Making progress hurts...do it again!

[Ilahmec]

I know a few people here, but I've been hesitant to post anything as the work here is quite good. However, I've started a new artistic segment of my life and I need encouragement and criticism. So...here it goes.

This image was the first sketch I did in years, while giving my Social Studies students a test. I started with an eye, and ended up with something I had never tried to draw before, a dinosaur...kind of.


This fish, again started as an eye, then twisted into something else.


I had seed some work that focused on negative imaging, so I tried this...again my first attempt at this style, but it came out OK.


A few sketches that I decided to finish...


This next one is really the first one I was really proud of. I thought I did the shading well and I even hid a girl in the trunk of the tree!



Being a World Geography teacher, I thought I'd try to help my students understand some basic shapes...


Together they form...


Finally, I got to teach a reading class on Edgar Allen Poe, so I was inspired to draw one of my favorite scenes from a Tale Tell Heart. I'm going to change one thing, but I like it this way as well.


Alright! Hit me. I know this isn't the genius stuff that is on the front page, but I think it's getting there. Gimme comments, critiques, whatever. Thanks!

[LEVIATHIN816]

good start man the thing i would work on would be some anatomy studies and maybe some value to but a hell of a start and keep up

[Ilahmec]

Thanks! I've been planning on some anatomy studies...though I'll probably finish my continental beasts first. Since you mentioned anatomy, what do you see that's correctable?

[Ilahmec]

This is really what I intended all along, but I was afraid I might screw it up. My intent was to use 3 of Poe's recurrent themes (the eye, the vortex, and the raven) to intensify the fear and dread the old man felt moments before the narrator killed him.

Give me feedback, criticism, whatever.

[Ilahmec]

I just picked up an Intuos3 for my Christmas present to myself this year. This is the first time using it. Since I'm most confortable with pencil I used that tool to make a still life of the web cam I use, then added the galaxy to give it a little depth of story.

I would love to hear what you think, tips on how to use the intuos3 best, critiques on my other works so far... Thanks!

[Ilahmec]

It's called, Defending the Sacred Valley, and boy has it gone through the ringer!

I'll just post the first and last images here...you can view the critique thread if you want to see the whole process.

Before...

and after...

[Exquisite Beast]

Gosh you haven't got a lot of feedback.... I think the visual trick with the two dragons is really cool - it took me a tiny bit of time to work out what you meant! I think the best thing for your right now would be some good, old fashioned anatomy studies. They're like filling out a tax file number - once you're done, you can get to work! (Actually that's a terrible analogy - you should always be doing anatomy!) Keep up the posting

[Ilahmec]

Yes, Anatomy is definitely something I'm working on. The centaur image taught me a lot. I received a good tutorial from the guys at the critiqueing forum, specifically on the arm, chest and abdomin. Thanks for the comments!

I'm actually starting on Europe soon. That will be the toughest, aside from maybe Asia.

[Ilahmec]

Just putting down a sketch of the back I did today.

I've also been working on this sketch/paint/project I call Underestimated

[Ilahmec]

Lion to Khajit. Does anyone respond to these threads? Meh...

[RandAlThor]

lol, people are looking mate, dont worry about that, just keep posting and when something strikes a chord with someone, they will pipe up and let you know. I like the lion pencil work. keep it coming, and dont forget the anatomy work ;-)

[Aila]

Whoa, shame on me for having forgotten you had an SB here too! *slaps forehead*
Oh well bookmarked now along with my other CA faves

I commented most already I think between dA and ES,and have no critique right now so I'll just leave some words of encouragement instead Keep it up!

[pantless_wanderer]

Some nice concepts. That "Underestimated" piece is my favourite so far. This one is interesting too, although it looks to me like the shading in the creature isn't as good as the shading in the tree trunk. But it kinda reminds me of Dali... or maybe of some of the creatures by Francis Bacon.

Keep posting and do more studies to complement (and help you to get better at) your work from imagination.

[DAVEZILLA]

Lion to Khajit. Does anyone respond to these threads? Meh...

I love it! What a beautiful study. You did the skull, then the skin, then the finished product. I'll have to try that out sometime.

I love your distortions btw!

[Ilahmec]

Thanks for the comments! I haven't worked on any art for a while. I'll fix that today.

