Whirly's Sketchbook

[Whirly]

I am very much a beginner with 2D but we all have to start somewhere.

I found simply keeping a sketchbook of my sculpting it helped keep me motivated and now I am on a journey to improve my 2D skills both drawing and digital painting starting from the very very basics.

The Resourses I am using are:

Mark Kistler's Drawing in 3D (childish but perfect for my current skill level)
Andrew Loomis Fun With a Pencil
Scott Robertson Perspective 1 (Gnomon)
Scott Robertson Rendering Series (Gnomon)
Ryan Church Into to Painter (Gnomon)
Bob Kato Head Drawing (Gnomon)
An Assortment of other stuff

I will be alternating between them and alternating between pencil, photoshop and painter.

I am also planning on taking some online workshops.


Beaing a 3D artist, I would like to improve my 2D skills so I am able to sketch out an environment and then rough out its lighting before actually taking it in the 3D world, or rough out a character sketch before sculpting. A quick sketch in painter or photoshop would mean the world.

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Here is some of my earlier work that I lumped in here
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/2D%20Stuff/OlderWorks.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/2D%20Stuff/Prelim.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/2D%20Stuff/Day1.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/2D%20Stuff/Day2.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/2D%20Stuff/Day3.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/2D%20Stuff/Day4.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/2D%20Stuff/day4feng.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/2D%20Stuff/Day5.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/Day6.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/Day7.jpg

http://forums.cgsociety.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=148562


http://forums.cgsociety.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=148569


http://forums.cgsociety.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=148563

http://forums.cgsociety.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=148564

[B-Man]

Hi and welcome! learning to draw 2d can be done the same way as learning a 3d software. Start with simple shapes and move on to harder ones. I see you did some perspective things. That looked kickass. And I think if you cleaned up your lines in your sketches, they would look better too.
You should justm play around in the digital software and find the tools you like and feel that you can controll. Just do splatters and different lines.
Keep it up and draw alot!

[Whirly]

Thanks B-Man :) Your sketchbook is wonderful btw!

I am gonna try and keep penciling for the moment before I jump back into digital painting as my pencil skills are far weaker I think.

The Feng Zhu Perspective Exercises/Environments I loved and looking forward to getting back onto them but at the moment I am stuck with heads. Trying by best to do the spherical construction methods for Loomis's realistic heads but lots of pages of suckage so far.

Here are some super fast doodles as a fist attempt at using an overhand pencil grip.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/faces.jpg

[DiR3Kt]

Whirly, this is a really good start :) I like your little funny characters, espcially the one of day 7.

Obviously you have strong knowledge of perspective. Hard work, Loomis, Bridgman and Sheldon are going to make it for sure.

So draw and post more!!!

[Sir Cam]

Hi again. :)

Your perspective studies are looking nice, being able to draw boxes is an absolutely essential skill. In regard to doing studies of master work, make sure that you understand the logic that the original illustrations are trying to convey. You will not learn anything by simply copying the illustrations, this I can't emphasize enough. Understanding the logic is far more important than accuracy at this stage. Later on, as you become more skilled, you can worry about accuracy more but at this stage it really isn't so crucial. This doesn't mean that you shouldn't be accurate, it just means that understanding the logic is more important. Just something to keep in mind.

I hope that helps you out any, good luck with your work!

[Whirly]

Thanks Sir Cam & DiR3Kt. The encouragment is really helping!

I will start posting more and more espcially while I have some time off over christmas.

Wise words Sir Cam, I always try to understand the logic.

I think I could talk about technique and stuff for ages simply because of all the reading and watching instructional videos but when it comes to putting pencil to paper its like all the stuff I 'know' doesnt matter. Its kind of weird like I have to teach the other half of me it aswell and can only do that by actually doing it.

[Sir Cam]

Thanks Sir Cam & DiR3Kt. The encouragment is really helping!

I will start posting more and more espcially while I have some time off over christmas.

Wise words Sir Cam, I always try to understand the logic.

