Cyrus' Sketchbook of Thought-(May 11)

[Cyrus]

[Updated April 23, 2006] I'm getting better, just need to practice, practice, practice.

Check bottom for newest stuff. Comments and critiques always help and are greatly appreciated.

[Updated June 1, 2005] Well, after being somewhat lazy(very lazy actually) I think it's about time I started putting a real effort into this, with a few goals in mind.

1) Getting, and staying out of a rut- Making sure I draw new things, more things, and continue to expand my subjects at all times.

2) More life drawing drawing and anatomical studies- So I can make sure my figures don't look like gumby. ;)

3) More drawing from imagination- One of the reasons drawing from life is so important is that it allows you to draw things that don't exist but still have a life-like feel to them. Not only do I need to learn from life, I need to learn how to apply that knowledge to all my drawings.

4) Make more finished pieces- I can't say I've really made any 'finished' pieces to date outside of school, so my initial goal in this regard is to make at least one finished piece every two weeks.

5) Draw more in general- As Tom Browning once said, "I can't stress enough the importance of continuing to draw for the sake of drawing, even if you work from photographs."


[Original Post July 15, 2004] As many have before me, I'll be starting a sketchbook (finally). Hopefully I can call it a daily sketchbook if I'm not too lazy.

Anyway, just going to start off with a few studies for today. C&C will always be appreciated.

http://img11.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/arm_study.jpg

http://img11.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/eyes_hand_study.jpg

[mentler]

I do a lot of anatomy -- and teach it as well -- keep working with it I think it is the key to almost everything!!!
Try from the beginning to analyze what you are drawing and make it yours!
In other words, it is ok to work from Bridgman or Loomis or anybody else but make them your drawings from the get - go!!!

I probably have drawn every drawing in every Bridgman book--some several times--just recently decided to make all of these studies mine!
I feel a little stupid for waiting so long--so I thought I would pass it along.

this should get you to may sb thread

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=25653

check out my site as well--- anatomy demos there more to come

http://www.tsofa.com/?faculty.gallery.demo1

[Cyrus]

Thanks for the advice, I did happen to grab those muscular structures from Hogarth's "Dynamic Anatomy," and agree completly about making my own studies, just trying to get the basic idea down first I suppose, since it seems I've been slacking off in certain areas. Of course, I hope this sketchbook here will change that.

Slightly older sketches of my less useful hand...and I think I'll actually go draw something now. :rolleyes:

http://img11.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/hand_sketches.jpg

[Syrogen]

cool stuff cyrus, keep studying that anatomy!i like those hand sketches, but i think you should work on refining the contour. keep posting :)

[guchman]

Nice Sketchbook, Cyrus.

I too am starting to work on anatomy. Have purchased a few Bridgman and Hogarth books, so I hope to start an online sketchbook too.

I like your shading on the arm and hand drawings. But I agree with Syrogen on smoothing out your lines to match your shading.

Keep up the good work! Looking forward to seeing whole figures! :rock:

[Cyrus]

I considered what you said about the lines, and took a bit longer on these.

Also used a different shading technique on the first one...gotta keep working on values.

http://img11.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/hands.jpg

And I'm going to throw in a few older gestures..
http://img11.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/hand.jpg

http://img11.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/hands_2.jpg

I'll do different subjects from now on, really.

[Cyrus]

Managed an entire figure today, even if he is wearing armor.

Edit:added second figure.
http://img11.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/eyes_and_knights.jpg

[Cyrus]

Couldn't resist, I think hands are fun.

I was really trying to get the form with just line on most of these.
http://img11.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/hands_4.jpg

http://img11.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/hands_3.jpg

[Cyrus]

Just an arm today, it took about 2 hours on and off.

http://img11.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/arm_muscles.jpg

[Crunch]

nice hand studies man...keep drawing and posting is all i can say...your anatomy is a bit messy so focus on your muscles and ill work on my spelling. take a close look at the forearms they are almost never bigger than the bicept draw from life too man. keep it up man.

[Cyrus]

Thanks for the comment Crunch, I'm going to make sure and work on that.

Did this for the Behemoth/Leviathan DSG. Also one of the few things I've done from imagination recently.

http://img11.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/leviathan.jpg

[Cyrus]

Later update than usual, only a few small sketches to show. I spent about thirty seconds to a minute on each.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/eyes.jpg

[mentler]

Heavier shadows under upper lid ::::: less attention to lower lid
upper lid much thicker is usually down plane in shadow
lower lid much thinner is usually up plane in light

Again less detail on lower lids..

[Cyrus]

Thanks Mentler, I'm sure I'd be wise to listen to your advice.


