danlambert's sketches - 22nd April '12

[danlambert]

I decided to start this because it felt a bit wrong crit'ing other peoples work without having anything of mine to show.

The cerberus image was the turning point for my drawing, I wasn't happy with it and I couldn't finish it. I didn't feel like I had the knowledge or skill to take it where I wanted to go.
I then found this website, looked through a few peoples sketch books and saw the level that I would need to achieve to get where I want to be.
So I've since started again from scratch, Ive been doing studies of figures and the human form so far which I will post when I get access to a scanner.

I hope to improve and gradually learn to draw from imagination


http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a64/cheesecake11/CAREBEAR.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a64/cheesecake11/drawing-1.jpg

[danlambert]

The portrait I was fairly happy with, but at the same time gets me more frustrated that I can't draw faces.
May sound weird but if I sit down and draw a figure, I am usually okay with the form and proportions and stuff, but I can never get a convincing face. I don't know if it's because its small or because I dont work from the eyes out like in a portrait but I can't do it.
That is something I intend to address in this sketchbook

[danlambert]

Beginning to see a pattern?

No imagination stuff, not good at all

[kawaookami]

These are really good! especially the face.

Keep studying and doing what your doing. In no time you'll be able to draw from your Imagination and that's where the fun begins ;)

[ReviseTheMethod]

Wow! =) Great start! I'm loving the portraits, and that Cerberus-one is interesting.

I suggest that you try participating in some of the weekly challenges here on CA; they're bound to kick your brain in gear for conceptual thinking ^^

Or perhaps this (http://www.ayoglife.net/3ch/) could be something worth looking at? :)

Other than that, just keep it up!
You're clearly doing something right ;)

[danlambert]

Some sketches for a centaur I planned on doing, I drew it out, scanned it in, then decided I hated it, so redrew the body, and the head, which are these

[danlambert]

The assembled centaur, very static, I did go on to colour it but alas you can't polish a turd

[danlambert]

kawaookami - thanks, that is the plan

ReviseTheMethod - that site is awesome, will definitely be using it, thanks a lot

[MrSmithe]

Wow, amazing.. Very clean with the pencil. I like it a lot.

[amarryth]

you've got some nice clean work here..but you definitely need to get away from the photo ref's.. it's a little obvious. maybe grab a mirror and draw a self portrait from life or do a still life.. you need to cut out the flat paper image equation.. maybe try a new media and loosen up a little.. you never know what might inspire you to step out of your comfort zone

[Swanii]

Man you've got talent, you seem like the one that draws portraits for a living, do you?

[Kai_Black]

:O

Really well rendered....but you need life in some of your pictures, maybe a little more variation in shading technique (I liked the horse but you gotta shade the torso in the same light

[Samuel Gray]

you have rendering abilities it is obvious. maybe a little on the gentle finger side but you do have skill. i have the same problem as you do. i always draw from photographs. ive been told over and over just to get a pad out and pencil and draw whatever i see. i have begun to do that and i would recommend the same. keep it up!

[danlambert]

MrSmithe Thanks a lot
amarryth People have been telling me my whole life to loosen up, you would think I'd have listened to one of them. I'm going to start oil painting again as soon as I can get my supplies from my parents house, and life drawing classes begin shortly
Swanii Not really, I did a fair few commission portraits at the end of highschool but nothing really regular enough to live off
Kai_Black Thanks, I agree about the shading, I've found myself sticking to HB pencils and I think my drawings suffer a bit. Always too light
1337 Thanks, I intend to, good luck with yours

[danlambert]

More older stuff,
The 1st one is about as close to imagination as I've gotten so far, reference head, the rest made up.
The 2nd is the coloured version of that Cerberus sketch piece. This is the one that proved to me that I needed to learn a lot more and start from the beginning. It also taught me that painting with a mouse is frustrating, and I need to get some money for a tablet haha.

[Bai Fan]

You have some really nice studies here.

Keep it up.

:)

[danlambert]

Ram finished

I recently found the 30 second pose thingy on pose manics and its awesome, I found it forced me to rely less on detail and more about shape and stuff, I'm also hoping it will improve my accuracy with proportions. I will hopefully have my newer back to basics stuff up next week

[kawaookami]

Man i've been waiting to see that update version of the cerberus picture, Man that's awsome. I really like how it came out. Keep up the good work...

You should try the daily sketch group its really fun... And it gives you a chance to be creativity ^_^

[Ayem]

Wow, nice realism! Everything looks so detailed and pristine.
In regards to the cerberus pic... the heads are very realistic, but I'm finding the paws extrmemely simplistic and cartoony. It looks kinda off with the amazingly rendered heads, ya know?

[jhagen22]

Good stuff!
I look forward to seeing more.

[danlambert]

kawaookami I'm glad you like it. Wish I could say the same. My plan is next year to re-do it and hopefully by then I will have the mad skills necessary to do it properly haha.
Ayem Thanks! That was my main problem with it as well, but I couldn't find a picture of what I wanted and suck at drawing from my head. Thats basically why I decided to start at the basics again. I need to learn to draw from my head
jhagen22 Thanks, if all goes to plan in the next few months you will be sick of seeing my stuff there will be so much haha

[Vasuri]

Best of luck plucking ideas out of the old noggin. You have a lot of skill and talent with the referenced drawings. Luckily, most of that will probably stick in your mind when you draw from your head, so you'll know when something does or doesn't look right. I like the mythological themes from what you've posted so far, though! Very nice!

[zou]

hello

great start, you remind me of ... a man who said start from ref until you master the thing then begin drawing from imagination. You seem following what he said perfectly.

it's an exciting thing to shift to imagination.

good luck

[Trollfar]

Awesome skills... cant really paint animals at all and you 3headed dog is awesome in color, and the fur is nice aswell!! got any tips how to do animal furs that lively?

[danlambert]

Awesome skills... cant really paint animals at all and you 3headed dog is awesome in color, and the fur is nice aswell!! got any tips how to do animal furs that lively?

Thanks
All that fur in the image is just the scribbles from the drawing underneath. I did some colouring with soft light and light airbrushing then used the burn tool to darken up all those scribbles until they looked like fur. Hurray for cheating in photoshop!

[nyv]

I find your skills remarkable! That first face of man is great. Truth is that, like someone already wrote, you should try to give more life in those works, but I bet it won't be any problem for you;-). Keep it coming, please :-).

[Miterez]

I hardly ever post, so here is my two cents.
Danlambert, your ability to render detail is pretty much spot on. I too have struggled with this very problem, working just from references. At the end of the day what do I have...a nice rendering of a photograph. Great, but what is the point if I can't create what I see in my head.

This may sound lame, but I just recently purchased Burne Hogarth's "Dynamic Figure Drawing", and have found alot of inspiration from his writing's. In fact, all day I have been sketching and reading his book trying to push my limits.

Perhaps something along this line may help, perhaps not. At least for me, I feel that creating a work of art from your imagination is by far the most rewarding. Even better, when I can render the human figure accurately from my imagination. I'm not at the level where I want to be, but I'm unwilling to give up easily.

Bottom line, stay with it.
I feel your pain.


I shall return to the shadows of the forum. :)

[rodent]

Rodent thinks that although you still could improve on painting, solidity and consistency is present in all your pieces. Also, rodent would like to say that many artists can draw realistically, but few can draw things worth drawing-
rodent compliments your choice of image,

[danlambert]

nyv Flattery will get you everywhere haha. I agree with the lifelessness in the works, I'm working on it!
Miterez I'm honored you chose to post here. You basically just described what I used to do, and where I want to be. I ordered loads of books the past few weeks, I think that may have been one of them so I hope it helps.
Rodent Thank you sir, I don't like drawing boring things

[Bill]

Dan, You are doing a lot of things Really well here. I've been around a ton of college art majors who don't render at your level. My suggestion is to work from life as much as possible, and when you do work from pics, try to use your own. From life you'll start building up that "Mental Library" of how the the body parts fit together and affect each other. Good Stuff Man. Happy New Years!

[Evxyza92]

I'll agree with bill, your ability to render is phenomnal. especially with the nude archer, it was done very well.

[sandeepbarot]

hatsoff!!!

[SMILEFACE]

yall values are off the cain totally gonzo cant wait fo some mo

[Byrd]

I'm loving the rendering of Cerebus and the goat near the end. Post more...

[Parsakoira]

that cerberus is awesome! could use a bit contrast though, otherwise, nice SB!

[MeBabyMe]

wow very great drawings

i have the same problem as you (if you havent noticed from my joker/harley thread), i have a very difficult time trying to draw from my imagination as i have drawn from reference my whole life

[Pedes]

There are two things that prevent people from drawing from imagination:
1) They can't (or think they can't) draw well enough
2) They can draw from model/reference so well they are afraid to draw from imagination in fear of making mistakes
(also there are people with no imagination, but we're leaving that one).

The way to get over 1) is to practice, the way to get over 2) is loosen up and leave the fear of getting wrong/messy. It may not be easy, but once you do it you'll rock :D
You're number 2
You're a bit too neat which gives the pictures a feeling of a statue... Get messy, do some unnecessary lines, try to get from general shape/silhouette outlines to detail, try to use completely different techniques than those that you are used to. You may dismiss them fast and go back to your own, but it is always a good experience, as it forces you out of your comfort zone.

[JARhead]

Reference or not man, Im still jealous! Keep it and do what Pedes says and just go for it. Its not going to be as clean and perfect like your other drawings but then again it never is perfect. I mean what is, right?

[danlambert]

Bill- thanks a lot man, 'mental library' is the ultimate goal.

Evxyza92- glad you liked him, I was pretty happy with him in the end as well

sandeepbarot- back at you dude, you got some really dynamic lines going on in your sketchbook, kudos!

Grandmassa Mr. Spect- still awake I see haha, got some more portraits in the works at the moment, some weird expressions and subjects happening. I think you'll like them.

Byrd- thanks man, I got a griffin in the works that will hopefully be rendered like those. Hopefully you'll check back in a little while and it will be done.

NoodleDoodle- Thanks!

MeBabyMe- Your being too modest, that Quinn pose was awesome

Pedes- People have been telling me to loosen up my whole life, god I wish I'd listened. I'm trying to wein myself off both reference and precisenessnessness. Like for this griffin thing I'm working on, started out with a scribbly sketch of the pose and value and stuff, then traced over and refined it. Hopefully I can get used to scribbling that way! Thanks for the advice and for stopping by!

JARhead- Thanks man, thats the plan!

Just found a couple more things I completed a little while ago, sorry for the bad quality, had to use a camera because I don't have a scanner.

