dead

[mlessard]

blablablabla

[zeroe]

pretty good start, you seem to have a pretty good graps of anatomy etc.

Now you just need to define ur shading abit more, cause with your light pencil lines all over you cant make out individual forms too well.

Just get that down and ur laughing

[endregan]

Hey man these drawings are great! Taking classes do help a lot... I like to see your progress it's really good so far... just keep at it!!

:)

[zeroe]

good work on the recnet sketches, good perspective going on witht he hands, however i do encourage you to use a ruler when drawing rooms and such, otherwise you usually always end up having problems with perspective and alignment.

you say that you cant draw from reference? There are a number of techniques that can help you witht hat, firstly you need to accumulate a library from which you can draw, this takes time, but eventually youll get it. then you need to start drawing without reference, draw small thumbnails of the images in your mind first. You can also try to draw small sketches with your eyes closed, the more you practice that the easier youll be able to manifest your thoughts

[MindCandyMan]

hey mlessard great stuff...you have picked some really hard anatomical poses and gone after them...good job keep it coming. Just to add on to what zeroe said earlier...I do agree that your pencil lines (shading...etc...) aren't direct and there are a lot of stray lines. What I mean is that you have covered each figure with a tonal value...when I squint looking at your drawings I only see the outlines of each figure with are darkened. Definitely don't darken all the outlines of each arm and each piece of clothing...etc... that will kill a drawing from the beginning. Check out Kress' drawings:

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=13003&perpage=10&pagenumber=1

There are definite "darkest darks" in his drawings and lightest lights. He does outline some things but the seperation within the drawing comes from the values he has used. The spaces that the light is hitting are whiter and the places where the light wouldn't get to are darker. Not sure if I am explaining it clearly. Basically I mean...don't cover the drawing with one value and then outline each part...analyze the drawing and find the lightest lights and the darkest darks and then slowly and methodically fill in the in-between. To practice this try drawing an apple or even a shoebox or something like that...that will have different shades of light. If you do that exercise stay away from reflected light...that should come later. Hope this helps and hope it makes sense hehe. Keep it up!

[MindCandyMan]

Ok before I start...I just wanted to give you encouragement...I did this almost one year exactly ago...little bit less than a year:

http://www.mindcandyman.com/jons_uploads/Drawing16QuickSketchweb.jpg

This is in no way to make myself look good because I'm not...I don't compare to any of the professionals on these boards...not by a longshot...but I wanted to give you some encouragement...because look at that sketch...what was I thinking!!!!!! But a year later I understand a lot more. Don't be discouraged and you are drawing a lot more than most I have seen on these boards...most people talk talk talk and don't draw...you have a lot of updates and you are drawing like a madman...GOOD! I think I know something that will help you learn to control your values. What you need to do is do a good master copy...

Try doing a copy of this: (IF THE LINK DOESN'T WORK TRY COPY AND PASTING IT INTO YOUR BROWSER AND DELETING THE "HTTP://" AND THEN PRESSING ENTER)

http://www.artrenewal.org/images/artists/J/Jacobs_Ted_Seth/large/SEATED~2.jpg

Put his up on your computer screen or print it out if you can and do it kind of like a bargue drawing...but copy it EXACTLY...you will see how tones are used...it's a very fun and interesting project. Trust me...working 3 weeks on this one drawing getting it EXACTLY as you see it in the original will be worth more than struggling for a couple months trying to figure it out. Trust me when I say it will be a good use of time. Remember that drawing is mental...if you understand or know what something should look like you can draw/paint it. It's not like a surgeon...we don't have to keep our hands completely still...you can still have the shakes and be a good artist...you just work larger. Anyways (sorry off track hehe) what I mean is that if you "understand" how to simulate light you can then put that into practice...do anything you can to understand how light works. Look around when you are out...when you are at home...look at what shadows do...pretend you are drawing or painting when you are looking at things...ask yourself, "If I were to draw this what would my values look like? etc... At any rate...doing a master copy will hurry along the process of learning what correct pencil work looks like...and doing this will teach you about how light falls on the human form as well. Keep drawing...you are inspiring to me!

[endregan]

your doing a lot of studies which is great!

your figure is coming along awesome..!!

[endregan]

hehe man thats a good question. too bad i dont know. If you find out please tell me :)

keep it up!!

[Jamaludin]

Youve got the basics already thats for sure, the only thing is what is already mentioned is your shading then your ready, its already looking really good. Keep it up ! cheers !!!

[Jamaludin]

Dude you really have the basics, your form is already quite good and you already have a certain flow in your drawings which is really good since then it does not look to static it already looks very alive, so YOU DO HAVE THE BASICS lol ! But keep it up mate and good luck ;) Cheerios !!!

[MindCandyMan]

Here is a way to draw the figure from your head...very effective way to learn...and free. Also check into Bridgman's guide to life drawing...that's a great one too...drawing the figure when it is in front of you is extremely difficult so you can imagine what drawing the figure from your head is like hehe. If you have a hard time drawing it when someone is standing there (I certainly do have trouble) then trying to do it from your head will be even more difficult. As you grow in knowledge and as you practice a head...a foot...etc... millions of times you will start to learn. Seriously I think it is a mixture of everything...drawing from life...learning structure...trial and error drawing from your head...everything. The biggest thing to overcome I think is learning how to think in perspective...you have the seeds of that thought though I can see it in your sketches...that's good!...you understand foreshortening even if you can't reproduce is fully at this point. Another great tool is this video from marshall vandruff (how to draw animals) he talks about structure and how to visualize something in 3d as you draw...it's very helpful...I am saving up for his perspective series...that is vital if you ask me (www.draw123.com) . Justin Sweet and many others learned from him.