I think I could talk about technique and stuff for ages simply because of all the reading and watching instructional videos but when it comes to putting pencil to paper its like all the stuff I 'know' doesnt matter. Its kind of weird like I have to teach the other half of me it aswell and can only do that by actually doing it.

You hit the nail on the head, it is something that you must teach yourself. I've come across so many people who will spend hours copying illustrations out of drawing books without understanding what it was that the illustrations were meant to teach, those people are wasting their time. The first step is to learn, the next step is to practice applying what you've learned on your own. Eventually, the skill and knowledge will be yours. It requires discipline like all learning, it takes genuine mental effort. People often just don't seem to get that.

Sorry for taking so long to reply. :)

[bharat]

good start .., best luck.

[Whirly]

Long time no post. I have still been drawing but I have been mostly doing exercises in Sheldon's Boot Camp book. http://www.sheldonsartacademy.com/textbooks.php Dont think I would be allowed to post them (copyright?) Couple of Hogarth stuff which Im pretty sure im not ready for yet and the last one is a Glen Fabry study.

Anyway here is some new stuff. Really really need to learn to SLOW DOWN!!

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/2D%20Stuff/done4.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/2D%20Stuff/done5.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/2D%20Stuff/done6.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/2D%20Stuff/done3.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/2D%20Stuff/Done1.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/2D%20Stuff/done7.jpg

[JasonHickey]

Hey man nice start. I'd try to focus drawing from life a bit and try drawing simple objects first. Also drawing with ink can help some times. It makes you think about drawing differently. :) Good luck!

[Whirly]

Thanks for the advice Jason. Your avatar is crazy-cool!

Drawing from life is definitly on the cards.

I was thinking if I gain a bit more skill in copying easily from a 2D surface first it would help me out a bit because if I struggle with that at the moment then haveing to add a step (transfering 3D space to a flat paper) might be cause more problems. Maybe I am wrong in this assumption? what do you think?

I do doodle alot in pen at work. I find pen really nice to work with, feels nicer than penicl.

[Whirly]

Hogarth & Sheldon

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/scan0013.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/scan0014.jpg

[Whirly]

Just thought I'd say my current goal here is to do this in this order:

1) First be able to copy something from paper easily enough (I figure if I cant copy from 2D surface to 2D surface then I will really struggle with copying from 3D space to 2D surface)

2) Copy from 3D space (from life) easily enough. Representational not photo-realistic.

3) Once I can copy from 2D space and 3D space I can start to copy from imagination space and start creating art that will look sucky because:

4) Finally learning technique for good line quality, shading, digital painting etc.

Any thoughts on if that sounds sane enough?

[Whirly]

About the bit above. If anyone is interested, I received some great advice here as to some of the misconceptions.
A study plan and best books to do 'studies' of - ConceptArt.org Forums (http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=180028)

For now update of doodles and Michael Hampton Exercises until my Reference Busts arrive and I can start being more serious and drawing from life. Couple of Bargue plates that I sketched by eye not sized or anything just because they looked nice.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/art%20thread/mc1a.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/art%20thread/mc1b.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/art%20thread/mc1c.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/art%20thread/mc2a.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/art%20thread/mc2b.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/art%20thread/scan0004.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/art%20thread/scan0006.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/art%20thread/scan00088.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/art%20thread/scan0009.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/art%20thread/scan0012.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/art%20thread/scan0013.jpg

[Diarum]

These are really awesome, wondering where are those eyes from I've seen a lot of people do them but I don't think that I've seen them, please and thanks. I would guess Loomis. Anyway keep it up looks good.

[Whirly]

These are really awesome, wondering where are those eyes from I've seen a lot of people do them but I don't think that I've seen them, please and thanks. I would guess Loomis. Anyway keep it up looks good.

Thanks Diarum :)

I believe you are referring to the Bargue plates. Useful for learning, angles and proportion. A search should provide you with a mountain of info on Bargue plates. I havent really uesd them as they were intended though.

[Whirly]

Its a nice feeling when you have a wad of paper to scan of drawings. Makes me feel like I have been working hard ... Then I see the shite drawings on them.

New motto: If I don't ever actually get OK/Good/Incredible at this I will, at least, still be happy if it wasn't for lack of trying!