Portrait is a few years old now I think, and the cheetah is a few months old. Cheetah is one of my favourite things I've done, mainly because cheetahs are awesome, but also because it was my first real go at coloured pencils.

[danlambert]

I apologize for the terrible quality, only had my phone camera with me.

1st and last are just a couple of my quick one minute sketchy gesture things. i've got pages and pages of them but these are the best 2 I think.

The other one is a little ink study of some postures from an anatomy book I picked up

[danlambert]

Sorry the last ones were soo big.

These 2 are the first rough sketch I did for a possible Griffin position, and my final sketch WIP in the chosen position. Sorry if they are light, stupid camera phone.

[danlambert]

The two portraits were originally supposed to be quick studies trying to get likeness. But portraiture is my whole background so I just decided in the end to push them to almost finished.

The ink rhino guy is something a bit different than I normally do subject wise. But it was fun, when I can scan it in, I'm going to try and use Illustrator to colour it. Hopefully I will get a few of these types of image done in the next few weeks

[danlambert]

The hands were from life, and done pretty quickly.

The other studies are just studies using some images I found. The guy I used reference for most, but tried to mix it up a bit from my head.

[danlambert]

FROM IMAGINATION WOO haha, I was pretty happy with how these turned out in case you couldn't tell. My first real tries. I used a technique from Matthew Archambault's website; the peanut technique.

[danlambert]

When I can get to a scanner I will replace all these terrible quality images

[jedininjaman]

damn dude you can draw
I love the smooth renders you have, and btw you dont need a scanner if you have PS, just adjust the levels, and you can get better than a scanner
but ya the rhino is sick and everything is real nice inn here man
keep posting
-jedi

[Christoffer]

Very nice. This is a great start. Just as many have already pointe out, your rendering skills are good, so putting a little extra weight on values shouldn't be a problem. Keep those studies rolling in and griffin will look great.

[tyra_menendez]

i have a problem with the cerebus one: dog's paws don't look like that. for one, they have more than three toes, and they're not that round. also, the lower "ankle" joint is a lot lower than that.
and the hatching on the "fishbowl head kid" - i was taught that you should not go at right angles, when doing hatching because it's unnatural-looking. 45 degree angles are usually best, for cross hatching.

oh, and i like the ram.
over all you're rather good at recreating what you see.

[wondergod]

your portraits are killer, bling for you!

[towy]

wow amazing work !
this portrait near one real photo it's reall good
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=573841&stc=1&d=1232841698
keep up

[MyOrangeHat]

Wow your portraits are wicked nice! I love the rendering.

You need to do a study or two on horse anatomy though. In this one: http://www.conceptart.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=550264&stc=1&d=1230515202
The anatomy is really off on those front legs. The knees are too low and the pasterns(the area between the hoof and the lower most joint) are not right at all, they're too short and aren't at the proper angle. The hooves are off too, too small and bad angle. The leg problems are much more noticeable on the figure's right leg.

[danlambert]

jedininjaman- thanks man, and that levels stuff is a shit load quicker than messing with the contrast and stuff, thanks.

Christoffer- thanks man, I do tend to go a bit too light on some stuff, but a lot of these are a lot darker in life, its just they have lost some contrast in photo/scanning.

tyra_menendez- Technically, the cerberus of legend actually has lion paws. But either way I completely agree that the paws are shit and the number of toes is wrong in either case, I ended up just giving up. Guess which bit I didn't have reference for...
Thanks for the cross hatching tip, didn't even realise I was doing it. Sometimes I just sort of go into autopilot with cross hatching. Need to pay more attention!

wondergod- Thanks! bling for you to (I think?) haha

towy- much appreciated

MyOrangeHat- Thanks, horse legs were an issue I noticed about 2 days before hand in. Just had to let it slide in the end. I started with several studies of horses, then for the final one I got rushed and sort of mixed and matched the limbs from different horses to get the pose I was after. Not a good idea.


The portrait was just a quick couple of hour jobby of my flatmate,
The other one was attempt at a werewolf transformation. Been watching a lot of werewolf movies so figured I'd have a go while I had nothing to do.
The head's too big, the chest is too long, and a whole other load wrong with it, but I still kind of like it.

[danlambert]

Initial sketch of an Elephant rider concept, and the final thing I handed in.
I already ran this through the critique centre, so have a whole load of things I want to change, and have been suggested to change as soon as I can get my sketches and stuff back.
Elephant is obviously from reference, the guy on top is from my head, which is why he suuuuucks.

[danlambert]

Scan of the Rhino ink sketch I showed before, hopefully going to colour this using illustrator when I have time. New semester starts tomorrow. 2 Illustration modules, and 1 character design module. Can't wait

[danlambert]

Won't bother with excuses for lack of posting, just know I have been working hard.

Trying to get my head around digital painting atm. Here's a few hour speedpaint of a real life carebear


I also got a few pretty much finished (handed in) red riding hood do dah's

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a64/cheesecake11/RedRidingHood1stencounterfinalsm-1.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a64/cheesecake11/RedRidingHoodhiddenfinal.jpg

thanks to everyone who helped in the critique forum

[F87]

Nice work, man.

[SMILEFACE]

THAT BEAR IS SSSSSSSSOOOO RAD' i just saw that office worker in the crit section an was like WHAAA an these portaits your do'n are amazing the last in #52 is encrediable(spell check) yall had skills before but now i dont know !? keep up the goods

[Hari Gopinathan]

And you said I nailed my portraits--- Your portraits absolutely (((((((((ROCK))))))))) dude!!!! :):):):)
Not to mention your uncanny rendering skills.
The portrait of your flat mate and the lil kid (in the beginning of the thread) are especially off the charts!!!!!
And the new bear and red riding hood pics are great too!!!
And the thing is ---i noticed you use replied to a post in the first page ---that u dont have a tablet and that u paint with your mouse---- I am totally in the same predicament man!!! Makes us kindred spirits...:P

Anyway!!! (((((###ROCK ON DAN###)))))

[SMILEFACE]

hey lets see what you've been work'n on ... make w/ the GOODS

[Leonor]

Did you mean to say you can't do faces from imagination? That's the only thing I dare to do from imagination and I have a lot to learn. Show us what you can do? I don't mind sharing my tricks and others that are way ahead of me here will surely help even more. :)

[danlambert]

Did you mean to say you can't do faces from imagination? That's the only thing I dare to do from imagination and I have a lot to learn. Show us what you can do? I don't mind sharing my tricks and others that are way ahead of me here will surely help even more. :)

I can't do them from imagination, but I also really struggle ding faces/heads on figures, especially when they are small even from reference.



I'll post up what I've been working on tomorrow, but as I'm not at uni anymore I don't have a scanner so they will all be photos. I should probably try to organise them now as there's tonnes!

until then, the last thing I completed for my 2nd year last week!

[JailHouseRock2]

Wow man your stuffs amazing!

Awesome sketches Dan, the portraits are (((((((((((((((mind blowing))))))))))))
Great detail and value! Please keep sharing mate!

Cheers,
matt

[kuni-bob]

Wow, beautiful sketchbook! I can't begin to crit, but it's inspiring stuff. Thanks for sharing it all! :)

[SMILEFACE]

i said it in the crit sec but this one is FREAK'N WICKED'

as for the head figure thing i totally have the same problem so now i try to draw complete head to torso studies an even from imagination i try to draw to at least the head shoulders knees an toes( haha see what im do'n) its been help'nme alot

[Hari Gopinathan]

Angry office guy is great!!!!!
And is head to body proportion your issue? cos i heardthis theory long back that the human body is 8 heads tall--- found some data on that in wikipedia--
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_proportions ---- check it out.
Also this link- http://www.worsleyschool.net/socialarts/body/proportions.html --- (not too sure about this info---but check it out in case it helps)

[danlambert]

Right heres all I got from my my sketchbooks before the camera died. Bits of everything, a lot of figure work, some from imagination, some from reference, still a long way to go on those.
Few portraits, one from imagination which is god awful, and one of the lovely miss loveandasandwich that I completely gave up up on yesterday.
Few ink do dah's, a speed paint of a girl, and other stuff.
Feel free to shout at me and tell me what I should work on etc.

[danlambert]

JailHouseRock2 - Thanks a lot man, not sure about the great value though, I always feel like I don't push them far enough.

kuni-bob - sweet, I don't think I've ever been called inspiring before, thanks! I checked out your work, your portraits are beautiful

G Spect - thanks, always a pleasure. I'l give it a try

Hari Gopinathan - cheers. It's not so much the head to body proportions, I just can't do them the right shape or in the right place or anything really. But thanks for the links, I'll check 'em out.


I would also like to apologize for the shameless theft of Janaschi and al's multi limbed torsos in my sketches

[SMILEFACE]

HAHA DAMN YEAH thats what i call an UPDATE!!!!! an' you should be ashamed FOR ROCK'N!

[danlambert]

HAHA DAMN YEAH thats what i call an UPDATE!!!!! an' you should be ashamed FOR ROCK'N!

never! :yayca:

[My57]

Thanks for the tips! I know how you feel about imagination stuff >.< Basically where i have trouble as well. E.g. That face that you commented on xD

[Leonor]

Almost everybody gets "ur inspiring. shows improvement already. clean linez." around here. Memes of the house. ;)

Is the face from imagination the unfinished one, or were you copying that from a book? I see you have a similar problem than me which is to suffer from givupitis acutis, you sabotage yourself and quit before you gave yourself a chance to learn. So give yourself a chance and work on understanding what is going on in 3D and the anatomy underneath.

[danlambert]

Almost everybody gets "ur inspiring. shows improvement already. clean linez." around here. Memes of the house. ;)

Is the face from imagination the unfinished one, or were you copying that from a book? I see you have a similar problem than me which is to suffer from givupitis acutis, you sabotage yourself and quit before you gave yourself a chance to learn. So give yourself a chance and work on understanding what is going on in 3D and the anatomy underneath.

Face was from imagination, and yes it is a horrible condition we suffer from. In my defense it was just a quick sketch to see just how bad I was at them. I intend to put in the effort after a bit of research and studying honest! But that is the key, 3D, the more I can learn to draw and think in 3D the better

[Teundeboer]

HAHAHA, love the carebear. Great stuff you got here.

[danlambert]

I photographed this last night to post up because I was actually pretty pleased with how it came out considering it was from imagination.
Hooooowever, this morning looking at it I'm not really liking it at all. Plus it's looking a bit stylized which is not what I want at all. Figured I'd post it anyway.
Back to the drawing board

[Jamie Romoser]

Keep it up! Figures from the mind are a challenge.

Until next time -Omerta

[Sean McClain]

Nice Childrens book Doo Dahs, Great Sb.

