My first sketchbook, Need help....

[Wade h]

Ok well this is my first ever sketch book, Im very new to the world of art but im keen and willing to learn whatever you guys can teach me, i see everyone on this site and admire their talent and hopefully with your help , over the next few months/years, i too can learn to create art like you guys.
SO with that out of the way i must say sorry for the lack of quality in these shots as my scanner has died and i have poor camera, i will try my best in the future to get higher quality photo's or scan's, but im in need of assistance so i thought i would get started on a sketch book now.
I have not drawn a thing in years and i have only just really srsly drawing only a few days ago, and this is what i have so far to look at.
Thanks for reading....


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This is my first attempt at making anything in photoshop..
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EDIT: Did this one again in paint, going to colour it soon...
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Proportions are off in this one i think...
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Bordem and pencils, Ive been trying my hand at some anime lately...
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Once again I really must say SORRY, for the quality.
I'll figure something out later...

Comments... HELP?? lol
Thanks
Wade h

[Beta_v1]

cool stuff guy.
keep working at it.
you have potential.
JUST LIKE ME!!!

[smoothrider_41]

Well, first off, im going to give you a large tip.

STOP DRAWING ANIME.

Not completley, but you should deversify and try many other mediums and styles.It's not bad, but it is very distracting, and very hard to get away from.

I still find it very hard to not draw with that style in my drawing, even if im trying to draw a completely different style.

I drew anime for about 3 years. ONLY anime, and the conversion was a messss for me, and like i said, im still trying to weed it out of me.

HOWEVER. On the crit now.

You second drawings proportions were wayyyy off, but your shading was rather good.

Your little alien drawing is neat. Good composition.

Your hand drawings are very well drawn and shaded, do a few more of these.
The half of a torso in the top is also well drawn, you should try and do a whole one =p

Your spartan drawing was very good, just adjust the angle of his feet and add a background, and the composition will be much stronger.

Also, i love the wing pieces. keep drawing thsoe as well.

REVIEW!
So basically, you just need to draw more and perfect your minor details. You have really good cross hatching already, so im interested in seeing that grow.

Ill post you some references in a few for you to draw from.

Cheers!

[Wade h]

Beta V1- Thanks mate , i will keep at it and see what i can produce next.

smoothrider 41- Thanks heaps for the input, i'll take it on board, and work on some still life stuff aswell.

[lawnboy]

I agree about the anime. It is not a knock on the genre, but if your starting out you're gonna pick up a lot of bad habits. Most Anime (what people like to draw) is flat and lacks any real sructure. I would look at books like " Creating Characters with Personality" by " Tom Bancroft". This is the best character design book on the market IMO. Ditch the Anime for now.

[Wade h]

Yeah no probs, well you guys know what your talking about, i'll lay off the anime a little bit and try and focus on creating more dynamic images that have more depth...Cheers


Oh and i had a 2nd try at photoshop tonight lol...
Im very bad at it, but im getting better...


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[Wade h]

And more crap,
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I HAVE A QUESTION....
I can draw from still life and from photo's quite well, but im lacking when it comes to drawing from my mind which is what i really want to do.
My question is, Will drawing from life help me develop my skills so when i want to draw from my mind it will become easier??

[Cup_of_Tea?]

Hey there,
I have always wondered the same. I am rubbish at trying to come up with good ideas in my head and put them on paper. One thing I have noticed though is that by practising form, anatomy and understanding colour, shade and light it gets easier to do it without a model/source.
Plus, a good thing... look at the daily sketch group/ character of the week forums. Every week they put up a random subject. This is a good way of drawing things that you would never have previously thought about.

I liked the skull and hands. The lines are nice but you should try working on your shading a bit more.

[Wade h]

New sketches coming soon....


But in the meantime.. i need help with understanding photoshop a little better, i have been spending alot of time trying to just blend coloursand try and add some tone to it.... Any advice ppl?
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[Wade h]

This is a WIP but im having a hard time coming up with a way to create a good background for my photoshopped images, would it be best to cut the subject out of the frame, and make a background and then place him in it?
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The Image has a more detail i just used a dark strokes filter, wont be using it when its finished.

[Wade h]

I think i prefer this one..

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I PROMISE NEW SKETCHES IN A DAY OR TWO>>

[JessiBean]

Having issues with backgrounds isn't all that uncommon. What you need to be doing is more thumbnails and planning before leaping into an image, work out those BG and composition issues small, in a sketchbook or on scrap paper, BEFORE you invest time in a piece that doesn't work.

Your developing sense of lighting and form is good, but it needs LOTS more practice. And your anatomy needs some serious help -- almost everything in here is lacking a sense of reality in form and shape. I know you want to be able to conceptualize better, but first you have to stop drawing from your mind for a while, several months at least, and get to studying what you SEE: look at real people, how they move, how the muscles sit under skin, how hair looks, etc. Gray's Anatomy and other good resources are available on Amazon.com, plus there are TONS of great artist reference sites online. You should also draw from life -- try self portraits, get family and friends to pose for you and stop drawing what you *think* someone looks like but rather what they *actually* look like. Once you can master reality, then you can work on mastering fantasy.

