I'm here to learn. (and dance?) 8/09 [NSF56k/W?]

**incognito** · March 19th, 2005, 12:07 AM

So, recently I've started to have the urge to draw like mad again, but...I don't feel that I'm upto the skill level that I want to be.
That's why I'm making this sketchbook...so that I could have more motivation to improve, and to acquire the help of critiques from those much more skilled than me.

On a side note: Soon I plan on buying a Bridgman book, because I feel that I'm lacking some anatomy skill...

First, with some older things:

Mirror as ref: (man, I forgot all about how bad that lip looks.)

Mirror as ref:

Eye sight as ref:

I feel that this one is a bit too flat for my liking...

Eye sight as ref:

The little preview screen of my camera as ref:

Mirror as ref...I think:

Now the newer:

Picture as ref:

Eyesight as ref:

Eye sight as ref:

A page of my sketchbook...just because, as an example of usual drawing...

Eye sight as ref:

My friend, eye sight as ref:

Now I hope that I haven't blinded anyone, nor made anyone vomit from my drawings.
Any help would be great.

I'll be trying to update daily, atleast when possible.

**incognito** · March 20th, 2005, 12:54 AM

Well, since this is a daily sketchbook thread:

3-19-05:
Photograph as ref: - anatomy practice.

and if anyone has a good technique for taking photographs wtih a digital camera instead of scanning, I'm all ears.

**Keepiru** · March 20th, 2005, 01:55 AM

Ha, I dont know many men who have baleen whales for shoulders, but whatever, I can dig. Some of your hand studies looked very nice, just keep drawing from reference and drawing from life...you are on the right path, just keep practicing!
Anway, most digital cameras have some sort of manual setting, and I prefer to use that when shooting art, because automatic is not as flexible and I hate to use a flash (it washes everything out). I suggest checking out you manual to figure out how to operate the setting, and check out a couple of basic photography books to really learn how it works (digital and film cameras are not very different at all really, when it comes to the principals of shutter speed and f-stops and all that sort of great technial stuff) its really easy once you figure it out. Plus, digital is great because if the photos come out bad, you haven't wasted cash on film. Also, photoshop is an amazing tool, I've turned some pretty shitty photos around to be ok in PS. So maybe start playing around with that, too. And I know its kind of obvious, but try your best to get it as well-lit as possible, with light coming from directly above or in front of the piece.
Hope I could help!

-Keeps

**SirGreenSock** · March 21st, 2005, 09:24 PM

Nice work so far, I like your studies.

I would like to see is more finished work along with the studies and sketches.
I own a Bridgman book, its a great resource for anatomy and such, it helped me a lot.

**Skulldog** · March 21st, 2005, 09:38 PM

A great start, working with a bunch of different subjects and trying things out.

You have some really lovely gestures going on in the 'eyesight' pictures, and the hands are well rendered.

One thing, it seems like your falling into what you think parts of the face look like, and not always sticking to what you see, making parts feel a bit out of place at times. Something to try, is getting one of those flat sided pencils, that gives a board stroke, and try blocking out areas of the face, then going in for the details, just work on finding the form first.

Keep it up, hope that can help a little.

**incognito** · March 21st, 2005, 11:48 PM

Hmm...missed sketching time on Sunday, tried to sketch today, but didn't come out too well...

Photograph(s) as ref: Foreshortening/Anatomy/Shading practice

Tomorrow though, I hope to get atleast a page full...

(Wow, replies...and thanks for the comments/critiques...it should actually help me...)

**Fellah.** · March 22nd, 2005, 08:41 AM

Nice stuff. I like nr 3 with the big hand and the small hands. The shadow could look more like an animal or something, that might be cool?
Keep it up.

My sketchbook

How do get this 2 work

- new here...

**incognito** · March 22nd, 2005, 08:18 PM

Thank you.
And I'm guessing you mean my signature, to do that, just go to "User CP" in the top left corner, edit signature, and put My Sketchbook, I think.

**incognito** · March 23rd, 2005, 11:57 PM

Yesterdays:
Eye sight as ref:

Today:
Mirror/Eyesight as ref:

Ugh, I really am not where I want to be. Have to practice practice practice.

**incognito** · March 25th, 2005, 01:24 AM

More drawing....all eye sight as ref:

(I edited the contrast on this in photoshop to make the lines more visible.)

**incognito** · March 27th, 2005, 07:40 PM

Ugh, still need more practice. I missed the last two days because I just wanted to relax and laze around, due to it being the beginning of Spring Break. I was inspired by other's work today to draw.

So here is today's...I think I'll still draw more, but yeah:

Photo as ref/eyesight as ref: (Ignore the hand, its independent of the other drawings, and also looks horrible.)

**incognito** · March 28th, 2005, 10:37 PM

Done with ref, still working on it.

I feel that something is off with this picture so far, so I would like it if you guys and gals could give me your judgement on what could be improved, before I go farther ahead with it.

