Massive Update! Leonardo, Michelangelo, Wattuea..........take a look

[-The Swift-]

welcome to my daily sketchbook. i am among the "new people" and just want some C+C from fellow artists. i'm 15(now 17!) so cut me some slack! this first sketch is the first of many, it was part of my first character study of keanu reeves. it is done using some cheap charcoal pencils.

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Keanu_1-1.gif

After realising how bad this was i did another with some slightly more expensive pencils( which i much prefer) I'm much more pleased with it!

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Keanu_2-1.gif

i will be posting some more stuff shortly using ink. just very quick sketches, nothing too demanding. please give me some C+C as they will be most helpful. thanks

[talmir]

very good.. :) Now give more.. (btw, there's something about his left (his left) eye that bugs me.. seems that its drawn in straight on while the rest is in 3/4 view).

[Hunger_Artist]

Its not the pencils that make a good work of art.. its the power of observation the artist has.

Keep experimenting with different materials and dont worry abut minor technical errors!

[-The Swift-]

thanks for the crit talmir, now here's some stuff i did today,it's matrix inspired but has no references. these took about 4 minutes each and i know that 1 of them looks like it has no neck, this was because i originally wanted him to be looking down and when i drew the features forgot to put them lower down so he has no neck! the other one has wonkey lips!

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/dude.gif

and the other one

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/dude1.gif

this next scribble is a hand. why? who knows!

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/hand.gif

these last two are linked as the first one is the thumbnail of the final one. it's done in ink and i was mucking about with some new markers.

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/wood_elf_thumb.gif

and this is the finished piece

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/wood_elf.gif

i'd say that's a fair days work! please C+C!..........please!

[lavhoes]

Nice start to your sketchbook, but if I may make an observation:

You need to relax your strokes. Based on that 4th picture of your latest update, you're spending way too many lines just to get a concept down. I know you can just go back over it and trace the form again, but strengthening your beginning, sketchy lines would do a lot for your art.

I have the same problem. I spend at least 10-15 quick sketchy strokes just trying to get one simple line down, and it's slowing me down and making me a tight, frustrated artist. What's helping me lately is slowing down and thinking about each line before I put it on the page. So what if it takes me 20 minutes to draw a simple head? It's a very clean sketch with strong, confident, smooth lines, with little to no waste.

Start out slow and build yourself up. It won't take long for you to get as fast as you are now (or so I hear), so take advantage of the time you have now to relax and get very comfortable with your lines.

[-The Swift-]

thanks lavhoes. i'll try to work on that. that sketch you were talking about, it's not as big in real life it just looks it on this page but now it's on screen i see what you mean with it. thanks alot.

[spork891]

I think you have a good sense of space and proportion! Good work on the hand sketch.

The process sketch you submitted for the elf dude was interesting.

I think I have the opposite problem, I put down one line and one line only much of the time, and refuse to correct or erase proportion mistakes... hehe.

I'm very slow too, gotta do more of those gesture drawings.

-Jas

[-The Swift-]

Day 2 of my sketchbook. not many posts yet! i'll just keep trying. for today i sudied hands. trying to keep my style less eratic!
these hands are from a book of mine, as i don't have any art books, i used a guitar book!

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Guitar_hands.gif

This next piece was simply by holding out my own hand and drawing it!

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Hands.gif

PLEASE guys! lots of feedback please! thanks to those who have replyed so far. i'll hopfully be posting again tommoro. does anyone have any good books that are worth buying, i'm interested in anatomy and facial features!:confused: come on get posting!:confused:

[-The Swift-]

Thanks spork! i'll look out for your work when you've got that site up and loaded.:)

[garg]

I really like the work you did on the hands..

The figures are nice.. just work on anatomy and loosening up.. if you get the correct anatomy they will look loose by themselves because there are lots of natural curves in the human body.. great work :)

[-The Swift-]

Topic for today is..............self portraits. i hate doing them because everytime i look in the mirror i've moved! this first one was done about a year ago for class and although severly overshaded!-it looks quite a bit like me.

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Self_Portrait.gif

this next one was done today and dosn't look too much like me, however it didn't take half as long. i'm going to be doing more to improve maybe using different mediums to.

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Self_Portrait_2.gif

C+C are very, very warmly welcomed........please!:nod:

[talmir]

well, I can definetly say you've got talent.. If you look at my self portrait you'll see mine are.. well.. disproportioned :) But these are very nice although I recommend you study the shape of the eye a bit, the front view one is a bit off in that aspect but the top one (very shaded one, not overdone tho imo) seems correct.. keep posting. And as the governator said, I'll be back!

[-The Swift-]

Okay today was a bad day :( as you can see but i've posted it anyway so i can get some crit on it.
this first one is just a random concept taken form one of the previous sketchs.

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Sunrise.gif

This next one is a study on eyes, i really need to get some anatomy books and facial feature books, suggestions?

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Eyes.gif

and finally this disastorus sp. the eyes are not in proprtion! again!!!!:mad:

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Self_Portrait_3.gif

there's your lot for today. any suggestions on things like what wacom to get, what studies to do, what books to get or just general C+C is very much appriciated!

[chudzta]

Yeah i sometimes think speed comes before accuracy for me as well. Didnt know you were a female before.. better watch my tongue i suppose. :). Um are those pastels? if they are u may be interested if i ever get to posting what im working on now.. its basically a sp .. with blue skin. lol good sized one too like 18x24 inches. Regardless.. good stuff.. was more impressed that what i was expecting.. If u dont like mirrors then get someone to take 10 minutes and take a bunch of photos of you... photo ref works too .. not as well but it will still help to familiarize yourself with the contour of your face :) have fun - i'll be back soon - chudds

edit: i got a 4.5 graphire 2 wacom. its works just fine as long as you dont mess up the installation stuff. wich is easy if u have what came with it. I lost that stuff and im limited. If you have the cash get a nice sized intuous 2. or the new graphire 3's.. not sure of the difference but im sure cnet.com and the likes should have info on it. good luck

[-The Swift-]

thanks alot chudzta! i really appreiciate the advice. yeah the fist one is chalk pastel and the last one is oil pastel. the colours are abit off on the last one but i didn't ahve a huge colour range. thanks for the info on wacoms, i'll probably go for the cheaper option i never have any money!
i've been thinking about the photo option and i reckon i'll give it a go, i'll still use the mirror as it's just easier right now. keep me posted on when than oil pic is uploaded, looking forward to seeing it! thanks again
-The Swift-

(will post more tommorow as that's the next time i have acess to a scanner)

[lavhoes]

Anatomy reference:

http://www.fineart.sk for all the Loomis books. The books are godly, but use the website's male/female muscle refs sparingly, as it's mainly overly buffed chicks and dudes and while it gives you an idea where all the muscles are, it doesn't really help with a whole lot. So the Loomis books are good, and also this book:

George Bridgman's Complete Guide to Drawing from Life

Take this book very slowly, as it's a lot of information to digest. I'm going through it right now at about 1 section every couple of weeks, and even I feel that's a little fast. I drew nothing but torsos for a week and my torsos improved dramatically. One other thing about this book, though: seek outside photo reference as well. While Bridgman breaks everything down into simple masses, and that's great for learning structure and all that, you don't get to see how it really looks. As with any book, use it as a supplement and not a Bible.

Oh, and the book is primarily male anatomy. There's some female stuff in there, but I failed to see any breasts or anything like that. And there's no explicit parts, either, so it's a pretty PG book.

Good luck in your endeavor!

[-The Swift-]

thanks lavhoes, thanks for the consideration, much appriciated, i think i'll be purchasing one of those books shortly, thanks again,
-The Swift-
sorry i havn't posted for a while, been very busy with christmas and all. anyway, i'm sure i'll get bored in thw holidays so expect lots of work when i do! well i'm off to see "the return of the king"!!! can't wait. i'll probably do some fanart or something!

[endregan]

Great self portraits!! do lots of them, they really help!

you have a good observational eye so keep that up and doing studies.


those hands are done well, but the shading is a bit fast and questions form because of the shading.

great sketchbook ill be coming back

[-The Swift-]

thanks endregan, your comments are much aprrieciated and encouraging, thanks.

should be posting some more stuff today, some fanart of "return of the king" (which was awesome btw!) and some self portraits!

[-The Swift-]

Ok aploigies for not posting for so long! christmas is soooo busy! anyway enough excuses! i havn't got roung to any fanart today, but.....i did do another self portrait, it looks a bit chubby but hey. i'm determined to make myself post everything, no matter how bad.

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Self_Portrait_4.gif

i'm hoping to purchase a bridgeman book after xmas. maybe a wacom-i'm still not sure. anyway it's doubtful i'll be posting till after christmas, so a very merry christams to you all (or whatever you want to celebrate!)-bring on 2004!
oh and sorry again for the eyes that are different(gonna have to work on that!):D this is for talmir :happybirt !

[-The Swift-]

oK, so it's christmas day and what am i doing? posting rubbish artwork on the internet!!!!!!!!!! unbelivable! no i'm just posting some stuff i did yesturday because i'm bored. i have relatives round and so it looks like they're gonna be watching TV allllllllllll day!
oh well i got some new sketch pads and some acrylics! should have some fun with them!
for now i'll post these horse sketches, while i'm waiting to purchase a human anatomy book, i'll sketch horses for reffs, i want to eventually add riders and give them some fanasy theme.

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Horse1.gif

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Horse2.gif

there you go, and a very merry christmas to everyone!!!!!!!:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

[-The Swift-]

thanks mlessard, when i've scanned them i resize them and convert them to GIFs in Paint shop pro. they tend to go blurry when i resize them, but i have to make the files smaller so this is about the best quality i can get with my current programme.
i also kinda smudge to shade, which can make it a bit blurry. thanks for pointing it out anyways.:D

[spork891]

Your horse looks like it's ready to box!