[Leonor]

That's much better from what I can do from memory. Not perfect (legs) but the pose and arms are quite good.

[SMILEFACE]

i think they look perdy good i always forget how the hip to thigh muscles an thigh to knee work . i was think'n alot of your pics would make badd A$$ T shirts like the carebear panda even the redridinghood ones anywho keep w/ the GOODS

[danlambert]

No drawing stuff yet, got plenty to post just haven't had a chance to photograph/scan them yet.

This is a quote from Leonor's sketchbook ((http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=153702)( It's very good btw)) that I read and basically screamed YESSSS! Pretty much sums up where I'm at, and probably lots of other people as well.

"I sometimes wish I was still a kid and didn't know I couldn't draw and was happy with my little pictures. There was nothing I wouldn't draw and no limit to my imagination. The worst place to be is where you know enough to know you don't know and set standards for yourself that become torture to reach.

Anyway... I ramble. From now on I think I'll stick to the torture, meaning, doing studies to death until I learn what I need. I need to do an intensive copy recall exercises until the information sticks to memory."

ta ta

[Alternative]

Wow, I am really impressed with your pencils. The figure from imagination is amazing. I really love it.I love your rendering as well. What pencil do you use? You told me in my SB to use harder pencils so I was wondering.

Thanks for stopping by my SB, once again. :)

[danlambert]

Wow, I am really impressed with your pencils. The figure from imagination is amazing. I really love it.I love your rendering as well. What pencil do you use? You told me in my SB to use harder pencils so I was wondering.

Thanks for stopping by my SB, once again. :)

Thanks man.
I always use an HB mechanical pencil, sometimes a 2B sketching pencil if I really want some blacks in a sketch.

[Mischeviouslittleelf]

some really cool drwaings here mate, not a lot to crit, so just keep rocking, I will come up with something^^

-W

[danlambert]

Bit of an update, got as many pages I could before my camera battery died (not having a scanner sucks!)
The quality was shit on most of them and really blurry as I had the flash turned off. These were all that were slightly readable:

1st is a page of bodies from imagination. (except top right which was a real quick sketch from ref.)

2nd is a portrait that has been destroyed by the photographing and photoshop salvaging process

3rd + 4th eyes obviously. For the Molten Core challenge I was too lazy to complete

5th more torsos from imagination

6th studies. There are loads of pages of these in my sketchbook but for some reason they always seemed to be the ones that got blurred out.

7th is another blurry portrait. This one I completely cocked up. Features are no where near where they are supposed to be. From ref.

8th is something a little different. Bit more stylized. Still need to do a few more, then ink them. Possibly for a magazine

Last is a really cool pose reff'd from a book I think is called "Figures in Motion' something something something for the artist'.

I have decided over the last few days that I'm not spending nearly as much time as I thought I was actually drawing. I've noticed I tend to get distracted easily and therefore don't get nearly enough done. The mission is to get up really early from now on so there is nothing to do but draw.
If anyone fancies emailing/calling/texting me constantly throughout the day and shouting at me to draw that would be great haha.

No digital stuff as I currently am at home for summer where I don't have a desk so it's really awkward to use my tablet.

[monotony]

looks like your work is paying of, Dan!
the female figures look damn good in these last few updates and your rendering is really neat.
keep sharing, man!

[danlambert]

looks like your work is paying of, Dan!
the female figures look damn good in these last few updates and your rendering is really neat.
keep sharing, man!
Thanks man, I'm not seeing it myself yet. But hopefully soon!

[SMILEFACE]

i hope you see it soon cause your amazing this last updater is off the chain favs are girl w/ sword,portait,all the eyes,the middle on page 6,portait,skate or die,an the last one rocks the dynamics

[danlambert]

1st update of the day, I managed to find a scanner, unfortunately it's A4, and I work pretty much exclusively A3. So as soon as I figure out a good way to scan stuff I'll throw it up.

Oh, this was on an A4.
Image I scribbled up the other day out of the original sketch for the carebear.

[SMILEFACE]

yeah thats RAD is it like one of those russian circus bears or just your normal bear on rollers

[danlambert]

Just a bear with skates on. Boredom is a beautiful thing. Although I shouldn't really have time to be bored, I should be DRAWING!

[danlambert]

2nd update of the day, this is the bulk of what I got done today.
Looking at it, it just doesn't seem enough for the hours I thought I'd been working. Definitely need to start picking up the pace, especially with the studies, I always spend waaay to much time trying to get them perfect. Oddly enough the ones from imagination take far less time.
Speaking of the ones from imagination, I am sickened by the quality of the lines. It's just tentative stroke after tentative stroke which usually ends up being one large horrible mix of strokes that I usually then rub up and clean up. I really need to start roughing out light, then going in with more confident lines over the top. Tomorrow for sure!

Studies are sort of mixed in with the imagination stuff in a few places, but I'm pretty sure it's not hard to tell which is which.

Mouse thing is a more literal take on one of the Biker Mice from Mars that I intend to paint up in Photoshop at some point over the next few days. I realize it looks all cartoony and crap atm.

Anyone with any advice/crits/comments/ideas feel free to tear me a new one!

Oh, the scanner I find I think is older than me as the quality is terrible and really inconsistent?!

END WALL OF TEXT

[Arne Meyer]

Hi there!
Your rendering is kick ass, it´s very exact and precisely, but your linework is a bit boring in my opinion. It´s like you are doing the same thing with rendering and drawing lines, you do it very exactly.
I´m far away from being a line expert, but I guess your drawings, especially your gesture studies, would be way more dynamic if you would make your lines more intuitively and with some more variation.
Maybe you want to try that!
Good luck and keep up the good work!

[Sebastian Wagner]

so much great stuff in here. I`m really in love with the bear^^

[SMILEFACE]

the lil' comments you write next to yer sketches errr HELLA FUNNY! an now thar be ''steamy curls'' you RRRRRRRRRROOCCCCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[spaztastic]

hahaha I love what you said about the eyes for molten core... :D I was the same way. hehehe i would be doing more in there but I am too busy with subtitles stuff right now to participate.

your art is awesome. I think one thing that would help for portraits is if you made the eyes the focus and gave them as much life as possible. I tend to forget about the eyes till last. but you can convey so much emotion if you get the eyes right. it really helps to push the pics. I am having to work on this too.

but all in all your stuff is ACE!

[danlambert]

Hi there!
Your rendering is kick ass, it´s very exact and precisely, but your linework is a bit boring in my opinion. It´s like you are doing the same thing with rendering and drawing lines, you do it very exactly.
I´m far away from being a line expert, but I guess your drawings, especially your gesture studies, would be way more dynamic if you would make your lines more intuitively and with some more variation.
Maybe you want to try that!
Good luck and keep up the good work!
Thanks man, for comment and the crit. You are completely right I basically draw everything as precisely as possible, probably why my stuff is always so stiff.
Today will be different!

Noro - Thanks, the bear is all yours my friend

Spect - I find insulting myself on the page takes away the need to bash my head against things! Peeeeeeaece!

spaz- I'm pretty sure lazyness is going around at the moment, so we are all forgiven!
Eyes, check! I'm just about to start a self portrait so I will have a go. Flattery will get you everywhere haha!


Update with drawings and stuff later tonight after I kick my scanner a few more times.
Peace

[Capital G]

holy crap your work is awesome! you pencil studies made me curse aloud :D

[Black Spot]

Sweet, sweet pencil work. Maybe your imagination is lost in just drawing from 2d, try a still life and feel the form.

Thanks for dropping in on my SB.

[JJacks]

Wow, these are some lovely sketches. I really like the eye studies you did on page three.

[jigje]

Man, I really appreciate your comments. As a complete beginner, it was a thrill and a surprise to get some advice from someone with a 'book as fine as this one. As you've seen my SPs, you know I dont know enough to crit anyone but I am qualified to say great work and look forward to more. Thanks again.

[SMILEFACE]

lol'd i like do'n both that should explain alot!

[DStraX]

your studies are coming along nicely:) keep dooing what your doing, and maby try to use a lower contrast setting on your scanner. looks like your loosing some of the light lines


Tim

[meticulous]

Wow - that's all I got looking through here. Freaking kill man - freaking killing it... Your studies are looking awesome - keep up the hard work and keep the submits coming! Looking freaking amazing!!!

[danlambert]

Thanks everyone. I don't really even want to post this, but I figure I should. I realised a few hours in that what I was basically painting was a fucking furry!
Not cool, not cool at all, but here it is anyway. I was trying to paint a semi real version of one of the Biker Mice From Mars. Didn't use any references.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a64/cheesecake11/bbmf3.jpg

Be kind!

Few hours worth in photoshop, couldn't figure out the bandana or the hand so I left them more unfinished than the rest

[Black Spot]

Making those ears as tough as the rest will be a real challenge.

[Jesus Food]

lol i remember those biker mice, theyre tough but theyre so small u can barely hear those little bones crunch under ur shoes he reminds me of ace(keifer sutherland) in stand by me

[danlambert]

Making those ears as tough as the rest will be a real challenge.
Tell me about it. Which is why I have decided to take the easy way out and not bother trying! :teeth:

[Bidi]

very nice, dan! hard work is the way to go, and it seems that youre doing lots of it. My only suggestion is to think about composition on those pencils. making a darker background will bring the image forward and give the illusion that there is something going on instead of just floating in space.

peace

[danlambert]

Just tried to upload a few new sketches, only to have my laptop or the internet or whatever the fuck happened, decide to just crash. So I'll try again later.
Figured I'd have a bit of a rant since I was here. Basically I've noticed that my motivation has dropped a fair bit since I've finished uni for the summer, and I think it's because I'm lacking the interaction with other artists/illustrators that I had before. Which is basically making it much easier for me to say yes to going out skating all the time or just generally getting distracted by stuff. Don't suppose anyone's come up with a magical way of overcoming this other than the obvious 'quit whining and just get on with it' that I've been saying to myself? Anyone....?
Right, I think that's enough of the livejournal bulls***.

I'm planning to start doing at least one digital portrait a day. Greyscale to start with, then moving onto colour. I am hoping I can rely on you guys to nag me if I'm slacking.
Also starting a few proper illustrations in the next few days, basically just doing more finished stuff instead of just the studies.

I'm posting this here so I feel more obligued/motivated to get on and do it.

If anyone wants start one of those sketchbook group things so we can all nag each other that would be awesome!
Peace!

[IndigoSummers]

Just had myself a wonderful time looking through your sketchbook. Really lovely work. My fave is the care bear. There is something so appealing about that image. I just want to hug him!!! I'm right there with you on the imagination thing. lol. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one that struggles. =).

