I wanted to get in this assignment now (even it is it only 2 master studies) because I may not be able to draw until the coming weekend. This was difficult to do because I had to focus on value while still trying to make sure my proportions were still mostly right. It ended up ok. Towards the end I think my eyes adjusted (or may be my squinting skill leveled up) because I could start to see things in 3 tones a bit easier. I'm interesting in trying some more, but maybe smaller thumbnails would be better.

Since I have been spending the better part of 2 years trying to improve my freehand art without tools, this was tedious to do. Also orthographic perspective throws me for a bit of loop (as I want to incorporate vanishing points). Still it was fund to dip into and maybe to return to, but for me it just felt...odd.

Here is my level one. I did most of the work on a Strathmore 300 drawing pad (medium textured) with Staedtler Mars Lumograph Pencils and gave it 3 complete attempts. After some experimenting between attempts 2 and 3, I did a lot better with gradual layering than trying to just rely on pressure. Also gave a shot to a value scale on Strathmore 400 drawing pad (fine texture) but honestly, I found it hard to not get darker overlaps as the scale got darker. Think I will stick with the 300 unless instructed othewise.

I'm an old fashion nerd with mostly old fashion tastes. I have always appreciated fantasy and Sci Fi art to inspire me in my youth. I'm pushing myself in my later years to take up portraiture and character designing. Its a steady, if slow, effort, but it has finally started to become rewarding. 1. I like character art in general, but if a piece of art can use its perspective to evoke not just a story, but an emotion (awe at something immense, frenzy of battle) then it will leave and impact on me. I'll give examples from my nerd hobbies: Magic the Gathering (John Avon, Jason Felix and Quinton Hoover), Manga (Yukito Kurshiro's Battle Angel manga is my example here) and good old Dungeon and Dragons, though mostly from 10-15 years ago or older (Keith Parkinson, Larry Elmore, Jeff Easly and Wayne Reynolds). 2. I am focused on working towards character art right now so I want to be able to map out the features and likeness of a portrait or figure from references, then take that references and redraw them in different poses, expressions and from different angles and with different lighting. A LOT of that involves things beyond perspective (anatomy, composition, etc...) but I know that if I can nail the perspective, I'm half way (or more) there.

Thanks @Michael Hampton! After going around in circles with Portrait drawings for the last couple of year I think your course finally click enough for me not to just learn a rote process, but to actually start developing my own process. I'm sure there are many who feel the same way, so thank you for that! My only parting questions is about the final step is any drawing process, a finished piece. While you give guidance on where to take this from a next step, I assume most of us are taking course like this to create better final pieces. Is it your opinion that after, say, we put down shading, that now a piece would be in final Rendering and Detailing phase? If that is the case, is it just a matter of final steps are fairly universal and\or medium specific (graphite, oil, digital, etc...) so mentioning them here is beyond the scope? Before year's I'm going to start trying to actually do monthly completed pieces in Graphite and I'm kind of look at how to bridge the last part of this process with a final product, so all advice is welcome.

Have to get these in before my long unplugged vacation, so light was a little bad. The numbers associated with the ref sheet should be on each drawing. putting this together at this stage for me fee like trying to juggle 5 flaming chainsaws after I JUST start to juggle three tennis ball without dropping them. Can't wait for the critique :)

Wish I had more time to work on this, but you caught me on a busy week so this is all I got for this project. Its amazing how much progress I have notice in NOT moderating extreme angle while observational drawing...and how easy it is to fall back into that once we had to add in recalling and imagining objects.

Hello classmates, does anyone know if I can turn in my assignment on the 28 and still be eligible for the critique? Or is the 27 the cut off day?

This was a struggle. I just have an honest trouble getting cinstruction forms to match with my obseverational measures afterwards ( and I don't mean a little, I mean ALOT). I'm going back to do some draw over practice and see if I can make something click. Drawings labeled "proportions" are from Last project (like many I had redo them because they were off). Ones labeled "8-step" are for the current project.

I did 20 boxes before I realized that I was not really mimicking a torso from imagination. So I did 4 more that more more torso like. Also did all 18 of the models Those are numbered 1-18.