WILL KILL TO GET INTO CAL ARTS====> (CSSSA Prep-STORY BOARDING PROJECT-crits=sex)

**Jakian** · March 11th, 2006, 01:41 AM

Hello, I'm Kit, and I'm a 16 year old that's currently preping for entry into Cal Arts for character animation. I've heard that it's VERY competative, so I'm trying to get ahead. I tend to just...take what people say and do it, so I think I change very fast. Right now, I'm trying to get to the point where when I'm 17, I can meet all the requirements that they've set for people planing to enter the program. It's just been my dream to make it into Cal Arts. I really really really really really really really want to get it, and if I don't, I'll be super bummed. I'm making this sketchbook thread here so that I can get some critiques and feedback from the wonderful professionals and not so professionals here. If you're in animation, I would REALLY love to hear from you.

Please critique as much as you can

Websites
Deviantart: www.amourfonce.deviantart.com
Personal Website: www.freewebs.com/amourfoncearte/begin.htm
Myspace: www.myspace.com/kitzina

Originally Posted by originally posted by Jakian on March 10th, 2006

Here are somethings that I'd done within the last few weeks.

http://img327.imageshack.us/img327/5...jakian13fr.jpg

http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/3395/m1s4uh.jpg
http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/259/pose2zg.jpg
Any tips and advice would be loved.

**demented** · March 11th, 2006, 04:08 AM

Cool man! I myself am not looking to become an animator, but I can give you some tips:

1) Draw the whole figure. Losing something like the head detracts. Even if you only show the rest with a few lines or a shady silhouette (spelling?) it'll help you and the viewer to understand the drawing better.

2) Do some research on anatomy. Your anatomy is alright, but could be alot better (for instance this women legs are a bit too long.

3) If you're going into animation, try and give your drawings motion. When doing a gestural drawing (much like the one above) try not to focus lines only on the physical attributes of the character, but also on its actions. Use lines and weight distribution to indicate motion (when i say lines, i don't mean like the way they're used in comics.)

Draw characters (not only humans) that are in the middle of doing something, like punching each other or jumping, etc.

4) Get a "looser hand." Your lines seem too stiff at places. Don't be afraid to draw bold lines. Also remember that a line doesn't need to represent something actual. It can be used to guide the eye or give dimension.

phew! If you are really only 15, then you have amazing talent - as good as any i have seen. All that remains is hard work. If I had to guess, i'd say you are well on your way!

Check out some of Dan Milligan's works - they have more motion in them than a ferris wheel.

Hope it Helps

-d

**Jakian** · March 11th, 2006, 10:50 AM

Wow. Thank you!
I will definatley do that.

**Jakian** · March 12th, 2006, 03:59 AM

Okay so....yeah.
It was my first time trying to do a lineless CG.
Yeah I know it looks plastic.

**demented** · March 14th, 2006, 01:33 PM

Not bad! Came back to see how you were doing.

Skin is very difficult to emulate: remember no white highlights unless its almost parralel to the source of light.

I'm also wandering why you dropped line? Look carefulle and you'll see her left hand (and right) seems stuck on her hip. You can use line (or darker tones) to seperate and emerge the two elements.

Finally: I LOVE the composition. For some reason cutting her head and legs out just works. Try having one of her arms also leaving the page - that way you should be able to retain the eye within the composition.

Well Done

- d.

**ThabisoMhlaba** · March 14th, 2006, 06:01 PM

hey jakian. i remember you from um...gaia was it? cool stuff, keep at it

Oki aka Waruwari

**Cup of Joe** · March 14th, 2006, 06:37 PM

Like demented said, try to study anatomy. I suggest Loomis' "Figure Drawing for All It's Worth". Also, again, your lines seem stiff. Also like demented said, the highlights in the last one have a placement that doesn't connect to a light source. The anatomy is a bit wonky also. I'll go over why a bit more in depth if you'd like.I'm geussing you don't draw heads because your not very good at them? Instead, draw them more than other, more comfortable things. Nice stuff, your off to a good start. Good Luck and keep at it!

**Jakian** · April 3rd, 2006, 02:06 AM

Cup of Joe: Thank you.
I didn't draw the head because I'm not good at them. I didn't draw it because I wanted to work on the skin tone. I've not yet tried to do faces in CG.

I'm slowly, but surly studying that book amoung others.

Some more stuff that I did since I last posted.

