style experiments

[neble]

Since I've been visiting this forum, I've come across many amazing artists. Just by seeing their work, it's givin me a new vigor for drawing, something that I havn't experienced for a while. So I've been trying to relearn some of the drawing skills.

What better way to find out what style works for me, then to paint the same image (my character concept) many different ways. May seem a little redundant, but it gives me a chance to compare apples to apples.

I've placed two images here, and will add more in time. If you want to see more, my website is updated. Again, this is me experimenting.

If you have any critiques or suggestions, the floor is yours.


http://www.schastudios.com/images/snapper03.jpg http://www.schastudios.com/images/snapper04.jpg

[Monkeyburger]

All I can say is that it looks amazing. I really love the rendering on the colour version, extremly slick.

Keep the drawing up man! If you've got talent, which you obviously have, don't let it go to waste.

[neble]

I'm still trying to learn more, and it seems there's not time to do that. Here's another images.

http://www.schastudios.com/images/snapper05.jpg

[|SaRcAsM|]

Damn! cool concept and coloring job! LOVE it:love:!

:chug:

Sarc

[poisonspider]

damn origonal, damn cool i wanna ask you something, message me on aim(poisonspider35) or msn (spencer@travel-net.com)

[neble]

I hope no one's gettiing too bored with these. I wanted to try painting a little quicker, and came up with this. I was looking at getting a long stroke look, but quickly. I find it's a little too drab, but I like a couple of the areas where the tones overlap....I think the teeth section is my favorite.

http://www.schastudios.com/images/snapper06.jpg

[neble]

Just another image. Decided to do an airbrush image in Painter.

I like airbrushing images, but they seem to take so long. I really don't have a exact time of how long this took, since it was once in a while in the evenings, but I would guess over 8 hours.

The initial painting is about 1600 x 1900 pixels.

http://www.schastudios.com/images/snapper07.jpg

[strych9ine]

These are all very cool... the chipped teeth on the last one look sweet.

[neble]

I've been a little busy for a bit, but here's two more different styles I've tried.

http://www.schastudios.com/images/snapper08.jpg http://www.schastudios.com/images/snapper09.jpg

The first one is my attempt at a comic style. I personally like this one because of how simple it looks and it was quicker then some of the previous. I was also able to have more focus of my ink outline and less on the detailed shadows. Painter 8.

The second one was created mostly with photo overlays in Photoshop. I started off with high contrast shadowing, to create the base look, then worked above from there. The scratchy background was created using brushstrokes and blending options.

[chadrm17]

I love the airbrushed version... I am hoping to but an airbrush here shortly, any tips?

[neble]

Hello chadrm17

Here's some tips. If anyone has any others, I would love to hear some.

1) I find that if I start from one part of my image and concentrate on detailing right at the start, that as I continue I get faster but more relaxed. There tends to be a difference in what the image looks like from area 1 to area 2. Try to color in the whole image with base colors then work upward on your layers, trying to be consistant with the detail through all.

2) Don't be afraid to use a little more contrast in painting your shadows and highlights.

3) Vibrant colors in just the right areas can pull an image from drab to fab. :)

4) Some people paint using greyscale only and some think it's wrong. It's your choice and if you overlay in a way that doesn't look like it's all greyscale, your doing it right. This wasn't done in greyscale, but next time I might.

5) Depth is very important. Show your distance, otherwise everything looks flat.

[chadrm17]

Thanx for the advice... I can't wait to get an air brush of my own... And your work is awsome...

[Android]

neble-

looking good, its great to see such a concentraded investiment in experimentation.

when you mention style, you bring up a very interesting point. "Style" is most often a very over used and often missunderetood descripion for something that is far more complicated.

to the best of my own personal understanding i have found that my stlye is a visual manifestation oh how i look at the world, and what the world comunicates back to me. and who i am.
stlye is easily confused with its superficial aplication, wether that be the color scheme, the tenacity of line and strokes. finding your own style should alyaws be a journey because you are always changing. it should be whatever comes most naturatly to you. true style requires honesty and truth in ones mind and spirit to truly achive. it will then flow itself into all of your work.

none of the variations could be summed of as your stlye alone,
your! style exists within them all together as a colective whole. out of all of the images perhaps one treatment speaks to you more. follow that path next time, and see where that leads you. trust yourself and your insticts and you will achive a style that is all your own.

AJ-

[chadrm17]

Spoken with true wisdom Android. You inspired me to do a self portrait for the first time.http://www.angelfire.com/crazy2/chadrm/images/selfportrait1.jpg
and another one!
http://www.angelfire.com/crazy2/chadrm/images/selfportrait2.jpg

[neble]

Howdy.

This is my concluding image for this thread. I've learn't a lot in simply painting these images and from the comments posted. I'm starting to realize what style of art I feel most comfortable doing and what style I get the most satisfaction from.

Yes, I said, "style" Andriod. :) I agree and understand what your saying, but I didn't feel like making it more complicated then I had to, and stuck to syle.

It's my personal style that I'm trying to improve on, and how I implement the tools I use. 2D is a long forgotten art for me, and for me to be as good as I want to be, I need a lot more practice.

By the way, I really appreciate the comments you all sent.

Peace.

http://www.schastudios.com/images/snapper10.jpg

[DanSTC]

This exercise was an excellent idea and I encourage you to continue.

[ChadTHX1138]

mmmm You dont try to improve style...Andrew is trying to say just do it and let it happen on it's own and to not worry about it.