XanaChama's House of Self-Achievements

[XanaChama]

Welcome to my sketchbook :) I am a college student and am about to finish my AA with concentrations in Graphic Design and Studio Art. I have trouble deciding what to do with my future because I like so many things and enjoy teaching myself languages and computer coding. Art is my passion and I want to thrive in that world. I spend a lot of time dreaming more than doing, I guess because there are so many possibilities in life and I have high expectations of myself. Being in front of an easel inspires me.

[Kfeeras]

You could write who you are and what you do ;-) And keep updating often!!

cheers

[XanaChama]

Portraits and practice with Photoshop. Some are not finished, but I learned a lot from the process.

The "fantasy" one with the flying girl is much older and is when I was learning Painter. The rest is much more recent stuff.

[XanaChama]

You could write who you are and what you do ;-) And keep updating often!!

cheers

lol I appreciate that! I'm horrible at talking about myself. Thank you :)

[XanaChama]

I didn't finish. I had stayed up over 24 hours before that and I had no idea what I was doing by trying to do an entire still life like that :P

[XanaChama]

Some things from my sketchbook, a few months from a year older than the rest of the stuff. More coming...

[XanaChama]

These are all from my sketchbook from everyday observation. The sketchbook is full, but I chose a few. Most of these were done at the mall.

[XanaChama]

More from my sketchbook...

[XanaChama]

And more.

[XanaChama]

Some more digitals

[XanaChama]

I attempted this tonight, but I still don't understand fully the concept of blending in Photoshop. I seem to be able to do it fine in tight spaces, but not so much in large areas. If anyone had some feedback on this, that would be wonderful.

[XanaChama]

Today's effort

[XanaChama]

Practice with anatomy from Andrew Loomis...

[XanaChama]

perspective practice...

[Helioth]

Hey, I like your stuff, Let's be friends ;D

Seriously though, keep going!

[XanaChama]

These are some sketches from our figure drawing class. This little guy is our best friend :)

[XanaChama]

Practice with pencil renderings

[sandeepbarot]

good work

[XanaChama]

Modification of a sketch of a photo as a reference for the facial structure.

[XanaChama]

Playing with rendering pencils on paper. Tried different degree of Derwent Graphic graphites.

[XanaChama]

Practicing digitally coloring with photoshop. Played with texture brushes.

[Janos]

Nice work so far. In some of your images, esp teh pencil drawings, the values seem to be pretty much okay. The digitals either lack any contrast (last one of #10) or are to harsh.
Try improving on that.
The texture in the last one could be clearer.

Cheers

[XanaChama]

Portraits.

[XanaChama]

Life studies. "Bethanie". Model is 5 months pregnant. :)

[the ANGRY filipino]

vERY nICE!
Love the toy dog and Ayumi!
latest updates look sexy to me, even with her bones showing..
Nice work!

[spaztastic]

Hey Xana you're line work is really beautiful, and your digis are coming along nicely. one crit on the digis though especially the faces, they seeming kinda flat, I would add some warmer tones in the highlights and cooler tones in the shadows to make them pop. also try experimenting with colors like magenta, gold, blue, orange to help get those skin tones to really pop. keep it up though you are progressing really fast. can't wait to see more digi's :D

[XanaChama]

Webcam digital

[XanaChama]

Hey Xana you're line work is really beautiful, and your digis are coming along nicely. one crit on the digis though especially the faces, they seeming kinda flat, I would add some warmer tones in the highlights and cooler tones in the shadows to make them pop. also try experimenting with colors like magenta, gold, blue, orange to help get those skin tones to really pop. keep it up though you are progressing really fast. can't wait to see more digi's :D

Yeah, I don't have as good color theory understanding as I probably should. That's part of why I'm taking the courses that I am. But that is good advice. I've seen work in other people's sketchbooks with rich rich saturated layers color that really make things "pop". I want that some of that kind of effect of my own work.

[XanaChama]

Hard at work. This isn't exactly how I would want it if it completely polished, but it is mostly a "gift" for someone. I did discover soft brushes in it though, so it's a "break through" piece for me :)

[spaztastic]

i think one thing with your latest digi would be to move her nose down to bring it closer to her mouth. also make the handle/butt of the gun more visible right now it is blending in with her palm too much. I really like how you did the hair. you are progressing quite well. keep it up.

[XanaChama]

i think one thing with your latest digi would be to move her nose down to bring it closer to her mouth. also make the handle/butt of the gun more visible right now it is blending in with her palm too much. I really like how you did the hair. you are progressing quite well. keep it up.

I kinda liked the nose the way it is. But I see it all now because I knew something special was going on with the face (now I know LOL). Perhaps maybe fix proportions but try to keep what I like about the nose? I'm having trouble motivating myself to change it since I already more or less gave it to the person I did it for.

You mentioned something about soft brushes in your own sketchbook... what is your impression, because I always read people exclaiming that "hard brush" is totally awesome and they usually lean more on those than soft. I couldn't figure out any other way to make stuff blend flawlessly. I realize it is about finding your own way, but at the same time I am a pain in the ass and I don't want to leave out any areas worth exploring. I don't put brush and hardness exclusively on 100% or 0%, they're usually somewhere in the middle depending on what I want to achieve.

My theory is make use harder brushes first and then use soft for certain areas. In this case, I needed to go for a more polished look, and only soft brush can achieve it? All thoughts welcome.

Thanks for your input, spaz

Edit: Yay! 2nd page!

[Lakka]

Hey, nice progress here.
The faces are getting better by the post. Keep it up!

[spaztastic]

Hey Xana I thought the nose was cute too, just off anatomically speaking. I get really nit picky about anatomy for some reason. ah oh well, I am one to speak, my stuff needs lots of work in anatomy :D but yes you are right.

Now as far as hard or soft brushes, in the end it doesn't really matter to much to me cause I use the blend tool. however i do prefer hard brushes for making the outlines crisper on the picture, mine always seem a bit too soft and fuzzy, so I end up using the hard brushes for that. I like using a softer brush to do the skin tones, again a hard brush for the details. mmmm other than that I just like to have fun. so I say as long as you are having fun and being productive who really cares about the brush. it's not the size of the brush (or in this case the hardness/softness factor) that matters it's how you use it :D sorry had to. anyway good improvement keep it up.

[courtyard]

Hah! Your intro post sounds just like me--I find it so hard to choose that I often practice French and Spanish while I do drawing exercises, and teach myself programming languages on the side ;)

I really love your stuff from life...you're really getting stronger by the day with graphite and the digital paintings from life are really improving--that webcam is incredible! Will definitely keep checking back.

[XanaChama]

This is in progress. It was supposed to possibly go on my wall, but I don't like the way it is cropped. The model isn't exactly cooperative either :p But nice practice

[XanaChama]

More gesture drawings and Anatomy studies of "Bethanie" (Except for the first one, that's Google). Model is now 6 months pregnant.

[throtailer]

Awesome progress yo

[spaztastic]

loving the webcam digi, shows a lot of improvement. thanks for the tip on the Japanese, mine is so rusty, not to mention I never got to grammar before I had to stop practicing...excuses excuses... anyway what program do you use for your language studies?

[XanaChama]

loving the webcam digi, shows a lot of improvement. thanks for the tip on the Japanese, mine is so rusty, not to mention I never got to grammar before I had to stop practicing...excuses excuses... anyway what program do you use for your language studies?

I was confused at first (as typical). I thought you asked what program i used for my life studies. LOL.

The webcam picture was a change because I used soft brushes. That's pretty much it. I'm going to try to use a combination of hard and soft brushes as well as work on my color theory. But I'm taking my time with it, since I'm taking courses in Painting and we'll be all over that.

As for Japanese studies, I think I've purchased well over $100 in books. But the real credit is just years of study. I've studied for 7 years and I have a best friend who I have had been friends with since 16 years old (I am 23). He is a big motivation, but I spent a lot of time really just tearing apart the grammar books that I own and learning the various ways to communicate. I just like languages... particularly, linguistics and computer languages.

I've got a good grip on the linguistic part of it, I don't have as much of a grip on the pronounciation and hearing. And my vocabulary bank is not as high as I would like it to be. But it's weird how that changes when I'm around someone who is a fluent speaker. If you ask me to switch languages while talking to an American, my mind refuses. I can do it, but not nearly as naturally as I would with a foreigner around.

I can read it really well, but I can't write hardly at all. I just never had any real reason to write with it. My friend visited for Thanksgiving in 2007, and I spent most of the time speaking Japanese when he was around. It actually was a little confusing for my fiance, but nonetheless, it was a great experience and I recommend hosting to anybody.

We don't communicate everyday, but we communicate often enough. He's an architect in Japan, but right now he is really being hurt by the economy... or probably his workplace, they're a bunch of greedy bastards. He's working everyday as well as going to vocational school on Sunday so he can finally get his license.

When we do chat, it's through e-mail or text message and not usually long correspondence. Sometimes I call him through phone, but it's difficult since he is always so busy and because of the work culture there. I could never bear working $10~$11/hr on salary and working way over 40 hours a week without being paid overtime... the laws are similar there, but are less in favor of the individual. As they said in Japan, "The nail that sticks up is hammered down". Foreigners do not do very well there, and there aren't as many as you would think.

[XanaChama]

I inked in what I had drawn on large paper using a photograph. I think I did an OK job. The lines are not perfect, but it's going to be a web graphic, so this will actually be smaller so the errors smooth themselves out. I'm not sure what to do with it. I'm hoping to put it on a background somewhere. Maybe pop art.

