cara's sketchbook - 9/22

**carakhan** · February 12th, 2006, 10:10 PM

Hi all,
I'm Cara, and I go to Ringling, where I'm currently a junior pursuing computer animation.

2nd page thesis ideas!!!

Last page - I've graduated! A long time ago

made a maquette and a mini animation out of this lady,

I can only hope you enjoy some of these. Will try and post again tomorrow.

**IanE** · February 12th, 2006, 10:19 PM

There is no try. Only do. Do, or do not.

Mileage is the key, keep it up, man.

With the last pic, the right leg is longer than the left.

**carakhan** · February 12th, 2006, 10:32 PM

Hey man, thanks. I actually forgot to rotate her in ps, i scanned it in crappy.

**carakhan** · February 13th, 2006, 11:02 PM

Just wanted to get something in here for the day

quick study, maybe 20 minutes

**carakhan** · April 7th, 2006, 11:59 AM

Some of this is fairly recent, all from this semester I believe. I'm going to put up a few of my animations as well. I don't have time to scan my sketchbook at the moment, maybe later.

Keep in mind that most of these are only about 2 inches big...

will try and post later...

**Zebz** · April 7th, 2006, 12:39 PM

I just wanted to say that I love Thin Mints. They're delightful.

That... and that you're off to a great start with your SB. My suggestions are to focus on the foundations, traditional art more... life studies, anatomy, etc. Keep at it.

**carakhan** · April 7th, 2006, 04:34 PM

Trying to get caught up here, so I'm scanning a bunch of shit from my sketchbook. All done in the past month or so. I want to start doing some washes.. but i need a more confident line first.

so, some referenced, some not...

some gestures...

ok, why the hell does photobucket resize my pictures when they're under the kb limit? UGH! you can't see anything!

**carakhan** · May 17th, 2006, 12:46 AM

Some new stuff I've been workin on. Took me a while to get some stuff up cause school got out and I needed to move my stuff around.

Just trying to get better at digital work in general, I want to say there's a meaning for the face, but I just got so fed up with the skin tone and the size of her face that I gave up. This bitch doesn't deserve a face she's so difficult!

A quickie I did in like an hour, more color play and just fun stuff. Inspired by one of the pictures Jasonchan did for his story.

**carakhan** · May 20th, 2006, 04:40 PM

Working on cloth, even though I need to work on faces. I need to work on everything...background was put in there as a last minute thing, so I know she looks a little out of place.

**Medium Pace** · May 20th, 2006, 07:32 PM

That girl in the red sweater is looking great. Probably you’re the best thing you have posed on the thread. You should finish it when you get the chance. It would be a strong piece for your portfolio.

**carakhan** · May 20th, 2006, 07:34 PM

thanks man, I was just getting so frustrated I needed to move on, ya know? But I probably will. Do you think it looks better with a plain background or does it need something more?

**Medium Pace** · May 20th, 2006, 08:16 PM

The background is part of the appeal. It looks great to me, so I would keep it as-is. She could use a slight boob job though. Her flatness doesn't match her wide hips.

**carakhan** · May 20th, 2006, 08:40 PM

Medium Pace: I didn't want to fall into the "girls with big boobs" category, I like drawing them flat. Makes me feel empowered

But I'll look into it.
Quick study done in about a half hour in Painter, I wanted to do a portrait. From reference on getty images.

I never like how the faces turn out...

**carakhan** · May 21st, 2006, 07:59 PM

Update with a little work in progress I've got. I know she's long, I like her that way.

**carakhan** · May 29th, 2006, 05:53 PM

May add more for composition, just practicing really.

**carakhan** · June 1st, 2006, 03:29 PM

Hey, just a quick update, did this while I was watching the Rock Honors last nite, which sucked by the way...

**carakhan** · June 1st, 2006, 06:10 PM

Played around with the palette brushes in photoshop, to get some more texture.

