Excuses, excuses (face study WIP 22/01/09)

[Spratt_attack]

The basics first, I guess.

I'm a 24 year old, two-time, university drop-out. Not too long ago, I had a rather unexpected shift in thought that drew me towards drawing. It was a subject I didn't think much of at school. Not because I didn't enjoy it, but because I was quite naive; I had no idea that one could possibly make a living out of it.

And so I shot for Physics and failed. Anyway, I managed to get into the Foundation Art course at my local college. I'm starting this sketchbook so that, hopefully, come September I will see some genuine progress and have a good grounding for the course.

I'm also dipping my toe into digital art, and will post some attempts from that.

Anyway, to begin with, here are a few paintings I've done of myself, my mum, and lastly my dad, which is a work in progress.

Any and all comments are welcome :)

EDIT: By the way, the painting of me and my dad is oils, the one of my mum is acrylics.

[Spratt_attack]

Some pages from my sketchbook. Sorry about the poor quality, I don't have a scanner as of yet. I'll put a few of my life drawing pieces up later on, too.

[Spratt_attack]

More sketches.

[RedSquirrel]

So you havn't been drawing for long? Id say your doing pretty well already ;)

[Spratt_attack]

Sorry, I should probably explain further. What I meant was that only recently did I really start thinking art was an avenue I seriously wanted to pursue as a possible future career. I have drawn on and off for a couple of years. I did a once-a-week life drawing class for 2 years in fact.

Didn't want to give the impression that I just picked up a pencil last month or something.

In fact, here's a quick update, a few life drawing sketches. These are 10-15 minutes each pose. I'm having trouble uploading the 2 digital pieces I've done, so I'll leave them til tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by, RedSquirrel.

[Spratt_attack]

Managed to sort out the problem with the digi images, but the self portrait was pathetic, so I'm just uploading this one. From photo reference.

[Jesus Food]

wow, very expressive and impressive sketchbook sofar. Good job, i be looking in to see ur updates

[Spratt_attack]

Getting used to painter, or at least trying to. I was mostly playing with opacity here. Gonna keep on this one and see what I can make of it.

Oh yes, I need to use layers. That's a proper rookie mistake, I imagine.

[Spratt_attack]

This sketchbook already feels rather random and lazy, in the sense that I've simply uploaded pictures and not really said much. I'm going to explain more about the images, not just put them up and leave it at that.

So...

...I had a half hour to spare after work today, so I went to the local art gallery and sketched a statue, something I've not done before. It was great, really quiet. They have a room that's just brimming with busts, full statues, tomb covers...I'm definitely going back.

Also, there's a work in progress of a painting (oils) of my sister. Have to get as much done in the next two days as she's leaving the country! I really enjoy painting. I did it for the first time since art class in school (about 10 years ago) a few months back and I've just really gotten into it. It's great fun and relaxing, too.

Again, sorry about the quality. Really need to get a scanner for the sketches.

[Spratt_attack]

Here's my first few Bridgman studies. Unfortunately, I couldn't get the painting of my sister finished. In fact, I almost ruined the whole thing. Still, I'll get a pic of it up in a bit, too.

As she's going back home, I've taken a photo of her and will attempt to finish it using that.

[Spratt_attack]

Some more Bridgman studies to peruse :)

[Spratt_attack]

Yet more Bridgman. Updates to my painting will come tomorrow. Cheers :)

[Spratt_attack]

Been a bit of a crap, hectic week, really. I only had my computer on to try and sort out my upcoming holiday. It was a very last minute thing and as such, very difficult finding somewhere I liked the look of, but that was within my budget!

Anyway, finally did some doodling today. Here's some eyes studies, courtesy of Hogarth...and a few scrappy ones from my head. Also, I drew my hand and then added colour, with hilariously bad results.

As you can see, I'm still getting to grips with painter. Disregading the blatantly obvious problem of colour theory (which I am going to try and learn as I go along), opacity and blending seem to be major issues for me.

If anyone has good advice where to start with that kind of thing, I'd sure appreciate a point in the right direction. Right now, any substantial pieces I attempt turn out very, very messy.

Cheers! :)

[Spratt_attack]

A quick sketch of a fat cowboy. Who's really short.