Hmm....for motivation...not having a life helps. lol. But if you do happen to have a life, I find scheduling time to work on art somewhat helpful. I'm finding these online communities to be a good motivator. Especially the weekly challenges. Having a deadline and working amongst everyone else, seeing their wips and getting feedback mirrors school somewhat. Sometimes I'll look through another artists work that really inspires me...and that will get me going. No secrets though, sorry. =)

If I had one crit for you, its that you need to work looser. I know I know you've heard this before. A good exercise to do is grab a piece of paper and just start moving your pencil around without giving any thought to what you're drawing. Shapes will emerge and you can "find" a drawing or figure to elaborate on. I'd like to see what you come up with.

A Sketchbook Group? Sounds interesting. More info please! =)

[Rynnay]

Haha, I like the Biker Mouse. I agree with the earlier comment about putting some darker value or hint of something else in the background. Maybe you could put some tears in the ears to make them less Mickey Mouse? Or what if his front teeth were sharper? Rodents have a nasty bite after all. But for just a few hours in Photoshop, that's pretty damn good. Good values.

[danlambert]

Just had myself a wonderful time looking through your sketchbook. Really lovely work. My fave is the care bear. There is something so appealing about that image. I just want to hug him!!! I'm right there with you on the imagination thing. lol. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one that struggles. =).

Hmm....for motivation...not having a life helps. lol. But if you do happen to have a life, I find scheduling time to work on art somewhat helpful. I'm finding these online communities to be a good motivator. Especially the weekly challenges. Having a deadline and working amongst everyone else, seeing their wips and getting feedback mirrors school somewhat. Sometimes I'll look through another artists work that really inspires me...and that will get me going. No secrets though, sorry. =)

If I had one crit for you, its that you need to work looser. I know I know you've heard this before. A good exercise to do is grab a piece of paper and just start moving your pencil around without giving any thought to what you're drawing. Shapes will emerge and you can "find" a drawing or figure to elaborate on. I'd like to see what you come up with.

A Sketchbook Group? Sounds interesting. More info please! =)
Dammit! Someone must have the secret! ha.
That scribble thing sounds pretty interesting, I may have to give that a go.
I think sketchbook groups are basically just a group of like 4 or 5 people that regularly visit each others pages handing out advice/support and nagging you if you start slacking. Wana start one?

[Mischeviouslittleelf]

FUCK YEAH! BIKER MICE FROM MARS! Aahaha awesome stuff on that one. NOW BACK TO STUDIES!

-E

[monstertree]

Oh man that's cool, i remember Biker Mice from Saturday morning cartoons - really great rendition and a pretty damn cool sketchbook!

[IndigoSummers]

I think sketchbook groups are basically just a group of like 4 or 5 people that regularly visit each others pages handing out advice/support and nagging you if you start slacking. Wana start one?

A license to nag? Sounds like a good time. :wink:. You can count me in.

[SMILEFACE]

hey can you take a small chunk out of his ear ... i know i know but it always looks cool

[danlambert]

A license to nag? Sounds like a good time. :wink:. You can count me in.

sweet, we need more people though. Start recruiting!


Thanks for all the positive comments everyone!

As for that Biker Mouse Guy, I'm not going to do anything more on him, I have grown to deeply despise him! Now let us never speak of him again.... haha



Now some arty stuff, the first of the daily portraits I plan on doing, I forced myself to stay up and do it even though I got in pretty late from an awesome BarBQ! (Even managed to do a few quick life drawing sketches while I was there).
Self-portrait 1, I plan on finishing this up tomorrow morning before starting my next one! SO far 2 hours in photoshop, I haven't had a chance to look at it on a proper monitor yet so the contrast is probably way too dark. Anyway, enough stalling..Peace!

[CKLamb]

Dude.............carebear on your first post FTW!

[danlambert]

Planning on entering the CHOW and COW this week, here's this first set of thumbnails/silhouettes for the COW: Demon Devourer. I'm not sure which one I'll go for yet so any input is appreciated!
Peace

[danlambert]

Pushed one of the silhouettes a bit further, changed quite a bit though obviously. Really struggling with getting the form to read well, so I'm going to stop for a bit and do some more studies. No references.
Would really appreciate any crits on this one, I can't really remember why I scribbled one of its arms chained up, I think I'll probably change it.

Again, havn't had a chance to check it on a proper monitor so the contrast is probably really shit.
Peace

[danlambert]

Finished up that self-portrait, pretty happy with it. Next one I'm going to try and get some more texture in there, and do something more with the background.

Haven't had a chance to look at it on a proper monitor so contrast may be a bit off.

Peace!

[Nele Klumpe]

The Selfportrait looks very cool! I also like the COW, but I feel like some ligher Value is missing. Just a suggestion :)

[danlambert]

The Selfportrait looks very cool! I also like the COW, but I feel like some ligher Value is missing. Just a suggestion :)

Thanks. Do you mean lighter value on the portrait or on the CHOW?

[Nele Klumpe]

The COW (CHOW, COW? what is it? Don't know :D ) well.. just some area that has a bit of contrast. (Did you change it already or is this my monitor because of the light?)

[danlambert]

The COW (CHOW, COW? what is it? Don't know :D ) well.. just some area that has a bit of contrast. (Did you change it already or is this my monitor because of the light?)
I haven't touched it, not sure if I will to be honest. I'm having quite a bit of fun with these portraits, and I feel like I should learn a bit more about form before I try anything like that again.

[JailHouseRock2]

Hay Dan, great work of late!

Dig the COW thumbnails on the last page, and the S-P looks real solid!

Keep up the good work man!
matt

[SMILEFACE]

hey are you gunna ROCK the big contest i hope so !!!!!

[danlambert]

hey are you gunna ROCK the big contest i hope so !!!!!
What's the big contest?

[SMILEFACE]

SHAZAM* (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=159819)

[danlambert]

SHAZAM* (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=159819)

Fuck me that's a ridiculous prize package!
Don't think I will be able to enter though, if I get time I will but I'm moving in the next few weeks, plus got a huge load of other stuff I have to do. Have you already started yours?

[IndigoSummers]

Hey Dan! your self-portrait came out awesome. It has a great "in the moment" feel to it. It also looks looser, less controlled than some of your other portraits. You've really captured a nice quality with the digital paints. Also, the pose is awesome.

Want to see more of the cow. Keep it coming!

[Sebastian Wagner]

cool monster and great sp! More more :lounge:

[danlambert]

JailHouseRock2 - Thanks man, I was trying the 1 hour monster technique in the new imagineFX magazine. Sounded so easy in writing...

Spect - I saw your entry wips. I think I'll steer clear!

IndigoSummers - I'm glad you like it, I used as big a brush as possible for the majority of it so I wouldn't slow down and get caught up in details.
No more COW yet, got some more faces though...

Noro - Thanks! Coming right up!


Haven't managed to drag my brother away from the main computer yet so no sketchbook scans, only some digital stuff. Probably will be some contrast oddness as my laptop monitor sucks I think.

Took a bit of inspiration from that new Mike Bierek form tutorial and had a go at rendering some shapes and stuff. Was pretty happy with the sphere although fro some reason I put reflect light under the sphere in what should be one of the darkest parts (DUH!). No references!

Pretty much failed with the other two but figure I'd post em anyway.

Got another self-portrait wip, still shit loads to change but thats a few hours worth. I really struggled laying this one out, and then when I sort of got it, I ended up getting too tight too early. Definitely going to go back with a big brush and get loose to finish it off!

The female face was a line sketch of a female face from the Molten Core Workshop. I decided to take the line drawing and try to render it out without any reference. Pretty happy with it for a first go, it still looks really flat though.
If anyone wants to drop some knowledge on me/give me some crits on it that would be much appreciated.

The other thing is an Illustration wip I started roughing in ( the face looks really unemotional atm but it will be screaming like a mother f***** and looking rather terrified by the end). Would really like some feedback on this one, as I'll be spending quite a lot of time on it.
Initially does that bit of tentacle in the foreground work?

Got an 8 hour round trip on the train tomorrow so should have plenty of stuff done to show tomorrow!

Thanks again for looking! Feel free to rip everything apart
Peace

[Jason Rainville]

Can't really critique much in here dan, you're doing what you need to. Those faces you're pumping out are just great :)

[SMILEFACE]

WICKED' updates the girl is HOT' hey where are the spectural highlights and or the lightests lights?

[vardoburrito]

I dig #83b and the eyes that follow.
oh, and all the head/graphites. Sweet ass sb.
The tought bunny too. Tasty.

[Zoio]

top notch stuff matte!!!
Check it out my sketchbook too!
Cheers!!

[danlambert]

Jason Rainville - Thanks dude. I need to pump out MORE!

Spect - I was trying to think that she would be wearing make up so her skin would be more matte than bare skin, so I didn't really add any. You think I should?

dwardo- 'preciate the support :yayca:

Zoio - Thanks, will do!


Had a very very very long train ride today (very!). Took a sketchbook, my new hard copy of Bridgmans, a pen, and my laptop.

I read through the entire book, trying to take everything in, then did a whole load of studies. On the return journey I worked on the illustration thing.

(Will have the studies up as soon as my phone is charged (need the camera phone, scanner is broken again))

For the illustration I'm thinking of adding in some yellowey smog stuff to break up that big area of dark in the doorway. I'm also thinking maybe blur the image apart from the extreme foreground and the hand to add some depth. Any thoughts?

[Alternative]

Loving the last one! Keep working on it, it's going to look sick when its done. :)

Oh, and I also love the eye studies on page 3. I am going to make some of those myself in a few minutes. Thank you for the sweet idea.

Keep posting mate!

[DeeStar]

great sketchbook, your Cerberus painting from page one is a real eye catcher

[SMILEFACE]

sorry i was think'n maybe one more lightest light value ... not every where but like the sphere study it seems to be defussed lighting ya dont have ta do it alot to point where the surface looks shinny but enoughf to to balance the contrast yer last pic has a nice balance in value shift ... just a thought

edit. im not sure why i mentioned it cause you have a WICKED trackrecord fer ROCK"N portaits

[danlambert]

sorry i was think'n maybe one more lightest light value ... not every where but like the sphere study it seems to be defussed lighting ya dont have ta do it alot to point where the surface looks shinny but enoughf to to balance the contrast yer last pic has a nice balance in value shift ... just a thought

edit. im not sure why i mentioned it cause you have a WICKED trackrecord fer ROCK"N portaits

Don't be silly! Your completely right. In fact I'm going to go and change it now!