Great work on the shading, one thing I might add though would be heavier lines on the outside of the figure in places where the darkest darks are, this will simultaniously add mass and pop the figure into three dimensions.

[-The Swift-]

thanks spork! that was what the ref looked like though! i kinda get your point though!
one of the joys christmas has brought me this year has been my first instalment of Fengs " concept design" dvds! wow! havinf watched it yesturday i immediatly had the urge to draw vechiles and sci-fi transport stuff, using the new found knowledge Feng so kindly enlightened upon me!
so i guess i've kind of abandoned the horse thing for now and have embarked upon a new jorney(again!). so here's my first one. i'm not entirly sure what it is, some kind of one man scout/fighter ship!

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Scout_Ship_1.gif

i need to work on my lines a bit and I KNOW the perspective is a bit out. i didn't however use a ruler except for the final perspective lines i added at the end. it didn't taje too long and i'm pleased with it all htings considered. C+C please.:D

[spork891]

Oh surely you must have done this before, that's perfectly awesome!

The right wing looks a little wonky, but with a little practice the perspective on your other, similar drawings will be sweet.

Did you use prismas for the shading?

One thing you might consider getting to increase your line quality (a few are scratchy) is to get a light table and retrace your linework with a micron pen or a nib pen.

If you need more exposition on what a light table is just let me know. I just got one from a friend of mine that used to do animation.

-Jas

[-The Swift-]

much thanks again spork! nope that was my first one, like i said, fengs dvds rock!
i know the perspective's a bit off, but hey, like you said practice makes perfect.
i use pantone tria markers, basically identical to the prismacolour! i might consider the tracing thing, but i'm also determined to get my lines spot on and not (as you pointed out) scratcy.
a defenition of the light thingy would be great though! thanks for the prasie! i'm currently working on another, i'll post it when it's done.
thanks again
-swift-:D

[spork891]

http://libwww.syr.edu/information/finearts/tour/graphics/17.jpg

You get the idea from this, mine of course isn't as flashy, it sits on my desk, makes tracing of course much easier.

-Jas

[-The Swift-]

thanks spork, i get it now!
here's another one, i used an extra, darker tone in this one. i think it gives it more depth. this one isn't as scratchy as the other one either!

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/City_Speeder_1.gif

will be working on more shortly. C+C are always welcome!

[spork891]

I also notice that it has some pretty smooth contour lines. even within the planes there is a great feeling of three dimensionality.

Looks like someone chopped the back end right off though, maybe consider extending the smoothness of the design to the tail and engines at the rear as well?

Oh, and of course the pen work is smoother than last time, solid improvement.

-Jas

[-The Swift-]

thnaks spork, havn't posted for a while so i'll try doing something today. thanks for the help on the light box thing!:D

apoligies to all, i have exams so i have 0 time to do anything meaningful except revise! sorry guys

[-The Swift-]

I did some thumbnails at school, but they don't seem to want to uplaod so here's the final piece, i think my best vechile so far, much room for improvement though!

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/LandSpeeder.gif

C+C p-l-e-a-s-e-!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Farin]

looks fine .. a little distorted, most in the details .. but not tragically .. just mentioned it after beholded it twice

I ve no experience with conceptional drawings of machines and vehicles... but I think the concept works quite good

this is done with marker? like the shadow

keep it up

[talmir]

hmm, I have to check feng and start playing with some markers one day :P

Good work swift. Keep it up :chug:

[spork891]

Ok, One thing I'm noticing that will help these immensely is making your cylinders more convincing. Those engines on the sides there seem to have squared off edges in the back, you'll notice looking at any cylinder from that view that those spots are actually curved.

;-) This is the best one so far IMO though.

[-The Swift-]

Right, havn't posted for AGES! i have however been busy painting with my new acrylics! good fun! my first time of using them and this is the result, it's part my art preparation work for my exam!

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Snowscape1.gif

[obid619]

those planes look tight man! maybe just make it up more shapes on it, and it'll look more unique!

[spork891]

This is awesome.

[van]

Originally posted by -The Swift-
Right, havn't posted for AGES! i have however been busy painting with my new acrylics! good fun! my first time of using them and this is the result, it's part my art preparation work for my exam!


Rock on! You are doing wonderful. Your work with acrylics shows a lot of improvement and it shows you have a good grasp of *space*.

Have you been slowing down?

[-The Swift-]

Thankyou all for your kind comments! it's always really encouraging to get feedback, especially if it's positive!!

here's todays installment, another self portrait, i'm finding it much easier and quicker each time now, hopefully they look better too!

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Self_Portrait_5-1.gif

Let me know what you think! and thanks again to all who have commented thus far!:D

[Farin]

like the pic done with acrylics .... how long did it take? wich surface did u paint on? really nice ..like it alot

[chudzta]

As far as the marker renderings go.. The designs are decent for you just starting.. but are really pulled down by the markers not defining the shape.. honestly its just in the head and playing around with it... they did show progression from one to the next. So just keep at it. The latest self portrait is nice... take your shadow areas and push the darkest of darks into those areas.. u already have your highlights.. and yea they are looking better. - chudds

[-The Swift-]

thanks for your comments guys!

farin-Thnaks! it took a couple of hours, wasn't really aware of the time, kinda got sucked in! and it was on acrylic paper, not full on canvus, but textured enough to play around on!

Chuds-thanks for the advice. i think i need to losen up with my marker work, i'm always really careful about doing it, incase of making mistakes! i just need to practice more! and i see what you mean with the self portrait, i think i rushed the shading a bit, i might go back over it, darken the tones, or i might just do i knew one!

thanks again
swift:D

[AndreasM]

Looking good. About the selfprotrait: Try outlining the basic shapes. This will help to increase the contrast when shading(i think)..

[-The Swift-]

hey guys just wanna apoligise for the lack of anything!!! exams have started............*helpless sigh*...............and so don't expect to much right now!
i did do some stuff last week though, just havn't had acess to a scanner for ages!
hopefully i will tonight! see you all then
-the swift-

[van]

I feel your pain!

[-The Swift-]

oops

[Sleepy_Head]

Loved that snow scape, you seem to have got a handle on those acrylics right from the start. The conpoistion is quite excellent, but I think you may have over done it a bit with the blue shadows. They need to be a bit lighter. When you squint at it those bit still stand out but the rest looks like a photo.

Keep 'em comming.

Sleepy

PS
Like the self portrait, knocks the spots off mine :D

[-The Swift-]

Ok people after a bit of a lapse, i'm back! i got a new brush pen yesturday which is pretty cool...........*so smooth*.......................anyway!
the first one is a concept of a soldier/knight kinda thing done with graphite stick, i know it's a bit blurry!

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Knight_Concept.gif

the second one is with my new brush pen using a ref of ghost from the matrix.

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Ghost.gif

and finally, this one's for chuds. i tryed to concentrate on the shading, any improvement??

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/City_Speeder_2.gif

thanks sleepy head for your comments, the acrylic was from a ref and although that's how the shadows looked in the ref, i can see what you mean, i think they're a bit big!

thankyou all again

-The Swift-

:)

[van]

heya Swift! Looking good, my friend. So here is some crits for you...

The soldier: Arms, legs, hands...need some anatomy work. You most likely did this without reference and that is cool! Now, go back and maybe with some anatomy reference work on those specific parts.

Brush pen sketch: Very cool movement!

Vehicle: The perspective seems a little off on the back of the vehicle. What books are you studying on perspective?


Hope the crits help! You are rocking...keep it up. And thanks for giving me the encouragement in my sketchbook. I need all the help I can get.

Now give us MORE!

[-The Swift-]

Thanks van! i've ordered an anatomy bok, by bridgeman and i've never studied any books on perspective!

this is my first ever digital painting, it's done with a mouse in photoshop!

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Hand_ps_copy.gif

it's a hand just in case you didn't figure that out!

[PeggyChung]

hey -the switft- nice stuff here. getting fengs dvds for x mas? very awesome *drool* the mobiles you drew look really cool. also your self portraits are great. how long do you spend on them? eesh mine are so messy :P btw, that hand looks great!:eek: :eek: :eek:

[-The Swift-]

thanks ladylioness, yeah i got the first one for christams, worth the price tag! i don't really know how long i spend, at tops about an hour, depends though! they get quicker everytime though which is a bonus! everyone tends to improve too, once you get used to your face shape and stuff, it gets easier!
thanks again for all the comments, don't worry your Sps will improve, they're good now anyway!:)

[van]

Not bad for a mouse painting! Not bad at all! Keep on practicing. Where are some sketches for us to look at?

[-The Swift-]

Unfortunatly, my dad has to work abroad for a while which means that i can't scan any sketches till he gets back cause the scanner works through his computer, which i can't use.:(
My copy of bridgemans guide to life has just arrived so expect lots of work when i do post sketches!
i'm over half way through exams now so i should be able to get back working properly very soon. thanks for your contimuing comments van, just sorry there's not much to comment on!

:(

[van]

Thats all right. Just make sure you keep drawing and dont slack. Perhaps you should look into buying a scanner for yourself.

[-The Swift-]

good point

updates due, this thursday, sorry for the absence.:(

[-The Swift-]

Ok finally!!!!!!!! i'm back, not with a ton of stuff but it's better than nothing!

Thanks for the motivation Talmir..................hand studies.

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Hand_Study_1.gif

and another

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Hand_Study_2.gif

oooooooooooo and another!

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Hand_Study_3.gif

finally some very brief anatomy, everything here's form bridgemans guide to drawing from life, great book!

