Leo's stuff - Update: This sketchbook is now closed

[Leo Ki]

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THIS SKETCHBOOK CONTAINS OLD STUFF FROM 2007-2008. IT IS NOW CLOSED

Hello

I'm trying to get back to drawing, something the whirls of life prevented me from doing for some time. It's OK to just drop a comment saying "that foot is way too big" or "the green shadow there is awkward". I'm training - or for some things retraining - and I hope my progress will show.

I'm going to put a few images of mine in a second message to this thread (because of the weird attachment bug), then I'll browse the freak threads around. See you.

The current thread icon:

[Leo Ki]

Here they are.

1. A natural smile.




2. Something I think I should try to elaborate further.




3. The text says "Your sheep? What sheep? As for me, I haven't seen any sheep..."




4. Springtime. Terribly sketchy and distorted but unable to retouch it.




5. Springtime again. That's what the Chinese character means, but not only that, which allows me to play with it symbolically.




6. The text goes: "Nice beach you found, Sandy. But couldn't your pal leave his pencil and sketchbook for a while? A real paparazzi..."



That's it for now. I have a few WIPs on the tablet which I'll post in the next days. Thanks for viewing.

[JoShuA]

You have some cool Ideas, 4 is your strongest piece in my opinion. You lines could be cleaner and stronger. Your style would lend itself well to stronger more confident lines.
Let's fill up our sketchbook threads! yay!

[drummingpariah]

Try some contour sketches, where you don't actually look at the paper at all while you're sketching. Just go over the outline in one smooth, fluid line. It will probably lend a lot to the style you're cultivating.

[Leo Ki]

@JoShua: Thanks a lot! You're right, strong lines are what I should head for, it's how I used to draw before I got sucked into my pictureless period. I pretty much agree about filling our sketchbooks, I'll try to post at least twice a week.

@drummingpariah: Blind contour sketch? I've seen a few but never tried it - but I will. It sounds crazy but certainly a good training. Thanks for the advice. Have you got hold on a scanner so you can update your sketchbook?


Here are a few WIPs as promised. I'm very hungry for tips for advancing, because color is something relatively new for me.


7. Fire keeper, stage 1. Not the usual fire of course. I think I won't add any clothes in order to keep training anatomy. The far leg is still missing, I'm struggling to position it.




8. Spearing the dragon (on Artrage), stage 1.




9. Queen of the lizards, stage 2. An older WIP which I'm a stuck in, with a lot of errors to be corrected.



EDIT: I don't know if this is a temporary bug, the attached pictures now show twice, both inline and as footers.

[Cavematty]

Hey Leo,

Thanks for dropping by my sketchbook, and thanks for a really genuine comment. A lot of comments tend to be quite vacant if well intentioned, but I really appreciate the attention in yours

Having a nosey round your sketchbook I see you are quite new - the thread hasnt been going long, but you are updating a lot. Thats great to see. That is one of the main keys to success at anything - a bit of hard work

Some comments. For a start, I would ignore colour. We see primarily by tone, and that carries far far far more importance than colour ever will in defining the forms of your artworks. I would recommend doing some greyscale studies for a start and really try and get a grasp on tone. After that you will find colour far easier to play with. It is definately secondary.
Also try to simplify into 3-4 flat tones your whole image. Then, if you play with your edges (soft vs hard) you will find you can convey all form, but the simplicity will be pleasing to they eye. The speed tonal studies in my sketchbook are all done with 3 flat tones until all the major shapes are blocked in (also greyscale). Then I add texture, belnding, and colour after the inportant foundations are already on the page.

Second tip would be to work longer on a piece. Try doing one image for weeks at a time. You will learn more than you could ever imagine. Refine your shapes. As others have said you need a more definate line - the "scratchy" linework you have at the moment bespeaks lack of confidence. I think your strongest piece is the "springtime piece, because it looks resolved, not still WIP.
You learn different things from speed sketches and from longer studies, but you need to do both to really improve.

Lastly read theory. It really does help. Sometimes it wont show up in your work until ages later. Sometimes you need to come back to concepts months later when your other knowledge has improved before you can understand it, but it is so crucial.

For a start heres a really good overview thread. Lots of information in here. Have a read (its from a CA member)

http://www.itchstudios.com/psg/art_tut.htm

But dont get me wrong, this isnt a negative comment. I admire your enthusiasm and work ethic. Keep it up and direct that energy into smart ways to learn, and you'll be a pro faster than you think (thats what i keep telling myself anyways )

good luck

matty

[KromNz]

Hey man, I think you are doing very good, your lines are your weakest point right now, you need to work with them a more. Anyway, you have a very nice sb here and very good ideas. Cya keep it up.

[Leo Ki]

@Cavematty: All these are great great advices which I saved into my computer to refresh my memory from time to time. I appreciate you took so much time to help me start. I had made a few grey-scale speed paintings because I felt I was messing too badly with color, and I sure need to train more. I made a few new ones, some of which I'll add in this post. And yes, I will spend more time on some works and stop changing shapes and everything at each stage. I'm starting to recover my lost capacity for lines, so I hope this will give me more confidence for taking color to the end. The tutorial you indicated looks very clear and sensible, thanks!

@KromNz: ¡Gracias chaval! I hope the lines I'll post now are better. My brain smoked trying to wake up the sleeping line-drawing module.


10.




11.




12. Spaghetti gorilla. This one is not a speed painting of course. To be finished.




13.




14.



Thanks again for the feedback! This has motivated me a lot.

[mrpank]

Not bad at all, the gorilla face looks nice
but try some figure studies,ok

[Cavematty]

LEO!
Hey! great to see your dedication again! Already cranking out those greyscales!
I quite like the first one but ill comment more specifically later, only a few mins right now...
I'll post up another link soon too - just gotta track it down.
That prometheus one, I need to go back to it and will be reading it and studying it again soon. If you wanna have a go at some excercises together it could be motivating

If you check out my sketchbook I did my first imagination drawing in a long time, and it felt good - thanks for the nudge buddy!

