bridgeman studies

[fredflickstone]

some george bridgeman studies I did today....
http://www.rev-art.com/lemenimages/bridgemanstudies.jpg

[thomasaurus]

jebus!

[Deth Jester]

That is so random.. I pulled out my Constructive anatomy book today and did studies as well.. I'll have to scan em in and post em..

[J Bradford]

fredflickstone: These are nice.. What kind of paper is that? I am trying to find some, in sketchbook form.

[Deth Jester]

yours are 100% better than mine.. I use really light pencil they didnt scan well.. *shrug*

http://home.csumb.edu/p/palleschimichael/world/wip/bridge.jpg

[Jeff Gran]

wow that first page you posted is great. Your drawings are more intelligible to me than his are (I have the book). Maybe I'll draw from them tomorrow. Thanks for posting these.

[Alex Gering]

Ron I have a question for ya.
Artistically you're already masterful, you have awesome control of your pencil and brush. You're at a pont where you probably already know all anatomy, everything about color etc, all the painting science.
Why are you still doing studies? Why don't you make art ?

[egerie]

:confused: Isn't *THIS* a beautiful work of art ?

You should never stop practicing your anatomy or colour theory. It's like running ; if you train for a few years in order to run a marathon, manage to be able to do it without coughing your lungs and then stop for a year, try to run again.

[behemot5]

:eek:

[skrubbles]

Great stuff fredflickstone! I actually just picked up Bridgman's Constructive Anatomy book last night while I was exploring Barnes & Noble. I mean, how could I not buy it... its a fantastic book and its dirt cheap :)

[Tedsuo]

Norman Rockwell, who studied under Bridgman, said in his biography that Bridgman had his drawing pad hung from the ceiling so the entire class could see what he was doing. He had his charcoal attached to the end on a long stick, and would stand almost directly underneath the bottom of his paper when he drew. Even though the angle was so strange, he would never distort anything. Mostly he would just look at the model, and only glace up from time to time. That guy was about as hardcore as they come.

Excellent studies!

[MER]

Those are great studies!

Funny how I was thinking of borrowing Bridgeman's book (again) the other day...I need to buy that blasted thing one day.

[fredflickstone]

egerie, I couldnt agree with you more. Practicing is training, and I cannot stop that since I have been shown that path. Sebastian, my mentor is more concerned with a hundred great starts than 1 great finish, as if the painting is started right, its practically finished, and all that is left is focus, and bam, done...

Alex, I love the question you bring up though. It is a good one, and let me answer it in three parts.

1. I currently do my own work, but I cant show alot of it because it is for the entertainment industry. Hollywood...they have rules about that crap. I hate it, that is why I will be an illustrator for a while, I want to put good work out in front, and not have it all hidden from the public. Most of the great artists in life are in galleries, or in hollywood production rooms. THe latter may be better than the first, but will never get recognition.
I guess that is selfish, but if there is very little work out there currently, I want to contribute to raising the standards again.

2. The calistenics thing, This is exercising, and I have to constantly do it, otherwise I believe I can when I am out of shape, I will hurt myself, not physically, but there is a pain al the same.

3. These exercises help me teach, since now I am seeing what was significant about the drawings and in turn I can show with my eyes to someone else the answers too.



That question is one of the best questions I have been asked in long time. It is honest, and to the heart. I for a long time thought I was horrible at art, and hadnt the confidence to start because it was shot down by many trying to break in. I went through all the wrong channels, and bruised my own ego for no reason. They were kooks who didnt care about art, just business. I was in it for the art...so I got a burn here or there. Did not jade me though, or I would not still be moving on as an artist. Just confused me and held me back longer than I should have let it...


and yes tedsuo, that is exactly how Bridgeman taught, oh, but one more thing, he was also usually really drunk. They had a bar downstairs from the school. He would drink shots of vodka before class...spit his cigar at bad work, and use his matches and burn bad student works. He was a brute.

[Tedsuo]

:rofl:


Oh man, that's hilarious. Never knew that about Bridgman. Nothing like the threat of the teach coming down on you in a flaming drunken rage to keep you sharp. I wonder if he ever spit on Rockwell or Hale's drawings. Hoo, too funny. :D

[AmadorL]

That is funny about Bridgman is their published articles or books that i can read on this topic, anyone?

[Lost Dragon]

Cripes. I can see it now..

"But officer, last thing I saw was this drunk dude coming down on my latest stuff with a cigar. Man, he needs a proctologist for that. Can I go now?"

*wipes a tear away* Oh the stories are worth the beatings.

Great studies, by the way. Thanks for the extended answer too.

:D

[Treb]

Hey Ron!

These are beautiful studies. What I truly admire about this sketchbook page is that you've managed to make it your own; by that, I mean that you've managed to incorporate your own line quality -- it really gives it a lot of personality. I guess that's why you're a professional. =)

The bottom left hand is beautiful -- I really love how you excentuated the anatomical snuff box (abductor pollicis longus, extensor pollicis brevis, and extensor pollicis longus tendons).

Keep on rolling! You're truly inspirational.

[fredflickstone]

thanks again everyone for the complenetary words. Treb, yes, I need to do it my way. I have been doing it everyone elses way for too long. And when learning, like with this anatomy stuff, I need to see it, the way I would see it, in my hand to recognize all that it is...


Internet has been down here so I have been a bit MIA...sorry...


ROn

[WildSpruceMoose]

Every time I see threads like this I become incredibly inspired. Thanks for the opportunity to view!

[jetpack42]

I changed my signature the other day and all of a sudden this bad boy pops up in the sketch section. I've probably got a whole sketchbook (all the pages combined) of bridgman studies. He's been the single greatest influence on my art. Cool to see big guys like Ron emulating him too...

Does he have a biography or something?

[fae]

amazing stuff - i'll have to look more into it... ahh ignorance >>

[Kress]

Thanks for the reminder to do some practicing, everyone should be grateful to know people as good as FredFlick fill up pages with stuff like this!!

[sonofangron]

This is awesome....I've always had trouble with hands and knees =P

[liquidwerx]

Great work. You're one of the reasons I'm really making an effort t be in Austin. You and Noxizmad are the two cats I really want meet and draw with. Of course there's TONS of artist who will be there that I admire, but you and Nox have styles that really appeal to me and I love your outlook on art and your willingness to share knowledge. :)

Again, great sketches dude. Hope to meet you in Austin. :)


~Malachi