Golgonooza's Crooked Path Sketchbook

[golgonooza]

Hello there,
This sketchbook I intend to add to daily in an attempt to keep me drawing as a discipline. I have a tendency to stick to my comfort zone and go for weeks at a time without drawing - how am I ever going to get as good as some of you guys if I do that?
I'm 36 years old, and have been sort of serious about trying to improve for the last two years, but need to commit the body if I'm going to put in those '10000 hours'!
Having looked at some of the amazing sketchbooks here and seen the great comments and critiques of the community, I'm really looking forward to starting on this journey, even if its pathways may loop back on themselves sometimes, where's the fun in a straight road to success?! The crooked roads are roads of genius anyway, as Blake said.
I'm mainly intending to post gesture and pose drawings of the human body and face because that is my weakest area. I recently got a copy of Photoshop, so I'll post some stuff I did in that to start.

[golgonooza]

More stuff soon. I need to stop uploading stuff I've done and only put up fresh pictures on here.

[Vritra]

Hey, welcome to CA. Don't worry about how old you are and how many hours you're capable of putting into art. It's not all about the numbers. You're keeping at it, right? That's the most important thing.

I really believe that you've come to a great place for any artist. A major portion of technical know-how that I am privy to regarding art comes from this forum, and I'm sure you'll easily find many others who will say the same thing.

Don't let the initial lack of comments discourage you though, and keep updating. I'm sure you'll receive invaluable comments and critiques down the line. Good luck.

[Darkstrokes]

The reclining figure with the brown backdrop is epic....you should explore that approach a little further.

[spraix]

I think it shows that you have it in you, wanting to see more. Do improve if you want to, don't have to take it seriously, even tho it does tend to go that way sometimes
It's also good for your soul, to draw a little, create something. ^^

[golgonooza]

Vritra: Thanks so much for your words, they mean a lot, it's very easy to get discouraged, but I can see the community here is really helpful and ready to lend encouragement and support, which is great.
Darkstrokes: Thank you kindly! I'll post some more of that type now!
Spraix: I know what you mean, there's nothing quite like it for soul satisfaction!

[golgonooza]

Ok, been doing lots of sketching, but not had much time to put it up. First three to see if they're the right size....this uploading business is quite time consuming isn't it? I could be drawing now!

[golgonooza]

bugger. the scans are poor. need to save better versions

[golgonooza]

try this

[Istmin52]

Hey welcome to CA. I thought I was the oldest one on here. lol. j/k. It's great you started a sketchbook. One thing I do notice is that you don't draw much of the face when you are drawing your figures. You should put some attention into them, even if it's just a hint of a face through shadow or something along those lines. (like where the eye sockets would be, etc.) I think also, it would be good to do some really quick gestures as well as longer poses, just to get the juices flowing. Your face on post #2 feels a bit elongated to me.

I can def see that you are passionate so just keep drawing. I really like the two drawings on post #6.

Looking forward to seeing more.

[golgonooza]

Istmin52 thanks for your feedback. The face has come out really long, but I didn't draw it like that - something happened when saving it in Painter I think. I will try and do more faces, thanks for the tip! I really don't like doing them because they tend to go wrong, but I'm trying to teach myself with Loomis etc.

Also thanks for the quick gestures tip; I shall do some now - they helped me in my life drawing - in fact they are the most important thing I have learnt as a beginner, as they stopped me from focusing on detail too soon

thanks again for taking the time to offer advice, it's much appreciated

[golgonooza]

some life drawing

[Izene]

Ah very impressive figures

[golgonooza]

some longer drawings

[golgonooza]

Haven't been here in a while. I've been doing value practices - this of a sword

[Jonathan L.]

Mother of god! That looks great. Don't stop posting please.

[KeanWai]

Wow! I thought that was a real sword! Really nice work!

[JoshDArtist]

excellent work with the sword... you are rockin it out, keep posting!

[golgonooza]

Thank you! I'm afraid I did stop posting, but I'm back now!

[golgonooza]

Mission accomplished then! Thanks very much!

[golgonooza]

excellent work with the sword... you are rockin it out, keep posting!

Thank you sir!

[golgonooza]

Latest oil sketch - study of Stepehn Cefalo's 'The Skipper'

[golgonooza]

Oil paint brush in Painter X. painting of Bruges, took about 4 hours