Meloncov's Sketchbook

[Meloncov]

I'm a seventeen year old high school student aiming towards a career in computer animation. I'll be applying for college this winter, so critiques geared towards admissions are particularly appreciated.



These first few pieces are what I have scanned in at the moment. All finished pieces from the last year, posted in the order I did them. I'll scan some sketchier stuff tomorrow.

[Twisted Synapses]

I like the third one down best. Your paintings show a good grasp of colour and you've got some pretty cool ideas. Keep at it, and keep updating :)

[Meister Jazz]

if you're aiming at computer animation, have you tried drawing any turn arounds, or digital work?

When shading, don't forget to be aware that there is more than light and dark, be aware of the in between shades that progress to their darkest ranges.

Over all, nice use of color.

[Meloncov]

if you're aiming at computer animation, have you tried drawing any turn arounds, or digital work?

I have quite a bit of digital work. The sci-fi image is digital, and I have more on my deviant art account. No turnarounds at the moment, though I suspect that will change after the character design class this summer.

When shading, don't forget to be aware that there is more than light and dark, be aware of the in between shades that progress to their darkest ranges.

Thanks, I suppose I do tend to push things towards the extreme more than I should.

Over all, nice use of color.

Thanks, and thanks to Twisted Synapses as well.

[Meloncov]

And, rather belatedly, the promised life drawings.

[iambanana]

Yep, you got a very nice sense of colour. But those faces aren't cutting it. Faces are probably one of the hardest things to draw, but it's something everyone should try and master (I'm still not close), so do a few studies of faces and keep up the good work!

[Meloncov]

Two of my better recent figure drawings. The first is a series of two minute poses. It ended up looking more like a group than an implied motion, but I'm still fairly pleased with it.

The second was theoretically a two hour pose, though do to some rather dramatic outside events it ended up being closer to seventy minutes.

[5coop]

although im not one to talk, the only thing i would suggest improving is your values on your B&W

[Meloncov]

Stuff.

[lowercase]

Nice update, Meloncov.
I really like the watercolors and the CG stuff is cool too (I have no idea how to do that stuff).:^^:

[Meloncov]

Thanks lowercase.


I'm beginning to feel like I suck dramatically less at figure studies. It's rather exciting.

[sjmarshy]

your figure studies are definitely getting better here.

[lowercase]

Oh definately, the figures are looking really good.
I especially like the looser ones. I can feel the depth and weight in them.

Maybe I should try some considering I don't have any. :^^;:
(Especially since that's like number one thing they look for. haha)

[Meloncov]

Oh definately, the figures are looking really good.
I especially like the looser ones. I can feel the depth and weight in them.

Maybe I should try some considering I don't have any. :^^;:
(Especially since that's like number one thing they look for. haha)

Thank you.

I mentioned it in the Rinling thread, but it's worth repeating; reading Force: Life Drawing for Animators helped my short poses a lot.

[BubbaGump]

Did you just read through the book or do studies from it as well? Because reading through Mattessi's book will help very little. You have to do studies of his gesture and rhythm drawings then you'll really begin to understand what he means by force. Since your gestures have improved, but I'm still not feeling a whole lot of energy from them.

[Meloncov]

Did you just read through the book or do studies from it as well? Because reading through Mattessi's book will help very little. You have to do studies of his gesture and rhythm drawings then you'll really begin to understand what he means by force. Since your gestures have improved, but I'm still not feeling a whole lot of energy from them.

As of the time you posted this, no I had not done any studies. However, I have done some since then.

[Meloncov]

stuff.

[ihatemexies]

hey there's some good stuff going on here, but i notice you've got a lot of proportion, anatomy, and perspective issues.

for example, your heads look very off. the eyes, noses, and features are all misplaced and simplified. which makes it seem very odd if you're going for the realistic approach. draw what you SEE not what you THINK you see. your mind will deceive you. look up at the model or photograph more often.

you're still drawing in what i call the betty edwards/high school art class style.

http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/1063/delcu3.jpg

1) eyes tapering off at the edges
2) and noses as simplified triangles

learn the fundamentals down pat before getting artsy with colors and abstraction, otherwise you get lost in the style without substance crowd.

i noticed in the ringling thread you give lots of critique to other portfolios and telling them they have anatomy and perspective problems so when i clicked on your sketchbook i expected a decent mastery of these aspects, but you suffer from the same problems as well.