Quickies again, some torsos this time.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/torsos.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/torsos_2.jpg

[Cyrus]

Found a Bridgman book at the library, tried a few quick studies and took a longer look at those eyes. I need to find more reference material. :^^;:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/eyes_arms_study.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/big_arm.jpg

[Cyrus]

I've been kinda slow this week, just hard to find a direction sometimes, so I'm just going to put up some up some messing arounds from looking at Hogarth and Bridgman.

Critiques are always appreciated, I can take it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/practice.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/arm_muscles2.jpg

[mentler]

Hey ~~~ Like the 2 big heads ~~~ strong lines ~~~~ strong presence!

[Cyrus]

Recently I've been trying to get an idea as to what subjects to study and draw, need to find some direction.

I've also realized that I tend to not spend enough time on most of my work, since I usually take around 10-30 minutes on a single drawing at most.

At least I have a few goals to work towards now, so thats a good start, a few more couldn't hurt either if anyone has any suggestions. :confident


More Brigman studies:

I spent about 5-10 minutes on each head..
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/practice_2.jpg

and about 30 minutes on each arm.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/arms.jpg

[Cyrus]

School's starting up again, hopefully this will get me back into the drawing mood since I've slow down recently. :^^;:

Just, some stuff from my head after looking at Brigman. More will follow soon.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/brigman_doodles.jpg

[arghmisfit]

great studys


keep it up :confident

[mentler]

Think of the padding about the eye as a small sausage ~ notice how different it appears on different people ~ remember upper lid is much thicker than lower lid!

[steak-tron]

whats up with all these people from athens with talent?...

Nice studies man, are you at UGA?

[scarletnocturne]

i like your edgy lines in the last post of portraits. I think you should continue with that style....i think it adds a lot of character to your drawings

[Cyrus]

Thanks for the replies, school kept me busy for the last week, but I'm trying to get back into a regular schedual.

Arghmisfit: Thanks! I'll try to.

Mentler: I'm holding you responsible for all the eyes I'm making now, not that I didn't draw them alot before...but thanks for the advice, I've been looking at various references, I see what you mean.

Steak-Tron: Heh, thanks. Yes, I've started my sophomore year at UGA, pretty sure I'll be going into the Graphic Design program at this point. Since I'm on campus alot now, I'll probably try to find the opportunity to make it to the museum's modelling sessions on Wednesdays.

Scarletnocturne: Thanks, I think thats mostly a result of drawing out of my head quickly, I tend to try and make my studies alot cleaner; maybe I should try some quick studies then.


A brigman leg(if you can tell) and stuff.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/leg_ect.jpg

This is a quick charcoal erase in anticipation of a drawing project using the same method.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/charcoal_eye.jpg

[Cyrus]

Well, long time no update again, everything I've done outside of school recently has been really quick, so here's a super fast self-portrait and some (hopefully) expressive eyes just for the heck of it.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/eyes_SP.jpg

[Cyrus]

I've been working on this for my graphic design portfolio; they said do what you do best, so yea..more hands. :nohope:

Obviously, its still in progress, so any advice would be greatly appreciated (and sorry about the scan lines).


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/portfolio_hands.jpg

[Cyrus]

They say the first step to solving your problems is knowing what they are.

Getting tired of my procrastination, not just in not drawing enough, but actually spending enough time making finished sketches, studies, or whatever. I'm going to make sure I make at least a single one-hour sketch a day from now on(for starters). Time to beat that procrastination to a pulp. :muscle:

On that note, I'll throw in another quick self-portrait I did earlier, and get to work.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/hands_SP.jpg

[scarletnocturne]

one thing i can say is that if you do want to improve think about the way you draw. Say you draw steadily on and off....for no regular long amount of time...and see how much you grow. Now, if you shorted the periods of time between drawing, and extended the periods of time you spent drawing, your drawings would improve that much more. My instructor always goes on and on about mileage, and the truth of it is this, anything and most everything i have learned this semester so far has been because on crits my instructor was NIT picky about every single thing wrong....and because of that i spent as much time on my drawing as i could until i cracked -now i learn twice as much in a shorter amount of time only because i am disciplining myself to do so, to allow the growth. Half of drawing is a mental game we play with ourselves- it is deffinately not just a motor skill, because most everyone has the motor skill.


