Arm + Background

[Eveningkiss]

Ive been working on this sketch but i can never seem to get the background right. The arm on the right is also giving me issue dispite modifying it and looking at photo graphs. Any sujestions?


http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/8429/necro13ub.jpg

[dogfood]

I think your general anatomy is working pretty well. The head may be a little large, but that may be due to your reference. The things that are popping out at me are the hands. Obviously some of the tougher things to draw, they seem a little porky and lack a little emotion. If you could post the reference, it might help.

I'd also have to say that the value shifts are kind of weak right now and probably not terribly consistant with the lighting. It's tough to tell with it so light. Of course, my camera bleeds all the contrast out of my stuff, too.

Overall, it's not looking too bad, though.

[Eveningkiss]

The referance i started with was modling clothing. Removing the gloves to make the hands less... tacky was no small feat. I was trying to make it appear there were 2 sorces of light. Obviously the torch behind her (still fixing) and one you cant see. I chose the referance because i loved the pose for the sketch. =)

http://xs62.xs.to/pics/06012/v1099.jpg

[artiphats]

For the sake of practice I would have just drawn the picture the way it was, at least once before trying to make it different. But thats just me. The curves on her body (in your drawing) are not right at all, and her head isnt sitting on her shoulders correctly. When drawing like this from a photo I suggest drawing the anatomy in a simple form to get the lines right, proportions and all. Once the figure is correct then go for the lighting, and once you have this down it will be easier to change what you see and still have a well rendered figure.

What is really comes down to is keep drawing!!!

[MrBobMarley]

Try using basic shapes to block out body parts. Use a rectangle for the chest/torso, cylinders for the arms and you'll see how it'll all tie in.

[Eveningkiss]

Try using basic shapes to block out body parts. Use a rectangle for the chest/torso, cylinders for the arms and you'll see how it'll all tie in.

Did that. Thats how i start off any sketch is with basic shapes.

[dogfood]

When you're drawing from reference, it's not that important to use the construction methods that you use when you build the body without reference. When you're trying to replicate a pose, try to apporach it like it was a bowl of fruit. Notice the negative spaces, how the parts relate to each other, angles and distances. This might lead to a better set of proportions. Of course, you certainly want to understand what you're drawing, so that you can do so without the reference, but try not to make the construction stuff overshadow good observation. OK, so I'm not saying "don't use construction methods", but just don't rely entirely on them.

I do have to say, this is a tough model to draw good hands from; those gloves are distorting the fingers something aweful.

[Eveningkiss]

Yeah but its the hands in the modle that i loved the best. Alot of people may frown on others whom use photos instead of "live modles" but when you have never been to art school, Learn from books and can't get people to sit still long enough they are good alternatives =) I mainly use photos for positions more than anything.