Exercise in Oil [Updated 12/23/07]

[Nixon]

edit: wish i could delete some of those earlier sketches, but I think the grim reminder of my past is good motivation to never stop drawing/painting!

Hello, fellow sketcheroos. Just thought I'd start this thread so I have motivation to keep up on my sketchbook. I only have one page to show, reflecting my realization that I really need to study heads. These were done using random portraits I found on the web, about 20-min each - but I wasn't counting.

Top left one is weird, had a strange expression with one eye smaller. I think I really messed it up, but sketchbooks aren't perfect, are they?

I have some older sketchbook stuff I could post if people are interested, but I thought I'd start with today and look towards a better and brighter future. ;)

http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2004Nov014.jpg

[Nixon]

Well, maybe someday someone will post a reply. For now, here's another one I did today. Painter 7, portrait of my wife (used photo for reference - she's so fidgety!). I had some problems with proportions initially, did this one in about 2 hours. Trying to get faster...but I'm just an inexperienced painter.

C&C welcome!!!

http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2004Nov15.jpg

[Nixon]

Just another couple from today. The human figure one is pretty bad, but i kinda like the pose. These were really quick.

http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2004Nov16_01.jpg

http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2004Nov16_02.jpg

[Nixon]

More stuff.

http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2004Nov18_01.jpg

http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2004Nov18_02.jpg

[cotron]

I like your drawing style, I like the page of heads at the top especially. On your digital paintings, I think they could benefit from popping in some 100% opacity areas at the end, to make some significant edges...right now the edges are a little undefined. Look forward to seeing more!

[Nixon]

man, my sketchbook really shows how much I need to draw more! (not to mention take some painting lessons)! here's a Medusa concept.

http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2004Dec08_01.jpg

[treeboy]

Keep'em comin nixon, that Medusa concept is great. I always find it kinda annoying how a lot of people depict medusa as this horrendous ugly beast. She originally was incredibly beautiful and I always thought it'd be awesome to have her still be beautiful, but monstrous.

you capture that pretty darn near perfectly :)

[Nixon]

I'm still rusty, but that just means I haven't been putting the daily effort to draw for the last several years! This is good motivation for me, since I can't get to a figure session for awhile....unless there are free ones in L.A.? :)

Of course, comments/crits are always welcome! Tell me what you think I need to work on, I know there is a lot. I really value others' criticism as I strive to become a better artist. There are a lot of really talented artists here who inspire me!

http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2004Dec10_01.jpg
http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2004Dec10_02.jpg

[DreadRok]

great stuff.... the medusa is great...i like how you put the snakes going back instead of like a crazy jerri curl snake hairdo :dur: the paintings are pretty good too, just lookin a little blurry (like my painting attempts.. in PS) so if you figure out how to remedy this... let me know :confident

but anyways keep it up man... I think your stuff is pretty dang good

[auden100]

Cool thread going here, dude. I'll have to back everyone else's appreciation for medusa concept. It looks like to me that you're having some problems with the body anatomy. On the medusa painting, it seems like the amount of highlight and shadow on either arm would imply a different placement for them. Right now the are both going straight forward and back, but their values suggests that the forward arm should be angled more towards the camera (as the light is actually above and behind the body), and the back arm lacks any highlight at all to define its placement in space.

The shoulders in the last sketch are off. That much tilt in the shoulders would almost certainly affect some other tilting of the spine or pelvis. All in all I think your faces are fantastic, but the rest of the body could use some work. Keep it up.

[Nixon]

DreakRok: Thanks man

auden100: yeah I also notice that I'm having problems with anatomy. all figures shown in this thread were done without reference, which I obviously shouldn't do. It's just too damn hard to get the reference the proper pose! I think I will start getting my wife to help out. I have a couple of anatomy books I *should* be poring over. I also have difficulty developing the right shapes and differentiating planes (as well as generating lighting outta my head), so my value work needs a lot of help. I miss weekly figure drawing.....

[Zebz]

More cowbell indeed! You must have been trying to lure me here. ;) It worked! You've got some nice stuff man. Your tablet stuff is very nice to look at. I think you're improving already. Of course, I still need to see more. :confident So get on it! Life studies and anatomy work, STAT!