[marc_redd]

Damn, that care bear might have just made my day better! This is amazing stuff

[SaintLConcept]

oowww wooowww how can i possibly miss this lol, i'm subscribing u, my fifth

[papervampire]

awesome work the fact you're trying to switch over to imagination is extremely intriguing... drawing without ref is really hard... but I think something very important, at least for me, is to have a really confident line, so maybe work on that... and basically draw as if you're drawing from life, but really follow your hunches. something that's really wonderful to me is the idea that you can have a really vivid impression of something in your imagination and then actually put it on paper... hehe..

anyway, the last two paintings are great. your sense of value is awesome! & i love the bear! haha

[danlambert]

marc_redd - haha, glad I could help!

Art4All - thanks man, I'll try not to disappoint

papervampire - drawing without ref is very hard! but you are right, it's also very important. I got sick of being such a slave to references and as you said I love the idea of being able to translate something from imagination onto paper successfully.
I'm envious of anyone with confident lines, you'd think I'd never drawn before on most of mine, definitely something I will try to improve on, thanks.



Decided to leave the illustration for a few days so I can return with renewed vigor and fresh eyes. Going to do a few more portraits and have a go at a challenge I found on IFX.

Few pages of Bridgman studies, and some life drawing of my brother when he was getting tattooed. Also a little pose I tried to scribble out, still terrible at those. Used a pen to try to encourage more confident lines, but my lack of confident coupled with a very bumpy train ride just made them a bit scribbly. Sorry for the terrible phone cam quality.

Peace!

[Nele Klumpe]

I think the last sketches are pretty nice. Drawing with a pen in the bus actually trained my lines very well. It trains you to think about every stroke you make and to draw a confident line. you avoid getting scribbly strokes this way. Now my "busstrokes" look a lot more confident than those I do elsewhere. It just needs some practice! Keep it up :D

[SMILEFACE]

those hand studies are WICKED' an thats a cool angle on the life draw'n of yer brother

[danlambert]

More on that face, just for you Spect!

This is based on the current Molton core challenge to paint up, then add interesting make up and stuff to one of the basic line drawings provided.
Tried to actually learn something and didn't use any references. Planning on doing the other face in the next few days!

First one is the revised just basic face, I added a lighter value to certain areas, and also made the whole thing a tiny bit lighter. Pretty happy with how it came out.

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=703239&stc=1&d=1245514961




Next was supposed to be like a tribally gothy thing, not really sure. I don't think the full affect is there because I didn't alter the hair or clothes.

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=703233&stc=1&d=1245514838




Next was not really part of the challenge I don't think, but oh well. Changed her expression as well as adding a little bit of make up and the tears.

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=703234&stc=1&d=1245514874







Next is really subtle and probably not worth posting, I think I could probably push it further. Was going for the airbrushed magazine perfection look.

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=703236&stc=1&d=1245514922






Was fun, going to do some more when I have some more ideas, probably paint up the other face first.


More to come in a few hours!

[danlambert]

Something quick for now. Failed attempt at a pencil self portrait, couldn't figure out the eyes at all, nose and mouth are not too bad I don't think. Also drew this one a bit different, started out roughing with just straight lines and angles, was pretty helpful.

Should have another digital self portrait up in a few hours.

Oh sorry for the shoddy phone cam quality

[danlambert]

Finally got around to sorting this one out, I really struggled sketching this one out, so it took bloody ages as I had to keep altering features and proportions and stuff. Probably 4 hours worth, maybe slightly less

I feel I should clarify that I do actually have a wonky nose ha!
It's not just a constant mistake!

Peace

[SMILEFACE]

HOT GOTH GIRLS RR HOT' i diggz how ya changed it all up an yer last SP ROCKS' the one where WHERE SHES CRY'N IS WAY COOL'' cause everything is almost set up fer the smile but the changes ya made make it real emotional GOOD SHOW

[danlambert]

Update on the illustration. It's coming along I think, still lacks dynamism or that something to make it really stand out though I think.
Any ideas?

[Nele Klumpe]

slymey tentacles always work! hehe :3

The upper part of the picture feels a bit empty to me... add... more.. tentacles? *lol* I don't know, the expression is looking great!

[SMILEFACE]

its look'n perdy WICKED' as fer ideas what if there was another tentical bridge'n the gap between the back an forground top and bottom? rr like one tentical cought his arm just before he reaches us..

[jigje]

Haha, That's so cool Dan.
Maybe we could see a foot with tentacle contact? - the point of contact with the creature. Or maybe the sugestion of the mouth of the creature in the darkness in the center of the tentacle mass.
Actually, to my untrained eye its great as is! :)
The dudes exprssion is perfect and the foreshortened hand MAKES the image. I love it.

[Ghostbrush]

dude! u got some cool stuff in here! lovely Sb!

thanks for the advice u gave me, need to work on my blends some more I think to loose that airbrushy look :S

On that image above, maybe try a radial blur on zoom for the background, will give the effect of motion towards the doorway, also maybe some glowing eyes, although cliche, can really give it some punch.
Its looking sweet though atm, I like it, very dramatic and the guys facial expression is spot on :D

All the best

Alex

[alesoun]

Great expression on his face!

[GHudston]

Some fantastic stuff in here! I really love your pencil stuff, smooth pencil shading is something that I've never been able to master.

I'm also thrilled that I'm not the only person who labels the "crap" in his sketchbook!

[Black Spot]

Great updates since I last here. A couple of the tentacles are looking a bit diagonal, but a bit more lighting will show the gap between them. Love his expression.

[IndigoSummers]

Hey Dan!

Great work, as always =). I love the subtle quality of the last digital self-portrait. I love the way you painted the highlight on your chin. I know, totally random, but I stared at it for awhile. Some really nice painting.

I really like the way this illustration is coming out. I'm totally jealous of the awesome foreshortening. I really think this is going to look fabulous when its done. His face is coming out great. I think once you add in some detailing, etc on the tentacles and bring them more to focus it won't feel as bottom heavy as it does know. Some of that is because of the refined work in his face vs. the blurry background. Also, I feel like the tentacles have lost some of the dynamism they had during the earlier sketches. I'm not real sure of why... maybe they need to be slightly larger or coming towards the viewer...the two in the middle create an intersecting line that you can almost continue, which can be tricky sometimes compositionally speaking. I think this is one of those nitpicky things you just have to play with. Also, someone had a suggestion of being able to see a tiny bit of the creature. I think thats an idea definately worth exploring.

Can't wait to see more of this! =)

[Nicky S]

Wow, impressive work man. I like the way you created depth in your last painting, having the backgroun out of focus, gives it a nice touch. Also good job on the expression of the characters face, it really reflects his fear an despair he's feeling, being dragged away by some kind of monster.^^

Looking forward to see the finished piece!

[danlambert]

AvisNocturna - tentacles are a bit of a cop out creature wise but oh well!

Your right about the bottom heavynessnessness, it's top of the list of things I've jotted down that I need to change!

Grandmassa Mr. Spect - Love that idea, thanks man


jigje - thanks dude. there's a tentacle supposed to be around his waist, but kind of painted over it at some point and now it's gone. I think a more clear point of contact is necessary.

Ghostbrush - Thanks! No worries about the airbrushy stuff, everyone's been guilty of it at some point. I like the sound of that radial blur...*scratches chin pondering*

alesoun - Thanks

GHudston - thanks for taking the time to look through. Labeling stuff and writing little insults is half the fun of a sketchbook!

Black Spot - Thanks for stopping by again, I agree about the tentacles, and they will be changed! I think I may watch a Jason Chan vid to get a bit of tentacly inspiration.

IndigoSummers - Hello! Thanks, it's a little random. But I've stared at some strange things before, so who am I to judge ha.
The tentacles/creature are going to be dealt with pretty much as soon as I finish this little update thing. That diagonal is bugging me as well. Thanks for the detailed feedback, incredibly helpful and much appreciated.

Nicky S - Thanks dude. The blur thing was just a little experiment but it's definitely growing on me, although I think I'll play with it a bit more before I finish.


Haven't been able to get to a scanner so only a digital portrait study wip for now. Created this one with value instead on lines (which is the way I normally work). Not sure which way I prefer, but I definitely think it encourages softer forms and more natural edges so I might use it more often for female portraits/figures. Also tried to throw in a bit more in regards to skin texturing, just messed about with the noise filter a bit. I know, I know, filters are bad and it's a complete cop out but oh well!

Just remembered this other little thing I had a go at, then gave up on. I know it's shit, I was trying to remember the cool lighting I noticed on my brothers arm yesterday. Basically shows how much I've been neglecting the male form recently as I got completely lost on the anatomy. It also showed me that I need to start adding some lighting/value to my studies of forms. I've been focusing on linework too much.

Thanks again everyone

[kikindaface]

Hey dude, you got a really nice sketchbook ! Just be carreful with using filters, especially for the last portrait ! it gives a fake look try to diversify the brushes instead ! Anyway, keep improving, and take care !

[SMILEFACE]

WWHHAAA!!! the womans face is HOT'

[danlambert]

Without the noise filter

[SMILEFACE]

can you make a copy of the original w/ out filter then add noise to the copy an erase an keep some in some areas

[danlambert]

can you make a copy of the original w/ out filter then add noise to the copy an erase an keep some in some areas

that's actually exactly what I did

[kikindaface]

Hey dude ! Yeah, i find it better without the filter ( or less filter ) ! Values are really good, you should work more on the edges too, there are some " mistakes", like just below he mouth, there is a super hard edge, which should be more soft ! Keep it up dude

[Verehin]

Dont draw part of head\body..work with whole form ;)
anyway- good works :)

[snootchy]

hey Dan thanks again for the crit will definitely work on!! Woh dood your SB is awesome, i soo dig your pencil sketches! How do you get such a soft touch or good blend? Do you use a blender or just hatch softly and gradually work up your darker tones?

Keep up the great work dood!

SSG 69 :heart: ARTGASMIC FORCE
Mission: To push our skills to evolve to the point of giving you visual orgasm.
Eon (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=107005) l grenappels (http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=99577) l snootchy (http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=112991) l Peetaer (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=111899) l bleupencil ( http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=134180)

[JailHouseRock2]

Love the illustration at the top of the page! So cool, great depth!

Keep at it Dan, these are looking great!

[danlambert]

hey Dan thanks again for the crit will definitely work on!! Woh dood your SB is awesome, i soo dig your pencil sketches! How do you get such a soft touch or good blend? Do you use a blender or just hatch softly and gradually work up your darker tones?

Keep up the great work dood!

