Learning how to create art - My sketchbook

[Black Sun S.]

Hello everyone!
I´ve been here for while but now I was encouraged to post my art studies.
I know I´m among the best artists here in CA and I want to learn a lot from you, guys!
I´ve been drawing for 6 months, so I´m starting with basics....there are many things to learn yet! I really appreciate any tips and critics that you can give me, only this way my art can improve.
Thanks for passing by and I hope you like!
All my best!

[Black Sun S.]

More studies!

[Lightship69]

Hi there matey

Thanks for posting these you are off to a good start here.

I like the Frazetta copy of the egyptian queen, thats rather good, it has a few flaws though like the guard has issues with his anatomy in his midsection and the lighting in the recessed carvings is missing. This is a minor detail but it strengthens the illusion of 3D in the pillar. The other thing is the lighting is just a bit too strong, the power in that original frazetta image is the lighting and the mood it creates.

keep practising the anatomy drawings it will stand you in good stead for whatever you go for next, there are some good resources in the references section if you have a wander through too, e-books and .Pdfs all good stuff.

all the best with the artworks mate and I will look in again soon to see what else you have put up for us.

[Black Sun S.]

hello Lightship69....tks for you critics and support! About Frazetta, that´s true...there are a few flaws, especially anatomy, that´s why I started anatomy drawing. I started with Bridgman´s book, so I´ll take a while for doing good stuff. I´m working on in a new digital painting to create a better mood. To do that I attended Jason Manely´s classes about composition and mood...see what happens. All my best!

Here a new stuff, just practicing digital painting and some drawings from life.

[Black Sun S.]

Hello everyone!
Just more few drawing from life and digital painting!

[DKHutcheson]

I'm not sure what advice to give. It looks like you're coming along great. c: One thing that helped me learn a lot about form, shape, and lighting was still lives. Just put one together of objects you find appealing and go for it.

xD I'm not sure why, but it seems a lot like people feel obligated to do fruit or glasses. I think a roll of paper towels in infinitely more interesting though.

Goodluck! c8 I can't wait to see more.

[Black Sun S.]

Tks DKHutcheson for your words!
Still lives are helping me a lot with shades and I agree...drapery or papel towels are much more interesting than fruits!

[Black Sun S.]

More studies. This time I was trying to work on value and shades. The perspective have some problems, but I´m working on a new drawing to fix that!

[DKHutcheson]

Looks more like you're stuck drawing what you 'know' rather than what you 'see', which can be difficult to break away from.

Instead of drawing the eye from the picture, you end up drawing a more 'iconic' version. For example, the eyelashes. None of the actors have very prominent single lashes. The lady mostly has a big black blob where her lashes would be, but you have it so she has many individual lashes.

Turning a picture upside down and then copying from it can help train your brain and eyes to draw what they see. It also helps to forget that you're drawing a face or an eye and pretend it's just a shape like any other.

I hope that was helpful. xD I used to have a lot of trouble with that kind of thing.

[Black Sun S.]

Tks DKHutcheson!
Now that you talk about, I didn´t realize that I drew differents eyelashes! lol
This is a good tip and you are right, it´s very difficult to draw something, even copy, when you´re to concentrated in what you know rather what you see!
I´m doing more still lives drawings to break this block!
=)

[Trixtar]

I really like the first one you posted!
-And the chili one is cool too

[FightingSeraph]

It's nice to see you studying, and I also think you should learn how to 'construct' drawings out of basic shapes. Those last three studies that you did look really awkward.

[Black Sun S.]

FightingSeraph tks for your opinion!!! I´m doing this...start with shapes, especially anatomy and i´m doing some progress! It´s true...these last 3 drawings are little strange because I made months ago...I don´t like them anymore! rsrs

[Lightship69]

Hi matey

Hope you had a good christmas!
I like the goodfellas attempts but I suspect that you have the same problem as me, you rush things to get it done and see how good it is.
Slow it down and really study the reference images find a loomis or bridgeman type head and just try painting over that on a new layer it will help you to start getting the planes of the face going (the bits where the light hits etc).

someone else in here said try getting a fashion magazine and draw the facial planes on the medels in there for practice, thats the key to this artwork and drawing nonsense you see loads and loads of practice.

keep at it mate you are on the road to greatness, as are we all but its a long one mind you! all the best for the new year.

[Black Sun S.]

Hello Lightship69!
I had a good Xmas and you?
You´re right...I´m a little nervous to get my drawings done and perfect soon!
So now I´m starting with basics: graphite, light, forms and shapes.
I was in a hurry to do many different things because I had a teacher who asked me to that, but not anymore.
Tks for advice and kind words!
happy New year for you and your family!

[Black Sun S.]

More graphite studies. Anatomy and still life. Starting with anatomy, not only shapes and forms, but bones, and some light studies from still life. I did this this week and I hope you guys like!
Happy new year for everyone!

[Black Sun S.]

