mellong every drawing sketchbook

[mellongcreate]

just drawing and seeing what comes of it

http://www.mellong.co.uk/
mellongwrite.blogspot.com (http://www.mellongwrite.blogspot.com)

[mellongcreate]

I will start with favourites of my past sketches and some unfinished paintings
to show any people who will crit my past working habits. Some i need to shake and some will prove useful.

3 old sketches done in fine art studies

[mellongcreate]

1. b&w sketch. Body was from the doodles area of forum here, I attempted to render a head (where there was not one). First go with a friends wacom intuos, not used one since either :S On my crimbo list

2.Random image i did with the mouse. It took me so long I didn't try it again. Around 10 hours :wtf: It was 3 years ago though

[mellongcreate]

A set of thumbnail concepts for college project to illustrate scenes from George Orwell's '1984'.

[mellongcreate]

Environment studies, small spaces. Building on mark making

[mellongcreate]

Animal studies. More to post when i get my work from home

[mellongcreate]

face study using line direction to create form

[mellongcreate]

Ok so this post marks the beginning of shaking old habits. Currently it takes me a real long time to sketch as i tend to go straight for detail. I have come across the structure of man tutorials which help alot but I'm not really getting to where i want to be in terms of drawing skill.
I always use ref, which is something i want to work on not doing for the future (although i know ref is needed to build up visual library).

I need to be told when I'm not doing what I NEED to do to achieve strong line drawings.

These 3 show the process I have taken on this occasion to achieve better line and proportion of the face.
I find the nose difficult to describe with just lines.
Drawings of my girlfriend Jaqi

[mellongcreate]

Did this sketch 2 nights ago. I have found that when i have a project (this one is for a uni project making designs for postcards) I feel the need to render rather than stylize my drawings.

I need to learn to just plod along with strong lines knowing it is aiding my learning rather than reproducing what i already know and find faults in.

[mellongcreate]

I am trying to simplify to lines with this drawing. Not strong as a piece of work but functioned well in my awareness of when to stop (which i realize i spent too long on this). Not great but needs posting to show every aspect of my learning curve.

[mellongcreate]

More simplification of line. The overall drawing is not so strong but some progress has been made from the last drawing.
I need to remember what i was thinking on the previous post with 3 progressive drawings of my girlfriend Jaqi. Maybe something to do with the fact that I'm more bothered about making a better job of drawing her?

Still need to escape making these drawings look like the person, rather i need to capture their character and personality. The shoddy headphones in this one and massive hooded jacket give this person a little character without realistically representing her.

[mellongcreate]

New sketch just done. Ref 1 hour. An improvement on the other 3 sketches, all of which I messed around with for 2 hours a piece (I didn't need to at all I know but it's a habit to spend a long time just laying down subtleties that are not needed at all).
I feel this drawing is a vast improvement although there are some glitches still. For anyone wondering why I'm doing lots of faces at the moment it's because I have deadlines for the project these sketches are for and only the faces are needed.

[ovset]

Your environmental studies look great, but I think you should spend more time on your portrait work. Your latest one shows very nice progress from the last (much better in fact). I think you're lacking most in the eyes, though. They seem to have depth, yet they don't at the same time. If you were to work on that, I could see some very good stuff coming from you.

[mellongcreate]

cheers, yes i share your thoughts exactly, the last one for example has a weak right eye, seems to curve strangely towards the outer edge. I don't want to change it though otherwise i won't learn. I'm working on another entry now, do you have an SB? I looked but couldn't find one.

[mellongcreate]

Just 'Finished' this one. I stopped here before I put any tone on to give an example of how lines can be worked out without use of tone (building on riven phoenix tutorials and my trusty 'drawing the human head' Louise Gordon). Also I only need line drawings for this project as i am adding texture with scanned images (hats, hair, skin pigment etc).
As far as improvement I'm not sure, shape of the hat needs correcting and nose possibly lowering but all in all I don't think they are particularly bad lines. Can't wait for this semester to be over so i can spend christmas sketching poses and creating creatures.

