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@mx2
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5d
added comment inProject - Learning to Sketch from Imagination
Asked for help
A little embarrassed at how messy my sketches are but I chose an owl as my creature. I started looking at owls in general but then became interested in the barred owl because it reminded me of an old woman wearing a shawl. I was thinking about drawing an elderly and kind owl wearing a shawl, and at one point, I wanted to try sketching the owl standing on one leg and drinking from a tea cup with the other (reference images of the skeleton for me to consider how it might bend). However, before I could do so, mid-way through my second sketch, I started thinking about how the head of the barred owl reminded me of a helmet... and thus the astronaut owl was born, haha. I still like my original idea though and think it would make an interesting character as well.
Jacob Hebda
5d
Hi there, MX2!
I wanted to reach out and celebrate your imagination and invention! I love the way that you experimented with envisioning the owl as both a kind, older woman in a shawl, and, later, based on the forms of the head, an astronaut! An astronaut owl is an amazing, wonderful idea! Let your mind wander and follow these paths to help you create. My brain rarely works in a straight line, and it bounces from one connection to another just like yours. This is a normal part of creativity, and it sounds like you've got the process down well! Quantity leads to quality - the more ideas you pump out, the more likely you'll hit on a winner, like the astronaut owl or the woman in the shawl. Then, you can pick which idea you like best to develop as a drawing. Keep it up!
Also, don't worry about being messy, as long it doesn't mix you up and confuse you from identifying the shapes and forms of the characters. Think of it like going to eat at your favorite restaurant. Let's say you're getting some pizza, and it comes out looking scrumptious! However, you don't see all the shredded cheese on the floor of the kitchen, the tomato sauce all over the cook's apron, and the dough dust coating everything in sight! You are cooking up a drawing, so messes are bound to happen along the way as you explore new ideas, shapes, and lines. You can always clean it up later by putting another paper over the first and cleaning up the lines. Having a light box really helps with this technique if you're working traditionally. That way, you can make your drawing polished and clean and ready to serve the viewer!
I can also see you have taken a first, giant leap as an artist! I think you have the right idea to learn more about the bird's anatomy to help you grow, and there are plenty of great books that can help. One I like is David Sibley's Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America. This volume is entirely illustrated by the author, so it give you plenty of accurate reference material, including some generalized examples of bird anatomy in the first few pages.
However, before diving into the anatomy, my recommendation is to work on training your brain to understand 3D forms and perspective. It's a serious challenge I have been wrestling with myself for years now, but this foundation in perspective basics is an important milestone before attempting anatomy. I know spheres and cones and cylinders and boxes can be boring, but they are the foundation for even greater things to come! One way to study is to practice from actual boxes around your home, or you can use a 3D program and spin the forms around to different angles. Pay attention to how the angles of the box change from different viewpoints as you draw, and draw hundreds of them or more. This practice is something that can never be done enough, even as you become more experienced as an artist.
Unfortunately, I have found these exercises are not enough, especially if you are interested laying out complex, believable scenes involving organic characters like people and animals in perspective, but they are a great start. Feed that imagination with forms, and who knows how far into the stars you'll reach!
@mx2
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18d
Asked for help
After watching the first demo, I attempted level 2! Although I don't usually have issues with proportions (and for level 1, I didn't use any guidelines), I don't know why it didn't occur to me to try and block out the shapes in order to map everything out. The demo reminded me that I could do that and I think it really helped me get through these.
I actually found these ones easier than drawing the boots, though the spinal column of Mr. Skeleton gave me issues, and I decided ultimately to not add the nerves and vessels since I didn't think they added much to the actual structure and were more so details that complicated the drawing. I also did not end up drawing the discs between each vertebrae — I attempted at first, but found that all the lines drew attention away from the face of the skull which is where I wanted the focal point to be. I'd love to hear feedback on these decisions I made though!
For the camel—how fun! I loved all the shapes and never knew that camel legs were so thin and knobby-looking! I made some stylistic decisions to add a bit of fur (I thought that doing so helped communicate the texture of the camel without overdoing it) and add the impression of its eyelashes (since I thought that was what I was seeing in its eyes, though I may have been incorrect).
Had a lot more confidence in my lines this time around. I really attempted to try and get things in one stroke or break things up if I didn't think I could make it in one stroke. I think the result is quite clean! Using a brush with harder edges compared to my last attempt with softer edges weirdly helped me feel more satisfied with my lines.
@mx2
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21d
Asked for help
Harder than it seems! I did this exercise digitally - going to watch the demo now.