you give critique when you don't fix your own problems as well. it's a double standard.

anyway, on a good note (since you do have some portfolio worthy stuff here), i really like this piece:

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=380123&stc=1&d=1212138053

it feels 3D, and it has good knowledge of the masses of the face. all the features are in the right place, stuff which i don't see in this piece:

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=380126&stc=1&d=1212138127

i wish you the best of luck and don't give up

[Meloncov]

Thanks.



i noticed in the ringling thread you give lots of critique to other portfolios and telling them they have anatomy and perspective problems so when i clicked on your sketchbook i expected a decent mastery of these aspects, but you suffer from the same problems as well.

you give critique when you don't fix your own problems as well. it's a double standard.

I'm quite aware that I'm routinely giving critique to people whose skills are more developed than mine. What would you have me do? Just praising them would be rather useless.

[lowercase]

What would you have me do?

Endure. You can be the outcast. You can make the choice that no one else will face. The right choice. Gotham needs you.
Alright, bad Dark Knight reference.

Umm, I would agree with most of what ihatemexies said, although I do think you're improving.
Part of what I think ihatemexies is referring to when s/he says "high school art class" style is the use of abstract/rainbow colors in the artwork.
Not neccesarily with your artwork, but what that says to me is that the person doesn't know how to use color, so they make it abstract so they can say "it's not supposed to be accurate to life, so you can't say it's wrong".

Continuing in next post cause my comp's crap...

[lowercase]

I'm obviously no expert w/ color... I only have one or two colored pieces in my whole portfolio, but I would probably recommend starting with monochromatic. Learn how tone and proportions work without color first and I think it will make understanding color much easier in the future.

Another thing, I mentioned this to 5coop as well, but one thing I see alot of high school kids do (everyone in my old high school art class) is that they don't spend enough time on their work.
You said that you enjoyed my artwork, but I spent weeks, even months on some of the stuff in my portfolio. That's to say that I'm not neccesarily a good artist, but because I spend alot of time I can overcome alot of my inexperience. Of course in a professional environment we will have to be fast, but right now we're students so I think it's ok to go slow.

Hope this helps.

[Meloncov]

Another thing, I mentioned this to 5coop as well, but one thing I see alot of high school kids do (everyone in my old high school art class) is that they don't spend enough time on their work.
You said that you enjoyed my artwork, but I spent weeks, even months on some of the stuff in my portfolio. That's to say that I'm not neccesarily a good artist, but because I spend alot of time I can overcome alot of my inexperience. Of course in a professional environment we will have to be fast, but right now we're students so I think it's ok to go slow.


With traditional media, I tend to strugal if I work on something for more than ten to twenty hours; I start working in circles and not making much real process. Obviously I need to do something about that, though I'm not sure exactly what. Maybe just keep bashing at it irregardless of feeling like I'm doing nothing.



As for color, I'm in a class that emphasizes painting pretty heavily. Almost everything I do on my own is monochrome. Still, I'll try to do some more developed monotone pieces.

[James.C]

Hey man, nice new post. It looks like your really improving with your figure in here, I'd like to see some more of this. I can see that your planing out your figure with box forms, and it seems to really be working

I agree with what lowercase said, take your time, relax. Even if the model changes the pose, don't be against reworking your drawing after the fact. Also I think you could benefit from doing a few master studies, specifically of the head. Also bring some master copies or prints of your favorite artists along with you when you do life drawing to look at for a cross reference.

Looking forward to seeing more. Your really improving.

[Meloncov]

I had finals last week, so I got less done than I otherwise might.

[James.C]

The new piece is really nice! Definitely put that one in your portfolio. Solid pose and very nice rendering all around, your consistently improving with each post! When are you planning on sending yours out? Im still trying to get some more pieces done during winter break, it's really stressful picking what you want to put in and what not.

[lowercase]

This looks to be your best work yet and I would agree with James.C in that you should definately include it in your portfolio.
Someone commented earlier that your shaded figure drawings seemed flat, but I think you've definately succeeded in bringing out the depth and form in this one. The proportions look great.

[Meloncov]

When are you planning on sending yours out?

I figure I'll upload the stuff January fourteenth. Wait as long as possible due to the chance that I'll produce something great at the last moment, but give myself an extra day in case something unfortunate happens.