626's mentoring thread

[626elemental]

Current Mentees:
Jekkal
Pryan
qbertp
CJ4000

Hi there!
To start off, tell me what you want to work on the MOST. Post a picture if you need to illustrate.

[pryan]

Hi 626elemental -

and hello to the other mentees ;x

What I want to work on the most is just faces. I don't necessarily want to learn a particular style of face drawing (ie portraits) but I would just like some direction in constructing a face. Currently I'm more interested in figuring out how to draw from reference convincingly, but being able to imagine a face and make that up as well would be interesting too.

Here is an example of what I'd like to be able to do, although not necessarily in this style: http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b185/Xytech/tpf/dddd.jpg

Also, I've noticed that when I first started I'm a very 'tonal' kind of person. I have difficulty picking out random lines in a face, and people doing contour drawings is beyond me.

EDIT:

What can I do to improve my initial guess of where the features are? How can I improve drawing the outline of a face the first time through? Currently I have trouble with proportions on the face the first time through - I am constantly erasing and adjusting. What kind of exercise do I need to do in order to improve this?

Also, techniques artists use in order to shade with pencils? How is hatching/direction of hatching determined? All things that confuse me.

[626elemental]

Alright, everyone, time to start this thing going!

First, pryan: to answer your question about crosshatchint and hatching, you have to figure it out for yourself. Sorry.... there's no set rule about that. Personally I like to hatch along the contours of the object, to make it seem 3D. Really it's just a matter of preference.

Now for the first assignment! Please try and have it done by saturday evening or sunday morn so I have time to give comments. This assignment is about learning to find the importand shapes and lines. What I want you to do is take the photographs I post and color in these things:
For the head- block in the bridge of the nose
- outline the nostrils and sides of the nose
- block in the chin (the tip and along the jawbone)
- outline the whole head. try to imagine her bald.
- block in the lips, outline the dip between lips and nose
- block in her eyes

For the man - line his collarbone and the tendons in his neck
- draw a line down the center where his abdominals meet
extend it up along the curve of his chest
- draw circles for his elbows, wrists, and shoulders
- block in his pectorals (chest muscles)
- block in the backs of his hands, his forearms, and his head
- outline his entire body in straight lines

This should be one solid color for your lines and blocks. You can do it on the computer or printing it out and drawing on the picture, either is fine. Whatever you do, draw directly over the photo! This will help you learn where stuff is.... you've got to know that before you try to draw it.

[pryan]

Sorry for the poor quality.

I have to print out the pictures, draw on them, then scan them back in. I have little to no experience with any graphic editing programs, and my mouse sucks for drawing in paint =P.


http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a212/soondoobuu/practice/IMG_01071.jpghttp://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a212/soondoobuu/practice/IMG_01072.jpg

[pryan]

Here's some portraits I've done in the past few days in the vain belief that as long as I practice honestly enough that my technique will get better, if only in drawing lines for the outlines of the head. These are done completely freehand.

Also if someone has a good way of easily controlling dimensions please let me know >_<

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a212/soondoobuu/practice/practice01.jpghttp://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a212/soondoobuu/practice/practice01o.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a212/soondoobuu/practice/practice02.jpghttp://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a212/soondoobuu/practice/practice02o.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a212/soondoobuu/practice/practice03.jpghttp://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a212/soondoobuu/practice/practice03o.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a212/soondoobuu/practice/practice04.jpghttp://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a212/soondoobuu/practice/practice04o.jpg

[qbertp]

Hello and thanks for letting me join the thread. Below is the first assignment.
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t203/qbertp/626mentor1.jpghttp://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t203/qbertp/626mentor1p2.jpg

[626elemental]

Both of you did good on that... sorry if it's too easy. I'll try to be a better mentor, but I'm new to this right now.

Next assignment: we start looking at skeletal structure. I want four drawings from you this time. First, draw a person. They can be doing whatever you like, but use a reference. Next I want to see a study of a skeleton from a reference (don't include every tiny bone, but do all the big ones). Draw as many skeletons as you need until you feel comfortable. Then, do the same person, same pose, but draw the skeleton first. Finally, after you draw Mr. Bones go over it and flesh out your person. Compare the first and last two to see if there's any differences in proportion or anatomy.

[Korovyov]

Hi all, sorry to flake on the first assignment, but my first week of classes was pretty intense. I don't see this getting better anytime soon, or at least until school is out unfortunately. I feel it would be unfair to the rest of the students and 626 if I were to continue as a member of this thread. I wish you all the best and will continue to post on the forums from time to time.

seeyall around
-Korovyov

[626elemental]

No problem Korovyov. I totally understand... as a student myself, free time varies semester by semester. Hope everything goes well for you!

[qbertp]

Here's what I got.

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t203/qbertp/626mentor2ref.jpg
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t203/qbertp/626mentor2p2.jpg
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t203/qbertp/626mentor2.jpg

[CJ4000]

Hello 626elemental-

Thank you for letting me join and to the mentee who left! haha.

I would like to eventually learn everything a I can about Creature/Character Design and Concept Art. However, seeing as I am a total beginning artist I want to start with the basics I have a lot of trouble with: shading, perspective, proportion, etc.

I will try to get the first 2 assignment done is soon as possible.
EDIT: I just forgot that all of my drawing supplies kind of got misplaced. So, I don't have my sketchbook nor do I have my pencils. But tomorrow morning I am stopping by Michael's and grabbing some new supplies. I will work my hardest tomorrow to get the first 2 assignments done!

Thanks,
Zach (CJ)

[626elemental]

Sorry about my long absence... I was having some web access issues and then CA had it's own problems.
qbertp: Skeleton study looks pretty good. So does your sketch of the pose. Look closely at the legs on the see-through pic though; her thighs are very short and seem to tilt downwards. They should be closer to the way you drew the 2nd picture, where they stick out more to the side and less to the front.