Economy Of Line

[crisimikiwiki]

holy moly. simply awwwesome drawings mate. i salute you sir!

[Skill3ss]

holy moly. simply awwwesome drawings mate. i salute you sir!

Thanks for looking mate - appreciate it.

[Skill3ss]

Here is an update from the last couple of days. Mostly brush pen, I think this really forces me to think about what every line is describing, it's great for these figure drawings as it puts in the mindset of trying to describe form and gesture - not just outlining.

These ones are based on Michael Hampton's book - I'm not just copying them, even if it's just adding in a face or a couple of arms I'm trying to add something of my own as drawing from imagination is a major weakness for me.





The following are from imagination, making sure I am actually retaining some of this information




Finally this is the current Bargue plate I am working on, just started yesterday and I am going for total accuracy this time. Using a centerline to which helps a lot. At first glance it seemed easier than the wrinkly hand I just finished but there are a lot of subtle halftones in the forearm so I may have to resort to blending. Trying to get the subtlety which Bargue had in his linework is so difficult.

[Ravenok]

Hey!

Your shading is really really good. I was blown away by the wrinkly hand, and also the very first drawing you have in the sketchbook. Beautiful.

I will comment on something you said before about your drawings from imagination.
The main thing I noticed is that your imagined drawings have less detail, and less variety in them.
I might not have a solution to this - I would maybe recommend trying to study the differences in shapes on faces, clothing, environments and anything else...
That's what I'm trying to do anyway - trying to really be aware of the differences, so that when I draw a face, I don't automatically use the same eyebrow every time, without thinking.

Anyway, your skill is admirable, I will follow this.

[Skill3ss]

Thanks for that Shinkan. You're right about the similarity in my drawings from imagination - it's really quite obvious when I haven't used reference as they tend to look the same. Hopefully with another year of practice my drawings will look more interesting.

[Skill3ss]

Quick update showing progress on current Bargue plate



Going well so far. Will scan this one once its done.

[Skill3ss]

Finished Bargue plate.

Will scan and upload better quality attachment later.




Here is a better quality scan (took 5 attempts, still looks wrong - wtf is up with my scanner?)

[Skill3ss]

Another big update. Been working nightshift all week so haven't had time. Sorry for the massive amount of stuff.

This is the most recent Bargue plate. It wasn't so long ago I decided not to get too anal about the line drawing but I've realised there's no other way round it - has to be done. This one isn't going too well at the moment, lots of mistakes and I dropped my needle sharp pencil on the paper which has left an indelible mark. Does anyone else's hand stop working randomly when they are exhausted? What's that all about!? I'm already thinking about the next one so I've left it well alone for a couple of days.



Studies from various sources - trying to get some idea of where the deltoid and arm muscles connect as I was struggling with this a bit. Some of these might look pretty messy (brush pen is hard) but they have helped I think. Also some stuff from imagination mixed in to make sure I'm not just mindlessly copying.



And finally here are some huge newsprint photo studies. Using charcoal on it's side, trying to be confident. Charcoal is hard. No solid likeness for at this point but I feel pretty confident I can take these much further with application. This should help when it comes to painting. Most of these are fairly quick 20 - 30mins ish



Thanks for looking

[razz]

Mm, Bargue studies...Those are time consuming, but a great exercise, as I'm sure you know by now. Besides the drawing technique it does teach you patience. I remember spending about a 100 hours on one of those. To this day I haven't spent longer on any piece. Good work, keep that up ;]

[V3T]

Your pencil renders and drawings in general are fantastic!

[Skill3ss]

Razz - it definitely teaches you patience, I've not spent 100 hours on anything yet but some of the upcoming torso drawings will come close I think.

V3T - Thanks!

[Skill3ss]

Haven't got quite as much done as I would have liked the last couple of days. Been pretty busy with work. Did manage to finish this Bargue plate, straight onto the next one as I'm not particularly enamoured. Did learn a couple of things though which is the point of doing these I guess. Really don't wan't to turn into another "wow that looks like a photo" type of artist which is exactly where this is leading.

Here it is:




And a couple of quick charcoal portraits.



Must get some proper work done over the weekend!

Thanks for looking

[Fernando Mendoza]

Wow, that Bargue looks like a photo!!! lol I understand what you mean. I too dont want to be someone who draws exact replicas of photos! I want to draw from imagination! And when drawing from photos I want to add something different and interesting to it, basically add something of myself to it. Nice bargue though. Where did you get a copy of the plate from? Bargue's plates are so beautiful!
Also, how does it feel to use a .9mm pencil in comparison to .5mm or .7mm?
Nice charcoal portraits! They need more contrast but your likeness' are getting good! Lineart is really important!
So how is charcoal in comparison to graphite? I bought some charcoal recently and plan to use it soon. Any tips?! God bless you!

