Malachor's Sketchbook

[malachor]

So it's been at least a year since I did any serious sit down with a pencil. I used to draw when I was younger and I deeply miss it. It's like a part of me has been missing for years. I replaced drawing with programming, but it's time for the two to coexist.

I came across this site the other day and was so inspired. I can't believe how much improvement can be made with daily practice.

This first drawing is of a friend from work that took his life a few years ago. I did this from memory. I've never been happy with how I draw faces, especially lips and noses. And I just noticed how small his ears are haha...I bought some neat books and plan to study anatomy properly.

[Faelerai]

I recently started a sketch book, and I'm going to try and upload a day too..! Good luck on getting better man !

[malachor]

I recently started a sketch book, and I'm going to try and upload a day too..! Good luck on getting better man !

Thanks man! Best of luck to you too.

[malachor]

I'm pretty happy with how today's drawing turned out. The first two fingers could be a bit longer though. The ring finger was tricky because of the bend, but it's not too bad.



The self portrait makes me laugh every time I see it. I drew that almost a year ago. The eyes are so damn big, I don't know what I was thinking haha. The hair is pretty bad and the face is not proportional. I'll have to do a new one soon since I look very different now. I shave my head right down and I have new glasses/contacts (see avatar).



I'm currently reading through "The new drawing on the right side of the brain". Not sure if it's a good book to start with, but I like it so far. I have "The natural way to draw" queued up next, but I keep seeing people on here talk about Andrew Loomis books, so I'm almost compelled to check those out too.

Any critique is greatly appreciated!

[Faelerai]

It sounds like you pretty much know what to work on as far as your drawing skills go.. But I do have some information regarding this --

I'm currently reading through "The new drawing on the right side of the brain". Not sure if it's a good book to start with, but I like it so far. I have "The natural way to draw" queued up next, but I keep seeing people on here talk about Andrew Loomis books, so I'm almost compelled to check those out too.

My mom is an art teacher, and she has taught with "drawing on the right side of the brain" for a long time. When I was younger I learned a lot from that. I think that's a good thing, and a bad thing though. It's good in how it teaches you to break out of the normal symbolic type of seeing; but the downside, I think at least, is that it doesn't really teach you to see things as 3D objects in the environment. And for a concept artist or illustrator (as far as I know) that's very important. As a concept artist, your going to have to come up with things that occupy 3D space. Now don't get me wrong, The New Drawing On The Right Side Of The Brain is good, and you should continue reading it, but I think that you should remember that whole 3D space concept. I wish I would have known that when I started trying to become a concept artist. The book helps, but it can also be detrimental. I've never heard of "The natural way to draw", but as far as the Loomis books go, read them all. The Loomis books have been a HUGE help to me. A HUGE HELP. So.. Yeah. That's my two sense. If your having doubts about what I said regarding the "new drawing on the right side of the brain" then ask around a little bit. I've heard the same thing I'm telling you about drawing from the right side, from different people on these forums.

-Faelerai

[malachor]

Hmm very interesting. Thanks for letting me know. I did some searching on here and saw quite a bit of negative stuff about that book. I've looked further ahead and the exercises seem ok, nothing spectacular. I'm probably going work from something else now and start learning anatomy (Loomis most likely). There was a post with a ton of book recommendations and now I'm really excited to look at some. I'll keep Betty's book as a side read.

Thanks again dude!

[Faelerai]

Hmm very interesting. Thanks for letting me know. I did some searching on here and saw quite a bit of negative stuff about that book. I've looked further ahead and the exercises seem ok, nothing spectacular. I'm probably going work from something else now and start learning anatomy (Loomis most likely). There was a post with a ton of book recommendations and now I'm really excited to look at some. I'll keep Betty's book as a side read.

Thanks again dude!

No problem! Thats good. The Loomis books are a great help. I think I've seen that post before too.. is it http://www.conceptart.org/forums/sho....php?t=152626? If so.. Thats an awesome list. The guy that made that post is someone I really admire and aspire to be like. I would suggest looking at his blog.. It's got some awesome stuff on it!