Vilppu and Hampton stuff. Also doing copies of their gestures which may sound useless but it is actually really helping me understand their thinking when they drew them to give me more grounding when I do my own gestures which are terrible at the moment but I am finding doing studies of theirs really does help!

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/a.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/b.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/c.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/d.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/e.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/f.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/g.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/h.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/i.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/j.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/k.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/l.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/m.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/o.jpg

Zbrush Sculpt WIP
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/girl.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/YoungLady.jpg

Also my casts came today. Suddenly terrified that I spent loads of money on something I am not really anywhere near good enough to use and that it feels like an infinite amount of time away. Gonna try and sculpt them em first I guess.

If anyone is interested here is a study diagram I did: http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?p=2673452#post2673452

[Xeon_OND]

It's encouraging to see you doing Vilppu studies! His style (and Sheldon's) are the coolest! ;)

I admit; I'm a Vilppu fan.

[Whirly]

Thanks Xeon_OND I can sit and explain it the techniqes for hours. Just cant do them very well. Its strange a strange thing.

Id still like to do so more environmental stuff but there doesn't seem to be any books on it.

[Sir Cam]

Hey Whirly, thanks for stopping by my sketchbook. :)

It's good that you're doing so many studies but make sure that you're actually applying the knowledge that the studies are meant to reinforce. Don't just copy the diagrams in the books without understanding what it is that the diagrams are meant to teach, that would be pointless. Try to apply the knowledge that the book is teaching you as much as possible, do not simply copy what you're looking at. It requires a conscious effort.

I hope this helps, good luck with your work.

[Whirly]

Thanks Sir Cam. I am trying to create a routine that forces me to learn something and apply it.

2 Pages of warm up exercises like the cylander/sphere stuff in Hamptons book. Then study book/video tuts on a spesific thing (for example gesture). Then apply what I have leared to some photostudies, life studies or cast studies (when it comes to developing form after I have got a grasp on the gesture part.)

If I can do this every day I have no excuse not to be good!

I dont know if you have seen them but Kevin Chen's notes really clarify some of Micheal Hamptons stuff really well. They are worth checking out.

[Whirly]

Attempting to understand the forms of the head. Judging from the drawings it looks like I need more practice just drawing simple objects in space.

I also attempted to trasfer what I had learned from the Kchen studies in 3D.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/headstuff.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/PUTONsculpt.jpg

Think I might be getting ahaid of myself attempting in the head and need to go back to gesture and simple 3D forms for a while.

[andres333]

thanks for stopping by my SB, nice drawings by the way just not proceeding with form until you're really convinced with the gesture.

[Whirly]

thanks for stopping by my SB, nice drawings by the way just not proceeding with form until you're really convinced with the gesture.

Understood :) will try and focus totally on gesutre for as long as possible. Hopefully not in vain as its a seemingly impossible tast at the moment.

[Whirly]

Here is where it all begins

I have organised all the different types of study I can do into catagorys. Alot of them are taken from Vilppu and Hampton and what I have seen people do on the forums.

The point of this is so that I can select which exercises to do. Find out which ones I need to work on. Which ones I am not doing enough of. So say next week I can sit down and say I want to do (Section 1 - 2a) and (Section 1 - 2c) and then (Section 2 - 1b) .... etc

I have done an example of each. Some look horrible simply because I am not quite ready for them yet (eg. Section 1 4b appliction) but I needed to an example so I have some visual reference when I sit down and do them.

SECTION 1 - Developing drawing and spatial thinking skills (everything from this section requires that I do application as well as study so if I am drawing the sphere forms I then need to do the same thing with life/photoreference)
1) Sphere
a. Lots of circles = hand/eye/arm and relax
d. overlap front spheres
c. Alive spheres
d. intersecting spheres (pie chart)
e. Alive Bags
2) Cylinder
a. Ellipse accuracy
b. Cylinders from 2 ellipses
c. Alive cylinders
d. Form through ellipses to create overlapping ellipses
3) Cube
a. Boxes in space
b. Soap in space
c. Alive soap
d. Alive Pillow
4) Combination
a. Combining boxes and spheres
b. Combining spheres, cylinders boxes
5) Gesture
a) gesture studies - 1, 2, 5 mins
b) from photo - 1, 2, 5 mins
c) gesture from life - 1, 2, 5 mins

Whichever one is done NEEDS to be followed by application! This means I am translating things rather than just copying the lines. This means I have to understand what I am drawing and a library of simple forms is made in my mind for drawing from imagination.

