Kristina's adventures (Bye-bye, Florence!) - updated May 24th

[Maidith]

Dacountno2, thanks :)

zou, thank you! yes, the studies are painted in oils on canvas. I'd love to use looser strokes but we're not allowed to do that yet XD

Donna, thank you! About the values, I was going for "natural" lighting, the sky as a light source. How would you solve this problem? (overpaint would be much appreciated!). Nevermind the hand, they prove that references are unreliable, haha XD If I ever use this image anywhere else, I'll fix them.

Mau, thank you :)

Norkagar, thanks! :D Some of my co-students also studied with Odd Nerdrum, that's how I got the idea.

About the paper: We use Canson paper for Bargue drawings. The "Umbria" paper is for charcoal drawings, and we bought it from Zecchi (http://www.zecchi.it/). It was the main paper used for charcoal drawings at Angel's. However it's apparently not produced anymore. There are other good papers for charcoal, though. Just use something that is sturdy and can take lots of brushing and erasing! :)

Just finished a new digital painting. This is the emperor Nero, and his girlfriend Poppaea Sabina, who are receiving the head of Octavia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claudia_Octavia) (Nero's step-sister and wife, whom he wasn't allowed to divorce so he had to get rid of her some other way).

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/2438/theheadofoctavia.jpg

Painted on my old desktop computer with 512 mb ram, so I had to keep it quite small, about 2000-3000 pixels wide. (Usually I work a bit bigger).

Edit:

OMG OMG OMG MY WACOM TABLET is WORKING again now!!!!
Whatever the problem was, ScanDisk seemed to have solved it. OMG OMG OMG. Just when I was getting totally desperate and thinking about buying a new tablet. Hahaha! XD
Ahh, now I can die happy! XD

[Maidith]

At the moment, and for 1 1/2 more weeks, hummel1dane (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=178660) is visiting me and teaching me the method of drawing in the Russian academic tradition.
This means consciously constructing 3-dimensional forms as you draw from life or imagination, as opposed to designing with flat shapes and edges. It's quite a conscious effort for me since I'm not used to it, but I'm learning a lot and it will certainly benefit my illustrating skills. :)

(And he's a damn good teacher! Thanks a lot! ;) )

http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/7007/ohnetitel1l.jpg
http://img704.imageshack.us/img704/497/ohnetitel2u.jpg
http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/4233/ohnetitel3.jpg
http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/5425/ohnetitel4.jpg

And some recent sketchbook pages!

http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/7007/ohnetitel1l.jpg
http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/7676/ohnetitel2.jpg
http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/4233/ohnetitel3.jpg
http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/5425/ohnetitel4.jpg
http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/2586/ohnetitel5.jpg

[Maidith]

P.S. Here's also a bunch of WIP steps of my latest digital painting, posted above, for those interested! :)

http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/5083/theheadofoctaviawip.jpg

[glasses]

oh man. this thread. I adore your charcoal figures all the way through and your grisaille paintings are lovely. The colour figure looks like it will be killer. I read about artists that study with Odd Nerdrum a fair bit- some of the guys from atelier stockholm, and on random atelier graduate websites and the like- and I'm curious how it comes about? Does he run classes? Does just take a lot of short term apprentices?

also, "oh yes it's taking me a lot to wrap my head around this russian academic tradition business" *straight away posts a perfect skull

[kidult]

Awesome work round here! Love the stil life at the top! That nero pic is really cool, I fell like it the skintones are a bit too saturated for the lighting in the background. It's as if no colour from the surrounding area is being picked up by their skin. The girl on the right of nero is the one that seems the most out

[prsnsweeney]

wow you have some brilliant work love it really like the progression of the last piece
also the rendering on the still life is amazing nice work id be very interested to hear about what your learning as far as the traditonal fine art goes. Right now im going to school for media arts and we dont have to much in the way of fine arts its all design and commercial related

[Loathsome]

groar I just want to steal your skills and touch it inappropriately D:

[Maidith]

glasses - thanks! I have absolutely no idea what will expect me at Nerdrum's studio in Norway, all I know is it's more like a workshop, no real "classes" or school. He's not much of a teacher, but neither am I, so I can understand he'd rather paint and have some people around him to help, rather than explaining the same thing all the time XD No idea how many short term apprentices were/are/will be there, but I'm certainly not the first. I'm very much looking forward to it!

kidult, thank you :) saturation looks ok on my screen, but I'll keep it in mind.

prsnsweeney, thanks!

Loathsome - haha XD


Here's some quick sketches done from life, at home!
My boyfriend was the model :) and Glen Vilppu the idol! XD
Times vary from 30 seconds to 10 minutes.
Thanks for looking :>

[Maidith]

Red chalk life drawing, my boyfriend was (again) the model.

And moar sketchbook pages...

[Maidith]

Portrait of my friend Ivy, painted from life (oil on canvas, about 2 hours).
And some more drawing exercises.

Just two more days until Norway, OMG OMG OMG i'm so excited!

[Maidith]

Some attempts at an oil painting from life, and charcoal drawings.

http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/3631/p8030025.jpg
http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/8791/p8030022d.jpg
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/475/p8030019.jpg
http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/1791/p7300016g.jpg

I'm in Norway right now, painting in Odd Nerdrum's studio, it's a quite cool place!
What you see here is a bunch of oil paint tubes belonging to the Maestro.
And here is a view of the studio - actually it's 3 different studios he paints in. Wish I had that much space! XD
http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/6578/p7290012.jpg
http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/3148/p7290010.jpg

And a bunch of new sketchbook pages, more to come.

[cgaddict]

Excellent updates; Your sense of color is very impressive, and your shading on your traditional pieces is spot on. Keep going, great to see you here on CA as well :)

[Fetsch]

Nice work Maidith, your traditional paintings are realy impressive, saw some of those already over at the daf. Keep up with the great work. :)

[Maidith]

Thank you, George and Fetsch :)

here's a lil update. Portrait of a co-student, while Odd Nerdrum was painting a portrait of her, amidst the glaring summer sun (That's why she is squinting). It's quite an experience to watch the Maestro paint.

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/1039/p8080062.jpg

New finished digital painting, it's the Revelation of John, from the last chapter of the New Testament...
http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/8738/therevelationofjohnbyma.jpg

And a bunch of new sketchbook pages, I really need to improve my figure drawings. (sorry for the bad photo quality - scanner wasn't working)
I often hear people saying that my figures lack anatomical definition. As if they were blow-up dolls, having no muscle or bone beneath.
They're right, of course, and I'm getting better... I think the critique also means that I've finally mastered the most basic human proportions. Learning the underlying structure is the obvious next step and challenge.

[Maidith]

For whatever weird reason, the scanner is working. So, more sketchbook pages. Copied after old master paintings, because I need to draw moar figures and anatomy and bodyparts. Drawing = serious business.

[Maidith]

Fun with charcoal! :D
The paper looks old, but is "fake". I just made it look old and used, coloring it with tea.
http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/6449/p8150069.jpg
http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/9623/p8150068q.jpg http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/5266/74732298.jpg

Sketch painted in oils, from imagination. Should have given the top more space, but it's too late for that now, so nevermind. I'm still trying to gain better control of the medium.

[Konstruktion]

Damn, painting with Nerdrum himself.. wicked! How many people are there? Only you? This (http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/9623/p8150068q.jpg) looks really nice, like a scan from an old (.) Michelangelo sketchbook or something like that.. nice.

[Maidith]

Konstruktion - Thanks! :) There are currently 3 more students living here at the place, 2 of them leave soon. They're from USA, Norway, and Sweden.

Fillin' my sketchbook, one page at a time, copying from different sources (old paintings, old photos, magazines) or inventing stuff. Yay! :D

http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/3014/16201487.jpg

http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/828/56450682.jpg

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/3566/49108489.jpg

http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/9996/29265030.jpg

[Maidith]

study, oil paints on canvas, from imagination. experimenting with technique =)

sketchbook pages to follow, as soon as the scanner does what I want it to do.

[Maidith]

Scanner suddenly works. So here's a bunch of brand new studies (from Leonardo, Michelangelo, Velazquez and magazines)

[Maidith]

Copying from this anatomy book. (http://www.amazon.com/Artistic-Anatomy-Practical-Art-Books/dp/0823002977/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1282410503&sr=8-11) The text is a pain to read, but it has some nice images.

http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/6605/15102235.jpg
http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/5553/28250975.jpg
http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/7380/73647459.jpg
http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/1888/45842885.jpg

[Maidith]

Exercise with oil paints, because I finally want to have some control over the medium, instead of the other way around. Painted without model or ref, oil on canvas, A4 size.

[Crahzz]

I have to say I like your traditional work a lot better than your digital sketches, this because they tend to get really smooth. I saw one portrait you did with rough bristle brushes and that worked really well - but the smooth and soft brushes you use for the rest of your work lack texture and emotion, something more visible in your traditional work. Great SB tho, I've been following your work on DA as well =)

[Featheredface]

I really have no other crits than to watch your eyes (They sometimes look too large or unfocused or a little wonky.) But, your skin paintery skills make me envious. <3 Keep on rockin'.

[Maidith]

Thank you Crahhz! :) Is that Titus in your avatar? *__* I'm a total Rembrandt fangirl.

Featheredface, thanks! :) I'll be watching those eyes! Like in these new sketches.

