Qu'est-ce que c'est?

[Sway West]

Somewhere to track my progress, and receive some honest critique. NEWER STUFF TOWARD THE BACK!

[BluJackal]

Great stuff. Can't really critique right now. Keep pooooooooooooooosssssssssstiiiiiiiiiiinggggggggggg gg! I love the use of colors.<3

[Juhani Jokinen]

Your work is really nice! Although I'd like to see a bit more statement and details. The first portrait is nice but I'd get rid of the linedrawing :)

Keep up the nice work!

Juhani

[madplanet]

very nice line work, so i hope that you show some more soon. I don't mind the lines in the first portrait, it is a sketch after all and it's appealing in a cartoony sort of way.

[kakapoopie]

omgzz...slickness..i can already tell this SB is gonna kick ass

these are all really strong starts...and you have really slick line quality/control. clean and precise

the dragon looks like it would be killer if you finished it!!

[mondegreen]

Really liking how you're using your marks... can't wait to see more. Where are you studying animation? And.... what are the types of things you are learning in your degree if you don't mind sharing?

~ Ben

[seba_boi]

Great stuff so far... Love the pose and colours of the portrait (you gave her nice eyes)... You should finish that dragon and the pigs... 'Cuz there's not a bit of reason not to!!!!!!!!

[Icon]

Oh wife! I've always said your lines are just to die for!! :P

About time you got a CA Handle damnit!!! Welcome girl!

[Tigermilk]

looking really good man, enloy the piggies a lot :)
good looking faces too.
t

[kuroart]

super nice start of a sketchbook. I'd like to see a lot of these to be taken further. about your edumacation dilemma, are you studying 3D and/or 2D? I'm actually going to school for the same thing, but I dont think I actually have the experience or anything to help much.
I'd guess that it would come down to what you enjoy. you like making characters and all. would you like to see them move? good luck with everything. sorry im of no use. haha

[evildisco]

Judging by the few lines I see, I'm guessing you kick ass with linework.

All I can say is that I want to see more.

[Nyx702]

Yes...agreed...your line work makes me hot. I disagree with Anthriel though...the underlying work is half the beauty!

[Sway West]

BluJackal, madplanet, kakapoopie, seba_boi, Tigermilk, and evildisco - Thanks a lot!

Anthriel and Nyx702 - Thanks, guys. It was a quickie, but I can't deny that a lot of my colored work is very unclean - and not in a stylized way. Hopefully some strict practice will change that, though. I'm really pushing myself to work with color more. If I have to make a New Years resolution, I think that's the one.

kuroart - I'm definitely pushing myself from here on out to finish/polish more of my work. I think joining CA and talking with you guys will help me accomplish that to some degree. As for school, I'm studying 2 and 3D - I do enjoy watching my drawings move, but because I have such an illustrative style, i must sacrifice detail for simplicity. Thanks for the comments!

Icon - She's my wife, she's my wife, she's my wife and we live on a farm where we harvest goat cheese and miiilk. That was my song to you - I wrote it JUST now. ;)

Hopefully I didn't leave anyone out. THANKS for all the comments, guys. It's a nice welcome.

Just one upload tonight. As soon as I can get my scanner up and running, I can get some life drawings and pencil work up.

[DARAF]

Great style, Can't wait to see more.

[GeeWesley]

I love your style aswell, especially your use of colors. Keep posting I'd love to see more.

[Envisor]

really great pics here, especially lovin the pigs with wings. I dont know, theres just something about a pig with wings that makes you want to giggle. Again, great stuff here, and keep on postin.

Checkout my sketchbook- C&C very welcome
http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=85772

[Jonny Dark]

nice structure! I hope you'll keep posting.

[Icon]

:P my dear please keep posting! Become a part of our girl community and grow with us! Pm davi and ask!

:p I want to see more! I know you draw a lot , so show the world your stuff!

[Amazing Action Ape]

Sway west, I was not dissapointed by the badass avatar. Nice book youve got here, keep it updated! :D There isnt much to comment on yet, which is a shame. Post up some life drawings! :D

[Kman.]

Cool stuff, I like your style. Moar!

[entdroid]

Great sketches!
I like 'em all but those piggies are just SO damn cute!!!
Post some more! :)

[Vishaka]

You have a great style... hope to see more. :)

[Flaskpost]

Lovely stuff! Wanna see more right away. :)

[mrpank]

ITS OK
****STARS FOR YOU
__________________
Bring me everyone. -What do you mean everyone?? -EVERYONE!!!!
my sketchbook (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=86554)

[Jackwhat]

Judging by the few lines I see, I'm guessing you kick ass with linework.

All I can say is that I want to see more.

