I want to get better ( Studying with Jonathan Hardesty (MindCandyMan) doing Bargues )

[Aardvarkphil]

Time to lose the intro story. Everyone knows who am now. If you don't then all you need to know I started drawing in April 07 and I love art and I want to improve.

So the first posts here are what I did 2 hours a week for 10 weeks (starting April 2007). Since then I started a sketchbook and have been going to museums and gallerys to checkout as much other work as possible. Art is now pretty much permeating all aspects of my life. Slowly more and more of my time is being spent trying to learn about drawing. Then I came across this fabulous site and thought this i just what i need. I have no real direction apart from wanting to improve. So hopefully some good critique will give me some structure and direction. Sorry to anyone who has already read this when it was first posted on the Critiques forum. Someone suggested I post here instead so here I am.
691757

[Aardvarkphil]

2H pencil on A1. Not sure where all the time went but this was all I managed in 2 hours

[Aardvarkphil]

2H pencil on A1. Felt like I was going backwards after I was done. Lots of conflict in my mind.

[Aardvarkphil]

2H on A1. First try with charcoal. I liked charcoal.

[Aardvarkphil]

Charcoal on A1.

[Aardvarkphil]

First: Acrylic on pva'd A1. I used sponges and cotton balls. I all dried to quick to undo things and to layer.
Second: Oil on pva'd A1. Again sponges and cotton balls. This was more interesting as you could take away with turpentine to high light and erase.
Although I feel the face in the first has more about it than the second.

[Aardvarkphil]

Charcoal and white chalk pastel on A1. Lots of conflict about the forshortened legs.

[Aardvarkphil]

First: Charcoal, with a bit of chalk pastel and oil pastel for the arm study, on A1. I liked the quick study top left.
Second: Charcoal on A1. Strong pose. Twisted body muscles on the side of the neck

[Aardvarkphil]

Charcoal on A1. Same pose as week 7. Again lots of conflict with forshortened legs.

[Aardvarkphil]

Charcoal on A1. A load of studies.
First: Trying to capture quick poses
Second: Again trying to capture quick poses
Third: Long pose. Quick sketch and leg study with charcoal and chalk pastel

[Aardvarkphil]

The time had flown 10 weeks gone in a flash.
First: Tried to start a long study bit it wasn't going well
Second: Finally getting to grips with the weeks pose. Charcoal and chalk pastel.

[Aardvarkphil]

Ok pretty boring i know but I found it quite challenging couldn't get any further because of rain.

[Aardvarkphil]

St. Davids Hotel, Cardiff Bay. This seemed to take ages but the tones don't seem right.

[Cup of Joe]

There's already some great improvement here! Art is a particularly good activity for situations like this, because it is almost fully a mental activity, so almost no physical handicap can hold you back. And even if you're clumsy, signing you're name takes far more dexterity than you'll ever need to draw or paint (I sort of stole that last part from Richard Schmid, though.)
To help supplement your life drawings, I suggest you find some Loomis books, particularly "Figure drawing for all it's worth", and maybe even Bridgman's "Life Drawing" if you don't like Loomis. You'll be able to find the Bridgman books quite easily, but don't even try for a physical copy of Loomis. A quick search on the forums should get you a link to a free pdf file. Loomis in particular has some great chapters on proportion and foreshortening.
Oh, and one more tip. If you want to add an extra dimnsion of depth, draw the shadow the figure is casting.

Well, I hope this can help you somewhat. Good luck, and keep it up!

[Aardvarkphil]

Cup of Joe : Thanks I've just got some Hogarth and Bridgeman books so I'll start there.

Next pictures The top of a church and the top floors of a new apartment block. I just liked the shape of building and the pattern of the windows.

[Aardvarkphil]

St. Davids Hotel again. Tried playing with some colour for the glass and water.

[Aardvarkphil]

Don't really know what I was trying do hear more doodling and trying out different colours.

[Aardvarkphil]

I think this is one of my best pieces so far. The outline took ages to get right and I really enjoyed the shading!

[Dile_]

Nice thread man, I'm glad you got back to art... sad to hear about the other though :/

Keep the studies up! They will serve you a lot later ; )

[Miles_]

Its great to see that you have taken up a creative hobby and bad luck about the guitar (I play too though I'm not that good). These are looking good, keep practing and you will improve rapdly. Good luck.

Miles.

[codenothing]

Glad to see more stuff from you! :wink: Your pretty good for someone just getting into it. you dont have MAJOR proportion issues in most of your work, so i think youll catch on and advace realy fast with this. Ill write you a bigger crit later. Keep with it! :rendered:

[codenothing]

The biggest thing that helped me when learning was understanding the difference between right brain and left brain thinking.

Most people think and draw first with their left brain. It is a descriptive form of drawing, and uses gineric iconic shapes to imply recognisable features and objects. Stick figures are, i think, the ultimate form of left brain thinking.

Right brain thinking is abstract. The eye see's only shapes of contrast. Abstract shapes that do not hold any meaning to what they belong to, but when you place them together, in proper relationship to each other, they read as a rendered object. Its a lot like the Matrix, "There is no spoon". When you draw an eye, there is no eye. There is a blob of dark shaped like this... and a blob of light shaped like this... and another blob here....

when you back away from it, it looks like an eye.


thats the simplest way I can think to describe the two. But of course there is a lot of exploring to do with it. as far as 'one over the other' They are both usefull and I find should be used together. The left side is much better at working out distances, measurements, proportions, etc, but the right side of the brain is better at applying proper shadow shapes, values, composition, etc...

You draw mostly on your left, which you are good at. Most of your figures are fairly accurate in proportion, and I have no problem Identifying whats going on. You have started to move a little into the right brain abstract, but I think you rely on the line work to carry your image.

Just remember, the only reason you can see someones nose is because there is a shadow shape being cast by it. Describe that shape, and you will describe the nose. There is no need to outline a nostril, or to draw a long line down the ridge. just the shadows it casts, as accurate as you can.

Heres some eye's showing the difference between left and right. again not one is better that the other, but left is descriptive and flat. Graphic. This can be usefull. The right is abstract shapes, rounded, realistic. This can be usefull as well. Notice if you took just part of that abstract shape out of context, you'd have no idea what it was. It's just wierd odd shaped blobs of black. But with all its neighbor blobs in proper relation to it, we read it as an eye.

[sburto20]

You've got some good stuff going phil for someone who has just started. One thing that I can suggest is that before you start rendering, that you check your proportions. When you get your line art correct, the rest is easy. Keep Drawing! Good stuff.

[Aardvarkphil]

Dile : Thanks for popping by and the words of encouragement

Spazazo : Thanks for the encouragement too

Codenothing : Thanks for the time and effort. I can see exactly what you mean. But it still seems very alien to try and draw it that way. I find myself doing the lines then trying to render them away. I'm sure this will get easier with practice.

Sburto20 : Thanks I'll try to pay more attention to that

Arkos78 : Thanks for that link to gesture drawing tutorial http://www.art.net/studios/visual/Rebecca/LifeDrawing1.html

The next for drawings were exercises in capturing things quickly. Not so much gesture as who/clothing/situation. The quotes had nothing to do with the situations.
The first drawing was done over ten minutes stood on a street corner. Stare watch then draw. Done in pencil first then pen to tidy them up and a water colour wash.
174260

The second pretty much the same idea while having a cuppa in a local church tea room.
174261

The third some images drawn quickly with pen during lunch in a local arcade.
174262

The final again pen drawing. Draw a lot of different squares then draw random images of things around you. About 30s per drawing max.
174263


This was a very strange experience that seemed to cause constant conflict as to what I should represent, how to draw it and without too much detail. I seem to be using my left brain sybolism rather than analysing and drawing what is there. Again I think something to practice for capturing situations and moods which can be later expanded upon.

