Back to basics of Art

[anjyil]

So here are some exercises from the course. First was a still-life of a box. Actually, it was very fun because I am trying to study perspective for the next unit. The fact that I had a long rectangular box instead of a square one made much more interesting perspectives. I found it quite a challenge to render the shape accurately without the aid of shadows, but I think I did a pretty good job. Some angles were harder than others, that is for sure. The funky line is due to the fact that this box had a lid on, and the box was slightly squished hehe.

The next set of exercises was more string-copy work. The second try on this, I actually didn`t use the string at all. Towards the end I was rushed as my time was almost up (I share a room). Also, the template printout had some lines too faint to print, thus some look unfinished. Even though, according to the paper I was using there were no lines heh

My biggest problem is moving on. I would do those string exercises over and over again, trying to perfect it--even though I don`t care for the method, it won`t be used much longer in the course, and I would probably not use it again unless I had to haha. It is a very exhausting method. My feet hurt by the end, my shoulders are stiff, my eyes are strained....but...It is definately worth it. My eyeballing accuracy is almost the same as my string accuracy, which is a lot of improvement. Especially if you look at the freehand/eyeball eye practice I did before. My accuracy in copying overall has only marginally improved, I think.

[AlexEh]

Keep it up you have been persistent with these sudies which is good. I hope to see more

[anjyil]

Thanks It is the one thing that gives me complete happiness and a sense of accomplishment. i love art in that it is so personal, yet you can actually SEE where you need to improve rather than rely on outside input (though that second or third pair of eyes is always helpful

[iphigen]

really good studies you seem to be really patient. I'd love to see more

[anjyil]

gotorightway123: You are welcome

iphigen-- you will. I am uploading the exercises/homework within a day after I do them. My struggle is that my scanner is at one location 40 mins away, and my drawing takes place at home. Haha. that will change after this weekend. As for patience...um...I don`t think I am very patient. I just don`t realize how much time I am putting into this haha. Thank you, though

[Lotta]

Nice studies ;D
keep trying to find new subjects to study, that would really help you loosen up. Also, do some drawing from life with a pencil. Some good old fashioned still life. It would be nice to see stuff like that or something that is not a study altogether. (I'm just curious)

[anjyil]

Lotta-- Thanks! The box and soon-to-come cylinder exercises are from actual exercises around the house. Right now, lesson 1 focuses on real basic basics and I want to stay consistent with it. After that, I get to go into persepctive!! Woot!! haha. Then I get to play more, I think. If I need a break, I will definately do some still life (though I am very tempted to do some drawings of pictures that I have of some rooms and buildings to work on perspective more )

[Krato]

Draw from references life/online/books.. don't do any imaginative stuff yet unless you use allot of refs, also when coloring something before you even do anything think about your darkest dark and your lightest light, those two are to be used in the extremes. You have allot of mid tones in your pictures.

[anjyil]

Very true--color is a bit of a challenge, but it is not until later in the course for me. Having an experienced artist guide me through tones and colors will probably help alot (I am also very afraid of extremes hehe)

[anjyil]

So I am now moving on beyond lines and circles (though still practicing them) and doing some work in perspective! I haven`t actually gone on to the course exercises. I am just following examples in the book I am reading on perspective. I did these two in coral painter to spare some of the paper. I am running really low and am not sure when I can get more, so I have to be conservative (this is why I don`t like working traditional...that danger of running out )

I started to actually work in detail and had to remind myself that these were supposed to be quick sketches to get a feel for perspective--not finished work. haha.

[Krato]

it doesnt look like your doing perspective right. Look up some examples online of 1,2, and 3 point perspective.

[anjyil]

You are probably right--I just started reading the book and haven`t really gone past the first three examples that it outlines. Unfortunately, "it doesn`t look like your doing perspective right" doesn`t really help me in figuring out what I am doing wrong...Is the horizon on the wrong level? Is the vanishing points skewed? Are the guidelines of the houses conflicting with the main focus of the image? Is the ground level too high or too low?

Well, I am sure I will figure it out as I go into more detail with the book and look at more examples. This is just a start.

[anjyil]

So now I am practicing one point perspective. The books don`t really lay out an exercise program, and some of the ones I am looking at don`t really talk about these things--so I am doing this on my own

The first image is just playing with boxes and trying my hand at the square in the circle thing. - -; That one is really hard.