[steak-tron]

COWBELL! hehe glad zebfree made it here :confident:

ehhh you've got the cowbell going on for shure. The top page is strong and that medusa head is a great one. the digitals aren't as strong, but the lineart of the woman with the drapes is a good one, keep hammering away at that stuff. I agree with cotron, it can be murder on an image if you rely on the opacity setting too much. Try not using the feature for a little while to break the habit.

Nice stuff tho, keep em' coming.

[Nixon]

Ok, so I'm waiting to work on digital painting after I feel I'm back up to speed with my drawing. Back to the old ballpoint pen, here's a small update. I feel like I'm slowly starting to get back into it....art, that is! LOL However, I need more discipline and need to draw MORE....esp. head studies, facial features and proportions, and do something about my linework.....

http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2004Dec20_01.jpg

[Burning Eyes]

wow i never looked at this thread, but man you got some nice stuff goin on, and if you say your sketcbooko is bad well, i might as well throw mine out.. .heh anyways would love to see more, keep it up

[Nixon]

ZebzFree: This one's for you. I need to do more, you're right. It's been awhile...

steak-tron: I've decided to first get my drawing back up to speed, then tackle painting. I have absolutely no training in painting, so that'll be a beast....I figure I should first have a good grasp of value and form, so it's back to the basics for me!

Burning Eyes: Thanks man. I need an ass-kicking to make sure I work in my sketchbook daily.... Where's southampton? My wife's from York, near Harrisburg.

I'm deathly afraid of commitment ;) but I'll try to post daily. It'll be a good motivator to do daily studies..... This page is studies from Stephen Rogers Peck's book, "Atlas of Human Anatomy for the Artist" (I love this book!).

http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2004Dec20_02.jpg

[Nixon]

Wow, it's been awhile since I've posted anything.....or done very much, actually. Being unemployed keeps me very busy, believe it or not! Here is my latest. I started painting the head and neck, and I'll keep working on the rest in the next few days....the legs' "femur" shape is bothering me, as well as the texture of the legs in general, but I plan to fix these when I paint them.

No ref used, but have been doing bird studies for some concept work. This design was also randomly inspired by vague memories of Star Wars Episode II. Sketched in ink and painting in Painter 7.

http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2005Jan31.JPG

[Nixon]

Just some free time at work. still learning digital painting....

crits/comments/tips welcome of course!

http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2005Feb11_01.jpg

http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2005Feb11_02.jpg

[emily g]

Hey, how's it going? Yep, it's me from Waterford. :) I don't work there anymore though (layoffs . . . sigh).

I really like the stuff you have going here--especially that first medusa concept in red pencil. The woman's face is really nice because of the sensitive handling.

Good use of the chalk texture on the last head as well.

good to see you here (I didn't know you were here :))
emily

[Nixon]

emily: sorry to hear about the layoffs. Where are you at now?

This thread is good motivation for my lazy butt. here's a few doodles during some free minutes at work...

http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2005Feb14_01.jpg

[emily g]

Hey, yeah they had to lay off 25% of employees. I'm not really sure how things are going there now.
So I'm doing freelance illustration. My name's not really out there yet (I need to redo my portfolio) but I got a pretty good project working with another artist doing some children's work for a publishing company.
We'll see how things go.

What are you doing now?
emily

[Xaya]

Really admire your first drawing posting here... great emotions!

I used to draw digital in past but it was a crap do this with a mouse...
so i have quit this medium...

You are more skilled with traditional medium currently,
some of your digitals look flat... keep looking on shading
your drawing studies are nice to look at
and the same way helpful...

Keep on the ball! (?)

-Xaya

[Nixon]

emily: I'm working a short contract gig in santa monica and still looking for permanent work any and every where. So, who's still at Waterford?

Xaya: Thanks, and I agree that I am currently better at traditional media right now. However, I have never had any training in painting (sad, I know...I missed the opportunities) and I am too poor to spend the $$ right now.

My latest sketches are mostly in photoshop, but here are some i've been too lazy to scan.. you'll notice bird studies, done from photo ref off the web. others are an effort to get ideas flowing for a rebirth of a few personal projects.

