Andrew (Guru)Gaia's sketchbook

[GuruGaia]

My name is Andrew Gaia and I live in PA. I decided a life without art is not worth living for me. I am just starting out again after a long time so any advice or comments are appreciated.

[GuruGaia]

Here's some more and then all up to date

Thanks everyone.

**advice to myself TAKE YOUR TIME!!!

[Sticky Tack]

hey, I just joined recently so apologies in advance if this reply is all kinds of screwed up.

One thing I noticed is your lines are all really dark and deliberate which to me says either you erased all your sketchy lines or, you didn't do any to begin with and made sure that every line you put down was exactly where you wanted it in the final. I'd recommend doing more sketchy stuff to begin with to get a rough idea of what the entire figure's going to look like - in that first full-body nude that figure looks less like a united body and more of an assemblage of pieces. The pieces are all great, don't get me wrong, and they'd look even better if they were all being more harmonic together, if that makes sense. If you start off with sort of a "blobby" idea of where you're going and keep adding more and more lines to get closer and closer to the image you want, you'll get a more united form.
Also don't be afraid to get scribbly, your lines are very restrained like you're afraid of making a mistake. Remember it's pencil! You can erase it!
Also, your hands are really good, I couldn't find a graceful way to segue that in but I wanted to mention it.

I'll have a sketchbook up within a few days I promise so you can rip me right back if you want (please!)

[GuruGaia]

No your totally right, I draw like every line has to be exact and thus like you said my pieces tend to be like different parts rather then a whole. Which makes sense now that I think about it, I noticed that when I was drawing but couldnt really figure out why it kept happening. My proportions then are all a little off like one long leg and a short arm, super wide hips and so forth. Thanks for the advice, much appreciated.

[Joe824]

watch out for posemaniacs, i found myself getting into some really bad habits when i was using it for reference. the simplicity of their models can lead to some weird looking gesture drawings. also, they don't really describe form in light and shadow, which is the real way to represent structure in the face and body. and yes, take your time! i found the same thing, that when i slow down, instead of limiting myself to a certain timeframe, the observing of each feature sticks in my brain better.

keep at it, i'm excited to see more.

[GuruGaia]

A few other drawings from books or internet images. I am going to go do some life drawings now and get those up next. let me know what you think, There are a few things that jump out to me as being off but I will see if everyone notices the same thing. Once again many thanks in advance for anyone will support or tips on my work.

[Naidy]

Hello there! thanks for stopping by my sketchbook.

I love all the studies you're doing, and I've always had a soft spot for dragons and griffins.
If you still want to do fantasy animals just go do studies on different types of lizards, birds and what not- I've personally always thought horned lizards would make hard core dragons.

And onto the human studies- they're going well definently, I think doing some self portraits and rooting through photos of different people might help right now, you're doing the right things when it comes to learning anatomy so there's not much I can say when it comes to that.

Oh- I will say look at Loomis, you've probably heard of him because he's always popping up in comments- he's brilliant though, faces and hands was a good one by him, and he's done one on figures which I've glanced through recently.

Keep up the good work mate, believe me, the studies will pay off!

[Nubian_Greene]

I think you need to go to basics,and start to study proportion + basic forms and cylinders,looks like you have potential.

[GuruGaia]

Joe824- I have noticed that pose maniacs are good in some sense but very limiting in another. I have been trying to branch out a little more when it comes to human form other then posemaniacs. Actually I'm going back to simple shapes and whatnot I really need a better foundation no matter how much I think I want to be the best right NOWWWWWW! Haha.

Niady- Thanks, I really do love Dragons, griffins and all fantastic creatures like that but I have to do a lot more studies when it comes to animal features as you mentioned. In the past all of my creatures always come out flat or are totally copied and if I want to have my own I have to learn animal anatomy. I purchased an animal for the artist anatomy book so I'm hoping that will give me a little more insight as well into the muscle structure because I only have birds and very shaggy dogs available to draw from life at the moment. Yeah I just started reading some Loomis last night, I think thats a safer bet then jumping right into anatomy with Bridgman because he deals more with simple shapes and what not.

Nubian Greene- I actually made that realization myself too. Its kind of obvious that simplifying my drawing to simple shapes and forms will really help me keep the piece together and accurate. I'm going back to lesson 1 and starting all over I think I really need it before I pick up any bad habits that might become very difficult to overcome later. Thanks for the potential comment

Heres a few more simpler sketches from the last few days. Thanks everyone for words of encouragement and direction as always very appreciated. The grenade kept falling over cause i had it on the board on my lap I tried to make it work but it was amusing, dang grenades always rolling around.