[codenothing]

True! drawing things in the abstract way is VERY alien to most people when they are learning it. and its tough to get comfortable with it. But once you do you'll notice a huge difference in your work.

Though being drawn to line work is not a bad thing at all! there are tons of awsome artists who work almost exclusively with expressive line work. But having that abstract 'block in' ability mindset to access will round out your skill set.

onward cap'n! keep postin!
:yayca:

[Aardvarkphil]

Codenothing : I've taken what you said on board and tried a drawing using a square stick of graphite. Hopefully forcing me to work in tones rather than lines. It may not look like much and the textured paper probably doesn't help but I was quite pleased with how it turned out.

175612

Off doing some life drawing next week and am really looking forward to it. I've got a few ideas to try out after the advice I was given.. If I get some time to myself I'll try to do a few before. If not I will have a batch of drawings to post by monday evening.

[Konstruktion]

Interesting story, I got to say. You said you had some Hogarth books, his stuff are brilliant. Especially Dynamic Figure Drawing, building up figures with blocks and cylinders... it's great. Not sure what constrictive words I can offer you apart from keep on drawing, it's strong of you. Also keep practising the guitar!

[Robz]

keep it up. Progress comes with practice i'm sure of this.

[Aardvarkphil]

Sarcophphagus and Robz : Thanks for popping by guys it'a always nice nice to have some support.

Sorry I haven't posted anything from life drawing, my camera is on the fritz and too busy to get it fixed at the mo. Hopefully get it sorted by early next week.

[Aardvarkphil]

Ok folks final got my camera and laptop speaking. I was really looking forward to the life drawing, had loads of ideas for new ways to look at and draw things. But when it came down to it my brain still seems to be overwhelmed by what to do first. I guess this will ease the more I do. So here are Day 1's attempts.

First one charcoal and pastel on newspaper roughly A2
184265
Second graphite on A2. Just lost where I was going with this one
184266


Day 2's attempts.
First charcoal and pastel on A2
184267
Second Oil(raw Umber) on Pva sealed A1. Was going to be an Ebauche style with light colour added when raw umber was dry but model was unable to do next day so unfinished.
184268


Day 3's doings
First charcoal on A2 layout sketch
184269
Second charcoal and pastel on A2
184270


Day 4 Bonus day
The course was only supposed to be 3 days but the guy in charge managed to get us another day if we split the cost for the model between us. Charcoal on A1 kinda got lost towards the end of the day.
184271

[Aardvarkphil]

This was two three hour sessions with an hour break for lunch. There was no tutor it was all arranged by the model. Working on A2 with charcoal for all drawings

First session.
3 poses on left 4 mins each
4 posse on right 3 mins each
184276
4 poses on left 2 mins each
5 poses on right 1 min each
184277
pose to left 10 mins
pose to right 15 mins
184278
longer pose but again i seemed to lose my way at this point
184279

Second session.
A load of quick poses to warm up. I think they were 2 or 3 mins each.
184280
Long pose for over 2.5 hours
184281

[shatteredhalo]

you sir, are freakin awesome :D I find it amazing to see how far you've come already, and I can't wait to see more!

[Aardvarkphil]

Shatteredhalo : thanx for the kind words. Had a look round your site some impressive drawings there. Got a way to go before I'm anywhere near that

Cardiff Castle done in about an hour and half. Done with 2H pencil. I was sat on the ground and it was getting very uncomfortable by the end. Pretty much I started on the left and worked to the right.
The big empty blocks around and below the castle are trees. Didn't really know how to simplify them effectively.
I haven't had time, with the demands of work, to do as much drawing as I would like and that PISSES ME OFF big time. Anyway before I go into full rant here's the drawing. I'm off to beat myself up properly!
184307

[jedininjaman]

Man you have improved a lot, I really like the man newspaper one, that is great :)

But you have advanved a lot with your anatomy so great job and keep it up mate

Stop by my SB when you have the time, I would like to hear what you think so ya, I will see you soon :)
-jedininja

[Aardvarkphil]

Ok folks here's this weeks life drawing. Again it's 2 three hour sessions arranged by the model so no tutor. All drawings charcoal on A2. I can honestly say I didn't feel ready for this today. Work has been keeping me really busy so I have only done one drawing since the last life drawing. I was feeling really rusty.

First Session
One 5 mins
Two 4 mins
187848
Three 3 mins
Two 2 mins
187849
One 2 Mins
Five 1 min
187850
One 10 mins
One 15 mins
187851
One 25 mins
One 40 mins
One 10 mins
187852

Second Session
One 2.5 hour
187853
Don't really know what happened with this long pose. I really got into doing the drapery at the head end and then kinda rushed the rest in. She looks like she's melting into the cushion she's led on. More practice is the name of game I think and more drawing in general.

[Lee W]

doing very well :) just keep up the persistence and push each one further than the last.

[sabe2003]

Want to get better? Just keep doing what you are doing.

[Guilemo]

You have improved a LOT in a short period. Its a nice story you have in the first post. I think the biggest problem you have right now is proportions. its appears you are doing some figure drawing, which is great!, but why dont you try to do some pure anatomical studies. After doing anatomical studies for a day or two, I noticed that my drawing skills had improved very much!

If you keep improving at this phase, you will become great!

Best
Henning

[jedininjaman]

Hey thanks for posting in my SB, yours looking good man keep it up and draw some stuff outside of these poses, for example the enviro, it looks good man, but you just need to crack down on it, like you have these poses
but keep it up they are looking better mate :)

-jedininja

[The Whistler]

Oh wow, great work on the castle!

as for the figures, you are advancing quickly, just keep up the good work :)

[Dreamworker]

I mate! I'm afraid for your story, but in your words I fill a great mind force and I admire you for this! I see very fast improvements in your works I like in particular your life drawings, walk on this way I will back soon!

[Aardvarkphil]

This week Ihaven't been able to muster any energy for producing art. I think work has left me mentally exhausted, no creativety left and a little braindead. So I feel like I've let myself down and to a certain extent people from CA who have shown an interest. I sure everyone goes through this from time to time. I will try this week to shake myself up and get back to drawing.

OldNoobie : Thanx for dropping by I'm afraid my persistence has failed me this week

Sabe2003 : I am trying

Guilemo : I wish I could have done more but this post is a start towards anatomical studies

JediNinjaMan : Having a few probs cracking down but thanx for popping by

TheWhistler : Cheers there are plenty of castles round where I live perhaps I should start making some trips and sketching them.

Dreamworker : your words are much appreciated thank you


The first page was done a while ago when I first bought the sketchbook. I can't remember what book I referenced from, if anybody recognises it please tell me.
193090

This was all I managed this week. I started with pencil outline then inked the outlines and rendered. This all seemed a bit flat so I gave all the bones an overall wash of light grey with a brush pen. I wish now that I had a lighter grey but we live and learn. Referenced from Cyclopedia Anatomicae
193091

[wild thing]

Wow, you improved really fast. Good stuff.