Oddly enough, started doodling the leg on the left at the calf, then worked up. I'm suprised it turned out decent! My co-worker observed that i'm a habitual "silhouetter", to which I agreed. Trying to break the habit, though!

http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2005Feb15_01.jpg

bottom griffon's head is way outta proportion...i doodled the head and then tacked on the body, and the bottom of the paper gave me issues :)

http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2005Feb15_02.jpg

Started with a dragon-looking head, then spurred by a fuzzy memory of star wars episode II.

http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2005Feb15_03.jpg

random doodles...working on headgear for post-apocalyptic character.

http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2005Feb15_04.jpg

Old beast of burden project,.....with a twist!

http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2005Feb15_05.jpg

just some animal heads, doodling without reference...tho i do kinda like the one on the right.

http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2005Feb15_06.jpg

just a couple bird head studies from ref. photos.

http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2005Feb15_07.jpg

goofy griffon doodle, I was tired of all the high-strung seriousness at "work".

http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2005Feb15_08.jpg

[brkofdon]

i like your ideas! not much to say right now. just keep posting! this is a first time viewing this thread! i always like checking out new sketchbooks! please keep going! i want more! >:D

[Nixon]

just another quick doodle in photoshop, bored at work and totally depressed...

http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2005Feb18_01.jpg

[P E N Ricklund]

Great!

Love your griffin sketch, so nice.

Keep it up I say :D

[klinesmoker]

I can't believe I just read about how you think your sketchbook shows you need to draw more. I'm not saying you DON'T, but I'm saying the base meaning of the comment is wrong! We should always draw more, man, always. However you are doing so damn well :) Beautiful rendering and great conceptualization, mate!

[Ink_Monkey]

sweet stuff man blue ball point pen eh ... all I have to say is NICE. I love ball point if no other medium is getting the flow on its ball point pen for me whoot.

Nice start really nice can't wait to see more from you.

Later.

[cburt]

hey man, i really like your animal/creature drawings a lot...the griffen head is great even with the disproportionate body heheh. i agree with cotron that your paintings seem like they could use some more solidifying through 100% opacity marks, they're feeling kind of plastic-y right now. also i really like all of your head concepts, the helmets are great, and that first medusa concept is really nice. keep them coming, i'll check back for sure.
-cburt

edit: haha, and i'm glad to see those in ballpoint man...i'm kinda biased when it comes to tools and ballpoint reigns supreme >:D

[johnny3]

Nice drawings man!! Keep em coming.

[Nixon]

thanks for the crits and suggestions guys. here's a quickie i did at work today, just like 10 min i think

http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2005Feb28_01.jpg

[Keepiru]

Your creatures are fantastic! I looove your beast of burden! Keep it up!

[Nixon]

10 min today w/mirror. I also made the "toned paper", to help create more texture...i think i'll use it for most of my sketches cuz i like it :)

http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2005Feb28_02.jpg

[dadamafia]

nice work. the portrait is looking good. im lovin the sketchbook stuff.

[Nixon]

thanks dadamafia.

here's some more doodles, bored at work....can u spot the ambisextrous one? :) yeah i know, the truck sucks. but i'm posting it anyway!

http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2005March01_01.jpg
http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2005March01_02.jpg
http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2005March01_03.jpg
http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2005March01_04.jpg

[Nixon]

quickie for avatar

http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2005March02_01.jpg

[Bennett]

excellent stuff here. You have a nice sense of form, anatomy and humor. I'm surprised I haven't run across this thread yet. You've inspired me to try some ballpoint stuff after years of not using. I used to draw some pretty cool shit w/ the blue bic back in the day now that I think about it.

Keep up the good work

[maxetormer]

GOOD work, Iv got a good chunk
of inspiration out of your thread, sum cool
concepts, and I specialy like how
you handle your line work on the last ones,
ill be around, keep us posted!! :)

[shuggypudd]

Richard

That’s pretty good. Interesting how the vertical lines from the rough sketch don’t bother the overall contour of the surfaces. What’s Avatar?

:pirate:

[prs5]

Hey Matt, how's it going? This is Paul Schoeni. I found this sketch thread of yours by accident. You've got some nice stuff in here. Did you hear that BYU won two more Emmys this year (for PetShop and Faux Pax). Anyways, keep in touch.

Paul

[Nixon]

all - thanks for the comments, and sorry i've been lazy and not doing or posting much.

paul - are you still at DD? I'm looking for a job....

shuggypudd - nice name. I bet you have a big moustache.

