HEAVY Critique sketchbook. Care to help?

[Garkudion]

Hello! My name is Larc and I want to be a concept artist more than anything. Prehaps it's a little bit TOO obsessive, but concept art is what I want to do for the rest of my life. I swore that I would make it, I swore that I would be one of the best, so I need some major help from you guys that have been doing this for a long longer than my seventeen-year-old self.

Do NOT be nice to me. I want in-depth, harsh, no-bearings held back critique. Please, I want to get better. I want to finally feel like my artwork is something that I can pride myself in instead of pouring my heart into something and then not being happy with it when I'm done. I want to see myself get better; I want to tap into my creativity and go as FAR out of my comfort zone as a possibly can. So do NOT sugar-coat things because I am ready and waiting to take the advice that will turn me into something GREAT!

As a concept artist, I know I need to learn how to come up with amazingly imaginative outfits for unreal characters to wear. But I suck at outfits, I mean, my mind goes totally blank when I try to sketch something neat when it comes to armor/clothing/dresses/ etc. It's all well and good that I have amazing thoughts about said things, but god help me if I draw them. How do I rectify this?

Also, I want to put more expression into my concepts. They feel so dead, or, the emotion feels the same. It's maddening! I look at other artist's work and they have it down to a T. I don't understand how I can't transcribe my thoughts into art when I can see and feel my ideas so clearly but my hands won't frickkin' work!

I hope I'll get some help in this thread. Usually I get flamed for either my zealous, blazing determination, or ( paradoxically) my lack of self confidence. I'm hoping that you guys, being professionals, can explain to me how I may improve so that I may have the means to feel the confidence that my determination should display as a given.

With this help and, through it, my betterment, my commission thread may finally get some more attention as well.

The first bit are sketches I did out of anger. I was feeling inadequate in art, so I took it out the way I always do: doing more art.

The second one is a work in progress that I stopped doing some time ago because I didn't feel that it so good. I may pick it back up again just to finish it.

The third one is my first ever environment. It's a WIP, so I'll post the finished one here later.

The fourth one was a commission I did very recently. I suck at imagining outfits ( the guy decided to forsake a description, and that is one of my major "areas of drastic betterment needed". At least the commission wasn't for real money. I would definately have put more effort into it.

The fifth is an example of the suckiness of my armor design. See what I mean? What can I do to rectify my ineptitude?

[Vigilandus]

Oh it's okay to be nice to each other. I believe one gives critic because that person cares, and wants to help.

I'll start on the fourth;
Eye is too big, look at this example:

Hands are not too shabby. You drew the torso frontal view, so you might want to avoid a full profile view on the face; maybe rotate it back a bit?
The olecranon (tip of ulna (elbow bone)) is too large? Don't know for sure.

As for the concept: I'd prefer your body armor to be symmetrical, but by all means, follow your own thoughts about this.

How bout doing some anatomical studies? They'll help considerably.

Don't have too much time to crit the rest, but good luck with your art! I'll try and monitor your progress.

Oh and, I'll sugar-coat as much as I want to.

[goblinoffroth]

Disclaimer: I'm a newb here just passing through type thing but I hope this helps

O.o!! I think your anatomy is really good especially the females at the top (although you don't seem to be a fan of eyes) I'm guessing you're going for the poses rather than the expressions?
Eyes are super expressive along with the mouth.

With the second one (knight vs dragon) I think maybe the shield should be strapped to the forearm as well as held in the hand (otherwise it would be a buckler and held on the front of the fist).

wrt armour I find the best way is to use simple shapes modelled on the form you wish to armour; thinking about how joints move and where flexibility would be required. Use real life examples maybe at a museum? Or look at films such as LOTR (think ring-wraith gauntlets - interlocking plates etc on a leather glove). Chainmail is a possibility, keep in mind it's weight and how it would hang relative to normal clothing.

If I think of anything else I'll let you know (unless you don't want me to), I think you've got a fantastic base with these!

[asoir]

ill echo vigil here, just remember, abs are never ever that defined, the most defined abs go upto about this - http://i.b5z.net/i/u/230085/i/Stan_m...lder_a_ezr.jpg and that's a bodybuilder! so be careful with how you define them

peace

[ChillPill]

cant do much but repeat the others. you have an eye issue, study, cos' nothing else helps. in the last one the torso is too small compared to the head/shoulder section, and abs are overdefined.

keep sharing...

[goblinoffroth]

oh yeh that was one other thing, I like the crazy sketch of the guy with a chain and dog collar but the belts and straps on his trousers could have a little depth, they're twisting and curling in interesting ways but they look paper thin. Chains are really annoying but even when taut like that one the links will rarely align themselves like that, usually they twist a bit (again rl is the best policy there). Great stuff though, he has a really intense penetrating stare that's very eerie (is it the pupils?)

[Garkudion]

[l.sheridan]

You have a great start...

A couple pieces of advice from myself (im quite the novice as well)

First and foremost... draw/paint/whatever as often as you can... practice truly truly makes perfect when it comes to art.

Second... work on anatomy, I highly suggest Bridgeman's Drawing From Life... its an invaluable resource

Third... it can often be frustrating doing piece after piece and seeing little improvement... but dont get down on yourself or give up... and remember to use plenty of references - skimming through others artwork can also be very helpful...

Keep them coming...

[Garkudion]

ill echo vigil here, just remember, abs are never ever that defined, the most defined abs go upto about this - http://i.b5z.net/i/u/230085/i/Stan_m...lder_a_ezr.jpg and that's a bodybuilder! so be careful with how you define them

peace

Hey thanks! I appreciate the help. I remember a peace of crit I got before advising me to look at pictures of body builders. Thanks for the reminder..it's an excellent piece of advice considering my anatomy problems.

[Garkudion]

Disclaimer: I'm a newb here just passing through type thing but I hope this helps

O.o!! I think your anatomy is really good especially the females at the top (although you don't seem to be a fan of eyes) I'm guessing you're going for the poses rather than the expressions?
Eyes are super expressive along with the mouth.

With the second one (knight vs dragon) I think maybe the shield should be strapped to the forearm as well as held in the hand (otherwise it would be a buckler and held on the front of the fist).

wrt armour I find the best way is to use simple shapes modelled on the form you wish to armour; thinking about how joints move and where flexibility would be required. Use real life examples maybe at a museum? Or look at films such as LOTR (think ring-wraith gauntlets - interlocking plates etc on a leather glove). Chainmail is a possibility, keep in mind it's weight and how it would hang relative to normal clothing.

If I think of anything else I'll let you know (unless you don't want me to), I think you've got a fantastic base with these!

I'm not sure why i don't usually draw eyes...I want to break out of that. Eyes are just as expressive as pose, so I'll be sure to work on that. Thanks for the examples of where to better my armor. I'd totally look at the LOTR movies if I didn't hate them ><, I usually just google images. Sometimes I feel like this is cheating though...copying from another person's work an all. But references do help and I'll be sure to take advantage OF that help!

Thanks for your comment!

[Garkudion]

Some more stuff

[Kfeeras]

the forehead's missing on the last one, the hair grows out where the eyes used to be. eyes are supposed to be just about the middle of the head. visit beeba.net and look how he draws faces and eyes in a very minimalistic but very expressive way

[Garkudion]

new stuff