Quoted for truth.

[permanent_pixels]

great work...

[Niva.]

Excellent start to a SB, welcome to CA! I'm looking forward to more progress - not much to crit at this stage. I'd like to see something a bit more rendered and more sketches!

[sabe2003]

wow that top piece is amazing! All around great work!

[Sway West]

Thanks, kids! The pigs seem to be popular - maybe I should try to finish them? :tihi:

Couple quickies tonight, though I am working toward some more polished pieces. These are just some concepts of old characters, mostly for practice/fun.

[ArtZealot]

yeah i gave u some stars too. please post more.

[Scott James]

great style and line quality!!! more......please?!

[Sway West]

I have a question - could anyone give me an idea why I can't seem to work with a brush any bigger than 1.9 (Painter) without it lagging horribly? I've been experimenting a lot with brushes, and I've taken to "smeary round" - but it's giving me a hard time. Thanks in advance.

I'll have a lot more questions about color, but not yet! SOON! I'm really enjoying myself... and I've always been so scared of color (you can tell, as I work light).

Also, Thank U, Alanis. :tihi:

[maxetormer]

Nice lines and proportions keep sharing the goods ;)

[Nyx702]

Some brushes in painter are not really ment to be resized. The ones with ranges like the "corse mop 10" should only be resized a few digits, like to 15 or 5. This is usually becauase the brushes have simulated bristles that grow exponentially when they are resized. The brushes like the felt markers and tinting dont have bristles and usually can be resized ok. Just grab the bigger brush out of the drop donw menu.

Also, you can check the scratch disk and incresase the size. I think it's under edit>preferences>memory? Sorry, I am not on a computer that has Painter right now:dead: ...can check later.

[Sway West]

Max - Hey, thanks!

Nick - THANKS, BUD. :D That helps a lot.

[Ermac]

you got some really nice stuff here, nice line work, also like your characters the one reminds me of Leon from the Resident Evil games. Hope to see more and i agree with seba-boi that dragon would look wicked if you finished it.

[marioucci]

Alanis never looked so hot!

U have a very cool style man.

keep it up

Mario

[TheGnoll]

very cool stuff indeed!

post more, i like what i see :D

ciao

[Kan Muftić]

Hello,
I always had a great amount of admiration for guys working in animation.
I mean, i have to struggle to get ONE single phucking pose stand right and you guys make 30 poses in a row for one single second of the movie.

Your stuff here is trully beautifull and i'd love to see some more.

5 stars from

[designboot]

I like your style dude!

[BillyDead]

Off to an awesome start - keep posting and i'll keep posted.

[Amazing Action Ape]

sweet new updates! keep churning out that hot hot hot butter. ;)

[FactorZero]

the soft/looseness of your style is nice. i want to see more

[Ragnar X]

you sketches are solid- the digital coloring's gonna take some love but your drawings are sweet

[Call0ps]

nice work :) i like your lines , thx for sharing :)

[Sway West]

Thank you, everyone!

Chupacabra - Don't give me too much credit! I'm just a student, and I'm beginning to wonder if animation is really the right field for me. You're right- it takes a ton of patience and skill, and I definitely have love for those that do it! :D

The first image I posted of Alanis was from memory (I haven't seen her 'Thank U' video in years), and I watched it again the other night and polished the piece a little more.

Does Alanis Morissette remind anyone else of a Gustav Klimt painting?

[sith]

lovely lines Sway. really dig the first gal you posted. can't wait to see some more stuff from ya.

[Antti]

You have very good works in here. I am always sucker for fluent lines and your's are very pleasing. Keep posting. I keep looking.

[bhanu]

ash ash ash why werent you here earlier,
kickass linework , loving the looseness of the style and the control over the lines . I wish I had a control like that. the alanis morsette painting looks good though the likenes needs some work.
SUbscribed.

[Sway West]

sith - Thank you!

Antti - Thanks. :D Sometimes they feel a little too free, and I have a hard time solidifying my lines (when I have to).

bhanu - I agree- I'll have to stare down a picture of her face and touch that up. Thanks!

I decided to recolor the girl in my first post, since I had done the original around this time last year. Any feedback on what I could do to strengthen my approach at painting would be greatly appreciated, as I'm really trying to crack down on it.

[Sway West]

Some (older) life drawings from class. I really miss it, and could use the steady practice.

My scanner is busted, so it's the ol' Cybershot until I can replace it. :[

[JoeEffect]

i like the nude studies.try with ligth&shade.

[JoeEffect]

hey man thanks for your comments,i'm glad you like my stuff,i'm a beginer that loves art.so keep on!and keep posting.

