saber-rattling guy + studies

[johann]

so here it is :) (my 3rd pic)
you see, i can´t draw any good (all selftought) but i want to improve!
so plz tell me how much i suck but be gentle ;) all c&c highly welcome, tell me what can be done better.

http://img205.echo.cx/img205/4548/schurkeohnegurke1ap.th.jpg (http://img205.echo.cx/my.php?image=schurkeohnegurke1ap.jpg)

some points i found: his left lower part of the leg is a little short+ his hands and feet are just ugly, i can´t draw hand and feet (i´m already practicing) ;)

[Danilo]

so here it is :)
some points i found: his left lower part of the leg is a little short+ his hands and feet are just ugly, i can´t draw hand and feet (i´m already practicing);)
Change this and post again. More work less words(dont be politician like I)

[johann]

meh, wanted to change more at once, would save some work you know?

so, any more crits? gonna work at it tomorrow :). (no time today, damn vocabulary test ;).)

[Qitsune]

Hi shoulders are way too big for his waist (make the waist bigger or the shoulders smaller) if he worked out to get his shoulders that big, he'd have other muscles on his torso. The upper backside of his head is a little flat (chopped cranium syndrom) With his elbows in so much, he looks like the swords are too heavy for him to lift.

[madster]

http://saveloomis.org/FigureDrawing/68.htm

Study the concepts of that chapter, and then approach this work again.

It is an interesting concept, along the lines of the old Sinbad movies. If you can better flesh out this character, and make the image more visually appealing, it would make a great illustration, and a nice portfolio piece.

Do a web search for scimitar images for reference, and maybe some cave interiors for rocks. I'd also leave it as linework for now, and not worry about colors as much as good rendering of the character.

You should also give him a name and a backstory...

[dogfood]

The pose has very little rhythm or flow. Limbs are popping out random directions and not making a very interesting picture.

[johann]

Hi shoulders are way too big for his waist (make the waist bigger or the shoulders smaller) if he worked out to get his shoulders that big, he'd have other muscles on his torso. The upper backside of his head is a little flat (chopped cranium syndrom) With his elbows in so much, he looks like the swords are too heavy for him to lift.

thx for these crits!
ok, will try to change the imbalence of waist/shoulders. hehe the chopped cranium syndrom his pretty often seen at my pictures if the people are bald headed ;). not easy without ref for a beginner. about the position of his elbows... i tried to show tension with that, plus he is standing still and not trying to chop someones head off so i thought he shouldn´t be waving that swords.


http://saveloomis.org/FigureDrawing/68.htm

Study the concepts of that chapter, and then approach this work again.

It is an interesting concept, along the lines of the old Sinbad movies. If you can better flesh out this character, and make the image more visually appealing, it would make a great illustration, and a nice portfolio piece.

Do a web search for scimitar images for reference, and maybe some cave interiors for rocks. I'd also leave it as linework for now, and not worry about colors as much as good rendering of the character.

You should also give him a name and a backstory...

wow what a great link ;). ty so much!
fleshing out better+makeing it more visually appealing is pretty hard, but i can try to do so.
i actually haven´t ever colored a character seriously yet, and i am not going to start with this poor guy, it would totally waste the picture for sure :)
want to learn the basics, like anatomy and stuff before learning to color..

background+name is a really interesting point.. maybe ill do that after finishing it :).

one last question... i forgot what a portfolio is. could you explain that plz?

[madster]

...one last question... i forgot what a portfolio is. could you explain that plz?Think of a portfolio as your personal "Show and Tell" book of art that you have created.
Your bestest pieces.
The works that you are proud to share with others as representations of who you are. As an artist, as a visionary, as a dreamer.
The illustrations and representations that best display your skills and imagination.

[Slash]

http://saveloomis.org/FigureDrawing/68.htm

Study the concepts of that chapter, and then approach this work again.


Hell, read the whole book!

Then redraw this character, using your new knowledge. Drawing it all over again on a new sheet of paper will be more educating for you than simply erasing and trying to fix whats already there. This way you can work on a more interesting pose, anatomy issues and stuff like that.

you might have worked hard on this, and be proud of it and stuff.. but if you stick around these forums and listen to what people has to say, youll look back at this in a couple of months and laught at your own work. seriously. i know i did.

keep drawing and keep posting!


/

[johann]

good explanation madster ty :)

Hell, read the whole book!

Then redraw this character, using your new knowledge. Drawing it all over again on a new sheet of paper will be more educating for you than simply erasing and trying to fix whats already there. This way you can work on a more interesting pose, anatomy issues and stuff like that.

you might have worked hard on this, and be proud of it and stuff.. but if you stick around these forums and listen to what people has to say, youll look back at this in a couple of months and laught at your own work. seriously. i know i did.

keep drawing and keep posting!


