Rusko-Berger: sketchbook...freedom, ideas & practice

[rusko-berger]

Hi Everyone!

This is an ongoing catchall for various quick images, ideas, and studies.

It's great to have the freedom to show images freely. They'll be whatever about whatever.

I hope you enjoy looking at my Whatevers. :)

best,
Nick

p.s. Once in a while I post a pastiche. I love doing them as they're a fantastic way to learn. (Any pastiches, Master studies, etc will be noted in my image and/or post and attributed to original Artist.)

[rusko-berger]

Some additions: more drawings, some paint-y things.

[rusko-berger]

More from the vault.

[rusko-berger]

Some older things.

Nick

[Greip]

Nice stuff! I love this one (http://conceptart.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=780952&stc=1&d=1253253659), the lower part of her body feels odd, but her face is great!
Anyway, great paintings and drawings. Your art reminds me a bit of Bill Sienkiewicz, especially his comic 'Stray Toasters'. But maybe that's just me. :)

[rusko-berger]

Greip: Thanks!

As for the "lower area" on that drawing...I just have a thing for low-slung, big-hipped girls, and drawing them. It's "non-standard", but it's interesting to me.

As for Sienkewicz--hell yeah. I have the book you mentioned. If I can follow that tradition some--fantastic (and he lives 3 towns over from my hometown). As a colleague of mine once said about him: "Sienkiewicz started out as Neil Adams, but quickly turned into Barron Storey."

Hisstorrryy!

:)

Nick

[Greip]

As for the "lower area" on that drawing...I just have a thing for low-slung, big-hipped girls, and drawing them. It's "non-standard", but it's interesting to me.

True, I just think that the hips looked a bit odd I guess. Maybe the hip bones should protrude a bit more. I don't know. But great stuff anyway!

[garzonious]

I like what I see, Its very expressive and experimental.

[rusko-berger]

I have no idea what this is or what it's going to be, but it's really evocative and suggests many exciting things!


Nick

[Rotor]

You got some very nice whatever's going on here. :)
Reaaally like your line work and the hatching.
You seem to have your way around values and form.
Is the last one mixed media?

Keep them coming. :)

[rusko-berger]

Thanks, Rotor. :)

The last piece is all digital--it's me bouncing back-and-forth between Pshop & Painter.

Painter has some pretty peerless brushes/surfaces/etc, so I use it when I need those things. But when it comes to editing a piece--or even just managing it, Layers-wise--right back to Pshop I go.

Corel, Fractal, and maybe even the Lord Himself have tried pushing Painter's entire paradigm closer and closer to Pshop's over the years--but it's still not there. Not even close.

So I bounce!

See you around,
Nick

[rusko-berger]

UPDATE: Cats to cotton candy!

:D
Nick

[DiR3Kt]

Hi man!

Nice work so far.

Manara's "Trompeuse Apparence" is such a nice book ;)

[rusko-berger]

Inky goodness...

[qwerty12345]

Beatiful style, awesome rendering!

[luness]

Very expressive lines and values. I love the hatching. Beautiful stuff!

Cheers

[Grunden]

good stuff:) keep posting very interesting.
love the ink

[Kfeeras]

really awesome lines!! nice sb keep up!!

[Ariel9]

Hey, good Manara studies! Nice to see Miele here :)
In general, your figures are great and it's a joy to see you experiment so freely with shapes and colors and mediums, the fact you're having fun really shines through. It's awesome. Hope you post more soon!

[Dr poPcoRN]

really liking your pencil sketching, especially your first image in your thread, like how loose your lines are :)

[Mane]

lovin the htaching and the more abstract stuff you got going on here.

[Spaggen]

I really like your style man. Pretty unique and very interesting.

Show us more and keep up the great work! :)

[My57]

I like everything and your website is quite good ^_^

[melissa_bianca]

looking great so far
cant wait for more

[rusko-berger]

2 Charcoal drawings.

:D
Nick

[master.mind]

Hi Nick,
great stuff- That`s so good to see some personality in this SB. (a very rare thing today- there are so many copycats) I like your pencil drawings especally.

Keep up the interesting work.
All the best

MR

Edit: 5* of course

[rusko-berger]

Thanks, Michael. I just do my own thing...because I honestly have no interest in doing someone else's thing at all (!) :). I'm going to peep your stuff, too!

best,
Nick

Hi Nick,
great stuff- That`s so good to see some personality in this SB. (a very rare thing today- there are so many copycats) I like your pencil drawings especally.

Keep up the interesting work.
All the best

MR

Edit: 5* of course

[rusko-berger]

This is a commission I just did (charcoal on BFK, 14x17").