[naomiful]

wow I am definitely loving your lineworks and proportions! keep up the color practice, I wanna see more. :]

[Sway West]

JoeEffect - Thanks! I agree that I need to practice more with light, and plan to.

naomiful - Thank you! :D

I'm tryin'. Haha. Color is so difficult for me, for some reason. But maybe not so much color, as just trying to overcome my own fears and hesitations surrounding using it.

[Alexandr Pascenko]

nothing but love for your linework . your characters from mind remind me of the capcom style i like much. keep goin gand try to handle colours better .

i will definetly mark this book, keep up those goodies!

[kaktuzlime]

Absolutely lovely. This is one SB I'm coming back to!

[Nyx702]

Aw, heck yes I am up for some coloring together! I will IM you later about it.

About your color: It's all very dull. Which having a dull palette is not really a bad thing but don't be afraid to hit those higher saturation colors, esp for highlights.

I don't know if you have seen this but this has taught me a lot: http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showpost.php?p=1041761&postcount=86

[Sway West]

GOBLINSHARK - Thank you! Still workin' on color.

kaktuzlime - Much thanks. :)

Nyx702 - Someday the universe will smile down upon us, and we'll paint together.

Some concepts for a class project.... a serious stab at background ideations. Hope they read well.

[JoeEffect]

looks pretty good your latest post dude i like a lot.

[JERI]

Hey Sway West :).

I have a similar problem with colors myself. Not sure if this will work for you, but what I'm finding helpful is to just to force myself to try out a color that I wouldn't normally use. Of course you still have to apply the color theory most of the time in order to get the right contrast, but push yourself to be more experimental, and I think you'll eventually come to a happy medium.

I think you can check how well you're doing by using the auto-contrast. If you find that you like the image better after auto-contrast, it maybe an indication that you're not aggressive enough with the colors.

Hope that's relevant.

[Sway West]

JoeEffect - Thanks, man! :D

JERI - Definitely a good idea, and just in time for a project that really presses color at school. Advice taken, and thanks!

Few things: character inspired by Phil Anselmo's hair, an old idea redefined, and an establishing shot for a class project (textured brushes are AWESOME).

[ronaldK]

hey! you got some really nice brushlines. Im having problems with color too, so i try just to push contrasts a bit. i tend to overdo it but its easyer to tone down sometimes, try giving it a try, more colors and simple contrast variations (red vs green; blue vs yellow). use some blue for shadow areas, tends to help a lot =)

keept it up and post smoore soon!

oh btw, where do you go to school at? im currently at Digipen in Seattle, also animation =)

[boba64]

Hey, great stuff...really love your style.

The lady's arms in the one sketch seem to be kind of long, but other than that tis good.


can't wait to see more.

[bhanu]

cool updates sway,
would loveto see these sketches finished.

[Amazing Action Ape]

hey sway!
glad to see your still keeping at it. Just reread the first post in your book, and you state your taking animation, but feel what... unsure of it? Im currently in the same boat. I enjoy drawing and painting and doing comics and the like, but currently my school really pushes the cartoon aspects of animation, wheras im more of a realist in styles. Im having a hard time adapting and actually wonder if im better off just working outside of schol now that i know the basics. Send me a PM sometime, I wouldnt mind discussing your views on what you have been studying as well. As for your latest posts, have you tried concentrating on drawing objects for a while? Thats what I have been doing, and when i apply what ive done from drawing objects to my figure drawing, i tend to get stronger pieces. As well as environments (which im still terrible at).

[Sway West]

ronaldK - I definitely need to "go darker" and be more daring- this is one of my huge mountains I need to overcome, so I'll definitely take that into consideration while I'm working. Thanks! I'm going to the Art Institute here, though I don't much like it at the moment. How do you like the school there, and what do you think of animation?

boba64 - I do need to work on my proportions, but she's supposed to be a bit creepy and dream-like, so it was somewhat intentional- but I'll mess with it and see if I can make it feel a bit more natural... in an unnatural way. Thanks!

bhanu - Yes! I'm trying to refine stuff so I can get going with an art site. Thanks a bunch.

Amazing Action Ape - We should drop out together and become wandering artists! Icon and I have already made plans, so you should come along. I PMed you, too. Thanks for the feedback, mang!

Thanks for all the comments, and advice guys. I really do appreciate it, and take all of it into consideration. :D

I've been workin' on a lot of concepts lately, and am just way too inspired for my own good. Here's some unfinished stuff I've been messing around with... lay it on me!

[Call0ps]

nice sketchs, a minor critic on the paitings, try to define more, contrast etc.. anyway keep up the great job :)

[Icon]

Your latest sketches are just so wonderful! You truly have a great sense of line and anatomy! ;p I already told you this a million times but here's a couple more times!

