[Dorutza]

irawan

Thank you so much for this! Well the thing with me is that.. true when i started this i didnt do the anatomy pose ...

This is something i did like 2 months ago... not even 2.... and during this 2 months something happen to me and ... i have left go of a lot of things that just made me feel better and focus more on my art as you can see on my sketchbook with my figure poses.... Like a friend said "Once you let go of your personal life drama and you just put those aside and you accept things... then your art is like so much better than what you where doing before"

I got over a lot of things and i feel that i got very good : ) Now i just need to get more patient...

Thank you a lot for this : ) Really shows that i have more to do with my skills : D

[irawan]

hi sh3lly,
i did quick paintover for you.

Attachment 58190

[sh3lly]

Thanks, Irawan for fixing up the pose. I had two layouts in mind, so I'm guessing the first layout I did is a better composition than the second one? If so, then I will move forward with the first layout.

[GaryBedell]

I totally posted my image outside this thread. Sorry I'm a dumb noob. I've hit this wall with my art in general and have been stuck for years. I feel like the work is missing that "THING" that makes it good. but i have no clue what that is.

Thanx for your time.

-G

[Iridyse]

Hey Gary,
Your painting just looks a bit washed out. Some value thumbnails before you start would help I think. Here's a suggestion:

[LuisCavaco]

You have there a powerfull image and a really good drawing, like you say just some steps away of being really brilliant.

I think your main figure is almost perfect, but the overall image seems to be lacking some more value variation like Iridyse said.

In the image below are my humble two cents about some other things that i hope might help you.



Never give up, keep at it and you will be perfect, just keep praticing, copying the masters and learning im trying too

[GaryBedell]

LuisCavaco / Iridyse - Thank you so much for the advice and guidance. I'm not going to redo this painting. It's actually the second version of one from 06' but it give me an idea of what to do for future works.

[GaryBedell]

Do you have any links to tutorials? Or can you tell me what exercises would be good to do. I really feel lost when it comes to education. I'm just tired of guessing what makes a piece looks good. I want to KNOW what I'm doing and be more confident with my work.

[LuisCavaco]

That's exactly what I'm trying to find out also, as i am self taught, and education in classic, basic principles of illustration in my country are hard to find, not that good or very expensive.

I think that in our mind there are all the basic principles we need to become better to reach that level that we dream of and admire in others, we just have to find the right path.

Here are some great resources that directed me in very good directions, although it does mean that we still have to work very hard to make it

For the feeling of fluidity, 3d form, silhouette and action, animation is one of the great resources even if you only plan on making 2d illustration.

A very good and straight to the point resource is John Kricfalusi, blog posts:
http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/2009/...mposition.html
http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/2009/...r-lessons.html
http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/2009/...-specific.html
These are just examples of many good things he has over there, but sometimes you have to dig deep into old posts to find them, but it’s worth it.

I just wish he would compile all this stuff into a book or pdf

His articles really help you to distinguish between average and really good color, composition, character design, form and appeal. Even if you don't always agree with his opinions.

All of Andrew Loomis books/pdfs are required reading to walk you trough everything that makes a good and appealing image.
They are available for free here: (some of his books are available on amazon to buy printed) http://escapefromillustrationisland....ion-downloads/

Other great books are:
The Animator's Survival Kit
http://www.amazon.com/Animators-Surv...8792948&sr=1-3

Force: Dynamic Life Drawing for Animators
http://www.amazon.com/Force-Dynamic-.../dp/0240808452
See some videos from these “Force” books here:
http://www.drawingforce.com/index.cf...eos-chapter-1/

Figure Drawing: Design and Invention
http://www.amazon.com/Figure-Drawing...d_bxgy_b_img_b

The Best of Bridgman
http://www.amazon.com/Best-Bridgman-...792857&sr=1-15

Framed Ink: Drawing and Composition for Visual Storytellers
http://www.amazon.com/Framed-Ink-Dra.../ref=pd_sim_b3

To understand why you should train classically first no matter what your style will be (remember some of the greats at Disney where also accomplished realistic painters) you should read these from Juliette Aristides:
http://www.amazon.com/Lessons-Classi...tt_at_ep_dpi_1
http://www.amazon.com/Classical-Draw...tt_at_ep_dpt_2
http://www.amazon.com/Classical-Pain...tt_at_ep_dpt_3

