Spaghetti Warehouse (spring cleaning. Moving away to a new thread)

**Meralynn** · February 29th, 2008, 03:02 AM

Hi, Name's Mera/Christine, and I draw too much fantasy bullcrockery. Skip to my last post to see better items, because Older work is OLD.

Since I need to desperately improve, I figure I'll post here and see what's said by others. Thoughts, Critique, and anything loved! I need to be reminded how much work I need to do, hahaa!

I'll probably update this bi-weekly or more frequent.

**Meralynn** · February 29th, 2008, 03:35 AM

Some assorted older items, with newer things below.

I merged the two posts and cleaned it up a little.

**Meralynn** · March 2nd, 2008, 06:30 PM

Some process of a coloring assignment.

Designing a character, and I'm trying to see what color style/design I like the best.

Figure his name is "Oliver" sadly, named after my laptop, which, also, sadly, I DID name.

**Meralynn** · March 2nd, 2008, 06:45 PM

I removed a few of the older sketches as I didn't feel they particularly showcased what I would like advice on.

Would prefer to keep this more recent, and I contemplated cutting it down more, but I figure I'd like any critique you can throw at me based on what I've been doing... obviously, there's a lot more work needed on human anatomy, so any tips/suggestions are still welcome.

**l0stinth0ughts** · March 2nd, 2008, 10:24 PM

hey meralynn, i really like all the fantasy creatures, and i really like your use of imagination on some of the paintings and or drawings. i give you two thumbs up on that, but on some of them some of the proportions of a bit off, i mean, the angle of the object you are drawing doesnt seem to stand out, but im sure you want to show the whole thing. i would like to se some work that you emphasize on pointing out, like making the head bigger and closer to the viewer. i look forward to the new updates and imagination youve got coming, and best of luck

**Meralynn** · March 2nd, 2008, 10:35 PM

Originally Posted by l0stinth0ughts

but on some of them some of the proportions of a bit off, i mean, the angle of the object you are drawing doesnt seem to stand out, but im sure you want to show the whole thing. i would like to se some work that you emphasize on pointing out, like making the head bigger and closer to the viewer.

Ahhh, I agree!
I think one of my lackings in art is highly unique perspective and posture work. I'll try and get some perspective pieces in.

Do you have any suggestions for interesting cropping, because the entire creature surely doesn't NEED to be in every image?

thanks for the input!

**l0stinth0ughts** · March 2nd, 2008, 10:39 PM

hmm... not that i no of, im sorry i cant help you there, but you could try cropping some of the background out and putting the object your trying to show right in the middle, thats all i can say on that. sorry i couldnt be more of help on cropping.

**Meralynn** · March 2nd, 2008, 11:31 PM

Originally Posted by l0stinth0ughts

hmm... not that i no of, im sorry i cant help you there, but you could try cropping some of the background out and putting the object your trying to show right in the middle, thats all i can say on that. sorry i couldnt be more of help on cropping.

It's cool! Thanks anyway

I'll try out some interesting crops and focal points after I get some homework done.

**Meralynn** · March 5th, 2008, 04:41 AM

Two more pieces. One is a character reference done for Digital illustration, and then a villain idea sketch. want to do a few more before tomorrow, but time is pressing :/

**thesadpencil** · March 5th, 2008, 04:52 AM

nice off to a good start. you've got some really good fantasy concepts here. i'd say do a bit more anatomy work, and try to nail all the proportions on both the creatures and the figures. i'd also suggest in your paintings to push your values a little more to help bring out more contrast. other than that keep it up.

**Meralynn** · March 5th, 2008, 04:58 AM

Originally Posted by thesadpencil

i'd also suggest in your paintings to push your values a little more to help bring out more contrast. other than that keep it up.

ahhh, need to do that.

I'll try and overcompensate in the next thing I draw, and see where that puts me.

**Meralynn** · March 6th, 2008, 08:14 PM

A sketch tinted in photoshop of a friend's old character (ah, nostalgia), a couple oil paintings, and a work in process sketch. I probably won't finish that last one of Oliver, simply because it was originally intended to just depict the character's design, (and go on the design sheet as well), but needed more time than I had available, and is therefore rather stagnant. Want to work on dynamics.

Threw in a couple of figure drawings.
I'm trying to move away from line drawings.

In order: 5 minute gestures, 20 min, then a pair of 20 min, 20, and then... long pose. I estimated 50, but I wasn't really on the task. This last one I tested out mixing colors, but lost the anatomy, and therefore, the point. Putting it up as a mental reminder to pay attention to the form more than the technique, aye.

and adding one more 20 min pose. Figure I should get some school stuff up here, too.

**Nadiamoon** · March 7th, 2008, 12:41 AM

Very nice start for the sketchbook! Keep updating!!!!

**Meralynn** · March 8th, 2008, 02:04 AM

Three digital sketches today from sketch trades.