However, colors don't do your drawings justice, dearest wife! Don't worry! Once you get the hang of it you'll be kicking ass like it's no one's business!!! ;p but please keep posting these drawings up! I always go crazy when I see them!

[Sway West]

Call0ps - Definitely will- thanks!

Icon - Slowly I am taking it in, wife! :D Last night helped.

Just an update on the African brothers (called the "Tsavo Brothers" atm), and a tribal girl I drew in oC with Icon. :D These are her explanatory colors. I'm going to try to give her some color later... ciaooo~

[Achadobu]

Very nice. I like that last one alot. cool pose.

[Sway West]

Achadobu - Thanks!

Some sketches and WIPS.

[Nyx702]

Finish that Russian-ish girl with the dog! That is a really user-friendly design, you should at least finish the gun. Throw some dark lines in there too! You're almost there just a little bit further!

[Call0ps]

the 2nd sketh is my fav, its real nice, some colours on it maybe ? :P i like so much your lines... just keep it up matte

[armando]

I was really digging the sketch version of this http://www.conceptart.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=118068&stc=1&d=1175744827
I liked how the hair was massed and angular, also placement of the nipples was better, you also lost the character that was in the face the squinting eyes and pursed lips, she also looked black in the original sketch which I thought was more exotic, there's less volume now because you got rid of a lot of cross contours like with the anklets and leg ring thing. Just gotta wait and see how it turns out.

[Sway West]

Nyx702 - Haha. I plan on it. :D

Call0ps - Thanks a lot. I'll see what I can do about some color. : )

armando - This tends to happen at this stage of my coloring- something that I will, hopefully, work out with practice. I messed with the anatomy a bit more, and have hopefully brought back a bit more of the exoticism. I could always go darker with the skin tone, though it wasn't necessarily my intention to make her African. Thanks for all the feedback, armando! :D If you stop by again, gimmie an update on what you think about the progression of the piece.

Couple'a things- concepts and exercises for horses. Referenced Ken Hultgren's animal drawing book.

[Amazing Action Ape]

sweet new updates! youve inspired me to draw some native, fur wearing persons that may or may not be involved in an ongoing hunt for buffalos. :D
Nice lines, some of the hatching looks a little flat, and the occassional wonky anatomy. (im nitpicking here). Keep it up! :)
Im so down for being a wandering artist, we could have like a gang, of wandering artists, and wed just wander the land, drawing stuff, and looking cool.. while drawing stuff. :)

[armando]

The face is improved, also that one hand is an improvement over the original. The skin tone isn't all that important to show race, just look at black and white pictures. This one has better colors, better rhythm, still too early to comment much more.

[fionkell]

Argh why have I not found this SB before?! Effing awesome sketchwork here, I love your style. Lots of energy.

[FactorZero]

Wicked stuff. This thread is short but sweet. I'm in love with those wolf sketches...so sick. I'm gonna have to subscribe to this one.

[longwrat]

Wow, really nice characters and style. I like how you have a good mix of animals with most of your designs too.

[Alexandr Pascenko]

haha , same stuff you told me in my sb goes to you buddy :D!

you got some wicked updates here since last time i´ve visited and you´re updating more often :)

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=120420&stc=1&d=1176174968
i´m amazed how !cool! and cheeky this one turned out . you have a great sense for design. i love this one!

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=118066&stc=1&d=1175744805
this one´s really creepy . i like how you´ve exagerated his furclothing on the neck area,
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=118065&stc=1&d=1175744727
the awesome drawn dog in here makes me .... ... envious?!

your drawing proces is coming along, maybe you could give them more contrast while rendering it out even more than this far.
,,,,now she´s dancin´!
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=120419&stc=1&d=1176174941


but i don´t like how the belly turned out , on the first drawing it was more thinner and sexier if you know what i mean.

...
your style also reminds me a bit of a mixture between wes burt and capcom designers. your animation school really helps you getting the proportions down.

yo, waiting for some new updates ;)

[Nyx702]

I see you have some different body types?!....Awesome job

I have seen you draw that penciled girl (at least the head) in your most recent update before. I think that the eyes and lips are a little funky. It's not much but I think it need more attention because I have seen the some problems repeated.

:groupie2: :bashful:

[Unbreakable]

love the your lines and the tribal stuff!!!

[Wasker]

yay, lovely pencils Sway west! :D Marking this sb for further viewing. looks very promising.