[XanaChama]

Wasn't the intention of this graphic, but giving those skin tones an old push

[spaztastic]

wow that really sucks for him, I have a friend over in Japan she is Japanese. She is going to school full time plus working I mean I don't think I have ever seen better work ethic from any one else. She is also the person that got me really interested in japanese, back in the day when I was obessesed with it. She is one of my best friends, I miss her so much. But yes I was able to speak Japanese much more easily when she was around me. now it's like pulling to teeth to even try to remember basic phrases, I mean I know how to ask for the potty and all. but as far as directions and actually talking no go.... I am thinking maybe I might spend some well placed cash in getting the Rosette stone in Japanese. I have used it before when I was in school, and it's very very good. i Still remember a lot more from Latin than I do from Japanese, and I spent more time and effort on the Japanese. 8 hrs a day for the Japanese vs the 2 1//2 a day on Latin.


I really like your inking skills looks very good. as with the skin tones.
add some blues and purples to the shadows, and oranges, pinks, golds to the highlighted skin. that should really make it pop. Can't wait to see this one's progress.

[XanaChama]

Well this is the shittiest color job and it would never pass my test, but I'm posting it because it was after an excruciating day of "testing" out things and well, it did NOT work well........

I went and got coffee and got frustrated, blah blah blah. But I wanted to post the attempt to show at least I was working on it. Please feel free to berate me. I will have a clearer head the next time I approach it. Right now, I'm just like.. ARGH, OVERLOAD. MEH.

[XanaChama]

My underpainting at school since I whined about my painting skillz in a thread I created. I see improvement.

The first three are the "before" step and the last is when I finished today.

[XanaChama]

Oil paint swatches, because we had a color exercise to make sure we could mix color. I did alright according to my professor...

[XanaChama]

Sketch while on the bus and something while inside a restaurant.

[courtyard]

Hey XanaChama--Thanks for keeping us updated! I definitely am very familiar with the "excruciating test day" myself. Part of the problem could be that you're jumping straight from a very simple (and excellent) black and white outline to a full color, 3-dimensional image. I can tell by your bag and apple painting that you have a great eye for value, so you could try working on things in grayscale first, then adding color on a different layer second. You could think of it as an extension of your underpainting training. ;)

[XanaChama]

Hey XanaChama--Thanks for keeping us updated! I definitely am very familiar with the "excruciating test day" myself. Part of the problem could be that you're jumping straight from a very simple (and excellent) black and white outline to a full color, 3-dimensional image. I can tell by your bag and apple painting that you have a great eye for value, so you could try working on things in grayscale first, then adding color on a different layer second. You could think of it as an extension of your underpainting training. ;)

That's a very good advice. At the easel, I tend to plan better. I've tried value paintings on the PC, but it's tough to decide what colors to use, etc. I'm still trying to get a feel for color in painting. Color pencils is a different story, but then again, you're working with a limited palette... but that is a good idea, maybe I should try getting at least 10 general colors from the start. It's challenging.

[XanaChama]

Practicing figure drawing to create something from imagination.

[XanaChama]

Playing with photoshop "inks"...

[courtyard]

Great update. I really like this new character! Tiny crit is that it looks like her nose and mouth are slanting to the left a bit and like her left eye (our right) is slightly lower than her right. The costume design is really interesting--if you're enjoying working on this image, I'd love to see it in color.

[XanaChama]

As per courtyard's request, I am starting to paint the last sketch. I like it, but I'm afraid I'll try to change it too much. Here is what I have so far. It has problems, but I'm impressed with how far I got with the facial shadowing. Much better than my last experience... lol

[courtyard]

WHOA! I was just popping in for a quick look but have to comment. Excellent work!! It looks like something clicked for you while you were working on this and I think you've definitely progressed to the next level with your art. :) One thing I've just noticed is that her neck is a little long. Proportion-wise (I'm still terrible at this, so don't look to my stuff as an example!) I believe that the distance from her chin to her nipples should be roughly the height of her head (excluding hair).

[XanaChama]

WHOA! I was just popping in for a quick look but have to comment. Excellent work!! It looks like something clicked for you while you were working on this and I think you've definitely progressed to the next level with your art. :) One thing I've just noticed is that her neck is a little long. Proportion-wise (I'm still terrible at this, so don't look to my stuff as an example!) I believe that the distance from her chin to her nipples should be roughly the height of her head (excluding hair).

All because of you, maams. I wouldn't have tried to color it in unless you had said something. Yes, I was going to at some point, but you made me sit down last night and see if I could start it. See, your comments matter ;)

As for the sketch, it lost it's proportion when I started modifying the face and I think her head might be a little smaller now. But I think I fixed the eyes. When I flip the image, she looks kinda swooshy which in some ways I like better. But her left eye looks really distracting. Maybe that's because of how loose the original sketch is since I had to rotate the image to get her head level. So I'll just have to remember to straighten it out as I go along.

It's sad that I have to be up in between 1AM-5AM sometimes get stuff out onto screen, but I'm getting better about that. Thank God my internet is working now though, I can watch movies.

[XanaChama]

I got all my assignments done for most of the week so that I could spend it working more on my art. I want to get back to work on that previous sketch, but in the meantime I am trying to make another attempt at gesture drawing. I'm getting somewhere I think :p

[courtyard]

Really cool to see you working out the form like this. I think you might get more out of these gestures if you try drawing the entire figure down through the feet. It's really helpful for getting a better sense of weight, balance, and movement. Great work...

[spaztastic]

Ohyaoo gozimas Xanahamasan....mmmm....
gotoku gamen gojushu kakiko kakou tame.
ichi hatsui yorime shi su chuukou nakushite kaku ka.

tata suku watashiwa gojushu kakiko. osoreohi kiki. gamba!

daro souninatta watashiwa mai suru umakuikanai kokugo :nohope:

[XanaChama]

I've been sick so I haven't had an opportunity to post my updates. Here are some everyday sketches. Some from life, some are not.

[XanaChama]

These are quick computer sketches while sitting in a Borders.

[Arenyth]

Great posts! Good to see you're really putting in the effort. I like how you tried to use the wacom on the easel, I always wondered about that but I dont think the wacom is even big enough to use on that, I always use my whole arm when drawing on an easel.
On the "failed" color experiment on your headphone girl, I think you're blending too early. Is the color and lighting coming from a reference or your head? Find the pure colors and lay them down, using 100 opacity, and then lay down the colors next to them, the shadows, etc. Work in big blocky shapes. Sorry if you knew any of this already. I really like how your latest girl is coming out (the greyscale girl with the bun) but I think the eye is distracting because she looks crosseyed. You need more white on the inner part of the eye. Her face proportion is a little off (her nose is very high) but its endearing, it makes her look younger.

[XanaChama]

Great posts! Good to see you're really putting in the effort. I like how you tried to use the wacom on the easel, I always wondered about that but I dont think the wacom is even big enough to use on that, I always use my whole arm when drawing on an easel.
On the "failed" color experiment on your headphone girl, I think you're blending too early. Is the color and lighting coming from a reference or your head? Find the pure colors and lay them down, using 100 opacity, and then lay down the colors next to them, the shadows, etc. Work in big blocky shapes. Sorry if you knew any of this already. I really like how your latest girl is coming out (the greyscale girl with the bun) but I think the eye is distracting because she looks crosseyed. You need more white on the inner part of the eye. Her face proportion is a little off (her nose is very high) but its endearing, it makes her look younger.

I'm not seeing what you're seeing with the eyes. I think I either might be numb to it or it might still be my old manga influences corrupting my view of anatomy. It's something I'm working on, since I am taking a figure drawing class (and have rented anatomy books/videos from the library). Her nose is high, yes, but it's so cute lol! I planned on reapproaching the face again when I had more time to absorb what has been said so I could take another look. I'll probably change some of it to try to get more of it to be realistic, even if I do like the dastardly nose a lot :p

In regards to the failed painting, I'm still lukewarm with color theory. I'm practicing it and picking it up slowly outside the sketchbook and know it's my weakness. I have great observation, just poor understanding of how to "feel" color (but with certain mediums, I don't have that issue). Nobody can teach me how to do that but myself I think, but I found that actually using the drop tool at least helps to see color relationships... I don't rely on it, but in practice, I'm at least able to look at the swatch and go "Oh, I know how that might've occured" or confirm a guess to confirm relationships.

[XanaChama]

A lot of perspective practice, this is just the most finished one.

Some possible changes with the mage digital, but are not final. Self sketch over for the anatomy trying to see what is right.

[XanaChama]

Whether I make an entry or not, I'm doing this week's CHOW... supposed to be an ancient astrologer version of Puss In Foot. Ancient astrologers practiced a lot of astrology, so it kinda ties into that whole mystical thing.

[bleupencil]

Nice SB - I love this drawing heaps, there is a really beautiful sense of movement in it!
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=614100&stc=1&d=1236579756

[kelly x]

Hi and nice SB, I just stopped by to say hi, hi.

[XanaChama]

My entry in this week's CHOW (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=152794&page=2). I didn't finish since I learned about it yesterday, but I'm very proud of myself. I love my little astrologer cat. Wish I had more for the contest.

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WIP

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[XanaChama]

Nice SB - I love this drawing heaps, there is a really beautiful sense of movement in it!
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=614100&stc=1&d=1236579756

Hi and nice SB, I just stopped by to say hi, hi.

Thanks for stopping by, guys ^-^ (Yay! I learned to multi-quote!)
**You have gained 50 EXP and now reached Level 2. Ink pen 2 acquired!**

Bleu, everyone loves that particular one. During critique, my professor asked me which one I liked the best, I said that one. He said "I like that one the best too." One of the senior artists there took me aside later and asked "You said you liked #2 (that one) right?" "Yes." "I do too" A couple of other people mentioned it too, so I was surprised. I was lucky on that one since I have been trying to work on my rhythm...