I would say concerning your drawings, what are your lines telling you and your viewer? Since lines do not exist in the natural world, your lines should speak about your message, or your subject, or the feeling...something. Right now it looks like you are using line to find the figure....if you looked for the shapes, say for instance, the shape of the nose and let your lines really feel what your nose feels like, your lines will reveal the nose because you are thinking of that shape, rather than i need to "draw" this feature. Be sensitive about your drawing. Dont draw what you know, tackle what frustrates you--like my piano teacher always told me, what good does it do you to practice the parts you already know over and over? The parts of the song you dont know is what you should practice no matter how ugly they sound in comparison to what you've already mastered.

long winded, i know....i'm in one of those moods... i feel like i needed to regurgitate all the stuff being drilled into my head! :thinking:

:hatsoff: Andrea

[Cyrus]

Thanks for the insight. And you're right about the finding stuff with lines thing. I've realized how much of a comfort zone I've been in practically since I started my sketchbook, it's good to be reminded about that every so often.

It was a breath of fresh air to do this page. I was concentrating on value while doing the two on the right.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/old_men.jpg

[guggemmaneuver]

COME TO FIGURE DRAWING AT THE MUSEUM OF ART ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT, 9 november. 5:30-8:30 pm. ( please! )

I'm partial to the hand studies. OH-heed the guidance of mentler and DESTROY worlds with a single, 2H pencil mark. Do try and post more.

We NEED It.

regards,

The Gugg

[Cyrus]

Thanks. Figure drawing is probably one of the things I need to work on most right now, and I've really been meaning to get to the museum, but school pops up at the most inopportune times; maybe I'll be able to post some of the results of that once I get a camera.

I'll try to get some sketches up soon.

[steak-tron]

Sup Cyrus,

Looking good dude that last page is one of the best so far. Good to hear your going for Graphic Design, I definitely had a great experience in the department. There's a WHOLE LOT of shit you've got to do but it only makes you stronger.

Some of these drawings are really strong, you've got some great studies on alot of different areas. Make sure your portfolio is a knockout and yer shure to get in (which is not an easy task). Even so if you're just a sophmore you can afford to wait. It's kind of good to be done with the rest of your classes before you start in the ARGD studios.

-oh, Kelly and I will look for you outside the gate, I think my seat is 23D.

[Cyrus]

Oh, the holidays...here's a few smalls things before the workshop, can't wait to see you all there!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/faces.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/cats_2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/cats.jpg

[vantrum]

hey thanks for the help cyrus...

those drawings of your hands near the beginning of your thread are awesome... my hands always seem to come out fat looking. love your stuff...

[Cyrus]

About time I updated, for myself if nobody else, :confident changed my sketchbook intro as well. Comments and critiques are welcome as usual(especially critiques).

Some stuff from Bridgman.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/bridgman_02.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/bridgman_01.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/Bridgman_04.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/bridgman_03.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/Bridgman_05.jpg


Quick self-portrait.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/self_portrait2.jpg


Started doing some nose studies , and then what I think is a robot sneaking up on a bottle of white-out. ;)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/noses_ect.jpg

[AndrewLey]

Nice studies

I suggest trying to make your lines more elegant and confident - they are a bit wobbly and uncertain at the moment. You should know your line before you draw it.

Keep it up!

[Ashrumm]

I really like those nose studies alot the shading is really good and i will have to agree with Cyrus on this one you kind of have the same problem i do, you're kind of hesitant to darken the lines because you're not exactly sure if they are in the right place. But your stuff looks good keep drawing!!

[cotron]

happy birthday!

:perv:

[Cyrus]

AndreyLey: Good advice, I've been trying to work on my line efficency if that what you ment exactly. Considering what you and Scarletnocturne said, maybe I'm thinking to much in term of lines rather than actual form, I don't practice enough shading as it is. Really enjoy your sketchbook btw.

Ashrumm: Thanks. We'll both keep working on it I hope.

Contron: Cheers!


So here's another self portrait I started doing, focusing more on form/shading with cross-hatching.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/self_portrait3.jpg

[Cyrus]

Tried doing a few things from my head. I realize the snake-guy's anatomy is wonky though. :blah:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/snake_observer.jpg

[Hyperblade]

Very cool Cyrus, I'm doing the same type of thing as you are, with the anatomy drawing/learning. Glad to see your progress, post more soon.

[Cyrus]

Hyperblade: Thanks. Maybe you should start a sketchbook yourself, it's a good insentive to keep practicing.


This is some robo-samurai-ninja-ghost. Still trying to get the basics down before flexing the creativity. :P

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/samurai_ghost.jpg

[Cyrus]

Finally got to Wednesday night figure drawing.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/nudes1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/nudes2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/nudes3.jpg

[dadu]

wow great stuff man
studies really fucking worked
love your shading skills

[the_allejo05]

hmm nice improvement..i like those last figure drawings..very very confident on anatomy..