[lefran]

Hey, thanks for stopping by my SB :)
i really like your pencil concepts, but i think that the design is lost a bit when theyre coloured, i think the edges need a bit more definition, perhaps use some darker values as you have quite a lot of mid tones.
Also, i think your sketches would work really well inked in monotone
Great stuff :)
Fran

[Bojee]

You've got some nice lines and a really interesting pallete. :)

[JERI]

Your color choices' getting better I think, the one in #76 is better than all the ones before I reckon.

[designboot]

cool paintings and drawings

[Quicksilver]

Stunning linework.....

Your paintings are improving, though maybe kick up the contrast? Between colours, I mean. Atm they're quite pastelly overall, which is nice, but some darker tones would give it some more zing, y'know? And explain depth. Though these are only WIPs so far so I can't say much yet...

[subscribes] :)

PS: Oh yeah, I can't see anything from your first post but the thumbnail. What's going on?!

[Call0ps]

nice character designs, the first 2 looks great, about the color must agree with Quicksilver, more contrast :) keep up the kick ass job

[inouye]

lotsa good stuff in here!! great sketch book man!
i like your style

[Colepoopface]

Love the book man, great sketching. Keep up the awesome job.

Cole

[maxetormer]

Hiiiaaay!! this one its sooooo good it made me cry,
great design and posse, so subtle yet so powerful!!
http://conceptart.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=120420&stc=1&d=1176174968

[Nyx702]

Are you still alive?! I haven't seen you anywhere for months! Are you ok?

[Sway West]

HOLY CRAP.

My motherboard died, and my world went spinning out of control for WEEKS. I grew a beard and drank a lot of hard liquor in my absence. I need to reinstall EVERYTHING, so I don't have anything new to show- but I wanted to reply to you all and let it be known that I'm workin' hard on a great portfolio so I can apply to the CA atelier. :D LET'S DO THIS.

REPLIES!

Amazing Action Ape - Please, nitpick! Honestly, I need to start paying attention to those little things, like subtle anatomy fumbles that I just can't afford to look over anymore. Thanks a lot, dude! You're constantly an inspiration to me, and we need to do a colab in oC sometime!

armando - It's been awhile since I've been able to tamper with this piece- I still enjoy the concept, so I might try to redo it and turn it into an illustration. Thanks!

iolarnula - Thank you!!!

FactorZero - Thanks! I'm obsessed with wolves- expect more in the future!

longwrat - Likewise! It's always been a factor in my art- I just associate most things with animals.

GOBLINSHARK - Thank yooou! I don't see why you should be envious, though! :D As for the belly on the dancer, it was my intention to make her a bit more shapely!

Nyx702 - Hell yeah, man! Also, some people have weird lips and eyes- this was my intention! I'm not being asinine- really- I just think about these things, and how I want the features to be distinct to the character. :)

Unbreakable - THANKS!

Wasker - I shall do my best to make it interesting for further viewing! :D

lefran - I agree! This is something that is constantly brought to my attention in critique, and I agree most definitely. I'm having a very difficult time retaining the essence of my sketches during the coloring process.

Bojee - HEYTHANKS!

JERI - Thanks a bunch, JERI. I really need to push myself with the colors. I still consider the advice you threw my way!

designboot - Thanks much!

Quicksilver - Absolutely! This is something I really need to improve upon. Thanks for commenting. :)

Call0ps - More contrast, definitely! Thanks, Call0ps!

inouye - Thank you, thank you!

Colepoopface - OH MAN. Someday when I visit my wife, I want to meet you. :D

maxetormer - Don't cry!!! THANK YOU, THOUGH!!!

Nyx702 - Oh man. It's been nuts. Also, I tried to find you at school, but you weren't manning your usual station. Way to GO! But yeah, I'm fine!

Here are some doodles and a concept that are about a month or two old now- more when it isn't midnight and my scanner is reinstalled!

[Kman.]

Hey there, awesome sketches! Definitely a fan :) Keep it up, you inspire.

[Eytan]

great character work! really inspiring

[Ionic]

Great sketchbook man... every image is worth attention.

[Icon]

My wife, let's OC!!!!

[Micaiah Nelson]

That is fucking amazing your art reminds me of Takeshi Okazaki. Nice sketchbook. When you have a chance look at mines

[Chromosome]

Great stuff. I really like the looseness of you lines and the gestural quality of your work. More?

[D@niel]

Awsome drawings!! you pencil work has a great quality to it.

My SB http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=100235

[Alexandr Pascenko]

yes!!! goooood to see you posting again , i love the last hell hound , especially the way you´ve drawn the feet. if i read it right you do a class in animation , mybe you got some samples of what you´re doing there?

post more often

[Sway West]

You cats are super groovy. Thanks for takin' time to comment- means a lot.

Ksama - You too, and thanks. :)

Quick_Sketch - It's what I love most! Much thanks.