SECTION 2 (Technical knowledge and imagination)
1) Perspective
a. ellipses in proper perspective
b. Cylinders in proper perspective
c. environments in proper perspective
d. technology and vehicles in proper perspective
2) Constructive Anatomy
a. Head
b. Torso and Pelvis
c. Legs and Arms
d. Hand & Feet
3) Silhouettes
a. Characters
b. Vehicles
c. Robots & Tech
4) Composition
a. Environment
b. From Film

Here are my visual examples to acompany this.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/1-1-1.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/1-2-1.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/1-3-1.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/1-4-1.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/1-5-1.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/2-6.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/2-3-1.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/2-4-1.jpg

If I can stick to my rules and do as many of these as I can when ever I possible can I am going to be good at this dam it!

For now I am solely concertrating on (Section 1 - 5abc Gesture). I need to get a grip on gesture ASAP.

[Whirly]

Decided to post it in the tutorials section here aswell http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?p=2689423#post2689423

[Abrodos]

Amazing progression since first post! If you keep at this pace, you'll go far in little time. The 3d girl head is especially good. Keep those studies coming!

[ajtabril]

Thanks for your comment in my sb, i see your work and you improve a lot man!!!!!
keep going, i wait for your updates.
I will try to learn like you, with vilpu and hampton.
see u in the way

[Whirly]

Abrodos: Thanks man its always great to hear that progress is being made. I need to keep working on that girl head but got annoying computer problems holding me back lol

ajtabril: Thanks man :) Good luck with the studies. I think you have a bit of a head start on me though. For a master at the Vilppu/Hampton stuff check out Sir Cam's SB

Done a couple of pages of gestures today not really worth posting though. I felt they were really useful for me but to look at its just a page of mess. Will make sure to organise it a bit better for posting next time.

[Spirit]

Hi there! Thankd for stopping by my Sketchbook! :)
Wow, there is so much improvement in your sketchbook from your first post to your last...
It's good how you are doing many different styles of work and using different media, you're definitely doing whats right for you! Your gestures are coming along greatly too, these is a good sense of form and movement in them. You should go ahead and post the gestures anyway, as its better to post everything in your sketchbook- good or bad, as nobody will mind and you are here to learn! So the more help the better!
Keep up the great work :D

[citrusfrukt]

Take care of getting overly structured with your schedules. Something i've had some problems with lately. Hampton is great though, really makes you think rather than copying.

For ellipses. Try and forget about the major axis, what matters is the minor. If you are able to draw ellipses with only the minor axis as a guideline constructing heads or similiar kinds of things are piece of cake. I really struggled with head construction before but when i realised that it's actually just a matter of visualising minor axises going through the sphere i instantly started getting much better. If you draw a sphere and draw a straigh line right through the middle representing the tilt, that line is the minor axis of the brow line. Now this may really be obvious to you but it really helped me when i realised this simple truth so i just thought i'd share.

Take a look at the post in the link and have a look at the ellipse thing or get your hand on Scott Robertsons Basics Drawing dvd if you can, i highly recommend it. http://conceptart.org/forums/showpost.php?p=2461273&postcount=7

[Fregy]

Thanks for viewing my thread. I am happy you find my work encouriging :), it gives me more enthusiasm for work. Hope to see more of your work soon :). I believe a proportion studies of human body might help you a lot. Keep up the hard work :yayca:

[BlightedArt]

Nice to see such devoted sketches!! :) you've got an impressive potential and portfolio here. Love the cute 3D airship models on your portfolio site.

[Sir Cam]

Hey Whirly, How goes it?