And that's a still life, oil on canvas, with a mummified sheep's head. Took me about 3-4 hours - I definitely didn't try as hard as in Angel school, but better than nothing! :D

Now I've been at Nerdrum's studio in Norway for a month, will go back home tomorrow. I SO look forward to seeing my family and my boyfriend! <3

[a_mckeown]

Hi Maidith,

just had a browse through your entire thread. There is huge impovements especially in your faces. Your figures are really good too. Though your technical skills in your first few pages are really good, your latest ones show a lot more flow and life in them.
Very inspiring.

[JJacks]

I watch you on deviantART but I never saw your sketchbook here. It's amazing. I love your figure drawings and your hand studies are very lovely. <3

[Loathsome]

You make me want to sketch!
Nice job btw

[ArticusV]

Your progression is awesome to see, keep up the good work ma'am.

[Pigeonkill]

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/1053/queenannesrevenge.jpg

I love the expressions on their face. My only comment is she's holding the axe a bit awkard.

[Marlee.]

Gosh, Maidith, your progress is incredible! Its really unbelievable to look at, i can only hope i can come close to traveling the distance you've come in the past few years.
And to be at Angel Academy! It must be amazing, I can't even imagine.

I was hoping maybe you can answer a question or two i have about the school? I am still in highschool myself, but I'm curious if you could tell me - are there any students at the school who have gone there directly to Angel Academy out of highschool? I'm still young enough that i have time before i graduate to improve (hopefully drastically), and I'm wondering if you have any advice as to whether or not it would be a good idea to consider going there after my final year of highschool. I'm afraid I don't know enough about AAA to understand if this is a common practice..?

I love checking your sketchbook.. please, keep posting this much, it truly inspires me to work hard even when i am feeling like sleeping :) And thank you for the information you've already shared about Angel Academy.. I've gone through your SB from page one tonight, and it's been extremely helpful and inspiring for me. Thanks so much!

[Maidith]

Thanks so much everyone! <3
No real update now, but I thought I'd just answer Marlee's question publicly here, since I get questiosn like these so often... :)

are there any students at the school who have gone there directly to Angel Academy out of highschool?

Yes, me. :) Maybe some others too, but I dunno.
You don't have to be super skilled to go there (quote from website: "Application is open to all: there are no restrictions on age or experience.") That's because they're teaching not art, just skills. methods and technique. Everyone can learn these, like bicycling and grammar. You can APPLY them to make art, but they don't teach "art" itself. The classes aren't about anything like creativity or self-expression. Don't expect "artistic freedom" there. (These things, in my humble opionion, cannot be taught anyway). The school is all about technique and craft, not "art". Be aware of this before you apply.
I think their website should emphasize that point even more.

But as said, age doesn't matter. The youngest student here started at 15, she is living in Florence together with her mom during the trimesters. :)
How I wish I could have been here at that age!!! :D

[hücumkedi]

fantastic!

[Maidith]

Thank you hücumcedi :)

Finally got a halfway good image of the oil painting I did at Angel Academy last term. Painted from the live model, oil on canvas, 50x70cm, several hours/days.

[Maidith]

For the 2nd still life painting at Angel Academy, students are required to make (and photograph) a gazillion different still life compositions until they find one that is perfect. The teacher gives feedback along the way so I learnt quite a bit about composition...

These aren't all the photos I've made, just some of the better ones.
Fortunately I've found the "perfect" setup now which I'm painting currently :)

Taken with my good ole Pentax Optio 33L

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/2269/stilllifesetups.jpg

ANd the still life in progress!

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/9783/imgp0024t.jpg

[BlueHabit]

Just browsed your SB, you have improved a ton! Very inspiring, thank you for sharing and I look forward to watching future progress.

[Maidith]

Thank you, BlueHabit :)

I guess this is what they call an "environment".... Photoshop, 45min.
Comet Over Golgatha
http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/7523/envo1.jpg

Anne Boleyn in the Tower (reference from sinned-angel-stock.deviantart.com )
http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/5388/anneinthetower.jpg

[kayness]

Hey dear, great to see you here too!
You have such a long headstart before me :D And i can seee that you are working really hard! I'm working on some sketches myself so I'll look through you thread in the meantime

[kayness]

and those master studies and still lifes look WICKED!

[D.Labruyere]

Tons of improvement and a lot of time dedicated to studies :) keep up the good work!

[pretzel]

tons of improvement!
i would like to see you mix up your lines and go a little crazy with them.

[Maidith]

Kay, thank you =)

D Labruyere, thanks! :D

pretzel, tak ! :)

Here's a recent digital painting, The Plague in Florence. Thought I'd already uploaded it here, but apparently not.

I've been wanting to paint something with Sleepy Hollow-inspired lighting for some time now.
It was quite a challenge... I wonder if Tim Burton would like it? XD Haha!

The church door here is a photo (my own); everything else is 100% hand-painted with love by yours truly. For the house in the background I used a reference image of Florentine houses (Did they already have green shutters in the 14th century? Probably not...)

Photoshop and Wacom tablet, around 20 hours, blah blah...

Thank you for looking! :D

[insanelight]

Amazing sb Kristina!
I love both your oils and pencil sketches.
Cheers from Bologna ;)

[poetry man]

Nice sketchbook. Your charcoal and figurative pieces are really strong!

[Parsakoira]

Nice work with the last one! the baby on the ground, looks like floating though, also his right leg is awkward. Keep it up!

[Spijker]

Love all of it!
Keep it up

[tehmeh]

damn, can't believe I missed this sketchbook. insane progress since the start, and the dedication to the figures is very motivating. Keep it up, thanks for the inspiration :)

[Maidith]

insanelight, grazie =)

poetry man, thank you!

Parsakoira, thanks! :)

tehmeh, thanks a lot :)

Here's two new figure paintings from Angel Academy. Around 50x70 cm, and 110x60cm. Both oil on canvas. (and both the same model, I know they look nowhere near alike... but in 500 years, no one will know! :> )

[insanelight]

Latest two oils are beautiful, love the skin tones in the first one and the hairs in the second one.

[kiwigarbage]

Mmm, lovely oils. Your skin tones feel very natural. I hope you go back and define those little toesies and fingers. Be confident!

[John Silva]

your colors and figures rock!

[Verehin]

COOOL

*5

[catukas]

nice sketchbook.

[Maidith]

insanelight - Grazie! =)

kiwigarbage, thank you ;) I tend to do the hard stuff last... and sometimes time runs out! xD

John, thank you :D

Verehin, thanks =)

catukas, thank you <3

I made a bunch of character designs, mainly to prove to myself that I can do this kinda stuff... Just humanlike creatures for now... later it's time for designing monsters! Never really done that, it will be a challenge.

http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/8118/themenaceofmonrovia.jpg
http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/7554/captainechezielsmith.jpg
http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/5756/elvenwarrior.jpg
http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/5792/jakobfinishedsmall.jpg
http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/7725/othelloobergeek.jpg
http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/953/thehermitw.jpg
http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/7972/queenpyrope.jpg
http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/6348/gonnakickyourbutt.jpg



It's quite fun to make my own interpretation of these "stereotypes"!

[surus]

There were a lot of pencil pages, I saved to my inspiration folder! Thanks for sharing! Keep on posting - you're getting better and better in the figures. I love the lines!

[ezekrialase]

your character designs are great and all of the figure drawings/digital paintings you do inspires me a lot! You are well on your way to becoming an amazing artist :S

[zou]

hi maidith

those oil painting of the back of the woman is simply awesome !

i'm always excpecting to see great work in your sb.
a bit of crit:
the front sitting girl with oil has some proportions issues in hers legs.
your characters design are nicely designed , but the construction and proportions are weak. You should also add exageration in the pose/gesture. but the rendering is making them very sweet.

good luck with your nexts

[ezekrialase]

I was doing a little research on the Angel Academy of Art, and I found out that they don't provide housing and make the students pay for the art supplies. Do you guys just rent apartments in florence while your going to the academy? How expensive is the art supplies/housing? I'm asking because I'm planning on one day going to the Angel or Florence Academy of Art, and I want to find out some of the details of going to these places. Thanks a lot! :hugsmile:

[cgaddict]

Very strong character designs; Each one has it's own individual look and feel which is very impressive.

[kikindaface]

your oil paintings are impressive ! really digging them ! wanna see more !

[sukhjinder]

hello u r work is really really very good ..

[Maidith]

Thanks so much, guys! :) I'll work on the anatomy and construction!

To ezekrialase - students having to pay housing and supplies is the norm in Europe (that's why tuition is cheaper here than in the USA, I guess); though the costs vary a lot, depending on where you study.

Florence is one of the more expensive cities, a small 1 room studio apartment costing from 500€ upwards (I'm renting a room with 2 awesome flatmates for 400€ monthly, all utilities included).

Art supplies bought in the store (Zecchi) here cost about the same as in most other cities, a bit more expensive than from big retailers such as Dick Blick or Gerstaecker. I didn't keep track on how much I spent, so I can't give numbers. But they'll tell you exactly what materials you need.

Check out some of the past pages of this sketchbook for more info, I've already answered questions about living in Florence :)

Update time! *_*

1) Digital painting, The Shepherd and the Nymph. Actually, I was gonna tell a story here. A story about how I made a bet with a friend; a bet that I could make a painting more kitschy than the kitschiest of William Bouguereau. And that I totally won the bet.
But I shall be honest: There was no such bet. I painted this picture completely from my own motivation, and I truly enjoyed painting it, so I will make no apologies for it.
Medium: Wacom tablet and Photoshop

And a new figure painting from Angel Academy!
Medium: oil on canvas
Size: about 110x50cm
Time: Several hours spread over several days

[ezekrialase]

thanks for the information, I love the imaginative painting and your figure drawing. It's crazy how much better you've gotten since your first pages! The landscape/ clouds are awesome

[Malakuko]

Oh hey I didnt know you had a sketchbook :D Lovely paintings as always!

