Drawing / Sketching / Digital Painting

Ugh. My class last night was frustrating. During the quick gesture hour, I managed to do some work I wasn't totally unhappy with. The one below (spoilered because butts) even got called out as a good example of structure and shading. I was feeling pretty good.

Spoiler:

IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/yvQhDnE.jpg)

The second half is two thirty minute poses. Apparently, every *%&^$ thing I've learned decided that it was going to go ahead and head on down that dusty trail, because both of them were utter garbage. My proportions were off, my shading was uneven, and my faces were unspeakable Eldrich horrors from beyond time and space. The instructor was really kind, and said that it happens, but it was still really frustrating.

That absolutely happens. One way it happens is like writer's block, you just don't know where to even start and the creative bug makes you restless. Another way is your start up is fine but everything you do is utter crap whether you spend 5 minutes or 5 hours on it.

For me the latter usually subsides the next day if you don't give up on it. You will have restless sleep but if you start again the next day, you will find that even doing something simple well will be rewarding.

Learning is messy. Those types of utter failures are actually a good sign, as it can often mean that your brain is leveling up as it’s trying to synthesize a number of concepts it’s held individually before. As fangblackbone mentioned, it’s super beneficial to keep going in times like this. The Gods of Drawing are testing you.

yeppers. what they said!

Also the one you posted is looking good!

trichy wrote:

Apparently, every *%&^$ thing I've learned decided that it was going to go ahead and head on down that dusty trail, because both of them were utter garbage. My proportions were off, my shading was uneven, and my faces were unspeakable Eldrich horrors from beyond time and space.

Put this on my tomb because this is the feeling that will kill me.

Dramatics aside, these moments are demoralizing, but pushing on and switching it up to try something else is legit/health/skill-building.

Sometimes, I feel like my ability can be finite? Like I do one thing SUPER GOOD, then everything after looks like silly trash. Maybe I need a nap, or food/water, a break, some arm and shoulder stretches, a walk, friend time, hugs... pick whatever. It can recharge the skill meter a bit. If you don't feel like taking a break in that sense, maybe try drawing something in a different style. Switch gears off realism, and make some thick-lined, chibi-ass cartoon fan art for a bit. Render something in a 3D program. Get off people, do an impressionistic watercolor landscape. Do a Bob Ross. This is a break, do whatever you want!

It's super clear you have potential that you're unpacking, and it's hard to switch gears when you're in the middle of class, so that may not be solid advice for that situation, but if you run into this again on your own time, I promise, the breaks are as formative for developing skill as the actual drawing!

If you want to change pace for a bit, doodling can be cathartic and meditative. Something permanent is key here like pen or marker and paper. The key is to go where you want to go and not worry about whether your lines are sloppy or what you lay down looks like anything. Try and make continuous strokes or even make the whole doodle one stroke. Sketchy lines are an indication that we are still thinking and not doing/drawing.

Doodling forever!

I spent the weekend drawing random stuff, playing around with colored pencils, and basically just goofing off. It helped clear my head quite a bit. Today, I'm back to the gesture drawing exercises and the anatomy books. Whoo!

Atta trichy!
Knock 'em dead

Been trying to get back in practice with digital after a HUGE gap of not being motivated to do anything over the long summer break.

IMAGE(https://smackfolio.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/wip-digportrait-sept.jpg)

Still a work in progress - Hair in particular still gives me trouble.

That is really nice. It is also a good piece because it is stark contrast to the other stuff you have been posting. Very natural and warm colors too.
FWIW I don't see any problem with the hair. The asymmetry is really nice too.

Wow.

thanks

updated! I've added some texture to the skin and individual strands of hair. A lot happier with it now. Still more to do though!

IMAGE(https://smackfolio.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/wip-digportrait-sept3.jpg)

*updated. I wasn't feeling the feather earring so i replaced it with a crystal instead!

glad i decided to do this today. needed a confidence boost and (touch wood) this has worked out gangbusters so far!

pyxistyx wrote:

glad i decided to do this today. needed a confidence boost and (touch wood) this has worked out gangbusters so far!

It looks pretty amazing to me! Keep up the great work

I'm thinking about jumping into Inktober. Nothing fancy, but just some daily doodles from the daily prompts.

yes! excellent idea.

* digital Portrait practice no 2! Very work in progress, again. Struggling with the hair. again!
(open in a new tab for proper size)

IMAGE(https://smackfolio.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/wip-digportrait-sept4.jpg)

i was going to do a "step by step" thing with this one to run through the various stages I go through with these, but I forgot and flattened all the layers! Next time though.

i was going to do a "step by step" thing with this one to run through the various stages I go through with these, but I forgot and flattened all the layers! Next time though.