The second one, I tried to focus mainly on the ground plain (plane? it seems weird to spell it like plane because I think airplanes.)

these are all just quick sketches in photoshop, took me all of 5-10 mins. I used the grid tool to lay out the horizon and vertical line, then turned it off to draw as it seems to interfer with the pen flow.

What is kind of funny is that whenever I walk outside or look around, I try to identify the VP and see the lines that would lead to it, or see if I can find both if I am looking at something like a building. hahaha It think I am becoming a nerd, and I am still too new at this to really be trying to do that I think

[anjyil]

Perspective is definately an interesting read. I have been through various websites, looked at various books and previews of books and have eventually came to some understanding. I will be doing the actual assignments on paper, but this is the practice I have done. And here is what I have learned.

Picture Planes (PP) are literally the canvas or paper you are working on. In learning about horizon and viewing real life, it is the imaginary canvas between artist and image. The horizon line is always at eye level--but the center of vision (CV) is where you are looking! I found that interesting. So, if I am standing and looking down, the horizon will rise up. If I am standing and looking up, the horizon will drop. In several of the books and websites, they referenced various images to explain this. You can usually tell where the artist was in relation to the horizon, regardless of the center of vision. There was one image of an artist sitting and painting, and the horizon cut right through a woman`s head whom was also sitting. It really gives a feel for the painting.
The ground plane (GP) is where the object rests. Where it is standing or sitting.

Parallel lines that recede toward the horizon will always converge at the CV, but parallel lines running perpendicular to the horizon will extend infinitly.

Diagnoal lines, I have found, are very helpful in determining even spacings. They help you locate the midpoint, and thus recreate that midpoint on a horizontal or vertical line (depending on what is appropriate.)

There are upward to about 6 points of perspective. One point is the simplest but not always the most accurate. I have found that when drawing a cube for one point perspective (as will be seen soon) it can be extremely easy to adjust it to a 2 point perspective just by angling one or two lines only slightly. When I was following a photograph of a building, thinkig it was 1 point..I soon realized that it was actually two point, but that the VP was set so far out that the receding of the line was hardly noticable. I believe that a truly 1 point perspective is one in that an object is being viewed pretty much dead on.
3 point perspective is very fun, and can create interesting dynamics. In utilizing the bird`s eye view, the horizon will rise greatly to the point of not even being on the page at times. Worm`s eyeview is just the opposite.

4 point perspective is the famous fish-bowl perspective, where images are distorted as if looking through a mirror. I am really stuck on what, exactly, a 5 point perspective is at is looks almost exactly the same as a 4 point. The difference is that it iutilizes all points--1,2,3, and four. However, when making guidelines to try and draw cubes it looks very much like four point. I would think, however, that when making something spherical like a planet, 5 point is more appropriate than four point. I did an image of a house when looking through one of those corner-view mirrors, thinking it was four point...but as I drew, I realized that there was a central point as indicated from the path to the warped door. Very interesting.
6 point, to me, was much easier to understand. It is literally a 360 degree view of the environment or object. Basically, front and back, or mirror view.

There is a lot about estimating size. If I draw a box that is 6ft, then the lines used to establish it are automatically at 6 feet. Anything built on that line must adhere to that estimation. So if I draw a 5 foot box just behidn it on the same line, that box will not touch the actual guidelines but will be somewhat below. Kind of common sense, but it is important to realize.

I think I am developing a decent understanding of perspective, but I have only read a little. I realize now that the points of perspective are not the only thing that are important to know--just as the hirozon and CV are not the only thing. Perspective is highly complex! But can really create a beautifully dynamic piece!

All sketches are just quick ones, no more than 10-15 minutes as I was learning about laying down--not working on master pieces hehe

For the last image, I actually found a corner-view mirror image of this room and noticed that the path seemed to extend to the central VP on the horizon, making me think that maybe such an image is actually 5 point rather than 4...