[Cameronator]

What a great sketch book you have going here. Thanks for sharing

[jsn]

Very nice SB!
Your paintings are lookin great!!!

Keep progressing!
All the best!

[Nephilie]

I know your art for some years now, especially your finished pictures and I sometimes get the feeling, that you are not really improving (and I don't talk about the paintings from life).

Now I looked trough the stuff you have here in your sketchbook and maybe everything is about you trying to much painting for the sake of beauty. Everywhere you use very smooth lines and sometimes chubby forms. I really miss something like hard and aggressive lines. Your drawings lose much contrast, because there are no edges. It's like you don't like or don't want draw some that is ugly.
You have paintings like that with the plague or the characterdesigns that don't show beautiful characters. But In my opinion your linework does not express that. If you really want to draw characters who are ugly, try to use lines that support that effect. And even try to exaggerate.
I just take Erasmus as an example now. He looks something like poor there. But, do want you want that 'something like' or do you want 'really poor' as comment? The design would look more expressive, if you show things like his bones. Show that he is really living a hard life. His 'cloths' have one patch there, but everything else looks ok. Why not making it dirty, giving it more holes and show, that it is old and used? There is many you can do to show, what life your characters have. I miss that right now.

And some thoughts of mine about your anatomy: I have seen the drawings and studies you made on the previous side of this skecthbook. I think, you draw to much what you see and don't get enough whats under the surface.
It's nice to draw the figures Caravaggio have painted. But how about making gesture drawings of them and show that muscles they have under their skin?
I'm saying that because your own characters look often like they were made of clay. I miss bones and muscles. Even children and women have them.
You have very great skills to paint, but it would be very nice to see you improve your forms and designs more.

(Ans sorry if my english is bad ._.)

[Elophant]

Your life paintings are great .. and waaayy better than the stuff your paint from imagination.
I agree with Nephile.
But i m sure you will improve! Keep it up!

[Maidith]

ezekrialase - thank you =D

Malakuko, thanks a lot :)

Cameronator, thank you!

jsn, thanks =)

Elophant, vielen Dank!

Nephelie: Thank you =) You are right - my stuff is pretty. The "beauty" (prettiness? whatever) in my paintings comes by itself, in an automatic way. I'm not even trying. Call it style. However, this is the very reason I should make something "ugly" just for the sake of it. We all need to get out of our comfort zone from time to time! This requires a conscious effort.
I will consciously try to make something un-pretty some time, and then I'll send you a link! Your English is fine, by the way :)

(But if you truly like the un-pretty stuff you probably should watch another artist... I have no specific plans to change my style... I just see where it leads. That's part of the game! ;D)

Two studies from Angel Academy... and a pretty curvy mermaid! :D Just for the fun of it.

[tobbA]

Very nice SB. Like the figure paintings and illustrations :)

Don't really feel qualified to crit on the technical aspects, but as far as story goes... In the pic with the butterfly and the girl I just can't seem to understand why she's lying naked on the ground playing with a butterfly while the shepherd in the backround is watching, fully dressed. (If he was naked I could at least assume they were nudists or something. :P )

[Valyavande]

(now the fail comes, because I changed my account and forgot to log out my old one last time. so, old Nephilie is writing now)

Well, I don't think you need to do something really ugly if you're not in the mood - just give your roses some thorns. It's like Mona Lisa - she's famous like hell and people call her beautiful, even if she doesn't have eyebrows.
As I said, I know your paintings for many years and I know, you're the one to paint the beautiful things in the world. I only miss something like contrast and dynamic based on more hard lines. Prettiness is not a thing only for round shapes

[in2eternity]

Very inspiring work here! Thanx for sharing!

[Maidith]

why she's lying naked on the ground playing with a butterfly while the shepherd in the backround is watching, fully dressed.

Because she's a nymph and he's a peeping tom! XD
Thank you :)

Valyavande, thank you =) I'm sure I'll discover this some day! (we all need to get outside our comfort zone in order to improve)

in2eternity, thank you!

A new painting! Still life done at Angel Academy of Art :)
Oil on canvas, about 40x54 cm.

In the first complex still life assignment students do, they're given specific rules: There has to be an element with something handwritten in it, a small object with a strong color in the foreground, and a large, bulky element in the background.
Elements have to be arranged in such a way that there are three different levels of depth in the setup: the big, bulky thing far back has to be barely visible, the middle ground object lighter, and the frontmost object has to be lightest.

I painted a little bit every weekday while getting constant feedback from our painting teacher, the whole process stretched out over an entire trimester (about 3 months).

We use the so-called sight-size method for drawing and painting all objects (still lives AND plaster casts)

The work progress consists of several steps; basically they are:

1) preliminary simple drawing, getting shapes right
2) more detailed drawing
3) getting values right (monochrome)
4) blocking in flat but accurate color
5) refining, detailing, rendering, correcting - one object at a time

Thank you for looking! ;D

http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/6210/z30fiorenza.jpg

[Peter Berkovski]

very very very impressive work Maidith, I wish I could study there too :)
keep showing your beautiful work!

[hücumkedi]

damn last one!!! awesome thread

[JohnSantos]

New here at CA , I actually want someday to go study in Florence like you , hope I can :)

congratulations on your work , its really good! :D

BTW In those early pencil figure sketches , what grades of graphite did you use? Or what grades do the teachers there at Angel advice ?

Are those evening drawing sessions supervised by teachers as well?

do you get any anatomy lessons at the academy?

thank you and keep up the great work :)

[Maidith]

Peter & hücumcedi, thank you! :)

John - Thank you! =) To your questions:

- I (we) generally use darker, softer pencil grades for sketches. Like 2B, 4B or even 6B.
- Some evening drawing sessions are attended by a teacher (at least last time I was there, in the portrait class on Monday and Tuesday. I don't know about the others.)
- We have lectures about anatomy, and get homework to study anatomy from Bridgman and Vanderpoel's books. Other than that, the figure drawing from life, which is done every day, is a great anatomy exercise in itself.

New work from school! :D Enjoy...

[purplegoat]

Loving your sketchbook! You've come a long way since your first post. Keeping an eye on this for inspiration and more eye pleasing imagery :D

[Maidith]

Thank you purplegoat :)
Here I'm studying the different steps of figure construction, using the Glen Vilppu book... (these are my own studies, not from school this time)


http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/8336/72545032.jpg
http://img852.imageshack.us/img852/8891/75903009.jpg
http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/6442/70300865.jpg
http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/2196/64053909.jpg
http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/7881/58910497.jpg
http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/25/90057213.jpg
http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/8408/65186590.jpg
http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/9454/90652289.jpg
http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/2522/73095764.jpg
http://img847.imageshack.us/img847/3978/27759476.jpg
http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/6951/63136226.jpg
http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/1155/60413342.jpg
http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/3784/36276964.jpg
http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/6324/88590669.jpg
http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/4932/64811018.jpg

[Featheredface]

Guh! I wish I could critique, but I do not have enough of an understanding in art to give a good critique for you yet!

Your skin tones are so godly. fjkfhjkflhflf And I do like the fluid and graceful curves of your gestures. Keep it up!

[Sandmadame]

Gorgeous Stuff here again. I'am impressed as ever and this fennel beats them all. :D

[hummel1dane]

Great work!!
Remember to draw transparent, continue lines that goes behind other lines.
It could also help to draw the groundplane, give the figures a very good stand.

[Velocity Kendall]

Your still lifes on this page are AMAZING
they remind me of willem kalf
http://www.azerbaijanrugs.com/mp-img/mp-img-bg/Still-Life%20with%20Drinking-Horn.jpg

[Tugelbend]

Hey Maidith! Gorgeous work!
I'd just like to ask if and how much, do you think, does your traditional painting support your digital painting skills? And if it does, why do you think that is?

[Maidith]

Featheredface, thank you =)

Sandy, thank you! Fennel for president! XD

Hans, tak <3 Yes, I will remember the ground plane! (not in the following sketches, these were done before I read your comment XD)

Velocity, thank you! (though it's still a looong way to Willem Kalf level ;D)

Partheus, thanks :) Yes, I think the traditional work has helped my digital painting improve somewhat. The principles behind both are the same, it's just that in school I was made more aware of some principles that I had previously neglected - like the illusion of form and 3dimensionality. Or the drawing as fundament for everything else - if the drawing is weak, the whole thing won't work.

My own studies, continued...
http://img826.imageshack.us/img826/3296/25948823.jpg
http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/9357/62391596.jpg
http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/2065/87793988.jpg
http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/9407/85994431.jpg
http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/7255/95066445.jpg
http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/3/41266248.jpg
http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/8757/77247623.jpg
http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/6193/58770297.jpg
http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/1178/93015039.jpg
http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/761/76357120.jpg

Aaaaand a figure study from school, painted from life, oil on canvas, 40x50cm.

[Istmin52]

Great job on the oil painting so far. You have some amazingly strong skills in your observational work and your imaginative work is good too but I feel like some of your figures at times lack a bit in there anatomy. I think drawing faces is one of your strongest skills from imagination but it's not always the most consistent. Your studies will def help you at drawing better figures. Your stuff is great but I'm just throwing in my two cents. Your sketchbook certainly inspires me to keep working hard.

[Maidith]

Why the heck won't CA let me change the thread title anymore? O_o

I've gotten used to putting the date of my latest update in the thread title, and still do it, but the change doesn't show up. It stays updated at "February 23rd"... gah.

