Daniels Sketchbook

[walsh dan]

Hi!

My name is Daniel.

Im an ausie swede living currently in Sweden for the past couple of years. I studied graphic design for about 2 years, partly in Australia then continued here in Stockholm.

Im now starting full time studies at Atelier Stockholm after doing the preparatory evening course.

I want to track my progress in this thread and most of all (if im lucky!) i need the critic to progress faster or more efficiently.

Heres some examples of my work followed by 4 portraits im doing for a web browser game.
They have to be 128p x 128p on a black background. I thought i would render them out anyway so i could learn

[walsh dan]

Did some Loomis studies today

[walsh dan]

First study using Shaddy Safadis method.

Second study just one layer.

Then a sloppy bargue that took longer than it should have while watching Looper.

[walsh dan]

Did some sketches from life at a cafe, followed by some head studies without ref. I´m trying to feel the planes of the head as well as understanding the jaw line as i was having trouble with it a few days ago. Feels as if im going backwards.
Started on a new bargue and a really really quick idea for a landscape ill continue later. now sleep.

[walsh dan]

[walsh dan]

I spent a lot of the day working on this portrait..
I was honestly going for a playful vibrant style, and i kept reworking parts over and over and finally its starting to gain some form.

I was thinking for giving her some sort of mechanical parrot, but it ended up being a helibot? I gotta work on it though.

Did some sketches too

[Lumina Dreams]

Hello there, Daniel! Wow, I have to say this is a wonderful collection.
I love your portrait studies the most...Something about the expressions are interesting to me. You strike me as someone who draws very quick, are you?

And I also see you made portrait sketches from life before. I'm curious about how you do it.
Do you get close enough to the person to see all the details?
Do you ask strangers to sit still for you?

[Brave-New-World]

I like your style and the slight distortions you use its different
and you have a good way of making things look 3d, i think if maybe you focus more on pen control and transfering your pencil skill to tablet so that your as good with both but from the basics of pen control, i found i had to do that alot and it helped me when i felt i was in a similar position

I hope maybe this helps in some way

i really like your landscape paintings of the lake

[walsh dan]

wow! thanks guys!

@Lumina Dreams: Yup, i think i draw too quick! ive been working on some bargue plates and it seems to be helping me slow my pace and think.
And with the life drawings i try to avoid being seen if i can hah. So ill try get the characteristics down then make up the rest from memory as good as i can

@Brave New World: Thank you and thanks for the tips. I see what you mean with the distortions, i am a bit worried that nothing looks realistic. Definitely pen control and more drawing from life will help. That bargue figure i did felt helpful as well.
I guess im still getting the right feeling with the tablet.

[walsh dan]

today i spent a lot of time only on a few things. trying to keep myself from rushing and push the quality of my work or sketches.
Heres a update on my portrait. I´ll try to finish it off tomorrow.

I also did a sketch of a head that im happy with. I gota learn to make less evident structure lines and start to imagine where the planes of the face lie instead.
Makes for a much more realistic look i think.

[DpttArt]

I am new here, names dylan btw. Just went through this and your really good, doing head, hands, figures have been my harder point in artwork. What do you think is the best/simplest way to start?

[walsh dan]

Hey Dylan, nice to see another aussie on here.
I tried to do a lot of muscle memory drawing. Like drawing a head over and over again till it started looking partly right. I did this for 6 months which was really slow.
Then i started studying loomis. I recommend you look at his book successful drawing and his book on heads and hands. Or watever, theres many good books.

I feel like i just started still. SO much to learn



decided i will leave this after i fix her bow and eyelashes..
Its slowing me down to much.
Time for sketches.

[kevinmrn]

Hey nice SB, Its nice to see you put so much attention in the face, try putting some in the clothing too. Its looking super nice already love her hair!

[walsh dan]

kevinmrn:
thanks for the tip! i thought about what you said and polished it off the portrait before i went to work.

after work i did some quick portraits that were really fun. i normally get too involved into rendering, so it was a little hard to let loose.
i quickly polished off 2 guys and setup for 3 more.

did some arm studies. i need to do a lot more anatomy studies and get away from the computer next week when i start at the atelier, if i have time.

.

[walsh dan]

[walsh dan]

30 min landscape followed by a mix of imagination heads / subway drawing / nature museum drawing

[walsh dan]

Had my first day at the atelier today.
started a 3 hour cast study then a 2 hour pose followed by a 2 hour portrait.

[walsh dan]

today i worked on my bargue most of the day.

this is a photo from this morning. im guessing i will ask for approval mid next week hopefully.

then after work i did a warm up study and worked on the portraits.

[walsh dan]

getting close on my bargue now.
put another 4-5 hours in it today.
He looks much more thinner on mine. I hope its just the angle of the photo_-

after work i got the last of the portraits done and did a mockup.

[walsh dan]

yesterday we had 3 hours of kroki and i worked on my bargue a little.

today some nature museum studies and a still life.

something about the edges towards the top of the vase are bugging me, i think they are too sharp? or the reflection isnt strong enough.
i have to do more still lifes though. i felt like i learnt a lot!

[walsh dan]

today we worked on our bargues for most of the day. i will probably be approved within the next day or two.

then we had a 2 hour portrait tonight
followed by some ugly heads that i sketched throughout the lunch break


the portrait was easily better than last weeks, but i learnt that it helps to sit close so i can actually see.

[walsh dan]

ugly kroki thursday followed by the 4 longer poses of gesture friday.
also have approval of my bargue #2

so i will be starting number 3 next week