[anjyil]

So I decided to do the exercises for the actual course and move on. It was really fun to draw these--I`ve never been able to get this far because I was always uncomfortable with scenary and buildings. Not bad for the inexperienced, but I still have a lot to learn. One thing I learned---don`t use slippery, old computer paper for drawing no matter how tight you are on supplies! wow, the glare was horrible! hahah

Anyways, I tried to leave the guidelines virtually in tact though I doubt it was necessary. These are definately images that I plan to flesh out in the future after we get further into the course. The assignment was to draw 1, 2 and 3 point perspective of something from memory. 4 point was optional, so of course I tried! The image itself I think I saw from a video game or an illustration in some book or something....can`t remember where, but it was fun to do. Since it was supposed to be from memory, I didn`t use a reference. I checked one or two images when I was really stuck on something, like the door...but other than that, from my head like the teacher said.

These are in a sequence..kind of like a story. Walking through an archway-type structure along a path. Approaching the temple/building/whatever. A bird`s eyeview of the building. For 4 point, I tried to imagine it as reflected in...well...an eye. Fish-eye perspective, right? (or was that 5 point hehe). so you can see the tracings of said eye.

[anjyil]

So I loaded up in PSe and reworked this using the grid tools, rulers, and a template for 1 point perspective that I found. I also added shading, wanting the light source to be at the end of the pathway. I know the shading isn`t right. I plan to redo it after I do the unit on shading I realize the spacing isn`t right on some of the pillars...will have to tweak that. Kind of looks like the walker is coming around a corner...and I kind of like that feel. We`ll see.

[anjyil]

Here is a rework of the 2 point perspective assignment. I utilized photoshop tools again: grids and template and a ruler. This one, I think, looks much better than the original. Having the guidelines helped me to visualize some corrections that I needed to make to the image to make certian features stand out a bit better such as the stairway from the door. I will definately be reusing this template to workon shading, grayscale and color as those units come about

[Pigeonkill]

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/att...1&d=1254455333,

Some of the shapes and windows don't really follow the perspective lines. But I understand it was a quicky 15mins.

Great perspective practice keep pounding away. The fish-bowl perspective is the weird and fun one to do. I like how you had the subtle perspective on the clouds on the last one, most people miss that.

[anjyil]

Yeah that one was a toughie. I am going to definately spend more time on perspective and utilize the pictures I took while walking around the neighborhood. It is really hard for me to see things as shapes, but that is probably what will help me. I am excited about perspective because it opens up a whole new world of possibilities

[anjyil]

I just don`t give up, do I?

So I redid that 2nd point yet again, trying to adjust the pillars and stairs mostly. wow...stairs are hard! I also redid 3 point. I really focused on building shapes and 3d cubes this time, then adjusted to make it more like the image in my head. It helped some. I got majorly confused on lines for doing the stairs, mixing up the 2nd point on the horizon and the 3rd point below. It took mea while before I even figured out which one I wanted! haha. So I found some other pictures of houses, buildings, cities, landscapes (I think landscapes are the best for 1 point, for whatever reason). I plan to do some more line art practices of 1-2-3 before I go back and retry the 4. I see how they build off of each other, so I think it will help.

[anjyil]

I found this beautiful picture of mount rainier on deviantart.com---http://marcadamus.deviantart.com/art/Magic-Mountain-58688914

Anyway, I decided to try recreating it utilizing the one point template. Here is the lineart and the greyscale version. I have yet to read on greyscale--technically, I am not supposed to worry about that yet in the course. But I found that without trying it, there wasn`t much depth with the lines. Even with the greyscaling, I think it doesn`t have nearly as much depth as it could. I tried going over the farther parts with a very low-opacity eraser (like a kneady-eraser effect) because I thought the dark colors were too strong. Don`t know if it helped or not.

I kept think thinking about if 1 point was appropriate placement. I tried to imagine two point perspective, but it didn`t seem right. There wasn`t anything that was really oblique to the viewer. So I think I made the right choice for template. When I converted the original picture to greyscale, I found it all even-toned, with a lot of the greys mixing together. Ah well.

[anjyil]

Okay...so first I want to apologize. It was one of those days and I just became very very depressed. But I also wanted to practice. So, the result was this image: Did You See Here?

It is 2 AM in the morning here and I should have gone to bed, but once I started I knew that I would never be able to finish this one because I would never be in the right mood for it. So here it is. I utilized the 2 point grid on this one, and I did hunt down a picture of a lamppost. I honestly don`t know what I was going for--just an emotional thing. I do feel better after drawing this picture, so that is good That is why I love art--it is a great way to let go of emotions. I haven`t gotten into anatomy yet, but I did try to utilize perspective and boxes on the shadows layout and the girl as well. I still have all the layers, so if you want the uncolored just to see it that is fine.