Moar sketchbook pages, I'm repeating this basic construct sketches thing a little longer, until it really sits.
Then I'll continue studying anatomy in more detail, learning the muscle names and stuff. Names don't matter, I know! (those muscles could be called Chocolate Cupcake or The Patriot for all that matters...) But naming them really helps to become aware of them, and to memorize them.
Later, I will focus on perspective.

http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/4434/32120763.jpg
http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/6778/94865756.jpg

Study from school, copy after our "Maestro" Michael John Angel. Oil on canvas, 30x40cm.
http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/7114/37494337.jpg

[Maidith]

New sketchbook pages!

http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/6352/88520951.jpg
http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/4306/71478270.jpg
http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/557/29840527.jpg
http://img826.imageshack.us/img826/9278/27488270.jpg
http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/9539/32492832.jpg

[Maidith]

New sketchbook pages!

http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/1445/29455695.jpg

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/9910/67255271.jpg

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/8875/28085444.jpg


A new painting from Angel Academy - This is James (at least that's what I think his name is...)

Oil on canvas, about 45x90 cm.
Sorry about the image quality - I may be getting better at painting but I'm still an awful photographer.

[Niels23]

You. Are. Amazing!!! =))) So impressed with your figure studies - they look very nice. And oils - it look very cool! How long have you been studying oil painting?

[~Faust~]

Wow haven't seen your stuff in a while! Angel is doing good for you, I am majorly impressed! We should totally hang out! :O

[teapo]

wow... this is the first time i've came across your sketchook maidith :) i must say that i'm truly impressed by the progress you've made and i love you for appreciating the classical approach. *hats off to you* :) definitely subscribing!

[Malakuko]

Your new painting is beautiful! :D I love it. I think theres something up with the 3rd and 4th fingers on his right hand though. Also great work in your sketchbook

[ezekrialase]

Great sketches, I can already see the improvement in you're figure drawing! Your new painting is also really nice.

[JohnSantos]

Peter & hücumcedi, thank you! :)

John - Thank you! =) To your questions:

- I (we) generally use darker, softer pencil grades for sketches. Like 2B, 4B or even 6B.
- Some evening drawing sessions are attended by a teacher (at least last time I was there, in the portrait class on Monday and Tuesday. I don't know about the others.)
- We have lectures about anatomy, and get homework to study anatomy from Bridgman and Vanderpoel's books. Other than that, the figure drawing from life, which is done every day, is a great anatomy exercise in itself.

New work from school! :D Enjoy...


Thanks so much for answering my questions Maidith! I really liked the final painting you posted and the still life was great too!

I´m curious , If you can , tell me something , so portrait drawing is not included in the program at Angel´s? but it´s an outside thing? ( workshops and all ) .

thank you :)

[Molly-Fish]

Your figure drawing in #1 is amazing! Your line quality and understanding of value are very nice

[Maidith]

Ulver, thank you =) I'm studying oil painting since 2009/2010, but I've dabbled/experimented in the medium several times before, since I was 13.

Faust, thank you! Haha, almost forgot you are in Firenze too! XD Do you like it here? I see you're at FAA now - awesome!

teapo, thanks a lot :)

Malakuko, thank you!

ezekrialase, thanks =)

John, you're welcome!
There is a portrait class on Monday and Tuesday evenings. It's optional, but a teacher is present. (it's not really an "outside" part)
Also, graduates can choose to focus on portrait painting during a graduate year.

Molly-Fish, thank you!

A painting of James, done from life, 40x60cm.
Thought I had uploaded it here before... but I'm not seeing it, so here goes (again?)

I swear it's not that distorted in real life! (yes, I really suck at photographing)

[Teundeboer]

those still lifes are freaking amazing

[Maidith]

Teundeboer - thank you :)

Here's my latest, but not my last, still life from Angel Academy! :)
Oil on canvas, about 45x65 cm.

You can see a WIP photo here: http://img64.imageshack.us/i/imgp0008z.jpg/

Like in the previous still life, I used the sight-size method here to get the proportions, relations and sizes of the objects drawn correctly in the earliest stage.
After this drawing stage, dark shapes are blocked in. Only then are colors blocked in - very simple, flat colors at first. Then each object is refined and detailed and brought to a finish. We start with the fruit (or whatever perishables we're using), since they, well, rot really quickly XD
This is why some fruit is missing from the WIP photo. We sometimes have to replace things that get squishy and moldy, but I try to finish them really quickly so that I can still eat them afterwards. So far, successfully: I had to throw away just one orange.

The white cloth is my pillow case (No worries, I had another one to sleep on). I wanted something white, and I'm too lazy to buy a nice lacy tablecloth at the market, you see.
(And who knows how many poor Chinese immigrants are getting exploited, working under inhumane conditions in the textile industry in Prato °__° I'm not buying pretty, cheap clothes in the Chinese stores in Florence anymore.)

The pretty glass is courtesy of my landlady, Vanda (grazie mille!)

[kayness]

ABSOLUTELY digging everything, hun - the figure studies, the still lives, the pastels and oils! WOW

[xelby]

Wow. Impressive progress from page 1!

Subscribed fo shu.

[Maidith]

Kay and xelby, thank you :)

I'm in my easter holidays right now, sitting at home all day and practicing. That's where I did this painting of Anne Boleyn:

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/4346/anneboleyn.jpg

I was going to finish it but it seems to be a boring one, so I don't think it's worth spending more time on rendering and finishing :/

Also I almost finished my first (physical) sketchbook! Yay!
That's the first time I filled all the pages in a sketchbook. Will upload the new pages soon :D

Also, a photo study from screenshot. PS, 1h, no colorpicking or tracing. If it reminds you of Dr Cuddy from "House", you're on the right track. :)

http://img852.imageshack.us/img852/4456/unled1uu.jpg

[Maidith]

Sketchbook pages. Ain't my sketchbook a pretty one? :drinkup: Haha! Anyway it's now full (my first time ever) and I have to go buy a new one.

[ezekrialase]

i now know the exciting feeling of finishing a sketchbook for the first time too! I finished my first one last week. it was awesome. =P

[Velocity Kendall]

im just about to finish my first one. good work us!
amazing work in this thread

[JohnSantos]

Thanks so much for answering my questions Maidith! Youre progress has been really great ! congrats!

I´ve heard that Angel academy is thinking of moving to a new location and change some teachers , do you know anything about that?

thanks!

[Farin]

wow the anne boleyn picture is great! lov it

beste grüße nach florenz und viel spaß im nächsten semester
(hab es leider nicht auf die reihe bekommen mich in florenz zu verabschieden - deswegen nu auf diesem weg: allet jute und ne gute zeit an der aaa)

daniel

[Maidith]

ezekrialase - yay! *highfive* :D let's finish some more of those sketchbooks!

Velocity, thank you :)

John, thanks :) Yes, Angel Academy is looking for a new location. I like that idea; the current 2 studios are quite cramped full, and keeping all my painting materials in only 1 studio would be much more convenient. So far they haven't found anything suitable yet.

Daniel, vielen Dank =) Ups, ich hab dein Skizzenbuch hier ja noch garnicht gesehen XD Allerhöchste Zeit!


New painting for a challenge :D
Would you say she's a superhero or an antihero??? :geekg:
Either way she kicks some serious butt.

http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/1072/grandmasacre.jpg

[Maidith]

New sketchbook pages:

http://img806.imageshack.us/img806/6858/15579362.jpg
http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/4039/unled1q.jpg
http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/3057/unled2am.jpg
http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/3271/unled3q.jpg
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/4576/unled4a.jpg
http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/5928/unled5l.jpg
http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/9116/unled6.jpg
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/1285/unled7.jpg

[Dayle]

Hi- Despite only looking through a few pages of your sketchbook I can say definitively your work is amazing! Everything is such a high standard, my favourites are your figure studies, love the control and use of lines to create volume, movement and character.... fantastic! If I knew how to subscribe I would but for now you are a favourite on my explorer! Do you only draw the lines we see in your posts or are they lots of erased construction line too?

[Maidith]

Thank you Dayle! :)

Do you only draw the lines we see in your posts or are they lots of erased construction line too?

In my sketchbook: where you can see construction lines, I've used them. Where you see none, none have been used (I didn't use a pencil and eraser at the time, just ballpen)
In my oil paintings, both still life and figure: The beginning stages always involve construction lines.

New digital painting, Danse Macabre.

http://img863.imageshack.us/img863/5073/dansemacabre.jpg

At the risk of sounding emo, sometimes I feel quite incapable at painting. I haven't improved much lately and that made me feel really emo. I don't want to make work that is just "good enough". But maybe I just haven't done enough digital paintings lately! (I'm all preoccupied with painting still lives in oil, and doing anatomy studies)
I'm quite sure that other painters can relate to that feeling.

Voice 1 inside my head: "You really need to hurry and get better! You're already 21, you grandma!"
Voice 2 inside my head: "You're ONLY 21, you toddler, so take it easy!"
Voice 1 inside my head: "omg omg omg! I need to improve!"
Voice 2 inside my head: "You're gonna be a student for what, five more years? Be glad you have all that time!"
Voice 1 inside my head: "ONLY five years? O sh*t! Must paint faster!"

... and so on, and so on.

[Fetsch]

Hey Maidith, your work is great dont worry, and that with just 21 years. I know that feeling myself and i know for sure that if you get through those frustrating times improvement is just about to come. Also einfach die bösen Stimmen im kopf ignorieren und weiter hart arbeiten. :)

[Maidith]

Fetsch, du hast recht. einfach weitermachen...! das ist das wichtigste. danke!

