steps in a long journey

[amaranthblossom]

I decided my goal is to either be an illustrator or concept artist, and I need to take a much more serious approach to my art. From here on out everything I post here will have at least half an hour spent on it (except gestures because they're...gestures). I'm going to be doing everything I can to improve. I don't expect constructive criticism, but it would be very nice.


here's an image I did a while back, I referenced the John/Yoko cover of Rolling Stone obviously. Its not my best work, but here's to trying!

[amaranthblossom]

I don't know if I should finish this one....I spent half an hour just sketching it away. but now its like "Do I really want to finish it?" and I can't honestly answer that question.

[amaranthblossom]

this was my attempt at illustration. I was trying to illustrate how immature I felt compared to my boyfriend
I don't quite think it worked though....at least out of context it doesn't make sense.
I was trying for a cartoony Powerpuff Girls/Bryan Lee O'Malley style.

EDIT: the file manager is messing up. I'll upload it later.
Edit2: Apparently something or someones missing a security token. I hate to use photobucket, but here goes :

[amaranthblossom]

A futile attempt at drawing a human face :/

[amaranthblossom]

made with this fancy thing I found in bamboo dock called sumopainter.
Its pretty much my new favorite program

[amaranthblossom]

-yawn- this is the finishing of an all nighter. top off a night of cramming for math final with some art seems like an idea.

[amaranthblossom]

Even though its bad and proves I have absolutely no talent at rendering sand, water, or hair, I like this one because the back story. Its a photo of me when I first started drawing. Literally, the reference photo for this was taken when I drew my first picture in a year. my mom and brother had gone missing and we were staying with the elderly couple who owned the property that they found the car on because police needed us there to identify anything they found. And I was pacing about and being nervous and cranky and irritable (I nearly hit the sheriff) so it turned out that the lady was an artist herself so she gave me a bunch of manilla paper, a package of color pencils, some regular drawing pencils and some pastels and told me to go outside and let it all out I'm probably unnecessarily rambling, but I feel it proves the kindness of some people even though it doesn't belong here.

[qlotzan]

nice start and welcome in CA company
work hard on your art to reach your aim
you have the talent but by do more study your artwork will jamp up LOL

i recommand to do some anatomy study and life study or you can use the left side
of yor brain i meant the imagenation to inspire your ideas

go ahead and keep it up

post more

Qlotzan

[amaranthblossom]

nice start and welcome in CA company
work hard on your art to reach your aim
you have the talent but by do more study your artwork will jamp up LOL

i recommand to do some anatomy study and life study or you can use the left side
of yor brain i meant the imagenation to inspire your ideas

go ahead and keep it up

post more

Qlotzan

thanks! I intend to do a study of at least one part of the body a day and I try to do life studies as much as possible!

[Samszym]

Hey there! I think you should give up the stylized stuff for a little while. You've got to build up a foundation in your mind of how real life looks, then you can do anything you want to it. Keep drawing from observation and life, and try to make what you observe yours so you can draw it all from your head. Studying from Andrew Loomis' books would be a good start. His work's old and out of print, but it's all over the internet. Also, you might want to use this instead of posemaniacs, it uses real people and has an animal option too! Focus more on traditional work than on digital painting, and have fun! I think you should expect and ask for constructive criticism, seems to me like that would be one of the chief reasons for putting your work online. Well, good luck!

[amaranthblossom]

Hey there! I think you should give up the stylized stuff for a little while. You've got to build up a foundation in your mind of how real life looks, then you can do anything you want to it. Keep drawing from observation and life, and try to make what you observe yours so you can draw it all from your head. Studying from Andrew Loomis' books would be a good start. His work's old and out of print, but it's all over the internet. Also, you might want to use this instead of posemaniacs, it uses real people and has an animal option too! Focus more on traditional work than on digital painting, and have fun! I think you should expect and ask for constructive criticism, seems to me like that would be one of the chief reasons for putting your work online. Well, good luck!

Thanks! I actually do quite a few anatomy studies, I just don't post them .__. but I 'll start posting them! But I don't quite intend to stop doing the stylized stuff because it keeps me from getting bored. As much as I love to, drawing hands and noses and skeletons all day can be kind of boring.

[amaranthblossom]

Did some nasal studies I don't quite have shading down yet though...or noses xD

[amaranthblossom]

Here;s something I did to try my hand at concept art. I'm not very good at rendering rocky textures in graphite....or any medium. Any tips?

[amaranthblossom]

another of my daily anatomy studies. Lips this time. I'm not very good at them so I may come back to it in the next few days. I'm actually on a roll here I feel So I may do another study later tonight.

[amaranthblossom]

I feel like I got the hang of ears pretty quickly. They are pretty straightforward.

[Bleo]

Looking great. For your pencil sketches, I'd advice to try different strokes and apply pressures to get tonal values instead of smudging. It would look great and it will help you with your form studies. Different grades of pencils would also help with that if you wish, but standard grade pencil is good enough (: I'll come back for more tips, if possible. Tehe.

By the way, I approve approve approve of your David Tennant avatar and John and Yoko reference. if that is right. YAY

[amaranthblossom]

Looking great. For your pencil sketches, I'd advice to try different strokes and apply pressures to get tonal values instead of smudging. It would look great and it will help you with your form studies. Different grades of pencils would also help with that if you wish, but standard grade pencil is good enough (: I'll come back for more tips, if possible. Tehe.

By the way, I approve approve approve of your David Tennant avatar and John and Yoko reference. if that is right. YAY

-reaches for box of different grades of pencils- I will once I get off my butt Thanks for the tip though! I should start using them.

You are correct! I'm not a Tennant fan myself (Tom Baker FTW) but he's funny.

[amaranthblossom]

Started to do some figure drawing. Plan to do at least one per day along with sketches from life which will be posted later on tonight.

[amaranthblossom]

I face an awful.

[Jonathan C]

Hey amar, Thanks for stopping by my sketchbook. It looks like you're on the right track. A figure study per night is a great idea. If you can, try to do some live figure drawing. Keep it up!

[amaranthblossom]

Came to the realization I suck at drawing head so I'm going to practice that for a few days if my attention span will let me.

[amaranthblossom]

gesture studies. they still feel so stiff.

[Rain Walker]

nice start mate.. good job and keep it up.. if i can give u any advice.. is press harder on ur pencils.. or use darker shades... imagin if there is 10 values from white to black... ur using shades from 1- 4 .. u need more black to make some contrast... otherwise ur drawings will look pale and faded...

keep on practice and u will be great... good luck

[amaranthblossom]

Doodles on the bus to school today

[amaranthblossom]

look! color!
I don't think watercolor is my medium

[amaranthblossom]

however, oil pastel feels nicer. I like this one. I could use a lot of work, but I think Oil pastel is the traditional medium for me.

[amaranthblossom]

I can never seem to draw roses

[amaranthblossom]

Another figure study.
Shading done in prismacolor markers. I'm trying to make it more intense and be less afraid of darker colors and blacks,

[amaranthblossom]

for some reason, I keep painting. Its addicting I tell you.

[amaranthblossom]

Seeing how my stylized is coming along with a bit of fanart.
Clockwork Orange FTW