Lightships Lightbox

[LtPlissken]

Hey buddy, what's up?
I am totally with you about the cant settle the mind on one thing.
I was not able to do anything creative this week and for Christmas.
The beer got my better side, haha.
But I see that you did something, you did some nice traditional
environments. Very nice, you put a lot of heart in it and I like it.
The horse is not bad, you could try to implement drawing it
more than once, you will get even better.
I like how the dragon and the space environment came out,
very cool stuff and imagination.
Overall you did a nice job and a nice update, I do not know
about you but I am very satisfied. And sorry for my late visit.
Wish you and your family a Merry Christmas.

[Jephyr X]

Ahhhhh...you have the artist virus for sure then. Even with life encroaching on every side (Christmas plans, the wife and kids etc) you still have that itch that only art can scratch.



Anyway...Merry Christmas and all the best in 2012!!

[Velocity Kendall]

merry xmas to you too old buddy! all the best, hope youre enjoying a big glass of christmas spirit, see you in the new year for more art and chitchat based good times!

[Black Spot]

You should revisit that boat and push it even if you ruin it. Now with the beach and unicorn, check the negative shapes and keep checking them when you're drawing.

[Rhubix]

Great improvement over these pages
I really like how you've used the tarzan picture to gauge your improvement - and as LtPlissken pointed out - it leaves room for improvement, so some day maybe' you'll post the corrected version ^_^.

In the mean time, here are some pointers I learned that really helped with reference drawings.

1. Mass direction. The natural thing for every brain is to straighten things out. Here you've done that with the head. Everybody does it- you have to fight the urge and measure the angle of things. Here you can see that you've straightened his head, the reference is looking much higher.
Also I think the torso is a little more twisty in the original.
2. When working from reference remember you can measure the negative space as well as the positive space. -for example the gap between the legs will give you a better idea of the relationship the character has to the platform, and the perspective of the platform.
The tryangley shape between torso, arm, and leg, show that you've left too much space so one or more of the relationships has gone askew.
3. Angles. The best thing to compare angles with are vertical and horizontal lines because vertical is always vertical and horizontal is always horizontal. Comparing, say, an arm and a leg leaves room for error on both fronts.
Here I've compared the man's stick in both images, and the neck/arm to give you an idea.
4. Verticals and Horizontals. Because they're always the same they themselves make great references. In the original image, the shoulder, nipple, and where the leg meets the stomach all line up vertically - compare to your own image.
Also the forehead lines up with the knee, yours is much more accurate here.

When using reference you really want to scrounge every resource available to compare to your image. If your foundational drawing is accurate then detailing becomes about 1000 times easier to detail or hatch stuff. If your foundation is rocky then your going to be battling yourself if you start trying to figure out why your details aren't going right.

I really hope this helps ^_^ I know you'll kick that drawing's ass!
Happy sketching

[Lightship69]

Hi all you lovely people!

Thanks for the responses:-

LtPlissken, Jephyr X, Velocity Kendall, Black spot and Rhubix. I thank you all for your support and I hope I will soon produce something of worth for you to look at.

I am now going off to study negative shapes because I'm not sure what that means and also mass direction. Mass direction I think is the innertia of the body during a movement but again I'm not sure so I'm going to look that up too.

The day has never been wasted when you learn something new!!

Thats one of the sayings that I live by, weird but true I heard it or read it somewhere and have lost the reference but remember the words.

thanks again guys see you soon I'm off to my books again.

[Rhubix]

I am now going off to study negative shapes because I'm not sure what that means and also mass direction. Mass direction I think is the innertia of the body during a movement but again I'm not sure so I'm going to look that up too.

Sorry I wasn't clear enough >.<
Negative shapes are the the space around the objects. Most of the time when your drawing a figure you look at the figure itself - but the space around the figure often gives you a lot of information too. It should be easy to find reference for this.
Mass direction is the orientation of the parts- If you think of the head as a simple form it's easier to tell which direction it's facing.
In the #1 blue guys I blocked the figures out as simple shapes. As cubes it's easier to see the direction of either head. . I'm not sure the best reference for this but it's basically a perspective issue.

[Lightship69]

Hi there

I didnt expect you back this quick!!
That is much clearer thanks, I am still going back to the books and see if I can see it in other works and examples, just to make sure I have a mental handle in things.


Thanks loads my mate, happy new year!

[Izene]

Hey man!Happy new years!
And thanks for inspiring me to paint again
Keep up the awesome sketchbook!

[Lightship69]

Hi guys I thought I would give you an update on where I am with this one, the study of Frank Frazettas "carson of Venus"

Ref First:-


Then the sketch:-


Then where we are:-


I am going to do afew of these with differing light sources and cloud covers as a series of ongoing experiments (yep! still reading colour and light by James Gurney) so for those of you that want the monster in it sorry maybe later.

all the best and see you soon

[Diarum]

Is that 2nd one digital? If it is then you should open the original ferzetta picture in photoshop and make an canvas the same size as the original, then do the study so there is no skewing. You can do that by opening the picture in photoshop, then Ctrl+A then open a new document select the one with the same name as the original. Hope that makes sense, keep pushing!

[Lightship69]

Hi Diarum

The second one is a sketch that I copied out of the "icon" book and then scanned into photoshop, it forms or rather it will form the base of all the subsequent light studies that I'm hoping to do. I am using it as the base canvas and then painting everything else on a new layer.
Thanks for the PS tips mate, that was kind of you, Oh and happy new year by the way.

all the best.

[LtPlissken]

Heyho, happy new year buddy!
Hope you and your family had a great time
for the holidays. I see that you have been working
diligently and not like some of us. Way to go.
Frazetta, the good old Frazetta, you are repainting
his works in an admirable fashion, I am proud.
But the monster. He will come later as you said.
And I will wait for the monster to show up on the horizon
pretty soon cause he will eat up this poor guy in the boat,
no matter how fast he paddles. Cheers for staying active
all the time and for bringing the Christmas spirit on us all.

[krysjez]

hi Lightship, happy new year.
It seems a bit like you were rushing through the sketch to get to the digital part.

[Lightship69]

Hi there Krysjez

Happy new year to you too, and i hope its a brilliant one for you as well.

I am always guilty of rushing, my work rate is way too quick! Slowing it down is one of the vary many things that I'm working on.
In my defense however the sketch could be rough if I am going to litteraly paint all over it. There is no point reproducing every little detail in the sketch when all you need are rough shapes and colours as a guide or base for a painting.

all the very best to you and thanks for the visit.

[Jephyr X]

Hiya and Happy new year!

So the Frazetta study is coming along nicely...I really like what you've done with the ocean and sky. Looking forward to seeing mo'.

[Tea of Doom]

Hey Lightship69,

Thought I'd drop by you Skb. I see that you put a lot of heart into your pieces. That's one of the main ingredients for being a good artist, I'm sure you are working on the others.

As far as crits go, I think Rhubix and the other people covered pretty much everything....

Otherwise, keep going.

[Black Spot]

Looking at the abstract shapes around an object, can produce the outline of the object like magic. You can do the same thing with the interior - that shadow - draw it as an object in it's own right, then the next one. It then becomes like a giant jigsaw puzzle all fitting together.

[Lightship69]

Hi Black Spot

Happy new year, darlin and thanks now that you put it like that its rather obvious isnt it!? ha ha ha you can tell I'm a man, cant ask for directions, dont understand very much etc etc.

all the very best to you and Mr BlackSpot

[tronrobot]

good job on these studies my man

[Lightship69]

I said it all in the title really! Its an update but not much of one. In my defense the kids have had a stomach bug thing (two major exits and no waiting allowed, if you get my drift!) and one of my cats got itself hit by a car. Its ok but a bit sore and battered and keeps saying "You should see the other guy !" lying littl bugger ha ha ha.

Hope you are all well and I will try to post something good and extensive soon.

Anyway here is carson of venus with some more detail on him and his boat.


all the best to you guys.

[tronrobot]

hey man, uhm i use the wacom intous 4 i think it is. (the 2nd from the largest) its quite expensive , but im super happy with it. i used to own a graphire 3 and that was okay but this one is way better, i experimented with the nibs they provide and then bought a few packets of the ones i wanted, because they wear out eventually. The cintiq is cool (expensive...zzz.) one advantage of the intous is that after long periods of time ur not so close to the screen like the cintiq, ur not so close up, if u get me. i guess watever fits your needs and budget. but u cant go wrong with the intous hope this helps.

and btw the Frank Frazetta study is coming up really good!

[Lightship69]

Thanks a lot TronRobot, like I said I'm still painting with the mouse yet and really want to have a go with a tablet, and I'm convinced that you only get what you pay for, or in other words dont fart about buy a good one and do it right!
Thanks again for the info mate, much appreciated.

Hi mateys

Here we go another update, I am going at this one slow and steady or a bit at a time depending on how you look at it!!

added more detail on the boat and the waves, but still not overjoyed with the water but its in progress as they say.

firstly where we were so we dont have to scroll backwards and forwards all the damn time.



And then the latest one.



ok there you go tell me what you think.

[Jephyr X]

Heya Palzano!!

YEAH...the boat is looking great!! Slow and steady works for me...can't wait to see more!

*cracks-whip*

[LtPlissken]

Ahoy there mate!
The boat scene is coming along nicely.
I feel proud seeing this painting, you
did a very good job on it so far.
I really admire the dedication
and how you manage to do your
art beside your family. You
are a true hero to me.
Keep on rolling.

[Lightship69]

Lt Plissken its no good denying i!t I'm falling in love with you! but in a butch and manly way of course. I always look forward to your kind words and prose it is music to my eyes mate. ha ha ha ha ha

as to how I manage with the family as well! I dont is the simple answer, some days I paint and draw and on the other days I am to be found in the laundry, or washing out the toilet or scrubbing the floor like cinderella,. It doesnt matter though a little humility is good for the soul as they say, I do find that lots of beer and whiskey helps too though!!

all the very best to you old boy and keep your art alive mate.

[Icecold]

Doing housework is not humility, wel all have and SHOULD bend our backs from time to time. Those who don't know what's hard work are twisted in mind.

Speaking of hard work, you're certainly doint it with that painting.
When you finish almost all stages, try applying some soft light/hard light/ overlay glazez, subtle tho, nothing crazy. It should mix those colors nicely.

See you!

[nelchee]

The old man in the first post looks quite good considering he's from imagination, and your nature studies are fantastic and I can't believe you're bothering to do it with a mouse I presume it's very tiresome.

[Valyavande]

Oh my gosh, did I read it right, you're working with a mouse? That's quite hard! But makes me impressed what you can do with it. The rendering of the Frazetta study is coming along very nicely. But you may try to keep the eye more on the colours. The shadow of the sail isn't that blue, there's much purple, red and kind of stuff. You have that colour too in the foreground waves and in the shadows of the boat. I know, it's very difficult, to get all that colour stuff right. But if you start to bring into your pictures and to see all the differences, it starts to get real fun! So look forward to it
But it's very good that you do a proper pencil sketch first before going on the digital way. I'm sure can learn a lot from it!
And now I'm curious how the guy on the boat will turn out.
I wish you a nice time painting!

[Lightship69]

Thanks guys

I appreciate the encouragement, Yes I am the equivalent of "Dobby the house elf" in the Harry Potter movies ha ha ha ha, only a lot fatter and with the only key to the drinks cabinet LOL!

I'm curious as to why it surprises you that I am using a mouse to do this stuff with, it doesnt bother me at all as I have been doing it that long I cant see a problem with it. I am thinking about taking the plunge and getting a decent tablet though so any information you can put my way would be greatly appreciated.