**Sartell** · June 1st, 2006, 08:01 PM

Your stuff is definitely coming along, I'd love to see a more sketches or finished pieces (maybe on thirds

). Great stuff keep posting little one

**carakhan** · June 20th, 2006, 09:34 PM

This is not up for critique. I was bored and wanted to be fine artsy for fine artsy's sake.

It's called "a lady who is naked that says 'oh no you didn't'" by Myself.

Done in 5 minutes, for sale for 5,000... or best offer.

**carakhan** · July 14th, 2006, 08:44 PM

Just a quickie, bout an hour... but i definitely want to continue this. maybe even apply some of the crap i learned in concept class! jesus what the hell is wrong with me. when i draw i just zone out. meh.

**Orozc0** · July 14th, 2006, 09:28 PM

Nice studes. The animal ones look really natural. You definitely need to keep working on that human anatomy and keeping the edges clear and strong. The newer digital ones are lookin good. keep practicing that drapery.

**carakhan** · July 15th, 2006, 11:07 AM

orozc0- thanks for the advice, I hate my linework, I know I have no confidence in my line and it shows... but I'll finally be taking another figure class this semester so hopefully I'll get to work on that.

**carakhan** · July 15th, 2006, 10:16 PM

I want some serious help with this now... I really like it but I know I'm going to mess it up soon, I can feel it going that way. If you have any suggestions PLEASE tell me. I will love you forever!

**demented** · July 16th, 2006, 03:59 AM

Sup Thinmint

Ha - something I've noticed about these forums is the dudes who really want crits and advice like you really struggle to get it.

These are looking really good mate. Liking this last speedy, carefull for putting too many bright colours into the show, especially primaries. The fight for attention and tend to destroy the pic. Not really a big problem with this one though. Don't get into too much detail with his face - one or two simple shadows will do the trick. Carefull with the white fog too - it can make the whole thing unfinished if it's a half-job. Enforce the idea of the white fog more clearly, methinks. Work a bit of it into the foreground.

On skin tones: find that skin is one of the hardest things to paint. Suggest you do some master studies - Caravaggio especially - to get this one right. The colour skin does not merely vary in tone as it passes into shadow, but also in temperature and hue. Never be afraid to try and experiment - throw some greens and red in the too. Highlights on the skin are often very light yellow.

Keep it up bud, these are making excellent progress. Really like the style of your digis too.
ciao

- d.

**carakhan** · July 16th, 2006, 01:00 PM

demented: thank you! I know what you mean. It seems if you aren't an incredible artist right off the bat, that no one really cares.
It's funny, because I've always struggled with my pictures being too dull, and I guess now I'm on the verge of overdoing it,

. I will work on that though. As for the skin tones, I was so afraid to start putting a human into this that I'm waiting until the very end. But I agree on keeping him simple, and I'll keep your suggestions in mind. Thank you so much for the critique, it really helped!

I worked on it a little more last nite, and I might have overdone it, I'm not sure. I'm definitely going to tone down the background, but the browns look better methinks.

**dannE-B** · July 16th, 2006, 01:07 PM

Hey theres some real nice work coming through, there seems to be a good all round skill level. I cant really give a critique as you seem to be doing the "Right" stuff to improve, and thats all that matters.

**demented** · July 16th, 2006, 01:37 PM

Great work man - already looking tons better. Nice, solid feel to the whole thing - complimented by this style of yours. Also, for some reason, this last one doesn't feel as chaotic - the colours aren't fighting for attention, and the composition really works very well.

Keep updating
ciao

- d.

**carakhan** · August 2nd, 2006, 04:30 PM

quick update, about an hour... and i hate it. Why oh why do I suck at color?!?!?!

**kaktuzlime** · August 2nd, 2006, 04:37 PM

You don't really suck at colour. practice makes perfect! In this last one, the colours are too smudged and the two big blobs of greyish on her skin really pops out too much. I'm not too sure about the lips eighter. Great shading and lighting though! The cowboylady is my fav.