Signs Sketchbook – 1st Update Since Hiatussssss

[Nam]

/foot fetish?

That last ones really nice man, the girls face in the middle one is a bit off though, the rest of em all look real good though. The tf one is pretty slick too. Keep it up.

[xinleh]

Yo! I'm subscribed to your thread, so your updates can't escape me mwahahaha.

The new one looks much better I think. Neater, more visual space, more focus for the eye. My only problem is that 'Team Fortress' is still touching the edge of the screen, so that it looks a little messy if you were to scrutinise it overall. But great improvement! I especially like how you replaced the white box with the gradient one. Blends in more. =) As for the lines, personally I'm not a fan of them, but I do like the idea of grids.

Right, right, Anya... on first sight I think you've brought out the tones on her chest and stomach area very well. And the eye is well done! There are some issues with her face though, as though it's squashed in, and the mouth/right eye is a little too big/out of placement. The shape of the jaw is also unnaturally squarish, and the shading of her right arm is flat as compared to the rest of her body (boobs! boobs! boobs! heh heh.)

Right. That's all. ^^ Keep up the great work, and look forward to more!

[Rockhart]

hmmm.... i like the figure studies (something I need to do more) and the poster looks awsome too. Keep it up!

[Meli Hitchcock]

Nice work dude! You've made a lot of progress in since 06, so keep it up!

[Cold]

Nice work you porn freak

Your study-drawings on the arm and hand (192) are cool. One thing I wonder about, if you drew them studies because everyone else does them, or because you was trying to understand how the arm looks and works? In any case, my guess would be stated from the drawing after those studies, that it does not look like you have imprinted that particular study.

My critic is - By what I have seen I can say your drawings of arms could be better, without excuse.

[Cold]

Hey Mat, I understand completely how you feel, I do sometimes too, But let me tell you this. People do not end up being good by giving up. You should never give up, never quit!

I think you are good, bright minded, exactly what it takes to become something. Now all you need to do is beleave in youself and never stop in your tracks.

Also every single opinion is valuable. No matter what they say, they all help you to realise many aspects.

I wouldn't be this good if it wasn't for my mum in my younger years. Everytime she turned around, when I spent my whole day in my room drawing one piece, showing it to her, she'd say coldy, the head were too big or what ever, she always found something. Grrr' it made me angry

Of course anger is part of my defense, but the fact is I didn't have too, it got me this good, it helped.

I am helping you. Don't quit man!!!!

Edit: *I'd slap you straight if I was next to you* *hug*

[Samuel Gray]

Nice chats on vent. Keep at it man

[Smoke]

Your studies are looking strong, and your rendering is improving, I'd love to see some more hand studies though.

[Bard]

What's this about quitting nonsense?

Something I learned from a J.H.Sanden book.

Principle 9: Overcome the fear of failure

Timidity is the artist's worse enemy and boldness the most faithful ally.
Never tiptoe about or sneak up on your painting, but attack it with the daring, resoluteness and decisiveness at your own command. Even if you're quaking with self-doubt, try to boost your confidence before commencing a painting session, using any method that works for you. Tell yourself that you must paint with assurance, with bravado, with complete disregard for the dark doubts that gnaw at the core of every human being.

Avoid judging your rate of progress against others. Some people improve rapidly, some improve slowly. Some improve in stages, remaining at one level for years at a time, then moving ahead. There's no formula for artistic progress: It proceed with it's own pace. Some people even retrogress, going two steps forward and one back. Others leap ahead. Do all you can to improve, but let your rate of progress determine itself.

"If you think, you will become." -Descartes
The power of positive thinking plays an enormous part in the development of an artist.

[Matsign]

Those are great motivational quotes, Bard. Thanks a lot. I'm gaining a lot of confidence in my studio classes right now and collecting work I'll be posting soon enough.

I'm also putting together the poster for our schools' art show, and will be submitting some work. Stay tuned in.

I feel the love, thanks guys.

[UnSharpened]

Thanks for comment and rating man.
I don't know what's happening here, but I don't think you're going to give up, are you?. It seems to me that you're just preparing to show us something extraordinary, hehe, can't wait to see it. BTW, the last post is sweet, though the cloth on her is a bit awkward to me.

peace

[thesadpencil]

nice stuff here. i really like the first one in post #190. and the weapon designs are kickass as well. only thing is keep working on that anatomy and try to put more emphasis on your contrast. so you can help the images stand out more. keep it up. oh yeah i wanna see more tf2 stuff.

