Xylene Fumes - updated - 05.23

[BlackDelphin]

Gotta agree with them all, those smooth lines are the first thing I noticed, but not only, you really are growing. Great job in here! Looking forward to more

[Jesus Food]

wow this isnt a very active sketchbook i made a comment a long time ago and it hasnt been updated since? whattt the fuck man get back on art horse

[knut-]

I really find that the hands sketch on #27 are very nice! I think it fits you in some way to work on those children's paper.
Maybe start trying to avoid to use outlines on the final sketch and play more with planes and lines.
Keep up man!

[BludHund]

Ok. I just spent quite a while typing some crap and then accidentally deleted it....

p sage -

thanks man, sorry about the wait :/

Danny_K -

Thanks. Yeah those rendering DVDs had a few good pointers. Scott's method for
assigning values didn't make that much sense to me tho...

However, his DVDs on basic and applied form construction are incredible.

http://www.amazon.com/Techniques-Sco.../dp/B000GETUXS

I really think they changed my life, in a way...or at least were a huge turning point in my art.

dierat -

Hmmm...you know, you're right. I never noticed that. Thanks.

Mr.Pryminista -

Say whaaaaaaaaat?

hehe, welcome back, man. I see TAD has given you an explosion of growth...good work!

on the use of hatching for shadows: agreed. It was a time factor, or a concentration
factor, if you want to look at it that way.

Other mediums? Besides what?

As to a reading list, lots of stuff on psychology and also theories of storytelling and game design.

Art and Visual Perception: A Psychology of the Creative Eye - by Rudolf Arnheim

Dramatica: A New Theory of Story - by Melanie Phillips

A Story is a Promise & The Spirit of Storytelling - by Bill Johnson

The Art of Game Design: A book of lenses - by Jesse Schell

The Arnheim book is especially significant, being the only definitive work I can find
on the science of perception from an artist's perspective. Some really good ideas on
the 'visual energy' of shapes and on the basic nature of aesthetics.

Lots of articles and whatnot on, as I said psychology, in the areas of Attention,
Perception, Motivation, Personality, etc.

This website had a lot of good ideas on character design, from a writer's standpoint:

http://www.how-to-write-a-book-now.c...haracters.html

BlackDelphin -

Thank you!

Jesus Food -

Sorry man, you are right. I have problem with balance, I tend to obsess and only
be able to work on one thing at a time.

knut -

Time machine? (that post is pretty old )

---

finally had some life drawings I felt were worth posting. Due to various incidents
I missed like 3 weeks in a row and I really have been off my game.



Pilot Precise V5 - Gel Pen from Walmart



Pilot Precise V5 - Gel Pen from Walmart



Koh-I-Noor 'Progresso' woodless pencil / graphite stick 8B, I think



Koh-I-Noor graphite stick and black Prismacolor to pump up the values

anyways, thanks for looking at my stuff everyone...please more crits and keep
beating my ass bout not updating.

I'll probably post up some other, older stuff I've been sitting on, as well.

Unless Irene takes out the power...

[Mr.Pryminista]

I like the new updates man. I especially like the last image and how you've handled the composition of the figure on the bed. Simple and effective. Well done!

Thanks for posting those books! I've jotted them down for future reference (doing TAD full time leaves little time for reading).

Speaking of the psychology/self-help literature, I've got tons of great material that honestly changed my life for the better. Let me know if you're interested and I can IM you a list of great literature to check out.

Keep the goods coming man!

[Icecold]

Ah i'm back!

Everytime i'm here i enjoy looking at your stuff, i like how you stick to your plan. Good studies followed by good drawings, your decision making is really imressive, it's seen in your figure simplification.
Darn i'd really would like to learn drawing in states, your "system" is actually really great for learning how to do it right.

Buut that not happening for atleast a year or so...

Anyway, you're doing really great job not only here, but by helping other people out aswell, yes i've seen

[Velocity Kendall]

[HunterKiller_]

I'm poppin' in on the forum again, so I better see those updates or else!!!