SSG 69 :heart: ARTGASMIC FORCE
Mission: To push our skills to evolve to the point of giving you visual orgasm.
Eon (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=107005) l grenappels (http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=99577) l snootchy (http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=112991) l Peetaer (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=111899) l bleupencil ( http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=134180)

No problem dude. Thanks! I used to use a blending stump every now and then, mainly for things like lips. More recently I do it the way you mentioned, building up gradually. I use my little finger sometimes if I want a softer edge or something. I think mostly it's just patience, can take a pretty long time.
Peace

[danlambert]

Having another go at rendering out some blank linework from imagination. It's hard. I need to do more studies. Feel free to tear it apart...no no, I insist.

Just looked at it again and have decided I need more midtones.

Aaaaaand some weird shitty old man sketch. Been doing loads of Bridgman studies, trying to do them as fast as I can, decided to try a portrait as fast as i could. Used ink so I wouldn't get all pencilly. Then took a shit photo, adjusted in photoshop, then painted in the highlight after dropping in a grey multiply layer. I kind of like it, not bad for 10 mins work.

Just about to start another self portrait, might have a go at colour, I took some cool reference shots yesterday!

Peace

[danlambert]

I think this is better

[SMILEFACE]

YALL GOT THE MADD RENDER"N SKILLS yeah an the ol" guy rocks yer ink lines are GREAT"

[snootchy]

hey dan great update and glad that you're thinking much more deeply about rendering form from the mind, but before that happens i think deeper studies in casts or even photo that matter is best for getting to terms with how light falls off an object or the planes on it (i'm guilty of this and still try to do from false preceptions of the mind). Also i think it helps greatly to break values down to the most basic, almost of that when you squint your eyes at the subject and see only few values. Once you have the major values, say about 3 to 4 then comes the itsy bitty tones needed to push it to realism. It really helps i think to break it down systematically, and not get lost in all the subtle greys.

I think you have great rendering capabilities, definitely a lot better than anything i can do and i think doing some of the studies mentioned above will just solidify that.

BTW totally dig the hottie portrait above!

SSG 69 :heart: ARTGASMIC FORCE
Mission: To push our skills to evolve to the point of giving you visual orgasm.
Eon (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=107005) l grenappels (http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=99577) l snootchy (http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=112991) l Peetaer (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=111899) l bleupencil ( http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=134180)

[Desero]

Your rendering is fine if anything you're too wound up. Loosen up, if only a little. I was the same way years ago it, feels weird the first couple weeks- fighting the urge to jump back in, a lot of time I felt like I was forgetting something...
Beside this, if I were going to picky (since you invited me to =P ) I'd say you should concentrate more on the , placement and forms of your shadows and not how good the look,(except for the self portraits-magnificent) other than that I got nothing. Keep up the studies, your work is good, you have a sensitivity in your work that most people don't have, but beware sometime it can be a little overbearing and make an image just a tad too sentimental. Be firey every once in a while! ( your pencil work is bad ass too.)

[jigje]

Well she's beautiful Dan. I totally do NOT trust my judgment yet but is her right eye on a slight angle - as in a touch too high on the outer side? What would I know. Look forward with great expectation, excitment and eager anticipation to your self portrait. haha, pressure.

[Nele Klumpe]

I think the old man's sketch is one of your best so far, do more of those! Concerning the other portrait I'd agree with snootchy, but they're looking wuite nice so far. maybe you can get into the same mood as when you were drawing the old man when doing the digital portraits ;) hehe

[danlambert]

Spect - Thanks man, shame my values are crap!

snootchy - I completely agree, in fact as I was painting t I was thinking I need to do more studies! I'm definitely going to try the limited value suggestion, as like you mentioned I tend to get lost in all the subtle tones too early. My excuse for this one is that I've been trying to indent in my head that females should be painted/rendered as softly as possible. Think I took it a bit too far though. But yeah thanks again for the advice.

Desero- Thanks, I find it much more difficult to paint loosely on females as I think they need a softer touch. Definitely something I'll work on though thanks.

jigje- Thanks! You should always trust your judgment, and you are completely right. I noticed it, but as it was supposed to be a form exercise I let it slide this time. Pressure!!!!

AvisNocturna- Really? will do, thanks. It was nice finishing an image so quickly. I'll try, thanks again!

Decided to leave the colour one for now and do a few value studies instead.
1st for today, about 35 minutes I think, probably used too many values but I'll cut it down to 4 for the next one.

Bit worried this one might look a bit weird as I'm working outside so can't see my screen as well as I'd like, stupid glare.

[SMILEFACE]

THIS IS RAD' i instantly recignized you from yer othe SP's an what ya used like 5 values i heard that 5 or six is the way to go an not get lost
HAHA THATS FUNNY! i only have one crappy light for my living room an kitchen so i have to have it angled behind me an to the right so i can see my keyboard but lol'd it glares on ma screen an some times i forget an it throws me off but i usually ''bob an weavie'' got'sta have JUKES'

[Mischeviouslittleelf]

Hey dan!

Actually my favorite piece in here so far is that old guys face a few posts back. It really has a good bit of character, and it is quite an honest portrayal, these others are a little to smooth for my liking.

-E

[danlambert]

Quick self portrait from life. It's unfinished as I had to relinquish the mirror to my mum. About 40 minutes, I know I didn't mark out the structure or anything but I just wanted to draw the way I find easiest; start with an eye and work out!

Step dad is trying to fix the scanner as we speak so I should hopefully be able to scan my sketchbook later today, instead of these crappy phone pictures.

Another quick value self portrait to come and a colour portrait, plus at least one more of those scribbly ink things *Posting so I don't slack*

[SMILEFACE]

i like starting w/ the eyes too an' cant wait fer all that so ya better not slack!

[danlambert]

Scribble portrait, used a photo of me but the likeness is shit so I won't call it a self-portrait.
Don't like this one as much as the first, probably going to do another one in a few hours but much looser and quicker, might use charcoal if I can find some.

[danlambert]

Big pile of stuff. This is a selection of pages from my sketchbook from the last few weeks or so. Some bridgman and female form studies (which I've been trying to do faster/looser). A few lion sketches from life of a statue in the centre of town. Couple of portraits, some from life. Some poses from imagination, and some other stuff that I forgot about. Plus a few pages from my new browny recycled sketchbbok. Aaaaaand another self portrait value thingy. Not all that great, pretty crappy actually. Struggled just drawing it out for some reason, 2 hours or so.

Thanks, Peace!

[Nicky S]

whoah, that's a lot of stuff. :)
nice work with the sketches an studies. The sp are looking good, even though not all of them may capture your likeness, but the values an perspective,... are pretty decent.
Keep up the work man!

[danlambert]

whoah, that's a lot of stuff. :)
nice work with the sketches an studies. The sp are looking good, even though not all of them may capture your likeness, but the values an perspective,... are pretty decent.
Keep up the work man!
Thanks dude, I'm blaming likeness issues on drawing them out on a tablet (excuses excuses!), it doesn't feel anywhere near as comfortable as drawing them in pencil.



Finally going to stop avoiding it and have a go at some colour stuff tomorrow, so everyone be at the ready to pick them apart! I've been watching Janaschi paint on livestream and it's incredibly inspiring!

Peace

[dU5K]

awesome sketchbook. i cant believe how realistic your pencil portraits are. i say you keep on it. i cant wait to see more improvement.

[SMILEFACE]

THATS a freak'n WICKED UPDATE!!!!! them studies are GONZO'
i have a similar thing w/ use'n a tablet i have way cleaner controlled lines but you can always start w/ a pencil sketch if ya want an i've seen some people start on the computer print it an hand touch it an then scan it again .. the possabilites are endless

[danlambert]

Few bits and bobs, didn't bother scanning the studies.

Drawing was supposed to one of a few portrait studies, but I decided after a while I wanted to keep pushing this one so I kept going. Spent like 2 and a bit hours on it, probably try to finish it tomorrow.

Next is a colour study, the likeness is crap but that wasn't the aim so I just let it slide. Feel like I learned a fair bit, although next time I won't choose a reference with such yellow/orange skin tones. Going to try a nice pale skinned face tomorrow.

On an unrelated note; I think I may be infatuated with Scarlett Johansson


Peace!

[SMILEFACE]

Scarlett Johansson is HOT' an so is this update!

[danlambert]

Scarlett Johansson is HOT' an so is this update!

why yes, yes she is!

[Alternative]

Man post #184 is awesome, amazing work mate. You got a good sense for the figure I see =) Yes, yes. I am babling so that it seems like I got something inteligent to say! haha.
In all honesty though, I can see your great effort in all your studies. And that I admire a lot!

Keep it up! As always, I will be checking back mate =) I was out for a few weeks, but now I am back to being active.

Oh, thanks for the critiques on my sketchbook. I really appreaciate it!

[danlambert]

Alternative, thanks a lot man.

Having a go at an in depth colour study to try to kick start the knowledge, probably the wrong way to go, but I got caught up. Likeness has kind of gone, but I'll try to get it back
Few hours in.

Got some scribbly portraits and a Manet study to post up as soon as my brother gets of the computer with the scanner!

One quick thing I've been wondering about, do you think it's better to go for quality or quantity? Obviously it's best to have both but I find to get accurate drawings or studies I need to work much slower, which means I draw fewer things/poses. So yeah basically as I've only really just started studying, should I let the quality slide to do more? Will this be more helpful than doing more accurate but fewer drawings?

I think I'm thinking too much?

[snootchy]

Hey Dan freaking suhweet update brah!! Your hatching is superb, and luv the johanssen portrait sketch!

As for quality or quantity, i think it's important to have a fine balance. Personally i feel I learn the most from long studies, because you become really familiar with the subject your painting or sketching. I think the most important thing is always to ask yourself, Is what I'm doing improving the image or not? This happens to me to, where I can get stuck in little details or midgreys and take a step back and be like, 'that didn't do squat!'.
So i think it's important to realize what you're doing has an impact on the overall image, so take a step back, take a look at the overall piece see what is needed, what isn't and take it from there.

I think quantity comes after doing a lot of careful studies, I'd rather post one bomb diggity sketch over 100 low quality stuff. (I know I'm a hypocrite but in theory sounds good, hehehe!)

SSG 69 :heart: ARTGASMIC FORCE
Mission: To push our skills to evolve to the point of giving you visual orgasm.
[B]Eon (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=107005) l grenappels (http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=99577) l snootchy (http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=112991) l Peetaer (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=111899) l bleupencil ( http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=134180)

[danlambert]

Hey Dan freaking suhweet update brah!! Your hatching is superb, and luv the johanssen portrait sketch!

As for quality or quantity, i think it's important to have a fine balance. Personally i feel I learn the most from long studies, because you become really familiar with the subject your painting or sketching. I think the most important thing is always to ask yourself, Is what I'm doing improving the image or not? This happens to me to, where I can get stuck in little details or midgreys and take a step back and be like, 'that didn't do squat!'.
So i think it's important to realize what you're doing has an impact on the overall image, so take a step back, take a look at the overall piece see what is needed, what isn't and take it from there.