Kelly, welcome! You're having me think I might get overwhelmed by all these people stopping by LOL j/k Thanks for coming

I have updates, I just haven't moved them to digital yet. Probably tonight or tomorrow I'll have all the new stuff up there (there is a bit). I also have to work on this weeks' CHOW, but so far with how things are going and my schedule being full and having so much to do, I may not be able to put the work I want to put into it. So I don't know if I can actually finish it this week, but I'll participate again...

[XanaChama]

Mostly goofing off and drawing for fun. Relaxing. I like my coke can.

[Ruivo]

Xana, you are improving very well on the digital side!! Congrats! You'll have to tutor me when i reach that part. About the drawings, your values are very, very good, and your lines too, what i think it lacks it's the deepness. I recommend doing some studies from people like Burne Hogarth or Bridgeman they, do their drawings using boxes and cilinders for the inicial construction!!

Keep it up!!!!

[AsaB]

Hi! :) Nice SB, you sure are productive! I already see improvement from your first and last work. So if you keep that pace going, you should see serious improvement before you know it. Keep up the hard work!

[Arenyth]

I know what you mean with color, I was just told this week that my COW entry failed in the color category :\ It's good that you're not relying on the eyedropper, I try to pick the color myself, and then I'll pick the color in my reference and see how far off I was. It can teach you a lot about how many different colors are in life. And I agree, her nose is pretty cute, and not everyone has a perfect face, I think you should keep it.

[KLEVR]

Hey! You're making progress, i like to see all the analogue media being used, your figures are getting more and more proportionate and your sketching is already noticeably cleaner than the earliest posts. Keep it up! And the girl in the figure study three pics up is beautifully rendered. Looks really soft and feminine.

[KLEVR]

urt-- well maybe i said the wrong picture, it was one of the pencil studies i must've been on page two...

no matter, keep rockin it!

[Aaron Death]

Sorry for not coming until now, oops, oops, oops. Very nice pictures you got here. That astrologer cat is cute~

One thing that strikes me though, is that your nose is kinda cartoony. In some cases, it does make it cuter, but well~ It's sometimes too low, sometimes too high and sometimes too prominent. Oops. You can draw a constructin line from the outer corner of the eye to the tip of the nose. And you can think about the space between the mouth and the nose. Maybe it'll help~

Post MORE~~~~

Oops.

[KLEVR]

Eh? No posts as of yet today? Maybe lurk by later. I see you're using Painter and Photoshop. Which do you prefer? I have both and always am able to work faster in PS, Painter's opacity settings always throw me for a loop. Come by my SB and drop some crits when you get a chance

[XanaChama]

Massive update. This week has been hell, but I've been busy with things to do and my apartment was a mess... I needed a break anyway. There's some new stuff here. But my portfolio was needing to be put back together in my closet so while I was in there I took pictures of the recent stuff since I haven't had a chance... so here they are, since they were supposed to have been posted before:

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This is the progress on my second painting in Painting class. It's OK, the brown bag is the wrong color. My professor was really happy with it, and he said I was getting the hang of it.
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Study from a figure drawing book I have and some other doodles from objects lying around and faces from TV
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[XanaChama]

I knew I forgot something LOL

[IanE]

These are looking great!!!

I don't know if it's the photographs, or your hand, buuut... a lot of your stuff seems to be lower on the left, higher on the right, as if they're leaning. the bottles, the candle & fruit, and the vase, particularly. Hold 'em up in front of a mirror and see what you notice about them!

You're doing fine, keep knockin' it out!

[Ruivo]

Very good drawings, keep it commin!!! Perhaps some more anatomy studies are in order, but you have very good drawings in this last update!!


One thing, post smaller pics, it makes it better to evaluate ;)!

[XanaChama]

Asab: Thanks! I like to prioritize my art before everything else besides obvious things, but it's difficult when you're in the middle of a semester and have to keep up the pace. I finish my work early when I can.

ThinMint: I hear ya (about the CHOW). I use eye dropper rarely, but when I do, it's for studies. I try not to do it for final paintings so I can force myself to apply what I've learned. The nose is probably from a habit LOL... but in her case, it doesn't look too bad but I'll probably end up changing it a little.

KLEVR: I prefer Photoshop, but I have Painter. Painter has so many options that it kinda makes me feel unsure of what mediums to rely on. I can use the oils relatively well, but sometimes I like to use the pencils. I've gone back and done sketches with it occasionally, but the girl floating with the brown "dress" is Painter oils.

IanE: It's the photographs. I had to stand to the side to take them, or else they reflected from the charcoal. I'll probably hang them on the wall to retake them in better lighting conditions (they're reorganized so I can get to them now), these were nighttime in my apartment...

Ruivo: I'm getting there LOL I didn't pay attention to the picture size this time around and they were too tall. I try to keep them a max of 800~900 on each side

[XanaChama]

More updates

[Mat Kaminski]

Hey now... those are some kickin' studies you've got going on... I have to ask, are you prepping a new portfolio for personal stuff or for a class? :o

Just a quick question before I get back to werk ;)

I'll leave a better comment later lol!

[AsaB]

Those latest pencil drawings are beautiful! And there was plenty of great stuff in the massive update before that. Are you studying art full-time or just attending classes? Either way, you're producing a lot, which is good.

No crits this time, but looking forward to see more!

[XanaChama]

In class near a Wacom for a while, so here's a digital study of my drink...

[Ruivo]

Very well done, i find usefull not to have a blank background, try a dark cold grey for a background, it will help give some deepness to your paintings ;).

Maybe, checking the dvd's i recommended to Aaron, from Scott Robertson on shading matte surfaces. They have valuable info on values ;)

[KLEVR]

Like the close up hands and feet studies, your analogue values are quite good, i think you should try to push the values in your paintings digi and real media more. It seems as though you're a bit timid about laying in those darker areas when it comes to paint, your charcoal's have much greater range giving them more convincing volume.

Keep it up!

[XanaChama]

Further updates

Some are a little older, I forgot to include them in the last update. The rest is new.

[courtyard]

:O WOW! I go away for like a week and come back to one of the most bad-ass updates of all time. Where to begin? Those hand and feet studies are _spectacular_. They show confidence, grace, simplicity--just gorgeous. It's so exciting to see your confidence with value, light, and shadow growing with each post. The drawing of the door leading into the bedroom is really well done--you managed to give a lot of information with a very limited value range at your disposal, which isn't an easy thing. The gestures are looking good, but I think you're dwelling on contours a bit too much on some of them (as you know, I really struggle with this, too). Perhaps try forcing yourself to draw through the figure a bit more, concentrating on weight and tension and underlying simple shapes. Fantastic work!

[Ruivo]

The hands, legs and feet studies are very good, i want to see more of those!!
The gesture are cool too, but if you dont already know i will drop some knowledge that i saw on Rebecca Kimmel's Gesture class:

1- Get the direction of the head;
2- Get the direction of the ribcage;
3- Get the direction of the pevis;
4- Get the centerline of the body;
5- Get the flow of the limbs

For more information check this link! http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?t=253289

[Ruivo]

The hands, legs and feet studies are very good, i want to see more of those!!
The gesture are cool too, but if you dont already know i will drop some knowledge that i saw on Rebecca Kimmel's Gesture class:

1- Get the direction of the head;
2- Get the direction of the ribcage;
3- Get the direction of the pevis;
4- Get the centerline of the body;
5- Get the flow of the limbs

For more information check this link! http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?t=253289

[XanaChama]

Happy news! I purchased the (Large) 8 X 13 Intuos4 and was one of the lucky ones who snagged it under the incorrect pricing. It's all your responsibility to make sure I get full use of it. I'm serious, I need to step up my digital and get more ambitious...

You won't see too many updates from me in the next two days, I have an exam to study for on Friday and an assignment between then and now. Thankfully next week I have far less homework, two classes require no homework which means it'll free up my weekend which also I'll have plenty of time to catch up on my sketchbook. So stay tuned.

Matte_Art: Both, but some of these are studies on my own time.

Asab: Full time. We also have a figure drawing workshop outside classes that we are fortunate to be able to take advantage of. Put together by the artists in our area...

Ruivo: I understand and I normally opt for a nuetral color background myself. In this case, I was happy with the plain white. I knew I wasn't going to have any time to put in highlights and I didn't want to deal with that much of a value range for a quick 30 minute study. So I just went with the method that was less time consuming for quick studies.

Thank you for the gesture links by the way and the tips, it will come in handy.

KLEVR: I don't know, I feel more shakey in color. In my digitals I never push them quite far because they never get to the point of done. I am worried about messing them up or messing up the colors because I'm still not at that point where I'm fully comfortable with it. I need to go head in I think.

courtyard: LOL I doubt it's the most badass update of all time, because I know there's gotta be people who update more compulsively. The assignment with the door into the bedroom was actually to sit in a dark room and draw the space in another. Working with a book light in a closet with an easel somehow setup in such a tiny space was not easy... also couldn't see my drawing box :/

My gestures need a lot of work. They're not posted here, but I have been working on them in my sketchbook at random and it is sometimes a struggle to feel that form and nail it. You're probably right about the contours, so I will try looking at it and thinking about it the way you mentioned. I'll try a little harder, thanks. Gonna give Ruivo's links and google a try as well...

[Aaron Death]

Wow, your charcoal drawings are great. Oops, your line quality is amazing. I never use lines very confidently. I'm much better with value and paint than lines. Oops. Like your charcoal. Post more of them.

