Dreamers sketchbook - Back to the Basics!!!

[Dromer]

Hi there,

I'm a long time visitor of CA, always watching, never posting. But that has finally changed. I got of my lazy butt, scanned some of my sketches, and started this tread.
I usually work with paper, pencil and pen (I'm most comfy with them) but I really need to broaden my horizon. I noticed that I mostly was working in my safe little zone of things I knew, and had trouble with so many basic things, like perspective, color, actionposes, strong poses, environment, women. In short, many things you need to be an allround artist. But I'm planning to start from scratch and learn the basics (NOW!!).
But enough about me and my thoughts, here are some sketches (I hardly finish anything because I use a lot of time and my mind is always full of new ideas). Some of them are really old, maybe 5 years or more.
I hope you enjoy them, and tips and hints are always welcome.

Groetjes Rene

[phiq]

You're sporting a very sweet style there! Ever done any street art? I think your stuff could work in that realm. Anyway, it's also comic book-like. What are your main influences?

[O-mie]

Your sketches are very expressive! I want to see more.

[Emil_J.]

I like your stylized drawings- especially the one made with the red pencil. Remember to make regular update ;P.

[AlexGonzales]

yea , those thick lines rock.

[Dromer]

Thanks for the replies. It gave me a boost, so here the next bunch.
A few made with red pencil, a few with thicker lines.
I have never done streetart, never even touched a spraycan (ok, I DID touch them, but never used them). My main influences from a few years back were comics, and especially Joe Madureira. I loved his lines and movements, but the last years I have seen so many great artists in so many styles, don't know where to start.
Thanks again and till next time.

Groetjes Rene

[LtPlissken]

You have a special style as I can see with those thick lines. Not a bad idea to implement that into our daily drawing techniques. Not bad at all.

[Trisscar]

I really like the details and the thick, bold outlines of your drawings

[phiq]

Great update man, I love the beardy guy portrait at the end!

[Dromer]

Again, thanks for checking me out.

finally this is a very recent drawing, made in june. As you probably can see, it's from Akira. Kaneda is holding the big @$$ gun, while Tetsuo is transforming.
I made this one for an Anime Film Fest somewhere in Holland (Arnhem for those who are curious). It was made on A2 size, which is very big, and on which I have never worked. I mostly work on A5 or A4, so go figure. It was tough to fill a page this size, but a lot of fun. It's also quiet a challenge to give the figures a good proportion, had to fight a while to get it right, but I think the proportion worked out pretty well.
Enjoy and till next time.

Groetjes Rene

Ps to LtPlissken: the daily drawing group sounds nice, I had a look. Might be good for me to finish something quickly, and to draw something different. See you there (soon)

[phiq]

Nice update! Your style suits the material well.

[Dromer]

Hi there,
It's time for some fresh updates. I made these last/this week. Lately I really felt my constrictions. I felt that there were many things i needed to relearn, so I finally started with them. One of the things are that I can't draw heads in every position. So I opened Loomis book of heads, and started from the basics again......and i REALLY like it. I don't have to things about details, only circles, lines and crosses.
This site also has some great tutorials http://www.stanprokopenko.com/blog/2...ead-any-angle/
Enjoy and thanks for watching

[Sirkenneth]

Yeah, there you GO!
Way to rock the head construction
Some one drawing with as much form as you should really understand it.
Next step-draw from L-L-Life! Keep it up-I really like the style here.

[Lapada]

hha oh cool , you really have Comic inking going well XD and your values are blanced nicly to boot ^_^

[Dromer]

A quick update, before I go on a holiday. 10 days to Italy, FINALLLLY!!!! I need that soo much right now. Last weeks were terribly boring and inspiration-sucking at work. Not much more then copying-pasting Really need something better.
But here some drawings. Not the newest, but also not the oldest. I guess about 6-12 months old (time flies by).
After holiday more of my learning process. See you then.