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Anatmoy_Study1.gif

well hopefully more updates to follow, with not such a long wait this time!!!:(

[INFERNOmunky]

NICE STUDIES...yeah i myself hafta get around to doing some more of those.....good stuffs there

[obid619]

Swift. Bridgeman's book is frigggin awesome. I ordered it online at Amazon....OOOHHH can't wait to get it <drool> it'll help me out a lot. good stuff too swift. Your thumbnails look great, but try to add some small details while you ink (like some buttons, extra shapes) it'll give it more depth. good luck!:D

[-The Swift-]

obid619-thanks dude, yeah his book is awesome. and there's sooooooo much in depth material which explains functions in a really easy-to-understand way. helps a tonne, the thumbnails have been puton hold for now, i'm concerntrating on bridgman studies and anatomy.

munky-thanks, they help loads! gives you something to get your teeth in too!

thanks everyone for your comments, i'm still on the hand section, and i think i will be for a while, i wanna do a really thourough study of bridgeman, so this sketchbook could get boring for you guys, but i think my anatomy's gonna improve a ton!:)

updates tonight!

[talmir]

Great hand studies there swift. Keep it up. All I wouls say is try to work with darker pencils.. they seem a bit washed out in the scans.

[PeggyChung]

hey swift, yea bridgeman's stuff is great, i too have the book but im keeping myself to work on heads for quite a while. i cant wait to get to the arm and hand parts (my fav) but thats a torso away..hehe i ll be back! btw i just reliezed, we could have done a thunderdome :mad: i was thinking who i could have gone against :P

[-The Swift-]

talmir-yeah i see what you mean, the next two i changed the resolution, and the last ones were done with a B3 as oppose to HB.....................good advice, it looks better on paper too!

ladylioness-thanks! i've still got to do torsos and such like! i just started half way through the book!
That thuderdome idea's cool! i dunno if i'd have been confident enough to do it this time...............but there's always next year!

Anyway, although i'm not posting work daily, i'm still sketching daily.........so here's more hand studies.........i think i'm improving.................trying to bring my own stylr into it.................not just bridgemans.

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Hand_Study_4.gif

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Hand_Study_5.gif

these last two were done with darker pencils-thanks talmir.

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Hand_Study_6.gif

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Hand_Study_7.gif

Thankyou all for your consistant replies, i really apprieciate it!:)

sorry for the lack of updates, havn't been able to scan, still drawing though! should update tonight!;)

[-The Swift-]

Ok so.........................havn't posted in yonks!! mainly cause i've been away for the weekend so i havn't drawn anything.......but i have loads of stuff i havn't posted as i've been drawing as much as i can! pretty much the same stuff..........hands.........and more hands!

this is likly to be the lat post for a while, my dads off to france again,:( but that means when i do eventually post, there'll be lots of it!

later peeps
-the swift-:)

[-The Swift-]

well, now i can't scan for 3 weeks soooooooooooo i've decided to do some painting along with my trusty mouse, it's not very good but it didn't take too long.

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/House_clouds_copy.gif

there you go, i'm still studying good ol' bridgeman:)

[endregan]

painting with a mouse is hard!

just paint in real life its more fun :)

good studies, dont forget to draw from life too eh!

[-The Swift-]

thaks endregan, will do, when i have some time.........dam graphics project!

btw i've just got my interview time for a college to do art and design AVCE.......i need to bring some work in with me....any favourites? or just any worth bringing?

what to expect in my next scanned update.........
-portraits of Mr. Frodo
-lots of hand sketches! *yey*
-maybe some life sketches, objects, household appliances...e.t.c.

well, i'll be back

-The Swift-

:)

[JackalAnubis]

great stuff, I like your hand studies. after studying the structure of the hand, you should try doing some life studies of your own hand/arm to help re-enforce those ideas.

[-The Swift-]

thanks dude, good point, it would really help and improve my anatomy skills, it's completely different when you're not drawing from a ref!

thanks again

-The Swift-

[Neireth]

Really good studies you have there. Keep them coming!
And it would be nice to see some more studies, and not just on hands. But so far you're doing a great job! :)

[Angela]

Hey Swift,

Been meaning to drop by your sketch book.. and i finally found it today! Nice stuff! Thanks for all your nice comments! Hope to see more work from you soon! =) Keep it up!
:chug:

[-The Swift-]

thankyou all for your replies,

Spellshaper-thanks, i think that's a good idea, drawing hands for hours on end everyday does get a little repetive after a while, i'm thinking of studying the figure, just to vary it a bit.

Angela-Thankyou! it's nice to have some feedback form other people of the female variety! we're not alone. 2 weeks left until i can post scanned stuff, will probably be a huge download, so beware!

thatnkyou all, i'm just sorry i can't update very often. unfortunatly, it's looking like i can only scan my stuff about once a month! i'm hoping to get a wacom for my B-day in april so at least i can post some stuff as a result of that!

later all
-The Swift-:)

oooooo yeah and happy pancake day!:D

[obid619]

thats a great paint, even if you didn't take that long. It successfully gives off a sense of eerieness, which, I believe, was the intended effect. Keep up the good work :D. Great hand studies. It kinda reminds me to post up some of my own studies too!:confused:

[-The Swift-]

thanks obid, yeah eeriness was the intended effect, hopefully getting a wacom so i should be posting some more digital stuff, post those studies!

[-The Swift-]

whilst not being able to scan(only a week to go) i've been trying to paint with my mouse (unsucssefully!)
this is a half finished picture of Neo flying(thanks Sticky-knowthemovie) it taken about 2 1/2 hrs so far andi'm beggining to run out of steam, the face keeps going wrong and i havn't even attempted the hands, i might finish it when i get my wacom, i just thought i'd post to give something to show.

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Neo-2_hours.gif

oh well at least i've got a wacom to look forward to.:)

[-The Swift-]

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i'm back in action, here's my scanned stuff i've promised for such a long time! apoligies to all. well here's what i've been up to;
-self portraits
-hand studies
-figure studies
-SOME life studies.......here goes.......

more hand studies, from the one and only bridgeman

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Hand_Study_8.gif

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Hand_Study_9.gif

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Hand_Study_10.gif

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Hand_Study_11.gif

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Hand_Study_12.gif

and i decided to be daring and use pen!

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Hand_Study_13.gif

now for some figure studies and some very brief life studies.......i got bored and couldn't find anything interesting to draw

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/figure_study_2.gif

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/figure_study_3.gif

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/figure_study_4.gif

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/figure_study4-1.gif

then a decided to draw frodo from a poster i'd just bought, unsuccesfully at first, not too bad second time round

Number 1-squashed head, kinda bad all round
http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/frodo_1.gif

and number 2-slighlt better but not too wonderfully great!
http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/frodo_2.gif

last but not least, a self portrait, best one so far imo! and with my new hair cut (just in case you didn't get that!)
http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Self_Portrait_6.gif

that's all for now, so crit away!:)

[endregan]

awesome latest batch.

the studies are coming along nicely! study from life as much if not more than from the book. it helps an awful lot.

good sp. i have longer hair hehe :)

[Angela]

Hey -The Swift-!

Long time no see! Nice new updates and i love the Frodo picture! Great job on your Self Portrait too! Keep it up! I was going to reply earlier.. but they kept signing me out =/ But i am glad to see new stuff! Keep it up! HOPE TO SEE MORE ART SOON! :chug:

[chudzta]

Hey darling how ya been?

Um two notes on the sp , i mean i would need a photo to be sure. But the eye line(mostly the bottom one) seems a lil off/fudged. One thing ive read and realized is that alot of ppl draw a physical lower line when its really moreso shaped by shading. But its is good. and i like the pupil detail. o and the hair is hott.. i mean well done.

Another thing was i would look into creating some sort of 'lip' to the top edge of the nostril. its very flat and looks more stuck up than i imagine it to be. make sense? - just thoughts - awesome studies - take care - chudds

[-The Swift-]

thankyou all for the replies, apprieciated as ever!
endregan- thanks, yeah i'll try to get myslef doing studies as much as i can!

angela-thanks again! glad you like frodo!= and the self portrait, got plenty to do on that one so i'm sure i'll be posting another one soon!

chudds- easy! thanks though! i've got some work to do on my self portraits now! thanks though, i also noticed that in was a bit kinda wide headed, i didin't realise till it was on screen though! oh well better luck next time

thanks to everyone who's replied thus far, very encouraging! i have a lot of school work on at the mo, and my dad's away gain in a couple of days, so i dunno how long it's gonna before i can update!

i'll be sketching daily though, no doubt!:)

later -the swift-

[-The Swift-]

ok, just a quickie witgh my trusty mouse, it's my eye btw. unfortuantly i won't be able to sacn stuff for about 5 weeks now, this does mean that i'll have lots to scan when a i do though.

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/my_eye.gif

keep talking to me thoug, gets boring otherwise!:)

[young paddy1]

love the latest hand anatomy studies and the sp looks good just a crit on the length of your chin the space between the bottom lip and the end of your chin should be increased slightly and one of your eyes seems a little off kilter.

the second frodo portrait is a vast improvment on the first, give his lips a nudge northward and it will be well on it's way.

a little tip for your speeder drawings eithr draw all your width lines parallel by getting a ruler and a set square and sliding the square along the ruler or make all the lines go to a vanishing point above the vehicle;)

nice work all round.

[-The Swift-]

thanks young paddy, i haven't done any vechiles for a while, just been sketching, but i get your point on that one, should help me alot.

thanks:)

[Ra Havok]

Good job on the hand studies.

As a general comment I want to tell you that your sketches probably would benefit from confident outlines. Or at least 'important' lines. (for example lines that indicate a form close to the viewer, or overlapping other lines)
There is too little value differentiation in a lot of your sketches. (greyness) So, a couple of strong dark lines would give your sketches more 'WHACK'!, so to say.

