Radar's Dump *update* New dump for the summer (thread nsfw&56k)

Radar6590

Hey, it's been a long time since I posted anything up here. Figured I'd dump some of my new stuff and see what you guys thought.









This one's traditional inks:







And a comic I did for school:

earthwormadam

Really nice subtle colors on that first one. You've also got a good sense of shape and form in your characters, but in the cover for the comic it looks like he has a little nose above his nostrils.

The comics good too but I'm not sure how I feel about not having any lines for the background. It seems like it works in a few panels, (1, 10), But not in others like 6 and 12.

AlienMastermind

General comment on composition of faces/eyes. The anime/manga conceit of big eyes, ill defined sclera is not one I like in color. The techniques used for manga with 'big eyes' (Like the Mamoru Nagano stuff, or in the MOST extreme case the diamond shaped over-wrought eyes in DBZ) were primarily for black and white publications. It seems like that kind of an influence has affected a lot of artists. I prefer to compose the eye (when I draw one, and I'm not just futzing around with cartooning) with three lines rather than four, and give the eye a three dimensional look using bold sure lines rather than omitting the scleral lines.

The eyes in the first picture are well proportioned, and effective in establishing an emotion on the face of the character. In the third drawing, the facial study, the eyes are wide, oddly shaped. Not orbs in sockets, but flat-looking, even with the shading and coloring. Now, I understand the technique here, looking at the way you draw the eyes, in that instance, it seems like you're going for the 'manga' look while not abandoning a Western aesthetic overall.

Anyway, I'm not a fan of the third picture's eyes. They seem flat, rather than stylized. There's no curve to the lids, the eyelash doesn't 'flow'. But, if I'm not mistaken, I think that was probably a shading and color study rather than a form study and an earlier representation of your skills.

(BTW, thanks on the crits over at my thread. Useful stuff. And looking at the shading/coloring here, it's clear you know your stuff. )

I like the comic. The backgrounds are simplistic for effect, I get it. I'd probably add a bit of definition to them in terms of flat color versus texture, and highlighting. (What did you use for the airport reference? The gift shop/terminal area is good looking).

Overall, I like the style you're developing with the finished comic, though you occasionally fall into the 'no-sclera' manga eyes habit. I have a feeling you've been drawing for a long time.

Radar6590

First, thanks Earthwormadam, for the compliment on my form. As for the lack of background lines, I think the panels you mentioned as "not working" (6, 12, and, I believe, as an addition, 14) aren't working because they are, to describe them "background intensive". The character is brought too much into focus when it's more natural to allow them to flow into the background. Where the character needs to specifically be brought out, the lack of outlines is helpful.

I do understand this, and, I will admit, outlines(along with more time spent on the backgrounds themselves) would greatly help the piece as a whole. Unfortunately, the natural constraints of assignment time kind of bottle necked me into simplifying everything. Not that that is an excuse for poor artwork, but more the reason it occurred in this case. You are, of course, completely correct in that the lack of outlines is iffy.

Second, AlienMastermind.

Thanks for the critique. I must say that I am a little inconsistent with eyes, and this is something I need to work on. I can see what you mean about the third image having flat sclera. You're pretty perceptive. That was a color study, and the image (drawn in pencil) was quick and for that purpose. But, like the comic backgrounds, that doesn't excuse it. It's not that old, and I really should start paying more attention to finer details like that.

As for a reference for the airport, I used none, save my memory. The comic was rather an exercise in self portraits, having been my experience. The backgrounds are referenced, in a way, from Boston's Logan International Airport, Erie's (PA) International airport, and vaguely Philadelphia's International Airport. But I didn't use photo refs.

And I guess I'd like to think I've been drawing for a long time (since I was a little kid, though, more seriously since I entered highschool.) but in the grand scheme of things it's only been about five years since I'm just finishing up my freshman year in college. But, I take it as an immense compliment that I come across as some kind of vet.

ManonvonSuperock

In reference to the last page, you generally shouldn't change the side of the action that the viewer is on unless you have a really good reason. I flipped the first and third panels in that page to demonstrate what I mean. It gives you a cleaner to read narrative.

In addition, since white-shirt was closer to us than red shirt, you might want to have him larger in the bottom frame, and I would even suggest having his left extend in front of the green circle since red-shirt's left arm goes behind it. I think it'd really integrate those panels more.

Radar6590

Definitely a strong suggestion, though I kind of like having him read from left to right. It might be more prudent to simply flip the upper left panel instead of the first and third on that page? In any case, it looks a lot better with your edit. I'm always looking for tips on better comic book layouts, so that's really helpful. Thanks.

ManonvonSuperock

Either way'd work. I would've done that one if it hadn't had the text in it.

