amphex's summer smay

[amphex]

Ive been fairly dormant lately, both here at CA.ORG and in my general drawing, but its summer now and I thought Id start anew.
I understand that there are alot of better sketchbooks here, but Im hoping to use this as a way to get input on daily sketches to help me improve, and I hope some of you can try to help me by pointing out things I can work on, things that look wrong, and any other general suggestions.

This is my first page of drawing after like a 2 month break due to not having enough discipline to draw ( :\ ) but hopefully Ill be able to keep it up.
I understand theres not alot here, and its partly because my scanner couldnt scan the entire page...
So, just one thing Id really like some help on is getting more contrast in my drawings. I know that this page may seem alright as far as contrast, but thats only because the contrast got a boost during the scan. Im currently working with a 2B pencil and HB mechanical pencil on a fairly crappy medium weight paper sketchbook.
Look for more tommorow =)

http://images.deviantart.com/large/indyart/traditional/sketchbookpage1.jpg

[amphex]

ooh i just realized that the positioning of the lips on that guys head is a good bit off...=\

[golgari]

hmm, your lines are veery sketchy - especially on the hands this looks very strange, because they're not looking solid, but instead very gum-like and strange...
that face looks quite good...yeah, the lips are a bit big and far away from the nose, but it doesn't really detract. in fact, if you hadn't mentioned it, i wouldn't have seen it, i think.
concerning the contrast...i think as long as you're paying attention to using a full range from black to white (and not painting everything grey), there's no problem...if you feel like you're still not having enough contrast, just take a softer pencil...
keep some more drawings coming! :)

[amphex]

Thanks for the comment man. Ill try to concentrate real hard on my line quality today =).
And, Im not sure why I said contrast, because thats not entirely what I meant..what I mean is..I see other people's sketchbooks here, and I think to myself, 'whaa? thats pencil? no matter how hard I press I couldnt come close to that dark of a value"...ill try out a softer pencil today though, and see how that turns out.

[Cashmere]

Amphex, this pic demonstrate you are ready to improve. In that sketch there are all the basic elements of the drawing: simple shapes, light and shade, anatomy, a portrait, 3d object, a drawing from life (the hand)... ;)

I think you want to learn so don't stop and go on!

[amphex]

fell asleep before i could post this yesterday:
http://images.deviantart.com/large/indyart/indymisc/amphexsketchbook2.jpg

thanks alot cashmere =)
i recently bought Bridgman's guide to drawing from life, so im currently trying to get all that I can out of that book.
If you dont have it, I suggest you go get it, its really freaking awesome =)


edit:
I just realized that Im making these really big..ill try to make the images smaller from now on.

[golgari]

well, you recognized it yourself for the greatest part - the perspective on the fingers of the hand is off. i'd say that the lines are still a little too shakey - the fingers don't really look like solid objects because of that.
the heads look quite good. i know that that stuff is really hard to construct (at least to me it is!)
is this the same method bridgman applies?

[amphex]

golgari, thanks alot man
and yah I tried to do it exactly as bridgman says :), but in the end I think I more copied his drawings than learned from them..so im gonna have to go back through that stuff again =)
Also, I understand that my line quality needs alot of work, and Ive been looking around for some excercises to help me out..but basically Im just gonna concentrate on it alot more...maybe experiment with pen a bit.

Yesterday/Todays (started sometime around 11:50, fell asleep on it for a little bit, finished the page at 1:38). I was too tired to do actual studies from Bridgman's book, or really do anything from life...I now see that that was a bad idea, and Ill try to never let it happen again =)
http://images.deviantart.com/large/indyart/indymisc/amphexsketchbook3.jpg

[OrangeCatNinja]

looks good man, keep postin' sucka ;)

what bridgman book are you using?