NicoRaven's Nest (Watch as I try to take flight)

[NicoRaven]

Thanks alot Chelsie, I will be working dilligiently to improve for a more realistic look.

Here is my lastest and FIRST LOOMIS STUDY "Fun with a Pencil"

[ajaysingh]

nice cartoon work man
but i think u should work on live drawing
will learn lot from it as i do

[NicoRaven]

I'm going to start from the basics and work from jump. Loomis

[NicoRaven]

More Loomis explorations. I've done this stuff kind of exercise before and i really want to rush through it but i really need to grasp the point this time.

Inch by Inch

[NicoRaven]

Ajaysingh: Thanks, for mentioning the cartoon work. Life drawing is something I definitely have be neglecting. Mostly cause I'm scared of it.

Here is me trying to draw myself. Tell me what you think I need to think about next time.

[NicoRaven]

Here is my most recent pratice from Loomis Fun with a Pencil. I'm rebuilding my art structure. So dont expect much.

[NicoRaven]

This is another exercise from Loomis "Fun with a pencil" 300 posts YAaaaaaH!

[NicoRaven]

Warning! Thurd Drop!!

[NicoRaven]

SALTY SUCKY SHRIMP SHIZZNIT! Yeah!

[NicoRaven]

Maybe I should have tossed all these but that would prove that I'm vain about my art studies. By sucking eggs now i'm foreshadowing greatness!!!

I hope...........

[NicoRaven]

Some more work from a while back

[NicoRaven]

Times like today i wonder if I really have the heart for art. I think I'm a pretty cool Armchair Art Critic. I seem to love Art. But the task itself seems so out of reach for me. I cant believe it sometimes how ephermal my confidence in my artwork is. One day I'm as happy as a clam about what I've accomplish but as soon I'm reminded of the depth and execution it takes to be a sucess on the job...well I feel crushed. I seem to have a very fragile ego with my art. Compartively I feel my art is like a newborn baby (just started drawing at the age of 23 in Nov. 06) and I want that baby to instantaneously become an adult, it sounds so selfish and whiny but it is really frustrating when your lines lack that finesse that confidence that aged stroke and capture of the shadow and form. I realize that art is just one big ass 10000 piece puzzle but I feel so lost now so BEHIND that it seems damn near impossible to find where this pieces all fit. I've entered in a tunnel with no ligth in sight and so many other have been running happily toward their own path signature and pattern. It boils right down to fear , fear of looking bad ,fear of failure, fear of not being the artist that you should for lack of a certain contour or pencil pressure. Being too tactical or too loose. My demons are my own critical self image and the deep seated notion that I'll never ever ever be great.

What I want to be able to do later is look back on this page and smile. Look that was me then and now look I'm kicking ass with the best and the brightest. I love where I am and where my style is going. I'm so glad i didnt quit and found the heart I so desperately needed on the steep steep path of Conceptual Art and Design.

{Here is a drawing I did to the best of my current ability)

[minjarr]

you have a lot of work, I love your persistence. keep it up

[Chromosome]

I'm really impressed by how you draw anything and everything you can think of. From humans to cans of paint to pipes to whatever. And the sheer amount of work you've put in is amazing. It's that type of work ethic I find inspiring. Thanks for sharing and please keep it up.

[NicoRaven]

First off thanks abunch for the words Chromosome and Minjarr I'll try to continue to wow you guys with my hard work if nothing else.

Here are some continuing studies from Loomis "Fun with a Pencil"

[NicoRaven]

I had to take a short break from drawing and learning from Loomis to do a little Life drawing. I think it turned out to be more helpful than usual. I used a hatching method that I saw used here , I didn't use it well but..... judge for yourself

This is a snapshot of my room that my TV and stand and part of my desk.

[loveandasandwich]

Yay progression! Looking pretty good, just try making your hatchlines closer together to make a smoother look. Also, if you wanna get the angle right on things, try holding your pencil up to it and creating the angle with it, and then bring your pencil down to the paper. It works well for me.

[NicoRaven]

Hey Chelsea thanks alot for the support. This little one was inspired by some of your markers. I had some fun with it.