Keep working on the anatomy studies, those will help a lot.

[Aardvarkphil]

It's been a while since I posted last and I don't really have much to post. Work has been killing my creative side totally, but at least the new batch of life drawing courses have just started. Not that todays drawings were very good. This should mean more regular posts and more time devoted to art. All good.

ChocoNumNum : thanx it's difficult to see yourself improving when you feel like you are in a rut.

This from my sketch book, pencil and a bit of watercolour
200314

These are my latest batch of life drawings(2 hour session). A few 2 min poses on the first two sheets.
200322

I missed a pose while changing my sheet.
200323

A few longer studies on the last
200324

[Aardvarkphil]

Still don't feel like I'm getting anywhere but here are tonight's efforts. Again a 2 hour session.

First and second pages quick poses(2 mins and 1 mins)
200844
200845

An half an hour pose
200846

A 50 min pose
200847

More again Thursday unless I can find a session somewhere tomorrow.

EDIT( all life drawings done with charcoal)

[Krigbrann]

Well I just dropped in here to check things out because of your title, and you are getting better but seeing some more diverse stuff would really be great.

The figures are very cool and you have really put alot of time into practicing them, and I give you props for that.

I'm probably wrong about this too, but it seems like the pencil you used for that last batch isn't working quite right.

[Krigbrann]

OOO so its charcoal. Thats why I said that I was "probably wrong"... I have never used charcoal and when I look at it I usually just think its a very big pencil. Which I should know better. Sorry.

[Nistarn]

That hand reference drawing looks great, you improved your work, keep doing more studies :)

[Aardvarkphil]

MaxoftheSouth : Cheers for the crits I will try to get into somemore diverse stuff but I'm on a life drawing push at least till the end of the month

Nistarn : Thanks for popping by I will try to fit more studies in! but as above for the moment it's Life!


Ok tried some new things with tonights life drawing. First of shifted to A1 paper which was tinted. Second BIG lump of charcoal.

Short poses 1 to 3 all 2mins. Pose 4 was 5mins
201926

Pose for 25mins. I can't seem to get anywhere meaningful out of these mid length poses. I don't know if it's bad time judgement or what but I seem to get totally lost. Just never happy and rubbing out all the time.
201929

Long pose 50mins. I know it may not look like much but I was really pleased with how the pose was captured. Long way to go but happy with where I'm going!
201930

[Krigbrann]

The first bunch of poses were done will a big chunk indeed, and #2 and #3 look really great.

The 25 minute pose does seem to get lost. I'm not sure but it looks as if you work up from the feet to the head. I'm not sure what kind of difference it would make but perhaps try it the other way?

The 50 minute pose looks nice. I'm not really sure whats up with the shoulders but I suspect its the persons pose.

Great job overall. Progress is a beautiful thing.

[Aardvarkphil]

Here is today's batch, not really happy with any of them. But every bad one is one step closer to a good one! All on A1 with charcoal. Kind of lost track of time again and lost my way a bit too.Anyway.

MaxoftheSouth : thanks for your input I tried it the other way. I think it's just me rather than which end I start. It was the pose, the model was leaning over a stool with there arms resting on the seat.

Quick poses 2mins
203888

25mins
203889

40mins
203890

More tomorrow hopefully better!

[Sirio_Brozzi]

Hey aardvark, really agree with the others that you've made alot of improvement over a rather short time period, really liked the encyclopedia anatomae study and your recent 40 minute study. :) As a link to help you, try doing some studies from loomis or bridgeman to help you figure out how to structure the figure. There are free online book directories of these two authors (just google loomis, for eg.) Some of the theory these authors provide will help you improve quickly :) Keep up the great work!

[Katzenminze]

Hey there! I really like how much efford you put into drawing and I'm glad for you that art and creating it makes you happy :D (To me it does the same ;) )

I really like the guy you painted on the newspaper!
The skeleton hand study also is very good!

My criticism would be that you do a lot of small "hairy" lines to "outline" your drawings! this ends up in a more static picture! (Hope It's clear what I mean)
In case, your short lines are in any way related to your medical condition and I'm to stupid to get that, please let me know how insensitive I am!

What I would suggest you to do is have a look at "Force - Dynamic life drawing for animators" by michael mattesi! I'm currently making my way through the book and it really helped me (i guess...) to loosen up!
He talks about drawing the Forces in the humand body not online the outlines! I think his concepts are easy to follow once you get the idea!
Even if you dont wanna become an animator I think this book will help you losen up and produce more fluent drawings!

Please keep up your work! You are getting better and better very quickly! I'm curious to see more!

(Bookmarked your sketchbook :)

Maybe You want to check mine out?

Best Regards!!!

[Katzenminze]

Hey Phil!
Since you replied in my sketchbook I'm gonna do the same in yours :)

Just let it all go and be confident!
I mean, what's the big deal? the worst thing that yould happen is that you wasted a piece of paper ...
I usually sketch on the cheapest paper I can get
(like 2,99€ for 500 sheets,(DinA4) - just simple rubbish paper for your copy-machine
This really helps me losen up since it's no real loss throwing away what you didnt like and just start over again!
I tend to start with very small sketches of a pose und the when I know I sorted itout (somewhat) I start drawing it on a full sheet!
(You could also try to sketchwith some Copic-Grey-tone markers?! usually they give fluent results since you just have to draw quickly. otherwise they will leave you in a mess ^^
and maybe you can try to use a pencil with a big tip! I started drawing with one of my kid brother's biiiig pencils like really big^^ it als helps me staying focused on the forms first, later you can add detail with a smaller/sharper pencil!
Just enjoy what you are doing and stop caring to much!

And you are absolutly right, I really do need to practice from live but drawing classes are to expensive for me.. maybe I can rent a hooker and draw her? ... Better not, otherwise she might think I'm a twisted pervert... anyways, thanks for your kind words in my sketchbook!
I hope I can hear from you soon!

[merl1n]

hey!
I see lot of practice which is good! but I would advice you to study anatomy in another way, I mean muscles - their exact position, function etc when you learn it, you will be able to express figures and characters more natural and loose.. imo :)

anyway keep drawing!

[Aardvarkphil]

I know I reply to everyone who gives advice but I feel this has to be said. This site is really great! A really big THANK YOU to everyone who has given there time and helped me out. I really appreciate all your observations and advice. I hope that one day when my art gets better that I can offer as much help to others as you have to me.

Sirio_Brozzi : Thanks it's difficult to see yourself getting any better. A few people have said about Loomis and Bridgeman. I will have to try a few studies, maybe this weekend.

Katzenminze : I don't think it's the fear of wasting paper that causes my hairy lines I think it's more a matter of not getting it right and trying again and again. I think perhaps I should try to place the line a few times and if I don't get it right then rub out 'the hairy attempt' and try again. I will check out the book you recommended as soon as I have a chance. Thanks for your time and advice it is much appreciated.

Merl1n : Yep I gotta do some studies and as I said above I will try this weekend. Cheers for the advice.

Quick poses 2mins
204483

Two 15mins poses
204485

40min pose
204486

Ok here are todays life drawings. All on A1 charcoal and some white pastel.

