cartoonfox and his creatures!

[cartoonfox]

hi. here are two sketches i did today.

-(quick sketch). i have NO IDEA why i gave it a hat! hope it doesnt ruin it too much. (and i know, i know, (his) right horn is too far up! :D)-
http://www.cartoonfox.hostrocket.com/13.jpg

-(quick sketch that i decided to ink) i really wanted to colour this, but i thought i'd show you the line art first :D-
http://www.cartoonfox.hostrocket.com/14.jpg

c&c very welcome,

thanks.

[cartoonfox]

-bump-

no one?

[Yaseck]

I like this sandworm, but I'd give him a shadow inside his "mounth". And maybe make it more oval.

[cartoonfox]

thanks for replying. :)

yeah, i forgot about the mouth :D i'll add it in when coloring it.
make it more oval? how do you meen?

thanks again.

[cartoonfox]

heres one i did today. an other ink job, but i didnt like the bottom half (i'm very imbaressed about it) which is why i didnt finish it. but i thought i'd post it aswell so i could get some help.

i'm gonna colour it later.

http://www.cartoonfox.hostrocket.com/15.jpg

c&c (mainly for the bottom half) very welcome (and needed :D) as allways.

thanks.

[zeroe]

nice work on the lizard. nice texturing. however yu may want to reconsider the body, cause i fear he might just tip over the moment he leans his head forward lol

[cartoonfox]

thanks for replying!

lol yeah (maybe he's slighly drunk? :D)
i really need to start looking at resorces of creatures and vehicles etc (star wars seems to have it all, any one know of any good "the art of" star wars books?) so i can improve.

thanks again, i will probably colour it (and the sand worm) tommorow.

on a side note, my new website finally has some images there, yay! (under "gallery"), just the same ones as i've posted here though. i'm gonna get my scanner soon so that'll all change :D
i'd appreciate some people checking it out. is it ok? is it easy to navigate etc? the colours alright? etc etc.

thanks.


http://www.cartoonfox.hostrocket.com

[Gunbu]

Hey nice line work. Yeah I definitely like the sandworm the best. But you know what I really like? YOUR WEBSITE!! Awesome design. I kept reloading it so I could see the animations. Groovy music too, I'm keeping the window open so I can hear it a little while longer. You should consider doing web design if you aren't already.

[cartoonfox]

thanks. i'm really glad you like it.

hmmm, web design huh? maybe one day! could be like a "side skill" i guess, but i'm still most passionate about drawing! :D

thanks again.

[cartoonfox]

here are a bunch of sketches i did today. (some have been posted before, bu i coloured them)

http://www.cartoonfox.hostrocket.com/17.jpg

http://www.cartoonfox.hostrocket.com/18.jpg

http://www.cartoonfox.hostrocket.com/19.jpg

http://www.cartoonfox.hostrocket.com/20.jpg

http://www.cartoonfox.hostrocket.com/21.jpg


c&c very welcome,
thanks.

[cartoonfox]

no one again?

here is the coloured version of this one
http://www.cartoonfox.hostrocket.com/17.jpg
http://www.cartoonfox.hostrocket.com/22.jpg

c&c much appreciated

thanks

[zeroe]

very good work on the lizard heads. i like the first one better tho, the colors seem to work more smoothely.

the blue monster type has alot of problems imo, especially anatomy. you might want to consider looking into that.
i like the way the sandworm turned out, but i think it lacks some death, some stronger shadows might help there

good work

[cartoonfox]

thanks for replying.

yeah, i didnt like the blue zombie thing AT ALL! my anatomy stuff needs alot of work, but i thought i'd show it anyway.

i'm happy with the sand worm too. i thought the colours might have wrecked it, but its turned out ok. thanks for the advice, i'll try and work on it to define the shadows more.

btw, i was thinking of getting photoshop (as i'm sick of having to buy new ink and markers all the time :D) can anyone tell me how easy it is to learn to colour stuff with it?

[cartoonfox]

more line art! more reptile stuff! :D

(no reference used (not for any of the ones posted actually) about 30-40 mins)
http://www.cartoonfox.hostrocket.com/23.jpg

c&c would be very helpfull.

thanks.

[zeroe]

i strongly suggest that you get photoshop and/or painter. granted ittakes a while to get used to everything, but after a little while of practicing ( and looking at tutorials ) coloring is way more effective than by hand imo. the only downpoint is its regular price, but you might just aswell download it for free...oh and i didint say that :P


i think ur previous lizards turned out abit better than this recent one im afraid. the problem with this one is mainly that his skin lines dont define his shape, but rater make him look kinda flat and like a piece of wood. but dun worry, its not sooooo bad :D, cause i like the lineweight alot, good job on the inking

[infinitipo]

The colored pic of the yellowish lizard head with its mouth open is a cool design, but something about the jaw seems to be off. I think it's because the back teeth on the right side of its mouth meet, while the those on the left do not. Also, perhaps the flap of skin on the right cheek stretches too far forward in comparison to the other?