I'm MUCH more pleased with this one. It was my second attempt. The thing that bugs the hell out of me is the pixles. The poor stranded pixles.

I did a self portrait in pen. I know...pen probolly wasnt the best thing.

I messed up on the eyes so bad. They were uneven so I tried to fix them, and now....this.

Trying to get butts. DX<

**Pattern Recognition** · April 3rd, 2006, 07:32 AM

I'd say stop focusing on the tits and look at the whole figure, really

Also when coloring you should have different variations of the value, with you there's only highlights, a midtone and shadow, maybe a secondary lightsource, but that's only in the last pic. Use larger brushes, then move down to the more intricate stuff.. And practice your skintones!
Just cut with the torsos and don't spend too much time on one drawing. K?

**Jakian** · April 3rd, 2006, 08:03 PM

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

I'd say stop focusing on the tits and look at the whole figure, really

Also when coloring you should have different variations of the value, with you there's only highlights, a midtone and shadow, maybe a secondary lightsource, but that's only in the last pic. Use larger brushes, then move down to the more intricate stuff.. And practice your skintones!
Just cut with the torsos and don't spend too much time on one drawing. K?

That's one thing that I'm working on. Trying to mix in other colors. the whole point of it is to practice my skin tones. I'm still at at a loss as to what would be the best way to aproach that.

Tips?

I'll do some full figure stuff.

**Jakian** · April 4th, 2006, 12:16 AM

Okay so I tried to do some gestures. It's something I'm still kinda new to. Any tips are loved.

**bhanu** · April 4th, 2006, 12:40 AM

For animation,I think the gestures are very important but the thing about animation is also subtle getures ,if you see , in most animated series the characters are not doing much other than standing or sitting and talking ,there arent many dynamic poses like in comics,so you really have to get the message through to the viewer through those delicate poses,study the face a lot its the most important part in epressing your art.

**Jakian** · April 4th, 2006, 12:46 AM

Originally Posted by bhanu

For animation,I think the gestures are very important but the thing about animation is also subtle getures ,if you see , in most animated series the characters are not doing much other than standing or sitting and talking ,there arent many dynamic poses like in comics,so you really have to get the message through to the viewer through those delicate poses,study the face a lot its the most important part in epressing your art.

So I should try to hone in on feelings, and body language?

Ooo faces. I haven't even learned how to do emotions yet.

**Jakian** · April 4th, 2006, 08:51 PM

Tried to quickly apply some things that I learned from my gestures.

I really should draw more men.

**Jakian** · April 4th, 2006, 11:17 PM

**Jakian** · April 7th, 2006, 06:15 PM

Did an animation. xD.

**Andy P** · April 7th, 2006, 06:48 PM

Hah, that animation is pretty fun. A good way to work on gestures I had never really thought of. Cool. My recommendation would be to do more quick gesture stuff, don't spend much time on em, just crank em out. I'm talkin, 15-30 seconds. They tend to not look so good at first, but it'll train your hand-eye coodination. Working from the live model will loosen everthing up a bit too. Good to see you've got the eye of the tiger, keep pluggin away!

**Jakian** · April 7th, 2006, 06:54 PM

Originally Posted by Andy P

Hah, that animation is pretty fun. A good way to work on gestures I had never really thought of. Cool. My recommendation would be to do more quick gesture stuff, don't spend much time on em, just crank em out. I'm talkin, 15-30 seconds. They tend to not look so good at first, but it'll train your hand-eye coodination. Working from the live model will loosen everthing up a bit too. Good to see you've got the eye of the tiger, keep pluggin away!

Definatley. I learned alot with this. That's allways a good thing.

I'm going to the park tommoro and doing some. I'll post my results!

Thank you.

frog and *BAM* · April 7th, 2006, 07:14 PM

Your not bad, the best thing you can do is keep drawing, its that simple.

**Jakian** · April 7th, 2006, 09:50 PM

Originally Posted by frog and *BAM*

Your not bad, the best thing you can do is keep drawing, its that simple.

Yep yep!

**demented** · April 8th, 2006, 06:15 AM

Gestures are looking real good.

bhanu's right - good advice would be to convey as much possible with as little possible. Also draw different stages of an action - for instance a guy jumping, draw him as he's running, then crouching just before he jumps, then two frames while he's in mid-air, and then draw him as he's landing. it's really good practice.

keep it up!

- d.

**Jakian** · April 8th, 2006, 12:30 PM

Originally Posted by demented

Gestures are looking real good.

bhanu's right - good advice would be to convey as much possible with as little possible. Also draw different stages of an action - for instance a guy jumping, draw him as he's running, then crouching just before he jumps, then two frames while he's in mid-air, and then draw him as he's landing. it's really good practice.

keep it up!

- d.

I see.

While watching my animation, I realized that everything changes really fast without a real transition. I did that because the moves were fast. DX< Anywho, when it got to the part when it jumped, it made more sense. It seemed like it was more fluid then the other moves. That's because I actually drew it bending down and getting ready for the jump. I think that's something that I should probolly do alot of.

Someone mentioned the "12 principles of animation" to me. I was wondering what exactally those are.

**Jakian** · April 8th, 2006, 10:34 PM

Ignore the black heart.
Okies, I'm having problems with this. I feel that there is something wrong with the chest. It's supposed to be foreshortended, but I'm not sure if I did it anatomicly correct.

Please if you could, crit this, red line it, whatever.

Thank you.

**Orozc0** · April 9th, 2006, 01:12 AM

Your icon is looking pretty luscious. reminds me of She Wants Revenge. haha Anyways. The concepts are pretty cool but you need plenty more anatomy studies. Her rib cage looks flat and non 3dimensional. The body does not look balanced and grounded. The way the legs are placed doesnt make sense. look at the knees and the perspective on the feet. and definitely study the shoulder region. I want to see alot more work coming from you before you start signing pieces. oh and pen is a really good way to practice your line accuracy, so I do recommend using it here and there.

**Jakian** · April 9th, 2006, 01:25 AM

Originally Posted by Orozc0

Your icon is looking pretty luscious. reminds me of She Wants Revenge. haha Anyways. The concepts are pretty cool but you need plenty more anatomy studies. Her rib cage looks flat and non 3dimensional. The body does not look balanced and grounded. The way the legs are placed doesnt make sense. look at the knees and the perspective on the feet. and definitely study the shoulder region. I want to see alot more work coming from you before you start signing pieces. oh and pen is a really good way to practice your line accuracy, so I do recommend using it here and there.

XD. Thank you.

In this particular picture, she isn't supposed to be balance, but I would really like some tips on how to balance my characters more effectivley. That is something that I have problems with. If there is like...a method or anything, that'd be so great.

**Cup of Joe** · April 9th, 2006, 09:28 AM

One of the main problems I see with the last one is nothing is on the same plane. Her head and hips are on the same plane, but her chest is facing a completely different direction, which probably led to the shoulder problems. I think her biceps should be a little bigger also. As for balance, Loomis' "Figure drawing for all it's worth" has a good page on this HERE. Keep at it!

**demented** · April 9th, 2006, 12:46 PM

Yo Jakian,

good tip for balancing: i always put some weight into the picture - darker values indicating weight and lighting. From there it always feels easier to balance a posture out. Another good idea is once you have the posture to see if it is physically possible - try standind in that position and consider your intentions with the pic. Also remember that if someone is off balance, he'll will try to gain balance again or be in the procedure of shifting balance - so certain muscles will be more tensed, and others relaxed.

Other than that, listen to OrozcO. Pen is an especially effective medium for learning.

Hope it helps and keep 'em coming.

- d.

**Jakian** · April 10th, 2006, 05:03 AM

Thank you demented!

I don't know why, but I like pen alot more then I do pencil.

Okay it's comming along. I'm stilll unsure about some of the things said in the last critique, so if you see anything that stands out, please tell me.

I attempted to do a study. Well...not really. I just quickly tried to go over things I was having problems with, and I kinda sorta failed, but I just gotta keep trying.

**Recursive_End** · April 10th, 2006, 05:08 AM

Good, keep studying. Its the only way you can gain knowledge on forms and anatomy.
Dont have a lot to say. You're at a level where you just have to fill pages. Dont bother if its ugly or not. just draw

D.

**demented** · April 10th, 2006, 03:00 PM

Hi Jakian

You're showing tremendous improvement, mate. Pen is a real good idea - loosen up these hand and stimulates confidence. The anatomy on the last one looks good, but you'll have to start shading them if you want in depth crits - and those won't be coming from me!

Balance on the second last still looks slightly off, but on the whole you have two thumbs up my friend.

Other than that - listen to Recursive End, OrozcO and the like - these guys know their shit.

Your coming along very well - keep at it, bro.

- d.