[spork891]

You've improved visibly since I've been gone.

[-The Swift-]

thanks for the comments guys!

Ra Havok-thanks for the advice, i see what you mean about that, i'm gonna focus a section on this in my next batch, this should help me alot!

Spork891-Good to have you around again! thanks alot, it's always encouraging to hear that!

thanks guys:)

[Yiako]

That self-portrait and that Frodo had really vivid expressions. My humble advice is: draw more from reality/ref; don´t stop studying anatomy, but wide your motives also. I wouldnt worry about lines yet; style will flow naturally.

[-The Swift-]

thanks yiako,
i will do, i'm struggling to find time at the minute, with revision strting for exams and all! it's frustrating more than anything. at least if i get past these exams, and getting into my course, i'll be doing art all day 5 days a week, and that's just at college, i guess things could be looking up from here on in :)

[-The Swift-]

Finally! updates have arrived, it's not be as long as i thought so there's not as much work asi'd hoped, still there is some.

first for some more self portraits, not very pleased with them................

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/self_portrait_8.gif

i tryed a different angle on this one, to vary it a bit

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Self_Portrait_7.gif

now for the latest installation of figure studies

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/figure_study_5.gif

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/figure_study_6.gif

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/figure_study_7.gif

this was my "Sharpening lines" bit, i've decieded i don't like sharp lines;)

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/figure_study_8.gif

My first life studies, which weren't very productive.

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/life_study_1.gif

and i weird thing i did with my brushpen

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/tron.gif

well that's it for now, i got my Final exam art brief today, so expect sketches from that, if they're any good!

crit away!
:)

-The Swift-

[-The Swift-]

i thougth i'd show you how i'm getting on with my art exam, from a reference, ps, oc, about 2 hours so far.

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/GCSE-clouds-_so_far.gif

any tips? still a long way to go, but help is always appriectiated.

ps the clouds got a bit messed when i made the file smaller! sorry, and it was done, yet again with my trusty mouse, not long to go till i get my wacom!!!!:)

[sixBlade]

Hey ;) Ive seen your gallery before thought I posted last time I was here. It is nice to see another brit on here.. hell I haven't even really looked at the sidebar until now :P

I think what you said about us being on the same sort of level is probably inaccurate - you've done some anatomy and I've er done some random copying of heads! :P Ive got the bridgman book but I want to work through loomis' stuff first heh

Anyways keep up the good work, good luck with your art exam if you havent finished it already (if you have wheres the picture?)

Edit: you get to do your art exam with painter or something? lucky *******! If I'd had access to painter at my school I probably would have done art past year 9!

[PeggyChung]

hey Swift, awesome selfportraits, they are very neat compared to mine. btw wheres more life drawing girl?! i expect large update! :D

[-The Swift-]

Thanks everyone for replies!

Sixblade-i've finished my art mock final peice, i got to take a piccy of it, it's A2 size acrylis canvus. no i can't do my exam in ps, it's just kinda preliminary work, just a rough design to show what it's gonna look like(sort of!)

i'll probably do it on a big canvus again! i'll ost it when i;'ve done it!(schedueld may10th finish)

Ladylioness-thanks, they were a bit frustrating this time round! your sketchbook is looking good! i know i gotta do more life studies, i'm doing portrtais from refs at the mo so sorry for the lack of..........eh.....life!

anyways, here's an update on how the Art prep is going, i've got work into it loads yet, just showing the basic buildup-about 4 hrs now.

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/GCSE-clouds-so_far_2.gif

later:)

[killing.people]

the swift,

you most definately have the patience an artist requires, i envy you for this. with determination, that trait is all you need to become a great artist.

excellent anatomy studies, i can tell it has helped you improved tremendously.
it is awesome you are doing self portraits, i have learned a tremendous amount from doing them, not only about aspects of art - but myself as well.

nice perspective attempts honestly, perspective can be very difficult and requires a lot of focus. you must first learn the rules of perspective. do you know the different elements of a perspective drawing?

whoever or where ever you are getting your study ideas, continue to listen. :p

-killing.swiftly

[-The Swift-]

killing.people- thankyou very much! it's really encouraging to hear an artist like yourself comment about my work!

i've been lookign at your self portraits in the guest sp section, i can see how you've learnt alot, they're incredible. i think i have too, but i'm looking forward to trying a few digital ones in the near future.

yeah i know quite a bit about perspective having studied graphics at GCSE, only the basics though, 2 point and 1 point perspective, i'm a bit rusty having not thought about it for about a year though! i'll try some studies on it, get up to scratch.

i had my interview today to go to college+study art+design, i got in! but he also suggested a different course that was more graphic design and illustration based, i've got another interview for this course, but i was just wondering if anyone had any thoughts on which on to do? the art and design is more kinda fine art and photography with textiles, much broader than the other, which is more illustrative and IT based, i'm tempted toward the latter, but stiil not sure

thanks again killing

later

-the swift-

[Yiako]

First of all: Congrats! :chug:
I'm sorry I cant give you any advice about which path to choose; I would say "choose your first idea".
Regarding your drawing I like how is taking shape. If you can connect the buildings in the foreground with the lights in the background seamlessly it's gonna be a great picture.
What I find disturbing is the sky. I did a paintover to show you how clouds and mountain seem to form a triangular pattern. It's -IMHO- a bit artificial. Surely it's something that is in the photo, but I think if you break it, it's gonna make the picture more natural.
(sorry about my english)
http://www.membres.lycos.fr/aramchekpoint/Other/swift_drawing.gif

[Angela]

Hey swift! long time no see! WOW! i just saw all your lastest updates and they are awesome! i LOVE your art exam picture of the city! it's great! cant wait to see more! post more soon! =D

[-The Swift-]

thanks again guys for all the support!

yiako-thanks for the honest advice. i've got a long way to go with it, i've still got alot of background pictures to go in, so hopefully it should look fine. yeah the clouds have been bothering me alot too, they were from a differnt photo which i messed the colours up in, but i think i'm gonna start again with them and do it my own way! thanks again, and your english is fine!

angela-thanks! havn't seen you around for a while either! i'm gonna have scanner problems for a while again, but i'm not gonna have much time to be honest cause i got final exams and all the rest of it!

thanks again to everyone!:)

[-The Swift-]

changed the clouds and added a bit more, not sure if a like, still a bit artificial me thinks.

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/GCSE-clouds-so_far_3.gif

thinks a need more colours or bigger range of shapes

[talmir]

Great stuff there swift.. Keep it up... (The new sky seems a bit harsh, maybe softening the clouds a bit would be good)

[-The Swift-]

talmir-thanks, havn't seen you around for a while, good to hear from you.

i've changed the sky (yet again) and i think i'm gonna stick with it this time! i just got fine tune and i'm done eith the sky, full stop!

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/GCSE-clouds-so_far_4.gif

thoughts?

[PeggyChung]

hey swift, the painting is comin on good, cant wait to see the final product!

[endregan]

good progress

maybe if u saturate the clouds a bit it wouldnt attract so much attention to it.

so far so good and congrats btw

i would take art personally, but whatever you prefer!

[-The Swift-]

thanks again guys(and girls) for all the support!

ladylioness- thanksyou as always!

endregan-thanks man, i've got to tone 'em down a bit yet, but thanks. i'm still decideing about what course, but thanks for your opinion.


i'll post an update when i have one!

[-The Swift-]

update, sorry not very good, but i'm running out of steam and time!

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/GCSE-clouds-so_far_5.gif

[killing.people]

hey swift,

i think the dingy yellow color you are using in your clouds is not very natural.

here is a photo of a sunset i found with a google search:
http://yosx3.at.infoseek.co.jp/galeria/sunset.jpg

also note the atmospheric perspective :p
the mountains in the distance at turning color
also take a look at the edges of the mountains' silouettes ;)

-kp

[obid619]

damn swift. Thats a really cool setting for your proj. What tools are you using?! The way the lights stand out makes it have a kind of fluorescent feeling to it. The only thing I think that would need more progress is the sky but everything is terrific. Keep up the good work. :chug:

[-The Swift-]

killing- thanks man, that's really helpful! alot more natural than mine!

obid-thanks obid, just normal photoshop tools, mostly the airbrush.

unfortunalty, time waits for no man, or woman! and so i have no time left to work on the ps painting and not much time to do any sketching! i havea lot of school work to do at the mo, but i'll try and post bits 'n' bobs from my art exam+prep work

thanks again guys(and girls) for all the great support you've given me! i wouldn't have got far on that painting without it!

[-The Swift-]

long time no post. sorry guys. i've been away to the beautiful city of paris to visit my dad. had an amazing time and all you french artists will be pleased to hear that paris is now top of my "favourite city list".
i was lucky enough to visit the louvre and see the mona lisa! i also saw the original works of Ingres and fell in love with them, so i bought a book with them in and am now drawing from it!

unfortuantly it will be another 5 pain staking weeks before i can post any scanned stuf!!!!! torture!

but in the mean time i'll leave you with the assurance that i'm trying to sketch as often as i can while revising for final exams!


and oh yeah i'm working on a an acrylic painting so that should be a nice lil treat for yo'l


:)

[obid619]

lucky youl. I wanna visit Paris. I even know relatives that live there. I know people that live in Britian and Germany also. Damn so many places i wanna go. have lots of fun :cool:

[-The Swift-]

hey all. it's been quite a while. 29th of april which means i'm a year older, the ripe old age of 16. this also means i have got my wacom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YEY!!!!!!!!!
my exams however are in full swing so thre won't be much to show for a while. just thought i'd give you an update so you don't think i've dissapeared or anything like that. i've been working hard on my art exam prep work so when i get round to scanning the pics, i'll show the them.

thanks for the feedback obid, paris rules.