I'm not posting this under "It's Finally Finished" since this pic was from my second-to-last day with it (I was so rushed, getting the final out, that I didn't leave room to photograph it.) Dumbass! ;)

That being said, this represents about 80%: the final is more defined (the top & bottom thirds, and especially the face) and has more contrast. The top quarter of this particular pic is kinda crappy since I had to doctor it in Pshop since the original pic of the drawing, unfortunately, had a shadow across the top.

Here's some advice: never use "workable fixative" on a delicate charcoal drawing on BFK before it's done. I did this right after the current pic (since I thought I had to submit it), but it turned out I had another day. After fixing it, the surface became toothy and rough. I couldn't erase out of it very well at all, and adding darks just floated them weirdly over the surface. The torso drawing above DID have fix on it before my final drawing sessions, but it was a much hardier piece (in terms of my technique), but it still felt odd.

Here it is anyway!

best,
:assspank:
Nick

[Dr poPcoRN]

great value and strong lighting on the last study rusko! keep em coming! :D

[derss]

very cool style you got there! :) some rly nice stuff. love the value in some of your life studies! keep it up!

[rusko-berger]

Heya, Dr poPcoRN & derss--

Thanks for the comments--I appreciate them a lot.

I got lucky: Upon delivery, someone else saw the final and the torso study and it generated another commission for a torso drawing.

See y'all around!

Nick

[drd]

http://conceptart.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=859769&stc=1&d=1261298100
http://conceptart.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=849284&stc=1&d=1260261166

My favorite pieces in here, but I'm a sucker for this kind of ghostly rendering

Cool shit dude.

[George Abraham]

Admire your show of your pence'llele's. Shala!!

[bharat]

great ....anatomy n all ....cool , visit on my thread n crit on .

[Aryeh]

i really admire your work. wonderful sketchbook!

[applecheeks]

Lovely figure studies and crosshatching lines! <3

[substanz]

Wooow... ! :bow: Your work is really great!

[Raileyh]

Post some updates! I look forward to seeing what you've been working on.
-h

[rusko-berger]

Hey, Hope!

Will do--I'm back on CA after 9 month hiatus.

I hope to be quite active here, again, so keep checking back.

Nick

p.s. Last winter I printed out your portrait of the woman in glasses (Erin.jpg). It's in my studio and I get to see it all the time. That's probably the best way I can think to tell you how much I (still!) appreciate it.



Post some updates! I look forward to seeing what you've been working on.
-h

[jayoh]

Wow, There are some really great impressions here, i particularly like the one with the lady sitting in the chair. There is a lot of mood in your pieces, even the simple ones. I think it would be cool to see you carry those feelings through with some more refinement.

[rusko-berger]

Here's a different version of the Torso (1) from the previous page.


I did a month or so later, and I really wanted to just get IN an observe/translate the gray variations while still maintaining the Air.

This was a very rewarding project. :)

••• Torso (1) image: http://www.conceptart.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=849284&stc=1&d=1260261166

Charcoal & graphite on BFK. Same size, about 9" high.

Nick

[The_Flying_Dutchman]

Impressive work so far! I'll be keeping an eye on this.

[rusko-berger]

Thanks, Hendrik--


I'm checking out your pages now.

At first blush, I'll tell you I'm a fan of you ink & pen work, especially. Left you a comment...

Nick

[rusko-berger]

Some quick gestures (1-3 min) and a couple of more sustained drawings; 20 & 40 min.

Gestures--and even a set or two of 20 min poses--come as close to "performance" as it gets for me; it's all about quick response and decision making. I always get an exhilarating rush when I do these, trying to make Form and Marks function as one.

Nick

[Istmin52]

I like your looseness in your figure drawings. What is your initial goal? Do you want to be a professional fine artist? It would be interesting seeing something from you that's fully finished with many different elements in it in the composition. I think your ink drawings are really cool. Keep it up :)

[Silwynar]

I don't like your fast figure studies much. But the more rendered ones are looking awesome!
Peehaps i don't have this trained artist eye yet? ;D

Greetings silwynar! :)

[Nartano]

More, please. :sungod:

[Brahimpag]

wonderfull studies my master :)

u really inspired me to work more in figure drawing

it's delicious

ps : ( i did some figure drawing recently , hope u see them ^^ )

[The_Flying_Dutchman]

Great energy on the charcoal studies. Keep posting!

[Abee]

Pic #4 in post #44 (444 imagine that!) Really caught my eye. It has a nice sence of movement.

Seems like you do alot of referencework or nude-drawing. Do you ever draw anything that's more.. relaxed? Like doodles in a sketchbook etc. Monsters, humans, plants, buildings, anything that's quick and "on the go"-like?

Impressed with the sense of flow in your work! Really want to see more.

Ps. #2 in post #14 is very beautiful. Just started doing some liquid inking myself and I find it very fascinating.