[Smoke]

Not updating is a sin.

You're not a sinner, are you?

[bharat]

thank u it is nice to visit u nice one

[Matsign]

Time for some serious catching up. I must admit I haven't been drawing as much as I should. Shame shame. This is all straight out of the sketchbook. Tomorrow I'll update what little digital stuff I've been doing and mostly failing at. lol.

I'll post replies to all the awesome comments and crits you guys have given me. I'm still quite determined.

All the stuff is in descending order. Oldest to newest yo.




























































Thanks for cheq'n it out. Lots of the full figures HAVE feet I swear. My sb is just too damn big for my scanner! CHEERS MATEYS! Oh I'm so tired.

[Blythe]

Hi, thanks for visiting my SB.

I really like the linework of your observational drawings, the sort of squiggly pen line. I am a fan of such things.

As for helpful comments, more feet! I might even suggest just drawing legs or calves to help figure out how they attach to the body and relate to the ground plane.

In the skull head guy, in the last post, his legs seem to be broken, with the feet turned the wrong way. And I would really look at how arms attach tot he body.

Keep up the good work!

[thesadpencil]

very slick updates here. i can see a lot of improvement. keep it up man, you're on the right track.
p.s. the eagle saying "bitch please" made me lol.

[UnSharpened]

Good to see you back man.
I am not quite sure, but those sketches shows a really interesting change. Love the first one in #225, and the eagle one as well. The fluid of line and hatching appeals me most. Looking forward to your colour work.

[cooloola]

Wow, u really get better~~~there are some nice drawings there, especially those animal/monster study. keep up the good work~~~

[Matsign]

okay here is some digital stuff. I'm not afraid to post the junk, because most of it is still me sucking, for now.

Thanks for the replies ya'll



This is done in Painter X. eclipsed moon? wtf was I on





IDW Space Carrier that didn't get done


Art Crusade thumbs






done in sketcher with vorace! Cool guy.


Hey I forgot this! I did the poster this year


original is 11x17 tabLOID

[darkwolfb87]

Hey Matt,

Thanks for visiting my SB. To answer your questions, I use Photoshop, 6x8" wacom. I use a square or a round brush, 100% opacity and around 70% flow. I basically rely on the brush handling that I have learned by oil painting to be very subtle with the tablet. I haven't liked using texture brushes because I can't control their effects very well. Even though my opacity is always 100% the 70% flow lets me blend when I lighten the pressure. I think it becomes instinctive to soften or harden edges to the degree that you want something to stick out of a painting, but I wouldn't use those soft brushes; to my eye it looks really messy, like smears of charcoal dust .

[Matsign]

darkwolfb87 Thanks for the info and getting back to me. I might have to get a bigger tablet me thinks.

I've started using one of my smaller pads for making sketches in and I love it. I forget thats how I started out. I don't think its holding me back... who knows. I'll let you be the judge.















These last two are for my final project in my drawing class. My instructor tells me to take some risks with the illustrations and I mean to. These are roughs for the first pages. I still don't know if I'll be doing them digitally or not. I want to.





Salute

[meduza]

insane progress myman! The eagles are my favorite!

It's great that you did those bargues..you'll only be great afterwards!
I see you've been pretty busy. What type of course did you take? Illustration?

The pencil renderings are becoming superb, dude keep at it!
AND WATCH THOSE VILPPUS!!!!!hehe

Great job,man!

[bakatron]

im in love with the chaos in your work. the energy and flow is awesome.

[UnSharpened]

Yeah that's it man, just working hard, and you are!
Got nothing particular to crit on, love you new sketch pad. I wish I can do half good as you do, my pencil sucks.....
Nice progress, and thanks for crit of my girl, I'll keep working on it.

[Matsign]

Unsharpened, bakatron, meduza, thanks a lot guys.

I've decided to take a hiatus from the forums. I will be focusing on school and more foundational work for my art. I plan on getting back in the early part of May.

Good luck to you all!

[Rockhart]

well then you might not see this for a while... I'm really liking your animal sketches (the polar bear and eagle ones in particular) and as always your studies leave me jealous... keep up the awsome work and we'll see you in May!

[hp]

your marker studies are pretty sweeeet

i think in some of your digi pieces you should try using less colors "straight outta the box" if you know what i mean. like not blue blue or red red but like maybe an off blue.

[Nam]

Good job Matt, you're getting better and better. Keep on working hard and improving.

[Ignominious]

nice figures! they're coming along really well