[Dreamworker]

Good life drawings, keep more of this mate
Ciao :)

[Aardvarkphil]

Dreamworker : Always a pleasure to have you visit and thanks for the vote of confidence

All drawings on A1 with charcoal and white pastel
First some 2min poses
205571

Some 5min poses
205572

A 15min on top and a 40min on the bottom
205573

[Krigbrann]

Since I have a pencil and nothing else, I'm really not sure what that white stuff is in you last couple of updates (i want to say conte crayon) but you have really got something going with that stuff. Looks awesome.

Now you've heard it a million times, but taking an anatomy book and just drawing a skeleton and muscles would be so helpful by itself.

Also I bet you could do good with portraits.

[Sirio_Brozzi]

Really liked your last 40 minute one mate in post #56, was turning out really nice. take it all the way!

[Aardvarkphil]

Didn't know wether to post these here aswell as 'Spartan Training Camp 12'. But the idea was to post everything here. This is the first time I've ever done anything like this. The sheets are in the order they were done. It took me about 6 hours. I know they are supposed to be quick gestures but thats how long it took. I think I learned a thing or two aswell. And, with a bit of luck, my speed will increase and my drawing improve. Please feel free to crit as this will be something to think about while doing this weeks.
207210
207211
207212
207213
207214
207215
207216
207217
207218

[Evxyza92]

Nice stuff glad to see some studies, they are always help man keep it up!

[Darktwin]

Keep up the good work, definitely improving, just remember, as long as the hand is moving and your focused on what your drawing either from your imagination or life, you'll grow more and more with each stroke. With the pencil that is, the pencil. :P keep it coming

[Aardvarkphil]

MaxOfTheSouth : The white stuff was pastel. Haven't managed any anatomy studies but I did get some gestures done. Haven't ever tried a portrait. I am about to do as one of my mentored assignments from Steve Kim. I've only been allowed 90mins to do it so I don't think it will be up to much, but I will try. It's all a learning experience.

Sirio_Brozzi : Thanks for the support, I didn't think it was any good. That was the first and only time with that model. I'm not good enough to finish it from my head.

Evxyza92 : Will do, I am going to try to do 50 more this week for Spartan Training Camp #13. Cheers for popping by.

Darktwin : Thanks I'm gonna try to hit it hard for a while. Let's raise those skills wether they want it or not :P

All charcoal and pastel on A1
2min poses
207824

30min on top 40 min on bottom
207825

[Aardvarkphil]

All charcoal and pastel on A1
2min poses
208287

30min on left 40 min on right. Not sure what happened with the 40min, just liked the curves.
208288

[Aardvarkphil]

Ok so it's a bit crap but this was my first attempt at a proper watercolour, other than a bit of ink and wash. Gotta get some serious practice in. Trees dried to quick I hadn't finished them. The shadows were left too late, again dried too much. But I think I got the idea. If anyone's got any ideas please tell me.
208889

[Aardvarkphil]

Strange night. Didn't feel like drawing and the model totally freaked me out, his head was waaaay too big for his body. Any how, here's tonight's offerings on A1 with charcoal and pastel.

2mins 1 to 4 5mins 5 and 6
209332

top poses 30min bottom pose 40min
209333

[Art_Addict]

A lot of dedication going into these pages. That's always nice to see :)

Now a couple things to think about.

- Amplitude. Think of the human form as full. Expanding outwards from within.
Therefore creating convex forms. NO part of the body is ever concave !!! It might look that way at first but if you pay close attention it never is in its natural state.

- No parallels ! There are no parallels in the human body. Watch out with legs, arms, fingers etc, all parts taper.

- gesture : the body moves as one whole. one part affects another. Very fluid.
gesture is the essence of the pose. So don't think in big geometrical shapes as so many people tell you as it is dangerous to start thinking about the form as something inorganic.

Just some thoughts to start off with :)

Good luck
Tom

[Lee W]

progress is looking good :) but I would suggest loosing up more .. some of the pencil strokes looks tense.

[Aardvarkphil]

Art_Addict : honoured to have you tred through my humble sketchbook. Thanks for the nuggets of wisdom. I shall try to apply them. Although it is difficult sometimes to remember everything I should when doing a drawing. I guess it will come with practice. Your sketchbook is awesome and will inspire me too.

OldNoobie : I do try if I let go to much the lines don't go where I want them. It's like a catch 22. Again I'm sure it will come with practice.

Cheers to all other vistors please leave a comment hopefully my brain might start remembering everything it should when i draw.

Didn't feel like it was flowing today. Uphill all the way.Drawings all on A2 (no big drawing boards)

Quick 2min poses done with charcoal
210074

last 2min and a 10min done with charcoal
210075

10min and two 5min(trying to capture weight) done with charcoal and pastel. I did like the first 5min
210076

5min(again trying to capture weight) a 15min and a 10min done with charcoal and pastel. I liked the 5min even though the back is too long also th 15min
210077

A 90min. I know the contrast ain't very good but it was done with graphite and I really tried hard to draw exactly what was there. What I did I was pleased with.
210078

A 60min trying to be looser. Using graphite and pastel
210079

[Bartovan]

Hi Phil, nice progress on the figure drawing; it's looking better and better. You might work more on the volumes: think of the body parts as overlapping cilinders or boxes, round off the corners. It might also help to do some basic perspective exercices. Keep it up!

[codenothing]

Hey phil, Nice to see your still working! :confident

I notice you are drawing cercles in some of your quick works. I used to do that too, and an instructor did everything he could to knock me out of the habbit. LOL.

two pieces of advise. one, I'd recomend doing some skeleton studies. One realy cool, and realy fun assignment a teacher of mine had us do, was take a 8.5 x 11 nude photo, and tape a piece of tracing paper on it. But we draw the skeleton of the person. It makes for a very interesting way to think about your subject. thinking about whats going on underneith the surface. Once you get a bunch of skeleton studies, you can try doing the same thing again, but this time doing just the muscles and removing the skin.

My other sugestion, for normal figure drawings would be to not always use one thickness of line to 'outline' everything. Having 'lost and found' lines is a great way to get depth and form.

check out Rubens drawings for amazing examples of this:
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/14264/14264-h/images/30ppi/plate16.jpg

[Aardvarkphil]

CodeNothing : A pleasure as always to have you call. Skeletal/muscular studies on the cards, damn fine idea by the way. Line weight/thickness still too much for my old brain to process. What with all the other things floating in there as I draw. Nothing is second nature yet. So I hope as somethings are thought of less more things can be tried. Again thanks for your time. Reubens link didn't work :(

Tonight's drawings all charcoal on A1.
first 2min quickies
211267

35min.
211268

40min. Approached this one a slightly different way. Created broad lines(with a big lump of charcoal) for limbs and body. Then worked into it.
211269

[Xaya]

well the last one looks quite solid nevertheless there are some things to keep in mind.
First of all study the bones, spine, thorax and pelvis etc.
If you do you will recognise that this is a big help or even essential to construct a figure. The thorax can be seen as a solid thing which doesn´t deform in any way (except while breathing in and out).
So get a anatomy book and learn that stuff.
The same thing with muscles, when you have learned where muscles are, how the look like and where they start and end things get easy.

