Andrew Ley Sketches

[Verehin]

awesome render =)

[PHATandy]

wow, just wow. Im such a sucker for clean industrial design type renders. REALLY love this.

Im guessing you use photoshop. Do you use a lot of layers to get all the really clean edges and shadows etc, or are you just a very tidy painter. Love how clean and realistic all the plastic etc looks.

the only crit is that the girls face seems very flat. I think its because the goggles are very symmetrical.

Keep posting, loving your work as always

[AndrewLey]

Verehin - thanks man

PHATandy - thanks for the crit - i put some more work into it. I did use photoshop. I don't have the brain power to keep track of lots of layers and keep in mind all the things a painting demands so what I do it add a layer if I'm not sure about something and merge it down once I'm happy with it. I just repeat that throughout the painting so I usually have a max of 4 layers at any one time.

Not much to post as freelance has been keeping me busy but here are some thumbnails.

[isso09]

These look amazing man. I think you understand form and value better than any of the other artists I follow.

Speaking of which, how did you get so good at drawing? Did you go to a design school and work your butt off? Are there any exercises you would recommend? Can you explain (or attempt to explain) your approach?

I would appreciate any thoughts you can spare. Thanks!

[bumskee]

looking great Andrew! been meaning to the b&w myself, man you make it look so easy. what's news? you well?

[Kan Muftić]

Looking great Andrew. I have the same policy with layers

[meth]

love those b$w

M

[AndrewLey]

isso09 - thanks man. I actually think my drawing needs a lot of work. I'm trying to do more studies etc. I didn't go to art or design school. I studied animation but I spend most of my time learning technical stuff like character modelling, rigging - facial animation etc.

I can only offer the same advice you will get anywhere - draw from life - nature has all the answers, especially regarding design. When you can anticipate natural form, designing becomes a lot easier. What I mean by this is that you will be able to look at a shape and instinctively know what shape is needed to complement it and create an appealing design.

You will also be able to see that all the complex forms that occur in nature are driven by very simple rules. Once you have a feeling for those rules you can create very complex designs that have an underlying truth to them.

I should also say that this is a learning process that never stops. Personally, I think I'm only just now starting to grasp the fundamentals so there is long way to go. I think one thing you need as an artist is a passion for learning because, if you're lucky enough to be able to, it's a process of study that you will carry on throughout your life.

I took a quick look at your sketchbook - I think you're right on track - just keep at it.


bumskee - hi - thanks man! I'm very well thanks. We should catch up on MSN soon.

Kan Muftić - cheers Kan!

MatejaPetkovic - cheers - here's a few more...

[Madice]

love those black and whites, awesome lighting and composition!!

[Robert.B]

Wonderful values solid shapes, very film noir like. thanks for updating.

[The_Flying_Dutchman]

#1478 Anatomy Study and 'Havegunwilltravel' are pretty cool. Good owrk all round, keep posting!

[isso09]

Thanks a lot man. Very inspiring reply. Keep updating!

[geoloch]

Andrew,

I bookmarked this thread years ago and every time I come back I am more astonished. Inspiring work!

What is your workflow on your Photoshop sketches? Do you start on paper? Are you using standard brushes? I just love the looseness of the quick value sketches but they feel waterly to me which I like.

-gl

[MattGamer]

fantastic black and whites. you are so right about studying nature. there's so much to learn and i wish i lived in a place more appealing to the eye, rather than the brown and yellows i see everyday.

keep inspiring, keep perusing this thing we have in common (no not girls, art)!

[Cameli]

Very nice sketchbook and lovely black and white!Ah man ur enviros are awesome too, need to train that myself!

[Magic Man]

Nicely done Andrew, your work is as always tip top

Cheers, Daz

[kelvinjonaina]

It's a great idea to exhibit their scribbles.It is really good to give the painting as a gifts....

[Hideyoshi]

nice, the middle one rules!

[Dr poPcoRN]

love you b&w studies alot

[AndrewLey]

Cheers guys!

geoloch - I don't start on paper - they are just done in Photoshop CS4. The brushes I use are standard to PS and I tend to tweak them as I go along.

Some more quickies...

[PHATandy]

Amazing, totally love how you put that sort of normal looking guy into the futuristic world so subtly. Everything looks just a little different to start with. Is this for anything in particular? or just for funsies?

I hope the fact that the delivery boy looks like a Scout from TeamFortress2 is on purpose, that would be ace!
Keep it up dude.

[Biomecha_wolf]

dude, seriously, i have seen LOTS of works from MANY members in the concept art world (not only this forum) but you are honestly by far superior to most of them in tons of aspects! Ofcourse this page has been bookmarked to my favorites as an inspiration source , a real valuable one..!

.

I dont know how you keep upgrading your skills so fast , but continue doing it^^

And by the way, i was wondering if it was easy for you the next work you gonna upload -or a previous one- if you can upload some stages of it before the finished one.!

Thank you and KEEP ROCKING!!!!

[William b. Hand]

•

Unrelentingly Gorgeous! Inspiring as hell.

Love pics. Especailly the tect stuff truely orignal.

[bearfoot]

great stuff andrew

reminds me slightly of the steambot crew and their style..

slightly futuristic and yet totally tangible..

i love it. .. and possibly you. not sure.

[Onisan]

I'm deeply impressed you surely have it all! I especially love how you handle values, you can really feel it in your bw sketches. The variety you show is stunning, I hope to see a lot more soon !

[ThomasM]

wow those black and whites are incredible! I haven't seen this SB before but I'll definitely be back to check it out. I have no idea how youve learnt to use value so well: I am still slavishly working away at the beginner level where you spend your whole time studying portraiture and anatomy. One day perhaps I'll create something close to this level, but not for a LONG time! Cheers

[Kambei Shimada]

Amazing sketchbook,
Im loving your drawings really nice bold simple lines.

3D stuff is awesome also.

Q: who are you working for these days?

[icarus2912]

Man, these sketches are incredible!
Love the SB. It's got an awesome feel to it.

[LordVenom]

I'm absolutely blown away by your sketchbook, very inspirational!