[JellevdVegt]

good studies mate, i read you want to be more alround. when i see your work it looks that you have very much fun doing it.. i think you lean very much on your graphic style.. if you want to become more allround you should not be afraid to loose that style and try to draw more realistic... when you master that and get back to your style, it will be alot stronger...

[Tom van der Linden]

Hey there, thanks for your comment on my SB! You got a strong style, but as Teh Gosu says, don't be afraid to venture into realistic studies. It will really help your understanding of a lot of things and ultimately reinforce your style.

[Dromer]

I am back from holidays. Damn, Rome and Florence are amazing beautiful cities. Next time I will post a few drawing I made there (more realistic).
But for now, here is a Warhammer 40K update. I never played the tabletop games (didn't have the money or strategic insight) but I read some books and they are really great fun. "In the Grim Dark future, there is only war"...sentence always makes me smile and chuckle.
These are my imaginations of that universe, from oldest to newest (just finished the last one and wanted to share).
Sorry Teh Gosu and Tom van der Linden, not really realistic. I started with that, until my holiday came and I went back to my old thing but I WILL pick it up again, going back to Loomis.
Thanks and enjoy for now...

[Dromer]

Here are two drawings I made during my holidays in Italy. I made some more, but after seeing them again, they are far from finished and being shown here.
First two houses in Roman style, wanted to figure out the basics. Its painfully 2-dimensional.
Second and third, a (realistic) drawing of a great sculpture, Hercules made by Giambologna, and found at the Piazza della Signoria (which is full of truly amazing and classical sculptures) and the picture I drew it from.

Enjoy

[phiq]

Hell yes, go 40k, I love that stuff. You've got to pick up the Art of Warhammer 40'000 book sometime. It's good.

I like the Rome statue sketch too. You're style is malleable!

[marcnail]

Nice Comic Art, love those fat outlines.

[Tom van der Linden]

Wow, I love what you did to the head, but to be honest you "comicfied" (is that a word?) a bit to much. In the original picture we see him looking down, while in your picture it looks like he's looking towards us. Look harder, really try to draw what you see instead of what you think. The building sketch is also a nice study. Great!

[Dromer]

@Phiq: WH40K artbook sounds good, I will have too look if I can find it in the neighborhood.
@Marcnail: Thanks, I always enjoy your stuff.
@Tom vd Linden: Thanks for the advise. I DO draw more what I think then to draw what I see. I will have to get used to look less to the paper. Next one is also a bit more "comicified" (its hard to lose it)

Here another drawing from a picture. A selfportret.................................no just kidding. I'm not that ripped. To be like that I wouldn't have ANY time to draw (and I already don't have much.
Looking back, my body is longer then the original. Gotta work more with shadows. Other crits are welcome.

Enjoy.

[Dromer]

I gotta learn to draw females. I'm not used do drawing round, soft shapes, so most women I draw look more like men.
Also need to learn better to draw gestures. So here is what I did.
And last a few quicksketches from persons in the cantina at work.

[phiq]

Off to a good start with the females there Dromer! I have the same problem... damn soft curvy shapes... The way I have found to get around female figures is to nail the torso/waist/hips area as there's a lot of potential for dynamism there, and you can accentuate the female curves there easily too (waist, belly, etc... lots of beautiful flowing lines!). That tip may not work for all people though.

[Dromer]

since I updated my sketchbook. A lot has been going on last year, I have been drawing but just too lazy to scan and upload them. I will try to change that.
A week ago I joined a sketchmeeting which was a great way to become active again.
Here are the results. My old scanner doesn't work on my new computer, so I had to make pictures, but you probably can see enough.

[RBeek]

yes that sketchmeet was awsome, and that style you put on paper is damn sweet! U got some serious skills man! Its to bad you dont upload/update ur stuff more often! U could be a hit around these forums !

See you friday dude! Lets draw monkeys

[Dromer]

Thanks for your kind words, RBeek. I really should be doing more in this sketchbook. Seeing your sketchbook and those from other sketchmeeting-fellows inspires me to do more. Looking forward to draw some monkeys, bears and lions.

Some Bridgman sketches....