[lionheartGFX]

i see what you are getting at about using your skills to do CREATIVE stuff and not just rehash reality trying to do it perfectly wich doesnt leave much artistic license, i encourage you to do so! copy some storyboards and try doing your own, when drawing have a "MOOD" or a "moment" as painters say and go with that not with a "subject" that is too steril it leaves to little for emotional pull, the steril aspect is awesome for studies when you are learnign how to picture certains things but the other part its the fun part its creating ths hectic moments or quiet moments, funny moments! maybe even moments from your day to day life.anything that strikes your facny if you are drawing with a smile in your face laughin about what you add to your stories and characters i think thats good!

so what im trying to say is dont slack your studies but do give them a reason to exist use them as tools to get closer to a certain illustration or an idea you are trying to create but cant because of your current skills, its thorugh this chanelling that your studies will have more meaning also some clear objectives as well. well thats enough rambling from me thanks for dropping by mi sb i loved looking at yours and i hope to see more fun stuff and studies as well! keep the balance to keep the art gods happy

[Whirly]

Your brush pen drawings are gorgeous! May I ask what pen it is? My lines are very petted and sketchy so I am using you as inspiration.

[GrayPersona]

good studies you are doing I like the bargue plate-should do one myself actually,keep it up.

[karta tajba]

this is very energetic. I'm loving it.

[Skill3ss]

Fernando - Thanks for looking. I actually prefer using the .9mm - I can get them pin sharp and the lead seems to stay that way for longer too. As for charcoal all i can really say is don't try to use it like a pencil - I learned very quickly that you have to adopt a very different approach with it. Draw the masses rather than the lines.

Lionheart - Some good advice in there - thanks! I do want to produce some finished illustrative type stuff but i'm just not confident enough at the moment. Hopefully ill get more comfortable with it as time goes on.....

Whirly - I'm using a Pentel brush pen. Not sure that I can recommend it over any others as the tip keeps splitting which gets annoying. I don't think my poor attempts are very inspiring but thanks for the compliment.

Graypersona - Cheers - I'm starting a new one tomorrow!

Karta - Thanks - glad you like it!

[Skill3ss]

Life caught up a little bit over the last two weeks. I've been busy viewing houses, catching colds and looking at new cars (mine is wrecked.) Didn't do any art for four days which isn't good. Here is the stuff from yesterday, sorry for the crap photos...

First off are a couple of my usual quick practice portraits on newsprint, one of them is actually an OK likeness for a change - probably because I spent a little bit longer on the block in stage:




Here are some quick figure drawings, newsprint 20mins excluding the more finished one which probably took 45mins:



Finally here is some stuff I did last night at work without reference - mostly perspective practice - not very interesting I'm afraid.



This is all such crap. Need to work harder, find the time - no excuses. Upcoming plans are to do some watercolors from life (it's been weeks!) and to invest a little more time in some finished portrait figure studies in charcoal. More imaginative drawing too.

Thanks for looking

[GrayPersona]

those pencil figure studies are great, confident marks and good energy they have.

[Skill3ss]

those pencil figure studies are great, confident marks and good energy they have.

Thanks mate.

Another little update. Mostly working from imagination or life using the brush pen. Some Burne Hogarth studies in there.

Most recent Bargue plate:



Want to take this image Devil / Wizard further:



And the rest



Thanks for looking

[Skill3ss]

Finally managed to get something uploaded, don't know whats going on with this site. Haven't had access to a scanner for weeks now so I thought I would upload some crap photos just to keep this ticking along.

Most recent Bargue plate:



Once again managed to drop needle point pencil right onto the middle of the page.

Brush pen stuff. Going through cartridge refills at a rate of knots. The eagles and some of the horses are referenced. Nothing else is. Sorry for the quality of these images.



Just a couple of figure studies using conte or charcoal. I have loads of these, didnt want to bore with them.

[Skill3ss]

Why is this website down all the time?

I've been all over the place with art recently. Sometimes it feels like I'm getting worse - very frustrating. I still can't decide which path I should take - fine art or illustrative / concept art. I guess looking at this sketchbook most people would say fine art but I feel that I'm just putting down the groundwork for something else. I suppose time will tell. Following updates from the last few days as there is way to much to catch up on.

Here are some life drawings from today, mostly 10 mins or less, one took about 25. Its the worst of the lot! I've been working a lot on simplifying form and speeding up.



Couple from previous sessions.



Some watercolours from life, still struggling with this medium. (Wont let me upload the rest :/)



Finally a 20 min charcoal sketch of my wife, quick charcoal value study and my most recent Bargue plate (zzzzzzzz)Actually I should say that this Bargue plate took a great deal of time and is pretty refined. Zzzzz none the less.