[Jokisalo]

Good start here, I can see already improvement in your skills!! Keep posting & rocking!!

[mellongcreate]

Still for the post card project, a bit dodgy looking, I assure you the ref guy was a weirdo, going to be good for future character ref!

jokisalo:cheers, trying to keep the posting rolling but it's hard when you have 6 projects to hand in next week haha. I will be getting stuck into figures after next week!

[mellongcreate]

Another one for postcards project. One of the last from this series. Still issues with the eyes but this time
I think it was because of trying to render the glasses. I just need to read up a little more on face anatomy I guess. Crits welcome on progress so far!

[mellongcreate]

/\
Hehe, forum coding newb!


Digitising my sketchbooks for pdf displays so I thought I'd log them here also.

Real world sketchbooks:

Rhodia Sketchy Doodle

Brown Sketchy

(I'll post the sketchbook names in the title from now on just to give me a better view of what work is in each. Other mediums will be posted in the thread titles also).

http://mellong.co.uk/site/images/archive2008/ConceptArt/sketchbook/DecorativeOrDoodle/02_03_08SbookPost001_2.jpghttp://www.mellong.co.uk/site/images/archive2008/ConceptArt/sketchbook/DecorativeOrDoodle/02_03_08SbookPost002_1.jpghttp://www.mellong.co.uk/site/images/archive2008/ConceptArt/sketchbook/DecorativeOrDoodle/02_03_08SbookPost003_1.jpghttp://www.mellong.co.uk//site/images/archive2008/ConceptArt/sketchbook/DecorativeOrDoodle/02_03_08SbookPost004_1.jpghttp://www.mellong.co.uk/site/images/archive2008/ConceptArt/sketchbook/DecorativeOrDoodle/02_03_08SbookPost005_1.jpghttp://www.mellong.co.uk/site/images/archive2008/ConceptArt/sketchbook/DecorativeOrDoodle/02_03_08SbookPost006.jpghttp://www.mellong.co.uk/site/images/archive2008/ConceptArt/sketchbook/DecorativeOrDoodle/02_03_08SbookPost007.jpg

[mellongcreate]

doodles on faulty print outs, can't work out if I'm saving the trees or crapping on their grave :S

http://www.mellong.co.uk/site/images/archive2008/ConceptArt/sketchbook/DecorativeOrDoodle/02_03_08SbookPost008.jpg

This is just an excercise in breaking down figures into shapes. I'm also practicing neat line drawing by using no undersketching in pencil.
Study image: Juxsen's Sbook - http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=113817

[mellongcreate]

character studies for animated short on water usage (how fun!)

http://www.mellong.co.uk/site/images/archive2008/ConceptArt/sketchbook/DecorativeOrDoodle/02_03_08SbookPost012.jpg

Character Concepts for a flash movie I'm creating for uni. See blog link in sig

[mellongcreate]

Used mostly for Drop' Story flash project but will be used after for black line drawing only. (and yes these are in pencil but from then on just pigment ink baby!)

http://www.mellong.co.uk/site/images/archive2008/ConceptArt/sketchbook/DecorativeOrDoodle/02_03_08SbookPost013.jpghttp://www.mellong.co.uk/site/images/archive2008/ConceptArt/sketchbook/DecorativeOrDoodle/02_03_08SbookPost014.jpg

First sketches for Drop's Story flash movie

[mellongcreate]

http://www.mellong.co.uk/site/images/archive2008/ConceptArt/sketchbook/DecorativeOrDoodle/02_03_08SbookPost015.jpghttp://www.mellong.co.uk/site/images/archive2008/ConceptArt/sketchbook/DecorativeOrDoodle/02_03_08SbookPost016.jpg

Story Board so far for Drop's Story flash movie

[mellongcreate]

http://mellong.co.uk/site/images/archive2008/ConceptArt/rivenLessons/RivenPheonix-1.jpg

[mellongcreate]

http://mellong.co.uk/site/images/archive2008/ConceptArt/rivenLessons/RivenPheonix-2.jpg

[mellongcreate]

http://mellong.co.uk/site/images/archive2008/ConceptArt/rivenLessons/RivenPheonix-3.jpg

[mellongcreate]

http://mellong.co.uk/site/images/archive2008/ConceptArt/rivenLessons/RivenPheonix-4.jpg

[mellongcreate]

http://mellong.co.uk/site/images/archive2008/ConceptArt/rivenLessons/RivenPheonix-5.jpg

[mellongcreate]

http://mellong.co.uk/site/images/archive2008/ConceptArt/rivenLessons/RivenPheonix-6.jpg

[mellongcreate]

http://mellong.co.uk/site/images/archive2008/ConceptArt/rivenLessons/RivenPheonix-7.jpg

[mellongcreate]

http://mellong.co.uk/site/images/archive2008/ConceptArt/rivenLessons/RivenPheonix-8.jpg

[mellongcreate]

http://mellong.co.uk/site/images/archive2008/ConceptArt/rivenLessons/RivenPheonix-9.jpg

[mellongcreate]

Dodgy Photo
http://mellong.co.uk/site/images/archive2008/ConceptArt/rivenLessons/RivenPheonix-10.jpg

[RandAlThor]

Good work there mel, keep up the pheonix tutorials, they all build upon each other, when you get to the end you'll be amazed at the knowledge you have ;-)

[thesadpencil]

hey thanks for droppin by my sb. you're off to a good start here, i'd suggest continuing on w/ the tutorials and the anatomy studies, working a bit more on perspective, but other than that keep it up.

[mellongcreate]

Rand - Yeh I skipped ahead just to see the outline of content across all 200 and something videos. The lessons i've done so far have been invaluable in just how to think about designing characters and developing your own style if not in the practical aspect of drawing humanoid forms. Just starting the next one tonight, goes into the 3/4's view of heads.

sad - after seeing your wolverine speed paint I'm definitely inspired to do some perspective drawing. Need to get me a tablet :( until then sketchy pens and pencils will suffice.

If anyone reading knows of a wacom intuos2 or 3 going for a nice price let me know, anything bigger than A4.

http://mellong.co.uk/site/images/archive2008/ConceptArt/rivenLessons/RivenPheonix-11.jpg

Riven told me to practice what I'd learnt with him in the head department so thats what I did. I think a few of these a day to get me warmed up will be worth doing to imbue them into my memory

[mellongcreate]

http://mellong.co.uk/site/images/archive2008/ConceptArt/rivenLessons/RivenPheonix-12.jpg

Starting to into the meat and veg of thinking through drawing 3d heads with no ref.

Lesson 15 will be completed tonight and possibly 16 see how I go.

[mellongcreate]

These are studies not meant to be anatomically correct or anything. Long live the Pheonix!

http://www.mellong.co.uk/site/images/archive2008/ConceptArt/rivenLessons/Riven_Pheonix16.jpg

[mellongcreate]

This lesson explores abstract concepts to help remember the 3D-ness of objects to help visualise how to draw in different views.

Also stressing at this point to refer to front and side anatomy views in books to start familiarising yourself with elements of the face.

http://www.mellong.co.uk/site/images/archive2008/ConceptArt/rivenLessons/RivenPheonix-17.jpg

[mellongcreate]

This is just to show the under sketching for the above mech, I think the pose is stronger in the stick doodle than when I tried to imagine the bulky metal armour over the figure. That's what the pheonix tutorials are for though i guess!

http://www.mellong.co.uk/site/images/archive2008/ConceptArt/sketchbook/mechFirstSketch.jpg

[RandAlThor]

cool progress on mecha dude, don't be afraid to change the silhouette if needs be, its only an idea starter, do what your doing, over-paint with the skeletal structure then add the masses over that somewhat resembling the outline thats all ready there.... shade and color and your done ;-)

[mellongcreate]

I just wanted to show you how I saw the silhouette really, didn't think of finishing it.
The problem I have with colouring at the moment is that I don't have a tablet and to get my oil's out wouldn't be practical for something quick.
I will probs redraw the mech based on the figure 'frame' now that you've encouraged it, I had a strong sense of your ownership on the silhouette and didn't want to do a full-on render without permission.

