Journey of an Absolute Rookie: Paintings and Sketches

**MindCandyMan** · March 3rd, 2003

Sorry killing.people....I know...all those stupid links are broken. Image magician all the sudden said everyone had 2 weeks to pay for their stuff and then it was gone...so stupid. I am working on a website that shows all my progress so hopefully that will be up sometime soon. Sorry about that. Thanks for stopping by every once in a while...I feel like I am not moving along at all so it's good to have encouragement.

jester and cucaracha - no worries...I like talking about stuff like this in my thread...I agree with both of you guys. I do agree that Loomis makes objective figures that don't have much life to them at all...but that's just one style...a lot of comic book artists adapt that style...some don't...just a matter of difference. I think one can also take the loomis information and use it as a springboard for fuller expression. If you know that Loomis has a tendency to restrain people than you can keep yourself away from it. Bridgman's figures have a lot of life to them but they are very stylized. I tend to like bridgman's aesthetic a whole lot more but that's just me. For now I just need to learn the stinkin muscles hehehe...I can't even worry about expression at this point...I can't even draw it right yet.

This is me trying to learn anatomy...hard stuff:

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**jester** · March 4th, 2003

Great efforts! Why not paint them in the "Anatomy for Middle Class Artists" thread, too?

Jester

**MindCandyMan** · March 5th, 2003

train sketches

I know these are almost undecipherable...but when I am on the train I don't really erase. I like to explore all my options right now without taking the time to make everything perfect. I am trying to capture the essence of putting the figure in perspective so I just put lines over my previous ones without regard. I am starting to understand a little bit about seeing the whole body as squares and cylinders...it's interesting. At any rate...here is the slop

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**MindCandyMan** · March 6th, 2003

I will update soon sorry (all who care hehe)...I have had two exams in my figure drawing class...one on anatomy today! Hopefully I will do well.

**MindCandyMan** · March 7th, 2003

I had to format my hard drive. Long story hehehe...I will update soon.

**MindCandyMan** · March 8th, 2003

Well after some problems that needed to be fixed my computer is fully functional again. Here is a speed painting from last night on the daily sketch group. The topic was Fire based fantasy creatures.

**sic1** · March 8th, 2003

I like the form on your creature, humanesque, with a freakish firey glow.

The texture on the cave looks very sharp and detailed... nice

**MindCandyMan** · March 10th, 2003

Hey thanks sic1! I appreciate it. I had a lot of fun with that one. It's hard to work so quickly...it forces you to learn quickly hehe.

A speedpainting from the other night:

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A copy of a Willy Pogany drawing. Willy Pogany is the man. I changed up some things here and there...this was mainly to practice pen technique. I love working in pen.

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**Smeagol71** · March 10th, 2003

Hey hey, looks like you pulled that cave off pretty well bro. Turned out real nice! I like the hint at the "tribal" markings on the front of the cave. Your mind is working on little details and that's always a good thing. And nice job on the Pogany excercise too. I'm sure the respect factor went up a few notches after copying that one! Heh heh!

**MindCandyMan** · March 10th, 2003

Hey bro...thanks. Yeah my respect went up for him a whole lot. I learned a lot by doing that as well about the strokes and where to place them and what they do. Willy Pogany's pen work is amazing.

**MindCandyMan** · March 13th, 2003

This is definitely not my month...my house got robbed and now I spent a couple days at the doctors...bleh. I'll be glad when this month is over. I will update soon. Bear with me guys.

**MindCandyMan** · March 13th, 2003

Ok I'm not letting this month win. I am kicking it into high gear. Here's some stuff.

Blocking in the main color areas and measuring for my Sargent Streets in Venice copy. I am kind of glad I am forced to do it again. Maybe I can get it right this time.

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Sketch done on the train...maybe a painting sometime?...don't know...

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This was just a quick sketch I did in between working on things. Just something simple to keep my mind going. I would say I went a little too dark on the eye sockets...sheesh they look like blackholes heheh

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**MindCandyMan** · March 14th, 2003

Here are some pictures from my "studio" heheh...my wife has given up control over this room at this point hehe. When I start painting I am gonna put a tarp down in this room and get that couch out of there...guests in our house will always be kept out of this room hehe.

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I couldn't see in the camera's viewfinder so I couldn't line it up exactly but this is how I am going about measuring the cast use the sight size method. I was also trying my hand at getting some texture on this paper...first time I have used this smooth kind...I like it a lot.

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**I.was.ink** · March 14th, 2003

I like how your seargane piece is coming alonf Mindy! And I can see the hard work you have put into your art and your enthusiasm. It brings me joy right now, since I'm a bit sick. Its nice to know that others are working as hard, or even harder than I am at the one thing we all love. ART!

