Cuppa Joe's Sketchbook- Occasionally Updated...

[Ryn]

Keep plugging away, there!

My only suggestion for your last picture would be to try cleaning up the lines. Try to avoid petting them in so much; try to practice using long, sweeping strokes.

[Cup of Joe]

PAGE 2!

Ryn- Thanks! Yeah, I got to work on that more. I just got a bigger art pad, so I might do more of that stuff to help.

I got some big paper today, so I did what Farvus suggested a long time back and drew some chairs/sheets/other crap. Spent a couple hours on it. Might do more on it tomorrow, not quite done yet. Sorry for the crappy pics, too big to scan and they were taken in really bad lighting.

Blocking in:


Done, maybe:


* I had some close up shots, but Photobucket hates me.
**Also, I realize that I screwed up the perspective royally.

[Cup of Joe]

Going back to gestures and studies. Hopefully I'll post more tonight. I keep my monitor really bright, so if these look wierd, Please tell me.





Also, yesterday's post was done in pencil if you were wondering.

[mentler]

Doing fine Joe <> don't worry about crossing things out <> there are no mistakes just some are less successful than others. Think of drawings as words <> some say more than others, some say it better that others <> the point is they all say something

[Farvus]

I see that you sketched still life as I suggested. Good job . It's very time consuming but a good excersise for measuring proportions, finding right angles and foreshortening. Try to use whole space of paper. Also experiment with composition and different objects.
Gestures are nice too.
Keep it up of course .

[Cup of Joe]

mentler- Thanks! Always an honor to have you here!

Farvus- Thanks! Sorry it took me so long. I'll do some more later. I'll spend more time on perspective next time too. I like your self portrait archive too!

Just a random page with a partial SP/ hands. Also, I started a character type profile of myself for practice. I'm on a bit of a roll here, so I may post more later today.

[Cup of Joe]

Squeezed out one more before bed.

[Kitsu]

Wow, you've been doing a lot while I wasn't looking! The gun wip is looking good, it looks like things are in the right places, I can see where things are going as far as the values go. All it needs is a little more time and a few more details put in place. Speaking of details: googlage. Couple of decent picks on the first page, probably some more further in.

The other (numerous!) sketches and studies are also looking good. On the sketch of the guy's back and profile though it looks like the hips have 'fallen down' a little. The forearms have also streched to get the hands where they belong. Lately I have been drawing a lot of ovoid shapes to help place the ribcage and hip regions, it might help you to see whats too skinny/fat/far appart etc.

[Cup of Joe]

Kitsu- Thanks for the refs! I never seem to be able to google the right thing. Also, thanks for the anatomy heads-up. I knew something was wrong with the hip, but I couldn't put my finger on it.

So tired. Tiny update on the gun wip. Messed around for a while, trying to take the shadows and highlights further, because my crappy blending technique seems to leave me with a lot of blurry grays. Still can't fix nose. Heres a before and after. Tell me which you like best. (please) More tomorrow, after I get some sleep.

[Serpian]

Congrats on page 2! Keep doing your hand studies, that's something you'll always need. The gun pic is coming along nicely! You're really getting better, and fast! (Acute improvement, remember? )

[Kitsu]

I prefer the one on the left, it looks a little crisper.

[Cup of Joe]

Serpian- Thanks! "Acute improvement", I still like the sound of that.

Kitsu- Thanks for the input on that!

Sorry for no update yesterday, had alot of homework. I decided to start my first serious SP today. I cheated a little and took a photo referance and scanned frequently so I could see it right next to the ref. I was surprised how little I knew about my own face (I mean, it's not like I don't see me everyday), considering it took me five tries to get anything even close to right. I kept No. 5 and just worked on that, but heres all of them any way.

1-5= CRAP











Getting closer









More on this tomorrow.

[Cup of Joe]

*This message is being written while half asleep, pardon if I ramble.

Sorry I haven't updated in a while, my internet was out for a few days and I used that as an excuse to slack off on the drawing. I started again today, and it's really surprising how fast you get out of the hang of it.

