Cell shaded me

[Scarlet Dawn]

Nothing to amazing, I'm trying to get a hang of the cell shading style. This is a self portrait of me^___^ for my website. I was watching a show on the 80's today...

http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/v40/Scarletdawn/lineart2.jpg

[lasupaman]

wow you're hot! i dig redheads! i think you should email me and get to know me because you're hot looking

[Scarlet Dawn]

thank you ^_^ but I'm taken lol

[lasupaman]

nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooo!!!!!

*shoots self in the head

http://www.jacklovesyou.com/misc/shoot.gif

[dfacto]

Somehow I think taking an H&K G-36 to your head would do more than make a little baby gash.

But regardless, the pic is hot, and so are you. However I would work on the skirt some more. It just doesn't look as good as the rest of the pic. Try getting some reference from Sailor Moon or some other short skirt anime show.

There are also a few issues with line smoothness on the skirt and the head. And a line is missing on her forehead where the hair meets the face.

[DanSTC]

Nice effort, but I feel it lacks depth and there are issues with three-dimensional and rhythmic structure. There are also some anatomical issues that are altogether too common when young artists attempt to do anime style drawings. (For example, the foreshortening on the arms.)
Also, the outlines seem a little heavy. Try varying the thickness of your stroke in a more caligraphic fashion get the image to "read" better.

Some more advice on the subject of the anime style: There are an awful lot of (non-japanese) people who try to do the anime style out there. Some pull it off successfully, while others imitatively "go through the motions" and only take in the surface details, not noticing the underlying level of knowledge that gives the more skilled orthodox Japanese animators (and manga artists) their strong style. Many artists, especially amateur American artists, often don't realize that one of the reasons why anime/manga art looks so good and effortlessly calligrpahic is because of the countless hours of training that anime/manga artists put in to get their work to look that good.

Additionally, be careful when attempting to do the anime/manga style, because in Japan's anime/manga circles there are a lot of bad artists who learn by imitating other bad artists who might be good at a few surface twists, making for an often very inbred circle of recurring stylistic conventions...The Japanese aren't unique in doing this either; for example, it's been like that for years over here in the states with superhero stuff.

Basically, keep pracitcing, but more importantly, don't concern yourself so much with surface detail or "style" as you do with getting a good foundation in your drawing skill. (I.E. Throw out most of your "how to draw manga" books if you have any...there's only a scant amount of information in those I would consider worthwhile, IMO.) Remember, even a well-frosted cake will look bad if it's lopsided underneith. But if you've got a strong foundation, it can hold up even the sloppiest surface job. (Plus, you can always rework a surface later.)

[dfacto]

What he means is draw from life, and learn your anatomy before you start delving into nonstandard art styles. Listen to the man, the advice he gave is good.

[DanSTC]

Originally posted by dfacto
What he means is draw from life, and learn your anatomy before you start delving into nonstandard art styles. Listen to the man, the advice he gave is good.

Yes indeed. :)

There are some really excellent art training schools in Japan, which is why they produce a lot of artists with a solid grasp of anatomy, depth, draftsmanship, design, etc.

Keep in mind that there are a LOT of artists in Japan who use those same stylistic "anime" conventions as the pros and really stink. The majority of anime and manga that comes over here is for the most part the cream of the crop, so young artists tend to get a very distorted view of how well the conventional anime style works.

Of course, people don't realize this because in most anything, people tend to see the styles on the surface and think there must be something magical about using those styles that will make their drawings more solid...they don't recognize that merely using a style is not what makes a drawing good. Being able to draw good is what makes a drawing good...the style is just icing on the cake, or something that eventually makes you stand out from the crowd after you've really learned your shit. :)

[Scarlet Dawn]

Thank you very much for all the advice^___^ I like posting my work here because I get honest comments and critiques which I appreciate very much. You are all helping me get better ^____^ I just realized her glasses are not the smae shape >_<

I've been working on this style for about 4 years or so but I still have alot to learn. I have taken one life drawing class but I would love to take more if I could find someone who was offering. But probably even just watching people and sketching them at the mall or something would work almost as well would it not? I think also need to slow down when I draw too and focus more attention to detail.

I have some of those"how to draw" books but I never use them, there isn't that much info in them. A few good tidbits but definatly not worth the 30 or so dollars I had to pay for them lol.

[lasupaman]

if you want to learn more about the human figure, you should draw from a nude... or at least have decent reference. Drawing people at the mall is good, but its pretty different.

As far as slowing down when you draw, I would think the opposite is needed. Detail wouldn't do a bit of good if the whole figure is off. If you work faster, it should give your drawings a more "spontaneous" look that's free flowing, loose, and not so static.

but again, she's hot, so...

[DragonGX]

If you really look like that, will you marry me? :D ;)



I jsut haev a thing for redheads.. :)

[Romulus]

good lord put a sock in it. One thing I might add maybe is some more darker tones to the deeper shadows..*maybe* But overall its a good pose and artwork, and ya I think something is wrong with the skirt in some way, I cant describe it..hmm :bash:

[-Que-]

wow, your birthday is the exact same as mine, year and everything. don't see that everyday, the coloring looks pretty good, but there's not much i can say that hasn't already be mentioned.
keep on trucking birthday mate, nothing bad can happen if you keep at it!

[primofimo]

easy fellas... this isn't lava life....

Question scarlet dawn,

you said that you've been working in this style for 4 years, but have you ever tried venturing outside of this style? You look like you're getting close to form and figure, but like many have said it's wise to study anatomy and figure. They're not lying. I used to only draw in the manga style too, I don't think it ever did me a lick of good. I really only started improving when I focused heavily on life drawing.

Also If you're looking to get into the industry... manga and anime is over-saturated as we speak... just view most of these posts and you can see how many young artists are getting trapped in this style. But you look like you've been working hard... the most important thing is just to keep drawing i guess. Good luck in the future.

[Scarlet Dawn]

I'm taking a 3D course, and all my concept art and finished work is very cartoony, no anime at all. I have been doing some realistic figures in 3D as well.

I only draw anime on my spare time, which isn't very often. I do prefer my cartoony style and I've been told that if I went looking for a job they wouldn't want to see anime in my porfolio just because everyone is drawing it.

I've been working on still lifes lately too.

[Mindflaw]

Hi
One tip about lifedrawing you got a boyfriend(/girlfriend) make him pose for you once a week problem solved :D

It´s like lasupaman says: "Drawing people at the mall is good, but its pretty different."
Its a good thing to know the naked body it makes it easier to figure out how clothes folds and stuff like that.

Anyeway as a newbie I can say that every hour I put into learning anatomy I improve greatly. Start out with the "Wholeness" rather than detail.

Hope this will help you

[Scarlet Dawn]

everyone's advice and tips have helped greatly and I do have a boyfriend ^_^ I will definatly get him to pose for me!

[mog]

Hehe I just read the introduction of that Loomis figure drawing book. I thought this would fit:

"Use another's style as crutch only -until you can walk alone. Trends of popularity are as changeable as the weather. Anatomy, perspective, values remain constant; but you must diligently search for new ways to apply them"

BTW i think that book is quite good for beginners, I just started learning from it and it helps alot. And the best is you can download the .pdf file for free on the internet :)

:chug: