Something(s) old and something New

[Devils Jester]

Okay i've been here a long time and have hardly done anything at all. I've been through boots and wars, so i decided to finally get my butt in gear and post some crap. Some of it you may have seen or may not have, but say la vie(oh ya did mention i can't spell to save my life.

So this is an idea for a new age robin hood thing that plays in my mind every once in a while. This is my idea for Will Scarlet.
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c264/DevilsJester/willscarlet.jpg

This next thing took me like two hours and i was experimenting with shading and backgrounds. I hardly ever draw backgounds so this is kind of like a first attempt.
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c264/DevilsJester/sarwind.jpg

This is the last one (for now). This i did over like two to three hours. I experimented with colored pencils, but unfortunatly i was half asleep when choosing colors so some of them are a bit weird in comparison with one another. No use putting it off now.
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c264/DevilsJester/rescue.jpg

C and C welcome and wanted majorly, and be blunt.

[Poohgee]

They are all flat .. try to draw the highlights & shadows & the rest in order to give your subjects some form .

And compare what you have drwan & the real thing or reference in order to spot any mistakes.

Just IMO.

[Devils Jester]

prob is i don't have anything to really compare them too. That and i'm still getting used to shading. Although i am trying

[Geophillyx]

okaaay...first thing: proportions - in the first pic the torso is almost as wide as the head; second issue is anatomy, shoulders aren't that broad on a skinny person, the arms should always be thinner than the legs; third, poses - try to make them more fluid, more natural, observe how people stand and sit in reality, this one isn't such a big problem cause i can see you're getting there; fourth, shading - give 'em some 3D appearance, shade, erase where the light shines on objects, it looks like you got the idea right in the second pic, but you need to take it further. try shading simple objects first, like apples and stuff, observe how light relfects on surfaces, its all about observation, have fun with it, and im sure these will look great

[MikeMakesModels]

i don't have anything to really compare them to
[/QUOTE]

Nonsense. A photograph in a newspaper is reference. A self timer digi photo of yourself is great too.

Use the world around you.

[Devils Jester]

Ya i can shade simple obejects quite well, it's just that usually i'll take so long on just trying to get something to look close to right, i don't want to take the time to shade it in (that and the complexity of some objects are really anoying). Ya and i know my proportions are off. Especially the legs to arms/body and head to torsoe. i always seem to draw the torsoe to small to the head and then that'll throw off the shoulders. Can anyone give me a few pointers on how this can be remideed?

As for the poses and camera and stuff. I don't have a camera and don't get the news paper. I'm lukey to get a magazine.. I know it sounds like i'm making excuses, but it's a simple fact that i'm pore and don't have the lugsury of access as some of you guys do.

Although i do greatly appreciate the comments.

[jubilee]

http://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi&q=

use it, abuse it. Its one of the best research tools for those of us who are homebound (or in your case short on cash?)

[Geophillyx]

one way of remembering how to do it right is to use simple lines at the begining to keep it all proportional, for example, in an adult, the head is one eighth of the total body height. use a ine to define the spine, the shoulders, the arms, and then step back and see if anything looks wrong. use references, you said you dont get newspapers, since you posted here im guessing you at least have access to the internet, therefore the biggest picture database imaginable. not wanting to take the time to shade is laziness :yawn: , i know its annoying sometimes but its part of making a good drawing. try to make it fun, or do it when you're bored (i draw a lot in math class for example :wink: )

[Devils Jester]

i know those rules, but somehow when filling things out i seem to distort them in some way. But i'll keep in mind the line spine trick next time.

The only internet access i have is at my school and i don't usually draw at school. Until recentally i have begun to draw at school. But those times at home when i get an idea, it's basically me looking into a mirror a thousand plus times, then i get told to stop by my parents, etc etc. But maybe should make a refrence portfolio of poses to use....thanx fo giving me that idea man, much appreciated.

[Geophillyx]

heh no problem, and dont worry about looking in the mirror, theres nothing wrong with that, i did it myself, its a good way of learning by observing yourself first. i takes time, but with hard work comes the reward. good luck, youd better post here again soon, or else! :P

[Devils Jester]

as geophyllix has so kindly and graciously asked (J/k) here's a new one i was doing last week and took some of the suggestions in mind when doing.

It was already penned before i could look at myself in the mirror or anything of the sort. It was done in class at school. I tried shaiding using my fingers to blend and smudge the shading. I haven't shaded to often so i'm still quite an amiture.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c264/DevilsJester/scarecrow.jpg

[Geophillyx]

definitely an improvement, youve got the proportions better,although i shouldnt complain about that seeing as this is not a man but a scarecrow, anyway, the only thing i have to comment is that the pants are kinda long, especially at the upper part. The good thing is the drawing no longer looks that flat, it has the 3D look, good job youre making great progress, but try to use more contrast, use even darker shading, especially on the shadow that the hat leaves on the body, and where the light source doesnt reach. youve got the trick with shading, now take it further. do it on simple shapes like this for now, and later on try on more complex surfaces.
good luck, im keepin an eye on ye