[Prehistoric]

nice stuff man. i like the fact that you can draw both realistic and idealistic at the same time.

the blue sketches, are they pencil or ink? i often have a hard time getting that good contrast with the blue pencils.

[Kaoki]

hey mate, some really excellent stuff here. love the beast of burden, cracks me up and yet retains believability. your creature stuff is really strong and i dig the guy with the square jaw in the last one, good sense of character in his face.
keep it up

[Nixon]

prehistoric: i use blue ballpoint pen mostly, for convenience's sake. you're right about the blue pencil, you won't be able to get good contrast with those because they're not intended for that. I used to use them all the time, but have since switched to the dark red pencils. I use ballpoint cuz i hate carrying a sharp pencil in my pocket.... :)

kaoki: thanks. this thread is sometimes the only motivation i have of sketching regularly.

thanks to everyone for looking and commenting!

[prs5]

No, I left DD after Robot was over last year. I've been at a place called Brain Zoo for the last 9 months or so, but now I'm going to Zoic for a couple of months. Keep in contact, send me an email sometime. ( PaulSchoeni@Netzero.com )

Paul

[DiPaola]

WOW! you have one sick style my friend- I really like your work! keep it up man.

[shuggypudd]

:pirate: Workin on a beard, Maybe... :evilmustache:

[maxetormer]

Yo! throw us a bone!! :P I really how your mind works.

[Nixon]

i will post some stuff tonite.

[Nixon]

I did promise a post, it's been ages since my last one...

So here it is. Nothing amazing, but I'm trying to do more. This was just done in PS CS2 at work while I was bored, and loving my new gritty brush...sometimes even just a simple texture additive can go a long way!

http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2005Dec13_01.jpg

Crits welcome of course...but this *IS* just a sketchbook thread! Since I'll be having a lot more free time in the next week, I will probably post more between now and the New Year. My time seems to just disappear into thin air....

[Nixon]

just another sketch in photoshop...I don't like it, but here it is. reference image is at bottom, i was inspired by Black Frog...I know it's quite off from the ref, but I was just going at it and was trying more to focus on getting the values right. Didn't, though...it needs more time but whatever - it's a sketch, people!

http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2005Dec14_02.jpg

sculpt by Black Frog

http://homepage.mac.com/theblackfrog/.Pictures/tutorialsculpt1/tutf49.jpg

sculpt by Black Frog

[Nixon]

Ok, so I'm lame and it's been awhile. The only sketching that I've been doing lately are figure drawings (mostly gesture) and a few paint doodles. I am going to work on a few still life paintings to gear up for a figure project. Meanwhile, here are just a few little doodles I did in ArtRage 2.0....I'm not much of a painter, but it's a start!

I'll have to take some photos of the figure drawings sometime. They're lurking on a large newsprint pad at work...

No reference was used for these, which was a mistake because I really need to work on my lighting/rendering, it's all sorts of WHACKED. Another reason I am going to do some still lifes....

http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2006May24_01.jpg
http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2006May24_02.jpg

[emily g]

Hey, how's it going?
You're getting some decent flesh tones in the bottom face there. Don't forget your purples and yellows.

best,
emily

[Nixon]

Thanks for making my thread feel alive, emily! :) I will work on colors...

[Nixon]

here's one from today. Googled a pear photo for ref. done in ArtRage.

http://www2.ambientdesign.com/forums/files/2006may25_01_188.jpg

[Ashrumm]

Hey Nixon i really like your energy man, boy are you modest, you are a much better artist than you think you are. I love your energy as an artist man you are a great inspiration for us all here at concept art. Just so you know you should post everything you work on so we can see your progress not just your painting even your doodles. Lets see here you show great skill in head drawing and painting, You are also have a very strong gestural quality in your work. If i was to say anything about your work it would be to do some longer pieces with a bit more detail. I'm not saying to stop doing quick work, I need to do some quick tablet work. But good stuff man I'll definitely be back for more goodies!!:yayca:

Nice pear but where's the shadow you need to drop the shadow on the pear it would set it nicely in space. Good work though I love the textures

[maxetormer]

Hey your thread is alive allrigth, nice bach, I missed your work,
on the faces, I agree with emily's critic, they are going
to much on the purple-pink side, remeber that skin has sepias
browns, yellows, pinks, blues, greens, and purples, and dont forget
to dived your warms areas (light) from your cold areas (shadow)
I mean you could have a warm shadow and a cold light setup but
making work a warm-warm setup is really hard.