I'll try to remember that pencil trick.

[alesoun]

You're starting to find your wings with that drawing of your room, Nico; copying and practising are all very well, but it's when you start to put what you've been learning and practising to work (in observing and drawing the things around you) that things really fall into place and make you feel more confident.

Well done....

[gmags]

Hey NicoRaven, thanx for the comment!!! I think you've got talent and are progressing nicely. Sometimes I feel the same way bro. Not too long ago I sold all but 3 of my art books because I was so frustrated with my progress.Then after a month or 2 later I slowly began to draw again. I almost threw in the towel. So anyways bro try to do at least 1hr of real life drawin everyday. Do a self portrait every day. Draw your hands daily. Draw them holdin different stuff like "cellphone, fruits, pens etc. I recently bought this mag called "Drawing" by American Artist, not sure if it's in your area. Buy the recent "highlights" issue, it has articles by a great artist, Dan Gheno. Study the masters and take a live model sketch class. And look back after a couple of moths to see if you're really improving. I'm a rookie like you and I hope this helps you bro so keep it up. I'll keep an eye on you to see how you're doing.

[asoir]

personally, i think stuff like -
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/att...1&d=1177647751
and
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/att...1&d=1177646583

will really help your progress (its already looking better!)
i can't say i'm against loomis, but i always prefered working from bridgman, he helps your lines a lot when it comes to the features and GREATLY helps with depth in the face.
draw more than you're comfortable with, i see you're unhappy with the progress... don't draw more in quantity, but really REALLY force yourself to take the lines soft and get the tones in a portrait (using reference) and define shapes with tone instead of line.

keep the pace in, it will definately pay...the harder = the sooner it'll come; don't expect god to drop you amazing skill in draughtmanship, earn it!

hope this helps motivationally, peace!

[NicoRaven]

Asoir - thanks for coming back to see my progress you were one of my first inspiring artist here not Marko but cats like you so thanks for the continued support. Tone instead of line thats really good advice thanks so so much


Gmags - I know I'm not alone but it feels better to hear other people at least understand my frustrations. So basically Draw a Self Portrait, Hands and from Life every single day. I'll try to find time between Art book studies and do just that. I hope we both can improve upon ourselves

Alesoun - you a new name like many others it seems I should definitely Draw from life now I'd been avoiding it til now. Confidence, yes thank you for a boost in confidence. I hope we both level up and get art wise this year.

Just like to post New studies in my replies. I'll get to work on your suggests licketty split!

[DimMak]

Hey there Nico,

I'm new to this forum but not new to illustration. Just a few observations about your stuff. Firstly, you are definitely making progress, and that is surely do to your unwaivering commitment.
Personally i feel that you are struggling with finding anatomy and perspective because your mark is far to rigid and heavy. I would suggest going very light and really layering up your line so you can really feel and almost sculpt your image on the page. it may look messy, but if it's for research, all that matters is your learning.

Draw more from life to find a stronger connection between your mind and your hand. then enjoy the fruits of your imagination. Ever wonder why it's so hard to get that cool image in your mind on paper? it's usually because your brain isn't communicating with your hand as well as it needs to. Then you need to work your hand and mark so you can tell a story with your strokes. eyes to brain, brain to hand, hand to paper. this flow needs to be seamless eventually.

try building up your forms in light blue pencil, then solidify your lines with a darker color (gray or black) so you can find yourself in the decision-making seat when choosing what line quality and shading directions you use. you can then refine your "style" and approach to each subject matter.

always remember:
line follows form.
lighting always needs a source (direction)
characters and bodies need weight (contact with a real ground)
textures are all important when dealing with clothing vs skin vs objects
line needs variation, dark consistent outlines will always flatten your image.
foreshortening is a very useful tool for dynamic composition.
and finally and most importantly:
practice drawing from life and then later on 2-d reference.

best of luck to ya!
hope to see more stuff!

[NicoRaven]

"Personally i feel that you are struggling with finding anatomy and perspective because your mark is far to rigid and heavy. I would suggest going very light and really layering up your line so you can really feel and almost sculpt your image on the page. it may look messy, but if it's for research, all that matters is your learning."