**runtosaurus** · March 28th, 2005, 11:14 PM

Not that I'm one to give good judgment but since you asked for it I'll try...

I think the left arm looks too thin, that's what first caught my eyes. And second it looks like the right arm (which looks good, perhaps jus a bit more shading) is sort of just stuck onto the torso... under the armpit and the back needs more definition to show the arm isn't glued to a cylinder.

I like all of your stuff btw... my favorites are the hands holding the hand, the picture of the guy pointing up with that lovely view of his nose, and that last one with that weird lizard thingy. Keep it up, more more!

**incognito** · March 28th, 2005, 11:22 PM

Originally Posted by runtosaurus

Not that I'm one to give good judgment but since you asked for it I'll try...

I think the left arm looks too thin, that's what first caught my eyes. And second it looks like the right arm (which looks good, perhaps jus a bit more shading) is sort of just stuck onto the torso... under the armpit and the back needs more definition to show the arm isn't glued to a cylinder.

I like all of your stuff btw... my favorites are the hands holding the hand, the picture of the guy pointing up with that lovely view of his nose, and that last one with that weird lizard thingy. Keep it up, more more!

Thank you, and I think that you're spot on with the critiques on the latest WIP.

People like you make this all worthwhile.

**incognito** · March 31st, 2005, 04:57 PM

So I've been working on this one sketch from reference for about 2-3 days on and off now. Trying to take it slow.
And I finally bought a Bridgman book, I'll have to get on that soon.

**Odds** · April 5th, 2005, 01:58 PM

hey man, thakns for the reply on my sb. you look like ur improving, also. ^^
keep working on those proportions... pick up some anatomy books and take life drawing courses! that ALWAYS helps. keep it up.

**incognito** · April 6th, 2005, 10:12 PM

So my art class finally did some gesture drawings, woo.
Though I think that I draw what I think is there, not what is there in actuality.
I have some more...but they're at the art room. Also, I'm thinking of experimenting with painting...

well, C&C please.

1 min

1min

10 min

Can people under 18 take life drawing courses? Or are there ones that have clothed models?

And speaking of life drawing courses:

My art class finally did some gesture drawings.
Though I think that I draw what I think is there, not what is there in actuality.
I have some more...but they're at the art room. Also, I'm thinking of experimenting with painting...

well, C&C please.

1 min

1min

10 min

**incognito** · April 13th, 2005, 12:42 AM

I hate photobucket.
Anyway, here is the 30minute gesture drawing, that I only got back today:

(the actual size is much bigger, like 10x15 paper.)

Ugh, I need to get back into my sketching "groove".

**incognito** · June 8th, 2005, 02:38 AM

I'm back! Summer is upon me, and I've decided to try and get myself to start practicing again. So here's a drawing I've struggled with, a little:

C&C and all that jazz is always welcome.
It feels good to be back.

**Pixeldragoon** · June 8th, 2005, 02:42 AM

Very cool! Keep it up man!

**flaptraps** · June 8th, 2005, 02:36 PM

cool man, i see improvement going through keep it up!

**karma0zero** · June 8th, 2005, 06:16 PM

your lips are almost as bad as mine..
i'd forget the gesture stuff for a while and just concentrate on well observed drawings and really looking at what your drawing, it should help you to draw whats there and not what you assume it should look like.
look 80% draw 20% of the time
keep at it..

**incognito** · July 4th, 2005, 02:31 AM

Way too much slacking. Drew some more today. I'm trying to start drawing 2-3 hours a day now, I'll see how that goes.

Thanks for the good and helpful comments guys.

Currently, I'm trying to learn something from them Bridgman books. It seems to be helping.

**Mr.Blonde** · July 4th, 2005, 03:58 PM

You've made a good bit of progress, especially compared to your first post. Keep up the good work!

**incognito** · July 4th, 2005, 09:05 PM

That's a good thing, right?

Thanks man.

**incognito** · July 7th, 2005, 12:54 AM

Been painting my room for 2 days now, and organizing it back to normancy for abit.
I really need to get back into the groove again. This is all I've been able to come up with, and it was in like 10 minutes during health class.

**bumskee** · July 7th, 2005, 07:40 AM

Hey!

looking good, and you are progressing nicely. I do like your bold lines, it's good you are not afraid to let it out. And you are controlling it more and more everytime you use it. Looking good and love the door on the face. Compared to your first posts your lines have gone crazy! keep it up and thanks for dropping by my crap sketchbook.

cheers,

Min

**Pesmerga** · July 7th, 2005, 10:47 AM

Gestures are all about movement, so forget about clothes and details. Just try to capture the general direction and angles of the subjects.

Keep doing your studies.

**incognito** · July 8th, 2005, 02:16 AM

Thanks for your support guys.
My lines are crazy? That's good, right

Anyway, some gestures and a Bridgman study page that I started and will hopefully finish tomorrow.

(Sorry about the quality of the images..I don't know why I took them so badly today.)