Still, great use of coloring and detail!

Oh, and Photoshop is excellent. Never tried Painter, though:(

[cartoonfox]

thanks.

yeah i think i will get photoshop. i'll download the demo, if i like it, i'll buy it. and all the job possitions thease days ussually require 2/3 years exp with photoshop, so better get used to it now, the sooner i learn, the sooner i can start thinking about getting a job!

i didnt really like this one either. the over all design i was happy with (although it looks too much like a dinosaur!) but what you said about the wood thing was what i was thinking. it was probably cos i was rushing a bit, dont know why. and because its bigger than my ussuall drawings. (the pic you see is actually life size) i'll try and sort it out while colouring it.

lol, i hope i'm not un-progressing :eek:

thanks again.

[cartoonfox]

Originally posted by infinitipo
The colored pic of the yellowish lizard head with its mouth open is a cool design, but something about the jaw seems to be off. I think it's because the back teeth on the right side of its mouth meet, while the those on the left do not. Also, perhaps the flap of skin on the right cheek stretches too far forward in comparison to the other?

Still, great use of coloring and detail!

Oh, and Photoshop is excellent. Never tried Painter, though:(

thanks for replying.

yeah, the mouth is at an impossible angle with the rest of the head, if you look at the eyes and then imagine where the other set would be (it has two eyes on either side of its head) the eyes would have to be where the far teath and 'gum thing' are! realised as soon as i scanned it. ah well, its all practice! :D

thanks again.

[infinitipo]

heh, no prob. I can't wait to see some more designs from you, actually, because I'm really fond of lizards and other reptilian creatures, especially the semi-bizarre kind. And yes, it's all practice, with a bit of fun ;)

I was looking at your newest piece, btw. You're not un-progressing, in fact you could probably fix the picture just by adding a few darker lines on the neck and defining the jaw. Nice detail on the teeth, too.

[cartoonfox]

glad you like it. i've just finished colouring it, so i'll scan it in a sec.

i too am a fan of lizard type creatures, which why i'm doing them :D but so far i havent looked at any references, which is why they dont look very "belevable". know of any good books with this type of art ("art of" books maybye?)

thanks.

(btw, it says "14-year old prodigy" on you sig, can i see some of your art?)

[infinitipo]

Can't wait to see the colored version:)

Anyway, I don't really know of any art books concerning reptiles, but I prefer "field guide" books. Not only do they include pretty photos, they also have pages of extra information as well as dimensions, habitat, etc. Very useful, imo.

And about the sig, lol, I put that in mainly because i'm the most self-centered, too-full of-himself young teenager on the planet.;) I've posted some of the art I did on my wacom in the Finished forum and this one (plant person thingy), but at the moment they're not as good as what I can do with a regular pencil. I'll try and find some pieces I've done, though it may take a while because I cleaned up my desk and I'm not sure where I put all my sketchbooks:rolleyes:

[cartoonfox]

lol, ok, i'll check out some of your stuff later. :D

heres the coloured version. i'm not too happy with it. it seems too rushed, even though i spent a fair bit of time to it. maybe because its late, i cant concentrate when i'm tired :D

http://www.cartoonfox.hostrocket.com/24.jpg

c&c much appreciated

[zeroe]

i think ur colorchoices are great.
however, i think the main problem is that you are not really defining the shape of the lizard with the shading. im assuming that its tubish, so the shading should reach around to make it look round, with highlights there were the light is closest. you got it right on the spikes, so just try to put the same feel onto the body.

[cartoonfox]

thanks for the advice. i see what you meen, i'll ue this advice in my next skecth (i'm doodling right now, should have a new creture tommorow :D)

thanks you two for your comments and crits, they're really helping. hopefully, by the time i go off to art college next year my skills would have increased.

thanks again.

(i want to make a daily sketch book, but i dont sketch like a normal person, i HAVE to ink out everything i do, its a desease i tell you!!! plus, would i get beaten up if i didnt update every day? :D)

[infinitipo]

(ok, cool;))

One technique I use when I'm not sure just where I should put some shadowing is to pick a spot, start shading it, and see what comes from that. It's simplistic, yes, but a lot of times it works if there is no definite light source in your mind while you're coloring it. When/if you get Photoshop, it gets even easier 'cause then you can create a separate layer to test out the shading and not worry about ruining the rest of the picture.

