From zero to... we'll cross that bridge when we get to it

[Thistlegorm]

Figure, lip studies (as Dichotomy suggested a while ago) , face with wrong eye proportions, and something pulled out of my imagination(buttocks) with bad perspective

also, I am so so sorry for not rotating the images, I'm uploading from my mobile

[Thistlegorm]

So, I had a "click" moment when forms suddenly >started< falling into space, I finally get what it means when people say "draw the shape, not the line" or to "think in 3D" (about time *self slap*)

I've also been practicing line quality, I'm trying to render less with shades and to give a feeling of depth with line;





This drawing was copied from (what I gather, as I can't find the artists name) the concept artists at Square Enix for Final Fantasy XIII - it is not mine, I simply made a study of it because of the varying line quality


I also tried my hands at watercolors (I like them!); I might not be able to do much with them because I still need to learn to draw properly, but it's a fun way to waste an hour or two


PostScript: The days of ridiculously sized and rotated images are over! My laptop has finally been fixed and I can access photoshop again! I am so sorry for putting viewers through those horrors

[Thistlegorm]

Been super busy, building a huge ass website for a huge ass shopping mall takes a huge ass amount of time. Who knew?

Two 5 minute drawing and a 40 minute one... that's really all I had time for... no, really!

[Zilkenian]

Well, right now I'm in the real anatomy too to improve my cartoons, but I think I can, maybe, be helpful....I hope.

I see a good improvement since the first post, but something is lacking here, and I think it's an "skeleton". And I don't mean the human skeleton, but something (lines, cubes, triangles, etc) that can give you a guide to know where to draw everything. Is not just like copy what you see, but understand what are you drawing. See the muscles undert the skin, why the skin goes the way it does, a stupid example: why the leg is round and not square, etc.

I think that's what it lacks...because, well, I had this problem too, hehe. As I said, you need to know what's under the skin, and then, a guide to put all those elements in one body.

I hope I was helpful to you. Good luck with this, we are in the same ship

[Thistlegorm]

@Zilkenian you're absolutely right, that's what I'm having trouble with, I can't seem to get the hang of that skeleton (I'm studying the Loomis books, but I'm having a hard time putting it together) but it'll all come in time

[Zilkenian]

@Zilkenian you're absolutely right, that's what I'm having trouble with, I can't seem to get the hang of that skeleton (I'm studying the Loomis books, but I'm having a hard time putting it together) but it'll all come in time

Hey, don't worry, no artist has become professional in a few days .

Also, with the skeleton thing, I recommend you to look at anatomy photos (like this one: http://img-ipad.lisisoft.com/img/1/8...atomy-free.jpg )
As you can see, every muscle starts from one point and ends into another, and serves for a purpose. I'm not saying "learn all those names", just watch what they do. For example, at first I thought the Pectoralis Major muscle (lol) came from under the arm, right from the armpit. But no, it comes from under the shoulder main muscle.

Also, you can touch your own body. Your muscles are in there and I'm sure you'll feel most of them trough the skin. Look how the interact with each other to move, for example, your arm. One of the muscles relax while the other is working, etc.

[M.Calza]

I can see some improvement already since the first page, I suggest Michael Hampton figure drawing book for anatomy studies, great book. Keep posting

[Thistlegorm]

Thanks to the both of yous for the advice, I'll make sure to follow your suggestions!

I've been feverish for the last two days, so between the antibiotics, the inability to eat and the fever itself, I didn't do much (that are worth adding to the sketchbook)

One last excuse, my lines look really blurry due to the camera, but in reality, they're much sharper, though they still need work

[V3T]

You have certainly improved since you first started. Keep up the hard work =]

[feliciew]

Lovely improvement here! My fav book for anatomy is Bridgeman's Constructive anatomy. He's good at keeping anatomy full of movement.

[Thistlegorm]

Well, I just came back from a few weeks in Amsterdam - when I was sober enough to remember I had a home and a job and drawing to practice, I decided to come back. Yaaaay (boooooo)

I haven't been drawing much (I haven't drawn at all, actually) and I noticed my skills deteriorated a bit, but that's fine, cause I just need to get some confidence back; so sorry for not updating, and hello again CA!

One's a 30 minute drawing pose (shaky linework and leg proportions are off, so I know how to tackle those problems) and a quick gesture of a shaolin monk(ey)?

[Thistlegorm]

O hai

Hands need work, and the eyes are asymmetrical, there's other things that should've been tweaked, but for 30 minutes of work, I'm not dissatisfied

[Thistlegorm]

So, I'm trying to draw with my tablet, but it's so much harder to get a confident line and a decent shape, it's really frustrating, I'm moving back to silhouettes until I can add details (also, I know the coloring looks like it was done by a child, but eh, it's something lol)

[Thistlegorm]

So, just tried out a stylized digital character - I'm not happy with the results, I can do better (also had Transfer set on, so it was impossible to get a black line, oops) but it's a decent starting point, and the next one will be better

[Mosen]

Its wonderful to see your improvement well done and please keep drawing and updating! I will do the same... really inspiring to be able to check in your progress! I don't have much to say on how you can improve coz I feel we are on similar level.... Just dropping by to say keep going!

[nixe_dreamer]

You've improved a lot since the first page, it's very inspiring! Keep drawing and getting better and better!

[Thistlegorm]

So, a semi-finished piece, my first attempt at a digital semi-realistic figure, this actually took me a lot longer than I care to admit, and when I tried to add the eyes it all went to hell, but hey, it's a start!

[Thistlegorm]

Friend suggested I try drawing an ogre by exaggerating proportions without any references (anatomical or otherwise) to help me get more in control with drawing, so I did a quick summin in 15 minutes



Also, I refuse to draw male genitals, because once they're there, it's the only thing you'll be able to look at. You know it's true.