I think the best tip I could give is to try like crazy to use incorporate what you've been learning into drawing from imagination. A good exorcise that I used to do a lot is to draw about 10-20 gestures in your sketchbook and then to build the construction on them later. So basically, you will have the loose gestures on the page already and from there you can use cubes, cylinders, and spheres to construct the figures from imagination. I still do this from time to time (you can also do the same with other areas of the body such as the hands or feet, get a bunch of loose gestures and build on them later)

One very important thing that I would really like to stress is to not rush your drawings. People often get confused when it comes to the subject of "quick sketches." Vilppu says "there is no such thing as a quick sketch, it is a quick drawing." What I'm trying to say is that, although the drawing can be done in a short amount of time, the artist should actually be drawing very slowly and carefully. I can not stress this enough. Again, as Vilppu says "the drawing will look fast but in reality it was drawn quite slow" It is rhythm that makes a drawing look loose and fluid, not actual haste on the part of the artist. Please try to keep this in mind when doing quick poses off of posemaniacs or wherever else, draw slowly, carefully, and with control. If you cant make the time, it's okay. Just don't rush and become sloppy. It is familiarity with your own process that shortens the time an artist needs to draw, not haste.

I hope this helps, good luck with your work.

[Whirly]

Getting internet back today (typing from work) so hopefully I will be able to start updating my book again and join in with the teh latecomers sketch group :)

Sir Cam: Thanks for all the great advice. Slowing down should be really easy to do but for some reason it isn't and I cant for the life of me see why. Maybe a really really heavy pencil that's difficult to lift would help hehe. I'm sure it must be a lack of confidence thing (ie if I spend a long time on something and it looks crap its more painful than something done fast that looks crap, like a subconscious ego defence mechanism or this is just silly amateur psychology on my part lol)

About doing 10 - 20 gestures .. I am feeling I am not quite ready for gestures yet. Please correct me if you think I am wrong. I feel that my judgement on angles and proportions is not well developed enough to get the essence of something through gesture and maybe I should be spending a lot more time trying to make an accurate copy. Once I can do that gestures I am hoping will come a lot easier. What do you think?

[Sir Cam]

Getting internet back today (typing from work) so hopefully I will be able to start updating my book again and join in with the teh latecomers sketch group :)

Sir Cam: Thanks for all the great advice. Slowing down should be really easy to do but for some reason it isn't and I cant for the life of me see why. Maybe a really really heavy pencil that's difficult to lift would help hehe. I'm sure it must be a lack of confidence thing (ie if I spend a long time on something and it looks crap its more painful than something done fast that looks crap, like a subconscious ego defence mechanism or this is just silly amateur psychology on my part lol)

About doing 10 - 20 gestures .. I am feeling I am not quite ready for gestures yet. Please correct me if you think I am wrong. I feel that my judgement on angles and proportions is not well developed enough to get the essence of something through gesture and maybe I should be spending a lot more time trying to make an accurate copy. Once I can do that gestures I am hoping will come a lot easier. What do you think?

Perhaps try to think about it like this. In theory, gesture should be easy. Gesture is just an indication of the pose that you can build upon, nothing more. It doesn't matter what the gesture looks like because it is just there to tell you what the pose was so you can go from there. Vilppu's method of getting the gesture is to draw the flow of the figure and to be honest, that can be fairly difficult (for me at least). In reality, even a simple stick figure will do. Do what works for you. Always get the whole gesture before moving on.

Try to think about it logically, gesture is there to help you. Gesture is just a tool to assist the artist in drawing the figure. One thing that can be difficult about using gesture is that you wont see these lines in the figure, they are imaginary (another reason why learning to draw from imagination is important). This brings me to my next point.

In constructive figure drawing (at least in my experience), we're not actually drawing the model we're referencing. We are simply using the model's pose to get a gesture and we then build upon that gesture mostly (or entirely) from imagination. The reason is that, if you know enough about the figure, its form will be quite predictable. All an artist needs is a pose. All that matters is that a drawing has good structure and good rhythm, I personally couldn't care less if a drawing is photo realistic (but then, a lot of my teachers were animators so other might disagree).

