The mask is the best. I feel like the king of the red lions could be stronger Hes got pretty hard angles in all his construction
Even if you went for a more flattened profile view, I think it would look stronger with that more dramatic C shape in is neck.
I'm still internally debating whether I should add more features to the background (ruins, gravestones, floating ribbon bits), or if I should leave it clean so that the maze reads better.
Tried to design a TF2 print today, but it didn't work out. Here's a WIP
Also a couple of master studies...
And my first ever environment from imagination (about 1 hour). It's pretty bad, but I'm planning on getting a lot better over the next year, and I wanted to have something to gauge my progress against.
Short of doing the 3D model, I'd suggest duplicating the line art into a handful of small thumbnails. Get like 6 copies of these all arranged on a canvas, amass some reference of how you may approximate the light may look, and just quickly play around trying different ways to acquire the right mood.
Also a good idea. I'm a bit wary of using 3D as a crutch without actually learning the theory behind it, plus thumbnails would probably be a lot faster to set up. Maybe I could try painting what I think is correct and then use a 3D model to check.
Anyway I've been doing some master studies in the meantime.
I planned to add colour to this first one, but compared to the original the values are way too light, so I'll need to adjust that.
I did bought the photoshop rendering tutorial from Ctrl Paint and did it. The actual lineart is supplied, but all the painting is done by me.
I learned a heap from this. Before my approach was to basically push pixels around until eeeeeeh it kind of looks right. Now I'm looking at objects around me and thinking about how I can break down the layers to make painting a lot easier.
A copy of one of Scott Robertson's drawings from his youtube channel. I'm trying to figure out what qualities my linework is missing, and also how to replicate markers and pens and brushes better in photoshop.
They are the devil. You're right, I got frustrated trying to construct them and fudged it, but I haven't got enough perspective sense to feel when something's not right.
Drawing ellipses freehand is a pain in the ass. It's why big fancy sets of ellipse templates exist and why people sometimes use setups involving pins and string to help draw them.
Man, thanks again Chico! I've been trying to avoid using photoshop features too much, so that force myself to actually understand perspective theory, and so I'm not obsessing about being perfectly accurate, but I guess in this instance it couldn't hurt.
Updates have slowed down because I've started studying at an atelier in the city full time! I haven't made anything worth showing off yet, but hopefully I'll have some stuff to post soon.
I'm going through the exercises posted on /r/ArtFundamentals. Lesson 1 isn't that interesting so I'll just post a sample, and you guys can check out the full album here.
Interesting Reddit, I'm going to have to look through it more thoroughly but it looks like the exercises are balanced enough. I used to have to do these block exercises in highschool.
Yeah it's a great resource. A lot of the exercises seem to correspond to the dynamic sketching and constructive anatomy classes on CGMA. You don't get the tutoring or the videos, but just having the exercises is a pretty good alternative.
I'm trying to work through all of the classes, but I'm bogged down with freelance work at the moment. I'll post some more (hopefully) on the weekend.
It's funny how much I hated doing drawing exercises involving boxes and basic shapes in shadows in years past. Since I've started pushing myself back into art and getting more serious about it, reading critiques, studying other people's work, I've gained a certain appreciation for what I take granted as basic exercises. I need to start doing stuff like this more often for myself.
I've also never heard of Ctrl Paint and need to get on that shit. Do you have any more work to share about it, or some review on the courses?
Ctrl Paint is mostly focused on digital painting, so it's only going to be helpful if that's what you're interested in. Definitely check out the free videos first to see if his teaching style clicks with you. The paid for videos are similar, but longer, more detailed, and focused on more specific topics. They won't give you a full artistic education, but they're excellent exercises if you just need some direction, or to build confidence. I learned a lot from the first basic photoshop rendering videos, but it is oriented more towards beginners.
And man, they're 10 bucks each. Just buy one and see if you like it!
Posts
Thanks guys! These are a lot of fun to work on, but I'm still really slow. Here's part 2:
EDIT: Seems a bit small, I'll fix it later.
INSTAGRAM
Here's the third!
There might be a fourth coming, not sure yet.
Even if you went for a more flattened profile view, I think it would look stronger with that more dramatic C shape in is neck.
I was trying to hint at those classic Sailor Jerry ship tattoos...
But I don't think I pushed the perspective far enough.
WIP
I'm still internally debating whether I should add more features to the background (ruins, gravestones, floating ribbon bits), or if I should leave it clean so that the maze reads better.
Wonderful stuff!
Also a couple of master studies...
And my first ever environment from imagination (about 1 hour). It's pretty bad, but I'm planning on getting a lot better over the next year, and I wanted to have something to gauge my progress against.
Uncanny Magazine!
The Mad Writers Union
Have you tried Chico's technique of a blender mockup of the main elements?
Anyway I've been doing some master studies in the meantime.
I planned to add colour to this first one, but compared to the original the values are way too light, so I'll need to adjust that.
Reference
I also started this one thinking that it looked relatively simple. I came away three hours later wondering how the hell anyone paints clouds ever.
Reference
I learned a heap from this. Before my approach was to basically push pixels around until eeeeeeh it kind of looks right. Now I'm looking at objects around me and thinking about how I can break down the layers to make painting a lot easier.
Planning out my next environment drawing, but I'm struggling with the lighting.
I'm slowly marching onwards on my goal to become a concept artist. Here's a... hat?
Here's what I'm working on now. It started as a perspective exercise, and kinda got out of control.
Oh, my yes.
Look at that perspective work.
Mmmm-hmmm!
Updates have slowed down because I've started studying at an atelier in the city full time! I haven't made anything worth showing off yet, but hopefully I'll have some stuff to post soon.
Are you planning to do all the lessons?
I'm trying to work through all of the classes, but I'm bogged down with freelance work at the moment. I'll post some more (hopefully) on the weekend.
A few sample pages...
And here's the full album
It's funny how much I hated doing drawing exercises involving boxes and basic shapes in shadows in years past. Since I've started pushing myself back into art and getting more serious about it, reading critiques, studying other people's work, I've gained a certain appreciation for what I take granted as basic exercises. I need to start doing stuff like this more often for myself.
I've also never heard of Ctrl Paint and need to get on that shit. Do you have any more work to share about it, or some review on the courses?
Ctrl Paint is mostly focused on digital painting, so it's only going to be helpful if that's what you're interested in. Definitely check out the free videos first to see if his teaching style clicks with you. The paid for videos are similar, but longer, more detailed, and focused on more specific topics. They won't give you a full artistic education, but they're excellent exercises if you just need some direction, or to build confidence. I learned a lot from the first basic photoshop rendering videos, but it is oriented more towards beginners.
And man, they're 10 bucks each. Just buy one and see if you like it!