Random marks

[Asatira]

I decided to start a new sketchbook since the old one had developed some mental baggage. Time to start fresh.

To begin with, here are some sketches I picked out from ones I had done over the last couple of weeks.

Bridgman hand studies


Vilppu circle exercise and gesture studies.



1min gestures

[Asatira]

Some recent gestures, the first two from the zoo playground, the rest from Pose Maniacs.



These are sketches of a character of mine, a kitsune, that I'm using for another try at the Art Grind (draw a character everyday from June 1 to November 30; yeah, I'm trying to catch up). Proof I need to get back to my anatomy studies and somehow get a consistent design for her.


I think my biggest problem is while I can do gestures, no problem, I have a harder time getting myself to do longer practice and studies. I have list of exercises/subjects that I will get myself to follow so I can work on developing my skills and my mental library. This includes still lifes, drapery studies, and anatomy studies. Mainly, this means drawing more from around me so the stuff I draw from my head will look better.

[Asatira]

Yesterday's gestures, today's studies of Bridgman, and a marker image.

[Asatira]

Just today's gestures and Bridgman studies.

[Asatira]

Repeat of yesterday.

[Asatira]

[DeeStar]

i like the last set of bridgeman studies on your third post (hope I got that right), the legs seem a little short on the last image on latest update, but you do have some lovely flowing lines!

[Asatira]

DeeStar: Thanks for dropping by. I am glad most of my lines are sweeping, which is good. Bridgman and Vilppu both have great lines, and trying to get that while drawing more slowly is tricky. I do agree that the legs tend to be short; I am working to overcome distortions that I tend to slip in. It may be how I hold the paper or personal "preference", but I swear I either make the upper body too wide or the lower body.

Some older Bridgman studies that I had not scanned, plus yesterday's studies. I am trying to get myself to branch out into the rest of my planned routine and draw more kinds of studies and observations. These are drawings from an issue of TV Guide. A quirk of mine is, when doing body studies, I draw blank faces. Not a priority in these kinds of studies.

[Asatira]

Today's Bridgman studies.

[Asatira]

Very quiet the last week or so. Pretty much Bridgman studies.

[Asatira]

Continuing the Bridgman hand studies. I need to take some time to get to other things. But, it's been a busy week and not much time to set aside. I'm supposed to be reviewing for a state exam for an ecological scientist position; review of basic biology kind of stuff.

[Ater]

Very nice, My girlfriend was using the same book for her classes so I'm going to steal it when shes through with it. I like your hand sketches. But overall the sketches are pretty good.

[Asatira]

Ater: Yes, the book is turning out to be useful. Got to be sure to read it as well as to do the studies. Thanks for stopping by.

More Bridgman studies. Still doing the hands, but decided I needed to pick up the pace a bit and started doing studies earlier in the book (it's the big collected one) and start working on the torsos. Hopefully, I'll get to ref'd drawings again and see if I can apply some of the things he talks about. Also, poorly done fox drawings.

[Asatira]

I had so many problems with my scanner to get these up. I need to get a new one at some point.

[Mat Kaminski]

That Bridgman seems to really be taking a liking to you huh

[Asatira]

Matte Art: yeah, he kinda has. I really like doing them. I just need to see about applying what I'm learning to actual figures.

I was a bit lax this week. Little to no studies this time. I did go over to the area cultural park to do some sketches, but I didn't scan them until today. (I'd actually misplaced my sketchbook). Including a page of quick studies of some art pieces at the museum.

[Asatira]

Had the DVD of Cirque du Soleil's Alegria, decided to go through some performances to get some gestures and to jot down sketch notes about the costumes I liked. I mentally refer to the last page as "Proof the body can bend that far, but it really shouldn't".

[Asatira]

Taking advantage of waiting room time and not wanting to listen to the talking heads on the so-called news channel.

[jackpot_anjr90]

Nice Bridgman studies man! Keep up what you're doing and you're really gonna improve, you've got some good work here!

[laxon]

Very extensive studies! I congradulate you on your patience. You are getting very good with anatomy.

[Asatira]

Iaxon, jackpot_anjr90: Thanks for dropping by and the encouragement.

Geeze, a month. I did draw a little bit. I did a page of Bridgman torsos, and a couple pen sketches of the little girl character I have floating around in my head. I would like to develop her and the robot that goes with, hopefully to use in a story. Trying to peg a look for her (and she needs a name).

[Asatira]

Drawings done while at Dragon*Con this year. The first set are life drawings done while at the meet-up with fellow CA.org forum artists. It was a fun experience, and the first time I've done life drawing in, man, I don't remember when. guggenmanuever was very nice in providing us a really nice model.

First two are 2 min. gestures, followed with a 20 min long pose (focused on construction) and then attempts at studies of hands arms during another long pose.



I also entered the quick sketch comics challenge. 30 minutes to draw either a one page sequential or a nice image. Couldn't pick one story for a sequential, so I did a picture. While I didn't win, I was commended by one of the judges for trying to tell a story within my image.

[Kuidf^!]

very nice drawings the bridgeman studies are very clean and crisp, not scrufy, unlike me nice work keep it up

[.empyrean.]

Well done! Tons of body studies are good. Hand studies are impressive!
Keep it coming, man!

What do you prefer, quality or quantity sketches for improving skills?

Greetings Max

[Asatira]

kuidf^!: Thanks.

.empyrean.: Thanks. As I've said, I need to start applying it to actual hands, either IRL or photos. To answer your question, I'd prefer high quantity of high quality. No reason not to put your best into a picture, that'll be the only way you can improve.

Today, so far: Bridgman again.

[LostFayth]

Wow! You've come a long way since the first time I met you on ca.org (Mentoring thread with Wrenatus). Kudos for your effort and the bridgman sketches are coming out really nice. Good job! Keep it up

[Asatira]

LostFayth: Thank you.

Um, mixed bag of Bridgman and other stuff from my head that's fanart and studies for a comic I'm working on.

[Asatira]

Today's sketches, ref'd from a series Sears ads. Trying to get back into drawing from ref to learn the figure, especially clothed figure. Very messy, as it's meant to be right now.

[Asatira]

Not much going on. A few sketches from a Sears ad, and then a bunch of eye studies. Aside from the first page of eyes (ref'd from a mag), the rest are studies of other artists; Bridgman, Leveille, Peck, and Robert Barrett. I was just in the mood to work on eyes, so next update may have more eye studies.

[Asatira]

Pen sketches of my home's backyard patio area wall-ish area... And more advertisement sketches. I think I'm starting to hit a wall again or something. I really think I need to both stretch my reference materials (for quick sketches and overall research) and the time I spend on them. May explore other media a little.