RandAlThor: On a completely non-art related response, I recently read that Robert Jordan died last year. I knew that would happen! The family says that he got all the notes down that he needed to finish the series out though. I loved the story line, but there were at least 2 or 3 books of fluff that I could have easily done without. Released next year!

Aila: Hi there! Glad you stopped by.

Pantless: I tried a different kind of shading on the monster in Guardian, but I think you're right. The shading on the tree gives it much more depth and texture.

Davezilla: Thanks! 1st time I've tried that myself... I liked the process.

[hedwordup]

i think your shading needs a bit more depth for example on the lions they are nearly all the same tone i only notice because thats something i struggle with too. sometimes if your being careful not to ruin a drawing you end up spoiling it by not being adventurous enough.


http://www.conceptart.org/forums/sho...d.php?t=120987

[Dr.Johnny Fever]

Good for you man! Just keep it fun and interesting for yourself first. What I'm trying to say is don't bog down your imagination with trying to learn learn learn. I think I may have recently done a little of that, but you are not me. Keep posting.

[Ilahmec]

Worked on this for a while this weekend. Don't know if anyone will be able to see it since the direct link to photobucket isn't working. Anyway. This is definitely not finished, but it's getting there. I'm particularly fond of my axe work.

I already know about the anatomy problems of the giant (arm/eye/body in general), the and the overall lack of definition, but I'd be happy to hear suggestions on improvements. This is my first attempt at watercoloring.

[Maridius]

I'm an older artist too, but not necessarily a wiser one

I love your geography work! That takes a ton of imagination and I'll bet those lessons you teach using them stick in your student's minds far better than the typical dry, old methods.

In looking at watercolor, I had to wonder how the man can keep from falling backwards with the weight of that axe! Does it belong to the giant? You also mentioned in an earlier post that you would start drawing with an eye and work the drawing from there. In the watercolor, I get the impression (and I might be dead wrong) that you began with the idea of a giant flicking a man off a precipice, so started with the large hand, then the man, then the axe and so on. If that's the case I'd probably advise composing all your elements in a thumbnail first, figure out the best place to pose the characters, then go into the full size drawing.

[Ilahmec]

Actually the axe is the man's. The amulet gives him the strength necessary to wield it. You are right, that the illustration started with the flicking idea. I had a rough sketch earlier in this sketchbook of what I wanted to do, but the painting hasn't worked out that way.

I appreciate the advice and will use it!

[Rocul]

The geography piece really caught my eye! That is quite clever!

You're quite a cool teacher

[Ilahmec]

Just started working on a new piece...

Atlantian Homecoming

It's not finished, but you get the idea.

[Maridius]

You can get away with a lot more stretch in his jaw with the amount of teeth he's showing. By stretch I mean multiple horizontal lines extending from nose to chin to show the strain of holding his mouth wide open. Oh and the eye should be a more oval shape since we're seeing slobber boy from the side. He has profile face and a front view eye, if you see what I mean.

[Ilahmec]

You can get away with a lot more stretch in his jaw with the amount of teeth he's showing. By stretch I mean multiple horizontal lines extending from nose to chin to show the strain of holding his mouth wide open. Oh and the eye should be a more oval shape since we're seeing slobber boy from the side. He has profile face and a front view eye, if you see what I mean.

Spot on with both comments. I hadn't finished with the stretching yet, so I'm glad someone agrees with that. The eye looked a lot worse earlier. I originally didn't know he would be looking in the directio he was heading, or for that matter, if he was even going to be a fishy/slobber-boy. I think I can take care of that today. Thanks a lot for your comment!

Clint999, that comment looks just like RandAlThor's comment a month ago...a good point though. I am still working on anatomy.

[silvestri99]

Looks good so far, reat ideas and "starts" of pieces I hope you finish. Keep working on the basics and the ref drawing. It may take time away from the "fun" stuff but it will pay off in the end.

[Ilahmec]

Big update on the atlantis project. First a few sketches and then the update. Still need water tutorials, but the spear turned out nicely.

[Ilahmec]

Worked on the water all day today. Let me know what you think! I still think there needs to be more darkness, though I am afraid of losing definition.

[Ilahmec]

I did this a while back as part of my Continental Creatures series. The earlier ones were with pencil and paper, this one is with my Intuos.

[Ilahmec]

I've been looking throough some figure studies and thought I'd post a few. The ones on top were referenced and the ones on bottom were from me.

[Ilahmec]

More muscle studies