Page 1- blind gestures from a movie
2- tried to ink that SP, but ended up just butchering it
3- crap practice page. there were others, but none good enough to post. The guy at the top is a character by Drew Weing, you should check him out
4-5- PS wips

[Kitsu]

3 is really nice! The last one is also great, it really looks like lighting rather than shading. Wherever you found all this skill keep going back there!

[Cup of Joe]

Still tired.....

Kitsu- Thanks! I just kinda screwed around with it for a long time, but I also took a pic for ref. (But it was a bitch to take)

Page 1- gestures again, I kinda like doing these.
2- quick, emphasis on quick, wip of a vehicle desing. I'll color it and explain the numbers tomorrow. That pointy tip probably isnt a good idea.

[Cup of Joe]

Finally! Back to regular updates.

Not much today. If I get around to it I may post more tonight.

Page1- Finished vehicle outline. May do more, or I might just drop this, because its not going very well.
2- Got around to finishing that stool from a while back.
3- Quick sketch of Ralph from Lord of the Flies for my English class. ( royally screwed up the hand.)

I want to do more life drawings, but its too cold and no one is outside. Hopefully it will warm up soon. I also have to wear sunglasses from now on, because people seem to freak out if you stare at them for too long.







Photobucket is making my pictures look really small to me, do they look fine to you?

[Cup of Joe]

More on an old PS wip. Sorry if my updates have seemed half-assed lately, but homework has taken a big chunk out of my free time. Hopefully I'll get in some more traditional media and anatomy then.

Edit* Oops, Photobucket still hates me and wont let me upload, I'll post it tomorrow. What did I ever do to you Photobucket?

-Photobucket working again, here it is.

[Cup of Joe]

Been a while since a reply.

Going back to traditional mediums! I've been dabbling in PS too often latley and I've lost my edge in traditional mediums. (Not that I had much of an edge to begin with.) Today is just getting back into the swing of things. Expect gestures and studies over the next four days.

Page1- Gesture for a piece inspired by "nicolas" over in the best of CA forum.
2- Pen sketch I took too far and wrecked.
3- crappy random studies.

[Cup of Joe]

WHA? Anatomy studies? YES.
I promised anatomy and I delivered. Expect more of the same. Any comments are greatly appreciated.

Page1- Skeletal system. The one in the lower right is the finished one.
2- Inked that bad boy in the lower right of the last page.
3- Ink shoulder and skull study.
4- Ink hip studies.









Sorry for the crappy scans.

[guggemmaneuver]

this looks cool, though i might suggest spending some time working getting the mechanical illustration aspect of the glasses looking really accurate... will make the rest of the drawing look so much nicer, i promise. in general as well i'd suggest trying to loosen up and make quicker marks... seems like i'm seeing a lot of very deliberate lines... Anticipate where your pen is going, and "drive" it there... Keep up the fantastic work buddy... hope to meet ya at the workshop FOR MASSIVE CAFFEINE IMBIBING BITCH


Joel

[Cup of Joe]

Thanks Joel! Sadly, I will most likely not be able to attend the workshop with you due to limited mobility and , more importantly, limited cash.
*sigh* Perhaps another time.
But thanks for ink tips, I tried to keep what I understood of what you said in mind. Are these any better? I also fixed the glasses.

Page1- PS wip progress.
2- Ink and pencil bone and muscle studies.

[Cup of Joe]

It was nice just doodling for the fun of it again. My sister came home from college to visit today and brought some ink and brushes. I spent most of today messing around with them. The only thing worth posting is a little wash practice. I was trying to imitate Enrico Casarosa, but it became painfully apparent that I don't know how to do washes. I also did a "the peer project" project. I'll hopefully do anatomy later tonight, but I might post it tomorrow instead if I don't get around to scanning it.

Page 1- wash practice
2- Peer project #6

[Cup of Joe]

More anatomy. I could really use some crits on these.

Page 1- Skeleton side view.
2- Muscles on the front of the body.