:)

[Angela]

hey buddy! Long time no see! you're sixteen now? well.. happy bday! (belated one) i hope to see more art soon.. and i feel for you.. final exams always suck! oh my.. mines are coming up soon! well.. post more soon! i cant wait to see more art from you! hope you're doin well! and sorry for not replyin in such a long time!

see ya!

[Yina]

we need more females around here :rolleyes:

[-The Swift-]

hey guys, sorry for the long time no post! thanks for the replies guys(or girls would be mre appropriate!)
it's good to see more females around here, i agree with you Yina. nice of yu to drop by.
hey angela, no worries about being late. i haven't seen any updates on your sketchbook lately either. keep sketching gril!

well i'll see you when the exams are over!

thanks again.

-The Swift-

[-The Swift-]

I thought i'd show you what i've been doing with my wacom. nothin very good, but everyone starts somewhere. i know that the perspective on the face is off, the nose is too long, shape of the head a bit wonky. but crit away on how i could improve this in the future.

anyways here it is.

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/face_1_copy.gif

And here's the close up of the eye.

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/close_up_2_copy.gif

[Angela]

Hey Swift! really nice start.. you did this all on your computer right? (meaning no sketch).. it's looking pretty nice now.. well as you said.. the nose is a bit too long and the perspective is a bit off, but it's really good for your first time! =) one more thing.. i think you kinda need to fix the lips.. but i love the eyes! they look pretty realistic to me! great job and keep it up! cant wait to see the finished product/more products from you! =) good luck on your exams and hope they end soon =)

[-The Swift-]

thanks angela, yep didon my comp, with my wacom, no sketch, just straight in(yes i know you can tell!)
my exams start next week and continue for a bout a month, but after that, i'm home and dry! i've got soooooooooo much stuff to scan, most of the good stuff, unfortuanatly is too big for my scanner, so i'll have to take pics of 'em.
i'm still managing to squeeze drawing and sketching in though, life would be dull without it!

thanks again,
i WILL be back!

swift

[Farin]

the eye looks nearly realistic but the whole thing is done without ref, isnt it?

I m looking forward to see ur new stuff

[-The Swift-]

thanks farin, yep no ref, straight from imagination, if you can call it that, not very imanginative.

i think i've got past i stage in my drawing, i'm finding it much more of a need-want to, rather than a must-got to.

can't wait till i can update.

[-The Swift-]

Finally, it's that time again! some of tis stuff is pretty old, but i'll point that out along the way.

these were done using some charcoal pencils, not too great i know, some of these are out of proportion, a bit wonky etc etc.

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Charcoal_refs.gif

this was with some graphit pencils, figure studies.

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/figure_study_9.gif

with some soft square pastel shading

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/figure_study_10.gif

this one was done following my visit to the Louvre, i bought a book on Ingres and have been drawing from it. this was done in paris, graphite pencils again.

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/figure_study_11.gif

these following ones are more recent, first some figure studies, in graphite pencils

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/figure_study_12.gif

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/figure_study_13.gif

these are with some willow charcoal, much easier to use than the charcoal pencils.

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/figure_study_14.gif

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/figure_study_15.gif

this was form the Ingres book, it's a close up of the face. it was just a preliminary work, i'm gonna do a full size one for my mum's birthday present.

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Girl.gif

more figure studies

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/figure_study_16.gif

Now, these are a series of drawings i'm doing, i've been looking into pencil art, i think it's an area i'm going to focus on quite strongly. these are done with graphite sticks, graphite pencils, putty rubber and a blending stump. In order of completion;-

gandalf
http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/LOTR-gandalf.gif

Gollum

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/LOTR-gollum.gif

Gimlie

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/LOTR-gimlie.gif

Eomer

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/LOTR-eomer.gif

this is probably my best, i was using some techniques i'd come across that other pencil artists use.

Legolas

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/LOTR-Legolas.gif

thanks for looking, crit away!

:)

[Yina]

i like the lotr series :)

[dakoscwash]

Very nice studies you've got here swift. I really enjoy the LOTR portraits, they're very accurate. My only crit would be that Gandalf's face looks a bit too 'clean.' Great work man keep it up.:chug:

[endregan]

ahh a trip to paris eh. that is one of your best!\

good to see you still sketching!

[TheUbermind]

now heres a thought is swift acutally swift?
lets find out

heres a mugger and heres swift
:machinegu :xx:








oh no the mugger got shot by swfit
now he'll never feed his kids:evilbat:

[-The Swift-]

thanks for all the replies guys(and girlies)

Yina-thanks, yeah i worked hard on those, about 4-5 hours each, the legolas was more like 9 cause it was a nightmarre to try and get the eyes right.

Dako-thanks, i see what you mean, i was concerntrating to hard on getting it looking like him, and blending, that i didn't think too much about texture.

Endregan-i'm always sketching! yeah paris was great, definatly worth a visit. your sketchbook is coming along really nicely!

The Ubermind-erm.....................thanks, i think.

anywho. thec next update willl be in about 2 weeks. then it should be alot more regular.
i'm currently working on a piece which i think is one of my best yet. it's gonna take me awhile so the quantity on the next postr probably won't be as big, but the quality is what counts right?

later

swift

[MindCandyMan]

I like seeing your work ethic swift this is very good! You are moving right along. Check out this image HERE (http://www.mindcandyman.com/jons_uploads/mouthcastprogression.jpg) and see if that helps. Take a look at how I progressed when doing this cast drawing...you define all the shapes you see first. FOr instance when you are doing your self portrait squint squint squint! Always be squinting it's so helpful. Squint and look for the shadow shapes...try to outline the shadow shapes because that's what makes it look like you...the light falls on your face much much differently than anyone else's. When you look at your eye don't think...eyeball, now the iris, now the eye lashes, etc... Most of the time you won't even see your eye lashes when you are drawing your self portrait...you are too far away from the mirror to even see them. I would use more contrasty lighting as well...set up a spotlight (not one too hot hehe) on one side of your face so you have really contrasty lighting. Once you define the shadow shapes then analyze their edges...is this a soft edge? (around a round cheek or around the neck etc...) is this a really harsh, straight edge? Analyze all the shadows and see what their properties are. Also don't smudge overall on your image...use small pencil strokes to build up a tonal value...you can smudge edges together if you want but it won't look as good...you want the overall look to be built up strokes. At any rate I hope that was helpful...this may all not make sense to you at this point but keep it in mind things will click into place. Basically this is the general rule...draw it exactly as you see it...if you squint and there is no line under your chin...don't draw it there. If you squint and part of your eye socket is in shadow not revealing anything...then draw it just as you see it. Have fun and keep it up!

[-The Swift-]

thanks for the reply MCM, it helps loads! i get everything you say, it all makes perfect sense. i see what you mean by squinting your eyes a bit, i seem to be able to blur my eyes without actually squinting, which is quite cool cause i can define shadows on everyday things without peole realising, whereas if i had to squint i'm sure i'd get a few looks!
thanks for the tutorial, very helpful to see how other people develop their work. i havn't updated for a while, but i do have some new work that uses some of the things you mentioned, i'll post it and some closeups later on if time allows.
i'm trying to acheive some photorealistic drawings at the minute, so the cast tutorial is quite apt! thanks alot.

unfortunatly alot of the best work i've done has been for my art GCSE so i don't currently have it so i can't post it, when i get it back i'll post it here.

thanks also for the advice in self portraits, i haven't done one in a fair while, but i think i'll give them a go thanks to the advice!

i'm currently 2 weeks away from finishing school and exams, so after that, i'll be drawing alot more as i'll have 11 weeks of free time which i can devote purely to my art.

thanks again,

Swift:)

[Angela]

wow damn! nice! i love the legolas one.. he's a hottie isnt he? =Danyways, nice new update! cant wait for more!!!:chug:

[van]

Nice studies, Swifty. MCM gave some damn good advice...Im taking it as well.

[-The Swift-]

Angela-thanks alot, haven't seen any of your updates for a while, i'll be looking forward to it!

Van- thanks, you're progress is amazing, not to mention your dedication, thanks for stopping by!

ok, so time did not allow last night, so i'm posting it now. it was done from a ref using 6B+2B graphite sticks, 2B graphite pencil, tissues and i tortillion stick thingy (blending stump). it took about 15 hours over a couple of days. i used most of the technique MCM showed. unfortunatly the scan is a little grainy, sorry about that.

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/feet.gif

and here's the closeup(again a little grainy)

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/feet_closup.gif

thanks for looking!

[jook]

really nice feet!

[-The Swift-]

thanks:)

[bahamut]

wow! they look really round&soft....very realistic!

did you do them from reference, may i ask?

[-The Swift-]

yep, from a photo i found on the net, thanks!

[MindCandyMan]

Ok yeah sheesh talk about taking the advice to heart man these feet look fantastic...great job man!!!! The only critique I would give is that it lacks a contrast...it seems like it's all mid values righ tnow and could use a some darker tones in there...and if your pencil can't achieve the darker tones then you need to cater your darkest dark to what you can achieve with the pencil. What I mean is that the darkest shadow needs to be proportionately darker (or the same amount darker) than any given value (lightest light, midvalue, etc...) Did that make sense hehe? Fantastic job though man...wow great progress!

[Calle_]

Nice, really cool progress, i can really tell that you have a larger understanding of depth in you drawings now. Just keep it up and have fun.
Peace.

Calle.

[endregan]

wow nice feet! Yeah like mcm said its a bit mid value but its still really awesome!

I can definitly see the amount of time you put in.

