#31 - Character pose, part 1

Part 1 because it's been an hour and a half and I'm exhausted - and not done yet XD

So tomorrow I'll keep working on it. For now:

#30 - Random visage 2

This time in Sketchbook mobile <<

Not home today, and lots to say. Also crazy exhausted, more news the next day.

#29 - Random visage

I tried to use what knowledge I've garnered about character proportions, and failed. So, feeling myself bored (and tired), I figured I'd do something fun: random face lineart.

Admittedly the hair is based off one of my characters, with one side full of hair and the other shaved off. It's not a good representation of her, hence why I call it 'random' nonetheless XD but it was good practice. I've missed doing faces. ^^

#28 - O.O

It's one of those days spent doing life stuff. Completely forgot about this. o.o

In great news, I slept awesome last night. Hence why we cleaned the kitchen today.

Here's to hoping tonight is a great night as well e.e (and real post tomorrow. <<)

#27 - Dying inside @.@

'nuff said.

#26 - Pose st-- well, method study I guess fits better

I still think something's not quite right with the proportions, but well since I skipped hands and feet... <<

The idea here was to take yesterday's stick figure and expand on it. I'm currently missing the correct measurements of legs, which do seem too short none... though maybe the feet would fix that problem.

Oh well. As you can see, the pose got altered during the drawing (hence why I kept the original stacked version), this to accomodate my playing with muscles and arm turn. I do think the shoulders are too broad, but then this is a guy, so... I dunno?

I'm gonna have to take bf as model to further refine my working method. <<

Also, I hate that I have a tendency towards having characters lean. I dunno why. I tend to lean more on the left myself, so maybe that explains it.

#25 - Pose study 7 (yeah my titles are original, huh)

Today I flitted through several of these artbooks I have until I happened upon a proportion model I could work with. The book in question, should you wonder, is Gary Lippincott's Illustration Techniques for Artists. Page 60-61, Movement. There I found a simple stick figure that is actually quite more than just that, because within it I could see certain proportions, and a straightforward way to try and reproduce these proportions accurately.

Better yet, to try and understand them. So I experimented with that stick figure to try and find a proportion model, and to create for myself a methodical process to finding the correct proportions for my little figures. The result:

I numbered the figures for chronology's sake.

1. The main realization here, which I know about but somehow never applied, is that the chest area is about as long as the character's head (hence the head copy). Elbows come to the waist, with both arm parts of similar length. Hand-circles I made too small, so I daresay it's not so much a matter of arms too long but legs too short. This threw off my calculations for the legs, and makes them feel off.

2. A retry. I'd say the head's a bit too small, but I rounded it, so. I do think the waist is too short (I'll be taking a ruler to that book to have exact measurements <<), but globally I started to understand things there.

3. Four arms due to CSP deciding to create a new arm through rotation rather than just rotate the existing one << so I ran with it. Good test of arm proportions, too. Though I think the legs are too long, I can live with it << Basic proportions seem pretty right. Forearm to thigh proportion: elbow to fingertips = upper thigh to knee (at least on my body). I think it's the case there, though I'll admit I didn't pay attention to this specific proportion << (and elbow to fingertips = knee to ankle).

4, 5, 6. Experiments of proportion and movement. I realized I didn't have to have the chest area turned in such a way to fit the movement: I can just draw it in a frontal manner for proportion's sake, and alter this during linearting. It removes an unnecesary process from the working method that makes it easier for me to (try and) get working proportions.

All in all, definitely gonna have to work further this way, at least for the time being. I do need to practice proportions for a while, until correct proportions become an automatism. At least now I know I have a good book to refer to <<

#24 - Pose study 6

Tomorrow I'm gonna dive into all the artbooks I've gathered over the years. I just can't grasp anatomy through observation alone o.o (or I'm observing wrong << XD)

#23 - Pose study 5

I'm still not quite grasping the anatomy, but I'm starting to think that it's the models << so next time I'll be using some refs I saved for future character pieces. I am starting to understand proportions, but something's still lacking.