And of course the classic
http://www.amazon.com/New-Drawing-Ri...8793280&sr=1-1

I also return all the time to this great tutorial on expressions from Tracy Butler:
http://tracyjb.deviantart.com/art/La...ions-193978013

Then almost all of this downloads on The Art Department (go get them they are on sale)
http://theartdepartment.org/downloads
http://theartdepartment.org/streaming-classes

Great interviews from the amazing Bobby Chiu that teach a lot more than you think (Good to hear while you work):
http://www.schoolism.com/interviews.php

And Schoolism courses are some of the best available anywhere, mainly because they will cater to your specific needs and give you personalized feedback:
http://www.schoolism.com/school.php

The one and only way to make this resources work for you is to take them to heart like an art bible and study them over and over again and really listen to what they mean and say.
I keep returning to some of these books after years and only now understand some of the things they were trying to teach.

Important things to remember:

Keep studying the bases and foundations. Light, composition, construction, color, anatomy, perspective. These are study topics for life.
You will keep discovering new stuff everyday and grow with it.
Even if you think it’s tough and it’s not helping that much, you will discover that it is gradually improving your skills.

Drawing is the most important foundation.
You can have a great finished lavishly rendered painting but if the drawing, composition, and idea suck, nothing will save it.

Another important thing to jump that quality obstacle, is to make every line that you put on paper (or screen) count, and strive to make it beautiful, even when sketching.

What i mean by this is, don't be very precious about your lines, go wild and make all the ones you need to get the image out of your head, but... by making every line, shadow, or texture have some sort of beauty to it it will be easier to stop your image at any time and it still looks good. No matter the level of detail you want.
One good way to train this is to try drawing something with one continuous line.
See here Bill Sienkiewicz:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...8oTU2tk#t=261s

This also applies to color, make it look good at all stages even if it is just one or two blots of paint:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=so3Na...eature=related

Draw from life constantly, learn how real faces, bodys, trees and buildings are so different from each other and have great details and personality of their own and how light, value and color defines them.

This is essential to discover your style and to make your pictures original.
If you only use other art for inspiration everything will start to look the same and bland.

Great example of a sketchbook:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...iGdSk_O0#t=38s

Finally if you can, find a great teacher, enroll in classic drawing or painting classes or workshops regularly. Real world learning will teach you more in an hour or two than months of studying trough books.

And keep on using cghub and all the great art forums out there to find advice and great artists.

Sorry about the rant, and i hope this inspires you to continue as its inspiring me to write and put these thoughts down.

[voyd]

Hello guys!

I feel there's something wrong with this piece..maybe composition,colors, or perspectives?

Any feedback much appreciated...thanks

[LuisCavaco]

Hi there Voyd
You already took down the image you had before this one, but anyway i did a paintover for it, so i hope you dont mind if i post it.
(If you dont want it, please tell me )
Anyway here are some points i think you could use to improve that image.



Did it really quick so its not perfect, but i hope at least it can help you in someway

[voyd]

Hey thanks alot Luis!
Haha..yeah i took it out and change it coz there's no reply for days

Wow it sure looks better in yours..so the first point is sihlouette?
and then the gestures..hmm I'm not sure about the perspectives..could you give me hints in making a good perspective in this kind of concepts?

Thanks again for your time man!

[LuisCavaco]

You are welcome.

About the silhouette what i did, paint it all black, was just a way to analyze your concept, but as you can see in the second row, the important thing is to have it in your mind as you are drawing and creating your base for the painting or final image.

Anyway what i was talking about perspective (not prespective as i wrote :P ), is that i placed the left leg closer to the "camera" and the right farther away.
This was to both add movement and create a more readable picture at first glance.

There is no one good perspective for this kind of concepts, but i guess that most of the time these are all about depicting the thecnical and functional part so a more controlled, flattened and technical prespective would be better.

You should take a look at this book:
http://parkablogs.com/content/book-review-mechanika

But when showing your concept inside an environment or in action go all out and do whatever is needed to make a good image.

[Apolaki]

Any advice on what area(s) I should touch up on?

Feel free to do crazy stuff on it if needed

[Darjan]

Hi guys,i am new member here on CGHUB. And i would like to show you one of my work,to see your critiques,and if neede to do some over paint of my work