Hello everyone! A happy new year!
Two WIP: enviros that I´ve already started and fix the perspective a little!

[Richie_Rich]

In your head studies, try and define the tilt of the head first, then let the shadow drop onto the basic shape of the head. That way the shadowline defines the form further, rather than just being an abstract shadowshape.
And try a few self portraits with a mirror instead. It'll be clearer to see the forms.

[Black Sun S.]

In your head studies, try and define the tilt of the head first, then let the shadow drop onto the basic shape of the head. That way the shadowline defines the form further, rather than just being an abstract shadowshape.
And try a few self portraits with a mirror instead. It'll be clearer to see the forms.

Tks Richie for your critics!
The portraits I did before my first anatomy studies and I´m learning from Bridgman and drawing form before try anatomy itself!

[DKHutcheson]

Skulls can be difficult, and you have to be careful with them. It's easier just to start with the basic shapes and forget the details. It looks like you worked very hard to cram in all those teeth, and though the effort is admirable, it doesn't work quite like that. Blocking in the big shapes is key. Then you can work on smaller and smaller things. Always keep an eye on landmarks that you can use to measure from, where things line up. It really helps proportions. c:


(Link to the skull image originals further down. There are 8 really good ones.)

Also, when learning anatomy and bones and all that juicy good stuff, I'd suggest to just forget about shading and work on the forms. Shading muddles things up when first learning this stuff. It's much more important to learn the way things are shaped at first, and then after you have that down shading can be a whole lot of fun.

There's some great skull reference images here if you need more. And there's a book that is great for anatomy called Anatomy for the Artist by Sarah Simblet that has a lot of really useful drawings/photos of both skeletons and figures. I've never actually read it, but the pictures are great. xD


There is a definite improvement from your portraits to the skull. You're making great progress. c: It's awesome to see someone improve so quickly. Keep up the great work!

[aks9]

heya black sun s!
here is something that i recommend to people, and i think it might also help you
its to concentrate on drawing lots and lots of basic forms and shapes, which will help you nail down proportions and "3d objectiness" of things

http://www.autodestruct.com/thumbwar.htm

scroll down to the "drawing fundamentals" bit with cubes and so on

its actually quite hard at first which shows its importnace

[DaveGarcia]

Hi there! I would recommend you Figure Drawing for all it's worth by Andrew Loomis, it helped me a lot to see the basic form of things, especially with the head and its proportions. I think it'd be easier for you to learn basic shapes for the human figure rather than actually learning the real bones, at least that is what I did at first.

[Travis Smith]

Welcome to CA.

I wanted to post an example picture for positive and negative spaces. Construction is important, crucial especially for drawing from imagination, however seeing/identifying shadow shapes and overall proportions will only help. It will aid you in measuring with your eye, construction and structure will ensure that it feels anatomically correct and as though it exists in a three dimensional space.

Try to measure with your eye, look from the top of one characters nose to the top of another characters nose, look for landmarks that you can compare. Flick you eyes back and forth quickly from your study to the reference, you will begin to see thing shift that you can then correct. Look at shapes individually, then in relation to one another, etc.

[Black Sun S.]

Hello everyone...I wanna thanks for dropping by and leave your critics!
It means a lot, guys!

Tb0ne: Tks Tb0ne for your tips and what amazing thing you did help with negative shapes!...I really need to start with basic shapes and value, anatomy is harder than I imagine.
DaveGarcia: Tks Dave...I attend at Marshall Vandruff´s anatomy classes and I´m using Bridgman´s books...I tried with Loomis, but I guess I have problems with anatomy...lolo
aks9: It is an amazing site...tks for the tip! I´m doing this and I feel my values and shapes are becoming better!
DKHutcheson: Tks for your tips!!! Wonderful source!

Well....
As I have some issues with anatomy body, I´m starting with basic shapes and values, using Bridgmans book. Now I´m trying to push my foundations forward with composition and value studies. I´m having difficults to draw anything without good foundations.

[Black Sun S.]

Hello everyone!
I´ve been practicing my shades and forms. So here some anatomy studies.

[Lightship69]

lloking good so far mate can we have some more now? ye gods I soumd like oliver twist!!

all the best matey, I just dropped by for an update is all

[Black Sun S.]

Hello Lightship69,

You probrably right....I should post more by then, but I´m in a little creative block, so I guess I´ve not drawing for almost 2 months by now!
I´ll try to start all over again and see what I can do!
Tks for dropping by mate!

[Black Sun S.]

Hello everyone,

It has been a long time since I´ve been around. Well, a huge creative block caught me, but now I´m back!
I´m studying anatomy and values, so here we go with some corrections on my previously drawings.

[ChisLu]

You're improving a lot! And about the creative block: try watching some really different movies or look for intriguing books Keep posting!

[Randomeister]

Hello, I'd like to see you work more with figuring basic shapes out and how they connect with eachother. Keep improving!