[Angela]

DAMNNNNNNNNNNNN GIRL FRIEND! :eek: nice feet! that's totally a kick ass drawing! but i would quote what McM said! hehe! ill be updating soon! hope to see some more updates from you too okay? good luck! see ya later!!!! :chug:

[-The Swift-]

Whoa! thanks for the response guys!
MCM-i hear you about the contrast, the actual thing is darker, but the scan's not too great, i used 6B graphite which is the darkest i could get, i also added charcoal to take the shine of the graphite, making it darker.

Calle_- thanks alot, it's cool to compare my earlier stuff with my new stuff, even i can see a difference, thanks i wouldn't get so far without peoples comments!

Endregan-thanks, glad it shows! your sketchbook is coming along nice too!

Angela-thanks again, looking forward to your new stuff!

thanks all i'll try and concerntrate on the contrast more next time!

[-The Swift-]

this is more like what it actually looks like(a bumped up the contrast, and killed the quality!)

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/feet-3.gif

[van]

It sucks that the darks are lost in the scan, man. But, it still looks awesome.

[-The Swift-]

Ok, here's what i've benn doing in between exams, mostly birthday presents for people. the first wsa for my mum, it was a copy of an ingres sketch. it took about 10 hours and was a bit of a challenge, but i got there in the end. mechanical pencil, lil bit of charcola and whitre chalk

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/girl1.jpg

and some closeups,

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Girl_Mum_closeup1.gif

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Girl_Mum_closeup2.gif

This next one was another present for a friend, he's a mad rancid fan. haven't touched acrylic for a while, but this was fun, dificult t blend skin tones in acrylics, cause it drys so fast!

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Pict_for_tom_c.jpg

finally, started doing another study, haven't done them in a while, using charcoal and chalks.

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/sculls.jpg

thanks for looking

[endregan]

Good stuff keep going

For acrylics to make it wetter, you can use it like watercolour so it doesnt dry really fast. That way you can go from thin to thicker and if you need the more time to blend just use a bit more water :)

[van]

Very nice, Swifty! :)

[-The Swift-]

endregan-nice tip, thanks, i'll bare that in mind next time. i think i'm gonna try oils sometime too.

van-thankyou!!!!!!!!!! i forgot to thank you for the previous reply too. also thanks for setting such a good example with your own sketchbook, admiration!

[Yina]

great improvement! the acrylics piece looks good and so do the studies :)

[-The Swift-]

thanks yina.

okey dokey, here's the latest one i've finished, from a picture ina magazine, about 10 hours. Used a mechanical pencil and a putty rubber.

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Lady1.jpg

zoomy zoom

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Lady1_closeup_face.jpg

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Lady1_closeup.jpg

I'm currently working on another big one,(well not big in size, but challenge and time) .
Hard times at the minute, sorry for the lack of material.

[young paddy1]

your latest lot are fantastic from the feet down superb stuff.

[van]

Excellent stuff as always. :)

[-The Swift-]

youngpaddy-Thanks, i feel that i've hit a bit of a milestone, even i can see an improvement from my first stuff! thanks!

Van-thanks, means a lot to have nice replies! you're unstopable!

I wouls post my latest, but i can't get onto photo bucket!

[-The Swift-]

Ok, i managed to get onto photobucket briefly. has anyone else got any problems with it, or is it just me!?

This took about 12 hours, graphite, conte and charcoal. My best in my opinion.

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Joseph_Hands.jpg

Here's the closeup. It was from a photo. I'm going to try and some from life.

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Joseph_Hands_closeup.jpg

[prawda]

oh that looks excellent , the only thing i dislike on the old hand is that the thumb apperars to be too small. but the rendering on the skin and all the work u put in it , wow :jump2: :jump2:

cu praw

[-The Swift-]

Thanks prawda. i kinda see what you mean about the thumb, although it looks pretty much how it was on the photo. thanks again!

[Angela]

Hey you! Haha.. you're gettin sooooooooo gooodddddd ~~~!!! I love the thumb and the girl with the dress! i really liked how you did the dress...!! keep it coming.. cant wait to see moreeeee!!! =))))))

[-The Swift-]

thanks angela! i was pretty pleased with the dress, i did straight from my head, no ref. thanks again, well i'm off to draw!

[obid619]

fuck me silly! this is awesome work swift. DEFINETLY a major improvement. sweet and awesome keep it up! GRR your so better than me :punch:

[van]

Well, I dont agree that it is your best, but it is definitely pretty damn good. :) Keep rockin!

[-The Swift-]

Thanks guys
Obid-thanks, glad you like it!

Van Is The Man-Thanks, which would you say is my best????? thanks for the constant replies too. you're certainly rocking!

I'll be back

[van]

Swifty! Overall I would say this one:

http://img14.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/feet.gif

[-The Swift-]

yeah, i might have to agree with you! sorry haven't updated in a while, just cause i'm too lazy to scan! been working on a lil cityscape thing, some distatourous self portraits and i've just started a new mamoth peice; a still life, A3(twice as big as normal), using graphite, i'm really pushing to try and get it to look as real and detailed as possible. i might post some of the progress, anywho, for now, back to the drawing board!

[-The Swift-]

Well it's been a lonnnnnggggggggg time! I've been sketching constantly though! My computer died and i've just had no time to scan and what-me-not!
So here's a few things i've done, these are just basically comparisons to my early works and my new one's.
Here they are on there own.

Some bridgeman, bex style.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/figurestudy17new.jpg

top one's bridgeman, bottom one's my own hand from life.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/handstudynew.jpg

And finally a Self portrait.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/selfportraitnew.jpg

Thanks for looking. ;)

[-The Swift-]

Here's the comparisons.

Janurary 2004<---------->September 2004

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/comparehands.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/compareportraits.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/comparefigures.jpg

What ya think!???

[spork891]

I think you're awesome and your work is really paying off. I'm so glad you're still here. Draw more! :-)

[Angela]

=O.... man you improved so much! especially with your SPS!!!! KEEP IT UP SWIFT!

[endregan]

Well hello!

And welcome back...

Was wondering where you were off to. You kept drawing.... good stuff :)

Loving your progression..

[-The Swift-]

Thans for the replies everyone!

spork-good to see your skecthbook is live and kicking too, good work!

Angela-Thanks! i haven't seen any updates from you lately! might be because i haven't been around, correct me if i'm wrong!

Endregan-thanks very much, i see you're always on the ball, constantly updating, your improvement is really solid, keep at it!

:}

[Pichuerca]

Woaw, you have impoved a lot in this short of time!. Really incredible.

Don´t stop it.

[-The Swift-]

Pichuerca- Thanks, there's no way i'm stopping now! not unless both my hands get chopped off!

Any way, finally got round to scanning some older stuff today! so i apoligie if my work looks like it's taken a step back!

terrible self portrait(from life)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/selfportrait10.jpg

slightly better self portrait(from life)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/selfportrait9.jpg

Micheangelo studies(not very good i know!)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Michangelostudy1.jpg
i have done alot more work at college, but have been unable to scan. Oh yeah, i also get free life drawing classes once a week!!!!

-------------------------------------------------------------------

And Finally i've finished my first commisioned portrait. From a photograph.

"Special Friend"
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Joseph.jpg

Thanks for looking

[Angela]

Hey swift! nice update again! I LOVE the "special ;)" friend portrait! i can see why you got a comission for that! it's really good!! btw your sps are coming along really well! only crit for you is to work on the lips.. the most hard part on the face :dead: good luck! KEEP UPDATING! hehe my updates? ill update soon hopefully~

[dakoscwash]

Your rendering is sooo soft. :bashful: Keep it up real nice work.

[Burning Eyes]

Yah, your rendering is reaally nice. Much improvement from january, keep goin!!!

[-The Swift-]

Thanks fro the responce guys;
Angela-Thanks, yeah, about the lips, i see what you mean, i haven't done any self portraits from life in a while. I've been really busy with college work which i never get round to scanning! grrrrrrrr. no worries, i'll keep updating, regularly as possible.

Dako- Thanks dude,your rendering is pretty impressive too!

Burning eyes- I checked your sketchbook, you're doing good too! Thanks.

[-The Swift-]

Hey again, sorry for lack of updates, i've been very busy with college work and what-not. Just a small update, life drawing starts this week.
This one's for a college assignment. Alot quicker than usual, but i'm not sure if it's as good.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/cryinggirl.jpg

hope you like, please feel free to check out my website http://swiftproductions.faithweb.com, and tell me what you think the best one's are, i'm gonna apply to an art school and i'll be sending the best 5.

[spork891]

Swift, you're a bad-ass. You must be practicing hard core!

-Jason

[-The Swift-]

lol, thanks spork, yeah i sure am, you keep it up too!

[-The Swift-]

Okay, well i finally got round to phoyograping my life drawings, so here goes.
My first ever attempts at life drawings(sorry about the terrible quality!!!They do look better than this honest!)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/LifeDrawing1.jpg
10 Mins

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/LifeDrawing2.jpg
10 Mins

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/LifeDrawing3.jpg
10 Mins

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/LifeDrawing4.jpg
30 Mins

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/LifeDrawing5.jpg
The big one, an hour or so.

[-The Swift-]

Life Drawing session 2

These ones are even worse quality, i need to use a darker pencil for sure!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/LifeDrawing2-1.jpg
>10 mins

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/LifeDrawing2-2.jpg
>10 mins

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/LifeDrawing2-3.jpg
>10 mins

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/LifeDrawing2-4.jpg
>10 mins

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/LifeDrawing2-5.jpg
>30 mins

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/LifeDrawing2-6.jpg
>1-2 hours

[-The Swift-]

My first completed still life-

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/StilllifeBottle.jpg

And i hate it! because i did the labels in grapjite so as to get the detail, the flash reflected it so it looks terrible, please tell me where i'm going wrong!!!!