**jester** · March 14th, 2003

Hey MindCandyMan - great to see your studio. I like that idea that much tham I'm gonna post mine

today, in my sketchbook. I suggest that you get a proper table soon, working on the floor can be fun but your back will thank you if you don't.

I admire your dedication to do that Sargent piece again. I know that in your case I'd have started a different one.

As for your wife giving up...

my father has learned to live with the whims of my Mum (I'm a kid of an artist type mother and a very down to earth father...) - she started drawing and painting on our dining room table... mostly on Sundays... that's why I became I good cook...

Jester

**MindCandyMan** · March 14th, 2003

Sinkmaster - Hey thanks for the encouragement man. Lately I have been feeling like my stuff is awful!!!!!!! I am wondering if I am ever going to get better. It's been really hard to keep going lately. These are the times when we have to kick it up a notch I guess though. I just wonder sometimes if life is going to catch up with me too soon for me to be able to pursue this anymore. What I mean is that I have about 5 years before my wife will really want to start having kids... (assuming they don't come before then) and I just don't want to get stuck doing what I am doing now if I can help it. I know I could move up in my current job but I would much rather pursue art. I guess we'll just have to see what happens in the future. I appreciate the encouragement man it helps me keep going.

Jester - Glad you like the "studio" hehehe. I wish I had the money to rent a space out and have a real studio. Thanks for the encouragement about the Sargent piece...I love this painting and I wanted perfect it and get it right. I think I will be able to do it a lot quicker this time as well...but we'll see hehe. That's hilarious about your mom painting on the dining room table heheh...I'm glad to know I'm not the only one that has to make due with less than desirable rooms and equipment...etc... hehe.

**MindCandyMan** · March 14th, 2003

Just so you guys know as well I am going to go back and reupload all those original images sometime...so this thread will be intact again...might take a while but I can at least do a couple a day till it's done. I know killing.people was disappointed about the broken links. I am saving everything I do so that hopefully I can make a book 10 years from now that catalogs my progress...I think that would be a unique and inspiring thing (If I end up being any good at all heheh)

**ZippZopp** · March 16th, 2003

you've got some good stuff going here! where'd you get that hand you've got there? looks pretty interesting! i'd be very interesting in picking up some stuff like that to draw from

**MindCandyMan** · March 16th, 2003

Hey zipp...I got that hand from www.statue.com . If you go tot that site click on the "drawing casts" button to see all their drawing casts...it's pretty cool.

**MindCandyMan** · March 17th, 2003

Working on this and also my cast drawing...still measuring things out and experimenting with the background textures for my cast drawing:

**MindCandyMan** · March 17th, 2003

Still workin on my cast drawing measuring stuff out:

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Some pages from my sketchbook...bleh...anatomy sure is hard to put into practice

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**MindCandyMan** · March 17th, 2003

self portrait

**MindCandyMan** · March 18th, 2003

I failed miserably at life drawing tonight...I was able to draw some in my sketchbook though in between sessions and on the train ride home...bleh...oh well get up and do it again tomorrow right!

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**muse** · March 19th, 2003

Oh Yeah----getting back to the search for the bones of a drawing ---------of a concept-----------------Nice!

**MindCandyMan** · March 19th, 2003

thanks muse :thumbsup:

**MindCandyMan** · March 20th, 2003

I thought this was funny...on the way home on the train yesterday there was no room to sit so I started drawing people while I was standing up...it was hard...and the people around me where looking at me like I was a freak...everyone always wants to know what you're drawing too...it's funny hehe

**MindCandyMan** · March 21st, 2003

sketchbook pages

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I did a speed painting tonight for the DSG thread...30 min

This was the topic "Design: If you were in charge of the sith(star wars) design"

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**sic1** · March 22nd, 2003

Originally posted by MindCandyMan
I thought this was funny...on the way home on the train yesterday there was no room to sit so I started drawing people while I was standing up...it was hard...and the people around me where looking at me like I was a freak...everyone always wants to know what you're drawing too...it's funny hehe

hahahaahahahaahahaha! Those are some pretty good sketches for standing on train. I especially like your entry for the DSG #29, sith design...

**MindCandyMan** · March 24th, 2003

Thanks sic1 hehe...yeah I wish I had a camera so you could see the way people were looking at me on the train...their expressions were hilarious hehe. That speedpainting was fun too hehe. Thanks again updates coming soon...workin on my sargent copy.

**MindCandyMan** · March 26th, 2003

Update:

Ok this was from a WWII photograph...I am trying to learn to keep my values distinguishable...very very hard that's for sure

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page from my sketchbook on the train

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In imphead's thread he mentioned the use of this particular robot for a lot of his paintings so along that line I started a sketch last night...I probably won't finish it but I thought it was fun to use his imagery...the fish idea and the robot.

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