Practice, practice, practice... new sketchbook pages.

http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/2061/unled1so.jpg
http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/5823/unled2vq.jpg
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/5438/unled3sv.jpg
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/600/unled4eh.jpg
http://img860.imageshack.us/img860/2294/unled5e.jpg
http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/256/unled6j.jpg
http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/9105/unled7v.jpg
http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/1131/unled8g.jpg
http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/9202/unled9.jpg
http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/3644/unled10n.jpg
http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/1774/unled11hp.jpg
http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/1189/unled12y.jpg

[Lightpunk]

Nice work in here, keep it up with the studying you are doing great.

[Tawnos]

Alter.... Mir fehlen die Worte, du hast ja so ein krass heftiges Sketchbuch! Meine Güte!

[Maidith]

Lightpunk and Tawnos, thank you :)

Finished another (physical) sketchbook! Yay!
Copying from Bammes students... And here's another (grisaille) painting from figure painting class at Angel Academy.

I will have finished the 3 year program at Angel Academy this summer, and will continue studying on my own for a few months. Then I want to study illustration at a private art/illusration academy in Hamburg (if they like my portfolio... Wish me good luck to get accepted there! :D Thanks!)

Now I'll go eat lunch (home-baked roll with mackerel on top; and a green rabbit food salad :D)

http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/7321/jane1.jpg
http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/6784/unled1dq.jpg
http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/3041/unled2vl.jpg
http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/3416/unled3g.jpg
http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/2025/unled4e.jpg
http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/3643/unled5f.jpg
http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/9382/unled6o.jpg

[Sarmati]

Your anatomy studies make me want to cry... but that's good I'll just get to draw more... thanks xD

[shambok]

Your finished paintings are mind blowing! I loved going through the sketches ... shows just how much hard work you put into your art ...awesome work!

[Maidith]

Thank you Sarmati and shambok :)

I turned 22 yesterday, yaaay! Getting older = getting better at drawing.
I hope CA will exist long enough so I can prove my improvement when I'm 89 years old or so.

Filling my new sketchbook with Bammes studies. Communism may have sucked but least in drawing those East Germans knew what they were doing haha :D I would have loved to study in Bammes' class!

http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/6427/unled1te.jpg
http://img864.imageshack.us/img864/1027/unled2st.jpg
http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/6743/unled3nn.jpg
http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/944/unled4vp.jpg
http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/668/unled5x.jpg
http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/498/unled6b.jpg
http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/3052/unled7r.jpg

[ChaosTheory]

such a great thread! Your portraits, studies and etc. are awesome!)

[Clean3d]

Wait... you turned how old?! *grabs sketchbook*

Uhm, pardon me. Your work is incredible, but I feel a sudden need to draw like there's no tomorrow.

[vatteh]

Your anatomy studies are great. Keep it up.

[Tawnos]

An welcher Schule möchtest du denn hier studieren? Also, wenn ich mir das hier so ansehe, wirst du von privaten Schulen mit Kusshand aufgenommen, da musst du garnichts hoffen. Du hast ein unfassbar gutes Portfolio!

[TheDistance]

Excellent anatomy studies! Something I need to work a lot on!

[JohnSantos]

Congrats on finishing your course on Angel´s Kristina!! :steph:

I hope you enter that school you want now! keep up the good work too!

I hope you can answer me some more questions about angel´s too ,

can you tell me how expensive it is to do the extra curricular classes like the ecorché one I saw in their site? and others?

Oh what is your opinion on Florence Academy of art ? I read that some people leave angel´s for it ? Does the oposite happen too ? why does that happen? Angel´s seems so cool!

thanks so much!!

[UCT]

I adore the above study's

[krysjez]

thank you for all the informative notes in your sketchbook scans :) I love how confident your lines are...and Grandma Sacre is awesome!

[Maidith]

Thank you guys and girls!

An welcher Schule möchtest du denn hier studieren?
Akademie Leonardo in Hamburg. Mal schauen :)

can you tell me how expensive it is to do the extra curricular classes like the ecorché one I saw in their site? and others?

Isn't that info on the website? I don't know, never done any of their workshops. Juts e-mail Lynne, she'll be able to tell you =)

Oh what is your opinion on Florence Academy of art ? I read that some people leave angel´s for it ? Does the oposite happen too ? why does that happen? Angel´s seems so cool!

It seems that the program is similar, with FAA perhaps allowing a bit more artistic freedom? I'm not sure, never studied there. Yes, people have left AAA for FAA for that specific reason, I don't know about other reasons. Angel's probably wasn't exactly what they wanted.
Personally I'm satisified with the school, it's exactly the education I was looking for.
Some people also left AAA because they thought there would be instruction similar to those at a classical Russian art school - figure drawing in a constructive way. But Angel's doesn't teach that, I totally don't know how people get that idea. Angel's is NOT a russian academy, they don't teach their traditions and methods, I think it's quite clear from their website.

My computer died, so no digital painting until maybe next month or so. Damn.
Still, I can upload some stuff... another still life from AAA.

Sorry about the photo quality, I blame it on my 8 year old digital camera.

[Hyskoa]

Some people also left AAA because they thought there would be instruction similar to those at a classical Russian art school - figure drawing in a constructive way. But Angel's doesn't teach that, I totally don't know how people get that idea.

Because Angel advertises itself as a neo-classicist school. :)
Which it's noooooooooooooooooot even close to, hehe.

Good progress on the pictures though.
Work, work, work.

Greets, H.

[Maidith]

Because Angel advertises itself as a neo-classicist school. :)
Which it's noooooooooooooooooot even close to, hehe.

Good progress on the pictures though.
Work, work, work.

Greets, H.

Thank you :)
You seem to be much better informed about the words. I have no idea what a neo-classicist art education is; I know the term only in the context of paintings by Louis-David, Ingres, etc.
Your school seems great and I would love to study there too. Can't afford it, though. Nonetheless, I'm now copying from a Russian anatomy book which I got from Hans who got it from Vadim (say hi to Vadim, if he's still here :) )

Almost as good as actual classes...

[Maidith]

My last paintings from Angel Academy. I'm done with the program, got my certificate, now gonna continue studying in Germany soon.

[Malakuko]

That book seems pretty interesting. (if you were wondering what I found interesting from the little you showed about it, its the fact thats its russian haha). Whats the name of it?
Really nice figures, feel very fleshy, I dont mean the colors.

[Maidith]

Malakuko, thank you! :) I don't know Cyrillic script and can't read the name of the book on the cover.

(At this point I don't even have the book anymore, sold it to a friend. But I finally have my own internet and will now continue uploading all the stuff I copied from that Russian book - and some more copies after Velazquez and other painters!)

[Fallenangel]

Great studies, i've got that book it's called "The basics of academic drawing", it's an awesome book that i bought few years ago in Russia :)

About those studies i would really want to see some more free hand studies and sketches, (it doesn't mean that you should stop your anatomy studies though) i just think that some free hand gesture and figure sketches would bring more life to your art.

About the age, just try to see it in the right perspective, i'm 24 and i spent like 5 years in the army, i really don't regret a thing and i know i've still got a long way to go till i reach my goals in art.
I'm only 24, and i still got a lot of time to improve as much as i can.

Cheers, and keep up with that great work!

Alex.

[Maidith]

Thank you Fallenangel :)
Wish I could read the Russian text. Anyway, more sketches:

[Metanoia]

These are great studies. I love looking at this sort of thing. It shows me what I should be aiming for. Really impressive progress from 2008 (but your work then was fantastic too!!) I feel like I've wasted a lot of time now... I'm 28 and only just starting to realise that if I want to draw I have to really practice at it regularly... like every day. Thanks so much for sharing your works and sketches.

[Maidith]

Thank you Metanoia! :)

I did a tonal value study from a Jeremy Lipking (http://www.lipking.com/) painting. For that exercise, I copied the original color image in grayscale. Then I converted the original into grayscale, and compared: "How much of the values did I get correct?"
Took about 30 min, I need to do more of these.

And DO check out Lipking's work (http://www.lipking.com/), it's fucking brilliant. :mod:

[EnchantingElle]

Your work is just amazing, and to see the progression from when you started this thread to the newest just...wow. So inspiring.

[~Faust~]

hey just a quick note, If you're working with tone, you are automaticly working with egdges. seeing how everything seems to be so sharp in your value-studiy suggests you did too much of contrast between the shapes! It's a very hard thing to arrive to a smooth ad soft look without blurring the dges but it is possible, by describing very narrow value-differences. You should be more subtle! That way, you will also have more control over how to use value to make the form turn etc

[Maidith]

Enchanting Elle, thank you! :)

Faust, thank you! :) I think what you describe here It's a very hard thing to arrive to a smooth ad soft look without blurring the dges but it is possible, by describing very narrow value-differences
is what Michael John Angel calls "first painting". Yes, that would be the best method for any study here, color or monochrome.

In the following study (Gandalf ftw! :D) I got bored with monochrome though. Color is the reason I paint, so no more monochrome studies for now (what's the point if they bore me to death, and copying does so too). I have access to a computer now and will buy my new computer soon, so I'm now doing some actual illustrations, some real work of my own! :D

Thanks for your awesome feedback so far, fellow painters! <3 Your kind words are very motivating.

[Maidith]

Happy Independence Day to all you United States folks out there <3

Getting busy with actual digital painting! :D Making pictures is the reason I make pictures. All sketches and studies are just investments for the future.

I want to make a series of Tudor Queens. After watching the whole of "The Tudors" AND reading biographies by Carolly Erickson AND novels by Philippa Gregory, it felt natural. Lots of inspiration in those dramatic stories!