As far as the shading goes...you are not constructing your shadow shapes first...The best way is to figure out where will be in shadow...indicate that first and then darken everything together.

Ok here's what will help...trust me on this:

http://www.artrenewal.org/images/database/atelier/large/Ron_Lemen_Life_Drawing.jpg

Do an EXACT copy of this drawing. (If the link doesn't work...copy and paste it into your browser...delete the http:// and then press enter...then it will work for some reason) Do it about 8 x 10 ...be sure to make it EXACTLY as you see it...everything totally exactly...you have to trust me on this...once you do that and are able to achieve the same effect that Ron Lemen has captured here...you will understand so much more about light and shadow. Trust me it will be time well spent and will give you more direction!

[endregan]

awesome studies, and a lot of them.

just keep your shading tighter, less lines i find it works better. or leave shading till later

[winjer]

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11305&perpage=30&pagenumber=3

Look at his planes self portrait. I think your shading will improve greatly if you just start developing a sense of planes on everything you draw. Your shading now tends to just flatten everything out. Its important to leave places light and create strong contrasts. One other thing is dont worry so much about small superficial features like hair, fur fingers. Just put a quick simple shape and move on. The big shapes will help your drawings look more real than getting a finger or eye exactly right

[endregan]

awesome progress. your eye is being trained i can see, you are seeing things a lot better. a lot of these are from picture right?

your shading skills are coming along nice as well. just keep it up!! :)

[endregan]

these ref pics are looking nice. :). just keep at it!

[steak-tron]

nice work mlessard. I can clearly see the improvement, shading is tough and there is a ton of ways of doing it, I only hatch but it has it's limitations (hard to get subtleties {spelled wrong?}) the last two portraits of girls are really starting to hit home, the eyes are very nice. concequently the eyes are the key to drawing a convcing likeness. keep it up -isss alll good.

[steak-tron]

that's what i tell myself alot, but I've seen people who go from not knowing anything to being incredible - it is possible. don't give up man, be persistent

[MindCandyMan]

I feel the same way...that's good though. If you were just starting out and you loved everything you did...you wouldn't progress at all. Keep it up. Do a bargue! ;)

[MindCandyMan]

keep it up man...keep doing those studies they will benefit you greatly. It's really frustrating to do them but keep it up it's worth it!

[chudzta]

Yea you can use reference pretty good.. I suppose this is photo reference mostly??

Keep studying construction and look around online and at libraries for ways of doing construction. Ive never studied much muscle but for general shape and proportions there was a technique i found in a cartoon sketching how to book. I have two examples i think in my sbook thread. But keep drawing and do some ppl from like if u get a chance. - piece - chudds

[rubygenesis]

not bad mlessard, your form is coming along. i notice a definate improvement in your shading try followning the form/curves of the body with your shaded lines a smudge stick would help soften it up too, use a pen eraser to dab in highlights afterwards... <_< ~cheers

[MindCandyMan]

I'm not sure about a good head image for bargues...although I know the bargue book is available now with prints of all the bargues.

This is also a good bargue drawing that is really high rez and will print out nice:

http://www.artrenewal.org/images/ar...f_Aphrodite.jpg


Copy and paste this link into your browser...delete the http:// and then press enter

[chudzta]

Oh yes. studying is helping you. Do ten more sheets of it from life on just eyes. and i think u'll have some new enlightmentent. Arent I the hypocrit. keep it up. - chudds

[endregan]

keep going, your doing well! dedication is key :)

[chudzta]

keep chugging... good believeability in some of those last ones. are these still references? if so cool beans, if not then rock on.. keep sketching tho u'll learn to shade with just the pencils eventually, i used to go over it and over it to get what i wanted. i hated smudge sticks.. - chudds

[endregan]

hey man much progress. holidays are excellent! gives us time to relax and. draw! :)

i can see you progressing, so just keep up those studies!

[Famboozled]

your shading technique has drastically improved, i like how its much smoother now, nice work!

[INFERNOmunky]

WoW man i loved watching your skills grow and develop through your sketchbook...ide say you came a long way from your first couple of sketches:D

[Farin]

really nice shading

like the profile studies the most

[endregan]

shading is awesome. dont get too lost in studies. have some fun too! maybe your not showing your fun sketches. :) every sketch counts

great progress

[Invisible Soul]

Your skills are really coming along...it's good to see your progress. Your proportions and shading are coming along well.

I wish I could say the same for myself....keep up the great work.

[chudzta]

hmm yeah.. well draw real-life interesting things.. i dont think a whole lot is just gonna come to you if your not trying to expand ur real life studies behind the human figure and face. Right.. sure.. :) lets see some stabs at interesting things.. try something and there are lots of ppl here willing to give a hint or nudge. Have fun and let it be what u want.. - chudds

[steak-tron]

don't get discouraged mlessard. I get discouraged about not being able to pull off non-ref stuff alot. It seems like when you think you've reached a good level of drawing on refs, as soon as you jump over you've been knocked down to however good you were, years ago (pardon the shitty analogy). the bottom line is that it's hard, and you have to have a large foundation of refrenced drawings - that's where the information comes from. You've got the right idea with blocking the human form into shapes and looking for depth lines. that stuff is incredibly useful when trying to hammer out non-ref logic. When you're doing studies, have fun with them. Usually when i block out a form i start putting robot parts in and take it from there. Even tho its a study, try building on your forms, adding gear, etc... you'll be surprised at how carried away you get.

the studies you're doing are an excellent foundation, and it looks like you're hitting all the key points. It's easy to get discouraged and frustrated, and stop drawing (or never start, like me), but when you have a breakthrough its the greatest feeling ever.

i see good value and form, and huge improvements, the mouth studies are excellent, try looking for angles, and make them complex to describe a round shape, you will pick up on sutelties (spelling?).

keep up the good work
-steak