JOHNGRELLO - It's great to hear that, really. Thank you.

Icon - LET'S.

Micaiah Nelson - I didn't know who Takeshi Okazaki was, so I had to google him. I've never read Afro Samurai, but the art looks great!

Chromosome - Thanks!

D@niel - Thank yooou.

GOBLINSHARK - I did, but I switched my major recently. The detail I love so much was problematic when I tried moving my stuff, and I just could not get used to how much I had to simplify things.

Lots'a characters, a drawing from life, and a painting I did a few days ago...

[Mitchell]

Nice character work!! you can draw like a maniac. :O
but I think whats missing from your color work is that there is not enough value, try taking them into a grayscale if you want to see what I mean. Maybe you should start out your charcter work in grayscale, and then add color whenever you have finished the design. You'll be better able to see what value your colors should be. Value before color is a great way to think!

now you'll be ustoppable! haha. keep it coming! :teeth:

[funfetus]

Really nice stuff. Cool character designs, and your figures are full of character and life. I guess that's the animation training. Keep it up, I'll keep an eye on you.

[Magic Man]

Hmm! Sketchy goodness, make sure your keep an eye on yours hands and feet though, sometimes they seem to be inexplicably missing =)

[BohemianChaos]

hey Sway, thanks for stopping by my sb. Your honest criticisms are appreciated. :) I really love your character concepts and soft use of color. Your line quality is awesome as well. My only comment would be to perhaps finish some of the pieces you've started? I look forward to seeing more of your work.

~Boho

[Alexandr Pascenko]

heh i toatlly understand what you mean i studied animation too , for almost a year ... those new sketches looking great , i really love your characterdesigns man , they really got something very interesting regarding style and posings. keep it alive.

[Nyx702]

Finally...an update jessh...

I was gonna say exactly what BohemianChaos said...you need some fished works my girl. How are your "master plans" going? I haven't seen you forever!

P.S. You lied about us drawing during the break....

[Chermilla]

Hiya Sway,

Thankyou for taking the time to view my work and leave some good solid advice, I will try drawing with my arm more like you suggested.

I really like the dynamic quality of some of your characters, they are really lovely to look at! I will be sure to visit here again to see some updates. :)

Have some stars too!!

Cx

[ThabisoMhlaba]

*Kneels in Praise* Awesome sketchbook, I can't wait to see your color skills catch up with your linework, me..I have it the opposite way around.

[CTseng]

Inspiring! I love your lines, and your shadings as well; your characters have so much life to them!
And agreed with some others, it'd be nice to have some more contrast in your paintings, (although personally i like the faded feel of it. Keep doing both!)

[Obscura]

Hi Icon's wife! Karla talks about you all the time. I love the flow of your line art and the slight dynamics in your steady poses. kudos!! 8D. About your first post, I am too not happy with the Art Institute's (fort lauderdale) and not happy with the major im studying either (animation). Im just trying to make the best out of it (very hard to do). But! I just wanted to say nice sketchbook, your stuff is awsome. Keep it coming. n_n

[xxEnder]

very nice sb, what AI were you studying at? I currently go to AI - Inland Empire, im only first quarter but I can already see a lot of problems, one of the biggest being the amount of students who don't belong there because they dont care about doing the work, even for their own sake so there isnt much healthy competition. I pretty much kind of had a similiar battle plan as in finishing school, building a portfolio and applying for the mb classes, but we'll see what happens.

[designboot]

dog with 1000 heads blow me away - nice idea!

[Amazing Action Ape]

Hey Sway,

Newest updates look pretty solid! What I can currently suggest to you right now is to do a few pages of studies of just eyes, hands, and feet. It looks to me your slacking off a bit on your feet, and hands, and eyes. And maybe mouths in different shapes too. The many headed dog though, is fucking amazing! god damn, thats wicked. Ive got Oc now, so if you ever want to do some collabs, email me at djsazabi@hotmail.com or bradenpoirier@yahoo.com, and we can draw or paint some cool shit. :D

[FactorZero]

nice stuff. I like the pose on the pilot girl and the guy with the pole the best.

[Sway West]

Thanks for all the feedback, guys! Sorry if my responses are a bit weak- I'm a little out of it tonight.

Skeiff - Excellent advice, though something I seem to have difficulty grasping and applying. I'm working on it, however. Thanks, man.

funfetus - Thanks for the encouraging words.

Magic Man - I'll be doing some studies within the next few days- I do need it.

BohemianChaos - Thank you! I will work on refining, but keep in mind that this is a sketchbook.

GOBLINSHARK - Your work is a constant inspiration to me, and I appreciate you takin' the time to comment on my own. Thanks a lot, man. : ) Where did you study animation, and for how long?