That may help, I dunno, lol. Sometimes with designs like your reptiles, where there aren't as many examples to study as with humanoid creatures, the shading can get really tough unless you can truly visualize what you're making in your mind, as if it were a real living thing you were watching. Other times, just play around with the shadows until it looks ok:D

[cartoonfox]

thanks for the advice.

i did kinda have a light source in mind, but as i'm very new to this kind of drawing (been doing it just over a week...before this i used to draw just simple cartoons) its not too obvious. ah well, in time i'll get better i hope.

anyway, heres a quick doodle i just did. i might use it for my next "piece", i might not.
i'm not too sure i like his arm way up there :D
http://www.cartoonfox.hostrocket.com/25.jpg

i'll try and do some more, but i'm getting puurrity tired now! lol! (its just gone 12 am here. not THAT late but bleh!)

(btw, i'm downloading the photoshop demo now!)

[infinitipo]

Yeah, the arm should probably be lowered. But I like the horns and the smug sorta tough-looking expression he's got (if it's a "he" that is). The steam coming out his nose is a nice touch.

[cartoonfox]

thanks. if i use it, i'll lower the arm, it just looks wrong! :d

anyway, heres a piece i did from a wierd dream i had last night. probably because of the post about the 'ant sim' (or is it 'sim ant') redesigns by...(i forgot his/her name!) that i read last night!

i dont like it at all, especially the colours, but i thought i'd post it anyway

http://www.cartoonfox.hostrocket.com/26.jpg

c&c pleeeasee! :)

[zeroe]

interesting desing
on teh contrary i think that the colors work well, and you did a better job on the shading aswell. but the lines on the body still dont really define the shape, so thats the only thing oyu should work on. good job

[cartoonfox]

thanks. i'm gonna keep trying till i get it right!

got any tips? i try to imagine the shape of the body (or whatever) but it obviosly doesnt work.


thanks again.

[Johannes]

Hi there Cartoonfox :D
Nice things happening here.
I like the bear/lizard thingie and the dragon/snake with spikes. I also dig your Avatar. :D
I like the fox on your homepage - really nice.
Also Id like to know what marker s U use, because unlike U, I use photoshop, but I dont know anything about markers.

[cartoonfox]

thanks.

i use "magic marker" pens. not sure whether you could get them in sweden though.

[infinitipo]

Here's a suggestion that might help with the lines defining the shape, though I really haven't tried it a lot myself. When drawing clothing, it's sometimes a good idea to use ovals/circles as reference for where the folds are, like rings hanging from different parts of the body sorta like miniature hoola-hoops (I know I got that from somewhere...). Anyway, for your lizards I suppose you could try something like that, where you draw a very rough, light sketch of the skeleton/muscle and then use "hoops" to define where the skin hangs loosely and/or wraps tightly around the body.

Not sure if that'll work, like I said, but you could try it if it makes sense.;) Also, for the little detail lines on the skin, perhaps you could try drawing them horizontally rather than vertically? At least, in some places. If you want an example look at your latest piece where the skin folds just beneath the arm and the purplish crease below that.

Hope that helps!:)

[cartoonfox]

hey thanks for the advice. i'm doing a new one now so i'll try it out then.

i REALLY out to get some sort of picture of a lizard, to look at how the skin looks.

thanks again.

[cartoonfox]

got stuck for ideas, so did a variation of the yellow lizard thing posted ealier.

http://www.cartoonfox.hostrocket.com/27.jpg

c&c much appreciated.

thanks.

[cartoonfox]

no one?

anyway, i've just got a possition for a part-time internship! yay!! (un-paid, for now at least) as a 2d (concept) artist.

this is great, as i can get some very valuable experience in the games industry.
i wont be able to post much stuff now though, but i'll try every now and then.

anyway, as i dont do much stuff from reference, heres some sketches using photos.

http://www.cartoonfox.hostrocket.com/28.jpg

c&c welcome as allways.

thanks.

[zeroe]

i think u need more practice drawing from reference. most of the sketches seem off in proportion and rendering. However thats just a matter of practice imo, so just keep at it

and congratz on your internship! what kind of work is it?

[infinitipo]

Dude, you're so lucky!

Btw, I like the mouse the best:D

[cartoonfox]

thanks guys. i personaly like the bear most, because of the pose and agression in the face. yeah, i have to just practice, practice, practice!

about the internship, its a start up company(2002) doing a MMORG. its gonna be like a 2d third person view type game based on futuristic space ships etc . i cant talk too much about it of course.

i wont be able to post any art work for it untill the project is finished, but i'll try and post other stuff now and then.

i hope to learn loads about the games industry, and this will also be a great chance to increase my drawing skills.


wish me luck.

[cartoonfox]

hi, its been a while since i posted in this tread huh!

well, i got a new creatures to post. hopefully i'm showing some improvment from my previous posts.