Finally, keep it simple. Don´t hessitate and concentrate on proportion and big shapes/lines. Adding details can be done afterwards.

xaya

[Aardvarkphil]

Xaya : Thanks for the advice as well as the life drawing I'm about to have a big push with skeletal/muscular studies. I still fight to concentrate on large working to small. My brain goes off on a little detail and I'm away. It is getting easier but point taken. Cheers Phil


Tonight's life drawing was more instruction than drawing. It was good, I think it made me think about things slightly differently. Not quiet sure how to put it other than that. But good to shake things up a bit I think.
Drawing Charcoal on A1. 20min
212018

[Krigbrann]

Not sure why but alot of your figures seem to be really stiff...

A figure isn't just the outline. Try to give the stuff inside the lines more (and softer) detail as well.

[Aardvarkphil]

Krigbrann : The reason my poses seem stiff is I'm not very good yet. I can't seem to loosen up yet, thinking too much I guess. I hope this will get better with time and practice.


3/10/07 Ok my second watercolour. Got the paper too wet, a few times. So a bit of bleeding of colour at boundarys. But overall happy with the general outcome. I feel like I'm learning alot each lesson.
215075


4/10/07 First Oil Painting class. Ok so it ain't much just a colour mix chart. My first go at oils and I like them. The feedback from the paint as you move it around is fantastic. I'm hooked. So begins a long journey learning oils.
215076

8/10/07 Life drawing. Charcoal on A1. It felt like an age since the last life drawing. The first two sheets were hard and didn't really flow. But the last sheet was starting to feel better. Tough foreshortening too.
2min poses
215070

25min pose
215071

40min pose
215072

[Aardvarkphil]

Tonights offering charcoal on A1. Tried to be accurate with the outline. Was just getting to face when time was up. The pose was 35min, a break, 35min.
215631

A couple of portraits from ref done for my mentor. The one on the left is my daughter and took 90min(the time we were given). Doesn't really look like her but thats all I could do in the time. The one on the right 30min(again the time we were given)just getting started no time to check for errors. Check out the pic with the refs in Master Kim's Class.
215635

[Fraz]

Wow, you are improving rapidly. Inspiring.

[Konstruktion]

I think them life drawings are helping you a lot, good to see that you keep updating. Perhaps we will get to see a new update very soon?..

[Aardvarkphil]

Fraz : thanks for the kind words. Sometimes it's difficult to see myself improving.

Sarcophagus : thanks for popping by. I keep pluging away hopefully some of it sticks.


Sorry about this rant coming up.

Felt great going to life drawing. Got there early set up. Easel just where I want it. Chair with all my drawing stuff. Plenty of room to move and step back. Then about five minutes into the session, floods of people coming in just setting up infront and behind me. I was really pissed off. My drawing's suffered because of it. Oh yeah, then there was the man who wanders around. He just kept coming and standing right in my field of view. Then the tutor kept doing it too. I was soooooo angry. I felt like I wasted my time and money tonight. Not that I mind it isn't expensive, but I could have stayed at home and done some painting. Or something more productive anyway

Ok rant over, sorry about again just had to get it off my chest.

Ok tonight's offerings. Charcoal and pastel on A1.
2min quick poses
218859

25min leg study and 40min back study(if you can call them studies)
218860

Oh yeah last weeks watercolour. All about doing a flat wash. I also discovered I had no idea how to paint in ripples or reflections on the water surface. Will have to try to find some time to look into that.
218861

[Dreamworker]

wow the watercolor enviroment is cool, I like the energy of this painting keep more of this stuff!
Ciao :)

[Sig.NAL]

Aardvarkphil, you're improving noticeably with your sketches. I think the your faster sketches like your 20 minute figures come out a little closer to life than your longer studies. Perhaps this is because you're spending less time mulling over smaller details, before nailing all your proportions. (I have the same trouble quite often with my drawings and when i'm doing alot of other things. For instance, playing a game of darts, if i think about making a bullseye and how i'm going to throw the dart just so, I'm almost guaranteed to miss.)

Your line weights are really heavy in a few. Some with the pastels have outlines that are a bit to heavy and make the work choppy. Light and quick strokes i think you'll find will help you alot. If you can make this common practice, your drawings will feel alot more relaxed, not just in appearance but also in the sense of freedom you feel when working on them. I would like to add that i really admire your commitment to your strokes. I tend to lift my pencil too much leaving alot of wispy sketchy lines all over the place which take away from my work, while also confounding my rendering later on in the process.

Also, try to work your pictures evenly, not getting too hung up on any single area for too long, i have trouble with this as well, and it's been taking me a long time to break my bad habits. One example of this i would say is your portraits. The man's nostrils and the girls pupils are rendered completely black before you've used your values to define the shape of the rest of their faces. Try to take the shapes of the face through a wider range of light and darks to express volume. (the left edge of the girls face could be made few shades darker than the rest of her cheek and it would enforce the sense of roundness. Most of the rendering as it is is all at the same tonal quality.

I know the inclination to go ahead and make the areas you know are going to be that dark like so, but i find when i do that, the rest of the image seems to flatten out alot and it seems to prove more difficult to render the rest. My advice would be to work your areas quickly building them all equally. Feel free to jump around and work another area as soon as you start to feel hung up in any one spot; and the areas that you're sure of how they will look, i would say go ahead and put some necessary information down, but try not to add those final darks until everything else is closer to completion.

[Aardvarkphil]

Dreamworker : Thanks for popping by. I'm still just playing with watercolours. Trying to learn different techniques. It is great fun and I enjoy it.

KLEVR : Thanks, as I keep saying it is difficult to self improvement. I still fight to find any kind of consistency in my work. Trying not to caught in details is a constant battle. Confident line seems to be coming slowly. Line weight is something I try hard to control, I'm sure I'll get there eventually. Again value is something I'm only just beginning to get a handle on. Damn so much to think of. I'm sure it will all become second nature one day. In fact if people are as helpful and constructive as you I'm sure I'll get there. Thanks again for your time and effort.


Ok todays life drawing went pretty good. No rant like yesterday. I was quite happy with where my drawing was going. I realise I still have a long way to go. But I left the studio with a big smile.

Pastel on A1 80min pose
219498

[bestow]

The values on the last one are very interesting, they don't seem so lifelike, or realistic, but very much your own style, you might pursue something like that , nice job on the last one.

It'd be cool if you finished it :D

[Dreamworker]

Hey man the pastels painting is come along very well, I hope to see this finished soon! Great job!
Ciao :D

[alesoun]

Consistency in work? Learning isn't a steady curve. Sometimes something will click into place and you'll roar ahead. Then you'll hit a pothole and struggle to find a way round it; then you'll roar ahead again.
Look back through your sketchbook, Phil, and see how much more confident your work is getting.
You have really got something going in your watercolour work, I think. Posts 66, 77 and 82 appeal to me and I'm not a major fan of watercolour. You are developing a good eye for composition, imho....

[Stark]

You are progressing rather quickly and it is a good sign. Though your sustained drawings aren't as good as your quick ones, you are still plugging away at them and that will help you down the road. I've talked to you in IRC about some things you could try out (while also giving you the run down of what it takes to be a good/great artist). Take those as you will.

For a little study homework, try to draw as many legs (from different views) as possible from an anatomy book. Seeing these medical illustrations/photos will help you a ton. Stephen R. Peck is one guy I immensely recommend if you want more help on that. Then once you're done with the legs, move on to the parts of the arms. The reason I am saying this is so that once you understand completely the human skeletal structure and the musculature structure, you won't think twice about how long something is or where it's supposed to go or how it twists. You will have drawn them so many times, that it's just natural. I've done it (and still need to :P) and I can assure you that it works.

