Even MORE Random Jonx(Big DL)

[PencilPunx]

*Note: I keep adding new stuff to the bottom of this thread if anyone is interested.

Hey everyone-
I've been reading this site for a few months and haven't been able to post anything of my own due to lack of a scanner. Tonight I found some older images saved on my hard drive, which while not fitting the title "Concept Art" I'm going to post anyway just to have SOMETHING on here. I figured it's better to have some form of work so that when I offer feedback people at least know where I'm coming from. I spent the last 4 hours trying to learn some basic html from scratch in an effort to get these images up. I hope to god it worked!

Anyway, these are in color but I'm putting them under sketches because they are the first things I ever did in Photoshop and I copped out in some areas (hands, legs). Please leave any feedback you can, even if it's just to boo me off these boards never to return. Thanks!

These were done for friends...
The artist formerly...blah blah blah, whatever:
http://mason.gmu.edu/~tdiamond/art/prince
I know this is too "buff" to be John Lennon, but the reference photo I was given had him in a muscle shirt with his arms crossed so he looked more muscular. I don't know, I don't listen to the Beatles...

http://mason.gmu.edu/~tdiamond/art/lennon.GIF
Thanks again, and I apologize if there are any errors in the images. PLEASE let me know if they don't show up! :D

[PencilPunx]

Still trying to add stuff. Hopefully these images are showing up. If not, I guess I'll just keep on doing what I'm doing until someone yells at me:rolleyes:

I've been reading a lot of Hellboy comics lately. I thought I'd add this insult to Mike Mignola's Abe Sapien:
http://mason.gmu.edu/~tdiamond/abe.gif

This is my avatar. I did it with my new Wacom, which, as this picture clearly illustrates, I have NO idea how to use properly yet. It was fun none the less, but I really gotta practice with that bad boy...
http://mason.gmu.edu/~tdiamond/avatard.gif

[PencilPunx]

And yes, even MORE of my "art."

This was all done while at work with a crappy ballpoint pen on the back of various documents. Hope they weren't important.

This Batman's grown side kick, Nightwing.....No I'm serious, it is.
http://mason.gmu.edu/~tdiamond/night.gif

Another Hellboy inspired sketch. Fredflickstone has two in the "Finally Finished" section that put mine to shame. That's not hard to do, but his are excellent regardless.
http://mason.gmu.edu/~tdiamond/hell2.gif

I'm not very good at anatomy(among other things) so I often just practice the same body part over and over again. Sometimes fun to do, rarely fun to look at. Here it is anyway. If you see a mistake I'm repeatedly making in this or anything else, please point it out to me. I promise you'll find no one more willing to take criticism than me.
http://mason.gmu.edu/~tdiamond/neckstudies.gif

I guess I've got enough stuff here (assuming it shows up) where I should add a "Big DL" warning in the subject.

[skrubbles]

what are you talking about? I think your hellboy is pretty darn cool. The hand needs some work but overall its a good sketch, and I love the face.

[PencilPunx]

Thank you so much skrubbles, both for your critique as well as proving to me that my images are loading. I definitely need to work on hands. Practicing hands and feet are for me the artistic equivalent of going to the dentist. It's something I know I need to do, but I'm dreading it. I appreciate you taking the time to comment and I'll work on it.:D

[PencilPunx]

So this is my first attempt at a self portrait using Photoshop, a Wacom, my cheap webcam for reference, and using no form of line art whatsoever, just color. It didn't turn out so hot, especially the nose, but so far I've heard it looks like a cross between myself and Jesus. If anyone has any tips for doing this type of thing, please let me know. In exchange, I will grant them ever lasting life or turn water into wine or something...

http://mason.gmu.edu/~tdiamond/ugly.JPG

[PencilPunx]

Another random image I found. This one was for my roommate who plays in a hardcore/metal band (or "screamo" if you prefer). Not great, but I at least drew the whole body and tried a bit of foreshortening. Criticism anyone? Please?

http://mason.gmu.edu/~tdiamond/devilrock.gif:confused:

[NaTe J]

wow pencilpunx. these are all really nice.

btw whos your favorite punk band?

[PencilPunx]

NaTe J-
Thank you for taking the time to respond. I don't know what I'm doing wrong, but very few people are commenting here. Even if it's just to tell me I suck, as long as they say why I can at least learn, which is the point of me posting. Compliments such as yours sure aren't bad either!

As far as punk bands, I like a lot, though honestly my taste gravitates more towards ska. Some of my favorites include:
Less Than Jake
Operation Ivy
Rx Bandits
Suicide Machines
Rancid
NoFX
Mighty Mighty Bosstones
Brand New
Taking Back Sunday
Common Rider
The list goes on and on. And yourself?

[ulithiarid]

Hey man nice works, i esp dig those ball point pen sketches!
I know how hard it is when u first start using the wacom tablet . . i've done a few attempts and i cant use it for long coz i get depressed at how retarded my work looks, lol
Apparently its good practice to do lots of studies from photographs and spend more time at each painting, gradually u'll get better and what took u 3 hrs to do when u started might only take an 1hr in a few months? but eh . . what do i know, haha

[PencilPunx]

Hey thanks ulithiarid. How experienced are you with a Wacom? I see all these really amazing works on here and have no idea how people can do that. Obviously my biggest problem is that I have nowhere near the accuracy with a stylus as I do a pencil. The other problem I'm having, and this comes with not working much with color or digital art programs, is I have no idea how to use the opacity option. Is it better to use a low opacity so that you can paint in layers, or full opacity where you can't distinguish your brushstrokes. My avatar is a good example of the results I get now, which is a washed out water color look. It's not very realistic at all and I'd like to fix that if you or someone else could give me some advice. Thanks again!

[AlkalineApplesauce]

I think your ballpoint sketches are really good- but I have heard about your problem with the tablet from lots of people. I havent bought one yet because of that. Maybe someone who has mastered the wacom could give a brief explanation for all present.. lol... hmm maybe on the last picture the muscle in the lower leg bulges a bit strangely... probably not much help, but eh.
ps-I love ska! do you listen to reel big fish or the aquabats? they're my fav. ska bands.

[wunder]

nice pics, my only comment would be that on your digital pieces, the lines seem to be very hard and thin, that makes em kinda hard to look at, and gives them a ms paint feel though they are good works, you should work on your coloring and lining style.

anyway, do you remember the band ivy league from the late 80's to 90's?

[PencilPunx]

Thanks guys. As far was my drawings go, I know I need to work on anatomy a LOT, so I'll make sure not to repeat that leg bulge error. I think the reason my digital stuff looks like the lines are so thin is because I scanned them at a very large size, inked and colored, then reduced them. That's probably not a good idea because it does make it look like Microsoft Paint. I'll work on that as well, thank you for the heads up.

In terms of music, yes I definitely love Reel Big Fish. Their last album was sort of a let down to me because it was more pop rock than ska, but every time I see them live they are amazing so I'm still a big fan. The Aquabats I caught on the Warped Tour a few years ago and I found them to be VERY entertaining. They were all dressed up in super hero outfits (as it's their trademark afterall) and they fought "super villains" in various costumes while playing. It was a great show. Unfortunately, as a downside to that I think of them like GWAR, more performance art than good music. I could easily be wrong, but that perception has kept me from buying any of their albums.

Unless I'm mistaken, isn't The Ivy League the band that is currently known as the Mad Caddies? I'm a really big Caddies fan and I seem to recall they were known as The Ivy League for a few years before dropping it because of the Operation Ivy comparisons. Correct me if I'm wrong on that.

Thanks again for the comments. Always happy to talk about art and music!:D