Checking some master painters like Degas or Pissaro

(Similar to your setup but with a better usage of value and saturation)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/paintingtheweather/assets/artists/degas.jpg

http://www.yurimarcialis.it/impressionisti/degas/degas_absinthe-2.jpg

http://www.artchive.com/artchive/d/degas/degas_young_woman.jpg

http://www.artchive.com/artchive/d/degas/degas_duranty.jpg

http://www.mystudios.com/art/impress/degas/degas-tub.jpg

might help you out sorting out your skin tones
either way I like how you handle your values even if the color
dont always add up to them, just keep this stuff coming
and ill keep waching!!

[Nixon]

Thanks for the comments guys. I do need to work on color, that's why i'm painting....thanks for the links. I will remember warm/cool colors on my next one, I promise! :)

[Nixon]

Here's today's, from a ref photo i Googled.

http://www2.ambientdesign.com/forums/files/2006may26_01_894.jpg

[archipelago]

sweet artrage stuff, very nice and vibrant colours! keep it up!

[Nixon]

Speed paint, all I had time for today *sob* googled vase ref pic shown as well.

20 min, ArtRage

http://www2.ambientdesign.com/forums/files/2006may31_01_193.jpg

http://www2.ambientdesign.com/forums/files/vase_600.jpg

[entdroid]

Nice sketchbook! I like the pencil works the most, but those last colors studies are coming along really well too (that vase is a little skewed though :P).

Keep it up! :)
entdroid

[Robert.B]

your picking up that program realy quick dude keep at it.

[Nixon]

Thanks for the encouragement, guys.

Here is a Sargent copy I did during lunch.

http://www2.ambientdesign.com/forums/files/2006june_14_01_110.jpg

original

http://www2.ambientdesign.com/forums/files/sargent_errazuriz_150.jpg

[Ashrumm]

AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!! LOL you did the same Sargent study i am actually working on!!! That is so funny I really like it and it didn't take you long at all good stuff man it looks really good. You actually painted more than the painting awesome stuff Nixon. What a coincidence it looks really good when i'm done with mine i'll be sure to let you know. I plan on finishing it today. I just wanted to see what you were up to good stuff here keep it up your digital skills are improving with each peice of work you do. Welp i'll catch you later good work!!

[Darktwin]

dude, looking damn good, your digi works are awesome. Keep em coming man.

[Nixon]

wow! I got replies on my thread!! how did you guys even see it buried under all those daily-updated sketchbook threads....I will scan some pages outta my sketchbook (mostly gestures and doodles) this weekend if I can find time. Right now I'm working on another painting to study Vargas and practice rendering soft skin tones....These were done in ArtRage. I have been working in it to really simplify and teach myself basic painting workflow.

Here's a vase study w/ref (20 min)

http://www2.ambientdesign.com/forums/files/2006june02_01_164.jpg

Original:

http://www2.ambientdesign.com/forums/files/vases_666.jpg

and the one i'm working on now (2 hrs):

I haven't done a lot (none) of figure painting, so this is my exploration. I come from a drawing background, as you might be able to tell if you've looked over this thread. I think my anatomy is a tad off, I'll work on fixing it after I get the face done.

http://www2.ambientdesign.com/forums/files/2006june15_01_204.jpg

original Vargas:

http://www2.ambientdesign.com/forums/files/vargas_176.jpg

Comments/Crits welcome as always!

[Dile_]

Wow, nice stuff! you have some really nice digitals in here!
hm.. I maybe should try one of those masterpaintings myself.. since
everybody else seems to be doing it :P
Great 4 stars from me!

[Dile_]

Wow, nice stuff! you have some really nice digitals in here!
hm.. I maybe should try one of those masterpaintings myself.. since
everybody else seems to be doing it :P
Great 4 stars from me!