Thanks for the input!

[mellongcreate]

Oh I guess if you hear of anyone selling a wacom intuos 2 or 3 usb A4 or bigger give me a shout!

[Serpian]

Studies ar good. What you really need is some life drawing. If you can't find people to sit for you, try going to town and secretly draw some people there. If they move too fast, do a still life. It's time for you to start looking around.

Keep doing it!

[mellongcreate]

serpian: I have attended a couple of life drawing classes about 2 weeks back but the same model kept turning up. My girlfriend will pose for me and I'm doing some speed sketches of people around the house, at uni, etc. I would gain alot making studies in town though, lots of different people in a short space of time. Hong Kong for a month in august will be a good opportunity.
I may venture into town tomorrow in light of your advice though, besides, I need some new pencils

[mellongcreate]

http://www.mellong.co.uk/site/images/archive2008/ConceptArt/rivenLessons/RivenPheonix-18.jpg

[mellongcreate]

http://www.mellong.co.uk/site/images/archive2008/ConceptArt/rivenLessons/RivenPheonix-20.jpg

[mellongcreate]

http://www.mellong.co.uk/site/images/archive2008/ConceptArt/rivenLessons/RivenPheonix-22.jpg

[mellongcreate]

http://www.mellong.co.uk/site/images/archive2008/ConceptArt/rivenLessons/RivenPheonix-23.jpg

[RandAlThor]

Good progress here Mel. Yeah, oils can be a bit of a hassle setting up... give acrylics a go, all you need is a tube of paint, a brush and some water. You could even get one of those paper pallets, and just throw away after each session..

Do what you want with that mechy thingy, i dont consider it precious, lol.

Keep up the anatomy study, its def coming along. ;-)

[fantasyartist]

Great studies! Watch your allignment and symmetry though, there's a lot of distortion in some of your drawings. Other than that keep it up!

[mellongcreate]

http://mellong.co.uk/site/images/archive2008/sketch/hand1.jpg

First sketch posted with my new A4 intuos2 :D Bought 2nd hand from ebay (poor student) arrived this morning and i've been messing with it since I got it (didn't know you could use it for FPS games :D).

Took Around 50mins, just trying to get a feel for it. Will start learning to paint and blend tonight doing some of the exercises from: http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=76955

Any tips and advice welcome with using tablet in Photoshop.

I really admire Gez Fry's use of line drawing in Photoshop, and having a go makes me realise just how hard it is when your used to pencil and paper.

[mellongcreate]

http://mellong.co.uk/site/images/archive2008/sketch/BallExercise1.jpg

These are my supporting notes to follow with the step by step process. Practicing Light Theory as well as learning to blend in PSCS3

Links to source for exercise:
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=76955
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showpost.php?p=699669&postcount=175
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showpost.php?p=1016341&postcount=2

Drawn step one. << lmao Yay!
I won’t complicate myself with putting down a surface. I can always paint a new ball after when I have more confidence (or cheat like Idiot_Apathy did!).

Adding Step 1.1 – After reading Briggsys post on how light is cast on spheres I decided the Centre-Light needed to be added here as it is the “base” colour and other values are worked out from this.m

No problem with step 2 – instinctively I would know where the light stops having effect (terminator) is on a sphere so I simply used an arrow. Idiot’s method would be more useful in a dynamic perspective of a shape though

Step 3 – After reading briggsy’s post on light theory relating to a sphere, I would say that you need to decide on the form shadow based on what the Centre-Light value is.