[-D_art-]

wow! Thanks for sharing, I really like the traditional stuff and those charcoal drawings are brilliant! keep posting, I want to see more

[rusko-berger]

Hi, All--I'm back! Been working on a photo commission and various other things. Here are a few more small drawings...

[rusko-berger]

Portrait of the developer whose Open House my work was featured in. The condos are *way* upscale, and it's great exposure.

[cgaddict]

Nice work here, really enjoy your use of values on your pieces.

[rusko-berger]

(I've been bouncing around like mad, and have been meaning to post responses to all Kind Souls who commented. Here we are...)

Istmin52:

• Yes--"Looseness" is my friend! Clamping down too hard can lead to squeezing the life out of something. When I start losing a piece, I immediately go super-Loose to get my bearings.

• I am a professional fine artist! :) And my goal is to make a name for myself, earn money doing quality Art, and always, always be an Improving Student as well.

• I have a number of fully finished (large and small) pieces in my Galleries. Linx in my signature, but here again:

traditional/analog art Gallery: http://www.conceptart.org/forums/album.php?albumid=772

digital art Gallery: http://www.conceptart.org/forums/album.php?albumid=773

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

Silwynar: You certainly don't hafta like my "fast" gesture drawings! ;) They're great practice, and the ones I post are ones that captured my experience of the models in some way. If you're not used to gesture drawings, they might seem like an acquired taste.

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

Brahimpag: Many, many people inspire me...and I'm glad I can do so for others! Thanks for saying so. I'll check your stuff out soon.

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

Nartano, Dutchman, and -D_art-. Thanks and will do!

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

Abee: Hmmm...relaxed. The quick things here and on page 1 *are* my relaxed things, lately! ;) #1/post 52 and #53 are 5 minute pieces. And the gestures. I have other little piddly sketchbook doodle-shite, but it's not really post-worthy...just practice.

Thanks to all for taking the time and making the effort to comment. Much appreciated.

cheers,
Nick

[[Rhÿnn]]

I am really enjoying your ink and charcoal drawings. Your values really make your images alive. I also enjoy the textures you manage to put!

[Jai Kamat]

love the expressive quality of your drawings. 5 stars from me!

[surus]

great shadows! nearly invisible rendering ;-) Keep on posting!

[Jr.Molcak]

hey,
I like the speedy gestures, great training for decision making for sure. Fan of your overall analog art album. Keep on posting!

[weashell]

nice man those are more than study u got balls XD i like the smoothness on your brain and your signature :P there is something more that i cant talk about with my current english haha :D post more please im sure u have tons.

[NickyBeats]

hey Nick, great work in here man! i love all the charcoal stuff! the figures have a great sense of movement to them, very much alive. keep posting!

[DefiledVisions]

You've got some great loose pencil work! love the figuredrawings and the sexy ladies.. I'm a sucker for sexy ladies :P Gonna keep an eye out for more!

[kevinwueste]

I like your work ! good stuff man!

Random: I'm just re-watching "The Wire" and am on Season II.. so good.. I grew up in MD/DC and miss the "Skuewel" ( school) ("Pouwl" ( pool) " howme" (Home) accent of my baltimore friends! - Kevin

pps Hope is awesome! she makes me ill!

[kiwigarbage]

Wow I totally disagree with Silwynar. Those loose fast gestures are so accurate and beautiful. And I can tell that they are effective, because your more completed works are accurate.

I so enjoy your touch with charcoal.

[marioucci]

Retardedly good! The minimalist photorealism and neurotic lines you have are bloody damn inspiring! Saved a bunch on my reference's folder and I am giving you 5 big ones.

[rusko-berger]

This is a "sketch process" thing. I'm working on a portrait of former Senator Chris Dodd of CT. My wife worked for him for the past year, so we're going to give him the portrait as a going away gift.

Anyhow...I'm always taking pix of my work in progress, but I never collate them and see the piece in layered, historical relation to its...elf as it evolves. This time I hunkered down in Photoshop to put a visual timeline together, and it's really instructive to see where stuff bubbles up--or gets lost.

As such, this was a warm-up, and now simply an abandoned sketch. But, ah, what a useful wreck!

I'm in the middle of figuring out a new way for me to paint. One method in my pursuit is to work on integrating this "hit it hard/be ready to lose it at any moment/let the marks do the talking/pull it out of the fire" process that I have in my drawing.

[RyanRyan]

You need to seriously revamp your website but other than that you are killing it. I am in awe.

[rusko-berger]

Hey, RyanRyan--

Thanks very much.

BTW, my website is very much in the process of being built--as a matter of fact, I'm working on it as we speak. Do me a quick flavor and tell me what you mean by "seriously revamp".

Appreciated!

Nick