My first painting in this series shows Catherine of Aragon (1485-1536), though I think there were other Tudor queens before her. But my painting series will be long enough from there , since I plan to paint all other queens after her, ending with Elizabeth I.

Catherine was Queen of England as the first wife of King Henry VIII of England (the crazy one with the 6 wives, y'know)

The next portraits in this series will feature:
2) Anne Boleyn
3) Jane Seymour
4) Anne of Cleves
5) Catherine Howard
6) Catherine Parr
7) Mary I
8) Elizabeth I

Reference for face features from this original portrait by Michael Sittow:
http://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Datei:Michel_Sittow_002.jpg&filetimestamp=20080904182436

Pose reference from http://gracies-stock.deviantart.com/

Thanks for looking!

[Maidith]

Sketchbook pages...

[Maidith]

More sketchbook pages.

[Ariel9]

Love, love, love this sketchbook. So full of useful resources, too!
Italy will surely miss you, you're amazing. Keep up the studying ♥

[Silent-samurai87]

Hi I'm really loving your studies, they're amazing. Keep drawing/posting :).

[Maidith]

Ariel9, grazie mille :)

Silent-samurai87 , thank you!


Her's the 2nd portrait in my series of Tudor Queens! :D
Anne Boleyn was Queen of England from 1533 to 1536 as the second wife of Henry VIII of England.

Pose reference from http://lockstock.deviantart.com <3
Background from one of my own photos.

[Maidith]

More sketchbook pages... And a 30min speedpaint study done from a stock photo I found on dA.

[Dayle]

Such a great understanding of tone and form... I love coming here. Never thought I'd say this but he has a great bum in your last post! Have you tried anything more subtle? Your forms are really muscular and contrasting, would like to see something really soft and curvy (maybe you've already posted stuff like this and I just missed it). Your portraits are amazing too.

[DariusDs]

AWESOME WORKS

[Artificial]

Your sketchbookwork is beautiful. What source are you using?

[Maidith]

Dayle, thank you! :) You'll find more subtle/soft/pretty/curvy stuff all over my entire sketchbook. Just recently I tried a bit of the opposite.

Darius, thanks! =)

Artificial, thank you :) Some images are referenced wholly or partly from photos, some are done directly from life, some from imagination... My sources are many many different ones, if you want to know the one of any specific image, just ask. I'll be glad to explain.

Update!
Here's Jane Seymour, number 3 in my series of Tudor Queens =)

"Jane Seymour (c.1508 – 24 October 1537) was Queen of England as the third wife of King Henry VIII. She succeeded Anne Boleyn as queen consort following the latter's execution for charges of high treason, witchcraft, incest and adultery in May 1536. She died of postnatal complications less than two weeks after the birth of her only child, a son who reigned as Edward VI. She was the only one of Henry's wives to receive a queen's funeral, and his only consort to be buried beside him in St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, as she was the woman that Henry loved the most and gave the only male heir to."

(quoted from Wikipedia)

Time: about 10-20h
Medium: Photoshop + Wacom tablet
Background here is an overpainted photo (my own)
Hands referenced from http://Cobweb-stock.deviantart.com

[Artificial]

Tnx. Ok, I thought you used some kind of book for practice. Great drawings, especially when done from imagination.

[Maidith]

Here's number 4 in my series of Tudor Queens =)

"Anne of Cleves was a German noblewoman and the fourth wife of Henry VIII of England and as such she was Queen of England from 6 January 1540 to 9 July 1540. The marriage was never consummated, and she was not crowned queen consort. Following the annulment of their marriage, Anne was given a generous settlement by the King, and thereafter referred to as the King's Beloved Sister. She lived to see the coronation of Mary I of England, outlasting the rest of Henry's wives."

(quoted from Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_of_cleves )

Time: about 10-20h
Medium: Photoshop + Wacom tablet
100% hand painted with love by yours truly :D

[Maidith]

Catherine Howard

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/8827/z33catherinehoward.jpg

"Catherine Howard married Henry VIII on 28 July 1540, almost immediately after the annulment of his marriage to Anne of Cleves was arranged. However, she was beheaded after less than two years of marriage to Henry on the grounds of treason for committing adultery while married to the King."
(quoted from Wikipedia)

Since she met the same fate as Anne Boleyn, I painted her being haunted or chased by Anne's ghost. Perhaps you've heard stories about sightings of the ghost of Anne Boleyn? Her Wikipedia article cites a few. I don't believe in ghosts, but I believe in making paintings spooky! :D

And I hate painting buildings. It's the most tedious and boring task there is, at least for me. :/ The painted Hampton Court in the background was really an exercise in stamina.

Time: about 10-20h
Medium: Photoshop + Wacom tablet
100% hand painted with love by yours truly!

[Sushy]

those last images look amazing :D seems like all the school work (and studies) you did really pays off.

[razz]

Hey, Kristina! Lots of great stuff in here. Just stopping by to say hi. Congrats on finishing your studies at AAA!

[JJacks]

I'm pretty impressed with your recent figure sketches. You define the different planes of the body very well. I also see clear improvement in your skin tones especially in your portrait of Anne of Cleves. Nice work!

[Pixelwalker]

Hey maidith!

Cool zu sehen dass du an der Akademie in Florenz fertig bist! Hat meiner Meinung nach eine Menge gebracht.
Grade deine traditionellen Werke sind inzwischen echt erste Sahne! :)
Konnte es aus deinen Anatomie Studien nicht direkt erkennen, aber zeichnest du auch "schnelle" Figuren um zu überprüfen wo es noch happert?
Oder testest du dies meist in deinen Illustrationen?

Grüße,
Sil!

PS: Vielleicht habe ich dich das schonmal gefragt, aber hast du MSN oder Skype?
Jetzt wo du wieder in Deutschland bist könnte man ja vielleicht mal bischen schreiben :)

PPS: Sry my english friends! Next time the post will be in english again ;>

[Ariel9]

I would love to see a close-up of the last one.
Your paintings look so pro and ancient in a good way.
The Anne painting may be your best yet, the sens of light and the different skin and cloth textures are amazing!

[Maidith]

Sushy, thank you =)

Tautvydas, thank you! How is it going? Your concept art is really good, keep it up :)

JJacks, thank you :D

Sil, vielen Dank :) Ja, wir machen auch eine Menge Skizzen und schnelle Zeichnungen, die mache ich auch von selbst. Ich hab zwar ICQ (261513052), und vergesse immer, online zu sein, aber du kannst auch per e-mail oder PN gern alles fragen, was du willst, ich antworte meist ziemlich schnell. ^^


This is my first attempt at a painting of Catherine Parr. I'm not happy enough with it, I think I can do better. I'm currently working on a new portrait of the same person.

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/2860/z34catherineparr.jpg

[Emil_J.]

You have made some very nice historic paintings. In the last one i especially like the feather fan and her face, very nicely rendered!

[Lux_Aeterna]

At the risk of sounding emo, sometimes I feel quite incapable at painting. I haven't improved much lately and that made me feel really emo. I don't want to make work that is just "good enough". But maybe I just haven't done enough digital paintings lately! (I'm all preoccupied with painting still lives in oil, and doing anatomy studies)
I'm quite sure that other painters can relate to that feeling.

Voice 1 inside my head: "You really need to hurry and get better! You're already 21, you grandma!"
Voice 2 inside my head: "You're ONLY 21, you toddler, so take it easy!"
Voice 1 inside my head: "omg omg omg! I need to improve!"
Voice 2 inside my head: "You're gonna be a student for what, five more years? Be glad you have all that time!"
Voice 1 inside my head: "ONLY five years? O sh*t! Must paint faster!"

... and so on, and so on.

Das ist aber ziemlich demotivierend, so etwas von einer Künstlerlin wie Dir zu lesen. ich bin 20 und noch nicht einmal ansatzweise bei Deinem Niveau angelangt, aber mein Berufstraum ist es trotzdem, Illustrator/Conceptartist zu werden und ich ackere mit demselben Ehrgeiz dafür.
Und das Schlimme ist, dass ich genau diese Gedanken kenne, nur bei mir halte ich das für mehr als angebracht, während Du doch so viel und positive Resonanz auf Deine arbeiten bekommst. und wenn du dich mal mit anderen Künstlern deines alters vergleichst, dann wirst Du wahrscheinlich sehr schnell erkennen, dass du nicht im Durchschnitt liegst, sondern weit darüber.

Ich finde es immer so frustrierend, wenn sich Künstler mit Deinem Skill über ihre Fähigkeiten beschweren, während man sich selbst mit dem wirkllich objektiven Wissen über eine eigene Unfähigkeit plagen muss...ich hoffe, du verstehst, was ich damit sagen will.^^

[Maidith]

Thank you Fumble =)

Das ist aber ziemlich demotivierend, so etwas von einer Künstlerlin wie Dir zu lesen. ich bin 20 und noch nicht einmal ansatzweise bei Deinem Niveau angelangt, aber mein Berufstraum ist es trotzdem, Illustrator/Conceptartist zu werden und ich ackere mit demselben Ehrgeiz dafür.
Und das Schlimme ist, dass ich genau diese Gedanken kenne, nur bei mir halte ich das für mehr als angebracht, während Du doch so viel und positive Resonanz auf Deine arbeiten bekommst. und wenn du dich mal mit anderen Künstlern deines alters vergleichst, dann wirst Du wahrscheinlich sehr schnell erkennen, dass du nicht im Durchschnitt liegst, sondern weit darüber.