Oh well. Little by little. XD

#22 - Pose study 4

I'm not quite capable to reproduce the pose exactly, But well I'm learning along the way.

The stick figure on the right is my attempt to redraw it quickly to test if I've understood it. Clearly I haven't XD but I'm slowly learning the logic of anatomy. Slowly. I think. XD

Maître mot: fun! Which I am having ^^ if only because these studies are starting to go faster. That's improvement in itself :D

#21 - Pose study 3

Along the way I changed the pose without realizing XD it began with the back, and then I just ran with it.

I'm really not sure if the legs are right. I tried to use the logic I'd seen in a previous study to determine where the lines should connect to the rest of him. I feel I did something wrong, but ah well. I think it looks right enough.

Points for deviating and still getting something that looks right enough XD

#20 - Pose study 2

Directly went for the guidelines and trying to break the pose down. Admittedly, this is a very awkward pose, so I had a really hard time understanding it. It doesn't look quite right to begin with =.=

I tried to redo the pose without the guidelines, but I got lost. I think it shows. So, at least for now, I'll keep using the guidelines for everything. The result may not be perfect, but it allows for me to grasp what I'm doing and find a working process. And that'd be what matters.

As a sidenote, I don't re-use the guidelines as-is, but re-draw them. Just makes more sense that way.

#19 - Pose study

There comes a point when you start feeling you're lacking something to move forward. Well, one thing I lack is understanding of anatomy. So, I'm going to spend some day dissecting random poses.

Pose from Posemaniacs

I added numbers to show the evolution.

With 1, I think it really clearly shows how bad my understanding of anatomy is. It's like every limb has its own position that doesn't work with the rest XD especially the legs. Dear gods, the legs. The everything.

With 2, I tried to understand the pose in its simplest form. That didn't really work for me. At all.

I realized then that I was doing something wrong. So I asked myself what I could do to try and understand the pose, to grasp its base, and that's how I came up with 3 and, at first, the main horizontal lines and the spinal line. This already helped me grasp what I was looking at, as they divided the body into comprehensible segments.

So I tried with 4 to reproduce what I was seeing. It was a test. During this process I added the body lines on 3 that I placed on 4 as well. It wasn't perfect. But I got the feeling I had grasped something nonetheless.

So, I figured I'd try a final version, and thus 5 happened. And though it's in no means perfect (I see now the thighs are too long and have the wrong tilt), I'd like to think this is actually a pose that could be worked from. I don't have the 3D-ness of it down, but I seem to have managed some perspective nonetheless. And with this thumbnail, I'm seeing all sorts of line errors to improve upon with the next drawings.

Globally satisfied. And it didn't take as long as I'd fear. I'm trying to be efficient ^^ especially since I need to get back into writing and I have to plan accordingly. Kinda surprised I'm managing that << XD

#18 - Lost in the woods

Well, not so much lost in the woods as taking a break XD

I kept this one simple partially because I'd like to focus on writing today. However, what I went for during this half hour is setting a scene, using colours to create depth, and using composition to set the focal point on what I wanted (and I failed, I see now... I'll have to move the foreground upwards).

A quick experiment that was harder to do than expected because my PC can't run large-scale brushes. So I had to resort to fill in the main background rather than use the oil brush to give it some texture/colour variation. :/ hence the small brush strokes on everything, as well.

Oh well. I'm actually pretty satisfied. Doesn't look like much, but the thought process it took to get the result was interesting. :)

#17 - Dragon-y head

Because I wanted to just work with colours today.

I love that eye. XD

#16 - En avant la cavalerie

I'd been meaning to do this exercise for a couple of days now. Between Diablo and chatting, I failed to get it done. Today, finally, here it is:

You may want to click on it to get the full size.