And hey, go participate in the CHOW! Nothing will make you improve faster than practice, practice, practice!

Draw more!
:teeth:

[joaKimArt]

I like the first picture. I suggest that you use more colours thou, just throw them out and let the feeling take over. Work fast, and start making more mistakes (not on purpose tho, but the higher rate of failure will also rise the rate of success/improvement. ^__^

[Wade h]

Jessibean: Thanks, i appreciate your honesty, I have taken note and i find that drawing from life for a while is a really good idea, I have already started on a few things. :}

JoaKimArt: Thanks for the advice, i'll keep it in mind :}

[mrbo18]

I agree with some of the sentiments of the posts above. The anime will cause you problems as you develop so it's good you are going to try to steer away from it.

Anatomy is a problem, as it is for all of us. I suggest you check out this site http://www.alexhays.com/loomis/ the contents there should provide you with some helpful info.

Also, you should really practice drawing from life. Anything is fine, a bike rack, a cup, vase, flowers, some guy sitting at a bus stop. Try to draw more with shadow and less with line. It will help you understand dimension and depth better and give your drawings weight. Right now you need to develop your drawing ability, exercise your mind and arm to make you a better artist. The only way to do that is practice.

The most important thing is patience. This is going to take time but you'll get there.

[iven]

Creating Characters with Personality" by " Tom Bancroft". This is the best character design book on the market IMO. Ditch the Anime for now.

Coool I read that thanks, so this is a must have, I guess,.......
I have seen it in Amazone, the cover doesent look like Figure drawings,...

Well I wonder cause I gues concept art ist something different like Toons and Illustration.

Yes buy the way I agree with the other here, I remember I´ve had a appointment in school, there was a girl she draw Manga to and the art teacher say,..."Mangas aren´t good they have no really personality, and the sketch book looked really clean,...!!"

So I made my Sketches dirty,..

[Wade h]

Mrbo18:Thanks for the link, it should come in handy. cheers

[alteredvision]

you have a good starting point to work with! here are two things you can get that will help you..

1.) any books on drawing written by Burnes Hogarth.
2.) and if you want to go into comic book styler art, any books wriitten
by Christopher Hart.

and another thing, don't let a project intimidate you! if you don't get the hang of it the first time try again later after drawing other things. and last but not least, start drawing the things you like the most, just help you get comfortable with learning new techniques!

PEACE!!! :xpld:

[Wade h]

I agree with some of the sentiments of the posts above. The anime will cause you problems as you develop so it's good you are going to try to steer away from it.

Anatomy is a problem, as it is for all of us. I suggest you check out this site http://www.alexhays.com/loomis/ the contents there should provide you with some helpful info.

Also, you should really practice drawing from life. Anything is fine, a bike rack, a cup, vase, flowers, some guy sitting at a bus stop. Try to draw more with shadow and less with line. It will help you understand dimension and depth better and give your drawings weight. Right now you need to develop your drawing ability, exercise your mind and arm to make you a better artist. The only way to do that is practice.

The most important thing is patience. This is going to take time but you'll get there.

MAN!!!!, I have only just started studying the First Loomis book, (Fun with pencils) and even though im only into the first section of it, and im just learning how to Construct basic cartoon style faces, I can already see my skills growing. Thanks heaps for that link, Its a big help.
I'll post some of my first couple of studies out of the loomis book, They arnt A-Grade stuff, but im getting better already.
Cheers
Wade h

[Wade h]

Starting on my first few projects out of that LOOMIS, book...
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Early days but im getting there.... as the studies get harder they become more realistic and less cartoon.


Oh and ive also been working out of another book, by William Parker i think.
This is the first project...
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More when i get further into the books...
Comment if you like, Peace...

[ChaoticKnight]

Cool stuff so far. Be sure to draw from life and draw from figure drawing books for anatomical studies. Those will be your best friends. Once you've done the studies, it will show in your work. Keep drawing, and always love what you're doing!!
:)

[Wade h]

ChaoticKnight: Yeah i have been hearing that alot and have started doing so already :}.
Cheers,
Thanks for the advice, hopefully with time and some more helpful advice from everyone who stops in , i should pick up some new skills.

Also i have my NAVY assessment day, in 10 days.
if i get selected im gonna have to move, but once im posted to a ship i should be able to take some Art/Design Night classes.
Peace out
Wade h

[Wade h]

More from my loomis studies.
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My freind and i had CHOW of our own for fun.
Req's;
Cyborg/Robot
Had to have a Musical item on it somewhere
A helicopter rotor on it somehwere

This is what i came up with, it isnt much..
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Peace
Wade h

[Cup_of_Tea?]

Wade, Hi, I am a little confused about the lack of sketchbook.... I have seen your stuff on CHOW and I am so impressed on how much you have improved in a very short period of time.

Please keep up with the anatomy sketches and life drawing, I think it will make the biggest difference in your CHOWs. Plus, I find that a lot of your sketches are quite flat. This can be immediately made better if you vary how dark your pencil lines are. i.e make them darker in areas of shadow and lighter in areas of direct light. Practise shading from white through to black.

Hopefully you can encourage me to keep up with the CHOWs too. I am just struggling to get them finished.....