Calik

[MisterE]

Hello,

After lurking this board for over a year I figured should introduce myself and post something.

Here are a few unused concept sketches for work. I could really use some C&C as I seem to be having trouble getting any acceptance as an artist at work. I will admit i see some issues with my drawing skills: my poses are stiff and/or out of proportion, but I just can't look at my work objectivly anymore(I am not sure if I suck, or if its just circumstances at work).The main thing is I want to improve my skills, tell me whats wrong or right with these drawings. :)

http://home.earthlink.net/~waltzpowell/conceptart/Azemos_J_01.jpg

http://home.earthlink.net/~waltzpowell/conceptart/Calick_J_01.jpg

http://home.earthlink.net/~waltzpowell/conceptart/Celest_J_02.jpg

http://home.earthlink.net/~waltzpowell/conceptart/Celest_J_03.jpg

Thanks to the members of this board for all the inspiration, and information!

JP

[Rad]

how often do you go to a local life drawing workshop? Go at least once a week and your skills should improve alot.

[ChadTHX1138]

Welcome Mr.E !

Your off to a good start, The girl showing leg rocks!

[Fipse]

Hi Mr. E,

I think you don´t make many big failures but continuosly some smaller ones that will add up for a trained eye and I suppose that´s what maybe gives you acceptance probs on your work. I myself tend to repeat failures and have got probs getting them extinguished.

I think you have a fine, clean style with lots of details that has a good potential to develop if you work against your probs. Most - as far as I can see - can be corrected by lifedrawing, good observation, a good anatomy book and maybe a little more patience with some details.
Here are some comments: First there are some perspective and proportional flaws. You can see this especially with both the back eyes (?) of the women who aren´t in line. The magician has this problem too, but not so strong. There are some minor problems with anatomy, esp. on the first woman. Her arms have different length, I think her right forearm is a little bit too long. Furthermore here arms seem a little undefined and the knees seem to me too wobbly (?).The details I´m talking about and what need imho some observation would be the faulds in the arms of the magicians robe and the boots of the first woman. I personally think that some more contrast in the shadows and more variations would do the pics good.

Have a look at Mcoties work here on the board. He´s using a style in his pencilwork that resembles yours. maybe this can help you. I always think it´s more difficult to critizise someone who´s on the right track and just needs some little corrections than to tell someone what he´s doing is blatantly wrong.

Hope I could help you a bit (even with my limited english :))

Fipse

[MindCandyMan]

I definitely could be wrong but it looks like to me that you may not be viewing the figure as dynamic shapes in space. (I am a total rookie so take this with a grain of salt)... What I mean by that is I think it would really help your figures, their poses, and the perspective if you viewed the body as a bunch of rudimentary shapes and adjusted them in space accordingly. Bridgman talks about this in his figure drawing books. If you envision the head as a square...the hips as a square...the rib cage as a square...the legs as cylinders...etc... it's easier to make a more dynamic pose than if you are trying to eye it up. I would try that for your next pose. Create a vanishing point on your piece of paper...your horizon line and draw your figures as rudimentary shapes first in proper perspective to that vanishing point. Mess around with different poses and foreshortening...etc... Imagine them more in 3d space...I think that would help your drawings come to life cause you obviously have the line work and rendering capability. You just need to get some sense of perspective in there and you will be good. I agree with the others too...constant life drawing is essential for everyone.

[cucaracha]

I don't know what's up with you guys, I think they're quite nice :p

[Fipse]

Hey Cucaracha,

they ARE nice. But they could be better and this is what we all are here for. Getting inspired, inspire someone and learn. I don´t want to bring the drawings down but JP asked for help and I´m glad if I find some time so maybe I can help him with my meager knowledge.

Fipse

[keenerbean]

Hey MisterE
I think MindCandyMan is on the right track. I used to associate blocking out shapes and poses with those lame "How to Draw Tigers, etc" books and that it was cheating, that you should just be able to bust out a perfect drawing as you go. Bull. To get the best possible results in a drawing you want to know that every stage is perfect before moving on to the next. Drawing some lines of actions before you start is a great idea. Check out some Chuck Jones drawings of Wiley Coyote and you'll see that everthing right down to his ears and nose form flowing lines of movement from one body part to the next. It works for all styles not just cartoons. My drawings improved tremendously when I realized that.
Anyway, I think your drawings are great. They show a lot of style and originality esp. with the concepts (love your dino-goat-man) and if your co-workers can't see that they're snobs and knobs.

Keep it up and welcome!

[bbwolf]

I agree with the rest of the guys. Small problems here and there combined. Fipse pointed out the most of them. I can only suggest that you try to lighten up a bit, not tryin too hard to hit the perfect line. Check out the daily stuff from bengal and Spath. Look how perfect they work and how perfect it looks. Strange, huh?

With the dynamic and action lines like Keenerbean suggested you make big step. Your designs are nice and you´re on the right way. Now if you allready have a job where you can draw, far out. That´s allready the most important thing. Practice and patience. The only I can think of in addition is that you should pay more attention to your probs. The wizards stick for example is less accuarat then the rest of the sketch.


Well, it´s a pity that you waited so long before posting.

[MisterE]

Rad, I haven't done any life drawing for about a year now. I really want to enroll in Chicago's School of Representational Art, http://www.tfaoi.com/newsasn/newsa20.htm I am sure it would help me a lot, but it is expensive. In the meantime I will try to find another place to do some life work:(

ChadTHX1138, Thanks, she is one of my favorites, probably the most solid pose of all the drawings. Very nice website btw.

Fipse, Good advice, I always seem to have trouble getting the eyes to line up right when I am drawing heads that are under 3 inches 75 mm. I dont seem to have as much of a problem when I work larger, although these images are on 12x16 inch paper which is hard enough to scan on my 11X14 inch scanner. I haven't compared my work to Mcoties before and found it interesting to note the similarities you had pointed out. Your English is fine, better than mine ;) Vielen Danke!

MindCandyMan, I used to draw without planning anything out, most of my very old work is kinda surreal because of that. I always felt like I was cheating so I have been trying to break that habit, I do usually block out my work, Maybe if i loosen up a little and exaggerate the poses when I am blocking them out my work wouldn't be so stiff. One thing is for sure, I never really block in my work in a well defined 3D perspective, (unless its environmental) I will have to give that a try. :)

cucaracha, keenerbean and bbwolf, Thanks, that is good for my self-esteem!

Line of action is what I am striving for now, I want it to carry through not only the pose but the shading as well, hatching along the outline curves without actually crosshatching.

Yeah, that wizards stick has been a thorn in my side since I started the drawing. I wanted something more unique than a typical wizards staff, so I based it off of a Runestave, but the designer wanted it to have a handle in the middle, unfortunately I didn't have enough time to really clean it up (excuses, excuses).

Thanks for the input everyone!