I did a little more to the last one in order to practice a form of digital coloring that mixes lineart with painting... Think I'll try and refine this more. I would have painted the hair but I already went a little above a "sketch"
The hands are seriously bad. I need to draw a whole bunch from reference until I start understanding how they work.

**Meralynn** · March 10th, 2008, 03:53 AM

Progress on a character design sheet for a villain for digital illustration.

I'm still attempting to learn to digitally paint instead of just color in the lines. Exploring the brushes is exciting.

**Meralynn** · March 11th, 2008, 06:12 PM

Gryph suggested that I adjust the leg fabric to give him more movement, which was a great point. Of course... since this is due tomorrow, I sort of did a mix between half-assing the cloth, and also... I don't understand it.

So... I guess that I need to also learn how the mechanics of clothing work. Oh well.

My eyes are killing me, so I'll update later with figure drawings. I can't stare at the computer screen any more.

**fantasyartist** · March 11th, 2008, 06:19 PM

Great stuff here. One thing I noticed is that you make the heads to small in your lifedrawings. You should be more carefull with that. Keep it up!

**starzik** · March 11th, 2008, 06:54 PM

You're getting REALLY good at rendering stuff! Especially on your last post, the textures are beautiful. Your figures are coming along great as well. As for constructive crits - I'd say you need some more help with proportions. Memorizing basic proportions of the figure would help you out alot, I think. Your creatures are perfect. Here are some links to some really good books on anatomy - hopefully they'll help.

http://www.amazon.com/Drawing-Head-F...5275851&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Dynamic-Anatom...5275878&sr=8-1

And, "Figure Drawing for all it's worth" by Andrew Loomis is good - it is out of print but there are a few websites that you can d/l it from for free. Sorry, I don't have the links.

Hope that helps!

**Meralynn** · March 11th, 2008, 09:46 PM

Fantasy artist: Thanks for the tip. My professor actually just mentioned this to me. I've been noticing it, too. I'll attempt overcompensation tomorrow in anatomy and see if that helps. Thanks!

Starzik: Thanks for the links and crit!
I'll certainly look into these

I am lacking severly in good human anatomy books. I have Jack Hamm's animal anatomy book and that one's very helpful since I've started reading it.

Thanks again.

**Meralynn** · March 29th, 2008, 07:48 PM

Okay, I fell off my updating routine. Any time I end up going on a break, I fall behind, then have to play massive catchup for awhile. Apologies for not having too much, because I only photographed the things I liked (which was far less these past two weeks, oddly enough)

Two sketches and a digital painting I'm fond of.

I'm still attempting to figure out anatomy and interesting poses at the same time. I'm not sure what's up with those wings, either.

**Meralynn** · March 29th, 2008, 08:30 PM

And just because, process of a painting.

a color test, and then the lineart and base without any more work done, yet.

**Meralynn** · March 29th, 2008, 10:36 PM

blahblah. I'm working a lot more than usual today.

... maybe this shouldn't count as true production, but I wanted some painting practice, and I've been meaning to draw this as a joke. I wanted to email it to my old professor who swore that the youth of today needs to draw more happy things (ranted far too long) but got busy. awww.

**Meralynn** · March 31st, 2008, 05:43 AM

Proooocesss.

And looks like a couple of dragons, too.

**corza334** · March 31st, 2008, 07:14 AM

Hiya, nice sketchbook! Great concepts - i love the style in some of your earlier dragons. With the dark outline and smooth texturing

**Meralynn** · April 1st, 2008, 07:02 PM

sketches I did on the bus/during the model's breaks. rather messy, and... wonky anatomy, really, but oh well!

more lion riders, and some perspective that I lost interest in around the feet.
I'll probably upload later with figure drawings.

**Meralynn** · April 2nd, 2008, 05:39 PM

wow, I haven't painted anything this big ever.

I wanted to add more detail, but the project is due today (just leaving!) and I was already up until six AM. I have a ways to go, but spotting improvement makes me happy. And my professor told me not to attempt a fence as it would be very hard to pull off. I feel successful.

**Meralynn** · April 2nd, 2008, 06:07 PM

And four figure drawings from yesterday. Toned paper practice.

In line:
20 minutes
40 minutes
60 minutes
40 minutes (could have had a higher contrast.)

**Meralynn** · April 6th, 2008, 04:32 PM

Just a still life Not a great photograph. ANy suggestions for photographing oils?

**Meralynn** · April 13th, 2008, 04:24 AM

I completely forgot I drew this until... about ten minutes ago. Drawn back in July.

Anyway, I mean to still color this some time, even if I don't particularly like some of the things with the girl's figure. Whatever the case, I have a lot to put up here, but I've fallen behind. Expect a larger update sometime in the next week, maybe.

**DragonSnail** · April 13th, 2008, 05:26 AM

Nice SB, lots of pretty stuff.

You got a good sense of colors and a solid base from your study drawings/paintings, but you could still use some practice on anatomy - both human and animals, as some stuff looks a bit off. You seem to have a natural talent for colors and values though, and I love your anthro stuff. Keep it up!