Starting out, ....again

[mitso6989]

Here's on I always start with, I redraw it every couple of years, I call it Allergy Agony.

A bit of trouble there with the scanner, this is over sized, and I'll have to get used to my hardware and the best way to bring stuff in.

This one is my first try at photoshop, just dodge and burn tool. As you can see I don't know how to get smooth even tone yet, that's on paper or photoshop.


more later.

[Longxiang]

Not a bad start there, Senior.

We all have to begin with Loomis. I'll message you where to find his books on the interweb.

[mitso6989]

Three 15 min sketches. This first one is a pose for a 3D character I'm making called Darth Vedra.


These next two are from a Jessica Simpson photo. I thought it was interesting, as she is in motion and it's from a difficult angle. The first one (left), she is not balanced, and out of proportion. The second (right) she is more balanced, and and made the pose a little more dynamic, and the proportions are better.

Here's the orig.

I just took a look at it and then tried to draw it from memory and balancing the pose as I drew it. I could draw it much better if I was looking at it while drawing, I've perfected that over the years. Much more challenging if you just try and recreate the pose yourself and try and achieve proportion and balance.

@Longxiang - Try it. I want to see your 15 min sketch of this pose, how far can you get? Can you balance her?

Ack! looking at these in the preview post I need to go over "how to draw boobs" again

[Longxiang]

@Longxiang - Try it. I want to see your 15 min sketch of this pose, how far can you get? Can you balance her?

Is she off balance?

Ok, but this is the only way I would spend any period of time looking at Jessica Simpson.

[mitso6989]

Ok, I'm going to work on this 'till it gets better, here's another 15 min inking that I did on one of the better 15 min sketches(no included). This time they were all with my tablet instead of paper. I need to setup some better brushes.

[Longxiang]

Ok, I'm going to work on this 'till it gets better, here's another 15 min inking that I did on one of the better 15 min sketches(no included). This time they were all with my tablet instead of paper. I need to setup some better brushes.

You might benefit from some anatomy studies. ...But then again that's true of everyone.

[CouchPotato]

I don't really know what Jessica Simpson looks like (the name is familiar but can't place the face.), but I think 1 underestimation you keep making is how voluptous she is. I mean, I don't know if those boobs are real or not, but they really look a palmful for instance. Ehem.


ANYWAY. I think I'll try this out as well Been drawing too many male manikins lately. Need to get in touch with my female loving side again lol.

And Longxiang is right again of course, anatomy studies!

[Longxiang]

By the way, the best brush in painter for sketching (in my opinion) is scratchboard tool, in the pens section.

[mitso6989]

The Gesture video was a good refresher of my college art class. I had forgotten to focus on movement and flow rather than copying the inner or outer lines. Drew so long by just copying I forget it's not the best way to draw.


I got pressure and pens to work in Painter now.

[Longxiang]

More!

And draw for longer than 15 minutes maybe.

[mitso6989]

Yes, all I can handle is 15 min per weekday. On the weekends though I'm planning on really spending some time bringing some piece to a truly dreadful level. The more time I spend my art starts to make the turn to be like "The Grumpy Snail" that Fry tries to play with his holophoner in Futurama. Lucky I don't do traditional art for my day job (although that might change soon, which is why I'm glad I'm here brushing up). I'll have more time to practice once I get this commercial I'm working on done.

[mitso6989]

Here's a series of figure action drawings, showing evolution, as I struggle with form and gesture, and my tools.

[mitso6989]

just to show in contrast. Without understanding of form, gesture, or value, I had in the past become somewhat of a copy machine, looking at line and matching it as I would copy it. These two drawings were copied from very small 1" pictures that I copied on an 8x11 paper then inked. I used to think that by copying art I could learn how to draw, and I took this to it's total extent. I am quite good at this, but it didn't teach me to draw.

[mitso6989]

One of the biggest problems I have is with coloring my art. I understand tone and lighting, as can be seen in my 3d work, and here in this re-touched picture. But taking an ink version and adding color I'm at a loss as to technique or even how to progress. I have numerous books on coloring, but I really need a video, or to watch someone.