[BludHund]

Mr.Pryminista -

Thanks. Composition on the seated figure: it just kinda happened. Dropped the values in there
and she was nicely bracketed. You get lucky some times

On books: Hehe, actually the psychology I've been studying relates primarily to OTHER people.
I try not to think too much about how it applies to me, because, honestly its hideously depressing...
but anyways, sure gimme whatchu got!

Icecold -

Hey welcome back, man!

"Darn i'd really would like to learn drawing in states, your "system" is actually really great for
learning how to do it right."

Who's system? Mine? the US's?

Honestly, unless and until you can get into an atelier or academy I'd save your money and stick
to books and the internet.

I do plan to attend Concept Design Academy at some point, they got some badass teaching talent
there: Kevin Chen, Carlo Arellano (Chainsaw), etc.

Saving my money though (like you, probably for at least a year), because Los Angeles is EXPENSIVE
even by the standards of the USA in general.

Velocity Kendall -

Did you just post an Autechre track in my thread for no reason? I am confused. I do like
Autechre though...if that counts for anything.

HunterKiller_ -

Don't be writin' a check wif yo mouth that yo ass can't cash, braddah...

Good to see you around, man. How about an update on YOUR thread???

---

Last week's life drawing:

[Farvus]

Nice sketchbook.

You got very good at constructing figure which is great. I would be careful though with going too far with that. I think there should be some place for more gestural lines so that you can give your characters more emotion.
Also I see a lot of pure line drawings but in your digital grayscale paintings you haven't pushed the values far. Few darker accents here and there would really make the forms pop out of page/screen. Apart from that the studies are important but the sooner you dive into imagination work, the better. (some people might disagree but that's my personal preference )

Cheers.

[Velocity Kendall]

xylene fumes xylene room!

[p sage]

Hey man... thank you for the uber-crit in my thread. Don't know that I can be as in depth here for ya, but I'll give it a shot.

In general, I think your proportions are a bit long. The necks are looking long as are the midsections. Now the model might be long, so that's probably acceptable.

I'm finding that shapes--if you can see the 3D shapes--actually help with placement of lines. Something I find helpful is to keep one side of a form in my peripheral vision while drawing the other side... I call it the "guard rail" technique. Using that in conjunction with trying to see the form is teaching me a lot and helping quite a bit with solidity. I'm using measurement only as a starting point and a checking mechanism when working this way, and I've found it much less tedious. When the shapes appear in my mind, they're much more effortless than trying to measure each and every point on the figure where a plane changes direction.

Then, when you put another shape in, you keep the shape you've already drawn in your peripheral vision, and repeat. Proportions tend to stay pretty close; if they get slightly off, usually a quick measurement and minor adjustment is the remedy.

Cool man... work hard.

[Icecold]

Yeah i meant either Watts, Concept Design Academy, or atelier ( former CA.org atelier) yet the future's uncertain, it requires a hectic amount of money for a foreigner like me to do it, ahh. Ok nevermind, we still have the books aye, good luck.

[Vritra]

Your studies are coming along nicely. However, I think you are having some proportion issues now; for example, some of the necks and arms on your figures are too long. This is a good example of that. Notice the standing figures.

Something tells me you are trying to get a grasp of the overlaps or rhythm right now. Is that the reason for these slips in proportions? Because your art looks too good for these basic mistakes.

Anyway, keep drawing, and updating this thread.

[BludHund]

Farvus -

- gestures needed for emotion: yes
- more values needed: yes
- need to start working from imagination: yes

All good and valid points, many thanks.

Velocity Kendall -



Autechre

p sage -

Well you're a real tough cookie with a long history
Of breaking little hearts, like the one in me
That's O.K., lets see how you do it
Put up your dukes, let's get down to it!
Hit Me With Your Best Shot!
Why Don't You Hit Me With Your Best Shot?
Hit Me With Your Best Shot!
Fire Away!

hehe, sorry for the Benetar

A. She had unusual proportions. Very skinny, too.
B. But I'm not at all confident that got I her right...
and I DO often.elongate the neck.

Interesting technique...I will have to try it, although I'm not
sure I understand, I'll have to read what you wrote carefully.