And a close up(actual size)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/StilllifeBottle-closeup.jpg

Help please!

[Gillespie]

Seeing the progress you've made from earlier this year is kind of shocking. Keep working hard and never get tired. :rendered:

[-The Swift-]

thanks Gillespie, i'm glad you can see it. Sometimes i find it hard to see it myself

[-The Swift-]

Ok, some painting i did yesturday, all from life, oils. Inspired by Mindcandymans apple(man you rock!)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Stilllife-Apple.jpg

zoomy zoom
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Stilllife-Applecloseup.jpg

And a pear.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Stilllife-Pear.jpg

zoomy zoom
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Stilllife-Pearcloseup.jpg

[spork891]

Totally chill.

[-The Swift-]

lol, Thanks spork, you keep chugging!

[rambhat]

Wow! The progress in this thread is almost uncanny. Keep rocking Swift! Those figure drawings are coming along well.

[-The Swift-]

Rambhat-thanks alot, it's always encouraging to get feedback.

Ok so you're due an update, that i need to scan! week 3 of life drawing, some bridgeman, i disaterous flower study, a self portrait.........etc.

In the meantime.
I'm hoping over the next few weeks to sell some limited edition prints of the feet drawing i did. Probably over ebay and also through my site

http://swiftproductions.faithweb.com I've also updated it tonnes.

Do you think £15 is a little optimistic?? ($27 to most people on here)

Let me know what you think

[lowpolymatt]

Likin the SPs. Some of the scans are a bit bright so you can't see the drawings too well though...

Nice work, keep it up!

[-The Swift-]

lowpolymatt-thanks, yeah i know, i had to muck about with the settings because the pictures were so light!

Here's the update.

Life drawing week 3;

Following are all 10 mins,
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/LifeDrawing3-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/LifeDrawing3-2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/LifeDrawing3-3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/LifeDrawing3-4.jpg

1-2 hours
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/LifeDrawing3-5.jpg

Week 4(went terribly, except the ast one which i was really pleased with, i think i've found a method that's comfortable and reletively quick!)
2 hours(ish)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/LifeDrawing4-1.jpg

closeup
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/LifeDrawing4-1closeup.jpg

[-The Swift-]

I decided to go back to bridgeman and study the head from the start;

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/headstudy1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/headstudy2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/headstudy3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/headstudy4.jpg

Decided to study micheangelo(he was imo the greatest artistic genius)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Michelangelostudy1.jpg

Did a study of a carnation for a commision i've got, first in oils then pencil(should have done it the other way round!) the oils turned out terrible! but hey i guess i should learn from it. I really can't wait for my easel to arrive!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/FlowerStudyoil.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/FlowerStudy1.jpg

And finally a self portrait.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/selfportrait11.jpg

thanks for looking, let me know what you think

[Angela]

i LOVE the back study (from mic.) ~ and the sps are coming along wonderfully! keep it coming. your improvement is sooo shocking! makes me want to draw more :D keep it coming swift!

[-The Swift-]

Lol, thanks angela, i've just finished a bigger study of another of michelangelos work. I'll post it when i can.

[Jokisalo]

nice studies pal, draw more and ill keep watching ya. :)
paintings roks!!! definetely the apple. :)
and if you got some time could you please visit my sketchbook.
thanks

[-The Swift-]

Thanks Jokisalo, your sketchbook is very imaginative, keep it up!

Right, I need some advice, I'm applying to The Florence Academy of Art very soon for the fall of 2006. I need to send 5 slides or photos of my work, so here's what i thought.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Girl_Mum.gif
Ingres master copy, the first attempt at a master copy of any kind.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/selfportraitnew.jpg
My best self portrait to date.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/LifeDrawing4-1.jpg
Only my 4th session of life drawing ever.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Joseph.jpg
My first comissioned portrait

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/feet.gif
My first fully rendered drawing.

so what'd you think, the right ones to send or not, do a have a slight chance?

thanks,
Bex

[MindCandyMan]

Well swift I would definitely definitely say you have a good chance of getting in. What you will find is that the Florence Academy of Art is not ultra particular about the skills of the person going into the program. They are more concerned about your passion and desire to draw from life in an excellent way. Some people have nothing to show to get into florence and they still do so I wouldn't worry about that. The same goes for my teachers as well. They want to see someone who is going to work their butt off and someone who values painting/drawing from life...that's about it...the rest will fall into place that's for sure. At any rate these are good for where you are at but you need training. These show an aptitude though they definitely do...once you finish the program in florence you will put these in a drawer and never take them out again. Don't take no for an answer...if they say you can't come...ask them how long you would have to wait and if they still say no just tell them, "This is the best school in the world and I won't stop bothering you until you let me in"...they will let you in then hehe. But seriously, they know you know nothing about drawing from life so they don't expect your work to be superb...it's their job to teach you to be superb. These will do fine ;) I'm glad to see you taking that route! Good luck and keep us updated!

[-The Swift-]

Thanks mcm for the quick reply, that really fills me with hope to hear that. I'm gonna post it first thing tommoro!
thanks so much, i was really unsure whether i had a chance or not, well i can honestly say my mind is at rest, if you think that then it's enough.

I don't know what else i can say, just thankyou for taking the time, you really are an inspiration. :teeth: :)

[Angela]

wowowwowow~! the new sp is awesome. i think those slides should be fine.. haha you're totally going to get in..!!!! please update more =)

[-The Swift-]

lol, thanks angela, i'll update when i can, kinda busy at the moment, all this applying and getting prints made, setting up ebay blah blah blah.

Yeah i'll update as soon as possible.

Thanks again,

Bex:)!!!!!!!

[jetpack42]

both portraits are dope. no worries from this angle.

[-The Swift-]

lol! thanks jetpack :) :) :) :)

[Ilja Murometz]

Hey swift, you have got some great stuff here, i am 16 years old too.
You say you want to go to art acadamy, do you already know what is takes to go there? I mean, what do they pay more attention to, skills, or is it something else?. I would like to go to art college or acadamy too, but i think I am not good enough to go there. If you have some free time, visit my daily sketchbook and tell me what you think.

[-The Swift-]

Thanks Ilja, i replyed in your sketchbook, hope it helps! :)

[O D T]

hey swift!

great slides youve got there...maybe you like to add a still life to your portfolio to balance it out?? I think you only have people up to now, all of which are beautifuly drawn and rendered, of course...

good luck!

[-The Swift-]

Thanks ODT, i'm waiting at the minute for my easel to arrive before i do any more apintings or still lifes, good point though, thanks.

:)bex

[rodrigo!]

the portfolio pieces are looking great good luck :)

[-The Swift-]

Rodrigo thanks, i gonna need it.

Well, I've made the desision to drop out of my sucky graphics course, get a job and take life drawing and painting classes a couple nights a week, cause I'm working part time, I'll be able to do alot more at home too.

When I told my tutor what i was going to do, this is some of the things he said..........

-You're good at ilustrating but could never be a fine artist

-I'm too narrowminded and need to think borader(basically i knw what i want and how to get there but...............)

-"The fine art world will slaughter you"

-That area of art is dead.

-I'm wasting my talent

-I could make a killing being an illustrator, if i do this i'll end up working in some shop somewhere for the rest of my life.

basically he laughed at everything i wanted to do, he wouldn't let my explain, in fact he absolutly no idea what "area of art" i am going into!
I was so devasted that he would publically humiliate me infront of the whole class............funny thing is, he's the only one whos said anything negative about, and he doesn't know what he's on about,

If anything, he has made me more determined to suceed.

Thanks for listnening to my rant, updates soon,

-(angry) Bex

[rodrigo!]

haha your teacher sounds like a bit of a dickhead to me, just because you are doing life drawing and painting courses doesnt mean ull be a fine artist...theres always comics, i dunno concept art and other things you can do, i guess, wat field are you trying to get into? oh yeah and fuck that "never could be" attitude, although its good when people use that word because it gives u a chance to shit all over them , just work hard and ull get there of course

[-The Swift-]

I want to go to the florence academy of art, realim in the classical tradition. thanks rodrigo, glad you agree. I'm not going back there again anyway, except to give him a catalog from my gallery.

[-The Swift-]

Well after a little break ( from scanning, not drawing i hasten to add!) I'm back, here's what I've been up to.

I'll Start with some studies I've done.

Onions from life, Trad pencils.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/OnionStudy.jpg

A pepper and A bit of newpaper-Cringe!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/PepperStudy.jpg

Bridgeman-
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/HeadStudy1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/HeadStudy2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/HeadStudy3.jpg

Bridgeman Hands-biro
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/BridgemanHands.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/BridgemanHands2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/BridgemanHands3.jpg

[-The Swift-]

Burne Hogarth Studies

Trad Pencil,
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/BurneHogarth-hands1.jpg

And finally, i got my hands on some newsprint! it'a great so smooth! Anyhay, I love conte!

18x24
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/BurneHogarthStudy2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/BurneHogarthStudy1.jpg

[-The Swift-]

Couple Of Life Drawings

18x24-10 mins
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Lifedrawing-Annie3.jpg

10 mins
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Lifedrawing-Annie2.jpg

About an hour
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Lifedrawing-Annie1.jpg

[-The Swift-]

Michelangelo Studies.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Michelangelo-StudyOfAMan.jpg

Conte and soft Pastel,16x12
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Michelangelo-Madonna.jpg

closeup,
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Michelangelo-Madonnacloseup.jpg

Finally got my hands on some inks,
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/Michelangelo-InkMan.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/Michelangelo-Drapes.jpg

And a Raphael Study,
16x12-Conte pencil and white chalk
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/Raphael-StudyofAmansitting.jpg

[-The Swift-]

Randoms,

A bottle quick sketch.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/BottleSketch.jpg

Eggs, Charcoal, soooooooooooooooo difficult!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/EggStudy.jpg

And last but not least, A self portriat from life,
18x24, Pencils 2b and 6b. Unfortunatly the real darks were lost in the photo because of reflections.
There are some proportions mistakes, but I'm quite pleased with it. I acheived a likeness anyway!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/theswift/SelfPortrait1.jpg

Thanks for looking, Plese crit till you can crit no more...............

