Costaus Sketchbook 4 11 2011

[Costau]

Welcome Everyone!

I've been on a long hiatus ever since my last post on page 3, so it's probably best people begin there.

I got a long way to go, and opinions are very welcomed need all the advice I can get.

Thanks for looking.

Costau

[guggemmaneuver]

tag! gotcha first post in the new sb, cole :) i guess i'll subscribe, punk.

still life looks good...try to get the contours and elipses right before you go about adding in tone. that's a temptation you have to avoid.

observe. draw. ask yourself: "is it right?" erase. rinse. repeat.

m

[RoboMonkey]

Hey there, cole.
Looking forward to seeing you fill your new sketchbook with some stuff. :)

[Cuervo]

Alrite Cole mate,

ill hold you to it.. 365 days, ill try and do the same.. year from now an we'll be sorted!! ;)

[spark_zero]

Post some more! That still life is good..

[Cerasela]

hey cole , good set up for your still life , i told you some technical stuff already , so i won´t explain it here right now , do first some small studies like fruits or an egg, balls etc.. to get aware of simple construction and the rules for light and shadow on the object.
will keep an eye on your studies , work hard and take care ;)

[Costau]

Gugg: Haha thanks for the advice.

Robomonkey: Thanks man, same to you ;)

Cuervo: It's a deal.

Cerasela: Hey, thanks a lot for the help and advice. I'm working on the studies right now, once i collect enough I'll make sure to post.

Everyone work hard.

Quickie update, quick late night sketch from reference.
711021711020

[Fumble]

I find the perspective to be a little bit off. I made a quick paintover to show what i mean:

[RoboMonkey]

Hey there !
I agree with Fumble. It kinda looks like in the original, the viewer stands a lot closer to the building than in your drawing.

[KarylGilbertson]

Yeah, I agree with those lads above me. Show me some more stuff Mr. Cole!

[Costau]

Fumble^ Thanks for the quick critique. That's one thing I need to study more is perspective, plus better observation.

Robomonkey^ Hey, dually noted. Thanks

Ookchk^ Here's more, and more to come.

More to come soon.

716546

[Fumble]

hey cole.ossus that is some good fundamental studies, i think you should do more of those to get a better understanding of core-shadow and cast-shadow.

I think that the core-shadow on the first sphere, could be a little more curved, so it shows the curve of the ball more. As for the cast shadow i think that the edges farthest away from the ball could be more vague. The shadow is also very dark all over, it should be darkest right where the ball hits the ground.

the secound sphere is the best, and i only thank that i lacks a little more shadow where the ball hits the ground. :)

[Braintree]

Yup the foundational studies are going to help you alot. Keep them coming!

[Krato]

sphere studies look good, i would repeat what fumble said about the building but he beat me too it.

[Kcekelkai]

the sphere looks good keep those studies going , they'll help you alot

[KarylGilbertson]

The thing I really like about those spheres is it seems you're attempting to be mindful of the marks and using them to describe the form of the objects. This is a good skill to have, and a difficult one (at least for myself) to master. Keep doing that as you go on with other things, you won't regret it!

[Costau]

Thanks guys.

Daunting how far I got to go. Learned a lot from these sketches, not just skill wise but how I go about my ideas. I need to start putting more thought
into any design I have.

A lot of bad habits to break...


718086718085
718084

[Braintree]

Looks to me like you like to design machinery. A good idea would be to set a goal to enter the "industrial design of the week" competitions every week.
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=85

[RoboMonkey]

Hey there !
Good job with the light/shadow of that sphere.
About the machinery stuff: Try to hang in there a bit more. It's kinda hard to just sit down, start drawing lines and come up with something that's actually decent. You should proably start with a more abstract sketch that's becoming more and more sophisticated during the process. This way, you can change things that look odd and add more and more details during the process.

[guggemmaneuver]

hey cole.ossus...
these are really fun sketches!

it seems like you should try to anticipate your line more, thereby achieving better line economy. more drawing, less worrying. good to see you loosen up a little and just throw down some zany and fun drawings.

m

[Costau]

Braintree^ Thanks for the suggestion, I'm going to look at that and the environment challenge as well. I think I found some more focus with what I want. I just need to work on my finishing abilities the most.

Robomonkey^ Thanks man :). I took your advice and I'm going to start experimenting with actually just laying lines down, and building from those. Easier to work from something in front of you than always in your head.

Gugg^ Yeah I'm starting to relax more, and right now I'm just sketching to get rid of the cob webs in my head.

Been busy trying to find some work.
More Sketches


720290
720338

[Braintree]

Dont worry about it being cliche, it's a good chracter :) Keep it up and post more :P

[Arthe Xavier]

Good start, glad to see that you have spirit! :) Just keep on drawing, and good things will come out of it. :)

[Costau]

Thanks guys

Sketches


723166

[Costau]

723271

[pantless_wanderer]

I like that head of the dude with the glasses on post #24. There's something cool about him.

