Digital Jetsam from Desero

[Desero]

I'm new at this. Lets see if I can get this right on my first try...

I’m a longwinded blow hard…. Here is my proof:

A little basic research never hurt anyone.
I haven't done a Vitruvian Man digitally yet nor have I done a Vitruivan Woman. A little history lesson Leonardo Da Vinchi was the first person to do a Vitruvian Man, during the renaissance archeologists uncovered (probably found these down in Africa with the fading Muslim empire) Vitruvius's 10 books of architecture. Vitruivius was a well regarded crazy man much like Socrates or Aristotle back in the day. I must digress, he had this idea that if birds made nest in their own measure, rabbits dug holes and honey bees made honeycombed hives all related to the creatures specific measurements, then men should be the same way, so he did a little math and came up with some measurements that fit human characteristics, and bam! We have the basis for classic Greco-Roman architecture.(It’s a just a -wee- bit more complicated than this) Leonardo got a hold of a copy of these books, read them and utilized them to lay out a grid with a man who could touch a circle and a square. I suppose it could be speculated that Leonardo was commenting on mankind’s ability to occupy the finite world (the square) and touch on the infinite (the circle) but that kind of thinking is better left to people a little less existential than I.

I decided I do a few of again to remind my self of the old relationship between math, art and the universe. There is a girded Vitruvian Man there so you can see how I got the proportions. Leonardo left some hints in his work as to how the square is divided. If anyone would like a break down I’d be happy to provide it.

[Evxyza92]

That's one hell of a study. I don't believe i've seen the study on the bottom left houghbefore, but it matches.

[Desero]

So, this is a work in progress. I might keep the weird dark god mosh pit thing going.. not sure yet. I need to get past the under painting.

I was wondering if anyone would be will to show/tell me how to get one of those nifty Sketchbook links in my signature. I know a little HTML/CSS but I've avoided forums in the past so I don't know how to get the code in correctly. You may have to talk to me like I'm a baby kitten I find forums rather... intimidating.

[DazDaryl]

cool study!

[DazDaryl]

phwoar! that wizard is intense

[DazDaryl]

btw just type "Desero's Sketchbook" select it click insert link and copy - > paste the link from your browser, the edit signature option is under user cp which is near the top-left of the page once you have signed in.

[Desero]

This is a quickie. Not quite done yet, but soon it will be. Taking a break right now- my shoulder is aching a bit. I may need to take a day off.

This is a friend of mine. I'm doing a Facebook icon for him. Hes a rather talented writer whos uses a lot of the source material that I'm into as well, he's my kind of psycho, I think he'll like it.

Mostly practicing my speed painting since this is an icon and not high res. I don't do much speed painting and I think my lack of experience with it is holding me back, as far getting a feel for the way color is laid down. Its nice not to challenge myself every once in a while. This is a very simple image cropped figure and a abstract ground. I kick myself a little each time I do one of these.. I feel like its too straight forward and to simple , the only thing I learned from art school is that if I'm not sweating and cursing then I'm not painting. At the very least it is helping me explore my voice.

Are there any (short cuts) perspective tutorials here on CA? I've spent lot of time learning the rules but adhering to them usually takes up far too much time for a quick painting. I see some of the guys here do something that isn't dogmatic perspective but it gets the job done very nicely-- that’s what I'm interested in learning.

Thanks for the comments

[Desero]

Same as above but finished, I think. I look at it tomorrow and see if anything stands out.

[Desero]

Just some sketch portraits. A little research for a character. I've always wanted to publish a comic book as a result I've had many false starts not knowing the sheer amount work that goes into making a polished and interesting comic. So really its a pet project that might come to fruition when I'm in my 40s.. hmmm fifteen years.. better make it my 50s.

Some of the images are drawn from photographs. The figure is home brewed and the 2 faces at the top.

[Desero]

Whoops! here are the sketches

[Nicky S]

Hey,

Nice work so far. You've got some good values on your paintings, but I think they can benefit of adding some more colors to your color palette. Do you start with a greyscale painting, and then add colors through color/overlay layers? I'm just curious, 'cause I'm trying to find out a decent painting technique that works fine for me.

Keep it up!

I'm looking forward to your new stuff.

[clanlord]

You are going to get good real soon! Keep up :) - g

[Desero]

Nicky S.-- Thanks for the advice, I’ve noticed that too in my paintings. I try to correct it but I end up sliding back into it. Its like some sorta funk that follows me around. I’m going to try and do some more life painting and see if that breaks me out of it. Anyway, to answer your question, no I don’t do the gray scale thing I think its kinda like cheating. I usually just block paint in and then build it up from there. I’m trying to experiment with more approaches as well but a lot times I’m just so excited to paint I end up forgetting I have a goal…:ore:

Clanlord- Thanks man! I hope so.

This is a speedpaint from a photograph. Its pretty much monotone (I’ll try a multi color one tomorrow Nick) This I did for my love for industrial and because KMFDM makes me happy.

[Nicky S]

Hehe, I kinda feel the same way about starting out in grayscale, but I gave it a try and it's a great help to figure out the values. But I prefer to learn to work with colors first before I start looking for shortcuts.^^

The painting being monotone really helps set the overall mood. I mean it is an industrial band playing, so the red color palette works. There are a couple of things about the anatomy that don't feel right, but hey... It's a speedpainting, it's for setting the mood. ;) Nothing that can't be improved.

Looking forward to the next painting!

[Desero]

Yeah, I tried to eyeball it. Don't know why exactly but when I paint from a jpeg picture I can't quite 'see' it as well. Could be the contrast ratio or that there is no easy way to make comparisons except with that ridiculously cumbersome ruler tool in photshop. I guess my eyes will eventually get use it but for me its a pretty steep curve. kinda silly, after years of studying anatomy I still get it wrong more than I care to admit.

[Desero]

Haven't updated in a while. NaStY hail and wind storm came blowing through- took the power and interwebs out for a few days. Those few days happened to be on the weekend and I inadvertently spent the entire weekend drunk…. It was nice with nothing to do but drink tasty, tasty beverages and endlessly contemplating ideas, that now seem so far distant--- but unfortunately, it got me out of the habit of drawing and posting. It doesn't help that I acquired<mercenaries 2: World in Flames, from my brother. That game is real time hog- there are just so many places to go and so many toys to play with. I like to attack wayward outposts with a heavy copter and leisurely shot rockets at all the buildings.
Ironically, I had cut out nearly all my gaming time for the past 4-5 years to train myself for getting a job in the very industry. Now that I have a good paying job that is very slightly in my field of expertise I find it harder to fan the flames of that dream.
But damn! I had forgotten how nice it was to have a little extra money in the bank. No more waiting tables and serving coffee for me! Any hoo here are a few drawings I've done over the past –week or something. Notice the total lack of background…

[Nicky S]

Nice work man, I'd love to see some more.

Nce to hear you're gaming again, I bought an xbox 360 a couple of years ago, spent a lot of money on it and games aswell, but since I started studying animation, I used all my free time to improve my drawing skills, Now my xbox is just getting dusty, though I'm waiting fo Bioshock 2 and Halo: odst, hmmm... art has its price... :)