-here is the biro sketc-
http://www.cartoonfox.hostrocket.com/creature_5.jpg

-with its mouth closed-
http://www.cartoonfox.hostrocket.com/creature_6.jpg

-inked version-
http://www.cartoonfox.hostrocket.com/creature_9.jpg

-second inked version-
http://www.cartoonfox.hostrocket.com/creature_10.jpg

some colour-
http://www.cartoonfox.hostrocket.com/creature_11.jpg

i need to do a more interseting pose, but i thought i'd get used to the basic features first.

c&c welcome (of course)

thanks.

[infinitipo]

I'd definitely say that's improvement!;)

The detail on its skin is crazy--I like that. I can see that you're getting a better feel for the anatomy, but perhaps the legs could be thicker? Unless it has very tough bones, it might have trouble holding up its weight with those limbs. Still cool the way it looks now, but with stronger legs and broader feet it could be even more menacing:evilbat:

I hope to see more soon, keep it up! (gawrsh everybody says that, don't they?)

[zeroe]

very nice cartoonfox. you really seem to ahve taken all the crits to heart. i like how the creature looks much less "wooden" and how the patterns on the skins generally aid the shape and forms. however some of the detail amy be abit too confusing and the shading is off abit in some places aswell. other than that i agree with the others. but very good work overall

[cartoonfox]

hey, thanks guys.

i still have a big problem with figuring out what needs shadows and what doesnt. but i guess its all down to practice.

i like the idea about having bigger legs. and looking at the picure now, it kinda feels like its gonna fall under its own weight any moment! :D

thanks again.

[Johannes]

Good luck on your internship.
Also, I like the cool bird with the long beak up there, got a cool "hairdoo" - some kind of king-fisher maybe?
:D

[cartoonfox]

thanks.

lol, i'm not sure what type of bird it is, but i too am liking his haircut! :D

thanks.

[cartoonfox]

-edit--slight update-

hi.

wanted to take a brake from my dino thing! so i did this today.

-quick thumb sketch-
http://www.cartoonfox.hostrocket.com/creature2_1.jpg

-inked version so far-
http://www.cartoonfox.hostrocket.com/creature2_2.jpg

its a weird, psycic floating creature. think the metroids from metroid prime (how it moves and acts, not how it looks!)
i think its nearly finished, but still needs some work, just dont know where.

c&c welcome.


thanks.

[zeroe]

interesting, i dont see too many problems, maybe the body converges a bit too harschly into the tail?

but one thing thats bothering me a bit is that all your works are very similar, mostly profiles of creatures, why not try some new perspectives or images? im sure oyu have the potential to, even if it may take some time.

anyways keep at it :D

[cartoonfox]

thanks.

i'm not sure what you meen with "the body converges a bit too harschly into the tail".

the reason i dont do perspective...is because i cant! :D i do try now and then, but it always turns out wrong. but i suppose its like that for anything at the start. i'll see if i can try some perspective and post it soon.

i must admit i do do alot of creatures. because i enjoy it. i do try and do a bit of mechanical type stuff every now and then, and i should try more. as for humans...i'm just rubbish, and i dont enjoy it for some reason. even if i'm happy with the outcome, i just dont like humans! :D sounds strange huh?

i'll try and take a break from creatures after i colour this one. it'll help me anyway. i wont get a job if i can only draw creatures! :D

thanks again.

[cartoonfox]

colour!

http://www.cartoonfox.hostrocket.com/creature2_3.jpg

i'm not sure if its finished yet. shadows and higlights still not 100% right.

c&c appreciated.

thanks.

[killing.people]

you spelt weird wrong.

[cartoonfox]

wow...thanks for you comments

[cartoonfox]

ok, tried to do a perspective creature. but i have a real problem with it. i used reference. so i cant really call it my own. hopefully, with a bit of practice, i can do it on my own.

http://www.cartoonfox.hostrocket.com/creature3_1.jpg

c&c appreciated.

[zeroe]

firstly:
very nice coloring and texturing on the floating creatures. interesting color choices. a bit too little contrast imo, which removes some depth. some highlights would be good on the "legs".

the new creature is uite ncie aswell. you pulled off the 3/4 persepctive well on the face, but the body still looks like its profile. but definitely an improvement. just ry to do some life studies of animals or so to help you.

[cartoonfox]

thanks.

i'll keep practicing!

[infinitipo]

these are looking better each time! Maybe if you moved the front limb forward a bit, it would more 3 dimensional?

[cartoonfox]

hi! lol remember me? :D

havent posted here in a while, sorry. i had alot of school work, and then my computer went all messed up on me!! but i used my super brain to fix it :D

i havent done much new work, but a bit! though i stupidly left it in school (i put it in the same folder as my school work :/) so i'll have to wait till monday to scan it in. its only sketches though.

well, just saying hi, just incase you thought i was dead or something :D

ooh, ooh, its my birtday tommorrow too (22nd)! and i'm gonna be 18!!! YAY! :D
so i probably wont be posting all weekend either :D

laters.