FlameDragon's Sketchbook

[FlameDragon]

Many of you have seen me posting around the forums, but those of you who havent, my art has been pretty unimaginative. It's been like that ever since I became fascinated with anime around '98/'99. Instead of being influenced by anime, I just tried doing what they were doing. In the meantime, I neglected the actual basics and fundamentals of drawing. I'm quite far behind where I should be, so now I am putting my plan of action for improving my art into play. I have a bunch of figure drawing and general art books and resources:

Complete Guide to Figure Drawing by Ryder
Anatomy: Complete Guide for Artists by Sheppard
Goettfried Bammes figure drawing book
The Vilpuu figure drawing manual
The Natural way to Draw by Nicolaides
Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards
Other art theory books as well

And I'm also taking an actual figure drawing course now. I plan to draw every single day things that I see outside and around me, and upload at least one drawing each day. My art at the start is not going to be that great but hopefully I'll start seeing some improvements. My goal is to improve in all aspects, but specifically anatomy, perspective, composition and being able to articulate my ideas from my mind onto paper.

Without further ado, here's a life drawing from today's session:

[FourTonMantis]

I was wondering when you'd come around.

The best way to get better is to draw what you see, and that's a great start. I saw some of your other figure studies and dude, they're not THAT bad.

[FlameDragon]

I was wondering when you'd come around.

The best way to get better is to draw what you see, and that's a great start. I saw some of your other figure studies and dude, they're not THAT bad.

Thanks But yeah I need to improve alot, yesterday I had so much trouble with the gestures. Since I tend to have alot of free time, I think I'm going to sit down for about 3 hours a day and study/draw the anatomy books and do exercises from the Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain book and the Nicolaides book.

[FlameDragon]

Some drawings from today. I was watching the Jim Lee videos on youtube again and he places alot of importance on the rough/gesture sketch, so I was practicing on some. In figure drawing class I do so poorly with the 1 min gestures, I only have like an arm drawn before the poses changes. I think if I practice on these roughs some more, I'll be able to implement it at the class. The drawing is of arm bones from the Anatomy book.

[gkrit]

first pic's great and its good to see u do studies.
of course this stuff can only make u better so keep at it

[JFierce]

Ah I've been there with the drawing anime thing
Its a hard habit to break out of


But it looks like your workin on your studies so just keep drawing


Post more!

[FlameDragon]

Yep, hopefully with all this drawing I'll see improvement soon!

[hmanafi]

Hey Flame,
Don't waste your time by studying multiple figure drawing books at one time.
choose one of them and study it daily and step by step and you will notice your improvement.
Another thing,I think you noticed the difference between drawing from life and drawing from flat photographs.So draw from life as much as you can(after studying your favorite figure drawing book you can apply its approach to your life drawings)
And it's not important to learn all aspects of drawing right now.Focus on the subject you like to draw it.even in figure drawing classes,there is a step by step learning.for example first they learn simple perspective,then drawing simple shapes in perspective,then ... .So when they are learning perspective,they will focus on perspective,no composition,figure,etc.

And thanks for your comment in my sketchbook.

[Rezeroth]

Once my life drawing instructor told me that, you must FEEL the gesture in order to capture it. Just drawing exactly what you see will not be sufficient. Try thinking like why does the arm deform like that when i twist it? Which muscle goes where? understanding and not memorizing is better. Just my opinion though But its great that you have the intention and focus. Try not to compare to others/peers. I know its hard and difficult to do but at least try, that way you'll prolly be able to work with less stress and try to have more fun with drawing then just focusing strictly on improving..

[FlameDragon]

Thanks for the advice guys. I guess I was going all over the place by looking at an anatomy book, then a perspective book, then art theory book. I should focus on one (like the perspective) and then use what I learn to inform my study of the next (anatomy)

[FlameDragon]

The drawing of Glacier I posted in the Critique forum, yesterday I tweaked it a bit

[Rabid]

You are destined for a new and more rewarding (less anime) lifestyle! Can't wait to see your progression! Beat the shit out of yourself if you don't do a sketch a day because that is a great idea and is really going to improve you fast! And if you don't, well I guess I could beat the shit out of you... but it would require payment for the bus fee to go to your home and do so

[FlameDragon]

Yeah! I really wanted to do a sketch every day but then I'll be having to study for finals, plus I'm a bit depressed from a situation. Once finals finish though, I'll be able to do alot more drawings to upload every single day.

[FlameDragon]

Drawing I just did for a friend

[FlameDragon]

Some exercises from Seedling's Concept Art 101

[UriL]

Nice stuff, not so much to give any serious critic, but you seem to be doing great, just keep going, good luck.

[FlameDragon]

Shadow exercise done from Seedling's tutorial

Drawing some bones and muscle from Sheppard's anatomy book

[FlameDragon]

More figures

[FlameDragon]

Another one of the poses I owed

[FlameDragon]

Lots of drawings today. One is a gesture from a photo, the next is drawings from Bridgman, then the next 5 are from life drawing today

[FlameDragon]

More Bridgman sketches

[Emergence]

nice sketches.
i like the gesture of the one on the right.

[FlameDragon]

nice sketches.
i like the gesture of the one on the right.

thanks!

[FlameDragon]

Went to life drawing again today

[FlameDragon]

Just another Bridgman sketch

[arttorney]

Your diligence will pay off. I already think a lot of the stuff from the life class is showing your observational skills developing. We all just need to believe in ourselves enough to do the necessary practicing. There's no magic shortcut.

[FlameDragon]

Your diligence will pay off. I already think a lot of the stuff from the life class is showing your observational skills developing. We all just need to believe in ourselves enough to do the necessary practicing. There's no magic shortcut.

Thanks. I noticed I've been having an easier time with the gestures, though still need to work on it alot more. Still having trouble with the shading in the longer poses.

[Nettle_Mountain]

Good start, you are on the right track with this anatomy course. Now we need more of free sketching without reference, like humans in different poses.
Remember also to draw something that amuses you, no one lives only on bread and water

[Nettle_Mountain]

Good start, you are on the right track with this anatomy course. Now we need more of free sketching without reference, like humans in different poses.
Remember also to draw something that amuses you, no one lives only on bread and water

[FlameDragon]

Good start, you are on the right track with this anatomy course. Now we need more of free sketching without reference, like humans in different poses.
Remember also to draw something that amuses you, no one lives only on bread and water

You mean humans in different poses, like drawing gestures of people outside, or you mean from my mind?