What I set myself to do here, is create personalities through colours and simple shapes. Obviously, I loosened up as I went, which even led to a couple dual poses because why not. The intent though was to give (myself) an idea of the character personalities through these simple sketches - which, believe it or not, did take me a couple of hours. Mostly thinking about who to draw XD but well, there we go.

Did I succeed? Not with all of them. Did I have fun? Oh you betcha I did ^^

For the curious and/or those who have followed last year's blogs, character names:
Kooga, Kassandra, Zool, Isaru (+alterform), Taelin, Eglen,
Aneskia, Nalyn, Devon (+1), Ine, Kristofah,
Niskania, Nefahtil, Nalyn+Corvis, Taelin+Eglen, Ana'Thaene

At the very least, it's given me a clearer view of colour schemes (and colours to change like on Nefahtil, but then her clothes have always eluded me (and Kassandra's shirt ought to be white, but that was not gonna look good on a white bg, which I couldn't change because it made the colouring look weird)).

#15 - 5 minute speedline

Thanks to a certain someone who kept me on Discord way longer than intended << (and she'd say: yes, as though you didn't want to stay :P (and I'd agree XD))

It's seriously been years since I last spent nearly an entire day chatting. I'd forgotten what it felt like. I loved it. XD

So, what I'd planned on doing, I couldn't do. Instead, I gave myself the challenge to make a working pose sketch in 5 minutes. Behold.

There's something off with the legs, I know. I can't do legs. But I think it's not too shabby for five minutes. I could work with this. <<

#14 - I have no regrets

I really don't.

It's been months since I played with my buddy Leto. Couldn't pass up the opportunity. It's done wonders on my mood <3 happiness is definitely worth it.

#13 - You'll never leave me, will you?

Trying to achieve correct proportions while working further on my style (and characters).

Left it as a sketch because I want to get back to it, but for now I've stared long enough.

The major reason for me to try and improve my visual skills is to manage to draw my characters and give them life. That's the ultimate goal. So, whenever the urge rises to draw them, I listen and see whether I can fulfil that urge or not. Today, I could.

You get a blurb to go with it, which was the inspiration for this piece.

"You're not thinking of leaving, are you," Kassandra said, her unctuous tone rife with dangerous certainty, "you know I'll find you, wherever you go. Killing you would be too merciful."

Kooga went quiet, and said nothing right away. "I… I won't," he replied, quivering, "I promise. I'll stay here."

"Good," Kassandra replied, "since you're being a good boy, I'll mend your bones. Come here."

She reached open arms towards the child who, despite the pain and fear rending his nerves, found the strength to come to her, to settle in her inviting arms. Her hands latched onto her boy, on the exact location of the internal damage she'd inflicted herself, a few days ago. He winced at her touch, and she smiled.

#12 - Taelin, now in colour

Because I felt like drawing my favourite princess again, but this time in a simpler, more straight-forward manner.

I can sense I made mistakes on this, but right now I can't pick 'em out. I feel they're mostly around the chest area. I think it's about time I do some bust shots to get a grip on upper body anatomy.

For now: behold, Taelin, in all her coloured glory. :D

#11 - Elshir Royalty, redux

I couldn't stand yesterday's sketch. So I deleted everything but the face and umbrella and redid the pose.

 Totally gave up on her left arm, but at least I can look at this without feeling my eyes bleed. Improvement, right?

#10 - Elshir Royalty

Slowly recuperating.

Not what I was going for at first, but then I just let thigns happen. There are quite a few issues with this, namely everything except the face (gods I love the face), but ah well. It's been two hours. I can't make it look right.