I don't know why you don't like charcoal paper. That drawing of the lake with trees is great.

[XanaChama]

Wow, your charcoal drawings are great. Oops, your line quality is amazing. I never use lines very confidently. I'm much better with value and paint than lines. Oops. Like your charcoal. Post more of them.

I don't know why you don't like charcoal paper. That drawing of the lake with trees is great.

The drawing of the lake is on Canson (which is still technically charcoal paper), it's just on the rougher side. Our professor recommended it for landscapes because it produces a 'blurrier' textured quality which suits atmospheric perspective better.

The charcoal pads, to me, don't blend nearly as well as the Canson. The Canson also seems to almost infinitely hold up to erasing and the quality of the finished product seems much higher. You can see the details better and the information is just much clearer. It's more expensive, but for a finished product it is worth it. I don't know what else to say, I prefer it over regular pads...

[XanaChama]

Some sketches from references and observation. And painting practice. Took a really old file and went over it to see what I could do... Need to sleep. zzzzz

[XanaChama]

This week both my art classes have no HW due to midterms (portfolio review). So I am taking extra initiative this week for figure drawing on my own. My professor told me to focus on my core shadows, so that is what I am doing.

P.S. Sorry it's porno...... but their models too right? LOL

I've made a couple of mistakes, but I gained a lot from it, so I think it's sinking in. This helped while I was working:

Some random drawing with core shadows in black (http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4hvNOtivo6Q/R0-KOQydrQI/AAAAAAAAAIg/lNHzOD-NDW0/s1600-R/nov2907-10-02.jpg)
A page from Andrew Loomis, oooooh... (http://www.fineart.sk/photos/figure/066.JPG)

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Process:
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[Aaron Death]

Wow, thanks for the link. You can check out AztcFireFlower's Sketchbook, some of her drawings have a very dark shadow line.

Anyway, I never draw this way, and I simply don't know how. Oops. I don't like lines anyway~

Oops, the middle line on the second drawing seems a bit off. Oops. Should be higher. Oops/

Oops. Anyway, what school are you studying in, anyway? You seem to have some very good courses~

[XanaChama]

I have some updates, I haven't had time to take pictures of them. Will get to them soon

[Ruivo]

Nice, figure studies and the digitals are getting better and better! I like the ones with figures!
Keep it going! ;)

[XanaChama]

Been feeling ick past couple of days, so not much time on the 'puter. Here are my updates, there's some more but I'm trying to remember where I put them :/... First one is neat, because it's on Painter Sketchpad that I downloaded for my Intuos4 ^_^. So far so good, but I'm still resetting up all my shortcuts and getting used to the new software. The last was a real struggle because I changed charcoal and didn't realize how juicy it was and spent about an hour cleaning up the mess :P... but it came out pretty good, I got good instruction from my professor and looked at doing a couple more things...

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[XanaChama]

Aaron: I am studying at a community college, believe it or not. I haven't decided where I am going after... it depends on whether I stay in Maryland or not, so who knows.

You should focus more on your lines, just because it can make the difference between whether you connect to a piece or not. Really, all things do. But mark making is so important... it speaks for the piece I think.

Ruivo: Not to be redundant or contradict you, but my digitals definitely could be a lot better LOL. The color theory stuff though is starting to click, I'm noticing it in my paintings in class, which I didn't upload this week. There's just so much ground to cover and I know I have a lot to improve on... you guys can tell me to get off my butt and make use of my Intuos4--which I am still getting used to!

This is not my composition, it is from a book. But I'm still working on core shadows, figures, etc...

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This is not from a book :p
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[courtyard]

Beautiful updates--these gestures have *so* much more confidence and power than your earlier ones. The first image is fantastic--I'd love to see more in that sparse style. Love the final one, too, but the foot is a bit distracting. ;) Also, the perspectives of her shoulders and breasts seem to contradict each other *slightly* to me, but I could be mistaken...awesome work.
*/edit--oops! you updated too fast for me there--my comments were referring to the previous post. I'm really liking the book study image in the latest post, though her right arm and head look quite a bit more cartoony than the rest of her.*/

[XanaChama]

Beautiful updates--these gestures have *so* much more confidence and power than your earlier ones. The first image is fantastic--I'd love to see more in that sparse style. Love the final one, too, but the foot is a bit distracting. ;) Also, the perspectives of her shoulders and breasts seem to contradict each other *slightly* to me, but I could be mistaken...awesome work.

No you're right. I didn't have time to fix the shoulder :p The gestures are getting better, but still trying to feel the rhythm in the line. Trying to focus more on movement and energy like you said...

*/edit--oops! you updated too fast for me there--my comments were referring to the previous post. I'm really liking the book study image in the latest post, though her right arm and head look quite a bit more cartoony than the rest of her.*/

I was thinking that before I posted it, I think that's the artist's style. I pretty much copied their study. I like the way they shade their work.

[Ruivo]

Reallly nice update! Keep them coming!! ;)

You are using charcoal, i'm i right?

[Aaron Death]

What? You got a Intuos4? How does that feel like? Is it very different from Intuos3?

Nice gestures. The shading on the brown paper one looks kinda wrong. But I think you already know that.

Look forward to seeing your paintings~

[kelly x]

XanaChama, Wow girl you've got some keen skills, I really love the studies, good and hi!!! What's this AsaB is in your SB group??? she's a great nice one too!!!

[XanaChama]

Life drawing out in public
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Sketches of models from this website (http://justbeautifulmen.blogspot.com). A good source of high resolution images of boys :p.
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A photoshop sketch. Got a little tired during this one, but was nice to sketch with the new pen and get used to it...
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I'll reply to everyone's messages when I get back up. But for now, sleep time ^^

[Ruivo]

Very nice studies, i recommend more life drawing!! Keep it up!

[XanaChama]

This is from a photograph of models representing an old painting. Go figure lol

[courtyard]

The life drawings in public are fantastic--I'd love to see more of those. Are you striving for anything specific with the latest photo studies? They look a tad on the rushed side...you might gain more from taking longer with less complex subjects. Drapery seems to be a factor in both of them, for example, so you could try hanging a sheet from your wall and drawing it in different arrangements...
Your work ethic is inspiring! Great job.

[Pigeonkill]

She has a cute expression on her face, I like it.

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=632486&d=1238365442


On this drawing...her nose is missing. It's buried in the dark values...it scares me.

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=636283&d=1238729384

[Aaron Death]

Haha, that male photo website is great, though I prefer pretty girls~

Nice studies. The nose of the man seems to be a little high on the last drawing. But still. it's great.

Keep up.

[XanaChama]

BTW, are any of you fine people on twitter, either courtyard or SSGX? I started using it since I kept hearing about it and I'm like "What's the big deal with this?" So I caved and signed up for an account. My user is the same as this one FYI...

I use Facebook as well. I thought it would be kinda neat to keep track with sketchbooks outside CA, in a more casual manner. It's just an idea...

Ruivo: Yes, in a lot of my updates, I have been using charcoal. Specifically, I use Conte 2b (not Conte Crayon), napkins to blend, and Generals charcoal pencils on either Newsprint or Mi Teintes paper (expensive paper!). I use charcoal pads in class.

Aaron Death: I was going to point you to the thread, but you found it LOL I was going to upgrade anyway, so I waited for the 4. I was getting all worked up for about two weeks because I was so excited... I would say the upgrade is worth it! Especially the larger size ^^

Kelly: Thanks! ^^ Yes, AsaB is here. She is awesome ;)

courtyard: It is, I didn't realize what I was getting myself into LOL. I'm gonna use a less complicated photo later like you said.

Pigeonkill: Hey! Yeah, I was focused on the rest of her so I just blocked in her nose and the model was already finished.

[courtyard]

Hey Xaners--I am woefully behind the times, I'm afraid, and am on none of the above. If/when I am, I'll be sure to let you know!

[XanaChama]

courtyard: Aww :(

Well. Here is today's update. ^^ Using Painter sketchpad... neat program!

Edit: Added another image.

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[Ruivo]

Hey Xana, i use facebook, and can get the twitter so send me a pm when your up for a chat( i suppose its a chat program). My name on facebook is Miguel Maurício Ruivo so search me out ;). Yeah i was with the idea of posting my sketches on FB for while, i guess i will do it then ;).

As for the studies, they are very good, if you want more resource on models and stuff here is kevin chen's website that is full of free HD photos of models:
http://www.characterdesigns.com/

[XanaChama]

I think I need to look at more videos to speed up the process a little... this is as far as I got with my photo study but it wasn't the greatest picture :/

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Added a color layer. Never did that before :p
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[KLEVR]

what's the difference between painter and sketchpad? Is sketchpad only dry media like charcoal pencils chalk etc? I think the values in these studies are better than your earlier digi works. Maybe you should try this meathod to establish a base drawing to paint on top of? Hope you're loving that Intuous4!!

[Aaron Death]

The last painting is awesome. It's actually a lot better than your previous one, love the clean style. Anyway, some of the dark values don't go too well with the hue and saturation, and it looks kinda muddy though. Are you doing a photo study? If so, you can paint over the photo to see if the color's right(of course, undo after that).
This is the best technique for understanding that David Briggsy taught me.

Anyway, what's your facebook name? Mine is Aaron Wang. But I don't look into very often~

[XanaChama]

Worked a little more on that painting. Will add more comments later ^^ A friend is visiting from Houston and staying with us until Saturday, so I probably won't have many more posts until that point :)

[Aaron Death]

The value of the face is generally more blended, though. Maybe work on the gradation between the planes a little more?