[Fregy]

Thanks for your comment. Glad you like my work. I need to work more on my working habit. Others work is inspiration for me as well. You know what might be helpfull for you? Watch some Scott Robertson's perspective tutorials. It helped me a lot. Hope to see more of your work soon .

[GuruGaia]

Just adding in a few more sketches, I can tell how all the books I have been following are beginning to affect how I draw, its a good thing I have about a million books at the moment because I needem. I've also been drawing lots of basic lines, circles, boxes that sort of thing because I really need to get my basics down. But its just fun to draw from pictures as a little break from such purposeful sketching.

[GuruGaia]

I'm just trying bits of everything, Some are from the internet some are from various books and an apple I did digitally for one of my first digital illustrations ever wooooooo.

[Naidy]

Ah, there's been some improvement since the last time I was here!
Those muscular dogs are looking pretty cool.

Just a little thing, on your chicken dragon- pay more attention to how wings are connected to the back, they're allot like arms and If I'm not mistaken are connected in a similar way. It's body looks good though.

And there's been a huge boost in your people, which is brilliant!

Keep going!

[GuruGaia]

Hey thanks Naidy, I've been trying to practice as much as possible. Thanks for the tips on the chicken/dragon thingy, it does look a bit awkward doesnt it? I will have to do some bird wing/shoulder studies to get a better understanding I guess.

[GuruGaia]

A few from my sketch book. I have been trying to get a lot more knowledge on....everything. So much to learn. Uploads not working for some reason hopefully this one will work.

[GuruGaia]

A couple more

[GuruGaia]

I havent been posting too much but I really dont think theres much worth posting but I figured I would show a little progress so I can get some tips if need be.

[GuruGaia]

More stuff

[GuruGaia]

Some charcoal stuff

[GuruGaia]

A couple more

[GuruGaia]

A bunch of random still life sketches. I really have to take my time and get my construction right before I try rendering but I was focused mostly on shading.

[GuruGaia]

I havent really been posting too frequently and I am intending to change that. I want to show that I really am working hard and am open to as much advice as I can get. I have a few animals that came out of a kids drawing book and some hand/foot studies followed by an anatomy shading practice session.

[GuruGaia]

I decided to take another crack at some photoshop work. This is still in progress but I thought I would share anyways. I had a lot of fun doing this one, it is nice to see myself making some progress. I'll post the full one when I am done, I felt myself starting to rush so I went to another assignment.

[GuruGaia]

Well this is one of the longest work I have done. I cant imagine how people get these things done in like 2 hours and they are much better then mine. Must be that practice stuff. But anyway I think I finished with this for now. I am ready to move on to other things. It really gave me a chance to explore so many different areas so I am very happy with the outcome even if it is not the most amazing thing ever.

[GuruGaia]

I am trying to get out and post a little bit more. The fist one is a constructive anatomy study,then a simple shape still life. I am not to pleased with either one, but must just be one of those days. oh well let me know what you think. I'll keep them coming.

[GuruGaia]

Some facial features.

[GuruGaia]

A skull still life. I am having a difficult time learning the facial construction and I thought that this would help.

[keir150]

prety nice work man id say stick to the basics of life drawing / observational drawing justnow, try to work on scale (draw an apple.. then draw the pencil next to it and the table they stand on..etc) or go to a local book store and draw people reading books and their surroundings.

be carefull how deep your tones go... establish the darkest tone, that could be the hair or a deep cavity (arm pit, belly button etc) then use that as a guage of how dark the tone should be on muscles or tendons... be soft with it.

work on the placement of your facial features.. you have the indevidual peices worked out, now you just have to combine them to make a person look like a person... try using the tone of their cheek bones or chin muscles to line up the key features.

basicaly.... draw every day... draw draw draw.... and learn your anatomy!

then draw some more...

[GuruGaia]

Thanks Keir, I am having a hard time fighting off the noob mistake of forgetting the whole and getting drawn in to specifics. You also hit the nail on the head with my problem with sizing. I am trying to get my work done too quickly and I dont have a good enough eye to just do it without checking my measurements. I'll try the exercises u suggested, it seems to make sense towards improving my errors.

I did another still life of a mug and a flower pot. Then some quick still lives of slightly moving relatives after xmas dinner. My fam was laughing cause they all look evil.

[GuruGaia]

I tried a new approach to a head construction and it came out better then my other ones even though it is still in the very preliminary stages. A pic reference with some slight exaggeration of curves, a weird dragon lizard, and a couple horses. I am trying to kick the habit of only spending one time period on each thing but its not going all that well.