Oh, and I was listening to all the depressing songs while doing this to haha. Linkin Park, Some Alanis, A bit of Gackt, etc.

[nevermindjoker]

are you an emo?

[Gokce]

The last one's perspective looks a little warped but the previous ones are pretty good. For digital painting, you could maybe use harder brushes on the edges of objects. This sketchbook will grow to be inspiring hopefully

[anjyil]

nevermindjoker---umm....no. I am a person and people get depressed for various reasons.

Gokce--yes, the main thing that someone pointed out to me in another sketchbook was that the lamppost was on the wrong perspective. It probably throws hole image off, so I will have to fix that. Also, I noticed the girl is too big for the size of the rest of the images in the picture...

[p sage]

Here's a secret.

"Basics of Art" is all there is

Seriously. Everyone studies basics. Even the professionals study the basics continually. There are only basics. Everything in art and drawing comes from basic tools.

Vilppu says there are only a certain number of marks you can make, and only two of them are found in nature. The arc (curved line) and the point.

Everything else about art comes as a result of understanding what it is you're drawing.

I would pick one thing and concentrate on it for a bit, and not get distracted. There are a lot of helpful voices; just decide which direction to go and go with it. I see you're doing perspective ATM. Well that's all well and fine, but you won't be any closer to making great drawings by knowing it. It's just a tool. It's like saying you're closer to becoming a master craftsman by mastering the hammer.

Learn enough to use the tools (like line/volume/perspective) and then learn to observe these things in nature.

[Metal Fingers]

I second every single statement here that has been made about drawing from life. Perspective grids and fancy shading can only get you so far without having a decent handle on life drawing. Line weight to emphasize form and shape, etc... just draw draw draw anything and everything you see, you will notice the difference when you go back to apply it to your digi works. Are you using a pressure sensitive tablet? I'd suggest turning on the pressure sensitivity functions on your brushes so you can start working witih line weight in photoshop. Most importantly, just keep drawing. Cheers.

[anjyil]

Thanks, P-Sage. I do agree with you. I was struck one day while I was walking, when I realized everything in nature is very...well, for lack of a better word, curvy. all man-made structures are very stiff. I am under a mentor who has a setup very class-like, and I am following that curriculum. It is work at your own pace and I choose to focus more on the perspective at the moment because of several reasons. The biggest one is that I have always avoided backgrounds and scenary because I was uncomfortable with it. You are right that it is just a tool, but I have seen how it connects to other aspects of art in such a way that it can really impact a piece and how well it is presented.

Metal fingers-- I think there should be a fair balance between drawing from life and drawing from the mind, as well as utilizing tools and so forth. I wouldn`t call shading fancy (especially not mine! I try it, but I am not focusing on that yet). Learning to draw, to me, is like learning anything else. You need a structure to build a foundation and from the foundation you can go forward. Doing anything and drawing everything without a set course ends up putting someone all over the map, and it is often very difficult to know where to start. Following this course, I am already seeing differences in my approach to drawing as well as my actual technique. It may seem small to most people, but it is big to me. I do have a pressure sensitivity on my tablet and I have turned on the pressure functions as best I can (I am still trying to figure out what does what as the titles and everything are in Japanese...;P)

[anjyil]

So tomorrow I get to go window shopping with my sister in law and get some new sketchbooks (and new 2h/hb and F pencils as mine are about the size of my pinky finger now ) To celebrate, I did this sketch of my room that I share with my husband. Yes, it is that small! I kept most of it one 1 point perspective. There is something wrong with the desk near the back leg, probably the position and how it falls on the lines. The corkboard on the far right is actually at an angle that points higher than the original VP, so I gave it it`s own. The lamp-head is tilted up, so it got it`s own point as well. It was really tough figuring out where to place the VP and get the lines right so that I could draw what I was seeing. I did a lot of erasing and adjusting of the lines and VP and boxes and squares before I started actually rendering the shapes.

[nevermindjoker]

I have checked the perspective on your last picture and they all lined up except for the base of the table, and i do noticed the crooked picture on the right side wall which i guess it was intended to be crooked though it doesn't follow your perspective. if you don't mind PO of your picture which i guess it will more describe what i am saying. hope it helps...cheers! glad to know you're not an emo ^_^"