Noob needs help, new car

[relinquish]

Hey, Dreamcast fans - remember Jet Grind Radio (Jet Set Radio)? Decided that, Beat (the game's 'main' character) would make for a cool test of my PS skills (or lack thereof).

I kinda want this to be my 'first' piece of art I can be proud to associate with my name...
... but if it ends up sucking, well, it'll just stay between you and me, ok?

http://soupface.netfirms.com/jgr_tribute_beat_r01.gif

This quick sketch was made using a tablet (something i'm not too hot with) and i'm not too sure about his right arm (that's your left, btw). Any suggestions, comments, spare change would be very much appreciated.

[usagi yojimbo]

nice!

love the spraypaint can , nice perspective. it adds alot of character. its good that you arent scared to try that.

you might want to lengthen the pic though, just to fit the whole can

[NoonThirty]

This looks like a fantastic start to me.

If I were doing this, I'd do a whole-body pic so I could draw the skates. They're one of the "tags" that give the JGR characters their distinct look.

I think you're right about the right arm. It's about as long as the left arm even though the left arm is parallel to the picture plane while the right is coming towards us. Foreshorten!

Can't wait to see it in color. Are you going to give it JGR's clean cel-shaded look or keep it sketchy? I rather like it sketchy, myself.


Noon:30

[relinquish]

usagi : thanks for the help
noon:30 : i've tinkered with the arm some, hopefully better now. Not sure about the colouring, but i originally intended it to be sorta real-ish, not cel like. who knows? maybe...

here's an upped pic (i've been busy, so it's coming along slowly)

http://soupface.netfirms.com/jgr_tribute_beat_r02.gif

somethings to note that have changed:
- tweaked the hand and arm length
- the design on his chest is accurate now
- he has legs, and fat roller blades

still need help here, not satisfied with proportions and perspective but i don't know how to fix it! i'm also getting into trouble trying to draw the remaining fingers holding the can... dunno how you could help with that, but if you could i'll be your best friend
thanks

[sandgrain]

get a spray can. hold it the same way you want your subject to hold it and kinda sketch what it looks like in a mirror or something like that.

i've always heard that you are your own best reference. or someone else. or the neighbors dog. or what ever.

late.

[NoonThirty]

I think you should rework the pose. The arm and leg on our left are both forward, while the arm and leg on our right are both pretty much slack, straight down. This is an awkward way to stand. Try it yourself and you'll see. I think that pose makes it hard to give the character any sense of weight or movement.

Still, great progress. The spraypaint-holding arm is better, but it still looks a little off. I think the elbow should be farther back along the line, and that both the upper arm as a whole and the sleeve portion of it should be shorter. Maybe try striking the pose you want yourself and noting some basic measurements in a mirror?

Keep at it! This is going to be a sweet piece if you can find a groove for it.


Noon:30

[relinquish]

finally something gets done around here... it's been a while since i've done anything with this picture (thanks to real life).

here's some rough colouring done so far:
http://soupface.netfirms.com/jgr_tribute_beat_r03.gif
comments & suggestions welcome

[amphex]

Cool work, but theres just something about the perspective that keeps throwing me off..Im sorry I cant put my finger on what it is exactly.
It just seems that different parts of the drawing have different eye level perspectives..i dunno..heh, ill go stare at it a little more, and hopefully Ill be able to figure out wtf Im talking about =P