Overall I think you have good lines (at least on those pencil studies) and a good eye for value, but sometimes there are a few problems with the structure and perspective here and there (both noticeable on the first still life).

[Sepulverture]

hey man. Cool to see you trying to keep this thread open and ongoing.

Just a few things right off hand.

I think I've said this before, but it deserves being repeated. Your drawings give the impression that you draw very lazily, when drawing try to put more thought and a little more planning into your strokes before you lay them down.

It's clear that some of these are just idea sketches, just meant to be laid down quick to carry the message or act as a reminder or just get some thoughts out quickly, but even these kind of drawings deserve to be treated well, because you never know when one is going to catch your fancy and you may want to scan it in, or flesh it out more, or what.

Keep going though.

meow.

[Braintree]

Keep posting :)
About "the observatory": The sheer rock cliff makes for a not so interesting composition. maybe place the observatory on a cliff to the left and show some more distant cliffs in the background. and perhaps a small foreground figure to give a sense of scale.

[RoboMonkey]

Look at that gasmask guy. Good job, cole :)
I think the recent architecture stuff could use some more details and stuff. Just be patient when observing/ drawing and don't rush. The more time you take laying out your concept and fleshing it out, the more sophisticated the result will be.

[KarylGilbertson]

I think your work needs to be more ... descriptive! That is, when you draw something, it should explain itself. What it's made of, how it works, how the shape and form looks, etc. Try to get to a point where you don't have to explain anything, where it just makes sense to the viewer. Because you can't always be standing there when people look at your work :)

[Costau]

Quick Sketch


753195

[Mayday]

I COMPLETELY agree with what Ookchk said about how you should draw things so that it explains itself. its easy to tell that your creative juices are flowing. Now you gotta channel that and apply it in such a way that other people can see your vision. when i draw i like to consider every possible audience. every age group and economic background. And if you can imagine them looking at your work and saying "ahhhh i get it" then your on the right track ;)

[guggemmaneuver]

HEY YOU CAN'T SMOKE IN HERE! Didn't you see the "EXPLOSIVE BOLTS" sign beside the Airlock?!?!?

i think it reads fine.

Editorial illustration? wearing suit to keep him alive but smoking self-destructive cigarettes? Fun, if complex subject.

Keep shoveling thee cole :)

m

[KarylGilbertson]

Keep givin'er man. I think those last couple show some improvement.

[Costau]

Mayday^ Thanks for the advice. I'll definitely be working on this.

Gugg^ Haha thank you. Yeah, I don't encourage smoking, but I thought the irony was an interesting subject.

Ookchk^ Thanks for the encouragement. It helps a lot.


759334759336

[Goog]

Moar anatomy studies man! Keep up the hard work.

[Braintree]

I should concentrate on drawing from life and studies.

Well ... what are you waiting for? :D draw draw draw!

[Sepulverture]

Hey Cole. It's nice to see you are at least drawing and starting to post again, but you gotta really start to think about what you're drawing. You seem to have some basic understanding of anatomy, where muscles out to go, and have some idea about what they should look like, but I suggest you really buckle down and hit the books on things like anatomy. I think you oughtta forget about doing much gestural work for a while, and focus on getting the technical aspect of it down including line quality and confidence.

This work has the appearance of being very lazy because of the scratchy line work, among other things like the unjustified proportions.

Keep in mind that not everything you're going to draw will be a masterpiece, and as much as you should be focusing on the quality of your studies you should also work on quantity.

I say no more drawings from memory for a while, just draw from observation, and from your figure drawing books, focus on quantity as well as keeping an eye on quality, and more important than quality is accuracy. Once you've made sufficient progress in the technical aspect of your drawing then you can move back into the imagination drawings and whatnot.

[Costau]

Thanks for the advice guys.

Still life, 2b graphite, 2-3 hours...


760067760065

[Dile_]

aha good start man :) i really hope you keep track of those studies and label them with a number ;D whatever you post them all or not.. will be very interesting to see how far you can take your skills with this concept :) good measurement haha.

I think while its important that you spend more time at each drawing, that you also increase the quantity of drawings.. get super comfortable with the medium and don't slack ;D then you can push your painting skills and drawing skill now and then in longer pieces :) keep it up!

[Cerasela]

good start again, try not to do meaningless lines too much , make the lines following a propose , i see that you tried to do it , to draw with direction , good make more studies and you will get more secure with it.
keep going ;)

[adammelo]

Love da sketch where the guy has cliche over his head, i think it looks cool :) Keep it up!

Sketch back if you'd like....

[Costau]

Alright another update!

Dile^ Hey man, good to hear from you. Thanks for the advice on here and IM by the way.