Nyx702 - Things are slow- I've been working a lot, to save cash. Trying to do things here and there, though. If you have any free time, I'd really like to find some place downtown to sketch some nudes. I'd like to see what you've been filling your sketchbook with.

P.S., I apologize.

Chermilla - Thank you for your kind words. : ) How are your studies going?

Oki - Oh my, no kneeling allowed! But thank you- I'm working on color... slowly, slowly...

tytseng - Thanks! It's really uplifting to know that the characters I wish to portray have a positive effect on the people viewing them.

Obscura - Thanks! I think we spoke since you made this comment, but... I hope you find some sort of resolve concerning the whole AI business. It took me way too long to pull away from it.

xxEnder - I studied in Pittsburgh, the self-proclaimed "Mother" Art Institute. I was an animaton student for almost three years, before I switched to Graphic Design, because I was so desperate to further my understanding of line and color, and they offered a whole two illustration classes. I met a few supportive, and influencial people, but aside form that it was a complete waste of time and money. Please consider your options- I am by no means suggesting you drop AI, but there are so many possibilities out there. On the other hand, most if not all art schools will only hand you so much... the rest, you need to work for on your own, or outside of class. Good luck to you- if you ever wanna talk more about it, feel free to PM me. : ) Thanks for your comments!

designboot - Thank you!

Amazing Action Ape - Always kicking my ass with honesty! I do need to do some studies, and hopefully we can get that oC session rolling sometime soon! Thanks a lot, dude. Your SP this year was awesome, btw. The expression envoked cackling.

FactorZero - Thanks.

---------------------------

I'll try to have something more substantial to share within the week, guys. Until then, here was my International SP Day entry.

[bhanu]

MAn I should be here more often. Cuz the stuff around here is funnn.

Ahh man nice SP, but why your expression is kinda spaced out, I like how you used light and sharp strokes strokes for the tones.

Keep grinding .

[Amazing Action Ape]

hahaha Cackling is something I partake in a fair amount more than I should. I enjoyed your self portrait, I liked the colours and the rendering, although I feel a seperation of the planes could have been emphasized a bit more. If we ever get that OC session going, I'll do a paintover to show what i mean.

[Eric Cartman]

really nice those gesture sketches..serious..keep going!!!

[mrgrumble]

hey great stuff! :) look forward to the LMS competition. really dig the cool tones in your self portrait

[dylan]

THE POOL PLAYERS.
SEVEN AT THE GOLDEN SHOVEL.


We real cool. We
Left school. We

Lurk late. We
Strike straight. We

Sing sin. We
Thin gin. We

Jazz June. We
Die soon.

----Gwendolyn Brooks


I have a recording of her reading this. She is great.
If you ever are in Philly on a tuesday night stop by the sketch group.

[Alexandr Pascenko]

I STILL love this Book!
looked through all this pages again. and found this tetsuo sketch as he screams KANEEEDAA!!! LOL!

pretty sweet Sp . made me go breakdance. beacause i thought you were a dude...:D seriously , i should have known be4. these lines are too beautiful .
i hope to see some updates soon . maybe some more rakugaki´s like that tetsuo one? i have a strange feeling that you have some full cardboards packages lying in your room of highly potentional unposted sketches ....
why don´t u post em if u find the time :)!?!

to your question. i don´t wan´t to name the school i´ve studied animation in germany. because it was a bunch of "asslicking , pissdrinking to get hired :asslick: " loosers. but in the end it saved me a year to practice anatomy on my own.

much love,

Alex

[RandAlThor]

Hey Sway, I seem to have stumbled across your sb whilst on one of my random jaunts thru the books, you should update dude, i'd love to see where your skillz are at now... ;-)

[Jansi]

.Wonderful critters!! Some of the concepts, the dog, for one, are simply outsanding! Thank you

[Amazing Action Ape]

update! I miss you. :P not really, I aint no softie.

[Sway West]

@bhanu, Thanks! Not sure what to say about the expression, though. That's just the way my face looks? Haha.

@Amazing Action Ape, Yeah, you're all talk! And I don't care if you don't miss me, I don't even REMEMBER you. Uh huh.

@Eric Cartman, No intention of stopping. : )

@mrgrumble, Thank you.

@dylan, My favorite poem. Thanks for the invite- I'm about five or six hours away, unfortunately.

@Alexandr Pascenko, Dude, you're such an inspiration. YOU ARE THE WIND BENEATH MY WINGS. If I wrote that song, I would have written it for you.

@RandAlThor, Thanks a lot for taking the time to comment. Hopefully future updates wont disappoint.

@Jansi, Thank you. I'm partial to the beasts.

