Josh Murr's Sketch Book...

[JoshMurr]

Hey hey!

I'm new to this forum, so I thought a sketchbook would be a good way to introduce myself.

My name is Josh Murr I am from Essex in England; I'm 17 and I am going into my second year at 6th form in September where I'm doing an Art A-Level (among others).

I've always wanted to put some of my stuff up for critiquing but have always been intimidated by the incredible stuff on these sites. But I thought now was a good time - you all seem friendly. So here's some drawings!

Any critiques, comments, ideas, compliments, insults, heckles, money, proposals or whatever will be very much appreciated.

[Just edited this to change the tumbnail image... So some drawings got lost. Sorry.]

Peace.
Josh.

[JoshMurr]

Here's a few paintings all from life.

I only really use graphite and paints (mainly oils now). I will learn how to use photoshop one day...

The top two are done in oil paints, the next two are poster paint... Eeurgh. But I actually quite like the way they turned out. You can layer quickly with poster paint but they are just so thin and cheap and horrible.

And the bottom is acrylic.

[Mike.R]

great start good to see the bridgman studies. To really get a lot out of bridgman you really need to go through one body part at a time and understand them fully and build upon them. Paintings look great but i noticed some halos around sections in the portrait where the canvas shows through. you're Just a little to timid with the paint, I think. work into the paint you've already laid on the canvas or/and some sort of under painting scrubbed in with turpentine will make these halos less noticeable. But mostly working your paint into one another and working background to foreground will alleviate most of your problems. when I say work your paint into one nother I just mean overlay your brushstrokes, not necessarily blend them together, thought that might have been unclear. Overall light years ahead of most people your age for sure great start and keep at it. =D

[JoshMurr]

Hey Mike.R thanks for the feedback. I definitely have a lot to learn with painting. I have started to be more relaxed with it and looser with colours, but yeah, I gotta move on from this 'painting-by-numbers' style where each colour has it's area. Hopefully put some new ones up soon.

Got infront of the mirror today.
Looking at them now, the poses are very camp? At least it's practice ey..

[Konstruktion]

Really great start. This dude is just rockin and your sp is nice.

[Peetaer]

Welcome Josh! I'd say you're off to a great start! Let's see more.

[JoshMurr]

Yo thanks Konstruktion and Peetear!

I spent like 7 hours on my arse doing this yesterday. It probably shouldn't have taken that long but I was getting quicker towards the end..
Most are off this website. 93 by my count!

[Marian Rowling]

Hey Josh. Thanks for visiting my SB. Have to say I really like your paintings. You are off to a good start for your age. Its going to be fun watching you develop. Glad to see your hitting the Bridgman studies as well and the 93 hands look good.

[JoshMurr]

First, thanks for checking out my sketchbook Marian .

Ok I got my hands on a camera so here's a bunch of crap from the last few days.

First is a few Bridgman copies. I wasn't going to put them up, but I thought they might be useful to somebody. Even though they are readily available.

I've really been struggling with a self portrait the last few days, scrubbing out the same canvas about 3 or 4 times. So I did a bunch of quick, line self portraits to try and warm up a bit. I also dug out that skull/face overlay thing I copied out of a book a while ago. Then I did the portrait at the bottom. It looks nothing like me... But it was the one I felt the best about, so please, any critiques would be appreciated. I need to improve my painting.

There's also some ink copies out of a Moebius (Jean Giraud) book I have. And I watched Akira the other day so I did a quick sketch of Kaneda!

ALSO! Cos I have no idea about photographing my stuff, nor a fancy camera. Does any one know any good, easy to use editiing software. Ive been using IrfanView which I like -but is there anything better?

Rahhhspect. Josh.

[JoshMurr]

Some stuff from today. The feet are too small on the first one me thinks.

Creatures aren't my strong point...

And an acrylic painting from quite a while ago.

[Marian Rowling]

Hey Josh you've been working hard. All your drawings look really good to me and I like the pen and ink work as well. To my novice eyes the portrait painting looks a bit squashed from the eyes up to the top of the head. Don't know if that helps. I love the hand painting, looks really good. I like your style. Keep up the good work.

[JoshMurr]

Hey thanks for checking back again Marian. Yeah, you are certainly right. The eye's are too wide as well... Only noticed fairly late into the painting and I was too lazy to try and sort it out. There'll be more!

This is all I could muster today after 2 late very nights round a mates... Some more portraits; think I got a likeness in these.