/

I really am reading that hole book right now, printed about 30 sites yet, the author has got a great way of explaining things, although it is in english i understand most of it easily, really great book, i am going to do lots of studies from that... i´ll post them here :). (or should i open a new thread?)

and btw... i haven´t worked really hard on it, it was just a 30 min sketch while watching oc. california :D

here is a first study i did..:

http://img41.echo.cx/img41/3512/proportionen7rs.th.jpg (http://img41.echo.cx/my.php?image=proportionen7rs.jpg)

€: hmm, after looking at it a while longer... the guy in the middle seems a little too big/towards upper body oriented. why? ;)

[aeoxo]

let's start with the face... I do a lot of speed drawing... how fast are you completing these drawings? I am used to drawing fast, and having been encouraged to take my time, I find my work is gaining from taking my time.

I noticed that you have a grid here, but it seems there wasn't a grid in the face, or maybe a mental one... the cheeks are too drawn out from the perimeter of the face... The jaw is well done, an established chin line. That's cool.

Maybe the adams apple could be a little more prominent on the right study. I find that as much as I freestyle, my hand learns anatomy better when I draw from reference. If you can't find reference, of a figure standin' straight, there are old Marvel Comics that have these kinda studies. I like the Encyclopedia of characters comics, the all have these poses. My two cent.

I see that you represented each muscle with it's shape in mind. Further reference and these studies will take your skills up. I am working with them now, and it's helping me. These cats know what they are talkin' bout.


R

[madster]

I already see improvement in your drawing!

The reason the guy in the middle is misshapen, is that you didn't follow your grid. Look at the guys on either side. Their shoulders are placed much lower on your grid. By making the shoulders up higher, and a bit wider, the middle guy started to get out of proportion. The fact that you caught it, even though you didn't catch the inconsistency of shoulder placement is good, because that is how you start to develop your "eye." Keep practicing. Eventually, your "eye" will tell you when things aren't quite right, and soon, you'll be able to then look a bit closer, and discern exactly where the sizing or proportions are out of whack.

Glad you're enjoying learning more!

[johann]

let's start with the face... I do a lot of speed drawing... how fast are you completing these drawings? I am used to drawing fast, and having been encouraged to take my time, I find my work is gaining from taking my time.

the saber-guy took me about half an hour, the studies took a while longer.. about 1 1/2 hours, never had done such a thing and i did lots of little mistakes that i had to correct :), i wanted to make it the best i could.

I noticed that you have a grid here, but it seems there wasn't a grid in the face, or maybe a mental one... the cheeks are too drawn out from the perimeter of the face... The jaw is well done, an established chin line. That's cool.

i am glad you like it, but i concentrated on the body at the studies, i drew that face to fill the empty space and had some problems with it because it is abut 1cm*1cm which isn´t real good for a detailed face.


Maybe the adams apple could be a little more prominent on the right study. I find that as much as I freestyle, my hand learns anatomy better when I draw from reference. If you can't find reference, of a figure standin' straight, there are old Marvel Comics that have these kinda studies. I like the Encyclopedia of characters comics, the all have these poses. My two cent.

i used a picture, i found at the book someone linked to in this thread, as reference :). and do you really think that marvel comics are that good references? i didn´t read many of them but i thought the proportions are exaggerated and not perfect to learn these ;).

I see that you represented each muscle with it's shape in mind. Further reference and these studies will take your skills up. I am working with them now, and it's helping me. These cats know what they are talkin' bout.

R

Trying to improve, love this forum ;).



@madster
thx :).
yes, you are right about the shoulders, damn i should have noticed.. I will see it next time :).

I took some more pictures from that book and tried to draw these poses:
http://img232.echo.cx/img232/8906/sitzend9co.th.jpg (http://img232.echo.cx/my.php?image=sitzend9co.jpg)http://img46.echo.cx/img46/3789/traurig8we.th.jpg (http://img46.echo.cx/my.php?image=traurig8we.jpg)

€: woohps forgot to scale one picture ;) now it is...

i just saw that the right guy isn´t really in balance, his right leg seems a bit short and so:). maybe ill correct this later.

[madster]

Johann, those who truly want something show the intensity of their desire by their actions. I gotta admit, you are showing how much you truly do want to master this. Every sketch you are posting shows a little more improvement.

Take a bit more time when you are working in the upper torso and waist areas. You have a tendency to nip in the waist a bit much, and make the upper torso a bit wide (ever heard of Ron Liefeld?). You're developing your eye, though. You are starting to see the discrepancies yourself, and THAT is the most important step, and the one that will keep you both humble and confident as you progress.

Don't worry about nitpicking on your studies. They're studies, not finished works. Right now, detail is not on your plate of progression; form and proportions are.
After you become more proficient at rendering the body, then you can worry about facial details, and hair, coloring, foreshortening, and all the rest. For now, stay focused on the human figure. Keep doing the exercises. They are helping you immensely!

Look forward to seeing your next exercise!
PS - I think you should just stick with this thread, instead of starting a new one. Although the original piece is taking a back seat at present, I expect that you may eventually return to it after you grow a bit as an artist, and this will make an excellent progression for you to see all in one place...My $.02 worth.

PPS - Don't stop using grids quite yet. You still need more practice at balancing proportions, and the grids are the best tool to help enhance that skill.
~M