Alright so in closing, try to get the gesture (even though it's hard). Try to use the constructive process (gesture, construction, anatomy). It's not easy for anyone, it just takes a lot of hard work and training. If you find anything in drawing difficult, just try harder. I nearly drove myself insane trying to figure it all out and I still think about it all the time. It's all theory. One does not draw with his hand, he draws with his mind. :P

[Twan]

good sense of sculpting, make me wanna try it !

[cgaddict]

Excellent work here, you seem to have a natural ability to break down the forms into simple shapes. Keep working hard!

[8bit]

Theres some great advice from Sir Cam here, Im going to try and integrate this into my workflow.

About not feeling ready to draw gestures, i think a lot of people just havent tried to be really really loose with their pencil when drawing - everything for them has to be a finished image that has virtualy no contruction - if it turns out well, great, but if not (more likely), then they will feel crushed and discouraged.

anyone can draw a curve!! so a figure hunched over has a definate curve, as does a figure swinging a sword back, or ryu doing a flaming uppercut! Just dont feel imprisoned by the feeling that everything has to look finished. It doesnt, and youll do your drawing a big favour in the long term.

this is what i mean (from Vilppu): http://www.vilppustore.com/images/Manuals%20Images/VDM-4.jpg

So be flexible!

[Whirly]

Thanks for the great advice Sir Cam, Im trying to take it on board as best I can.

Started to get the addiction and draw all the time. Im thinking of getting an ipad to have photoreference always at hand (and maybe also to sketch on) what do you think?

HUGE UPDATE!!!!

HUGE UPDATE!!!!

HUGE UPDATE!!!!

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/1-16.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/2-7.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/3-4.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/4-3.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/5-1.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/6-2.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/7-1.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/7a.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/7b.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/8.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/9.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/10b.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/11-1.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/12-1.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/13.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/14.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/15.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/16.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/17.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/18.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/19.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/20.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/21.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/22-1.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/23.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/24.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/25.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/26.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/27.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/28.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/29.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/30.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/31.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/32.jpg

[Whirly]

Also Im sketching a lot at work now when I get time. Here is the kind of stuff Im doing.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/a-1.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/b-1.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/c-1.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/d-1.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/e-1.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/f-1.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/g-1.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/h-1.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/i-1.jpg

BTW I know my line quality still really sucks :(. I think Im improving slowly at things in general especially thinking 3d/spacially.

[Diarum]

jeez bro lots of good studies but then again its been like a good couple of months since you posted :P. If you want to improve line quality is to draw straight lines

Like Here (http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=116199)

[Whirly]

Hi Diarum. Thanks a lot for the exercises link. I'l work on that today :)

[Sir Cam]

Hello Whirly, thanks for stopping by my sketchbook.

The best advice I can give is to keep doing what you're doing. I can see that you are studying very hard, keep it up! Practicing applying what you've learned from memory often.

Good luck with your studies. :)

[Xeon_OND]

If you want to improve line quality and line confidence, draw on papers no smaller than A3, and try to fill the page. And draw with your arm whenever possible, even if you're drawing on A4 paper.

[Whirly]

Xeon_OND: Need to grab an A3 pad I guess! thanks for the tip

Sir Cam: Trying to doodle a lot from memory when I am at work. I feel I am starting to push through a breakthrough working with refence and NOT COPYING. No matter how much I know i shouldnt be copying I was still doing it but the methodolgy is creaping through very slowly.

PAINTING PANGS!!!!!!!!!!

Havent scanned anything today but uploading some digi painting instead. Could use as much crit and direction pushing as possible.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/Sphere1Ref.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/Sphere1Imagination.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/Cube1Ref.jpg

I didnt realise how often you need to jump from hard to soft edge brushes I always thought you should use a hard edge. Im still having a great deal of difficulty doing a nice gradient without it getting messy and its taking absolutly ages!!