But the texture of the jacket is so awesome. It looks a lot better when you boost up the contrast.

[XanaChama]

More work before I have to go to the airport!

[Mat Kaminski]

That's lookin great Xana :D

I'm loving the texture work and detail on the leather you got going. Hair looks really nice too... Only flaw that I can find is that there is something odd about the way the face looks at that angle. Is it from ref or from head? :)

Keep going though, I can't wait to see this one finished.

[Aaron Death]

Nice work, it is coming along very well.

You might want to work more on the mouth and chin though.

[courtyard]

Ooooh! That leather is looking fantastic...really good job with the texture. I'm not quite understanding where the ladder-like shadow on the center leather panel is coming from, though, since you have such a bright light source above...

It looks like you're just focusing on the outfit before you move onto the head/face, so will wait for crits there. ;)

[XanaChama]

Yay, I have time to work on my painting :)

[XanaChama]

Matte: It's from a reference, but I corrected it closer to what it is now, so you can give it a peak

Aaron: :P

courtyard: Thanks. I focused a little more on the face, it was bugging me.

[Aaron Death]

Oops. Now the painting looks so awesome. Are you gonna color it or drop it?

[XanaChama]

Some quick figure sketches/studies/go to sleep artwork

Aaron: I'd need advice on coloring it. Probably color layer and then work from that? I'll probably try to learn the steps off of it, but I don't think I could make a polished piece with it. I plan to finish it in black and white.

[Ruivo]

The painting is looking great!!!! Really like it!

[XanaChama]

More figure sketches, but of my cat. When she would stay still.

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[JailHouseRock2]

Hi Xana, wonderful book you have here,
Your digi's have come so far, there really looking good, Love the life drawing/studies too!
Great strokes on the cats above, are they done with charcole or pencil? they look awesome:)

One crit though, is with your some quick figure sketches, there are a little to meny scratchy lines. So try useing less lines and still getting the basic shape on the figure.

Just a thought,
matt

[spaztastic]

Love the updates, missy you just keep improving with every single post. keep it up. I can't wait to see more !!!!

[XanaChama]

I don't like the costume, but I'm brainstorming. Probably will go searching the web for some ideas, but for now, it's a little closer to something this far... some places are just paint ins, this is all going to be a lighter color with specific dark areas.

[Ruivo]

WOOOT char concepts!!!!!!! GOOOOOOOOO!!!


The cats are sweeeeet! ;)

[XanaChama]

Sorry if this is large, but right click and click view picture or whatever option you have there to "zoom out".

This is a SPEED PAINT. Which means I don't intend to really polish it or finish it. It's a very old sketch. I can tell you already there are a million problems with it. But!... I like the unfinished look and it pleases me to get joy out of the process. That was mostly what it was for. ^_^

[kelly x]

Hi Xanachama, I think you've come a long way on your paint work, I really like whatever texture you've put in the hair, I see a problem on the girls eye placement and a little wonky with her nose lining up. they are a beautiful cool couple, I also think the one in purple's hair is very large at this point, can't wait to see this finished!!

[Pigeonkill]

Whenever I see your avatar...it makes me think of the character Trinity from the Matrix. I have no idea why.

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=641523&stc=1&d=1239249919

The lightening on this is pretty good. I think the side of her face the cheek side is a bit too smooth almost like it's being pressed against glass.

[XanaChama]

More updates.

This one is a quick portrait sketch while eating at a restaurant of my friend who was visiting.
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This is while studying an eye in a tutorial--it's OK. And a horrible portrait that looked better before I did too much to it and forgot to put it the ink on a separate layer--ha
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[XanaChama]

Some more before bed. Hey courtyard LOL

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[courtyard]

LOL--sorry...I peeked in last night but was beyond tired, so I decided to spare you of an incoherent comment! That latest image is really strong...are these digital? I wonder if it might be even more striking if the black is left rough and the red that you trace over it is more solid/vectorish? Also, being more selective about your reds will make them all the more striking, and will really draw the eye to specific areas that you want to highlight. With your life sketches in general, if you're shooting for realism, try playing with line weight and edges, even leaving some areas without an outline (check out Elwell's Edges tutorial (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=51913) if you haven't already). To help you along with the clothing for your lady in 133 (still really loving her, btw), you could try concentrating on what its function is. Right now, for example, she's very much dressed for sitting and not working, which could be great to develop further if she's meant to be royalty or some other brand of blue blood. If she's a fighter, make sure every element of her costume allows for as much range of motion as possible...etc. Great work! Your cat is adorable. ;)

[Izer]

Pretty cool SB, from what i ve seen, your digital is far better then tradish but still very good, and nice improvement from first page to most recent as well. Keep it up.

[XanaChama]

I've been kinda burnt out lately, but in general. It's probably health related, since I woke up this morning with a mountain of fatigue and fortunately only some pain. I'm just hoping I don't feel this way before Painting I tomorrow, because working under massive fatigue is never fun. Almost done...

I worked on this yesterday and I had the opportunity to paint it a couple of times, so I had some thoughts of what I want. But I'm terrible at design, it's something I've been trying to get better at.

Courtyard mentioned possibly looking at whether she should be sitting or standing. Well in this case she's not dressed for war, but for "her duties" I guess. But I've thought of that, do I want her dressed more actively?

Anyway, I like the rendering of the folds and such. I might imply more of a turning form so that the figure looks 3d. But at the same time, I also am not 100% on what the final costume will look like. I might just finish it and consider it a good attempt, but I'm imagining something in my head (which is more a feeling) and not really conveying it properly into the design. So I'm working out mentally how that's supposed to work and trying to get some of the art done.

The joints, the arms, I want to imply that they're underneath the cloth. I've found some references (some rather vague ones), but I'm not going for any specific thing. I just want to translate that there is a figure underneath the clothes. Right now, it just seems like her clothes are really thick. In my drawing, she was more or less swooshy (and extremely tall). So in fixing her proportions, I think I might have lost my original sketch a little. But that's OK, if I can get the figure to a point I like, I'm not really concerned that it looks 100% like I want in my head... more that I can get a successful concept out so that I feel comfortable with it later on.

And something about the size of her head is throwing off the whole form. I could've swore that I fix it. But everytime I do, I go back and it still doesn't feel right. :/ The arms too. Hands are in progress. I think her face looks too round for her figure, I think that's what it is... gotta fix that!!!

[XanaChama]

Working on it a little more. Also working on my blog layout and I've had some random doodle practice, but nothing substantial. Here is more progress on the concept painting. I feel like I am finally starting to break it in a bit more! The figure is somewhat wonky, but I just flipped the image and am trying to balance it out...

Wish I had the level of control in real painting that I do in oils LOL. I felt that way in Painting today. I was worn out today, I took a nice long nap...

[XanaChama]

Still fixing the figure. I checked against loomis proportions. Could've swore 8 heads was super hero proportions? Thought it was 7 1/2 ~ 8 heads.

This is flipped BTW!!

[pencil1]

8 heads is the "optimal" human ;). Most people practice the 8 head formular.

That Last figure ist cool.. Though.. Whats wrong with her right hand : D? It seems like its floating besides her dress ;).

[spaztastic]

this is looking good, a pointer, her eyes mainly her right, the bottom lid is sagging a bit. the divet under her nose is a bit to wide at the top, and her hands need work. but other than that she is looking great. can't wait to see this one finished. Keep it up. :D

[XanaChama]

Roaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar!!

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..........
..........
..........OK, really. [/dork moment]

This is what step she is at. I'm not too happy about the eyes. I liked the unique-ness of the original so I'm gonna try to merge between the two. I'm at the point I'm making sure she's all symmetrical and stuff. This has been very good practice.

Oh, and congratulations to Ruivo for getting and successfully installing his Bamboo >_</ W000T! Now he can have Photoshop wins~

[Ruivo]

Hey, most of the work was done by you so i can't thank you enough for the time and patience!!!

On with your piece, i cant really comment because not i'm not to keen with proportions yet but i dont have enough experience.

Keep changing it untill you like it!!! For the piece why not use reference from some african-american womans? ( i say this because it seems to me that you are pointing towards it).

Keep it up!

[Aaron Death]

Haha, I like that last piece, very smooth shading on the face. Anyway, if I were you, I would use a stronger value, but, I don't know if that's what you wanna achieve. Hahahaha~

Nice work. Love the cat drawings, (she/he) is a really cute cat~

頑張れ！

[XanaChama]

Pastel. Used to be good with the stuff, but I haven't touched it in ten years!! One of the shots is with a webcam, my camera is charging... :/ Maybe I'll retake it later.

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[XanaChama]

I'm beginning to notice a posting pattern around 3:24-3:34AM in the night :p

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[Sorknes]

Very nice stuff here, Xana :)

Seems like there's a bit difference between your digi and trad stuff going, mixing them might get you stronger :) Some of your trad stuff seems a bit scratchy but at the same time your digi work seems to be uber smooth.... A mix might be good :)

Great work, keep cranking!

[XanaChama]

This isn't finished. I'm working on core shadows, but I should probably look at references to get an idea.

[Ruivo]

Nice work on the shadows, keep it comming!! ^^

[courtyard]

Pastel. Used to be good with the stuff, but I haven't touched it in ten years!!

Whoa! Literally the exact same thing for me! Ten years ago, it was all I used. I tried it a couple of months ago and produced a mud scribble. Wasn't my first post in here about how much your intro sounded like me? lol

I love how simple you've left this one (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=650293&d=1240125776)...maybe force yourself to approach a life drawing or two with the same minimalist approach.