Hope that helps and you can always find me in IRC.

[Aardvarkphil]

Bestow : I think the life like issue is due to the fact I only have a few colours but the rendering was fairly accurate. It was some crazy lighting Fluorescent from above and lamp from rear low left.

Dreamworker : thanks for the encouragement. I doubt wether this will get finished. Just move on and try again. Practice practice practice.

Alesoun : I hear what your saying. Always learning and overcoming. Striving to be better. Constantly battling. And no, I haven't looked back through all my work for a while. When I have some time to properly look and evaluate I will try that, thanks for good idea. Thanks for the watercolour support, all I see is the things that didn't quite work.

Stark : You put forward some damn good ideas. I will have to make time to do more studies. Because thats what is needed to progress. And damn I do want to progress. Thanks for the add in your signature, the more crits the better really. Don't want to sit in any comfort zone for any length of time. I'm sure we will chat on IRC soon.


Tonight's life drawing Charcoal on A1.
First 2min poses
223248

On the left 30min on the right 40min back study
223241

[RandAlThor]

Hey Aard, cool figure studies, try to spend a little more time describing the underlying form also, maybe study some muscle illustrations. But, good work man, keep it up :-)

[Aardvarkphil]

RandAlThor : Thanks man Yeah I really must find some time for extra studies.


Ok kind of went crazy during life drawing. Don't really know what to say other than that. The scene was no light except one small lamp. So you could just about see the model but not really see your paper. It was all going ok then I just decided to go colour. It all looked so good when I could barely see it. NOT SO GOOD when the light came on. The moral of the story is don't do colour in the dark.

Charcoal and pastel on A1. Three quick poses 3 mins each and about an hour for the Rainbow Warrior
223807

[Aardvarkphil]

Got my scanner back and it works again.
First picture 'Crazy Sunset'. It looks a little redder than the original. Wish I hadn't tried to put the birds in they kinda spoil it. But it's all a learning experience.

231450

Second picture 'Calm Evening'. Lots of add a colour then dry going on again.

231451

Third picture is an all at once smaller version of the second. All at once because the paper was wetted. Then everything done while it was still wet. I was kinda hectic I can tell you.

231452

It seems I don't have any space to upload pictures so I will upload the pictures when I can either delete some posts or get some more space. Cheers Phil

[Art_Addict]

Hey Aardvarkphil,

Steady pace you got going here ! Nice.

The images in your last post don't show btw.
Freaky colours on that last figure drawing ! :)
Remember to use your entire page the whole time. Don't start creeping up in
the corners or sides of your paper. Move your whole arm when your drawing as
well. Your shoulder joint should do a lot of work, Especially when drawing big.

Good luck

[Aardvarkphil]

Art Addict : yeah I know about the pictures not showing in the posts hopefully it will fix itself soon. Don't know what came over me with the colours really, but you gotta experiment I think. I'm not sure why I don't use all the paper. I think I mean too but the scale I start out with gets smaller as I block in and correct. I did try to use my whole arm tonight.

Tonight's drawings charcoal on A1. With a twist. I used my left arm, for the first time, to draw. Very strange indeed. Very difficult too. Lots of conflict in my brain. But I must admit I impressed myself. I thought it would be a waste of time. I actually enjoyed it by the end. I might try this again next week too. It was alot easier to avoid detail and concentrate on large shape.
First 2min poses.
231454

Long pose 60min
231455


Cheers Phil

[Aardvarkphil]

Thank you Emily G for fixing my account. I can now attach images again. And a Bump, oh I am naughty!

[Sirio_Brozzi]

Very nice work with some of these watercolors mate, really liked 'calm evening' the most. Colors are just right, its simple, and its relaxing to look at. Keep at it with the anatomical work.

[Art_Addict]

The 60 min pose is a nice start. I can see progression.

You should avoid making parallel lines in the figure at all times.
Remember that arms, legs, fingers and other parts taper because of their logical structure.
Heavy at the base/joint and narrower at the end. Therefore no two sides of the body ever
run parallel or symmetrical as is the case in your drawing with the upper leg. Also the shadow
never makes a parallel line to either side of the form ( your legs, arm in this drawing ).
Watch out for this!

Good luck

[Aardvarkphil]

Sirio Brozzi : cheers man I really enjoy doing the watercolours. It's quite relaxing too.

Art Addict : I'm surprised you see a progression. This life drawing session was done with my left arm and I've never drawn with it before, ever. Yeah someone has mentioned about parallels and concaves and as I was drawing it this was going through my mind. Were you were referring to the calf as it reaches the knee. That was how it looked squashed by the calf under it. But I will be extra vigilant from now on about any parallels. Thanks Phil


My first real oil painting attempt.It's a Sargent study, Lady Agnew. Still trying to get hold of a large print. I'm working from two different print outs with slightly different colours. Which sucks but It's all practice. Should teach me a lot, hopefully. As soon as I get a Larger print I will do a full version rather than just studies of bits.
231540

[Coleb]

Those water colors are really pleasing! Love the way you´ve captured the water.

Figure drawing is coming along, good work. You wouldn´t think it would be so hard to just draw what you see, instead of what you ¨know¨, would you?

[bhanu]

hey man nice watercolors,, umm have you done a pencil study with shading of the work , if not then do some, that will really help getting the volume in this pic too...cuz when you are dealing with colors they have their own problems too...so keep divinding your problems and then work on them . I hope I made some sense.

take care.

[Mon Chat]

Hey, my only advice to you for the painting would be to avoid black as a colour for shading. makes everything a little wishy washy. try using the oposite colour of what your using at the time. eg red - shade with blue/green and so on...

[Aardvarkphil]

Coleb : cheers man I enjoy doing the watercolours. I know exactly what you mean. I wish I could draw what I see. But I'm sure it will come with practice.

bhanu : Again thanks about the watercolours. No I haven't done a pencil study. The problem is I'm working from a poor JPEG. When I get a higher resolution image I will try a study or two. Thanks for the advice and it does make sense.

dr-yes-no-and-maybe : Cheers for that. I havent got black in my palette for this particular study/exercise. Trying to see the colours from the ref I have is not so easy. But I am trying to mix the colours I need but still having some difficulty reaching them sometimes. Again more practice should make it easier.


Ok on with the show. Tonight drawings, again done with my left hand instead of my dominant right. It feels very strange using my left hand. Slower, but easier in the respect that I don't get bogged down with detail. Like I do with my right. Finding a bit, then dissappearing into render and detail. I don't know if that makes any sense. I don't even know if it's a valid thing to do. But until I find out otherwise I will try to use both to do drawings.

All drawings charcoal on A1.
First 2min poses
233498

30min pose
233499

40min pose
233500

[Aardvarkphil]

Should be life painting really. This was hard. I seemed to spend more time erasing than painting. I felt like I just got to the stage where I had blocked in the rough shapes. With another few hours I could probably made this look a whole lot better and finished. Anyway, overall I think I enjoyed the challenge of working with something wet rather than dry mediums.

Raw umber oil paint on PVA cartridge paper A1.
234317

[Aardvarkphil]

calling this one Savannah sunset.

