A Curious Sketchbook (Updated 8/16/2011)

[Bel696]

Hey there since I don't have an art class this semester I thought I would start up a sketchbook to keep my skills up. Also to improve on my extreme lack of comprehension of anatomy so advice and critiques are way more than welcomed.
I'll try to update daily with 1 hour studies or concepts.
Tell me what you guys think.

[Bel696]

Oldy sketches.

[Greystorm]

Nice rendering

[Bel696]

Thanks Greystorm. =D

2 hr. study...I''m sooo slowww...

[Bel696]

Here's another small update

Critique and comments would be wonderful

Some ol' sketches:







12 min in posemaniacs:



Portrait while watching Coco...might do a portrait of him later on:



I've also updated a piece of mine some feedback would be awesome:

[Bel696]

This is for a contest held at my school. I decided to go with a more graphic design direction with this piece. The theme had to be something pleasant (it literally said no dark or gothic art, which I am rather familiar with as I often work with that type of subject). Also this piece is intended for donors of the school...so it needs a warm and pleasant feeling.

My concept for this piece is the nature of curiosity. Curiosity often distracts us from important things or events, but through curiosity one can find amazement and wonder through the simplest of things.

I would love a critique as this piece isn't due till about a week or two and would love some feedback on readability, composition, and just generally anything that pops out at you.

Did I do a good job at creating something warm and pleasant? Also the giant sea hawk is there because it's my schools mascot, might get some suck up points for that loll>.>

[Ian Barker]

Hey man, very impressive work! Your anatomy could use plenty of work, but your coloring ability shows a ton of promise.

On the last piece, the landscape looks barren, not very pleasant. Consider adding some plant life. Also everything in this piece is equally detailed, which makes me unsure of what the focal point is; I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be looking at or what the piece is saying. Right now the bird commands the most attention due to its size and overwhelms the girl. If you desaturate the bird it will help bring the girl forward in the piece. Also the butterfly blends right into the background because of how detailed the background is, so I would suggest using broader, lush strokes for the background. Just some thoughts to play with.

[Inishmore]

I'm not all that good with giving critique but I think LIffey has a point. It's a bit overwhelming with all the details. But I do love the colours and concept a whole lot. Cool job on the bird!

[Janos]

The last one is very nice. The Colours are beautiful, but I would try pushing the bg further back with colour perspective. Make it lighter, less saturated, bluer and loose some contrast. And its ready to go.

[Farin]

great use of color and edges

imo you did a very good job doing a pleasant contest entry

looking forward to see more

[sleepykit]

what do you use to create your artwork?
it looks stunning especially your last one! i wish you super luck!

[Royzy]

That piece suits the pleasant theme, it is a really nice image. What is it actually to be used for if it wins? I'm guessing the white banner across the top is for text to go on? I actually think it would make a beautiful book cover. Love the composition.

[Jamie Romoser]

Beautiful beautiful! really dig your style man
have a good one looking forward to seeing more
till next time
-Jamie

[Bel696]

Thanks everyone for the feedback I've applied some of them for this version.
Critique is very welcomed since I still have two more days to work on this.

[Twan]

you're awesome man! you're so inspiring, you have a great creativity!
keep at it

[Twan]

you're awesome man! you're so inspiring, you have a great creativity!
keep at it

[Janos]

Gorgeous Brush work and colours. Th tangent of teh beak and tree kinda bugs me, maybe you can change that!

[Gisaiagami]

Lolllll fantastic. Add to favorite
I love the girl ^^ and composition

[jimmy'z]

the last one is very good..and the others

[Krato]

keep learning and you can has art skillz.

[cesar11]

Your rendering and color use is amazing.

[Sopor+Aeternus]

dude, really nice choice of colours. More!

[Bel696]

First off I'd like to say sorry if I haven't replied or updated in a while busy with school and some commissions.

Liffey: I've put some of your recommendations to the piece. And yea I realize that my anatomy is less on par to my painting skills is there anything you recommend me do? (Been studying some on posemaniacs but I don't think that's significantly teaching me how the skin interacts with the muscles.)

Inishmore and Janos:: Thanks I've put your recommendations to use.

Farin: Thanks.

sleepykit: I use photoshop exclusively...mainly because painter and artrage frustrates me for some reason loll

Royzy: Thanks, the details weren't really specific on what it would be used for but generally for cards and stuff they just wanted student work...with a VERY broad topic....pleasant..ugh>.<lol and thanks for the book cover compliment I always wanted to do book cover illustrations but have yet to be commissioned to.

OmertA: Thanks a lot for the compliment. =D

Twan: You have no idea how much it means to me to hear that.

Janos: Thanks for the advice loll changed it in the last minute before submitting.

Gisaiagami and jimmy'z: Thanks!!!

Krato: But of course I don't expect it to be easily handed to me

cesar11 and Sopor+Aeternus: Colors do seem to be my forte lol

Here are some new stuff been messing with styles tell me what you guys think.
Also I sent that piece with the seahawk and the girl to Expose 8 do you guys think it'll get in??? Also when does someone expect to hear back from them?

[Jamie Romoser]

Awsome update cant say about the Expose 8 i think you have a good chance of getting in though.
keep having fun learning and painting
till next time
-Jamie

[Bel696]

OmertA: Thanks I really want to get in Expose 8 been aiming to be featured in a book for quite some time now...*crosses fingers*

Here's something I've been working on for fun (and to branch out on my style) want some crits and fresh eyes please!

Also does anyone know where to find a pose of a guy getting stabbed by a spear?? Been having with that part in the piece.

[Ian Barker]

Nice updates! Posemaniacs isn't the best way to learn anatomy. Better to study live reference, or if you feel like building from the ground up, Loomis, Vilppu and others have lots to offer.

[Bel696]

I seem to prefer Vilppu more since it seems more gestural with nice flows as opposed to Loomis are there any free ebooks of Vilppu?

[Ian Barker]

Yeah, I agree. You can find several books by Vilppu here: http://www.scribd.com/search?cat=google_ajax&q=vilppu

[Bel696]

Thanks so much for your help =D

[Darkiesoul]

very impressive, i really like the way in how you make for saying it, "colored shadows", don't know the word pretty well, and the way how the drawings are painted really caught the attention