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Progression and Feedback
1yr
Javi Lozano
Hi everyone! Here are a few illustrations that I would like to get critique, please.  First, there is a couple of studies of the illustrator Jose Garcia’s work (plus his work own illustrations for reference). I simplified a lot my versions but still I was trying to capture the essence of his style. In addition, there is an own interpretation of the character Jinx based on a digital artwork I found online. With this one I have been a little less careful with my lines, once I got the proportions close to the artwork. For reference, I attach also my first portrait (John Snow) that I did few months ago when I resumed drawing, to compare.  In general I am happy with the evolution and I am integrating a lot of the concepts I am learning here. But still I find my work messy and chaotic. I would appreciate a lot some feedback about line quality, hatching, etc, please. What can I improve and focus on the next projects? Thanks a lot in advance!!
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Javi Lozano
Asked for help
Hi everyone! I wanted to do a small update and share my latest exercises. Hopefully getting some critiques and advices as in previous occasions. First of all, I am attaching few gesture, rhythm and mannequin exercises. There are a lot of things to improve and they take more time than I wish, but also I am starting to feel confortable with these exercises and to like the practice. They are becoming part of my daily routine. Second, another study of Jose Garcia style. Very simplified, but aiming for his clean approach to illustration. I can see here how I am a bit lost when it comes to shading and hatching. Finally, my first (unfinished) attempt to digital protrait following the fantastic course of @Jon Neimeister . Again, I am struggling a bit with the digital shading process (even more than the previous one, as the piece is more complex) and it’s taking too long, reaching a point where I am a bit blocked. Bu I am determinate to finish it. I completed the courses Drawing Basics and Figure Drawing Fundamentals (they were great, thanks @Stan Prokopenko ), and I am getting ready (and excited) to start with Anatomy and Portraits soon. Thanks a lot in advance for your help and inputs :)
Javi Lozano
Asked for help
Hi everyone, These past days I have been practicing body landmarks and the mannequin structures. Personally, these have been my favourite exercises so far! @Steve Lenze I have been paying extra attention to my movements with the arm, as you suggested in previous posts. Still, I lack a lot of precision and I need to correct my lines from to time, but I believe I can see some improvements when sketching and definetely it’s cool to challenge myself. As always, I would appreciate some feedback. Thanks and I wish you a nice weekend!
Steve Lenze
Learning to draw with your whole arm takes some practice, and you will sacrifice a little control at first. As you continue to practice, you'll be throwing lines, and creating nice smooth arching gestures. These are nice by the way, I especially like the third one :)
Eddie Blake
I think your drawing of “jinx” is an improvement over the others in one area. The energy is the lines is better. In the copies of Jose Garcia’s work you are careful to copy lines as you see them but his are quick and confident even extending past the actual form like in the brow ridge. On that same drawing though it looks like you drew lines around the shadows then hatched it in. Jose’s drawings do have lines around the crosshatching, but they aren’t actually blocking in shadows from what I’m seeing. It looks like Jose has drawn in lines that suggest the shape of the skull, then he crosshatched in the shadows. which happen to be very related in this exaggerated lighting scenario.
Javi Lozano
Asked for help
Hi everyone 👋 Here is a small update and hopefully I get some useful feedback as in the previous round. Over the last days I was introduced to the concept of Gesture drawing and The Bean. And to be honest I found them both, very interesting practice, and also very tough to do properly and make the draws look good. I am struggling with a lot of aspects of the exercise, but mainly to have quality lines and being able to capture the motion. I think I focus too much in the contour and the results are quite still. I will keep practicing till I get better, but in the meantime here are my first attempts. I would appreciate some comments 🙏🙏 One more question. I am also starting to use Procreate since two weeks ago. Do you have any brush recommendation for this kind of exercise? I found the sketching brushes too thin for this purpose, but perhaps it’s just I am quite new and I need to get more practice. Thank you! 🤗 Javi
Steve Lenze
Hey Javier, What I'm seeing in your bean drawings is that you are drawing these too carefully and you are using your fingers. I suggest you loosen up and draw with your whole arm, it will help keep these from being stiff. Then when you move from the bean to the whole figure, it will have a nice gesture. Then think about how the bean informs the figure when you build your structural drawing on top. I did a sketch to show you what I mean :)
MeanMachineRex
You did a good job on the first two but you could darken the value to make them pop, however, you did a great job on Jinx, that's the value you should aim for. John Snow's anatomy can be improved to better structure his face and his hair can be simplified.
Javi Lozano
Thanks a lot for the feedback! I really appreciate it. i have one question though - what if I want to go for a lighter style? I agree that the first two could pop more, but I also like the light feeling that they have. I guess all will come down to the shading techniques (subject I haven't studied yet), right? Just wondering if there is a way to make them feel more complete and interesting without going as dark as I did with Jinx.
Steve Lenze
Hey Javier, I like your drawings, you are able to draw from reference pretty well. I know that these are mostly taken from other artists, and they are probably stylized quite a bit, but I wanted to point a couple of things out. In the 5th drawing I noticed some things that I hope will help you in the future. I know this face is stylized, but I think you should understand proper proportions so that you can create your own style from that. I did some notes and a sketch to show you what I mean, I hope you find it helpful :)
Javi Lozano
Hi Steve, this is awesome! The kind of feedback I am searching for to keep improving. For sure I will take into consideration in the next projects. Thanks a lot for taking the time to correct my drawing, really appreciate it.
Kimberly Lee-Lewis Adams
Woah! Your progress is inspiring. Keep it up @Javier Lozano !
Javi Lozano
Thank you Kimberly!
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