235485

[Aardvarkphil]

Tonights life drawing after a flustered day at work and rushing to get there. Felt hungry all the way through, hadn't eaten since breakfast. Anyway all on A1 charcoal and some white pastel on the last one.
2min poses
238036

30min pose
238037

45min pose
238038

[Aardvarkphil]

Tonight my head was in a strange place. I didn't know what I wanted to achieve with my drawings. I just felt lost. No idea where I was going.
All charcoal and pastel on A1
From left to right.
Two 5min poses and one 30min
238826

35min arm study
238827

[spudstudios]

Very nice book here. I can really see you are growing as an artist. The 2 common issues here are form and proportion.
Do you hold up your pencil when you look at the model for proportion-measurement?
Also you need to feel the form a little more I think. The way light moves around a shape instead creating these hard straight lines.
Concentrate less on the line and more on the light and dark.. you will be suprised how much more natural it can be. Forget details for now. Just rough it in.
Of course this is just my view.. feel free to ignore me :-)
Look forward to updates. Best of luck! keep drawing and smiling!

[Aardvarkphil]

Spudstudio : Cheers man I really appreciate it. I guess you have a point about the measurement. I do a bit at the start, but mostly use shapes and angles to build the drawing. I love the way light flows around and over objects. So I like your idea about light and dark and will try it at the next lifedrawing.

Here's tonight's offering. A little bit of watercolour and pen.
239492

[Aardvarkphil]

Heres week 2 of the Sargent head study. Not really sure if this is getting better or worse.
240174

So this week in decided to do a quick study of the chair in the picture. Just as an exercise in colour mixing. Not getting there quite but getting closer.
240175

[Aardvarkphil]

Absolutely exhausted after this. All drawings on A2, that was the biggest board they had. All done with charcoal. I concentrated on shapes to get the outline. Rather than the half hearted measuring I usually try.

2min quick poses, sorry they are a bit faint
241440


10min, 20min, 15min. I liked the feel of the 20min
241441


25min and 40min. Don't know what happened with the 25min but I was happy with the 40min, the model commented on this one too.
241443


90min. I was very happy with this, again the model liked it too.
241445


Just a mess around for 25min. Quickly blocking in solid shadow then adding detail
241446

[codenothing]

hey ardvark! your 2nd to last one, the 90 min is great! all these are coming along. keep drawing! :)

[Art_Addict]

On the Sargent copy. Don't use a grid, you want train your eye properly.
Focus on what's important during the copy. Don't be a slave of the picture.
Copying doesn't equal drawing.

[Aardvarkphil]

Codenothing : Cheers man. Still a long way to go but I'm not gonna give up!

Art Addict : Thanks for the advice. The grid was being used so I got somewhere near with the drawing. Leaving me one less problem to try and solve as I painted. I don't know if it's right or wrong but I'm using it more as colour mixing exercise. Also trying some different stuff out too.

That Fat Kid : Thanks for droping by. I am thinking of starting some Bargue copies after Christmas and Seattle. That should help start the honing process I hope.

Tonight's drawings are charcoal on A1.
2min poses. Still don't seem to be getting where I want with these.
243038

On the bottom(and sideways) a 40min that got all out of scale. On the top 40min that I was quite pleased with. Of course it needed more work but it was going in the right direction
243039

[Aardvarkphil]

That Fat Kid I'm all confused. I thought Bargue drawing was training you to draw what you see. Then you go onto cast drawing. Then you go onto life drawing. Then onto painting. Perhaps I should stop painting all together and just draw till I get better. Draw from life to improve. Keep on with my lifedrawing and do still life's like you suggest.

I don't know what old habits I have I've only been drawing since April. I sure as hell don't want to ignore advice. Perhaps I need things explained more simply so I get it?

Perhaps I need to rethink my approach to improvement?

You certainly have raised a lot of questions. I don't know how to answer some. Perhaps this is just what I needed. Maybe I was getting complacent without realising. My head is in a spin.

[Aardvarkphil]

That Fat Kid I'm not insulted at all. I felt more like I had insulted you and Art Addict. I hope not. I really appreciate you taking the time. I have a real desire to improve. I believe, after thinking about what you said you're right. I should question more rather than excepting. Damn thats a mighty fine lesson. Please come kick my arse anytime, I would really appreciate it. Thanks again for giving me loads to think about.

Sorry for the last few posts not having pictures. They were not meant as bumps. I really believe this was important as part of my learning process.

Cheers Phil

[Aardvarkphil]

Life drawing charcoal on A1. Not sure where I wanted this to go. I still had Art Addicts and That Fat Kids words echoing in my head.
244957

Watercolour. Kind of a cliche christmas card, what else can I say
244958

Oils. Started a new pic after mondays critiques and advice. Its a cross section of a piece of agate. The ref picture looks a lot darker than it should be. And after looking at the photo of my work next to the ref photo I can see loads of mistakes. Well I will try to correct them next time. Hopefully getting it a little closer. Again I'm still learning what I can and can't do a bit by trail and error. Trying to get the base colours fairly close.
244959244960

[Aardvarkphil]

Charcoal on A1. Just a 40min study. Didn't manage to get anything done after the break, I ended up rubbing it all out.
252929

[Aardvarkphil]

Not very happy with this watercolour. I seemed to spend too long drawing and then rushed the painting.
252945


My agate painting. This is deviating more from the ref than I would have hoped. But I hope, at least, that the feel and look is getting there.
252946

[Aardvarkphil]

Graphite on A1. 40mins, break, 30mins. I was quite happy with the way this was going. Hopefully next week we can have the same pose and I can get a little further. Not the greatest photo but I will try again tomorrow in day light.
253066

[codenothing]

Hey the agate painting is turning out good!

Ive been pondering and pondering what your figure work reminds me of. And i think i finaly decided it reminds me of picasso's figures in the blue period.

I duno about you, but when i was in figure drawing i was always trying to make things look photo real. It would be interesting to see what you came up with if you were shooting for a picasso style. Looks like it may lend itself to you quite naturaly. you should pull out some paint and give it a whirl sometime.

[Aardvarkphil]

CodeNothing : always a pleasure having you visit. I hadn't really thought about anything like doing paintings in somebody elses style. But I might just give it a go. I'll have to read up on Picasso and see where he was going in his Blue period. Thanks Phil

Tonights watercolour offering

253716

[Aardvarkphil]

Tonights update I decided to darken the background to increase the contrast a little.

254442

[Aardvarkphil]

Bit of a mix up at the venue for life drawing. They didn't have a heater. So life drawing was cut short because the model was freezing.

First the quick poses all charcoal on A2
256139

Left 15, Middle 20. Top right 20mins the shape just caught my eye. Bottom right 20mins. Charcoal and pastel on A2
256140

[Aardvarkphil]

Tonights life drawing didn't go as planned. I was hoping to finish off last weeks picture. Last minute the model called off. Oh well, probably would of spoilt it anyway.

All drawings Graphite stick on A1.
Quick poses 5 mins each. I think the one on the left is the best, also the first one i did.
257610

Long pose 30mins, break, 30mins. Should have gone onto another after 30mins rather than messing with this one.
257611

[Aardvarkphil]

Don't know whats happening lately but motivation ain't high. This is poop. It was done in 30mins. Now I've scanned and put the images into the computer, it looks even more poop. I'm not going to make any excuses. But tomorrow I will try again to do a better job.