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21d
Simplifying is way more challenging than it seems. but you nailed it. Really nice work, the laces look great. You made an interesting choice to add the texture of the zipper on the right boot. It's not a wrong choice at all, but consider that the visual interest of the curves makes that area a focal point where in the photo to may be one of the last details that we notice. Just an observation, these are great drawings!
@mx2
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25d
Asked for help
I'll be honest and say that it's a bit discouraging to see the huge disparity in my line control when it comes to traditional vs. digital (with a pen tablet, no screen)... especially since I'm predominantly a digital artist, but I've come to rely too much on the undo tool and cleaning up my lines. I'll have to work on this.
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19d
Don't worry, I think it's a pretty common situation when it comes to comparing traditional to digital. Just keep practicing and it'll definitely become much easier with time!
@mx2
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28d
My second attempt at the portrait project after watching the demo—this time with a different reference. I really took my time with this one, but man, I struggled a lot with the proportions and shape of the head. In the demo video, Proko talks about how making corrections (even if it's a huge and inconvenient correction) is just a part of the process, and wow, this exercise pushed my endurance. Doing the initial contour took me about 2 hours, and the actual shading took me about 3-4. I'll watch the critique video tomorrow and want to do one more portrait, but I'll give myself a day's break from focused art study so as to not burn out.
I feel like my simplification of the shapes unfortunately made the woman's face lose a lot of its softness. I did like adding the little strands of hair though and think it looks pretty.
I found it a challenge to pick out the values for the light/dark half-tones and the core shadow. I think next time, doing what Proko does and doing a thumbnail beforehand will help me better map out my values so I don't get lost during the shading.
Finally, I wasn't sure how exactly to capture her expression... there's a bit of an elegant aloofness to the reference image whereas I get a more neutral vibe from my drawing. I'd love to hear suggestions about how to improve the expression so as to better communicate the mood!
Alliya Tawzer
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29d
Asked for help
My first attempt I tried to make smooth but for second I tried to do more edges like he said I think second is better but yeah you guys can judge
I agree that your second attempt is better. Awesome improvement in your edge quality between your first and second attempts! If you'd like to further improve your edge quality, I'd avoid the usage of outlines (see the outline separation between your darker and lighter half-tones). In terms of values, I'd spend more time trying to make the values more clearly distinct from each other. Great job! (Also, cute drawings in the top corner, haha.)
Jason Dahlke
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29d
Asked for help
I, too, now am in the drawing business. Will need a few redraws to get a better grasp on the half tones, but feels like posting the first attempt is valuable? First drawing course I've ever taken, looking forward to pinpointing weaknesses and getting better. Cheers everyone.
Great first attempt! I'd recommend another attempt after watching Proko's demo, and then another attempt after watching his critique (it's a long video, but seriously insightful). I would love to see how you improve!
Just remember three things for this exercise:
1. Use 5 values - I believe you only used 4 in your drawing and are missing the lighter half-tone.
2. Avoid outlines. One of the things being practiced here is the ability to keep your edges sharp and clear without the usage of an outline.
3. For this specific exercise, when simplifying the shape, avoid curves and use straight lines.
@ree_m
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29d
Asked for help
Hello everyone! First assignment completed. Open to criticism. Thanks in advance ❤️
Great job keeping values distinct from each other (something I noticed many people struggled with, myself included)! As for improvement, I'd encourage you to slow down and spend more time with the shading, aiming to keep it even, clean, and without too much white spaces between lines. Also, remember to only use straight lines when simplifying the shape in this exercise—avoid curves!
@mx2
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1mo
Asked for help
Moved on from pears and attempted a face for the first time! I haven't yet watched the demo/critique, but I think I didn't do too too bad. Struggled with knowing how much detail to put/give up, especially with the hair and eyes. I'll watch the demo and critique tomorrow and apply what I learned to a new reference image.
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30d
Wow! This is really strong work.
@if_room
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1mo
Asked for help
Welp, we all start somewhere. Wasn't particularly happy with my first attempt so I watched the demo and the critiques, grabbed a different reference (so I didn't copy), and had another go.
A little more pleased with the result this time, however it's still scrappy, and some of the construction is off. I made myself slow down a lot, but I think I need to gooooo slooooower.
Struggled with getting a consistent tone in the lights without having there be gaps between the lines or the lights becoming too dark. Need to work on that.
Proportions vastly improved! I think slowing down also made your shading look so much more clean.