---

Thanks again to everyone who looks, and takes the time to comment. Working to get a substantial portfolio together for the ca.org atelier, but I probably wont post much of that work until after I've submitted it. Until then, here's a Catwoman redesign I did for CHOW, and two of seven werewolves, one for every day of the week, for a week. I started Saturday, so here are two. : ) Awroooooo....

[Nyx702]

Holy.....crap. I don't know what you are talking about? You? Getting rusty? WTF? Amazing updates my friend...

[Sway West]

@Nyx702, Thank yooou. We need to get t'gether and create. Getting to the city is impossible for me at the moment, though. No cash flow for the gas-o.

---

Monday's werewooolf. He's a creeper. But otherwise, a gentleman.

[staticpen]

Love those character sketches! I'm really feeling that slight asian influence in your artwork. Looking good, mate! :D

[Sway West]

@staticpen, Thank you!

---

If that last fellow was a creeper, this guy's a lurker. Short, compact things creep, and long, gangly things lurk. It's fact.

[Sway West]

Wednesday werewolf is a lunch break werewolf. Until tomorroooowwww...

[bhanu]

Wish I could see more genitals...lol... but I like the sketches...and I am so waiting to see your portfolio..

[Caffeine_stream]

Great stuff. I really enjoy the concept drawings. I think your balance between light and dark is just right for a concept drawing as it keeps it clean.

[the shivaree]

hey there fella, great wolfman sketches, beautiful line quality.keep up the good work and well done on your batman villan entry,it would have fitted in to the film perfectly.

[zelda_geek]

Cool creatures and beautiful lines. But maybe something else but creatures could be nice? It's always good to draw thing you suck at, it makes you better. Overall great stuff :)

Keep it up!

[Trashy]

Great sketches you got going on here. Those characters sketches were very nifty and good going with the catwomen as well. Nice work!

[skorpi]

I love you stile, very inspirng sketchbook <3

[Sway West]

@bhanu, dude, this is the internet. There are genitals EVERYWHERE.

@Caffeine_stream, I'm glad. : ) Thanks for looking.

@the shivaree, Thanks a lot!

@zelda_geek, Thanks. The werewolves were just a weekly exercise I did for myself.

@Trashy, Thaaank you!

@skorpi, Thanks. :D

---
I'm tired, but thursday is a weeerewolf chiiil'.

[Sway West]

Foo/Fu weredog. Not exactly a wolf, and not exactly a lore of the culture... and by not exactly I mean not at all. And yet... here he is. Happy Full Sturgeon Moon, CAers.

[staticpen]

Aaah, great stuff. Love those lines. I love how... FERAL everything looks, haha. ;)

[kidult]

awesome linework and creatures!

[Eerin]

You've got some really great stuff. I particularly like the 3rd piece in post 130. Fantastic linework and musculature!

Post more :)

[bhanu]

this is the internet. There are genitals EVERYWHERE.
yeah but I wanna see some here.... werewolves do have genitals dont they?
anyways loving the sketches...so any estimate when can we see your portfolio?

[Kian]

Very cool SB mate. :hatsoff:

[Howie]

really nice lines, very smooth and really show off your knowledge of anatomy. I'd like to see what you do with something more industrial or structural.

[Verehin]

oh...this sooo cool!!! 5 stars!

[mrdoom]

Your catwoman was one of my favourites in that round!

[Liam Harvey]

way cool werewolf designs again - are there more?

[Tigermilk]

I love this book. Your sketches look wonderful. Thanks for being an inspiration!

[Sinix]

Top notch sketches, you should update more often.

[Alexandr Pascenko]

NOW this creatures got me seriously inspired! great to see a life sign from time to time and yeah good luck with the portofolio!

[boba64]

Your stuff is great. The line work is so loose, but you have complete control over it.

[kelly x]

Amazing talent, I love the wolf beast with too many heads the best - your latest woman rocks too... actually I like all of your work.

[Black Sun]

Ooh, I really like your stuff! I don't have any critique other than to just keep working at it. I'll definitely be keeping my eye on you!

[towy]

"Qu'est-ce que c'est?" ^^
wow really nice line here
think about friend of me little same line
http://eronov.over-blog.com/
don't stop the good work :]

[InvertedChalupa]

sweet sketches! Really like your line quality : )

see ya tomorrow in class. Cast drawing round two!

[Mischeviouslittleelf]

Good stuff here, I like the Werewolf studies, you have good lines and quite nice preasuresensitivity so keep at that stuff, and don't be affraid to try new stuff:)

-E

[Moai]

Happy holidays!

[cbonura]

cool stuff maing, looking forward to seeing your creatures on the project