263482263478

[Katzenminze]

Hey, maybe try yourself at drawing a portrait in 3/4 view (more from the side)
Because it's less difficult to get the proportions tight than when you're looking straight on the face. (Straight on it's very obvious when the proportions are not the same on each side of the face) But by turning the head the eyes won't be the same size anymore so it's easier to oversee minor mistakes :) Also it will unflatten the picture!
(for that you should also use a higher value scale (more contrast) like fro black to white insted of mid grey to a bit brighter grey, just youse a softer pencil (like up to 5B or even 6B for the darkest values! Dont be shy to really darken it up! gives much more depth!

Hope you get your motivation back!
Just remember to smile when drawing ;)

CHeers

[Dreamworker]

Hey man I see very good progression in your color stuff! I love your great sense of color in watercolors and I think you do very well with them.
For the portraits I suggest you to change the approach to capture the essence of the face. You can see this very useful tutorial
TUTORIAL (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=14119)

Keep it up, cheers ;)

[Aardvarkphil]

It's been ages I know. Been really busy sitting electrical qualification upgrades. Mostly done now. Anyway not so much time to darw and paint. So here are a few things I managed to squeeze in. All are oil on canvas.

Still need to add some detail and lettering on this one
336652

Still need to finish the background
336653

Got loads to do on this too, only just started this one. Also this is the only painting of the bunch where I did an underdrawing, in raw umber.
336654

[Ohaeri]

That apple looks great! :) And I agree, your watercolors are wonderful. I particularly like the one of the agate. :)

Have you ever read "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain"? I really recommend it for learning how to do portraits. I was complete shite at drawing the human face and then I read it and it was like a light clicked on in my brain. My drawings have been better since. If you aren't already overwhelmed with books and the like I really recommend it. You can do some of the exercises online too: http://www.drawright.com/'

Just keep practicing and everything will click into place, I'm sure. :)

[Lionsword]

It seems to me that with your drawings, you're thinking too much 2D lines instead of 3D forms. What I mean by this is that you're drawing the lines you think you see, and using them to show the form, instead of drawing the form you actually see, and indicating it with the shadows and highlights.

When you draw, you should be thinking about the form before you even put pencil to paper. A good example of this not being done would be your portrait from Dec, '07. What I see is you dividing everything into wholes (like the eyebrows), then attempting to shade according to your lines, which often results in off shading. What you should be doing is using your lines to give you a guideline for your shading, unifying everything with these lines.
(I realize the last pencil drawing in here is from last year, so if you feel you've improved in this since then, ignore the above.)

Something that would help you get a better understanding of form is blind contour drawing. Simply put, it's drawing from life, without looking at the paper, using only one, continuous line. Click here for more info (http://www.toadhollowstudio.com/Blind_Contour_Drawing.html). The idea of blind contour drawing is to teach your eyes and hand to act independently of your conscious brain that says "that looks like this" and to draw what you see is there, not what you know is there.

Your shading is pretty good, and the anatomy studies are coming along nicely, keep it up. And I agree, the watercolours are really nice to look at.

[Dreamworker]

Wow great progress in your works, I like the hand and I love the watercolor in reply #124!
Keep it up, ciao ;)

[Aardvarkphil]

I guess I'm writing this down to make myself do it otherwise the lack of energy takes over and everything slips.

Ok guys been a little under the weather. Haven't had the energy for anything. Feeling a bit more energetic now. Just got my oil studies back, they've been on display all summer in a local art college. Will photograph them tomorrow and post them. Also I'm gonna start a new painting next week.

Also I finally got a Wacom a5 wide, Corel Essentials 3 and Photoshop CS2. So once I get my head around the coordination and all the shortcuts, I should start posting some digital stuff too.

Thanx Fanficbug, Lionsword and of course Dreamworker for your support.

[Aardvarkphil]

Ok finally got my three studies, I exhibited at a local art college, back. They ain't "all that" but I was pretty happy with them. Also that they asked, after the 2 week show, if they could leave them up all summer.

All are oil on canvas pad roughly A3 size

Finished apple study
474902

Hand study
474903

Glass and cloth study
474904

[Aardvarkphil]

Just a quick update. Sorry no pics to add yet. Just to let anyone who's interested know what I'm upto now.
I've started studying with Jonathan Hardesty, AKA MindCandyMan. I will be updating when I finish the various projects and drawings. Currently I'm doing my first Bargue copy. There have been loads of threads of people doing Bargues. So I don't won't to bore people with another. So just updates of finished work.
Almost finished my first and learned a ton. Will try to condense my thought's about the process when it's posted.

[Aardvarkphil]

Time to call this bad boy finished. The more I look at it the more I can see that needs fixing. But I need to move on to the next Bargue and apply what I have leaned on this one. All done with an HB Pencil. Well actually used two complete pencils and into my third.

The biggest lesson I learned is spend more time on your block in. Gotta get it perfect. Otherwise everything that comes after won't be. I spent over 100 hours on this one all told. Far too long really for it's complexity. But it was great fun and I really enjoyed the journey. It also taught me how to handle a pencil. Gotta keep that sucker sharp too. Kneadable erasers are wonderful. I never knew they were so versatile. Anyway on to the good stuff


691755

[alesoun]

Good to see you posting again, Phil. Don't leave it so long next time, will you? :)

[Aardvarkphil]

Quick post. This is the setup for my next Bargue. Don't hold your breath for updates it's gonna take a goodly while.


693502

[Cacodaemonia]

Wow, those Bargue studies look pretty damn accurate to me! I'll have to try these some time. :)

[German-s]

definitely enjoyed your most recent work! thanks for sharing =]

[hala]

Hey phil!!!
Your stuff is looking great!!! :)

[SMILEFACE]

WOW YER REALLY GREAT!!!!!!sooo MANY AWESOME PAINTINGS!!!!!!KEEP WITH THE GOODS!

[haiku]

Hey. some nice work here...good luck.

[kikindaface]

Hy phil, what's up ? You have really nice stuff ! your color and proportions improved as hell ! Try to do more of everything ! selportraiiiits ! Keep it up

[Aardvarkphil]

It's been awhile. I've been concentrating on getting fit, losing weight and getting my life into balance.

It seemed everytime I concentrated on something in my life something else suffered. Well no more things are working out nicely. Changing things a little at a time.

Anyways enough hogwash. Heres a portrait I've been working on. It's not finished yet. Also the photograph is a little washed out

HB on crappy sketchbook paper. But it's only one of many studies for some paintings. Ref was supplied by the awesome Phil Holland

854972

[Turbosnail]

Nice one Phil!
Just been looking through your sketchbook and your drawing skills have improved dramatically!
Well done mate. Keep up the hard work.

[PrimaryVIVID]

Watching your progression over 2 years time is amazing! Your figures have really improved, and your Bargues studies are spot on! I think you've inspired me to start one today.

[Aardvarkphil]

Here's may latest drawing. No where near finished, just blocking in the masses and major values. Not the greatest photo, I will have to make a jig for photographing my sketch books.


866404

[a la bapsi]

nice job with your pencil rendering so far.
I love the portrait study on this page and
the woman in the coat looks very promising. :D
Can't wait to see an update of her from you

[Whirly]

Wonderful and very fast improvment on this thread :)

[Aardvarkphil]

Here's my latest sketch. HB on crappy sketchbook. Sorry, bad photography. Photo ref Parlami
910308