[Dr.Blindsy]

These studies show inspiration AND great technique. Your painting may need to be firmed up a bit, but you're still off to a great start

By the way, that hand study up there... that is HUUUUUUGE. I think drawing that many hands in one go would probably burn my eyes out. Thank you for sharing!

[JoshMurr]

Thanks a lot Dr.Blindsy, motivating comment right there

It's been a while since I've done a fully rendered drawing. So here's one of a kid...

Babies are funny. But that arm is too long. Damnit! Why do I notice now?

[anthonystephen89]

Great sketchbook man. I'm new here as well, so I don't really have anything up, but I loved your texture page up there and the toning on the fist was great.

[Smashed_Pumpkin]

Heh very cool sketchbook, it's looking great. I love your page of hands, there's something fantastically appealing about seeing a collection of hands like that. Keep up the good work.

[FiftyFortunes]

Why are all you Europeans so good . Way better than I was starting off last year. Maybe a little contrast would define your images better. If you're interested in joining a sketchgroup pm me

[JoshMurr]

Hey thank you anthonystephen89, Smashed_Pumpkin and Valve for the nice words I appreciate it! And valve, I've noticed that myself recently I definitely think about contrast more. And also, a sketchgroup sounds good but, what exactly is a sketchgroup...? Ha sorry.

Any way here's stuff from yesterday. I should have some more stuff to put up later today.

[Eiki]

WOAH!

I think the word "solid" must be defined in this thread. Great quality in your work. I love your hand study sheet

[laxon]

Some great anatomy studies! Doing well

[JoshMurr]

Thanks a lot Eiki and laxon! Mmm motivation

Here's what I did today. I wanted to do more but I had a heavy night last night and didn't get up till 1 o'clock this afternoon. HA!

Looking at foreshortening using a mirror.

And then this is a little Facebook event picture for me and my boy Warren's 18th Birthday Pub Crawl. Was just gonna be a quickie but I got into it and I'm gonna colour it too. Thinking photoshop but it pissed me off earlier so I may turn to paints... I dunno! I'll post updates. (I'm on the left by the way).

Peace and Love ya'll. Peace and Love.

[JoshMurr]

Been slacking the last couple days, haven't done as much as I would have liked. But this is what I have done since the last post.

Few more foreshortening studies.
A quick self portrait.
And a few oil painting sketches. I think I need to do more pencils studies, firm up my ability to hit values right. But these were fun any way - painting on greaseproof paper is nice.

One love ya'll. One love.

[radu-jm]

Really cool sketches!
Your anatomical studies are amazing!

[laxon]

You are welcome, and the oil sketches are pretty nice there! Try using a cooler colour for the bg when you have warm objects on it. Will pop them out more.

[JoshMurr]

Thanks radu-jm, George Bridgman is the man. Check him our if you haven't already. And thank you laxon, I took your advice into consideration today and my oil sketch looked way better! I'll put in up tomorrow when I can photograph in natural light.

Here's todays dump. First a few monk concepts from a while ago.

Then some arms using a mirror. A doodle demonstrating that I would very much like a car (in a way).

Then a doodle cos that's what I am wearing to a fancy dress tomorrow...

Then a piece I'm struggling through... Basically I played Golden Axe today, remembered how much I like it and so drew this. I used the game box as reference and a posemaniacs pose for the girl (which is really doing my nut in). Sorry for the bad quality, but crits would be appreciated.

Oh and the final of the flyer thing for my 18th. My very first photoshop coloured piece! Ha ha Photoshop will be the death of me.


Man I want a car.
Love.

[mike butkus]

Very good sketches!

[Demon Lizardman]

Your sketches are pretty good, but you still may want to work on your anatomy a bit, other than that, good job.

[jNeumann]

Hey Josh,
You're stuff is looking good man. Nice work with the foreshortening. And the photoshop'd flyer looks pretty good, will look even better when it's finished. Keep at it!

[JoshMurr]

Thanks a lotfor stopping by mike butkus, you're work is amazing man.
And same to Demon Lizardman, you're right I have a lot to learn on that front. And also jNeumann! I was gonna leave that flyer there actually... but now you mention it, I may continue with it.

Here's the oil painting sketch from yesterday. These are really fun and are helping me get a feel for oils.

And some Bridgman studies I did at 3am...

[JoshMurr]

Hello

Here's some more of todays drawings.

Wasn't gonna put this up.. But I used one of the hands for a big ol' "painting" for my room. It's nothing special; super simple. Shame I can't do a huge canvas like that justice.

Love.