Another study

[Hippie]

Working again in B&W trying to really get a handle on value scale and shading.

This is about 30mins of just trying to block in light and darks.

Any comments and crits are welcome

http://www.mikemeredith.com/forums/Morgana.jpg

[Hippie]

well, continued working on this a bit more here is the update

http://www.mikemeredith.com/forums/Morgana1.jpg

[fredflickstone]

I was gonna say, add teh eyes, but you beat me to the punch...what is the reference you are looking at? Can you post that? My only comment currently is that it feels flat, not any light really creating volume, so it takes on a cartoony feeling...the reference can help me pinpoint what else you can do.

Thanks


Ron

[Hippie]

Hey, thanks for the comment, here is the reference I am using. I decided not to have the glasses just the face.

http://www.mikemeredith.com/forums/tip1_1600.jpg


Any suggestions on how to get the form would be appreciated, this is something I have struggled with for too long.

[sone_one]

the nose is broader and flatter on the bridge for example....

look closer and youll see the differences.....same goes for the mouth and the eyes.

[Pigeon]

awe man, the glasses make that photo. pity you left them out. In your version, her shawl looks like hair, which is fine - it's your version. As far as the values go, I'm not seeing any black blacks, ya know? Maybe it's cuz i'm looking with Mac gamma.

Dean

[Erik Hageman]

whoa at first i thought it was the emperor from jedi. i think you're doing and ok job blocking in key values, somthing which i think is making it hard is that the photo has ambient light, not really directional. i suggest placing the figure in a ground not just lettign it float on the white, that will immediately have an impact on the surrounding value. i would try to undo some of the linework you added in the update. rather, build those details with value shifts. her skin is wrinkly, but i think you can show the wrinkles without drawing the lines, just some facets and a darker overall tone in wrinkled areas. have fun.

[Hippie]

sone_one:: good catch, thanks

Pigeon::your correct about the really dark darks, hope this update begins to work on that issue

Erik:: now that you mention it, it does look like the Emperor, although totally unintentional. The ambient lgiht is making it hard to create a good value range but I think I have done better on this one then the last attempt.


Thanks for the comments and let me know what you think of this update.

http://www.mikemeredith.com/forums/Morgana2.jpg

[fredflickstone]

you know what is funny, I too thought you were painting the emporer...heh

That image is crazy...I love those glasses...


ethnically, the type is missing. We can get that back though.

You know what, I will be right back, I am going to do something here really quick....be right back.


Ron

[Hippie]

uhm.....ok fred, but what are you doing?:beer: <<<cuz that's what I'm doin while I wait:D

[fredflickstone]

heh

[fredflickstone]

http://www.rev-art.com/lemenimages/headtut1.jpg


here is part 1


be right back


This is a way of helping you see how to plot a head, regardless of the stuff they wear...

[fredflickstone]

part one has to do with the line drawing, or the design. First, we need to compose an image so it has a design to it, or a composition. This is usually found in the Big Picture. Not the details. What is the end result to be.

Here we look for all the graphic things to help coordinate the head design.

Then we use simple techniques beyond looking for the coordination of lines to suggest proper proportions for the head drawing. See Kevin Chens thread for those notes...that way I dont have to redraw them...


Once this is established, we move into part 2

or, we start with the big basic shape that the head and neck make, then the rib cage, finally the drapery over the body underneath...looking for front, top, bottom, side planes...

then step 2


the big design, or looking for the big values. Every good painting is no more than 4 tonal values. Of course there are shadows, and reflected light and highlights and accents that create additional values, but in the big picture of things, every good painting is just 4 values. This could mean 9 colors, but they will all be related to 4 big values.

This will help set up for the final painting...

or, details...


on to part 3

[fredflickstone]

http://www.rev-art.com/lemenimages/headtut2.jpg

ok, then, once the big values are found, you find the shadows. Each big value you found has a corresponding value to it. That is, if the head is white, and we want it to have shadow on it, that shadow cant be as dark as the shadow on a black object, as it(the black object) has a different value, therefore, the shadow is going to look darker on in, or different in value than the shadow on the light object.


Once the values are found, its a matter of how much detail do you want to put in after that. And of course, what is the focus, which I did not find since this was a fast tutorial.


I hope that helps a bit.

Take care


Ron


hope you had a good few drinks


:chug:

[fredflickstone]

Like I said, its not quite her, and not qite that image, but hey, what do you expect for a few minutes...:D

[Hippie]

wow :chug:

I can't thank you enough for that, it really helps with some of the problems I have been having.

I will study this and try again.

[Hippie]

well, I think I improved but I did not get it exactly.

thank you all for your comments and suggestions and especially fredflickstone/Ron:chug:

I'm seeing improvement and getting a better understanding of how to use value and plane to show form instead of line.

this will be the last update for this post

http://www.mikemeredith.com/forums/Morgana3.jpg