[Nixon]

Used the Vargas pose to sketch my own girl in Photoshop. I feel I have a lot more control in PS than in ArtRage. I'll try to take this one to a finished level, instead of the ArtRage study.

w00t for ConceptArt.org hosting image attachments!!

ps. i just did some adjustments to the angle of the head, i'll post more later this'll be my little pet project (HA! like i have time for another one??)

[Madfishmonger]

You're very good with the value and depths, I enjoyed your sketchbook, looking forward to more. You have a really neat style.

[Nixon]

this is kinda double posting, since this is a WIP i started a thread in that forum for it, but I wanted to keep my limited sketchbook audience happy too :) I'll refrain from posting updates of this piece on this thread, so check out the WIP thread!

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?p=906733#post906733

[Nixon]

did this ballpoint one in my sketchbook yesterday, inspired by Cheeks. yeah, i know he has anatomy problems. just thought i'd share.

[fionkell]

Sweet style and some great colour studies here! Not much else I can think of to say, but keep it going.

[Nixon]

I know i said i wouldn't, but here is an update on my pic. I figure, the more places i post it the more feedback i might receive....

I kinda wish i had good photo ref for this, but this was pretty much done without any and only Vargas' original as ref, tho mine turned out to be in a diff pose.

Changes I have to make: fix hip (raise? hip bulge higher on side), design cool ribbon

C&C welcome!!

http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2006June22_03.jpg

[Smitherines]

nice stuff, really like the creature designs

[-ThePenciler-]

I really like the work on this last girl.

[Nixon]

Thanks for the comments!

I'm still working on the girl, took a break from her along with going on vacation. I gotta finish her and I want to do at least one more for the show.

Here are a few sketches I did yesterday during some down time at work. I forgot to save the ref for the girl, I think it's kinda sloppy but whateva

[Tigermilk]

hey nixon! Thought I'd posted here before, well..
I enjoy your work alot, keep doing those color studies, loving the vases.
oh, and give us some more pencil work too. :)
tiger

[Robert.B]

looking good bro

[Nixon]

Just one I started today. I hope to finish it, but not overwork it. Just copying the photo as practice. Spent a good portion of the day on it...

Ref image first

Inspired by seeing the image in this thread:

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=73863

[Nixon]

Some more slow time at work. I started with the pose, but she won't be nude in the final.

Progress pix, gesture, orig leg, fixed leg.

[Nixon]

Sargent study. Just a couple of hours in PS CS2.

Sargent's original posted here for reference.

[Robert.B]

your getting much better with those colors!!

hows the team doing?

[Nixon]

thanks man. I've been trying to pay more attention to color.

Gianvito says hi!

[Nixon]

just a few quick sketches of African american women. Some of them look too caucasion, i think. studying for a forthcoming concept piece.

Tyra Banks has a nice face...among other things ;)

[Nixon]

More stuff. I feel more in control when sketching in a traditional medium...ballpoint pen! :)

[Nixon]

whoopidee doo

[Nixon]

here's some stuff i've been drawing. my larger gestures from figure drawing at work will have to wait until I can take some pix of my newsprint pad, but they're better than these pen ones from my book...

[Nixon]

Just messing around with a few new brushes I made in my quest for PS mastery. from a photo ref online.

[Nixon]

Inspired by a cute asian girl. Who isn't?
Took an hour this morning to sketch this out.

[Nixon]

Just took photos of nearly all of my life drawings (mostly gestures) from 2003 - present. I made a new thread for them, so I won't re-post them all in this one (96 images).

Here is the thread: http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=81879

[Chiko]

You drawings are really nice!

I think your anatomy could use a little more work, getting proportions right. But ..hey all of us need that heheh.

The painting of the glasses vases is one of the best! It looks like a photo.

[taeyoungchoi]

very alive sketches!
Love to see more!

[Robert.B]

youv been busy man nice work. Hey hows evry thing been?

[Nixon]

Thanks for the comments, ppl. It's that busy time of year, but I promise I'll update soon! I got a creature project I gotta crank out by end of the month...