[Cyrus]

Thanks. Not sure how good my anatomy is, but it couldn't hurt to keep working on it, right? :bashful:


Anyway, here are just some doodles I managed over the week.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/afros.jpg

[Quinster]

Hey, pretty damn good stuff here! I envy your anatomy skills. Keep posting, I'll be watching :confident

[Cyrus]

Thanks Quinster. :^^:

I decided to do a few eye sketches to compare to my older ones if nothing else. Critiques are welcome as usual...and feel free to ignore the egg.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/eyes_cross_hatching.jpg

[Cyrus]

Random stuff again.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/random.jpg

[PeggyChung]

Hey Cyrus, i love the way you shaded the hands with the side of the pencil :D keep up the work and kill that procrastination! :}

[Pesmerga]

Cyrus is a cool name.

Nice gallery so far, keep 'em coming. Did you use a reference for the last figure?

[Cyrus]

Started a job this last week, been tired. <--bad excuse :[

Lady Lioness: I haven't done that lately-maybe I should. Mostly I've been trying mechanical pencils, or just keeping the regular ones sharp and trying my hand at cross hatching.

Pesmerga: I agree :confident I think I picked up the name from the character in Chrono Trigger(Frog was my favorite character, but don't tell anybody) or maybe it was another character in Bomberman64...As for the figure, yes, it's a copy of From Vesalius by De Facrica.


Anyway, I've come to the seemingly obvious realization that I really need to focus a lot more on "whole" pictures, like actually drawing the whole face-or whole body-rather than keep doing the individual eyes, noses, arms, stuff. So, I've managed to scrounge up a couple attempts in that regard, hopefully you'll see plently more in the near future.(And thanks to Jezebel whose photos I used from the reference section)


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/faces_turtle.jpg

Comments encourage me to practice more and critiques help me know what to practice, I could always use both!

[PeggyChung]

Hey Cyrus, looks like youre doing fine, id say you have shading done quite nicely which means you can really push your values now, theyre a little light.

[Cyrus]

Figured I'd post my Thunderdome entry here for a few critiques. Obviously I could have worked on it more, but I'm fairly happy with what's there(even though it's really cliche).


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Cyrus21/TD_demonprincess.jpg

[Cyrus]

I feel stuck.

Not in the sense that I'm not getting better, just that it seems like I can't find any new ways to clearly progress.

And I'll have some much more recent stuff soon, once I get it scanned. I'd just be nice to get some suggestions till then.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v407/Bleuski/figures.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v407/Bleuski/hands_smallSP.jpg

[Recursive_End]

Good work.
My crit would be to work more on your lines. Right now they pop out a bit too much. Making your drawing a bit flat. Give "rythm" to your lines. Darker on shaded places, and lighter on highlighted places.
Work on that, and keep going with those studies. They look good :)
Also, exploite what you've learned by doing some imaginative stuff using em.
Keep it up
D.

[Cyrus]

Thanks for the suggestions Recursive, I'll certainly keep them in mind.

I've been trying to work on improving my shading technique and values among other thing.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v407/Bleuski/figures1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v407/Bleuski/shading_figures1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v407/Bleuski/shading_figures2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v407/Bleuski/skulls.jpg

Some self-portraits.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v407/Bleuski/SPs.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v407/Bleuski/figures2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v407/Bleuski/figures3.jpg

[Cyrus]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v407/Bleuski/figures4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v407/Bleuski/figures5.jpg

Playing around with pen.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v407/Bleuski/ink_figures.jpg

[Cyrus]

If you haven't seen Idiot Apathy's "Peer Project" thread(which is about color theory), well, here's the link.
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=53517

Did a few things just to play around with color and photoshop in general, and I was trying to make some atmosphere in the second one. I don't have much real experience with photoshop, so I'm sure there's something to critique.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v407/Bleuski/yellow.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v407/Bleuski/purple_blue_atmosphere.jpg

[afgal]

I really like your eye studies. They are very nice. Thanks for the reply to my sketchbook.
~Kerry

[Cyrus]

Doing values, more to come. Listed in order of doing them.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v407/Bleuski/apples.jpg

[Cyrus]

Self-portrait. Again, focusing on values.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v407/Bleuski/sp_values.jpg

[Cyrus]

~5 minute figure from head, trying to figure out what I can remember. I suppose it's not coincidence that I thought her right hand turned out the best. I also suppose I need to draw from my head a lot more.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v407/Bleuski/figure.jpg

[Cyrus]

Spent about 30 minutes playing in PS--quickie. I'm much happier with the values/modling on this SP I did compared to most previous studies; Getting values down with pencil can be hard(of course, that in itself could be a reason to use pencil).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v407/Bleuski/BW_SP.jpg

[guggemmaneuver]

dead.
meat.