[-sideshowbob-]

watch someone painting heh..here you go :>

http://www.carloscabrera.com.ar/tutorials/

theres also a video inside sketchbook of -> Hideyoshi <-

if u got some money ..or get em for xmas or bday gift
http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/
excelent dvds about .. everything
check out : david levy - if you arr totaly new to photoshop and coloring it really explains alot !

keep postin !

[Longxiang]

The proportions on the second one are a bit wonky, but the lines look badass.

But hey, what's proportion? After all, Rob Liefeld has a job.

[mitso6989]

@-sideshowbob- thanks for the links. I really have never seen any instructional painting or coloring.

@Longxiang- Oh, my freaking hell! I can't believe that Rob Liefeld pic. I got hope from Todd McFarlane, and the fact that he doesn't draw in proportion, but that is, in my mind, unacceptable for paid work. But who am I.

[CouchPotato]

But hey, what's proportion? After all, Rob Liefeld has a job.

>< That has to be a joke....how can anyone put a pass on that one?

[Longxiang]

I'm wondering where exactly behind that shield his ass is.

[mitso6989]

Chatting with Longxiang yesterday he remarked that the one of the guys in the '300' movie trailer looked like he could shout a hole in your head. This has given me no end of giggling since then, making my wife and co-workers question my sanity more than usual. Anyway here's a little sketch of how it looks in my mind.

[Longxiang]

You should totally finish that.

[CouchPotato]

Is that the Leonidus fellow? I think someone on the net made a clip where he slowed the footage like, by a lot, and put some text in to make it look like he was shouting red sauce on pasta or something lol.

[mitso6989]

I am now the proud owner of a tablet pc. Wow! talk about intuitive drawing and coloring! This is what I've been looking for. I liked my little wacom tablet but it always felt disconnected. This is really easy. Now if Wacom will just release some drivers for the pressure sensitivity to work in Photoshop and Painter X I'll be happy. Right now I'm using Sketchbook, it's nice cute and quick and it works with my current drivers for pressure sensitivity. Check out what I did in my first 15 min.

[SEVANS]

Good mix of pics, trying abit of gesture drawing, colouring, various poses etc. Overall, I think that you need to lay down some better guidelines and shapes (underdrawing) on your images. Break things into shapes and place some guides before you hit all the details.

Get the basic proportions and shapes in first. Alot of your figure work has a nice 'flow' to it, but the dodgy proportions weaken the art.

otherwise just keep at it, draw from life and reference whenever possible and have fun.

Look forward to seeing your improvement.

[mitso6989]

Yes I've been told I need to work on structure. I guess I'm in dire need of some direction. Should I refine my 'underdrawings' more? Any tutorials on this? I have seen some books, but videos would be good. I'll look on youtube and other places, but if anybody knows I'd appreciate it.

[Longxiang]

It's like SEVANS said. I don't think you need direction so much as you need to draw more more more!

Break out of your comfort zone, do some still lifes and figure studies.

[mitso6989]

I've decided I'm going to take my two 15 min. breaks a day at work. And, I'll do that by drawing.
So here I am stinking it up. I'm sure these first dozen are going to be terrible.

[SEVANS]

Here's a quick suggestion or challenge (whichever word gets you motivated).

In your first 15min break do pages of ONLY stick figures, with hips, ribcage and skull - think Andrew Loomis style. NO detail, just these 3 main body masses on a stick figure. Make sure that the proportions look good.

In your next break, pick your favourite stick figure and flesh it out. See if this underdrawing helps your progress.

[Konstruktion]

I really think you need to draw more, try hours instead of minutes! I know its hard to fid time to draw, but do your best. "When not drawing, draw from mind" hehe.

[mitso6989]

I'm starting to see a theme here. Draw more. Ok, so I'm in bed at 11pm now posting my 15min I just did. Thanks for the input, I can see so many paths to take I just need someone to suggest one. I drew these in different layers and had them turned off as I drew the next from left to right. I can see some improvement. The third has much better proportions and balance. Whew! you'd never guess I'm a creative director where I work.