Keep up the hard work

[Leo Ki]

Two months zipped past... during which I produced only trash, but something seems to be emerging lately...

@mrpank: Thanks! I haven't resumed the work on the weird gorilla but I have done some figure study meanwhile - not good enough to show but it sure taught me much.

@Cavematty: Maybe I'm finally ready for these exercises on shades and color. I'll PM you to discuss which ones to do. And I'll go and comment in your sketchbook to spur you to draw from imagination even more.


15.




16. A speed painting




17. Another speed painting




18.




19.




20. Mixing old pulp style with modern thingies




21.




22.




23.




24.




25.




26. Little Red Hood is explaining how her grand mother cooks wolf meat




27. The horse considers it a folly to advance toward the dragon.




28. Petanque with midi-chlorians...




29.



Thanks for viewing!

[Leo Ki]

With the GIMP's ink tool:

30

31

32

33

Exploring attitudes and expressions:

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

[Leo Ki]

Still exploring stuff, confusedly and hastily...
I hope I'll finally settle at something to work on in depth.

[Leo Ki]

Finally spending a bit more time than usual on one thing...
Here are the first four steps of an interpretation of the tale's character Snow Queen. Much has to be improved and finalized of course.

[Leo Ki]

A few new ongoing things I'm spending more time on

[Shpow.Iain]

Hmm. Comme ci comme ca.

Anyway, it's nice sometimes. But most of the time. It's haphazard work. I think you should practice shadowing.

[Leo Ki]

@Shpow.Iain: Thanks for your comment. I guess you are right I'm working haphazardly, exploring and trying like crazy until I find my way of expression - if there is any. And I do have problems with shadowing too, that's right!

Here are a few new things:

[Leo Ki]

A couple explorations.
I'll try to push them further and not destroy them in the process.

[Leo Ki]

Here is one sad concept,
and the third step of the greedy bird:

[dierat]

I like #19. It looks like you have a natural feel for the female form, especially portraiture. I suggest that you try to make yourself do some more full-body pieces so you get to practice the entire form. Keep it up!

[Leo Ki]

@dierat: Thanks! I will follow your advice in the next weeks and post what I'll get.

Meanwhile here are a few random searches, unfinished:

[Maerrick]

there is something that this thread should be quintessential for, and that is --progress. its very very interesting to see your first couple of posts to the most recent one =D great work, your efforts are paying off!

[Leo Ki]

Thanks a bunch, Maerrick! I hope it will hold true in the future. I've been unable to hold the stylus for long months, but I've just bitten the bullet again.

I now have a decent screen with good contrast. I left the Gimp for openCanvas, and here are a few of the ongoing things I've been tinkering with in the recent days:

[thesadpencil]

nice stuff here. i'd suggest doing some more anatomy studies. and try playing around w/ your colors and values more to help w/ the contrast. maybe do some color theory studies. i'd also like to see more finished works, keep it up.

[Maerrick]

hey man, your doing very well! i can see your progression and its uplifting to see you improve! keep up the good work my friend, and don't stop drawing hehe!

[Leo Ki]

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@thesadpencil: You're right I need to train a lot of things. I keep telling it to myself but always end up drawing stuff coming out of my mind.
Thanks for waking me up. And yes, I'll try to finish a few of those ephemeral sparks.


@Maerrick: This time I -- won't -- stop. (And I hope you -- won't -- either )


For the first time I'm fiddling with custom brushes in openCanvas, not sure I'm on the right path but trying anyway:








Playing with light and screwing perspective:




Resurgence of how I used to draw before I erred away:

You thought nymphs were sweet creatures. Nope, nymphs are... wild
Maybe I'll develop a comix character out of this sympathetic dryad.

[Leo Ki]

More ongoing stuff. The bird may be a vague reminiscence of last year's trial.

[RandAlThor]

Hey Leo, an interesting mix here. I can def see some improvement since the start, but you seem to be rushing a lot of your sketches, try spending a couple of hours on a single image and really try pushing the form with some shading and also have a look at some anatomy books, it can only help. keep it up ;-)

[Cavematty]

Hey Leo,
Thanks for stopping by my thread! Its nice to know someone notices when you post
Your work has definitely shown some improvement, but I fear you're still suffering with some of the same problem areas as when I posted back in May 07.
RandAlThor's comment above is similar to what I was saying then. You just gotta slow down and put in the time on a piece. If you labor for 40 hours over one illustration, it might not even turn out much better than your other ones, but I guarantee you'll learn so much that every pic after than will come easier and faster.
Here's another tut for ya. This one from CGtalk, but a really good one. I printed this out and stapled it, and took it with me to lifedrawing for a few weeks after finding it. It is a VERY brief overview of the Atelier teaching. Something many folks on this forum will swear by till their voice is hoarse
Definately reccomned giving it a good look over - it sure helped me

Good luck matey

[Leo Ki]

RandAlThor and Cavematty, thanks for the feedback. I'll tell you
a secret I do try to spend a lot of time on some works,
but the more I advance the more I hate what I see, especially
when I'm entering the tiny finicalities that seem to magically
blow up all the painting, which ends up with a blurp into the
recycle bin.

Thanks for the tut, Cavematty, I used to do a lot of anatomy
and line of strength studies as a teenager, and some of it is
slowly surfacing back, but I need to do tons and tons again.

With shame but in order to prove that I do try to push some
paintings, here is something I've been spending more than
one hour on and I'll really try to spend more time on.
The jaw deformation and skin tone is intentional
(she's a vampyre after all).