[XanaChama]

courtyard: Apparently! I like your advice, I think I will take your suggestion. I have to take more of what has been said to me at school here at home and work on it. I think I might be going about some things the wrong way, so I'm trying to take a hard look at my work at the current stage...

Oh, apparently "Nu pastel" is what everyone is using. I thought oil pastel, since that is what I remember most using :/ Fortunately, I have some nu pastel (it's a soft/firmer form of pastel) already, I just never knew to use it. I figured it was used in layers, since it is rather dusty and I never thought of it as permanent media. I gave it a try. It's not Prismacolor since I had to borrow it from someone else, but even the cheap kind produces a neat quality... the colors are a little over the top though, but are useful for some things.

Sketch with vine charcoal
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Sketch with pastel
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Oil painting I am working on at home ^^
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[XanaChama]

BTW, in case anyone is interested, I took some photography of some areas around here that I thought might be useful references or even perspective study. You can download the full resolution files from my Flickr, I just thought they were kinda neat and wanted to share them here. I'm a rather amateur photographer LOL, but there are some interesting shots:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/maruichan/sets/72157616636326253/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/maruichan/sets/72157616636361337/

I particularly like the perspective and architecture of the buildings in Baltimore. Download some of those in higher resolution, because the thumbnail doesn't do them service. You can see a lot more detail in the original file.

[courtyard]

I *love* the blue shadows in your pastel piece--looks like you've found your way back into that medium without a hiccup. The oil painting is starting out strong, too...

And can I just say...Oh. My. God.

your cat: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3344/3451197049_16c5806f67.jpg?v=0

my cat: http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/248/93545117.jpg

lmao

[XanaChama]

courtyard: That's actually my mother-in-law's cat LOL. I sent her the links and told you you were amused. Kinda odd that the tattoos on their faces are reversed too.

Update of the painting. Getting there~ Her hair felt too big before, so it's all being re-fixed again. I'll probably add accessories or something like that closer to the end. I don't like the new eyes at all, but I was using an eye tutorial and trying to learn LOL!

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[Ruivo]

the pastel and oil work are niiicee!! The eyes are a little strange on the update but maybe that's me...

[XanaChama]

the pastel and oil work are niiicee!! The eyes are a little strange on the update but maybe that's me...

Yeah, read my captions. I already explained why and said I hated it too LOL. I was following an eye tutorial, but there's a version before that that I liked better. I'm probably gonna erase that part of the layer and start over maybe?

[XanaChama]

I thought this was interesting to document. Kinda did it by accident so started to "peel" some layers away. You can see how it's painted and minor adjustments here and there.

Someone's gonna skip that first paragraph and critique it and be like "What's all that other crap floating to the side? You should probably reattach her face" etc LOL I'm poking fun. But it's true.

[XanaChama]

It's crazy what minor adjustments to eyes will do to an image. Maybe I should start wearing make up :P

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[XanaChama]

A little more along with values, rendering, adjusting, details, so forth. I'm noticing she feels like she's leaning forward at her boobs and neck, so I should probably fix that or at least make it more natural... yet another artist preconception broken.

[So-naa]

You have an awsome skill at realistic men. Your women are back and forth. Some are very realistic like your lovely leathered lady. While some go on the other spectrum. I love all your character studies of the one above! I think there might be a look of forward because the top of her collar is very curved so it looks like we are looking down more. I didn't see anything wrong with the breasts?

[XanaChama]

You have an awsome skill at realistic men. Your women are back and forth. Some are very realistic like your lovely leathered lady. While some go on the other spectrum. I love all your character studies of the one above! I think there might be a look of forward because the top of her collar is very curved so it looks like we are looking down more. I didn't see anything wrong with the breasts?

You are right. I meant that general area looked wrong, not particularly the boobs need to be adjusted, but might have not said it rigt. The boobs look correct once I look at the collar and fix it. It's just the illusion was there because of the collar. I had a feeling I had to be specific, but I was being retarded and didn't clarify.

The irony in what you said about men was that I really spent most of my time drawing women in the past. I very rarely drew men. I think it might be true that I'm heavily influenced by other art I imitated in the past (i.e. manga, animation, etc) and the things I seem to do well right now are things where I don't have any misconceptions about it. I feel like I'm going through art detox just trying to get everything in order. I think that's the challenge for me right now, but I'll figure it out.

[So-naa]

I think you are doing a great job! I couldn't tell that you imitated manga or animation in the past and I envy you being able to do men. I want to start practicing them more >.<!!

Oh you know what you want to do, so don't worry about how you described the boobs. LOL. I was just letting you know they looked great:)

[XanaChama]

Here's what I have. I don't have the painting again yet, because I'm working on it and I don't feel like posting it with more detail work. I'll post it again when it's significantly progressed.

HB Charcoal pencil. My SO was in a funny position while sleeping, so I decided to sketch him. :P I should have made his foot bigger, but it's mostly accurate.

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Practice shading sketches from a book I have. I was trying to copy the image. I liked his method, so I think I will give it a try again later. Graphite and then some of the Derwent Graphic pencils.

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[So-naa]

Lovely! The eggs feel very substantial :)

[XanaChama]

Had fun trying to replicate rubbery/latex material. I turned on the wet brush function in PS, and it seems to more accurately help lay down the colors for that particular task. At least it seemed to.

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[So-naa]

Wet brush function? Do you mean wet edges?
It turned out well especially around her rumpo.o

[Mat Kaminski]

Heya again Xana... it's been a little bit outta me, but skewl's finally over!

Okay... firstly: you've been doing more and more, looking good. Keep working on those core shadows you had above.

characterdesigns.com has a great section for some reference shots on core shadows.

Also, the even though the anatomy on the one above is screwy, the texture of that latex turned out great!

Sorry this is quick, I'm just putting in my quick 2 cents lol.

[DStraX]

hey. latex thing looks good, try to looks at the colors around her and add some reflections of the color from her arms and hair ;)

[XanaChama]

Updates are scarcer than I'd like. I'm having health problems again, but I persevere yet! Here is a quick sketch for tonight:

[Mat Kaminski]

Poor lady... I hope things are going well for you.
Take a break maybe? You needn't make things worse by overworking yourself if you don't need to. :)
Boost up some Vitamin C and try and relax (I don't know what kind of health problems it is, but this might help you?).

[XanaChama]

Matte_Art: No, unfortunately nothing like that. It's kinda hard to relax right now when it's the end of the semester, but I'm holding up as best I can. I appreciate your concern.

Quick observational sketches, charcoal pencil, HB/2B

[XanaChama]

Random sketches
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Pastel, Frank figure
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[So-naa]

Xana,
Love charcoal sketches. I like the quality of your loose short strokes, which are very apparent on your teddy bear. Also you are rockin' pictures of realistic looking guys!!
Pastel, wow! At first I thought it was an oil painting. You really drew out a painterly quality. It was great to see your process, especially using a red sketch!! I thought it might be destructive to the picture, but seeing your latest result, it definitely isn't!

I hope you feel better!! I know the stress is going to pile up for me in may, because I'm trying to finish homework ahead of time!!

[XanaChama]

Random sketchs

[Sublimus]

Wow, you have some nice improvements on this page!

One thing I would say is that some of the figures that are drawn from you head are quite a bit too tall. but this was near the top of the page, so you may have noticed that yourself.

[XanaChama]

Come on page 7~

Whoa, it's page 7! LOL I was just joking around.

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[XanaChama]

A little more.

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[spaztastic]

Loving the latest gestures. Great flow, and I especially like the charcoal pastel one on the right.

[So-naa]

Pretty I like your girly sketches :)

[Ruivo]

Niicceee, your females are coming quite nice!!! I like the simple forms your are using!! keep it up!!! ;) And like spaztaztic said, they have flow which is very good!

[kelly x]

Hi Xanachama, Hope your feeling great!! I miss seeing your beautiful face... I like the wet feature in photoshop although I really don't know what it is, it really looks cool, try to achieve it on your own though... OK??? Hi X!!

[XanaChama]

Pastel and Chinese/sumi-e ink
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Sumi-E Ink
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Sketches
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Sketch with some ink applied
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[So-naa]

Hi Xana,
Nice studies. Watch it around the thigh areas.. The fourth picture looks just like a model I had to draw :) It's wonderful to see your progress!!

[Aaron Death]

The last drawing is so awesome. Looks very artsy, if you know what I mean. Perhaps I'll try out ink some day.

The faces of the other drawings look a little rough, perhaps spent more time on construction? Mark out the chin and the corner of the eye sockets before you draw the features can help out a lot.

keep up.

[XanaChama]

Found a little sketchbook I never knew I had. But anyway, drew some stuff in it. Some other things that I have not had the time to update. I think that's everything... I'm kinda in a personal slump, so I'm a little aloof.

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[XanaChama]

Missed some

[JailHouseRock2]

Life drawings are looking real good, and they seem to be helping your full fiuger sketches too!

Keep it up Xana!
matt

[XanaChama]

JailHouseRock2, thanks. I am slowly trying to make figures on my own and adapting what I've learned to imagination. I think I'm improving too, at least I can feel the figure more when I am drawing it and am forcing myself to think about the form a little more.

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From imagination this time.
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[Mat Kaminski]

I'll think of something good to say ;) I swear I will lol

[XanaChama]

More sketches

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[XanaChama]

Missed one.

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[Ruivo]

Really cool sketches, you are coming along quite nicely they are becoming more consistent, for the enviro digi paint i recommend to see dylan cole's matte painting dvd's, it has really helpfull tips!!

Keep it up!!! =D=D

[XanaChama]

I have some sketches that I have done, but I'm not gonna post them yet until later... gonna do a sketch dump instead so my updates seem a little cohesive and they're actually more beneficial for me to follow up on in long term.

I did go by Plaza and got some canvas and replenished some of my art supplies as well as vine charcoal, studio canvas (20" X 30": 2 quantity, 10" X 20": 1 quantity), some more turpentine, bought some moer individual Graphite and Graphite pencils so I don't run out... kneaded erasers... etc etc.

Here's something I'm working on. I really love painting on canvas. The texture even with just the vine charcoal made me want to stop there, because it just looked so cool LOL. I look forward to getting this one done so I can put it on my wall ^^ My walls are so bare... the nice thing about canvas is you don't necessarily have to frame it. I don't have the money to frame everything I would want to anyway. I have to custom frame for school next month for a student show... Have to get some stuff at Home Depot to do it, but it'll be cool learning how to do it on my own. :/

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2255/3541411861_ec8aab0615.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/maruichan/3541411861/

Yay for oil painting!

[XanaChama]

A little more

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2438/3541630089_51bdc228db.jpg

[So-naa]

Gorgeous on the dress! I thought it was a photo of a dress till I scrolled up and realized it was the canvas next to the dress! LOL!
Nice figure studies. It's great to see your progress and you aren't afraid to show the male genitalia :)

[Mischeviouslittleelf]

Don't ever stop. You seem to have quite the potential here so keep working!

-E

[Mat Kaminski]

LoL! I thought it was a photo as well 0.o

NICE looking study of cloth.

:D

[Aaron Death]

Wow, awesome photo study. Awesome, really, really, really AWESOME.

Perhaps paint the shadow as well. The hangar looks bloody now, you did a pretty good job if that's what you want though. Haha!

Some parts of the paintings still more work, maybe add more dark value in the fold bellow the left breast, the right one looks pretty good.


Keep on, more work. I call for more!

[Aaron Death]

Wow, awesome photo study. Awesome, really, really, really AWESOME.

Perhaps paint the shadow as well. The hangar looks bloody now, you did a pretty good job if that's what you want though. Haha!

Some parts of the paintings still more work, maybe add more dark value in the fold bellow the left breast, the right one looks pretty good.


Keep on, more work. I call for more!

[XanaChama]

So-naa: There's nothing wrong with teh genitals. Actually, some of the studies I do are from my fiance, but I won't tell who. He's obviously more secure with himself than he gives himself credit for. Most of the models up here are women, so I am always lacking in male models from life. And of course there is easy access to women in the free media/internet.

Mischeviouslittleelf: Thank you ^^ Sometimes people just need a little encouragement, so I really appreciate it!

Matte_Art: LOL I'm not sure how it looks like a photo, but I realize I'm very biased against it since I've been staring at my kitchen/this setup for a while now. The dress is something I have from my closet.

Aaron_Death: See above **^^ I must have taken it in some way that looks like a trick. I'm sorry for tricking you~ 使用がない ＞＜

Yeah, some of stuff--like the hanger--you're looking at is stuff that's blocked in. It takes a while for me to mix colors. In fact, that's part of the exercise I think. Trying to get accurate colors. I had to go with more saturated colors in my next update, but the greyer tone helped as an underlying painting as well as some of the transparent areas/blocking in, so I kept with it. It's still there in some places. The background still has to be redone on this one, but it requires a thicker coat so I had to wait.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3594/3548503160_4ccdd151d0.jpg

[Ruivo]

AAAAHHHH MAAAANNNNN!!!!!!!!! GREAT PAINTING!!! really love it!!! very well done!!! congrats!!! =DD

[courtyard]

Hey girl!! That dress is BEAUTIFUL!!! Really exciting piece and you're killing it. Can't wait to see the next update.

[Mat Kaminski]

I mean sheesh... that dress really does look like a photo to me still...

I get confused between the two at first glance. If you were to cut out the canvas edges in photoshop, I think I wouldn't know the difference!

Great job on that one Xana :)

The only difference that I notice, and I think this is a lighting issue versus tones, is that the painting seems slightly darker than the actual dress. I dunno really, would have to see it in person haha.

Regardless, it looks nice.

Keep it up Xana :)

[Aaron Death]

The dress looks absolutely fabulous. Hahaha.

The only two places that need more work that I can see is the upper part of the breast which look a bit flat, and the highlight along one of the fold on the left(which is the right on the picture).

Haha

Nice work.

Really nice work.

[XanaChama]

Update. I think it's pretty much finished. I think 20-25 hours of work. Lost some of the 'original' highlights, but I had a couple of epiphanies while working on this. I'm happy I got this one finished and was a joy to paint.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2450/3551574696_b61ee546b6.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2480/3550766151_358ae1279f.jpg


This shot is messed up. I'll post a better version later.

[Mat Kaminski]

Very well done Xana! :)

What's the plans for the next one?

[AsaB]

Ahoy Xana!
Many thanks for the creative sprinkles, they worked wonders--expect a SB update from me very soon :D So I'm here to return the favour! Loads of creative sprinkles with some extra passion flavour coming your way! Although it doesn't exactly look like you'll be needing loads of these, considering all of your fanastic work lately.

Loooving the dress painting. Seriously, you jumped a few levels up there. Bloody fantasic! The texture is so well conveyed with the right colour choices. I hope you'll do more finished pieces like this! Well, maybe not necessarily this detailed but just going through the stage of finishing work usually brings about improvement :)

The anatomy sketches and studies are looking good, you're churning those out! Loving the traditional work with the ink especially. Those are great exercises for economic brush strokes! Your anatomy is still wee wonky in places but overall I'm seeing great improvement. At this rate I'm sure you'll be surprising yourself a lot in a few month's time :)

[AeonPhoenix]

You're sketchbook is coming along quite smoothly. I can't really make any particular suggestions except to keep it up, it will surely make you even better then you are now! Also check out my sketchbook when you get the chance, I would love your crits. Keep on drawing, and good luck ^_^

[Ruivo]

The dress is still beautifull!!! Keep it going, you're doing great!

[XanaChama]

Matte_Art: I'm not sure yet. I keep staring at the canvas, but thinking I might end up putting my tea set in it or something like that. I actually wish it was a larger size.

AsaB: Creative sprinkles are always nice to receive, I have a hard time staying fueled up lately actually ^^ It's hard with everything that's going on and my body changing... I did jump a few levels on the dress I feel, I didn't know I could blend like that! Makes me think more about being patient in my digital paintings. I spend more time in front of the TV lately drawing faces that I see and trying to see shapes instead of 'features'. Been praying for a muse since it's clear to myself I have none! lol

AeonPhoenix: Thank you! I go back and forth here and there between good and OMG, what is that, but it's helpful to the learning process. Also, I don't see your SB?

Ruivo: Thank you ^^ How is your digital coming along BTW?

[Ruivo]

I'm sorry to inform you that my digital for now is dead!! I tend not to do nothing artsy during school periods of work...perhaps i should do some to relax or whatnot. I really need a boost.

Keep up this rate my friend and you'll be great!!

[XanaChama]

Time for a massive dump.

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[Ruivo]

I'm liking your drawings a lot, good shadows, forms and expression, that charcoal piece is niiiiiicccccccceeeeeee!

Keep it up girl!

[AsaB]

Nice dump! :D

That first charcoal piece is looking really promising, I'm looking forward to see the final product. Was that a commission, perhaps? The subject seems to suggest it's a little more than a general study :)

Anyway! Liking your sketches, they're getting tighter. I like looking at them, you draw interesting and fun people. Also those who seem to be from head. Just do moar, moar, moooaarr and you'll be golden! :D

And, just in case, I'm gonna shower your SB with some creative sprinkles! Go crazy! :sungod:

[courtyard]

I second the nice dump comment. I really like the more rough, choppy stuff you're including--it shows how much you've grown in terms of connecting to the human figure. I think this image (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=689542&d=1244160500) is really interesting--love her expression.

[Aaron Death]

Is this really you Debra(cool name anyway~)! The line and shading on those life drawings seem so much better!!!!! Can't believe it, you are getting too good!!!

The lines on the digital sketch are insane.

Some crits on the commision though.

1) Mute the background a bit perhaps, use a blender to silence those brushstrokes a bit, now it's kinda distracting.

2) The proportions are kinda off in some places, I did a tiny paintover but the photo is kinda warped. So this is not exactly a paintover, just something to consider perhaps.

Anyway, just try to consider those construction line a bit.
Since this is a commissioned piece, do your absolute best!

Take a good photo and set it in PS in half opacity against the original photo(if you have a digital version), make sure everything's right, if you want. I always do that.

Anyway, can't wait to see it done. As Asa said, it looks very promising.

[JailHouseRock2]

Hello again Xana!

Love the last update, such a great variety of work!

The sketches are looking great, as are the digis! But I'm really exited about these paintings! So cool, and would love to see a close-up on the painting of the red dress?

Cheers,
matt

[AsaB]

*throws creative sprinkles*

I know you're busy and prefer long-between but juicy updates, but I'm just putting these out there for good measure :D I'm really excited to see new work from you!

[AeonPhoenix]

Steadily getting better. Also I got a link up for my SB so if you want to help me out I would appreciate it. Keep up the good work!

[XanaChama]

Time for an update! Whoa, I'm out of date

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Oil painting in progress ^^ Self portrait using two mirrors!
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[courtyard]

Ooh! That two mirror self portrait is really exciting...good on you for tackling such a tough subject. The shoulder area of the reflected image looks like it might need a little anatomy tweaking, but other than that it's looking great. The lines in this image (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=709605&d=1246197864) are *beautiful.* With some of your figures, I think it will really help to roughly sketch in the anatomy before adding hair or clothes. And did you sketch at an open mic night? Well done! That page is wonderful--I always love your sketches from life.