Radar6590

Sketching out anatomy crap instead of doing homework. No refs, want people to tell me how I suck just with what I know. I know there aren't really any detailed full bodies or sick poses here, so obviously I should try that stuff, too. But here's what I got:

Mustang

I remember you now, actually I remember your style more than anything, god what was it you posted......full figure.....some proportion issues...dammit, what was it? Iruka was helping you out a bit with the colours, you added a lot of purple to one of them. Oh come on brain! Nope I can't get it.
Anyway, you've definately improved, your stuff has lost that novice edge it used to have.

Radar6590

Yeah, you have a wicked good memory. I remember you, too. I've only had two other threads here. One waaaay effin' back when (I used monotone coloring techniques. As in, didn't move towards yellows or purples based on the light sources. Pretty funny, actually.), and then the one you're thinking of is Here. That torso WAS pretty bad, and Iruka gave me tons of tips on colors. You gave me some good tips, too, I remember. Anyway, thanks for the compliment.

Radar6590

Here's a traditionally inked composition I started Thursday and topped off tonight.

Mustang

The composition really isn't working on this. It took me about 5 seconds to realise there was a guy standing there. It's kinda the thing when dealing in contrast extremes like this, if the comp isn't spot on then it's fucked from the start.

Mykonos

you definitely need to work on values and contrast. Alot of your work is lacking in depth because of the conflict between the fg and bg. Take the last one you one post, much of the dark values and heavy contrast should be kept with the fg character, while both diminish as you go farther towards the horizon. Right now, as mustang said, the composition doesn't quite work and hard its spot whats going on. Also, I think your drawing your mouths a bit too wide, especially on your profiles. In some cases there extending beyond the full width of the eyes and its kinda noticable. Other than that your doing pretty good with the challenging dynamic poses, definetely keep those up

Radar6590

Thanks for the crits, guys.

I am not extremely experienced with just pen and ink stuff, or rather, just black and white, so it's good to get compositional tips on it.

And Myk, I'll keep an eye on those mouths.

Radar6590

Playing around. Probably gonna color this up.

Radar6590

I know a lot of this has been posted in the doodle thread, but I figured I'd collect my stuff here. And breathe life into this lost thread. Then people might see that I do actually do many artz.

worstcase

I know this may seem sorta nitpicky, but all your noses look almost the same to me. They all have this snouty thing going on, and on the profile of the fairy pic, I don't know if you were going for an exaggerated look, but it ends up just looking like a bad profile.

Radar6590

For the "fairy thing", I was going for an exaggerated look. Trying to make it look not human, with a longer face than would be normal. Perhaps not exactly what I wanted, but it was also rushed for a school project.

As for other noses, you're absolutely right. I do need to study up on them. Thanks for the crit. Every nitpick helps.

Mustang

What happened to that awesome woman thing you were doing? You should finish that.

Radar6590

It's still WIP...

Kochikens

Genital nub on the fairie dude is a bit distracting, just looks wrong when everything else is so detailed. Like the energy/movement in the second one from the bottom, very dynamic.

Radar6590

Was trying to keep it safe for the kiddies, even though it was for a college class. I understand it looks a little weird... but I wasn't sure what else to do.

And thanks! I do like it for that, too. Though I have been trying to tone down my muscles in any new sketches I've been drawing, since that is my main issue with it now. (most of which have been crap)

Kochikens

Could have had his butt facing us, or put a little loin cloth, or had his wings covering, or his leg drawn up. :0 Lots of ways to cover the ken-crotch. Just ideas for next time you're faced with nub.


Edit: Although, you could just draw his dick. I mean. It's college. It's art class. There's life drawing, with dicks.

Charis

I draw dicks all the time in college art class. Staple of art class, dicks.

Snrk... Genital nub.

I can't remember why he decided not to, though I was there when he was doing it. I think because it was easier not to draw many little dicks in the pages after this. A lot of the fairy things were silhouette and the dick was distracting in that.

How many more times can I say 'dick' in this post so Radar can't go on it anymore at work?

Dick. Dickstracting dicks.

Radar6590

Sometimes, I question why I love you so much.

Sometimes

Charis

For my riveting discussion of dicks.

Radar6590

Well, I guess I'll post all the WIP's of this so far, so as to kind of compare them (I did change elements previously worked on as I went, if subtly!)

Visti

That is some sweet rendering already. I'm viewing it on my phone, so I can't comment too indepth..

But throw some light pink on them knuckles and digits and the rendering on the hands will be beautiful.

Isolated, her left hand might be a little wonky, though.. specifically the wrist, but also where the fingers connect to the hand.

Radar6590

I already do have a lot of pinkish on the hands. Though I guess I can push it a little more.

As for the left hand, I'm not sure what you mean. Here's the ref to compare. I thought I got what was there, basically (even if I screwed up the proportions in the sketch, "lowering" the "camera")...

Reference!