May as well start a sketchbook I suppose

[dashinvaine]

Starting off with me trying to do a different type of face than the usual as can be seen througout my deviant gallery...

Reference:
http://www.istockphoto.com/imageindex/67/2/67291

[dashinvaine]

some other stuff

[mitrandil20]

yo dude that crusader rocks!!!

[dashinvaine]

Gothic Psyche...

[Smoke]

No crits as of yet. That's to say, nice work.

[VenomVindicta]

I like the detail you put into the girls' hair, and dresses for that matter.
good work. :)

[ped454]

Indeed I quite like the last one. Very pretty

[dashinvaine]

Thanks all.

[Whyatt Thrash]

It appears obvious in your drawings that you're capable of rendering distances, sizes and basic shapes of your subjects. There are two things missing from making the drawings great. Flow and value.

While you get the basic shape right, it looks like eyes, mouth etc still lacks that last sting of personality, ergo the small details and extra curve or protuberance that gives the feature its character. You might benefit from really studying the feature in detail, watch exactly how the line goes and then exxagerate the motion, ie, caricature it. Then, after you've loosened up your lines, you can go back to making the same changes on a more subtle level to give the feature character.

The other is that you seem to ignore values to some degree. You rely on outlines to define form, rather than looking at lighting and let the shadows create the shapes.

I actually disagree with VenomVindicta and would like to say that, while you've put great effort into the hair etc, the amount of detail is actually more of a distraction. Try tilting your pencil and drawing in the shape of the hair rather than every strand, and then create details and individual strands where needed. Tilting the pencil and drawing broad strokes is actually a great way to loosen up the hand overall, since it actively impedes the ability to "work small" and forces you to think more in terms of overall shape and values of the drawing rather than working in every miniscule detail. Or, better yet, use charcoal...

I also took a look in your deviantart page and noticed that all of your paintings have a certain "blocky" feel about them. It seems that you're not really comfortable with drawing round shapes, like on the breasts, chin, cheekbone, forehead etc. It's not that you don't get the transition from dark to light right, you do. But whenever the shape should be slowly transformed to create a round shape, you don't do the midlevels, or you do it in a "straight" manner rather than "rounded", which creates a block rather than a sphere..

Hope you find some of my comments helpful (and comprehensible). If you'd like some examples IM me and I'll see if I can dig some up. :)

Keep it up!

[Nistarn]

I love your RUSTIC GiRl oil on canvas i beleive keep it up

[dashinvaine]

Thanks for the feedback, which I shall try to take on board. I wasn't aware of my transitions on round shapes problem and I will look into correcting that. Meanwhile here's a new drawing. I would appreciate c&c, esp. re. the anatomy, which I sense may be problematic, and also in terms of character/concept design. The older version of the same character (Dragoonessa) is also shown. I decided make the armour less bulky in the new, and drop the horns, spikes etc.

[dashinvaine]

CA's server seems to be playing up. Meanwhile here's a link to the original on good old DA... http://dashinvaine.deviantart.com/art/dragoonessa-35790645

[m1923]

It's all good. However I think you should do more study on anatomy

[dashinvaine]

Could you be a little more specific in your crits, possibly?

[Nistarn]

Regarding anatomy, you have a line, contour that doesnt allow us to read her anatomy very well. And that warrior on Deviantart regarding proportions has a chest to small.

( couple oil painting )And i know how it feels, when you step away from the canvas thinking, it is done ( not) a couple of days and you have to take it again to a next level .

Keep posting : )

[Timmy the Turtle]

LOL I like Dragoonessa's design with the roman armour (?) and pierced titties (!), but the whole thing looks kinda flat and her right arm is sort of tiny. I like it, nevertheless :)

[Trip]

Beautiful renders, you have the same problem I do, Dynamism, push the poses on the characters harder. I love the girl gladiator or warrior she's beautiful. I would love to see her head down, body crushed up against her shield, screaming defiance at those who would dare fire arrows at her. Know what I mean?:)
cheers