Icecold -

You know the score .

If you do decide on CDA, maybe we can roomate?
I've seen places for $500 /month in Koreatown...

Vritra -

Yes...ummm. That's not the reason, I don't think. I'm pretty
sure it comes down to reduced hand-eye coordination...I've
cut way back on drawing time and it shows...gotta practice!

I was drawing like this, like four to six months ago:



Sorry, I'll catch up eventually...but probably not until January

---

Well, continuing this post's trend of being a useless sack of crap, instead
of trimming and scanning and posting up this weeks life drawings, here's
some pages of notes that look like crap because their too big to scan

The technique here is a method for grasping the essence of a pose in an
instant. Basically you simplify the pose to the level of a few absolutely
simple shapes, coming together to form one symbol or logo-like composition:



Additional factors that help in this simplification and analysis are a thorough
study of Body Language.

Especially in casual poses, you see the same kinds of balance and stance
again and again...ideally you can reduce them to being like letters in the
alphabet or musical notes...



Note that the first page in each of these images is taken entirely from photo references...

So, less suck next time, I promise...Mondayish, I think...

[kingkostas]

your studies are great as usual mate. I couldnt crit on them. The application of that knowledge on an art order will help you see what you need more.
Keep up the good work

[liquidjack]

Hey Blud-
As said above good stuff mate. Interesting method in one of your last post. Making a basic shape to use as a guide of gesture....interesting. Funny thing. The last sentence somehow deleted itself here. I think you ran into the same issue....luckily "ctrl-z" worked so I could get it back.

[HunterKiller_]

Good work on the pose design study! That's the business.

[BludHund]

kingkostas -

Bahh...you never call, you never crit...I might die and who would even know...

Hehe, thanks man.

liquidjack -

Yeah I try to copy my post text onto the clipboard regularly as a way to 'save my work'.
Actually, given my deranged tendency to leave long posts and whatnot, I'll often organize
my thoughts in Note Pad first.

I try to make it a rule in online communication never to post the first thing that pops into
my mind...less hurt feelings and wasted time that way

Yeah the idea of the technique is that the human mind is very sensitive to symbols and
collections of shapes (like a face, for example) and by being attuned to this you can
capture an idea almost instantly.

HunterKiller_

Too kind, sir.

---

Life Drawing from last week...not a total loss :/

Alice is great model, BTW a true pro.







My sister is getting married next weekend...so if I go underground for a bit, its just
because I'm busy. Thanks for looking at my stuff, guys.

[p sage]

You deserve a bit more in here. You've been so diligent in helping other people but your own art isn't getting much love.

The concentrated drawings are good...

Bout all I can see is that you're going for the loose gesture, quick pose capture idea. I think you're on the right track, but it still seems like some of the lines are overstated (too dark) and some are misplaced.

Next time you're at one of those sessions, slow down a little and feel out the form a bit, draw one side of the form, quickly switch to the other side while keeping what you've already drawn in your peripheral vision. Repeat. Keep switching quickly to the other side of the contour. Do inner contours and shapes this way, too.

Concentrating like that lately has allowed me to up my precision and speed while decreasing the need for meticulous measuring of every angle.

Oh, and you're much better than a 3.5 star. That's a step away from mediocrity, bud. Have 5 from me

[Pigeonkill]

I like the simplified tone studies.

Thanks for sharing the notes and solid critique. I'm curious what size are the original drawings and gestures. They seems small? I was thinking figure drawing studios are one of the few times you can take the opportunity to draw really big and life size portraits. Where's going to the park with a big drawing pad wouldn't be a practice and you would have plenty of time to create small figure studies.

[ThomasM]

wow i love those pose design panels - I'd love to see more like that as I've never considered breaking it down into such simple shapes. Great stuff

[BlackDelphin]

Those pose designs are really sweet! Looking at flow like that is really interesting.
Are you using them in a particular project?

Figures, solid looking. I really like the values from the model with short hair and glasses in post #544.