[-The Swift-]

Sorry for the lack of updates!!!!! Truth be told i have quite a lot to add!

Any hay in the mean time, here's my new site with some new stuff on.

www.rebeccalholden.co.uk (http://www.rebeccalholden.co.uk)

[-The Swift-]

I've been very lazy with scanning, but I've got a new digital camera, so here's an update.

I've been trying to draw as much as possible, completed another commission, which i can't show here but is on my website.

So here's what I've been doing, I've got a new teacher who is amazing! He's like a living master himself!
He's beenhelping my alot in lifedrawing and giving my old masters to study.

Holbein,
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/Holbein1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/Holbein2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/Holbein3.jpg

Not very accurate, needed to work on using the material as the master would have done, I even used the wrong medium fro these last ones!

[-The Swift-]

Watteau

An amazing French draughtsman of the 17th century

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/Wattuea2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/Wattuea1.jpg

Here are the pages from my new sketchbook, the image sizes are roughly the same on screen as in life, it's so i can take anywhere and hopefullly everywhere!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/Sketchbookp1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/Sketchbookp2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/Sketchbookp3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/Sketchbookp4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/Sketchbookp5.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/Sketchbookp6.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/Sketchbookp8.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/Sketchbookp7.jpg

[-The Swift-]

Some Randoms

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/SelfPortrait1.jpg
Selfportrait 16x24 Conte on newsprint

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/StillLife-pears.jpg
Still life, charcoal. Not very good cause it's not finished, i took so long the fruit went mouldy!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/Leonardo1.jpg
Copy of leonardo

[-The Swift-]

Oil Paintings,
Sorry about the terrible glare!
18x14, from a reference picture, An African lady

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/AfricanLady.jpg

And another painting in the same series, half way through.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/Africanchild-07june.jpg

Both photos are not ment to look that close to the original photo. Just there for an idea.
This was the preliminary sketch for the painting in my sketchbook,
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/Sketchbookp9.jpg

Thanks for looking, please leave me your comments.

Becky, :^^:

[glikster]

HOLY SHITE!!!! I just looked at the first page of your Sketchbook and then skipped to this 4th page.
Insane, Unbelievable, Awe-Inspiring improvement!!!!!! Your pieces on this page, particularly your portraits and life-drawing (which by the way were your weakest pieces on the first page) are astounding!!
Screw the schmuck who tried to demotivate you, you're well on your way!

[Shinryu]

great work, and amazing imporvment, post some more

[-The Swift-]

glikster-Whoah, thanks alot! I think the weaker peices are the red x's on the first page, which I got rid of for that very reason!
Thanks so much for the encouragement, it really means alot!

Shinryu-Thanks, I'll hopefully post some more life drawings soon. Since I've had my new teacher, things look very different to the one's currently on this page! It's amazing what a huge difference a good teacher can do.

Thanks again,

Becky

[Xaya]

Strange jumps in quality IMO,
although u keep more and more jumping in the right directions.

That last oil painting has got some proportional lacks but the portrait of the african woman....DAMN! Just wonderful!

U have got a fine soft rendering and u see proportions very good when u are concentrated!

So just keep on the ball!
You become better and better!

-xaya

[Diego]

Hello Swift.
Awesome stuff going on here. So you're 16, that's wicked. You have a very keen eye for portraits and selfportraits.
I've seen, also seeing some jumps in terms of quality, maybe it's the time you spent on every piece. Try to take your time. Those Watteau drawings are looking great, personally i love that technique. Rubens used it so, using creta and chalk to get a full range of values.
Keep it up with life drawings, keep up with anatomy. Draw everything.
Cheers. :rendered:

[-The Swift-]

Xaya-Thanks very much! Yeah I find it difficult to concerntrate sometimes! No excuses though. Yeah I only noticed the proportional issues with my painting once I'd put it up on screen, it's so easy to become ingrosed in details and completely miss any big mistakes!!!

Diego-Thanks, I'm 17 now actually, I was 15 when I started this sketchbook. Whoah, that's a long time ago!
Thanks for the tips. I'll try to post some more life drawings.

-Becky

[blog]

-The Swift-

Sooooo, did you ever get into Florence Academy of Art? Sorry to bump this old thread but, you need to update!

[-The Swift-]

Whoah. I guess it's been a while!

Much to update!

So, I've been to visit Florence and tour various Academies and then decided upon the one I wished to attend.....................few days ago I got accepted! And ahve a place reserved for September 2006!

Take a look at the site, I can't wait!

www.angelartschool.com (http://www.angelartschool.com/)

So when I've uploaded my pics, I'll show you my new portfolio and what I've been up too.

Thanks for the prompt Blog.

-Becky

[blog]

Lucky yoooooouuuuu!, The angel academy looks aaawwwweeessssoooommmmeee, oh man I wish I could afford it :(

[Dan1989]

Holy shit, your thread is on fire! The studies of Holbein are wicked. Studying the Masters and life drawing are the way to go. It's great that you got accepted at an academy, I look forward to seeing updates!

[-The Swift-]

Ok, so a seriously overdue update! Looking back at my other work is quite weird, It all seems like such a long time ago, these follwing drawings are relativly new, as in last year and some this year, I've got tonnes of life drawings to post, I'm just so lazy. I will however try to post soem in the next week.

Here goes;

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/Bargue1.jpg
< I did A bargue copy in practise for when I start at the angel academy, I got his book, it's awesome, I just love reading it! I've done a few studies from it too!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/DraperyStudy.jpg
< Drapery, you may have seen this

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/HandStudy.jpg
<This went in my portfolio to Angel, just some quick syudies of my hand in the mirror, Red Conte Crayon on newsprint methinks

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/HandStudy1.jpg
< I like this one

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/MartinsComission.jpg
>Sorry for the crappy picture, this was my latest commsion, took Hours!!!!!!!About 16x12. It was tough, done in pencil

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/MichelangeloCopy1.jpg
<Michelangelo, think you've seen this one

More soon, my computer being weird

-Becky

[-The Swift-]

erm...........can't remember how to re-name my thread:dur: any suggestions?!

[-The Swift-]

Computers working again, yay.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/MichelangeloCopy2.jpg
>Another Michelangelo

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/SkullStudy1.jpg
> A study of an anatomiacl Skull, from life, 15 mins i think

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/SkullStudy2.jpg
>Half length skeletal Study again from life pen and ink

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/ThomasCoutureCopy1.jpg
> A copy from my bargue book, Thomas couture i think? I really love his drawing, so I framed this one.

So Next job is to get photos of my life drawings........one day

Thanks for looking, feedback would be great,

Becky

[koroshiya001]

I really like that Couture. Great studies all around.

Keep up the good work.

[Diego]

great studies, glad your back with your fantastic skills
it seems you're learning big deal with the masters.
Anyways, keep postin', love your work.
-Diego

[-The Swift-]

Thanks koroshiya001 and Diego,
here;s some more,

So I've started to try and sort out some drawings, these are the more recent i think, All from life

The following are all longer poses, 1-2 hours
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/FigureStudyLP1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/FigureStudyLP2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/FigureStudyLP3.jpg


And the rest are shorter poses, 5-7 minutes,

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/FigureStudySP1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/FigureStudySP2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/FigureStudySP3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/FigureStudySP4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/FigureStudySP5.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/FigureStudySP6.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/FigureStudySP7.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/FigureStudySP8.jpg


And finally, some studies of that skeleton again, from life, i think 10-20 mins, maybe longer.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/SkullStudy3.jpg

Zoom
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/SkullStudy3-closeup.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/SkullStudy4.jpg

That's all i've got photograpphed right now, will try to dig out some more,

-Becky

[-The Swift-]

So I Finally got round to photgraphing some more stuff! lol, here goes,

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/ArmStudy1.jpg
<Quick portriat from life in conte crayon

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/FigureStudyLP4.jpg
<1-2hours, conte crayon, from life

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/FigureStudySP9.jpg
<Quick sketch

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/FigureStudySP10.jpg
<same again

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/FigureStudyLP5.jpg
<1-2 hours

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/FigureStudyLP6.jpg
<same again,

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/FigureStudyLP6-closeup.jpg
<closeup

[-The Swift-]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/FigureStudyLP7.jpg
<1-2 hours

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/FigureStudyLP7-closeup.jpg
<closeup

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/FigureStudyLP8.jpg
<Same again, sorry bad picture

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/FigureStudyLP9.jpg
<and again

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/FigureStudyLP9-closeup.jpg
<zooooooooom

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/FigureStudyLP10.jpg
<1-2 hours

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/FigureStudyLP10-closeup.jpg
<Zooooooooooooooom

So I think that's all I have that I'm gonna show for now, more will follow as it;s produced, CAN SOMEONE TELL ME HOW TO CHANGE MY SKETCHBOOK TITLE, I Forgot! lol,

Lemmie know your thoughts,

-Becky

[-The Swift-]

Yay, so it only took me like 14months to update, well redesign my website!

domain is the same,

www.rebeccalholden.co.uk

what doy ou think?

[-The Swift-]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/Barguelevel1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/Barguelevel2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/Barguelevel3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/Barguelevel4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/Dec06-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/Feb07.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/Jan07.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/RLHolden/P6210031.jpg