*Does the second one look small to you? or is it just my computer.

[Cup of Joe]

Not much today. More stuff for school and crappy random studies. I feel like I should do some life drawing. I can't wait till it's warm and people go outside again. I'm not quite sure what to do next, so I'm open for all crits/comment/anything. Seriously guys, it's starting to get lonely in this thread.

Page1- chairs for school.
2- Studies. Tried not to pet.

[Cup of Joe]

I realized something important today. I draw much better if I draw for enjoyment or because I want to, than if I just feel obligated. It's also obviously more enjoyable. After todays drawing, I feel pretty relaxed. I'll have to keep this in mind. As part of this idea, I changed my thread title to get rid of the idea of drawing as an obligation. Let's see how this works.

Page 1- loosening up in pen. I need to get a new une, this one smudges.
2- trying to build a figure around a skeleton.

[Cup of Joe]

Sorry I didn't update yesterday. I did some 5 min. life drawings in art today, but they we weren't allowed to bring them home. Hopefully I'll get some done tomorrow.

Yesterday's
Page1-3- crap in a 4x5 pad that came out after I started replaying playing Final Fantasy 9.







Today
Page1- hands hands hands

[afgal]

Great sketchbook man. Love your stuff. Your perspective stuff rocks.
~Kerry

------
Sketchbook

[Monny]

heya, followed the link from your sig
its nice to see the progression in your work so far with both anotomy and perspective,thought of couple of things you might want to try for line confidance, to help produce stronger cleaner lines, using general objects can help lay out your structures, squares, circles and similer at the base layer of the drawing can help give a feel of where everything is going to be for when you start to get more into the piece.(use a soft pencil ;D)
and the other, although it might sound a bit daft is scribbling
litterally just a page of lines or marks for no purpose, repeat strokes to get a feel for angles and strengths, get used to the flow of the pencil on the page without actually trying to produce anything from it. it quite relaxing too, just let the pencil do the work

[Ryn]

Those loomis studies are looking nice. In my experience, though, knowing the names of muscles is far less important than Mister Loomis makes it out to be. That's just me, though. If you actively discuss/critique such things on a regular basis, I'm sure it's more worthwhile.

Those chair contours are looking lovely. Have you been studying from 'Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain', perchance?

I like the FF9 drawings, too. I used to draw those characters all the time when I was a youngin'. The concept art in that game is great.

I realized something important today. I draw much better if I draw for enjoyment or because I want to, than if I just feel obligated. It's also obviously more enjoyable. After todays drawing, I feel pretty relaxed. I'll have to keep this in mind. As part of this idea, I changed my thread title to get rid of the idea of drawing as an obligation.

I know exactly where you're coming from! I've been less emphatic on my studies in the last week or so. I'd say it's good for you. Drawing for fun, without reference may not be as good for progress, but chances are you'll draw a lot more if you find it to be a blast. Besides, if you can't keep art fun, what's the point? Keep it up, I'd say. It's a good thing.

Sorry to hear your sketchbook is lonely. I'll try to drop in and offer insight whenever I can.

[Cup of Joe]

Cool, Responses! Thanks everyone! I had a week of nothing there.

afgal- Thanks man! Keep at it yourself!

Monny- Thanks for the tips! I should really block more things in with basic shapes. (don't know why I never thought of using a soft pencil for that.) I do the pages of lines every now and then, but not as often as I should.

Ryn- Thanks Ryn! No, I'm not reading 'Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain', should I be? I've heard about it alot. FF9 does have cool costumes. I found a few days ago and decided to give it another whirl. Hmmm... perhaps "get rid of" was too strong, because if I didn't feel any obligation, I'd be too lazy to do anything, but like you said, if it's not enjoyable, why do it?

I actually went out and drew from life today! Didn't go very well.
I spent more time looking for people than I did drawing them, and even then they kept moving. (apparently people don't like it when you stare at them too long.) Hopefully I'll do more tomorrow, and sorry if these are hard to see.

Pages 1-3- crap life drawings