Step 4- More reading on this is needed but I did it anyways.

Step 5 – Light Tables

Keeping the Centre-Light off white to allow room for the specular-light and highlight to show.

Centre-Light: R230 G230 B230 (H:0, S:0, B:90%)Hardest
Full-light: R200 G200 B200 (H:0, S:0, B:78%)
L-Half-Light: R185 G185 B185 (H:0, S:0, B:73%)
Half-Light: R170 G170 B170 (H:0, S:0, B:67%)
D-Half-Light: R140 G140 B140 (H:0, S:0, B:55%)
Shadow: R110 G110 B110 (H:0, S:0, B:43%)Softest (on sphere)
Cast-Shadow: R80 G80 B80 (H:0, S:0, B:31%)Softest (In composition)

Swatched and saved!

Step 6 – Edges:

Elwell’s definition of how Hard and soft an edge should appear depending on various different variables.


In general, edges are:
Harder in the light, softer in the shadow
Harder in bright light, softer in dim light
Harder in focused light, softer in diffused light
Harder in the foreground, softer in the background
Harder on smooth forms, softer on textured forms
Harder on hard forms, softer on soft forms (Duh, but really)
Harder on flat forms, softer on rounded forms
Harder on thin forms, softer on thick forms
Harder on still forms, softer on forms in motion (on moving forms they are harder on the leading edge and softer on the trailing edge)
Harder at the center of interest, softer as you move away

After thoughts in the thread are as follows:

Edges can be defined as a plane change or in painting where 2 different colours are placed adjacent to each other.

The rules can be changed depending on what you are communicating. If you want to soften something hard to give say femininity in a butch female character, do it. Another example is if you have 2 objects very close in properties i.e. lead and steal, but you want to show the different between the two the softer edged item would be the lead as it is softer and duller than steel. In this case within your own designs edge softness can be relative.

I can add hard and soft edge specs to the above colour spec in step 5.

I used a regular brush set to pen pressure for size at 60% opacity (the lower the opacity the more blend increments you can have, however it takes a lot more time effort!)

[RandAlThor]

Nice blending of form there dude, I'm gonna have to give that aspect some attention now you've listed some points to be mindful off. keep up the passion mate ;-)

[mellongcreate]

Rand: Trying to keep the passion alive! I've got a load of stuff to post up, been bogged down with uni work at the moment but nearly finished this year so i'll be posting like mad! This summer should see a load of improvement from me, but I'll need your crits and motivation! Going back to basics at the moment to really tie up every loose end I have, focusing on colour and anatomy for now.

painted in PS CS3

http://www.mellong.co.uk/site/images/archive2008/sketch/PtoPExercise2post.jpg

Didn't make any notes whilst doing this one :S I got too into the coloured ball.
Bottom balls are same as top just grayscale to check coloured ball.

I'm liking the brush strokes I've made on the 2nd ball, rough but accurate.

More of these to come

exercise is here:

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showpost.php?p=1016342&postcount=3

[mellongcreate]

faces I scratched out when bored. I need to carry on with riven phoenix tuts. So far just the basic knowledge of the bones has helped me alot but I really need to learn the placement of muscles. After all I have no desire to stick to skeletons!. Need to ref more also from life (have a bunch of very fast sketches to scan and post).

Also I need to stop putting off drawing women!! they are my weakest area.

Note to self: make a summer learning aims post when uni is over this year (anyone is welcome to give me some aims and things to work towards!)

Painted in PS CS3

http://www.mellong.co.uk/site/images/archive2008/sketch/headPractice.jpg

[Serpian]

I want a WACOM too....:(

keep updating!

[mellongcreate]

serp - I know I've neglected these forums of late for uni work but I'll be back in force soon. I have been working on some projects that I'll be able to release info and concepts I've done as and when appropriate so I can't post them. Thanks for the kick to post more though.