Cerasela^ 2nd time is the charm. I'll become more confident and efficient with my line work as I work ahead. Hopefully in the next drawings you'll see some improvement, trying to break that habit is harder than I thought.

Adammelo^ Haha, glad you like it.

I decided I had to get out of my comfort zone, and went down to the local bar to get some sketching in. So a quick update, and I'm off to bed. Interview tomorrow.

Thanks for all the support everyone!

761877
761878
761879
761881
761883
761884
761886

[Costau]

Short update. Some notes today from Bridgman's Life Drawing Book.

765297
765298
765299

[guggemmaneuver]

cole's been busy! good to see that! And these genuinely feel like you are really trying to get better sketches. fewer marks. good job on that. it's not an easy thing to accomplish! keep up the good work!

reposit:
hey ah in the bridgman one of the most important things to remember is the relative sizes of things. the torso to waist seems to be pretty accurate, but if you look at the head to torso relationship, not so much: the heads are too small. Sure it's just a general block, but getting the essence of the relative sizes of the forms down early in a drawing is huge. That's what you are getting used to here with the bridgman studies. The essence of what you are learning with bridgman is the proportions of things to one other, and how they wedge and work together in a figure in motion. proportion is key if a figure is to look believable. if you keep practicing these it will begin to come to you easier and easier.

keep working. keep your eyes on the sizes. and the prizes. :)

m

[p sage]

It's good to see you picking up some Bridgman. Good way to go. A lot of potential here... just keep working!

[Sepulverture]

It's good that you're doing the bridgman studies, we all know how helpful they are, just make sure you keep an eye on your proportions, and make sure you draw what you're actually seeing instead of what you think should be there.

[Braintree]

Keep it up with the bridgeman studies. He wont steer you wrong.

[mike butkus]

Your off to a good start. It's all about millage!

[Fumble]

Bridgman Yay !! :D as mike butkus said - millage millage millage!

[Costau]

Small update. Still alive. Started work at a new job and it's been occupying my time. Not an excuse, I know...
*repost
772663

[Fumble]

hey cole.ossus - good to here that you are still alive :) yes starting up at new places can be time-consuming, i just started at a new university myself.

As for the drawing i like his pose, he looks well grounded on his feet (something i'm struggling with a lot). The only thing i find a bit weird is his nose, it looks like something else....

[KarylGilbertson]

Update update update

[Costau]

I sort of zoned out there for a while, ok back to work. :D

Does anyone have any process tips on giving environments more depth having to do with value?

793581

[Fumble]

I don't really know that much about environments but you could try some atmospheric perspective.

[Costau]

Fumble_ Hey man thanks. I tried my hand at some atmospheric perspective in this one, still a bit of trouble though.

Another quick environment sketch for today. I'll make sure to post in some sketchbooks tomorrow, it's been a while. Till then, Adieu!

More traditional work in the coming posts.

797396

[Costau]

Started on the perspective exercises Yoitsis posted for his environmentoring thread, a lot of good advice in there. Also some warm ups.


-Cole

803083
803084
803085
803087
803088
803089
803090
803092

[Costau]

Not much done today.

I just got my Exodyssey book in the mail 2 days ago, and can't stop looking at it.

Good Day!

-Cole

804009
804012
804014
804016

[KarylGilbertson]

Hey man nice updates... your gestures have A LOT of life to them, I am impressed... nice job.

You were asking about using value to illustrate depth in enviros.. I have some tips.

1) Atmospheric Perspective - As was mentioned, Atmospheric Perspective is an extremely useful tool. One thing I can add, though, is to look at how the pros do it- usually, people who are learning don't use ENOUGH atmospheric perspective.

2) Colour Variation - As a general "rule of thumb" things that are warmer in hue tend to "come forward" in a piece, and things that are cooler in hue recede into a piece. However, you can experiment with this... try the reverse... but using colour temperature shifts can add depth as well.

3) Alternating Values - You can break things up by putting certain planes in shadow, and certain planes in light. For instance, one of my instructors in art school really liked using "foreground in shadow, middle ground in light, background in shadow" compositions, and you can play with this as well, do the reverse, etc.

Hope that's helpful!

[Sepulverture]

Hey man.

I like the "observatory" sketch. I think it looks interesting. Maybe you could try fleshing it out, designing different items and characters who would live and work in that environment.

The last sphere study here looks much better than on the first page, so keep going.

[Cerasela]

COLE where are the updates ?!!
I kick your butt ,if you don´t start to post more regular !

[andres333]

keep it up with the gesture studies those will definitively pay off!!!

[Costau]

Alright I'm back. 2010 was an odd year but now it's time to get going again.

Mostly some studies I did with a friend of mine, and recent sketches to start it off.
1209064
1209065
1209066
1209069
12090711209070
12090721209073