Dimmark I think you hit the nail on the head. I do struggle and struggle with making my mark harsh and light. I really have no Idea how you people get that depth in your characters.

Recently, I've been doing some studing from Loomis's "Fun with a Pencil" it is a begineers guide to drawing and I try to combine that with what I already know. I believe it has help my proportions a great deal already. But you be the judge.

[NicoRaven]

and this last bit that didn't fit with the last update.

Can anyone teach me how to shade? I really need to learn how to shade my 2d forms.

[DimMak]

the perspective stuff is cool because it's forcing you to be cleaner and analytical with each mark. try to take that idea to some of your figure and portrait stuff.

maybe this would be a good drill for you to try: draw from the inside of the form out. forget outlining everything. try to build the information and detail from within the form rather than trying to describe it's contour.

this is what i mean sorta:



here i just made a scribbly armature just to plot the form loosely. then i went in with darker lines to sorta describe more details. i just did this in less than 5 minutes on my wacom for an example. i would normally do this with pencil and paper (which i still have more control with) and take my time to really describe features more clearly. but you get my drift.

this drill may help you figure out your forms before you put any details down in heavy line. because as soon as you commit to a hard line describing a flawed form, you really have no hope of salvaging the rest of the piece unless you do it over.

give it a shot if you like. it might help.

good luck dude.

[amer-nazri]

You've shown alot of progress in your work, you're now paying more attention with your linework, which is really good. You need to keep doing that. Choose an interesting object to study, and draw it in dfferent angles. Try to shut off the inclination to draw your own lines here and there, and stay true to its shape and form. Its gritty and annoying, but if somethin's wrong, repair it, and you'll see your linework improve very quickly. Keep going, the journey really is the best part of the ride.

Oh, and I URGE you to buy this book, I always refer to it for advice and exercises.

[alesoun]

Nico, if you want to shade your perspective work, the easiest way to see how to do it it to use a box (shoebox, cereal box, whatever you have) and a flashlight. Think about where you want your source of light to be (left, right, high, low); shine the flashlight from that place and you'll see where the shadows fall.

If you look around you in the daytime you'll notice that the higher the sun is in the sky, the shorter the shadows are that buildings and people cast; the lower the sun is, the longer the shadows are.

As to how to make the shadows,- try all the methods you've learned and see which one you like best.

[NicoRaven]

Ameri-Nazri thanks for the suggestion I'll try to remember to pay more attention to my linework.

Alesoun I plan to relearn shading from the ground up starting today, I'll be counting on your feedback K.

I drew a few anatomy sketch and Loomis copies but nothing worth showing. These last two days. I haven't sketched as much I've been touring the net try to find a good guide to Draw by. What are the greats do to improve is what I have to do. Draw - Draw - Draw but being the analytical SOAG I am what does that mean EXACTLY. So after some soul search, many of your suggestions and some insprirational video form Bobby Chiu I've decided what my Daily routine should be. A a series of small project that consist of every type of illustrations I could think of.

So here is my Creedo my Mission Statement if you will.

My Daily Sketch Routine

[alesoun]

Nico, I really admire the hard work that you're putting in on your "HowTo Draw" exercises, but the one drawback to relying too much on them is that you're copying someone else's solutions to the problems faced in a drawing.

I think that you've reached the stage now where you have the theory on how to solve the problems and it's time to put that theory to the test. The two most important tools in art are your eyes and your brain.

I can see that you can spot the problems and things that go wrong (you were right about the Bride's eye in my drawing, btw); now it's time to make the big jump to drawing from life and thinking about how to solve the problems on things not shown in the books. That's why so many of us are urging you to draw from life. Take plenty of time looking at something, so that you can take note of things like proportion and how the light falls on it.
Even the few sketches you've done of everyday things show that you're beginning to learn how to really look at something.

Don't be nervous of making mistakes; you'll know you're on the right path when you make a different mistake each time,- but draw from life as much as you can, and don't be afraid of that blank piece of paper!