[malachor]

That's the one! I definitely check out his site.

[malachor]

Didn't have too much time to draw tonight due to work..grrrr. I started reading Loomis' Figure Drawing and it's very good so far. I worked on the first task of determining proportions based on the number of heads. Even though he said not to, I still tried to make it correct - at first. The male drawing was measured out and such...nothing special. Keep in mind this is my first time doing a semi-accurate figure.



For the woman I started with a measured out guide and then the last two poses where down freestyle. In retrospect I should have just winged it for all poses.



I going out to drink tomorrow so I probably won't have the time or ability to draw something. Will make up for it on Friday

p.s. my camera glare makes some areas hard to see. need to get a scanner asap!

[malachor]

Been working on poses. Slowly getting a feel for proportions and such. It's fun drawing these. The first bunch are a mixture of Loomis' Figure drawing and my own.





This last page is based on pictures I took of myself posing. I'm pretty happy with these except the 2nd last drawing. No idea how to draw the body with the side view.

[Faelerai]

Nice work so for man! One thing I would suggest though would be that on the Loomis stick figures you need to work on proportion. Their legs are to short, and the pelvis needs to be bigger. Arms too. Remember (this is kind of a general thing) arms come down to the crotch in length. As far as drawing the ribcage, look at pictures of ribcages and study them. The ribcage has a certain form.

[malachor]

Nice work so for man! One thing I would suggest though would be that on the Loomis stick figures you need to work on proportion. Their legs are to short, and the pelvis needs to be bigger. Arms too. Remember (this is kind of a general thing) arms come down to the crotch in length. As far as drawing the ribcage, look at pictures of ribcages and study them. The ribcage has a certain form.

Thanks dude! Yeah my gf was also saying the legs are too short so I will definitely work on my proportions.

[Leonor]

A start with one face and one hand... This reminds me of Lohes. You might want to take a peek at her (his?) sketchbook, she progressed very fast and seems to know what she's doing.

[malachor]

Leonor: wow, very inspiring!

I've been pretty busy lately, but I tried to get a sketch or two in each night. So this is my little update for the week.

Looking at the first image, it is painfully obvious that I was not drawing with shapes. I tried too hard to get an accurate representation instead of feeling it out.



When I started on this page, I was still drawing by lines and was having a lot of trouble with the guy sitting with his legs stretched out. But after a while, I focused on showing volume.
I can't believe how much easier it is when you look at it as shapes. I've never really done that before!



Did this one for fun. It's based off a little statue I got from a recent trip to China. To be honest, I liked the pencil sketch more
I approached this by creating various shapes and it took a fraction of the time it would have if I did it by lines.



Can't wait to draw this weekend! I'm tempted to work on other things like heads and hands but I think I should continue to work on the body so as not to slow down my progress.

Have a great weekend!

[Theodor]

Hey, Dude, you definitely have something. Your guy you drew there looks compelling somehow. I mean its primitively drawn but the eyes have depth to them. He looks alive somehow. The hand looks like it is about to move like its is living flesh.

Even your anatomy sketches look expressive.

I don't know what it is exactly but I've seen the opposite too, people with high skill levels but the eyes all look dead.

Anyway, keep it up you have a gift!

[Shahan]

i see improvement for sure.

keep at it, once your done doing loomis for a while incorperate it into your imaginative work!

[malachor]

Hmm, I posted this the other day but for some reason it didn't go through. Anyways, I did some quick sketching Friday evening. This is all from imagination. I decided to add a bit of meat to the limbs for fun. It's probably not accurate but I like it

Had a lazy thanksgiving weekend (in Canada). My apartment was so hot and I didn't feel like doing anything, especially after eating beyond my limit. Two goals for the week: draw for at least an hour each night and go to the gym every day to make up for thanksgiving.



Hmm, I will have to take a pic of it in the day time. The lighting is horrid.

[strangedawn]

nice sketches just keep posting and practicing.keep on going.take care=)