Ich finde es immer so frustrierend, wenn sich Künstler mit Deinem Skill über ihre Fähigkeiten beschweren, während man sich selbst mit dem wirkllich objektiven Wissen über eine eigene Unfähigkeit plagen muss...ich hoffe, du verstehst, was ich damit sagen will.^^

Hello Lux, I hope you don't mind me replying in English ^^ These words, they're just my feelings so I can't really apologize for them. I don't share my feelings online very often but with those I did it because I know that many other artists can relate to them, no matter where they are professionally.
It's true I've achieved a lot for my age, strictly objectively speaking, I know it quite well, but my subjective mind doesn't care, it feels whatever it wants. There's nothing I can do about feelings, just accept them and move on. I hope most people won't mind me posting about my inferiority feelings just once, it was the first time I did this in all my internet years and enough for me too :)

[Maidith]

My newest painting! This is the 6th work in the Tudor Queens series, and a portrait of Catherine Parr (2nd attempt) I'm glad I painted her again, it turned out better than the 1st attempt.

[andres333]

man these are beautifully rendered :D

[jcpahl]

That last one is really beautiful. In her hairnet, I notice that even the pearls that are in shadow have highlights and core-shadows, which doesn't make a lot of sense in that lighting scenario.

[Ccs]

I really like that last piece, the hands especially. I feel like the triangle-shape of skin that connects the head to the neck might extend a bit too far over though, or that the shadow there wouldn't behave like that.

[Satu]

Your sb is so awesomee! Truly inspirational. :)

[Ariel9]

I loved the first attempt but you were right to paint her again, the second one's even better! The most emotional of the series, I think. Beautiful texture on the clothing. I love how translucent her skin looks, too.

[GEB]

Really nice stuff. The only thing I'd say (and I'm hardly an expert so you can tell me to f@ck off) is that often it seems quite flat. I reckon if you added some more bounce light and other light sources and would really lift your work and make it pop out of the canvas. Back ligting also really helps to give depth and separate things on different planes

[surus]

Awesome sketchbook output! Thanks a lot for sharing! Keep on posting these sketchbook pages please. Maybe you want to join the spartan camp (50 poses a week). Rock on ! :yum:

[in2eternity]

I love all of your work, but that last one is sooooo great! Rendering and colors are perfect))

[Marian Rowling]

Hey Kristina I think this last one is your best yet. Such a great idea for a series of paintings and lovely to see you painting each of them. I have really enjoyed your sketchbook and seeing all your hard work, very inspiring to me.

[shambok]

Very nice updates ... This latest one is stunning! The lighting is breathtaking!
Thanx so much for sharing!

[Maidith]

andres333, thank you =)

jcpahl, thanks, you're right.

Ccs, thanks!

Satupeikko, thank you :D

Ariel9, mille grazie <3

GEB, thank you :) I'm working on it; expect improvement in about 2 years.

surus, thanks a lot :D

in2eternity, thanks <3

Marian, thank you very much! =)

shambok, thanks! :sungod:

New work: The Execution of Lady Jane Grey

In the Tudor era (and probably in the Middle Ages too) it was customary for the executioner to ask the condemned's forgiveness. It was supposed to show that he held no malice towards the victim; that he was only an extension of the law doing his job. By granting forgiveness the condemned also had a chance of showing magnanimity in the face of death, thus leaving a good impression on the spectators.
Lady Jane Grey forgave her executioner, as did Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard before her.

Who was Lady Jane Grey? She was designated queen by young king Edward Seymour (the son and successor of Henry VIII, as you remember).
But when he died in 1553, she managed to be queen for only about 2 weeks, because Henry's daughter Mary Tudor had many supporters and so became queen the same year.
The 17 year old Lady Jane Grey, though she didn't plot against Queen Mary herself, became a symbol of resistance and Protestantism and so became dangerous to the Catholic politics of Mary. Queen Mary had her executed for "high treason" in 1554.
Even today historians aren't sure if she had a legitimate claim to the throne or not, so she's usually not included in a line-up of English regents.

Hmm. That's quite a lot of death scenes in my portfolio so far. Perhaps I should paint a birth some time...! Nevermind. The next painting, of course, is going to feature Mary Tudor ("the Catholic" or "Bloody Mary" depending on whose side you're on).

Photoshop and Wacom tablet as always, took about 30 hours or so. (Social life? What's that? XD)
Wood and brick wall textures snatched from cgtextures.com .
Screaming guy referenced from ~alastock (http://alastock.deviantart.com/art/scream-2-153397084)
Lady-in-waiting referenced from `lockstock (http://lockstock.deviantart.com/art/Theme-Pack-1-Set-1-Reading-83434500)
Special thanks to the folks here on CA for kicking my butt :heart:

[Maidith]

I ain't dead yet, just scanner-less. My sketchbook is getting fatter, but I'm still waiting for my new scanner to arrive :( So here's some photographed stuff.

I'm now a student at the Akademie Leonardo in Hamburg, Germany. Studying illustration/design now, yay! :yum:

[Maidith]

My scanner arrived today and finally I can scan shit :)
Here they are, my latest exercises. Copying from Michael Hampton book, Bridgman, some old masters, and some doodling from imagination.

[bobmeatbag]

wow your progress is amazing. You make me feel lazy

[focus_light]

nice sketches and beautiful lines

[focus_light]

nice sketches and beautiful lines！

[Maidith]

bobmeatbag and focus_light, thank you :)

New sketchbook pages, mostly copied from Prud'hon.

[Cranberry]

Fantastic digitals, subbed!

[greyskill]

Hello Maidith!

I have lurked on your sketchbook for a while admiring your work.
I decided today I had to post.

The detail and color in your paintings are wonderful, and your sketches are terrific.
The weight in your sketches in truly amazing, I'm not sure how you accomplish it.

So, thanks for the great work, and please keep it up!

[wasabi89]

I love the way you render skin
keep it up that awesome work!

cheers

[Maidith]

Cranberry, merci :)

greyskill, thank you very much!

wasabi89, thank you =)


Update: studies of friends drawn from life, and two more sketchbook pages.

[ear5cm]

WOW~, U R GREAT!
wonderful arts!

BTW:
Which book you used for studying anatomy(i mean your post in #643 http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showpost.php?p=3177195&postcount=643)

thank u~:)

[Maidith]

ear5cm, thank you :)
I don't know the name of that book, it was in Russian. I'd like to scan the cover and post it here, but don't have the book anymore. I sold it to the awesome Mandy Boursicot/ (http://www.mandyboursicot.com/). Perhaps she can tell you the book title.

Anyway, more sketchbook pages.
Copying some serious horse anatomy from Bammes. Copying the running skeletons from Bammes was a school assignment.
http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/4341/scan0011zi.jpg
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/4471/scan0013ia.jpg


Random fun stuff from imagination - my sketchbook needs more of this, I think. All the silly shit that I do because it reminds me how much FUN drawing is, no matter how much of a chore it becomes sometimes.
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/194/nonslash1.jpg
http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/3277/nonslash2.jpg
http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/5678/trollpi.jpg


Some slash drawings. That means GAY STUFF. Click only if you don't mind cute Tintin/Haddock slash. Work safe and silly.
http://maidith.deviantart.com/art/Slashy-Tintin-doodles-269210568
http://maidith.deviantart.com/art/Silly-Tintin-fanart-3-269148409
http://maidith.deviantart.com/art/Silly-Tintin-fanart-2-269148274

This one's not so gay, tho: http://maidith.deviantart.com/art/Silly-Tintin-fanart-1-269148179

Aaaaaalright more to come soon, I finished my last digital painting in teh Tudor Queens series: Queen Elizabeth! Yay! :D

[ear5cm]

ear5cm, thank you :)
I don't know the name of that book, it was in Russian. I'd like to scan the cover and post it here, but don't have the book anymore. I sold it to the awesome Mandy Boursicot/ (http://www.mandyboursicot.com/). Perhaps she can tell you the book title.

Anyway, more sketchbook pages.
Copying some serious horse anatomy from Bammes. Copying the running skeletons from Bammes was a school assignment.
http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/4341/scan0011zi.jpg
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/4471/scan0013ia.jpg


Random fun stuff from imagination - my sketchbook needs more of this, I think. All the silly shit that I do because it reminds me how much FUN drawing is, no matter how much of a chore it becomes sometimes.
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/194/nonslash1.jpg
http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/3277/nonslash2.jpg
http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/5678/trollpi.jpg


Some slash drawings. That means GAY STUFF. Click only if you don't mind cute Tintin/Haddock slash. Work safe and silly.
http://maidith.deviantart.com/art/Slashy-Tintin-doodles-269210568
http://maidith.deviantart.com/art/Silly-Tintin-fanart-3-269148409
http://maidith.deviantart.com/art/Silly-Tintin-fanart-2-269148274

This one's not so gay, tho: http://maidith.deviantart.com/art/Silly-Tintin-fanart-1-269148179

Aaaaaalright more to come soon, I finished my last digital painting in teh Tudor Queens series: Queen Elizabeth! Yay! :D

Thank u for ur answer Maidith :)

[EMR]

hahahaha you´ve posted my troll yeha!!! it´s only for meeee.....

btw... my dear, you thought you´re too old... what i´m gonna to do .... omg...
i have to freak out....aaaaaaaaah

you´ve awesome and your my daily monday till wednesday motivation to practice ;)

keep calm, proceed and rock out ;)

[Maidith]

hahahaha you´ve posted my troll yeha!!! it´s only for meeee.....

btw... my dear, you thought you´re too old... what i´m gonna to do .... omg...
i have to freak out....aaaaaaaaah

you´ve awesome and your my daily monday till wednesday motivation to practice ;)

keep calm, proceed and rock out ;)

Thanks Edie! Yep, that troll is totally yours :D

My newest digital painting, Queen Elizabeth I. My "Tudor Queens" series is finished! This is the eighth and final image in the series.
I put her in a forest setting because I think the real Elizabeth would have liked this - a relaxing rest from restrictive court life, nothing artificial here. And because my gallery needs more green paintings anyway.
I feel like I'm finally starting to figure out the gorgeous sunlight-shining-through-green-leaves light.