I think quantity comes after doing a lot of careful studies, I'd rather post one bomb diggity sketch over 100 low quality stuff. (I know I'm a hypocrite but in theory sounds good, hehehe!)

SSG 69 :heart: ARTGASMIC FORCE
Mission: To push our skills to evolve to the point of giving you visual orgasm.
[B]Eon (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=107005) l grenappels (http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=99577) l snootchy (http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=112991) l Peetaer (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=111899) l bleupencil ( http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=134180)

Thanks man.
I think I'm the same way, but that might just be because I'm used to doing longer studies/drawings. I can't really decide, so I'm just going to try to do more of both I think!

Moving house tomorrow. No internet and no TV (not that I watch it anyway) for at least a week I reckon. So should have no excuse for not working like a madman for most of the day. Expect lots of everything. If there isn't lots when I come back, feel free to nag the shit out of me!

Peeeace!

[Nicky S]

nice updates,
I'm having the same issue with finding a decent balance between doing in depth studies and doing more fast sketches and fast studies.

I agree with Snootchy on the learning part, but I think doing faster work, keeps the creative juices flowing. Hmmm... it's all about keeping the balance between quantity and quality.

But keep working your ass off, it's loking good. ^^

[hala]

hi hi, I asked the same question in my sb once. I think it is a balance, but it also depends on each day. Bust out a bunch of pieces, review them, see what your weaknesses are, and then spend some time doing long studies on your weakness. Lets say you draw a couple quick portraits out,and notice that your lips are never in proportion with the rest of the face, spend the next day doing some quality studies with lips and structure.

hope that helps :) your last few posts have been ROCKING :D

[Nele Klumpe]

The skintones in your last coloured portrait look pretty good! Maybe you can try to block in colours a little more and leave some brushstrokes visible.
About the quality/quantity thing:
I'd also say both is important. But when you do a quick study, do it quick. Don't think about details too much, don't render everything, but instead try to put everything in place and finish the whole thing on a not-so-much rendered level (gosh, my english sucks, I hope you get what I mean). Don't render some of it and leave the rest untouched. That would be a long study, hehe. Otherwise it's just a not finished long study, I'd say.
And when you do long studies, do them carefully and have an eye on the details. The quick stuff is important, because it's the base for every detailed picture, which are also important, to know when you're stuff really is finished. (Er yeah, I'm the right to say this, should practice careful studies as well *coughs*)

[danlambert]

Hello everyone, Just quickly checking in (managed to steal a wireless connection from a cafe in town!). All moved in, quick sargeant study I did yesterday. Likeness isn't all that great but imitating the strokes was fun. Also a quick composition change test for that illustration from a few weeks ago. I opened it up yesterday and had a quick play before I went to sleep/ Also made a few colour adjustments.

Thanks for the comments, I've definitely taken them onboard and hopefully that will come across when I can scan and post more stuff.

Thanks and peace

[SMILEFACE]

mang yer portraits are FREAK'N SCARY GOOD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Sorknes]

Whoa, I actually jumped a bit back when the last picture there got on my monitor. I think that means it was a good job, hehe.

Keep tuning the wheels. :)

[JS Neo]

Thanks for commenting in my SB and great stuff u have here !... I totally love ur pencil rendering. Very tight and neat. Ur skin painting skill is also getting really good. But i notice u havent really play on the color temperature which i think is really important in making ur painting more dynamic and alive.

Keep posting :D

[Alternative]

I totally agree with Grandmassa, your portraits are amazing sir :)

I love the expression on the guy's face on the illustration.

Keep it up! Can't wait to see more :)

(Free bump, yay)

[JailHouseRock2]

<3 Scarlett Johansson looking smokn' as ever<3

In fact all of your portaits are looking real good! like these! - http://conceptart.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=714480&stc=1&d=1246663088

Your illustrations going great as well, digging the rendering on the face!

Keep em' coming Dan!
matt

[danlambert]

Hello there, no arty stuff to post yet, left my pendrive at home (clever boy) quickly checking in to beg for help.

Please! It's driving me mad, I read these books as a kid and I can't for the life of me remember the damn names!

It's a series of books, story focussed around spheres of different materials engraved with a cross, and a boys search for them. I think he was part of a larger group of people who helped out.
I think there was some old building or hall that acted as refuse and by joining hands in a circle the dark could be kept at bay.
I'm not 100% sure but I think there was an element of time travel, although I could be mistaken .
I think the spheres were based around elements.
I remember at least one of them being located in a secret compartment in a fireplace, and possibly another one being located in the fire itself.
The spheres were mystical or magic or something cool. He was trying to collect them before some dark force could.
I also remember the boys brother sending him a large box at christmas containing some kind of mask or head that had antlers and may have been based on a stag. I think this image may have appeared as a cover on one of the books.
I think ravens or black birds of some kind were of significance and featured.


Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh :wtf: were they called!!!???

Please help me before i go insane.
We have to do a self-directed project next year for my illustration course and I would really like to do something based around these book/stories.

Heeeeeeeelllllllllllllppppppppppp!

Thanks for the comments everyone!

[SMILEFACE]

you have to think of other things like what year was it when you read it was it older than that year an google the $#!+ OUT OF IT ! TRY REMBERING OTHER THINGS YOU WERE DO'N WHEN YOU READ IT was it in clase at home ect you probably rember what its called you just cant recall it good luck HAHAAAHAAA

[danlambert]

YEEEEESSSSSSSS, fucking brain wave, the name just popped in to my head after an hour of unsuccesssfully goggling the shit out of every combination of words and phrases possible.

The Dark is Rising!

[danlambert]

Right, finally got to a scanner in the uni so I have a big ol' load of sketchbook pages. Not all of them as one page of studies is pretty much the same as another. I've been trying to work a lot more from imagination as I really wasn't doing it very much before. Also been trying to do more quick gesture scribble things.

Also decided that all the negative stuff I would write or say to myself was probably not helping so I'm trying to be more constructive there as well.

We have a danlambert study of a Manet study of Monet (not of his work, it's actually a inking of Monet). This is and always has been one of my favourite works of art, was nice to get to paint it again!

Skull study...because skulls are awesome. Learnt a fair bit about colour in this one I think, I spent ages trying to figure out the shadow colours and it turned out to basically be grey. The blue I was seeing was because of all the blues in the background.
Hoping to buy a replica skull soon so I can get some life drawing done!

I kept tweaking the illustration from before, trying to get the colours to sit better and get more of a focal point. Over did it on the face but I think it's working better overall.

Quick silhouette paint thing, and a lighting/rendering exercise I started last night. Just blocking in colours and values atm, still need to throw in some highlights and stuff. It's not supposed to be an illustration so I'm not worrying about costume or anything like that too much. All from imagination btw. Any comments or suggestions welcome.

[SMILEFACE]

WICKED UPDATE my fav is the orange silho but the're all pretty RAD'

[JParrilla]

nice studies.. solid stuff man! I like

[conti]

Man I really like the skull study you got goin on here.

[Nicky S]

whoa, what a massive amount of work!

Nice man, keep it up!

[snootchy]

this one (http://conceptart.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=724661&stc=1&d=1247658322) is siick dood, luv'n it keep working on this to a tighter finish, it's gonna be so rad!!

SSG 69 :heart: ARTGASMIC FORCE
Mission: To push our skills to evolve to the point of giving you visual orgasm.
Eon (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=107005) l grenappels (http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=99577) l snootchy (http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=112991) l Peetaer (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=111899) l bleupencil ( http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=134180)

[szaionz]

Whoa, big improvements in the last week. Really digging the hand studies.

[Ghostbrush]

Great to meet you Dan

FEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET

you know

Alex

[danlambert]

Great to meet you Dan

FEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET

you know

Alex

Back at you man, and thanks for giving me someone to bounce off me for a few hours. Woke up feeling refreshed today after finally having to talk to about to about that stuff.

AAAAAAAND, I did a full A3 page of feet as soon as I got home haha.

[Ghostbrush]

noice! I am doin perspective work right now!

comin life drawing later?

[danlambert]

Figured it was about time I posted something. It's not much, and it's not really all that great, but it's something.
I've been working almost exlusively in sketchbooks or cheap printer paper recently, doing gestures, and studies, head construction, faces, hands, feet. Everything I know I struggle wit Also been doing loads of life drawing in the city and stuff. Was lucky enough to meet up with Ghostbrush and Sunseaker last week and do some sketching. Basically just trying to get my drawing stuff down, and probably been neglecting my digital stuff more than I should. Unfortunately I don't have access to a scanner until the tutors at uni are back in in September so I can't post them up. I can't even take shitty phone pictures as my phone broke and my cheap replacement doesn't have a camera. I'm sure it sounds like a huge load of bullshit excuses but it's honestly not. I've been drawing so much recently that my arm and hand have been aching, and I thought I might have started to develop RSI or something.
Anyway, all I got is a few digital bits and bobs I've played around with the last few weeks, and a portrait I managed to scan before the studio was closed.
The still life is my first digital painting from life and despite knowing it's poo I can take a bit of joy in the fact that I can honestly say it's the best I've ever done! ha

I was planning on doing the latest CHOW over the weekend but friends are coming up to visit me in my lonely house so it's going to have to wait.

Oh, and if anyone hasn't bought the colour theory stream on demand thing yet; DO IT. I learned soo much it's not even funny. I know I'm going to have to watch it a few more times and take more notes to get the full out of it. But it priceless information people, get on it!
Really excited to start doing more colour stuff now I feel slightly less lost with it. I've decided I'm going to try to focus on book cover illustration and things like that for my final year at uni, and probably aim for it career wise. So I will be doing at least one book cover in the next month or so to try out some of my new found knowledge!
Anyway, I'm rambling now, but I'm feeling quite excited about everything so I can't really help it!

Was a rubbish photo to be drawing from for the portrait, not nearly enough shadows!

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a64/cheesecake11/girl.jpg

[Wasker]

Lovely colours and values in the last batch! :) I think the anatomy is abit off on the guy holding the drapery though, his forearm looks way too long.

[Ghostbrush]

keep up the momentum Dan, the motivation is great for both you and others, including me. lets push eachother and progress.

hope all is well this wednesday eve.

All the best from the big smoke of London town

Alex

[danlambert]

Wasker : thanks man, the anatomy probably is off to be honest. I was trying to focus primarily on the colour and not get too caught up too much in everything else, as I would have ended up spending waay too much time on it

Alex: You know it man.



