Sketchbook of a Screaming Elf

[screamingelf]

I've been scared to touch colors since I stopped using crayons. I always said I was going to try it. I'm now 26 and I'm done waiting. I took out an acrylic set I had for about 2 years and did a study of work done by the acrylic master himself Alex Ross. This is my first attempt ever painting anything. I attended art class in high school, but nothing since then. I have a long way to go, and no direction. I was thinking about what I should paint first. What is a good way to start? I couldn't find anything. Everything I considered I dismissed as being "too complext". I looked on my shelf and saw what drives me to want to learn how to paint with acrylics. It was Mythology by Alex Ross. I figured as longs as I just paint for now instead of making more excuses to run from the canvas will do more good than harm. So, I was worried about going through my limited supply too soon. So I just used my red white and blue. The brush wasn't doing what I wanted it to do, then again I never felt what it was like to paint with a brush before. Now that I got my brush wet and my palette colorful, I'm not so afraid anymore. If anyone knows of any good excerises for new painters, please share. All feedback is welcome. I appreciate your time and thank you.

[spaztastic]

oh good you got the link to work. cool. now post more stuff. I wanna see what you do.

Oh start out with anatomy studies. Bridgeman and Loomis are great for that. also color theory and light and shadow values. but definitely start out with anatomy first.

[screamingelf]

thanks spaz...wow, it's funny how seeing a response from another artist is so motivating. I've been browsing here for about 2-3 years from the sidelines. reading all different kinds of advise. read this, draw that. it wasn't until now when i read your suggestion that i feel like i have direction. sounds weird, maybe creepy. i've been drawing for about 10 years. maybe i can just say i've had a sketch book for 10 years now. and i havent made progress. i'm always bouncing back and forth between ideas and ecxercises that i get frutrated and dont move forward. even with the huge knowledge base on the web i'm still left asking "where do i start?" this is what the classroom is for, but we all dont end up there do we? i think my problem has been a lack of direction/motivation. the difference between wanting and doing right? well i'm at a point in my life where i'm ready. my question now is what do i do i do with said books? whats a recomended study/drawing habbit? do 20 drawings from these books a day or something like that? i reaaly appreciate your time. not much help ill be to others but ill give my input to the other sketchbooks on here.

[screamingelf]

20 min charcoal

[screamingelf]

hey CA,

i drew from a photo last night. i have a terrible time sitting down and deciding what to draw. i went back to concept art 101 looked at assignment 2 i think. i got bored half way. let me be honest. i laid down rough lines for the ram. then as i started adding details, the same with any drawing, i get scared that i will do horrible. i then decide that it looks better as a sketch than a bad finished drawing. it wasn't until last year that i actually finished 3 drawings. nothing big. i'll post them soon. they're on photobucket and myspace. anyway, i wasn't sure how to go about detailing the rams horn or hair so i just stopped. funny that i chose a ram because i like drawing horn, but never and hate draw fur. i'm trying to view all sketchbooks, but man you guys are working hard and constantly posting stuff. that drives me. i'll post the photo found online, photographer's name is on it.

[screamingelf]

40 MIN. it takes me a while to get going...

[screamingelf]

please let me know what you think. I didn't submit this one to the official CHOW final thread, because I only worked on it for about 3 hours. I finally had time to start it on friday night. I was trying to pay attention to my lighting. Please give me feedback.

[spaztastic]

great job on drawing more, I think you may want to work on anatomy by doing gesture drawings, a great place to learn that is here http://www.posemaniacs.com awesome reference site for anatomy. Keep at it can't wait to see more.
one crit about your newest piece her head is too small for her body, you may want to make it a bit bigger, I really like the idea though keep em coming.

[screamingelf]

Learning to use my tablet and photoshop. I'm doing a series of hand studies...first 5. C&C please.

[screamingelf]

new anatomy/paint study...ref (http://www.characterdesigns.com/bandaid/content/photosets/117/125/Figure_014_008.JPG).

http://imagehub.geekfury.com/files/30/Anatomy studies/Figure_014_008-copy2.jpg

[Red Fortune]

Wow! Fantastic improvement over the past year or so!

[screamingelf]

Thanks red fortune. I'll keep at it. I'm enjoying it and learning as I go.

[screamingelf]

i've been away for 4 months. didn't get much painting or drawing done. here is a master study i did recently. i post here and on cgs.

http://imagehub.geekfury.com/files/30/Master-Copy---Rembrandt01b.jpg
http://imagehub.geekfury.com/files/30/Perso.jpg
http://imagehub.geekfury.com/files/30/Perso_06_01.jpg

update on the figure. forgive me for leaving out the the ref to this site that host tons of ref photos...

http://imagehub.geekfury.com/files/30/Anatomy studies/Figure_014_008-copy2final.jpg.jpg

comments and critiques are appreciated. i wish i had much to offer for other SB's.

i removed the tags. i saw the "use uploader" message and i remembered about posting on here. it's been a while so i forgot. sorry about that. i kept the links. please visit and take a look. give me some feedback if you can.

[screamingelf]

so sorry that they are so huge. i thought i changed them to 800x600 the most. i'll check on that for future post. oh here is the site where i got the anatomy ref photo...awesome site http://www.characterdesigns.com/