[iceman478]

your pencil work and charcoal work is AMAZING!

[Maidith]

Thank you, iceman478 :)

Filling my sketchbook with animal studies after Bammes.
Also, a fun fanart meme thing! XD

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/4306/calculusu.jpg

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/1092/unbenannt5wh.jpg
http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/2465/unbenannt7a.jpg
http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/7794/unbenannt9r.jpg
http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/8362/unbenannt11yb.jpg

[Maidith]

Running skeleton after Bammes, and various figures after Burne Hogarth.

damn, my sketchbook is full AGAIN. Need to buy a new one D:

[Baconstrap]

The figure studies are really bacon and I like your paintings they remind me a bit of old painting. Keep up the good work and stay bacon ^^

[Maidith]

Thanks for the comment! makes me feel really bacon :)

New sketchbook pages:

[jsn]

The progress in here is awesome!!!
Loving your studies, still life's, and post #691

Coming back for more!

[Maidith]

Thank you jsn :)
My newest finished painting, Joan of Arc.

[DStraX]

:O that silk dress in the Queen Elisabeth one.. it blew my mind at least!
Joan of Arc pic might be a bit flat, could use some more dramatic occlusion shadows

[ezekrialase]

very nice work! my solution to your sketchbook woes is to buy a bigger sketchbook. :P

[Maidith]

Thank you, ezekrialase and DStrax =)

In my class we're actually studying bones! Yay!
Apologies for the photo quality. "Hugo", by the way, is the name of the skeleton we got here at school.

http://img807.imageshack.us/img807/1205/pc200011.jpg
http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/1840/pc200013.jpg
http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/319/pc200015.jpg
http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/7864/pc200016.jpg
http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/9742/pc200018w.jpg
http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/4378/pc200019.jpg

[Nele Klumpe]

Haha, these Skeletons are always named Hugo...
Looking nice! The architecture in your latest painting looks way better by the way! Keep it up!

[Maidith]

Thank you Nele! :)

New painting, Tintin in Tchernobyl.

http://img859.imageshack.us/img859/1806/tintin.jpg

Like many Europeans, I grew up with the #1 Belgian comic series by artist/author Hergé (started reading the inherited-from-Dad albums when I was 8 years old) but it was the movie that put me in full fangirl mode about one month ago. (Even though the comics are much better.)

This fanart was the perfect excuse for me to get outside my comfort zone. Tough guys with guns and run-down communist architecture are very unusual subjects for me (and so is fanart!). It is my belief that every artist needs to get outside their comfort zone sometimes if they want to improve and evolve. I've also wondered how those guys would look like in my own painting style.

I really want to do more fanart in Hergé style, though! The fangirl trip increased my productivity quite a bit... Prepare for more fangirlisms!

The interior is based on a public domain photo of a building in Pripyat, Ukraine:
http://www.deviantart.com/users/outgoing?http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Palace_of_Culture_Lobby-pripyat.jpg?uselang=de

And yes, I know that Captain Haddock would rather swear off whisky than pulling a James Bond pose! But in my painting he does what I want, haha! :) (Sorry, Archie)

Medium: Photoshop and Wacom tablet, as always
Time: about 20-30 hours

Thank you, Conceptart.org folks here, for kicking my butt. :heart: Your critique was invaluable.

[Maidith]

Figure drawing exercise, 100% drawn from imagination, no reference.

The idea is to see how much anatomy already sticks.

Will study more.

[TArnell]

WOW...love your stuff....and thanks for the Critique (I did mine with no reference as you have done the above piece) I think we are chase the same butterfly!!!

[-D_art-]

brilliant sketchbook!!!! and wonderfull progress since page 1, keep posting!!

[Maidith]

Thank you Tarnell and D Art :)

Recent finished painting, The Year of Jubilee.
Special thanks go to the awesome folks on CA who kicked my butt in my Perspective study thread in the Critique forum. :heart:

The year is 1500, and Cesare Borgia celebrates the state and his family by leading a triumph procession through Rome.

I'm not sure how many figures are in this painting; I stopped counting at twenty-one.
Ever since I was a teenager I've had a secret crush on giant, pompous, oversized, overcrowded historical paintings (yes, yes, I know that cramming lots of people into a painting doesn't automatically make it good), or pretend-historical paintings. There's a huge painting by Hans Makart in the Hamburg Kunsthalle that I'm in love with :D

Ah well. My next one will be much, much simpler. I must focus on the fundamentals of drawing; perspective and anatomy especially. Still got a lot to learn and it's gonna take time; please bear with me.

Medium: Photoshop and Wacom tablet
Time taken: About 30-40 hours, not including wasted hours of procrastination and time spent on searching references.

[Maidith]

New painting. I ain't dead yet, just busy with commissioned work and fangirl issues.

Reference used: http://scastra.deviantart.com/art/Phone-10-196756471
Medium: Photoshop and Wacom tablet, as always


The last hurried telegram that reached him had been sparsely detailed and half-blacked-out, only the words '__________AT SEA AGAIN________ CPT HADDOCK' remaining. Tintin still has the scrap of paper, ragged from his own stroking fingertips, despite everything that the war has taken from him.

Static crackles.

“I miss you so much, Captain,” he blurts out, helpless to stop the words, “I miss you, I miss you, why didn't you-”

The bubbling hiss is his only answer. He knows why Haddock didn't follow, this time; Britain called him, the last beleaguered bastion against Hitler's might, and what could the captain do but answer? Tintin had flung himself headlong into death, after all. “Captain,” he says, low, desperate, and with a precise click, the line goes dead.

It is October 1940. The world is at war.

[TArnell]

Nice!!! with or without ref material? your last one turned out stellar!

[alizak]

That last piece is amazing!

[Maidith]

Tarnell, thank you. I almost always use reference. For the above portrait, for example, I used this: http://scastra.deviantart.com/art/Phone-10-196756471

alizak, thank you =)

New painting: Reunion at Ostend Harbour - Homecoming - 1945

[ezekrialase]

Great work!

[Maidith]

Thank you ezekrialase :)

I haven't got any exercises to show (apart from what I do at school, and those aren't really presentable), so here's another new finished painting, The Song of Lorelei. For more fantasy in my portfolio.

http://i43.tinypic.com/p7sqt.jpg

[Gannicus]

beautiful works!:)

[Maidith]

Thank you Gannicus :)

I'm making no real exercises right now, apart from school work. Just focusing on finished, refined illustrations for my portfolio, exploring as many different themes, genres and subjects as possible. (Currently I'm working on my first pure scenery illustration without any people in it).

Here's a new one (apologies to Hergé and Bouguereau).

[Maidith]

Portrait painting exercise, not sure if I'll make a finished work of it.

This is Tadzio from the novel "Death in Venice".

[PeopleEveryday]

Stunning work!

I believe I was taught by a student of the same school (in Florence) that you attended. That school certainly yields some amazing talent.

[Mistle]

Wow, it's absolutely amazing how far you have come since 2008 and 19 years old.

I'm 19 currently, and if I see such improvement over 4 years for myself, I'll be very happy.

[meticulous]

Beautiful work! Keep up the hard work!

[GaussianRaider]

Kristina! How is it going?! What are you up to now? This last one is fantastic! I like a lot this one too http://conceptart.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1432135&stc=1&d=1330466690 and this
http://conceptart.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1315447&stc=1&d=1315139251
And I don't think this is boring http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/4346/anneboleyn.jpg, she has pretty intense eyes and the hands are great !
Woah, I wish I had the commitment you have...it's astonishing! I'm sure you'll do ton of great stuff!!! I like your sketchbook studies too, your lines are beautiful :)
As a suggestion (not that I manage to implement it myself but I hear it said to me all the time :P) I'd say try to differentiate more the local colors of the forehead/cheek-nose/mouth areas (ochre-is, reddish, bluish)!

[Maidith]

PeopleEveryday, thank you! Who was your teacher? Maybe I know him or her :)

Mistle, thank you :) Sometimes I wish I'd improve faster, honestly. XD

meticulous, thank you :D

Maurilio, thank you :) I'll keep your suggestion in mind.


New painting: Northwest Passage

This is either the HMS Erebus or the HMS Terror, a 19th century exploration vessel. Both these ships left England on the ill-fated Franklin Expedition in 1845.

Sir John Franklin hoped to navigate through the so-called Northwest Passage in the Arctic. But in the Victoria Strait, both ships became trapped in ice. The crew waited two and a half years for the ice to thaw but that did not happen. So in April 1848 they decided to abandon the ships and were not heard from again. No single man made it back home to England. It is assumed that they died from disease, food poisoning and starvation. From relics found by search expeditions later it was concluded that the last survivors eventually resorted to cannibalism.

Franklin's Lost Expedition - on wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin%27s_lost_expedition.)

It is pure Hollywood drama, and I'm astonished the story has not been made into a movie yet. I have, however, read a chilling (no pun intended) novel about it: The Terror, by Dan Simmons.

This was a new challenge for me - I wanted to paint a scene without any people in it.