Quick thing, just getting into a sketch of an old man or wizard or something from imagination that I'm starting to like. Old people are the best to draw, you can just put lines everywhere and it looks right! ha

[snootchy]

awesome updates dan, the sketch is tight (good tight hehe) and love the last one, free as a bird!!


TEAM Chönyid bardo! (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=164711)

LIVESTREAM PLAYAZ!
Hala (http://www.livestream.com/larissaclausedigiart)
Mr. Spect (http://www.livestream.com/MRSPECT)
Walid (http://www.livestream.com/walidart)
JailHouseRock2 (http://www.livestream.com/matthaworth)
Dwardo (http://www.livestream.com/oimooki)
Snootchy (http://www.livestream.com/snootchy)
aardvarkphil (http://www.livestream.com/aardvark)
jackpot anjr90 (http://www.livestream.com/andreart)

SSG 69 :heart: ARTGASMIC FORCE
Mission: To push our skills to evolve to the point of giving you visual orgasm.
Eon (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=107005) l grenappels (http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=99577) l snootchy (http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=112991) l Peetaer (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=111899) l bleupencil ( http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=134180)

[vayne108]

fantastic sketchbook!!!!

[jigje]

Fantastic portrait, awesome still life digi and cool headless guy man. You've been giving me such marvelous advice and its so cool to see you walk the walk.
Dude, I just stared at that portrait again. I really love it. Is it from life and if yes, how long did it take with the girl in front of you and do you refine it without her around after?
Are you going to render it out more?
Good to hear you've been drawing flat out. Look forward to seeing more Dan.

[MeticoloR']

Ho Man!! that's a great sketchbook you've got here!! Really like those faces they looks so alive!! Were did you study to draw faces like that???

[laxon]

Absolutley fantastic! Bravo, great attention to light, anatomy and texture.

[danlambert]

Ho Man!! that's a great sketchbook you've got here!! Really like those faces they looks so alive!! Were did you study to draw faces like that???

Thanks everyone!

Umm, where didn't really have much to do with it. I spent pretty much my entire highschool education drawing almost exclusively portraits. Every art project I did was portraits, spare time was more portraits, then got commissions doing even more portraits. So really just comes down to practise I guess. When you do them though don't just passively draw and copy. Try to understand what your drawing, why this shadow is here, or this highlight is there, the planes and forms and all that other good stuff. I didn't do that and regret is soo much now. Arbitrarily copying serves no purpose!

End rant!

[meticulous]

Freaking sweet updates man :D!
I'll have to check out that color thing - major weak point of mine - hell, I need to work on everything really :p But I really struggle with value and color a lot.
You made a great point there - copying is like reading a "how to" book - you can memorize it line for line but it's not worth CRAP until you APPLY it! I have done tons of pics just copying and didn't learn squat (because I wasn't paying attention or asking those invaluable questions).
Anyway - sorry for the Ramble :P - Awesome updates and keep em coming!

[danlambert]

Little update. I found a sketch I got scanned a few weeks ago that I forgot to post.
Aaaaaand some cowboy guy I whipped up earlier today. From imagination, which is why the hat and neck thing suck ass. Pretty happy with how the face is going though!


Also, I found yet another thing I suck at drawing... kids! Studies must be done
Peace.


Just previewed the post and the cowboy thing looks really fucking dark. How is it looking on everyone else's monitors. I just got a new monitor at home so I'm still trying to figure out settings and stuff, if this is anything to go by it still needs a lot more tweaking!

[Black Spot]

The comment where you said you were posting so people wouldn’t think you were slacking – don’t. Take some thinking time; this is for you, not a popularity contest. More faces with ears in detail, not half hidden in shadows or hair.

[danlambert]

Another version, although I think now the shadows look to dark. Fuck sake why can't all monitors look the same!
I realise that it's more than likely down to me painting it wrong, but I'm going to blame the monitors anyway.

[Mischeviouslittleelf]

Some good studies mate, just keep at them, and try to use more varied brush choices, play with it and find some cool techniques^^

-E

[Sunseaker]

Ah man, some mighty fine portraits in here :o Good to see the hand seems better. The tones on the second cowboy look fine for me, but then as you say, monitors are pretty variable. Remember to play around every so often too, drawing is ment to be fun right ;p

[ROCKNROLLA]

Awesome stuff! Very beautiful pencil work.

[dU5K]

haha. that headlss guy is pretty cool. he is headless right?? haha. and the scarlet johanson pieces are awesome (damn i hope i spelled her name right). well anyways. yea. nice updates. portraits are looking better

[vayne108]

Cool cowboy, I dig the mysteriousness of him!!!!!

[Marian Rowling]

Hey Dan I think you've got some beautiful work here. I really think that you are overcoming your drawing from imagination problems. I really like the man being grabbed by tentacles, his face is so real, it just jumps right out of the page at you. I can tell you're very skilled with your pencil and shading so it means a lot to me that you stopped by my SB. I shall be studying your shading to help improve mine. Thanks.

[danlambert]

Mischeviouslittleelf - Thanks man I will. I actually just downloaded m@'s brush pack thing so hopefully that should help!

Sunseaker - I thought I was playing around?!

kvanzant - Thanks dude

dU5K - He's only headless because I was too lazy to paint in the head. Woops.. Thanks man

vayne108 - Thanks, I dig his 'tasch. Wish I could grow one

Marian Rowling - Hey, thanks. I would love to take imagination credit for that particular face but I did use references. No where near good enough to pull that from the noggin yet, but I'll get there! Thanks again!


I grabbed my friends camera off him before he left and snapped a few photos of the sheets cluttering my desk in the immediate vacinity. Some are from weeks ago, some are from yesterday, was luck of the draw what happened to be near me. So think of these as a snapshot of what I've been up to.

1st 3 are charcoal life drawings, about 45 minutes each from the last few weeks sessions. I just started going on mondays as well so I'm finally getting to draw some portraits from life!

Next up is a sketch from a few days ago that began as a sketch of a mouth from my head, and ended up turning into pretty much a whole head. Although there's a shit load of mistakes, and it still looks cartoony/stylized/odd; I'm preety pleased with it.
Also got the old man sketch I mentioned the other day, also from my head. Was happy with it at the time, not so much now. But it's all learning.

Some hand studies and attempt at learning the anatomy, along with a load of quick faces from ref and some eye studies both from ref and from my head.

Some more recent, yet still rubbish head/faces and poses from my head

Loomis projection and perspective sketch. If anyone has been putting off learning the basics of perspective just bite the bullet and do it. I found it wasn't nearly as complicated as I thought it would be!

Next is some horrid figure sketch from ages ago that I really wish I hadn't put up

Next is a selection of between 30 second and a minute skethces from life of people walking about and standing about in Bolton town centre. I've been trying to go in as many times a week as I can and I think it's starting to help!

Lastly is some face sketch from my head while sitting on the steps of the town hall one afternoon. I know it has zero construction, but it was only supposed to be an eye sketch, then I just sort of kept going!


Oh, and I got my copy of Marko's Marvel book today and it's fucking sweet!

Peace!

[elgirafe]

Hey, great studies man, keep it up!

I think you could "let go" a little bit more, to bring more life and depth into your pencil pieces. Varying line weight and stroke speed, crosshatching, fading edges, you know, all that.

Yeah, I have def. seen robogabo's work and it just blows me away, very inspiring.

[Black Spot]

Nice update. The street people are looking good with life. Do your eye studies in pairs at all times, you'll get the distance and direction better.

[SMILEFACE]

WOW yer UNREAL GIVE ME YER MAGIC ALL YER MAGIC AN WHAT EVER MONEY YOU HAVE ER MAYBE ENOUGHF FER THE BUS ER JUST KEEP UPDATING MAOR!!!!!!

[SaintLConcept]

Sweeeeeetttttttt , nice sketches and paintings^^

[jigje]

Woah, sweet update dan, I reckon the drought has broken, thank goodness for your friends camera. Awesome faces as usual. If you post threats of violence in my thread again i"ll be contacting a moderator. :D

[danlambert]

elgirafe - Thanks, funnily enough I nearly always go into a drawing intending to do those things, it just never seems to end up that way. I shall try harder for sure!

Black Spot - I'm really enjoying the street drawing stuff, helps me loosen up a bit. Thanks for dropping the knowledge again, it really helps.

Art4All - Thanks man


Spect! - You have returned to us! I think the one with the magic is clearly you sir. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I have no idea how you do what you do but it's fucking sweet!

jigje - There was never a drought, just no cups to hold the water. I'll post violence where ever I please thank you very much, if you tell on me I'll get my big brother on you!


Uni studio is open again, so I can get to the trusty A3 scanner again! Which means I should be able to do some more digital stuff (I hate drawing with a tablet so I haven't really done any illustration stuff recently).
Been kicking myself up the ass recently about figuring out what I want to be doing and where I want to be going, and I know for a fact that it will involve colour. So now I can get to a scanner again and with uni starting back up soon there should be a whole lot more of it in my work. I really want to get back in to chalk pastels and oils but I just can't afford them right now so it will be all digital for the time being.
Also still having a lot of trouble with faces, especially children and female faces, I always try to put too many lines in and it just doesn't work that way. Did a bit of soul and internet searching last night (thank god for 24hr libraries!) and came across a few people that have given me a bit of inspiration so I'm hoping I can get my head around it soon. BUt anyway, that's a whole lot of text so yeah, art stuff.

Mostly portraits this time, A few are self portraits (I'm the guy with the crooked nose) all of which are from LIFE! I've been working almost exclusively from life recently and I'm really enjoying it, especially for portraits. They are mostly unfinished, mostly because of time with the model, or failed likeness. One I had to stop because I'd been sat in the same position for 3 hours and my back was crying. But enough of the excuses. Other stuff is whatever I found on my desk at the time when I was leaving, and I warn you, it's not pretty.


Oh! and I'm currently frantically saving to go to the CA workshop in Belrin this year, so hopefully see some of you guys there.

Peace!

[Nicky S]

Hey man, nice update, I like the hand studies and your portraits a lot. Glad to hear you can finally start using color once again in your work, I'm looking forward to seeing it. :)

I'm hoping that the CA workshop in Berlin takes place in a period in which I can go to the workshop, 'cause my teachers won't be pleased if I don't show up in their classes. :)

Keep it up man!

[jigje]

Bloody hell Dan, its just getting better and better. That 2nd shot, the extending away hand and the last sp are standouts. Sounds like you're really putting in, not just drawing but researching and all. Go for it man, the results are showing.

[Black Spot]

You're really getting to grips with the shading and it's looking great.

[tdHendrix]

You're really good at rendering fur and hair and I like your figure drawings. Nothing to critique really. You seem to know what you're doing :teeth: