Abstractlands by takashmen

[Hans Mothander]

Good job! Keep it up!

Enjoyed this one: http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/6889/zb2p.jpg

[ranunkel]

I find your sketchbook very inspiring. I like #83 ! I like the texture!

[takashmen]

Hans and raunkel thanks a lot for kind words and feedback

like i said anatomy studies on the way:

topic volume and landmarks (hampton book)





and speed paint about 1,5h
Robin Hood

[Darjan Jurincic]

Hi, here`s my two cents:
I think the major issue are your brush strokes. It seems you use large ones and then switch to very small ones, to add detail, sort of. But you don`t have those steps in between. Try use several sizes so you can break down those large masses and add detail where needed. That`s how you`ll achieve depth in your pictures. Your studies are pretty good and THERE you are using this kind of approach. And, most of all, don`t rush things. It`s ok to do speed paintings, but even there you have to think about the economy of your strokes > where and how to put them.
Cheers,
D

[cloudcan]

wow! nice figure-volume studies!I like the screencap study as well. I'd like to see some tightly-rendered pieces once in a while too

Edit* not a screencap!? sorry xD well done!

[Partisan]

nothing muchg to crit sorry ^^ but youre on your way just keep up and practice, but I wanted to thank you for your nice comments in my SB !

so long
Seb

[arestinnia]

Cool, I really like the concepts you posted on the first page. They have a glassy look to them, but I like that.

[jonafunart]

I'm really impressed with the environments.

[takashmen]

Darjan Jurincic thanks a lot, i will remember about that
arestinnia, jonafunart nice you like them
Partisan thanks for feedback, motivation is even better than crit
cloudcan thanks mate!

two more padges of volume studies (they all are A3)





to the Robin Hood speed paint
it wasn't screen cap

some steps as backup



also page of doodles


and 3 landscapes line-works, i will proceed them in PS



started playing round some characters

hot chicazzzzz





also a while ago done oil on cartoon face



WIP od scene i'm currently working on



uff, finished

[Cachette]

Hi, thanks for the nice comment in my sketchbook, I'll definitely check those books out
The only criticism I could give on yours is maybe try to use harder edges, or use a lower opacity or something. Your work seems kind of fuzzy now, and although it looks really nice in some pictures, in others it's kind of distracting

[Xelar]

Some very neat designs and composition here I have to say
But PLEASE ditch the smudge tool. It destroys edges completely and the makes everything sooooo flat. Also, you tend to use too much saturation, dont be afraid to use greys.

[takashmen]

Cachette thanks men
if you're talking about the last piece i will finally end up with hard edges

Xelar thanks for feedback,

i see your point about smudge tool, but i'm sure that there is the way to not destroy edges and i will find it

alright i will use more faded colors in next piece

[jimmyswang]

love your style bro!

[Kapri]

Very cool that you're reading Hampton. Maybe use a longer lines a little more?

The two hot chicaz nicely convey their emotions. But indeed, maybe use some more hard lines and also add a little more detail to the area that you want to be the focal point?

[takashmen]

jimmyswang thanks, but the thing is i don't (love my let's call it style )

Kapri thanks for a visit

i will remember about lines

and about hard edges as well as details in next chickaz

and here is little update

two watercolors
figure


and girls playing i rain
i failed, but will try do it once again


film frame study (messed the face and hands area)


and finished throne hall piece
if you have any crits to any of works please write them

every thoughts are important for me

[cloudcan]

the first thing I noticed is your new sb cover!! lol I love it love the other 'chicazz' too, you have improved so much at charas D:
cool sketches and watercolors, love your chaotic style as always.
on the throne hall piece, I like how big and imposing the 'queen' is on the other side, some details are way too vague for me, but thats just my personal preference lol. overall great job

[takashmen]

cloudcan thanks, i'm trying to limit the chaos, but i have long way to go.....

and the problem with details in throne hall is i don't really know how to push details further

can you do over for me, and show what you mean?

and hear's some watercolors

i posted them chronologically

second attempt to girls in the rain
(changed way of painting)


graveyard (same technique as in girls but used masking film, cause of amount of details.
also added Ox Gall into water)


two still lives




the last one is the worst
i still have problem with mixing color, but i guess i need practice to find the best way

any C&C always welcome

cheers.

[tokotewhero]

hey man, personally i Love saturation! a lot of ppl start off really scared of colour and so tend to have under saturated images. I really like it how your jumping straight in! also all your experimentation rocks. with the throne i feel its lacking a defined light source, which in turn makes it hard to define subject matter, and takes away from the mood/story which you are wanting to tell. i think some clearly defined cast shadows would be cool in this image.
keep it up!

[takashmen]

tokotewhero honestly i love saturation too!

thank a lot for the input on throne hall, i will work on it more

and here's little update
another drawing

started from rough sketch


still life that i won't finish cause i'm moving out this thursday...

done by night






and finished one about 1,5-2h

[towy]

interesting work

[Ricardo Robles]

hey Takashmen, nice works! you are developing an interesting style with the smudge tool use, but maybe you could consider use it only in some areas, just to preserve the detail and the definition. I think some of your works definitely need more definition in the interest areas.
Regarding the watercolors, it looks good but maybe you could use some tips, here I go:
-draw with pencil and then get the paper wet with a big brush. wait till the paper surface isn´t shining with the water effect; the paper has already absorbed the water, but isn´t completely dry.
-If the subject has 3 basic colors i. e., prepare the pigment already mixed with water in a dish or a palette,(3 separated colors, so you don´t have to mix it later) I usually prepare it with a high pigment density, so you always can dissolve it and make it lighter adding water to the mix. Paint. Try in a little piece of paper before paint in the original, if you want to get sure you are getting the correct water/pigment amount.
-When you mix colors, you can do whatever you want. But its important to maintain the same water and pigment amount in the brush than in the paper. If you put more water amount, the water will invade the other colored surface and somehow it will drag it away, resulting on that ugly stains. In the other hand, you can take profit on that stains to create nice effects, once you control them

hope it helps you, you are doing nice

[takashmen]

thanks for tips Ricardo!

small update, not much time for painting/drawing

gray scale of previous drawing (any crits?)

[takashmen]

alright

progress over the last one
oil on panel


processed in PS



also i did some doodles
charcoal and pastel on cartoon


and marker faces

[cloudcan]

i like the ideas in these! but watch out for the guy's anatomy in the oil. if he's not supposed to be a normal human, then make it evident that it was on purpose. Marker faces aren't as good as your other ones, I would try only using one type of stroke (straight/blocky, organic, scratchy, etc) right now the forms aren't very clear. Really liking your charcoal / pastels! also may I humbly suggest doing some strictly neat and dry exercises. Chaotic can be great but right now the chaotic is leaning towards 'so messy you can't really tell what the forms -are-' that's fine if thats your style but it's good to show you can also do the other end of the spectrum

[obier]

Nice messy style of sketching - the way i like it

[takashmen]

Back in da game

welcome after month absence

studies has eaten all my free time, but it doesn't mean i didn't work

first of all i'd like to share works made for my studies with you

sooo here it goes:
concept of place of meditation



some buildings



some composition tasks





and in the end the most abstract of it all

composition of initials

my first attempt
i thought that i will tell the story with them




but it was wrong way to do it
those are my second attempt




corrected after lecturer comments


when he saw this one he said
no, no, no, don't like it, this composition needs to have rules, you need to determine every single direction, you must to define black and white patches, and you can't cut letter so harmful

and i was like "WTF?! and still i don't know what to do...

those two below are made concerning rules he was talking about




will see whether i'll finally suit his ideas if this composition

next thing is: improvement in sketching

after two classes of drawing i adapt philosophy of my teacher into my making pictures like he describe drawings we all do here
i have to be an architect not an artist and so on...

this is how i draw before starting classes with him
random sketches


started storyboard


in second one i totally messed proportions and i think i will redraw it

things started changing slightly after first classes





and this is present situation






board showing the change


and at least bunch of digitals

fatty based on the orange work made by n1frit from this post
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/sho...&postcount=241


the below five pics based on works from here
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/sho...&postcount=568
so overed overs by Velocity Kendall


my favourite "Herr General"








three still lives






and some imaginary stuff







UFF, made that

more works soon
stay tuned
t.

[Ricardo Robles]

Very nice works lately!! that one is great! keep sharing!

[cloudcan]

WOW HUGE UPDATE nom nom nom
amazing architecture enviros... esp love the first, the meditation place concept
Interesting abstract studies with the bars/rectangles... what were they for? D:
and wow the typography graphics practice looks so awesome.. i get your confusion though I never get the abstract stuff, but I really loved http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/1294/in1j.jpg
Love your sketchs as well, I think u should paint some of those, esp some of the enviros also really like the blue general, a lot of energy and design potential to me
your enviros are fantastic as always, I def think enviros are one of your fortes great still lifes, you have just inspired me to do one myself...
and WELCOME BACK! 8D

[takashmen]

up up up



sketches


some girls




close up of my favourite


and hard return to watercolor

[cloudcan]

hey hey wow nice sketches, your figures are really improving nice job with the watercolor as well, lovin the pepper right there