Here goes nothing...

[Dreoilin]

Well I've finally gotten up the courage to post in the finally finished forum (not sure if this thread will be allowed to stay here though lol). I feel like I've improved a lot in the past two years so I thought I'd post some of my recent stuff here. My ultimate goal of course is to be able to work professionally, but I don't think I'm there yet. I'm still debating over whether or not it would be worth it to attempt entering Spectrum this year- I know I'm not good enough, but just taking the step of entering would feel kind of good. Feedback is much appreciated!

[Invertedvantage]

Wow, I like them a lot. A few of them feel very much like Japanese paintings; like the wolf, for instance.

I would like the shipwreck one more if the characters were posed more flexibly and the camera was more radically angled. Right now it feels oddly stiff for what seems like it should be a rather dynamic and moving scene.

[Jeff Lafferty]

Nice job
Jeff

[She-Thing]

Very, very nice- love your finish concept and Arthur Racchamish concept. Keep posting...

[She-Thing]

Very, very nice. Liking your finish concept and Racchamish concept. Keep posting...

[Dreoilin]

Invertedvantage: Thank you so much!! You're right, the shipwreck one suffered from poor planning in the beginning- I think it's pretty much a lost cause. I might redo it after more practice!

Jeff: Thanks!

She-Thing: Thanks very much! Yeah, Arthur Rackham is definitely one of my idols

Small update...

[Elwell]

These are really, really good. Spend just a little more time refining the drawing, especially hands, feet, and the compositions (you have a tendency to crop in a little too tight) before you go to finish and you'll be unstoppable.

[Jeff Lafferty]

Love the new ones, awesome!
Jeff

[Dahami]

Looks like watercolor with line work done in ink, which is the correct use of watercolor, imho, since it can produce results that I really like--art being subjective so my opinion is the one that counts! At any rate, I really like what you've done, especially the mermaids with the drowning sailor and the Martian princess.

[Slothboy3000]

I can't helped but be distracted by that wolf. Did you use this as reference by any chance? http://articles.elitefts.com/wp-cont...10/09/wolf.jpg

[Ray Dillon]

Really like the style here. And I like that you did a Last Unicorn piece, too! My wife and I worked on the comic book. Yours is really great!! I absolutely LOVE your Santa piece! Great job!!!

[GoldSeven]

That's a wonderful style you have there. I absolutely love the swirling lineart in combination with the colours you use.

[AndreasM]

These definitely have great potential! I agree completely with Elwell. Also, Rackham was the first name the popped up in my head when I saw this. Superficially, you share many things in style and execution, but I think your main problem (together with the desired refinement in drawing and general execution) lies in the unrefined shape design.

This aspect may not be that apparent in Rackham's work, but when you look closer, you'll notice his direct simplicity. He would constantly juxtapose light patches with dark ones and while his subjects are described with great emphasis on their charecteristic 'particularities,' they are also considered as flat mass, belonging to either foreground, middle- or background. Also, in many cases he likes to contrast areas that are "busy" with details against areas that are made of "calm," flat tones. I think that especially in line drawing, you have to consider how you arrange the undelying abstract 'patchwork' of your picture. If your pictures was reduced to blobs of black and white masses, how would you arrange them?

[Dreoilin]

Wow wow thank you guys so much for the responses!!! It really encourages me a lot to see such comments from people that I greatly respect and admire.

I am definitely working hard to try and improve the flaws in my work- thank you so much to Elwell and AndreasM- I didn't realize I tended to crop so tight on my pictures but when I looked back I definitely saw what you were talking about Elwell! I will have to try and watch out for that. (and of course keep practicing hands and feet- they have always been my nemesis) And AndreasM- your comment was extremely helpful; improving my composition has been proving to be a big struggle for me, but I think your comment turned on a lightbulb or two (hopefully lol). I actually have it printed out and stuck on the board next to my workspace as something to refer back to.

Well since I can't comment without posting some art, here's a few more pieces. Forgive me please for the twilight art- both my best friend and my sister are big fans- hopefully the Skyrim fanart makes up for it lol.

[Skapry]

Very first image reminds me of Tolkien's Hobbit

[Dreoilin]

Just updating my little thread with two ArtOrder challenge entries.

[Elwell]

I saw the Lyssa piece when Jon posted them up on Facebook this morning, it looks great.

[Dreoilin]

Thanks Elwell!! I felt so intimidated to enter that challenge, there were many many amazing pieces.

Long time no post, here's some stuff...

[juliuslim]

love it ...

[HULKFish]

I'm with Dahami... And WOW, just keeps getting better!

[Cider]

I love this thread--glad to see you are still updating. It reminds me a bit of bluefooted's stuff, which is another favorite of mine.

[Dahami]

I'm still impressed.

[Dreoilin]

Wow it's been a long time since I've posted here. I feel super nervous posting for some reason. Got pretty down on myself and depressed with my art for a while, which is super dumb I know. Think I'm climbing out of the hole now and slowly venturing back online and starting to draw again. Haven't improved really because I hadn't drawn for a while, but I'm back on track and feeling some motivation again. Maybe the break will at least have been good for the wrist pains I was having. Here's something I did for the Art Order challenge that started back up- challenge is any kind of nymph so I did a dryad.

[Geoff K]

Its fantastic work. Wish you the best of luck with your career. I think your artwork will be successful.

[volen]

Awesome work! Keep going! You're a lot further ahead than I am Knowing that this is what you want to do, what's the point of questioning or feeling bad about it? Just do it and keep doing it until it's done. Everything is a direct result of having done something or not having done it, there's nothing to feel bad about. It's not personal, it's just having done the work... And having seen your stuff, I'm going to go do my work now
Keep going!

[Izi]

very nice

[Dreoilin]

Here's a bunch of stuff. My figures still stink (I am always working to improve them but I am slow to learn in that area). Also been working a lot on improving composition, narrative, and color.