"I have problem with balance, I tend to obsess and only
be able to work on one thing at a time." We have the same problem. xD
And frankly, i don't consider it a problem and i love it like that.

[Danny_K]

nice nice nice, I see some serious leaps of faith here, the figures look fantastic solid structure and all and seems like your quite loose when drawing thats great.
Loving it all keep bringing more

[BludHund]

p sage -

Hehe, that's because I don't post enough work.

Yes, lines are overstated. I will try your advice/technique, but, its hard
for me to concentrate that much...I have hard time focusing as it is

Thanks for the Stars.

Pigeonkill -

Thanks.

Yes I use a pretty small pad in life drawing. I just never got used to using
a large pad, or an easel for that matter. Also my scanner is pretty small...

I will probably move my studio to the basement in a few months, maybe
then I will start using a bigger pad an other such artistic things. Or maybe
not. I don't see myself a s a 'fine artist' type at this point, so just a
sketchbook works with my mindset

ThomasM -

Thanks, I will try posting more, or a more detailed explanation of the
purpose / technique.

BlackDelphin -

Thanks. Not a project per se, just studies. The object is to find the aesthetic and
expressive qualities of the pose, separate from the surface elements of structure
and anatomy. The body language and posture expresses the mood and character of
the subject, while the simplified shape of the pose shows how the flow of the viewer's
attention and emotion can be directed.

Thanks. She was a pretty awesome model...extremely confident and dedicated.

Mmm...obsession.

- Danny_K

You're too kind

---

First attempt at using markers (Copic on layout paper) for life drawing.

Kind of ran out of time, so its pretty raw.



I guess Adam Hughes can breathe easy...for now

[armando]

Stuff is looking pretty good, I think this new one has pretty good gesture. I think you are getting a little too intellectual about what you are doing in a drawing. It is useful to think this stuff out but self taught guys like us need stay careful and doubt the validity of our theories at all points, if we fuck up in our reasonings there is no one to correct us. Draw a little more intuitively or automatically, I don't know exactly what word I'm looking for here, but think a little less and feel a little more. This is the only way I know of to overide a flawed theory.

[Icecold]

I adore your figure drawings, they have this....something to them, simply great.
I've replied to your post in my sketchbook, if you've tim eplease tell me what you think. I respect your opinion, so please always feelf ree to stop by and leave a comment.

Thanks!

[p sage]

Marker drawing looks good, though the paper looks like it could barely soak it up.

Need moar, tho. I seem to remember a drawing you did a while back with two guys chasing someone into the foreground. More of that kind of just exploratory stuff... and don't post it if you don't want to... just make sure to do more of it please

As far as the wholistic drawing thing goes, it's along the lines of Gestalt Theory. An example would be you're drawing the underside of the right arm while keeping an eye on the top of the head, then moving your eye to the oblique (still drawing the arm), etc. Quick eye movements all over the figure that kind of rein-in the shapes.

Another simpler example is drawing simple shapes (like circles). I find I can draw near perfect circles doing this, whereas if I keep my eye on the pencil point, it's extremely hard. Look at the part of the paper where the other side of the circle will be, and then drawing this side of the circle becomes a piece of cake.

Sorry to make such a big deal of it; I'm just finding it very useful, and I know that you like the intellectual explanations.

[HunterKiller_]

p sage is right. Your critiques are always well thought out and helpful, *sigh* I know the 'old CA' would've appreciated it a lot more.

I like what Armando said, sounds good.

Don't much to say, but once every blue moon I'll flick through some old pages of the SB and discover some awesome critiques that I had forgotten about.

[Vritra]

Hey BludHund, it's been a while since I dropped by your sketchbook. I shiver when I think of the number of kittens I might have inadvertently sent to kitten hell. Do they die violently when I don't comment here? Oh the horror.

As far as the art is concerned, I can't help feeling that your lines are a bit tight right now. They aren't exactly stiff, but I think you could do with a little loosening up. Also, I think in an attempt to look for rhythm, overlaps, and the overall gesture, you might be slipping up a little in capturing proportion.

These are just small observations; I hope you don't mind. Your art looks good overall.