[Spratt_attack]

Sorry it has been so long since updating this. I don't have any way to get non-digi pics uploaded as I dont have a camera any more (it broke), besides my phone, which is poor quality. And I haven't really been doing digital stuff these last few weeks, I've been focusing on traditional painting and some sketching, moreso the painting. Lately I've just really been into it.

As soon as I'm able, I'll get those pics on here. For now, here's a digi image. I'm still rather useless with painter, but I was playing around earlier and came up with this.

I got my summer project from the college this week. It's basically just to fill a sketchbook with ideas, which I'm doing anyway (in fact I have about 5 different ones).

Anyway, hope all is well with everyone :)

[Spratt_attack]

Quick update on the painter sketch.

[Spratt_attack]

Another update on the painter piece.

I feel rather annoyed that I can't upload anything from my sketchbooks yet. Not because I'm too pleased with anything in them, but I have been making a fair few attempts and it's aggravating not being able to show them.

Stay tuned...please :)

[Spratt_attack]

Had another look at the pictures on my phone and a couple seem to be of a fair quality (I hope). It's two pictures of a self portrait I did, one when I thought it was never going to result in anything, and another when I had finished. I was actually pleased at how it turned out.

I'm still going to put up better pictures when I can though, cos I chopped off the edges taking the photos.

[Spratt_attack]

Struggling with painter again.

[Spratt_attack]

He's a fun dude to draw, is Hellboy.

[Spratt_attack]

Well, well, well.

It was surprising to me just how put off you can be by one institution. It's not an excuse (it is really), but a little background as to why I stopped drawing and painting up until very recently.

Last year, in September, I went along to enroll at the college where I was to do the foundation course. I had been very excited about it for a long time, as there were some great people at that place (I'd done a weekly, late night life-drawing class a couple of years in a row) and I really felt like I was moving towards something meaningful.

Throughout the summer, I had been told that I could not apply for financial assistance until during/after enrollment. I'm sure I'd annoyed a few people, because I rang them to ask about it a number of times. You see the funding was, as I was told a few times, first come first serve, at least for people (such as myself) classed as mature students.

I needed the assistance due to the course schedule. Basically, I would have to give up my full time job to do it. Of course, I was going to look for a part-time job for some cash, but still needed some help after that. I should add that this wasn't just any full time job, but one at a large games company. I was stoked to have landed myself the job, but I really did want to do the foundation course, so I was willing to give it up. Whether or not that would have been a wise decision is a moot point now, but I digress.

Anyway, it seems like I'm blabbing too much here. To cut a long story semi-short, I handed in my resignation letter but said that I might not actually resign, based on getting or not getting financial assistance for the foundation course. To be fair to them, they didn't mind this at all...I was surprised by that. So I went along to the college and waited 2-3 hours in a massive queue to be told that if I applied, there was no guarantee that I would get help.

I asked to see an advisor, but was told they were booked up until next month. This pissed me off, as I'd been ringing up all through the summer to ask about this very issue.

Basically I could have ended up both without a job and without financial assistance to do the course. Not a good position. So I didn't bother in the end. And yeah, it's a crap excuse for not doing any art since then, but it really got to me. It really sapped the creative side of me. I've just worked and slept ever since.

So I guess I'm not returning to being a student. A shame, because that college is actually a good one, once you're in there. If only they could give out more accurate info to proespective students.

Changing the subject...3...2...1...

So...2010. As cliched as it seems, there really is no better time to just get up off my arse, stop making excuses and just paint.

I still find digital art scary. I still don't know what I'm doing. But I'm going to be doing something every day, a self-portrait most of the time, and try to learn as I go.

I also want to do traditional stuff. I really enjoy painting on canvas. It's fantastic. I'll have to get back into that too. For now, here's some self-portraits I've done.

Bye for now folks.

[Spratt_attack]

Started a skull study today, here's what I've got so far.

[Spratt_attack]

Updated skull study.

[Spratt_attack]

Tried my hand copying a photo here: http://www.advancedscientificconcepts.com/images/HWB_FACE_VIS.jpg

It's utter garbage (again, looks like it's been done in Paint or something), but this thread would be of no use if I only posted things I considered a success.