Yes please!

trichy wrote:

I'm thinking about jumping into Inktober. Nothing fancy, but just some daily doodles from the daily prompts.

Likewise. I hope I have enough time between work and school, as I would like to do the daily, but may be relegated to doing just weekly.

fangblackbone wrote:
i was going to do a "step by step" thing with this one to run through the various stages I go through with these, but I forgot and flattened all the layers! Next time though.

Yes please!

ok. Here's a stab at it. It's not quite finished yet but I think i'm done for the evening so this'll do for now

spoiler-tagged so that it's not a massive long post.

Spoiler:

Source photo and initial sketch (cleaned up)
IMAGE(https://smackfolio.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/1.jpg)

Rough Flat colour added. Picked colours from the source photo with eyedropper
IMAGE(https://smackfolio.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/2.jpg)

added splodges (technical term) of colour for light and shadow areas
IMAGE(https://smackfolio.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/3.jpg)

started blending all the splodges together using a solid brush with transfer active and
opacity at about 30-40%.
IMAGE(https://smackfolio.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/4.jpg)

more blending.
IMAGE(https://smackfolio.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/5.jpg)

still a'blendin' Wasn't happy with the chin, so I started to darken it up a bit and fix the shape.
IMAGE(https://smackfolio.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/6.jpg)

Something not quite right with the eyes, so i mirrored it and played around with the liquify tool to try to fix things. still not quite happy with it but it's better. Also added some detail to the eyes. Also thought the forhead was too tall so I shrunk it a teeny bit, and I think i tweaked the mouth a little.
IMAGE(https://smackfolio.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/7.jpg)

flipped back again.
IMAGE(https://smackfolio.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/8.jpg)

Added more shape and detail to the hair in clumps.
IMAGE(https://smackfolio.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/9.jpg)

More hair detail and started on the flower.
IMAGE(https://smackfolio.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/10.jpg)

...and this is where I am right now. Added some skin texture using a spackled brush and then using the eraser at about 50% opacity to tone it all down a bit afterwards.

IMAGE(https://smackfolio.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/11.jpg)

Still needs more work on the lips, eyes and skin , and i still need to blend a lot of the neck and shoulders.

That is fantastic. Please, PLEASE keep doing those.

if i remember to grab progress shots before flattening all the layers like i normally do, i shall!

updated again. Added a bit more detail, fixed the lips and other features (hopefully doesn't have a lazy eye anymore!) . blended the neck, hair and shoulders a bit.

IMAGE(https://smackfolio.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/12.jpg)

I think i'll draw a line under this one now and move on to something new.

Yeah, the tutorial is super interesting. I've been digging in to pixel art, but want to branch out. I might give something like that a try.

pyxistyx wrote:

updated again. Added a bit more detail, fixed the lips and other features (hopefully doesn't have a lazy eye anymore!) . blended the neck, hair and shoulders a bit.

I think i'll draw a line under this one now and move on to something new.

I think it turned out very nice. Well done, Pyxi!

I painted a couple of new images just for funsies. Also, cockroaches are very colorful I found out.

Cakes:
IMAGE(http://fredrikdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/donut.png)

Cockroach:
IMAGE(http://fredrikdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/cockroach.png)

pyxistyx wrote:

updated again. Added a bit more detail, fixed the lips and other features (hopefully doesn't have a lazy eye anymore!) . blended the neck, hair and shoulders a bit.

The funny thing is that a few things like that stood out to me and then I looked at the photo and you actually captured it correctly. If anything you were kinder because the actual model is a wee bit cross-eyed in that photo and the space between their eye brows is uniquely larger and off center. These features tended to look flat until the makeup and shading were more realized.

@Fredrik_S - really nice work. The cockroach is convincing enough that it looks like you painted over a photo.

I finally completed my most recent sketchbook. I decided to go small, and work exclusively in those Tombo brush markers until I felt competent with them. I tend to suffer from, "I can't draw anything unless it's good" so I felt that the small form factor of the sketchbook 4x5" would give me license to draw whatever and not feel bad about it. And you know what? Giving myself permission to do that worked wonders. I'm pleased with how most of the sketches turned out. This book is a fun one. I have a series of drawings about sciatica pain, hot dogs, and fungus.

Some of the better ones are here:
https://www.instagram.com/toddcrobin...
(as are a bunch of pics of my kids)

looks great Toddland and Fredrick_s!