[Xeon_OND]

Your digital paintings always rocks! You've the knack of a digital artist, I guess. :D

[Whirly]

Xeon_OND: I think you have gone mad :P my paintings suck. Cant have that much of a knack if it takes me that long just to paint a sphere lol

[Whirly]

I quite happy with this weekend :) Everything feels alot more confident. Less trepidation with starting a drawing or even a line and I think I am noticing a tiny bit of improvment? What do you think? :)

The girl is about 30% of the way through. Im going to try and stick with her.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/cyl.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/dr.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/2010-10-10162050.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/2010-10-10162034.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/2010-10-10162009.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/girlwip.jpg

[cgaddict]

Nice updates, really digging how you're stressing form and structure with your latest sketches.

[batcustard]

post your wires

[Whirly]

post your wires

Huh???

[batcustard]

If you are having trouble connecting the neck to the head, remember that the jaw line doesn't really go straight down from the ear, it kind of tilts forward a little. I use to wrangle with the neck head problem all the time. Trying to figure out how to angle the neck in a way that doesn't look like a slouch but also doesn't look like a pez santa. And that's the solution here probably. I don't know if you are wrangling with it actively but it looks like you might be struggling with neck-head positions. If you are having a bit of a struggle with sculpting faces in a 3d app, check your edgeflow, in my extremely limited experience, good edgeflow makes it almost impossible to fuck up, even when the sculpting phase begins. I don't have a copy of zbrush anymore but goddamn it's a fun program to work with, isn't it?

[Whirly]

Really quick post ... some PIXAR FUN!

Studies from early art from UP. Art of Pixar Books are the coolest things ever! Inspiration in oxygen form! Just breath it in! Highly recommend! I just bought 4! :D

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/2010-11-15212845.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/2010-11-15212832.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/2010-11-15212826.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/2010-11-15212812.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/2010-11-15212754.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/2010-11-15212735.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/2010-11-15212731.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/2010-11-15212707.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/2010-11-15212659.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/2010-11-15212653.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/2010-11-15212646.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/fix1.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/fix2.jpg

[Whirly]

sorry about that photobucket resized they were only draw tiny.

[alexson]

Really nice studies! THe value and pencil stuff is great :D Keep up the good work!

[Whirly]

Well I have finally got myself a mentor. He is Eidenet on this forum and he has been awesome!!!

Here is my latest work. Under his guidence I have been doing loomis studies from the book and then doing them from memory after and its really helping!! I recommend everyone when doing studies do the same from memory straight after as it really commits it to your mind!

Latest painting ... Really happy with this compared to the painting I did before this further up :)
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/TheFatMan.jpg

Loomis
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/FromBook1.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/FromBook2.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/FromBook3.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/Frommemory1Aweful.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/Frommemory2.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/Frommemory3.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/loomisstudy.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/LoomisStudy2.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/LoomisStudy3.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/1-17.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/2-8.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/3-5.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/4-4.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/4-4.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/doodle1-1.jpg


Quick Kevin Chen
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/KchenStudy.jpg

Quick Pixar
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/pixarstudy.jpg

END ON A HIGH NOTE :D
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Whirlwind321/doodle2.jpg

[Diarum]

where have you gone oh sweet Whirly :D

[Whirly]

where have you gone oh sweet Whirly :D

Lately every time iv put pencil t paper and everything comes out awful so it's sapping all my will to draw. I'm feeling less 'pull' if that makes sence. Hopefully it's just a phase though!

[Sarmati]

Nice sketches. You have very strong line here. What I could advise you would be painting digitally with 100% opacity. Then you won't have muddy values. You can see that clearly in the study of the orb. It looks like if the surface was slightly uneven. Apart from that great start.

[Whirly]

Nice sketches. You have very strong line here. What I could advise you would be painting digitally with 100% opacity. Then you won't have muddy values. You can see that clearly in the study of the orb. It looks like if the surface was slightly uneven. Apart from that great start.

I'm assuming though that pen pressure would still control the opacity right? That's how I'm painting now anyway with 90 - 100 percent while pen pressure controls it

[Whirly]

So no update in year or so. I suck! Didn't really do any drawing I burned out or failed or what ever you like. Anyway I am back and not going to quit again!!!!

I have started a new sketchbook here: http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=234403