Next time, I'll use a reference. But the face. The face is good. Yes. *nod*

No colours because they bring out all the flaws XD just a princess, in a dress, clearly having a bad day. It's amusing how I always imagine Elshir royalty in fancy Victorian-y dresses - lots of puff. Well, at least I always imagine Taelin dressed like this. Hence the unhappy face, because she was the rebellious kind of princess who basically did everything wrong out of spite. She didn't like being a princess. She became a decent queen eventually, somehow thanks to the presence and support of a bat-shit crazy shifter who cared more about animals than people (except for her, surprisingly enough). Things really got weird XD

Taelin of the Elshir, enjoying (sorta) a stroll in what I expect to be sunlit castle gardens.

#9 - vqrghregrthzjy

I. Need. Sleep. *headdesk*

#8 - KMN

We forgot we had a family dinner today.

Best moment of the day:

I am exhaustion.

#7 - Sssmexy

Or something vaguely so. I tried. Gods I tried.

Be warned: BOOBS.

If you were to zoom in, as I did AFTER being done, you'd see a lot of issues with this. I worked on my 3000x2500 canvas as is, without zooming in, because the point of this one became getting a feel for light and dark and TRY (I do say try) and convey the idea of luminescence. It'd have requried zooming in, but hey I got out of my comfort zone. A lot.

Totally not perfect but I dun care. I had fun. It's different from the usual. I learn something with every pic ^^

#6 - Rollermaid

Dunno whether it's the germs doing it, but I hope this randomness extravaganza won't finish too soon. It's actually making for some pretty cool pics, if I do say so myself XD

I had the pose idea yesterday night, and as what I wanted to do was proving too be too demanding on my brain's RAM, I figured: let's randomize! And then the rollerblaiding mermaid-ish critter came up. I wanted to play with greens and blues (and some purples). Kinda liking the effect I got, too... Lots of oil brushing, some custom brushes (funnily enough a failed PS-brush conversion!), and some pencil brushes for extra texture.

Also, it's 4pm and I've yet to have lunch. Not even hungry. I want the germ infestation to end @.@

#5 - Speedpaint omg

Kinda realized today, as I had a late start to the drawing after a long day of Diablo, that the only person I was cheating by half-assing any of these challenge days is me. Granted, my brain was overheated and my nerves grating with the woes of having to repeat myself over and over (bad on a good day, very bad on a sick day), and I just couldn't get anything on that virtual paper that I liked. So, I picked a random brush in CSP and started colour-doodling based on a vague idea... and it resulted in a 15-min speedpaint I'm actually pretty happy with. The idea gets across. I think.

I'll have to do more random pics like this. Felt pretty good. And I discovered a brush I really like ^^

#4 - Getting back to things

Still sick, still tired, still not hungry and having a side of heartburn, but brainpower is returning and I hope, by Friday, to be able to write again. For now though, I'll take being able to focus on drawing again.

Ended up not doing quite what I expected, as I had a different character in mind with this pose, but it worked out quite well. Anatomy still baffles me, but at least I'm trying to understand it XD

Funny to look at where I started with the sketch, and how it evolved. All in less than an hour :D there was a time this would've taken me many more hours, so yay to having gotten better sometime down the road, and woot to improving further! :D

#3 - Drama Queen

What kind of sick moron complains to herself about feeling weak and crap and hasn't eaten since getting up?

At least I got off my lazy ass, hooked my PC back up, and pulled out the wacom for this. The end of the tunnel is in sight, but there's still a long walk to go.

Seriously, I got up at 11 and it's almost 5.30 and I've fed on coffee, warm milk with honey, and elderberry syrup. The thought of food makes me feel blergh. But I'm getting hungry, finally, so.

My brain is still a swimming pool.

#2 - Slowly getting back to normal

Still sick, almost voiceless, so I still copped out. sorry. <<

#1 - Sick start

Been sick since Friday. Really painful throat, swimming head... Think it's either angina or pharyngitis, because a cold it ain't. Finally had decent sleep (despite the evening having ended at 3am because new year's eve yay omg). But exhausted. so exhausted.

So I'm starting off the challenge with a cop-out. Because sick. <<

Thank goodness for Sketchbook. Because no computer. @.@