Latest Photoshop painting technique

I've found it extremely hard to get decent examples or tuts on how to accurately represent and blend colours with a tablet. The dvd on practical light and colour is fantastic for quick and useful theory basics which have shown me that brush technique is less important than getting colours and values right along with preparing your palettes and planning your paintings before hand. Corel painter makes it easy to blend but my lowish spec pc can't keep up with it when I want to increase the res over 150 dpi and still have nice brushes so I'm forced to make a technique in photoshop I'm happy with.

And this is it, pretty simple but documenting it for future reference at the risk of it being useful for someone else.

new painting system I seem to be happy with for now in Photoshop:

Using 1 round brush opacity set to pen pressure.

Colour Temperature 'flames' practice(this is real quick work, not trying to accurately depict a flame here, just couldn't think of anything else to name it). see example painting of technique below

1. Pick my colour and make a few strokes fading at one end to the background colour.

2. Pick 2nd colour and apply choosing a smaller brush size (use '[' + ']' keys to increment brush size).

3. Pick 3rd colour and apply choosing smaller brush size again.

4. repeat 2 and 3 for desired colour range

5. choose an appropriate brush size and simply eye drop applied colours and blend using light pen pressure for a faster way to blend.

NB: When extra detail in shadow gradients is needed I should choose a solid brush and set the opacity to 20 - 40% and blend picked colours using single strokes built-up.

click to enlarge
\/ \/

http://www.mellong.co.uk/site/images/archive2008/sketch/ColourTempPhotoshopPractice1small.jpg (http://www.mellong.co.uk/site/images/archive2008/sketch/ColourTempPhotoshopPractice1.jpg)

this is a VERY extreme example of colour temperature at work. The real world will show this on a more subtle level. Painted in PS CS3

Basic Explanation of Colour Temperature:
Colour changes value depending on how much light is reflected.
e.g. orange ball:
colour receiving the least light = red
colour between lightest and darkest part of object = orange
brightest colour = yellow
specular reflection = white

Of course a fire emits light straight to your eye but just writing this so it can be applied to any object. Remember all objects are light sources!

[mellongcreate]

WIP. From an estate layout I made up to try a set of paintings all with the same feel of belonging in the same place, but primarily to improve painting skills, particularly colour choice. Using self shot ref for lighting and textures, composition is random. Looking back I need to think alot more about composition. I don't know why but I never make drawings and think, "I want to make this look attractive", instead I'm saying, "I want this to look more realistic". But then I don't want to end up with a realistic style. If people could pull me up on this in the future that'd be great!

C + C PLEASE

Focus points for future:
- Line economics, one stroke lines please
- faster, faster! I work way too slow!

PS CS3

http://www.mellong.co.uk/site/images/archive2008/sketch/Hamlet1HostelWIP.jpg

[mellongcreate]

Quick hand colour study (coloured sketch from SB pg 2). Just pointed a lamp at my hand for ref with no other LS (other than the diffuse reflection from walls and other objects of course ;) )

C + C welcome mainly on colour and light execution, I know index finger looks broken, will fix and update tomorrow.

PS CS3

http://www.mellong.co.uk/site/images/archive2008/sketch/hand1Colour.jpg

[mellongcreate]

WIP, study from own shot ref photo from my friends farm in spain near Vallidolid, 2 hours north of Madrid.

Blocked in colours before I started my deeper research into colour so I'm posting this to see how much of a difference it makes when I change it and then blend. Will try to post some steps of how I'm working with future posts too.

C + C appreciated

PS CS3

http://www.mellong.co.uk/site/images/archive2008/sketch/forestSpeedPaintsmall.jpg

[mellongcreate]

Just another example of colour temperature practice whilst playing in Paint X. Note the blending the S**T out of these was a novelty. I really need new processor and RAM! Time to update my build I think.

Painter X

http://www.mellong.co.uk/site/images/archive2008/sketch/colourTemperaturecrop.jpg