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Momino
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10mo
added comment inDemo - Learning to Sketch from Observation
Hands. 2 attempts before demo.
Momino
10mo
Tried again after Stan’s demo. Tried to only use tapered sketchy lines and not worry about finished results. I find it hard to taper my lines at the beginning. I can flick the end to taper but it’s hard to start w a taper. Anyone having luck with it. I’ve been warming up by filling a page trying to taper my lines.
Tried again after demo. Trying to keep in mind that the purpose is to sketch with tapered lines and not a complete drawing.
Momino
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11mo
Then watched the demo but didn’t copy. I tried to do it from what I learned. I tried to keep two shadow values and three lights. I found it very difficult to create the two light Half-tones. It’s hard to create simplified shapes without drawing darker outlines. I’ll keep practicing.
I see significant progress, keep it up!
Try practicing shading on a simplified head model for a few days. On ArtStation, you'll find a cool light reference tool. Look for "William Nguyen head". Set up different lighting, try to draw 100-200 of those heads, then come back to this model and attempt to draw it for the third time. I guarantee you'll see a difference!
I probably can't help a lot, just tell you, that I am feeling some very similar struggles at the moment. Including, that when I focus on proportions, my portraits tend to look nice-ish but boring, as I lose those interesting shadow shapes, but when I focus on shadow shapes, my portraits turn into very expressive caricatures, as I am at risk of losing sight of proportions.
One interesting tidbit I noticed: for me, there seems to be a somewhat easier and more successful approach than drawing from photographic reference, and that is drawing from videos. When I watch a talking head on youtube for a while, until I start to see which shapes define the face, and then stop the video at the right moment and draw from there, my results are usually objectively way better, then when I start drawing from a still image. Don't know if that helps, I just found it an interesting observation. Even better results are sometimes from crime series and other movies with a "noir" touch and extreme lightning.
I tried this without watching Stan’s demo.
hi momino
the good old pear exercise. did you buy the basics course?
one thing to always do is to upload the reference image, so the ones who critique don't have to search for pictures.
as for the image, i really like both of them. you can clearly see the edges and on the second one you can really see that you can draw quite clean lines.
i would say just keep going you're on a great way.
the only thing is to practice laying down flat shading.
keep going, your doing great!
Momino
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11mo
Your use of value is very good. When you look at each feature in its own you can see how well you are drawing what you see. You have a natural talent for being able to catch the nuances that bring the characteristics into view. I am certain that once you practice the proportions of the face you will see improvement by leaps and bounds. I’m looking forward to seeing your progression. Don’t give up! Have you considered trying to draw this upside down to use you strengths and it will trick your brain out of outing facial featUrea where you think they should be versus where they are. Keep going.
Thank you for the positive feedback Momino. I’ll try the upside down drawing tactic as a check for the next one!