Here's a small update, Mr. Frog and a few prehistoric fish sketches.

http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2006Dec12_01.jpg
http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2006Dec12_02.jpg
http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2006Dec12_03.jpg

[Nixon]

Just did this one today. Sketched in blue pencil, this is the inked and cleaned up version. I'm going to model this starting now and do a painting before texturing it. My friend at work is going to rig it, he's really excited (nerd!). I am not taking full credit for the concept, since it's basically just a variation on a sea creature in "The Wildlife of Star Wars: A Field Guide" book. I was studying the Dunkleosteus, a prehistoric sea creature that was pretty crazy. It had a crazy-hard bite and gigantic teeth that would chomp through nearly everything. Anyhow, I took the Dunkleosteus head design and made a minor change to the body (added a tail). I call it KILLER SHRIMP! Oh, and it's a very large animal, it's one of the sea creatures in Star Wars Episode I that tries to eat their sub. Hope you enjoy!

http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/KillerShrimp.jpg

[Robert.B]

thats sick man lol. Hey hows the weather been? I miss Orlando soo much.

[Nixon]

http://www.digitallunatik.com/gal6_img1.jpg

Been learning oil painting. 4x6 board, 2 hrs.

[emily g]

Hey, nice to see you post again. How are things?

[michaelh]

Fantastic stuff - I can learn a lot looking at the way you construct your images. Above all they look relaxed and confident.
congratulations!

[Nixon]

Thanks for posting! I wasn't sure anyone still visited this rarely-updated thread of mine....

I've been learning more about speedpainting. I've yet to have time to do much, but here are a few early ones.

http://www.digitallunatik.com/gal5_img6.jpg
http://www.digitallunatik.com/gal5_img7.jpg
http://www.digitallunatik.com/gal5_img8.jpg

[Nixon]

This is from an old sketch. I revamped the legs, didn't like the stick look...

http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/wip_monster.jpg
http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/wip_monster_02.jpg

click here for hi-rez detail image (http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/wip_monster_02_large.jpg)

[Robert.B]

Loving the redesign dude!

[Nixon]

And now, with more color! What do you think?

http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/wip_monster_03.jpg

[Nixon]

All right, I can admit that last one is kinda nasty looking. Here is my final image:

http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/wip_monster_04.jpg

I was also recently introduced to Phil Hale's work. Stunned, I decided to do a study of one of his pieces...well, part of one of his pieces! Obv, the better looking one is the original. I can see that my proportions are off, as well as the placement for the back arm...

http://www.allenspiegelfinearts.com/hale_no2.jpg http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/masterStudy_PhilHale.jpg

[Robert.B]

looking good man. one minor note try not to hatch, but instead use solid brush marks and strokes to describe the soft shading.

[Nixon]

This is a matte painting. I guess it's my first ever... it was more of an exercise than a concept job. I didn't have anything in mind, just found this photo I have saved under "Sketch Ref" and wanted to see if I could do a decent matte painting. I'm pleasantly surprised it looks pretty decent in my eyes...

3hrs in PS. Original plate at the bottom. The ship was a paintover of one I found doing a Google search.

P.S. Can someone please tell me how to enable a thumbnail image on a new thread? Thanks, I've kinda been out of it...

http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/alaska.jpg
http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/alaska_ref.jpg

[Nixon]

I've been busy, but trying to draw in my sketchbook whenever I get the chance. I don't like messes, so I usually just use ink or ballpoint...tho I should really start using something that I can block in value quickly with. If you have a suggestion, by all means post it!

These ink sketches were done in the past month or so. Just thought I should update my dying thread... :) Right on the last page I started trying out this ink brush pen, it's pretty cool but I'm told they don't last long. I may have to look for a refillable one, it's pretty addictive once you start using it!

The photoshop piece is from a digital figure drawing session at work, 20 min. I don't really like it, but it's a start. Note my sweet skull brush.

Thanks for visiting my thread.

http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2007Nov09_01.jpg
http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2007Nov11_01.jpghttp://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2007Nov11_02.jpg
http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2007Nov11_03.jpghttp://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2007Nov11_04.jpg
http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2007Nov11_05.jpghttp://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2007Nov11_06.jpg
http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2007Nov11_07.jpghttp://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2007Nov11_08.jpg
http://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2007Nov11_09.jpghttp://www.digitallunatik.com/files/sketchbook/2007Nov11_10.jpg

[Nixon]

Another exercise in oils. I need to slog through these to learn how to control the medium and work on my colors. I used a 2" photo for reference and had dim light, and I've learned from the experience. I sure like this piece better in B/W! it's 6"x6" on masonite board.