[AsaB]

Nice update!

I agree with courtyard, I really stopped at the latest one, it has wonderful lines and dynamics.
And the mirror SP is really promising! I like the concept a lot, I'm very excited to see more WIPs done on that. You're awesome for doing so much trad stuff!

And you're getting into vehicles too? I'm glad seeing you expand your subjects! I'm rather nervous in that area myself, but I might even follow your example and try some.

Your sketches are enjoyable as always :) Say, you should try out nonie's method--gather a bunch of photos (she has different expressions from people, but it can be anything) and then put it in a timed slideshow, maybe 30sec to 2min, depending on your choice. Your very own PoseManiacs, almost!

[XanaChama]

Just felt compelled to mini update. Have another commission possibly in the works. Wish me luck!!

I finished the charcoal commission and I'm further along on the self portrait oil painting. I gave myself two black eyes. My SO says it freaks him out, but eh ^^; I'm alright with the color scheme. I have to experiment more with other colors and the background needs to be redesigned on the left side (that got a little out of hand).

[XanaChama]

courtyard: The most I've done color portraits is in digital, so it's something new. The only weird thing I've noticed is that oil colors don't quite get the 'exact' color. They seem to be different in some way, like all colors are not necessarily possible somehow? Not sure how else to explain it... it could be because I'm using student paints, I've noticed certain colors are a little inferior when it comes to the artist oils, which I don't use as a matter of affordability ^^

AsaB: I've never thought of putting stuff into slideshows, but that's useful! I have a lot of stuff I could use, so I'll try it some time. Most of the time what I do is just sketch in public or when I'm out somewhere, I'll sketch what is on TV or what I find interesting ATM. The vehicles were in the parking lot that I was in in a car.

[AsaB]

Yay, more stuff! :)

The charcoal piece is wonderful, nice to see it finished! It looks so pro and all framed :teeth: Beautiful work, I'm sure the clients were thrilled.

So black eyes? ;) It gives the painting a rather ominous feel! Any reason behind that? Is maybe the mirrored other girl the "real" you? In any case, keep experimenting with that all, I'm eager to see how you'll finish it.

And fun digital sketches! It'd be cool if you'd refine them some more.

[Ruivo]

Well nice going Xana, the portrait is looking nice, and your charcoal comission is swweett!

One thing, perhaps its time to take your pencil drawings to a more complete state isn't it? Instead of being just the pose or gesture...

Keep it up! ;)

[courtyard]

The final version of the commissioned piece is fantastic--you did a great job capturing their personalities. The self portrait is coming along really nicely, too. I love the colors that you're using. Re: your oil color comment, I'm just a beginner myself, but from what I've read student colors definitely have that shortcoming (that's what I use, too). What colors do you have? I'd be happy to do a bit of research for you about "ideal" palettes--I need to figure that out for myself, too.

edit: the (acrylic) colors I have are permanent rose, cadmium red hue, ultramarine, cadmium yellow medium hue, phthalo green, lemon yellow, winsor blue, mars black, titanium white, burnt umber, paynes gray. I generally have no trouble get a nice "mud" color with them. But at some point I actually did do some research and came up with this ragtag palette, all student cheapo variety.

[XanaChama]

AsaB: The eyes will be changed. I put them as a place holder and partially to freak out my SO for my own amusement. It'll get painted in when I get to the details.

Ruivo: I would develop more cleaner/finished sketches. Only that I'm getting better at gestures and it's encouraging. So I'm sticking more to sketches, just because I think it's essential for my growth at this point >< I tend to like painting right now for finished stuff anyway, I like trying to get new effects, since with shading I'm kinda tired of it right now and I'm trying to learn to get different results by using a limited amount of strokes/shading...

courtyard: Certain colors are OK for student oils I read. But for things like red, or more saturated colors, you generally want to go artist oils. I'm not good enough yet to justify spending $100+ on paints, because the artist oils are essentially double what I've paid for paints in the past. I have Liquitex Acrylics which are supposed.

For oils, I use 1 pound of Pelmalba Titanium White. For colors, 37 ml Winton Oil colours: Burnt Umber, Permanent Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Red Medium, Cadmium Yellow Medium, Cobalt Blue, Yellow Ochre, Viridian Green. And for Naples Yellow, I am using another brand, it is Georgian and is in tube twice that size... it seems OK for just that color (and affordable), but I don't know about the others.

For acrylics I use mostly for design work on illustration board. I am using all Liquitex (59 ml): Cadmium Yellow, Ivory Black, Light Green Permanent, Phthalo Blue, Dioxazine Purple, Napthol Crimson, and Titanium White... that's pretty much it for those

Ok, now for updates ^^

Adobe Illustrator work

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Thinking about stuff from the CA portrait series...
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Observational sketches, while sitting around the fire with friends. And yes, that is a gas can (with diesel fuel).
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[courtyard]

Those sketches of the dog are wonderful! I also love the reclining person (your SO?) in this image. (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=719689&d=1247170515) You really captured the festive bonfire atmosphere. :) With the digi portraits, I find it incredibly helpful to copy ZhangLu's steps of drawing in a rough outline and then adding a middle gray multiply layer over the top of that. From there you can really push and pull your lights and darks with a lot more control. Wonderful update, and thanks for all of the paint info!

[Ruivo]

Great update Xana, i like the sketches and the digi work looks fluid. In regards the completeness of the sketches, don't forget to work outside of confort areas, its the way to evolve! And i do really enjoy that you are experimenting with another mediums, i do hope this vacations i'l do some oil painting as well as watercolour painting!

[AsaB]

Great sketchdump, Xana! :)

I really enjoyed those of your dog, drawing from life is such a good experience so absolutely try to do that more often. You managed to capture him with so few lines, good job on that.

The digis are also great fun with some interesting faces. Although I agree with courtyard, pushing the values in some of these would probably benefit them, unless you're going for a more lighter look. Also, I'd love to see you draw some other faces than young girls (heh, guilty of this too!), maybe some older people, babies or different ethnicities. I hope you'll update soon!

[Aaron Death]

Nice paintings
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=719683&d=1247170422
is my favorite. So much personality in there.

Some of them could use some more contrast though, but I'm not sure. The light values actually give them a dreamy feel, which is pretty cool.

Cool drawings of the dog haha, I like how you play with straight and curve lines anyway.

But what happened to your big cute black cat?

[XanaChama]

courtyard, AsaB, Aaron_Death: The lighter values were intended. I was mostly experimenting. Most of my artwork right now is more or less a mental experiment ATM. For whatever reason, I felt like going light with those, and threw in sudden dark values to see what it would do... etc. You'll see what I mean when I say these pieces are just meant to get things moving... aside from one serious piece.

I'm not sure what to think. Just got up and felt like drawing something sexy/vectorish? 100% opacity brush for the most part. Not my best work.
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My SO :) It's a specific weapon, but I'll see if you can name which one. He collects guns, has quite a few rifles (10+) and I think 2 or 1 handguns... if you want to be technical, he babysits other people's weapons to take care of them.
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This is what I meant when I said I was pushing mental barriers
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[Jesus Food]

yea, thats an US M1 garand.i forget who said it, but some general in the 2nd war said it was the rifle that won the war. thats a real detailed pic too. that girl with the breasts below it looks like shes an edible gummy. yum

[Aaron Death]

haha, M1 Grand, ma favorite weapon in many games....Nice portrait anyway.

Love your experiments. I'm sure those are fun, right? And damn sexy too.....

[Ruivo]

Well, your digi work is great as always, i most train my digi painting too!!

For the pushing mental barriers, wait till i post my dump on the sb, you all see some crazy stuff! ^^

[XanaChama]

I'm such a retard. I forgot these.

These were the compositions I was playing with. I was focusing more on facial structure on one of them. The other was actually distribution of space/perspective and mostly trying to render ideas through that... and failing hard.

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[AsaB]

That first one looks so interesting. I'm guessing those lines and boxes were just there to help you figure out the perspective? Or not? In any case, I think you created something really interesting that's going on there.

You know I demand more :D

*creative sprinkles galore!*

[Mat Kaminski]

eenteresting. That bear seems to be a very important part of the overall composition.

If this one is an illustration, I'd suggest using the rule of thirds as the character being smack in the middle might be a bit uninteresting as far as the composition goes. But it might just be practice, I'm not sure.

The environment looks to be truly epic in scale! I can't wait to see how this one resolves... :D :D

Thank you so much for the advice again btw, you have my supreme thanks for being the awesome person you are! :D

Oh and I just have to note: We are both in Team ChoW :P muwhahaha

[XanaChama]

Large update ^^ I've been busy. I'm on the same as Asab in Team Chow, and of course I've taken to working more on my laptop and Intuos3 for some reason. I really need to fix the gamma on my laptop.

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[Ruivo]

Nice update Xana, i like the pencil sketches!!! Good luck for your team chow!

Can't wait to have a digi session with you!!

[Aaron Death]

Nice update Xana~

I dig those drawings of, um, objects.

Glad to see both you and Asa are in team CHOW, I'm in there tooo~

[courtyard]

Hey girl! I want to come back and look at your pieces in detail when I'm not in a mad rush. I tried to pm you but it said you've exceeded your limit until you delete some. ;) Just wanted to let you know that I've found an apartment, due to move in next week--will be back in business with updates and comments as soon as I have internet access. Thanks for being so patient!

[Sorknes]

Very nice updates, I particularily like the girl with the glasses :)