: