Working with Whitaker

[StacyLes]

I've just started working with William Whitaker this summer. His studio is amazing and he's a super guy, really nice and very talented. I'm also working along side Emily G. Some of you may know her from her posts here at concept art and if you don't you should. Her stuff is worth seeing.

My first project was a sight size drawing of a torso.



This is the final.
The pencil work is light compared to the refrence. I wanted to avoid the graphite getting a shine in the dark areas.
Now that it's on screen I can see that the upper center shadow needs a bit more work. I'll deal with that later.


And this is the final when the contrast is turned up by the computer.


Here's Emily and me working


And here's me starting my second project.

[FlyingMilton]

Fantastic! Looks great Stacy. I wish I had the opportunity to work with him. I hope you keep this updated.

[Idiot Apathy]

I hear you and Emily have some sort of rivalry going on? About who can make the better cupcakes/brownies? Care to comment on this? And uhm, save one for me next time

Bargue looks great! Any special reason you went with graphite? Emily is using charcoal isn't she?

[Stark]

Looking good here! Emily and yourself are really lucky to be studying under that man...congrats. The studies looks good, nice even tones and good eye.

[StacyLes]

Hey, thanks FlyingMilton. I'm surprised you saw my post so soon after I posted, that's awesome. I also checked out your posts and that octopus digital painting is really sweet.

And Wow, Idiot Apathy, I am honored to have a level 14 Gladiator comment. Your stuff is really neat. As for the cupcake/brownie rivalry, you heard right. It is a deep feud dating back as far as May 10th...of this year. To settle this rivalry we may need another bake off. I look forward to a tasty showdown.
As for the graphite, it's what Whitaker wanted me to start with and what I will be working with until I move on from barque drawings.

Stark, thanks for your complimentitive words. I hope you come back when I get more posted.

Today I came across a sidewalk sale so I took a seat and started sketching. I'll scan a few of those images in later but for now I give you penguin characters, yeah! Everyone loves a penguin.
I recently watched March of the Penguins if that explains anything.

[Idiot Apathy]

Haha, why do I picture you rolling your eyes about that gladiator comment ? Can I judge the bake-off? I get to eat right? By the way, It's Tom - we met at the zoo

Cute Penguins.

[StacyLes]

I thought that might be you Tom and what a zoo trip it was. Of course you can judge the bake off and yes that does imply you eating. On Wednesday there's a free gesture drawing session down my way, it starts at 7pm, and before that I, and possibly 2 other friends, will be doing some sketchbooking. You're more than welcome to come.

[sishir]

those are barque-gerome plates yes?

because i am also doing those plates. My teacher made me do the back of the foot one and now i am finishing the strong arm. The one you just finished is what i am going to start most likely next week. Its cool to see that there are other learning the atelier style.

Quick question:
do you guys use H pencils? or a wide range?

is this you first? if so then wow! My teacher made copy tons of 2d images from disney to tiny toons chracters. Then i got around to making those plates. Which i still have trouble on.

wthats the method you use? In my class room, i use a plumline then get the proper measurements, then get a outline of the whole caste, start "Carving" in the shading of the outline, shade the darkest darks and keep layering lightly.
Same thing for you?

is there a place where i can get all those plates? i know that there is a book, its a hundred dollars or more

[Don]

Stacey, Nice stuff. Love what you are doing.

Don

[StacyLes]

Hi Sishir. Yes these are the Charles Barque plates but I don't know where to get them other than the book, sorry.
That's neat that you're learning this, it really trains the eye.
I use H for the outline but when I start the shading process I switch to 2B and 2H for the shadow and shadow transition.
I start with drawing a center line down the middle of both paper and picture, and drawing a line across the top. I use those lines and a caliper, a tool with two adjustable arms that measures distance, to check my lines. After the outline is done I start with the shadows and like you, layer lightly to get a nice transition into the light. Hope this answers your question.


In reply to Don. Don! I am soooo excited to hear from you. You're awesome! And everyone here should know that Don is the bomb at both digital and oil painting. That means he's really good.

Here's the outline of what I've been up to.

[Piranha Clan]

Those are some great studies, very smooth, suttle shading. Excellent proportions and anatomy. Very nice work.

[vcoleman]

very nice work. The amount of patience that this takes is amazing. Its great to see.

Hello Don!

[StacyLes]

Okay, so here's my finished barque drawing. I actually finished it about a week ago but didn't post it because I was on a road trip for a week.



And here's some pictures of my road trip. I was on a sketch booking tour with a school group of Illustrators and Animators. It was a blast. We went to the Salt Flats, Reno, Lake Tahoe, Old Town Sacramento and best of all, San Francisco.

Here's our group at the Salt Flats


We took a tour through Pixar in San Francisco. What a fun place to work, they have videogames, ping pong tables, scooters and an endless supply of cold cereal. After the tour we all helped ourselves to some while our teacher was ketching up with his friend Andy who works there. I've never seen so much milk in one fridge before.


And here is my friend Melinda and me in front of the Bay Bridge. When we were on the Bay Bridge someone in our van started quoting the bridge part from Charlie the Unicorn on YouTube. Only on an illustration / animation sketchbook tour would that happen and everybody know what that quote was from.


In San Francisco we also went to Pier 39, Fisherman's Wharf, China Town, Japan Town, The Palace of Fine Arts which is also known by other names, Union Square off Market Street, the Japanese Garden at Golden Gate Park and Alamo Park which is right across the street from the homes on Full House

Tomorrow I will post some of the sketches I did along the way.

[Diego]

Great pictures stacy, and really good work with the bargue.
Hope to see more. Keep up the good work,

Cheers

[aracanid]

wow, your an awesome artist. I dont know who the guy your talking about is, but im assuming that hes some famous artist. Your work is very good, it looks like a replica of the thing your drawing... just wow...

[StacyLes]

Here's some of the sketches from my recent trip.
Lake Tahoe

Old Town Sacramento

Union Square in San Francisco

People on Market Street

Our teacher Richard Hull while we were at lunch. He's on the Right.

Alcatraz, as seen from Fishermans Wharf. We also went to Pier 39.

Grass Valley City


As for what I'm doing now, I'm working on a drawing of my sister Lindsey. This is a sketchbook drawing of one of the pictures I took of her.

The real one will be much better...hopefully.

Also, while I was with my animation and illustration friends in San Francisco, I heard about a 2d animation they want to do of a chinese fable. I decided to do a few sketches.
This is an idea for the evil guy and the dad

These are more ideas for the villain's look

Ideas of where to get reference for a interesting stylized chineese type look for people, places and plants are appreciated, as well as comments on the characters

[Idiot Apathy]

Latest Bargue looks great Stacy! You having fun?
Road trip makes me jealous, sketching road trip makes me insanely jealous
Looks like you had a lot of fun and got some great sketches out of it. We need to go sketching again!

Not sure about any stylistic chinese reference, but I came across these amazing photo's recently:
http://www.pbase.com/gilazouri/china

-Tom

[StacyLes]

Hi Tom. Yes, you have reason to be insanely jealous for it was the funnest road trip ever!
We most definitely do need to go sketch-booking again and thanks for the web reference, those pictures really are amazing!

[zou]

hi

i think it won't make a lot of effect if i say it's a perfect bargue copy since you're working with Whitaker, but it's damn perfect. How could it better ?!

I'm a bit perplex, you said you're blocking in the form with eyes ?! not using thread (and tons of measurements) ?

Stacy, i just added this therad to my favorites, i want see your whole course in this studio. The more you talk the more i'm plugged.

(pssst: could u post some high res originals from bargue's books )

[StacyLes]

Hi Zou, I wasn't very clear in that post so I can see why there was a misunderstanding. Hopefully I fixed it.
I measured all the time, practically after every stroke. What I meant about the eye comment is that I tried to make a stroke first and then measure rather than vice versa.

Hopefully these links to barque copies will help out. They should begin downloading when you click on them.
http://www.divshare.com/download/1307373-92d
http://www.divshare.com/download/1307367-b05

Here's some sketches I did recently. This one contains people from my Traffic School class. Apparently speeding is frowned upon.
The guy on the Left was our teacher. He's a young'en as far as officers go, perhaps that is why I was allowed to keep my sketchbook out during class. I took notes in my sketchbook also, just in case.
I was going to draw some flaming wreckage from some of the footage but they let us out early. I felt jipt, I wanted to draw a bit more.

And here's a sketch of people from a meeting I was in.

[iceman478]

Is it me or does the opposite sex of either or always draw the other best…like for example men draw women very well and hear you are a good example of women drawing men very well…I mean I see the picture of the male ass and its like almost popping of the paper…
And the hand very nice….
And to sound very childish ....if I have not sounded yet….you draw very nice FOR A GIRL!
Keep up the amazing work!

[bumskee]

So emily has told me so much about you.. (no actually not really, nor did tom.. ) heh. but I've heard about you from both.

nice studies! and enjoyable drawings. *subscribe*

[StacyLes]

iceman- You know, I think your right. I do draw nice. I'm amazing!
And of course I'm kidding and thanks!

bumskee -Wow, you know Emily and Tom too. What a small world. So, you've heard of me to the extent that you know of my existence but nothing more. Well, I'll have to tell Tom and Emily to get on the ball. I should definitely be talked about in more detail than that!
And of course, I kid.


Well, it's been a while but here's my post. Hope you all like.