Figure Drawing with Cakemikz (NSFW) (Week 1)

rts

Alright you pack of savages. This thread is going to be about drawing the figure, and nothing but. Each week we will have new reference, and each week you will need to do a figure drawing based on that reference. I will then berate your drawing and offer either little to no helpful information, or information that is way above your head just to make you feel small.

But first, a few ground rules.

1. Traditional mediums only please thanks. That means graphite or charcoal. This isn't because I hate digital but because this will better enable me to fully understand how you are approaching your drawing.

2. With your submission you must also provide at least one possible piece of reference for the next weeks exercise. This piece of reference must not be porn, even the porn that the CA.org forums seem to think is reference...and it also must not be from characterdesigns.com I already know about this site...so suggestions coming from here don't really help. Fair? Too bad. Also, no pictures of yourself please thanks.

3. I am amazing.


I would also like you each to list whatever reference books, or anatomy books that might have good photo reference that you currently possess so if everyone or nearly everyone has a book we can work from it. For example, here is my list:

Virtual Pose 2
Virtual Pose 3
Virtual Pose Duo
Athlete - Howard Schatz
Atlas of Human Anatomy for the Artist - Stephen Rogers Peck
The Nude Figure - Mark Edward Smith
The Figure in Motion - Thomas Easley
Anatomy for the Artist - Sarah Simblet
Passion & Line - Howard Schatz
The Human Form in Action and Repose - Phil Brodatz

Alright, so here is our first piece of reference. I got it from the website I told you that you couldn't get reference from...deal with it. I don't think it's a particularly great piece of reference but the internet actually seems to be a crap place to get tasteful nude reference. It's a little blurry but other than that it is OK.

For this first week I want to get a feel for where everyone is at so go ahead an approach the drawing in whatever manner you feel most comfortable provided it is in a traditional medium. I would say you probably want at least an 8x10 drawing though. The current plan is to have a new one go up every Friday so try to get your drawing up as early as possible so we can get the previous week's comments and critiques out of the way before the new one starts.

Oh yes, and the reference you select does not necessarily have to be nude. But we do want to see more than less of the figure for the purposes of this thread.

Alright lets get to it.


This week's submissions and critiques:

AgentFlit

Bombardier

DeadlyDorito

Deelock

EarthwormAdam

Exit

Food

FourSquareMan

FoxFanfare

Iruka

KenDeathWalker

Leggraphics

Lyrium

ManonvonSuperock

Mes3

Mindsack

Mully

RandomAction

SurrealityCheck

Tam

Nappuccino

This thread is relevant to my interests.

lyrium

The trouble you were having finding a reference makes it intimidating to try to find one to suggest. I obviously don't have anything drawn yet for this week's, but would a reference like this be acceptable?

rts

That is actually pretty good reference though I would prefer full figures. I realize that finding reference is a problem, thats why I am having everyone try in hopes at least one person comes up with something good. I am hoping quite a few of us will have or be willing to pick up a book that we can work from. That or I come up with some other solution in the future.

Nappuccino

Does this mean that buying a book will likely be required for this tread?

(or atleast, owning the book in question)

rts

Not at the moment, and probably not ever hopefully.

Nappuccino

Thank god.

Tam

This thread is stupid and you should feel bad.

Alternatively: This is pretty cool. I will try to do a rendering without killing a lot of people.

Also, is it just me, or is the ref just a tad blurry?

rts

cakemikz wrote: »

Alright, so here is our first piece of reference. I got it from the website I told you that you couldn't get reference from...deal with it. I don't think it's a particularly great piece of reference but the internet actually seems to be a crap place to get tasteful nude reference. It's a little blurry but other than that it is OK.

D-Robe

IT IS OKAY.

Tam

You know I don't read past the first sentence.

also, I don't know how many finished entries you're going to get in a week.

Kendeathwalker

Looks like I get to be the first to participate in the Cakemikz atelier

you didnt specify what drawing approach.. and I had glen vilppu's class today. Definetly went more for anatomy and form than shape..
and I just noticed I chopped part of her skull off up top.

Tam

damn

That's great for one hour

deadlydorito

You guys have OP drawing skillz.
anyways heres my progress so far

Bear in mind this is my first scan so if something is wrong tell me plz, also tell me anything to improve.

Um, i realize its not very finished but it took me forty minutes and thats the best i can do without copying someone elses work, so sorry im crappier than yall. BTW how skilled do you have to be to go to art school?

I dont know how to post spoilers btw so when i figure it out ill give my own reference.

surrealitycheck

I shall do a picture, however mr cake might I suggest the following (OH GOD ITS DEVIANTART OH GOD ETC):

http://mjranum-stock.deviantart.com/gallery/#classical-nudes

There are some pretty decent ones in there, and there's a LOT of them. Also, bananas.

Cristoval

This is a thread I can get behind!

It will give me a reason to spruce up my hand drawn art which my degree in digital art has left ravaged and ruined.

NakedZergling

Tasteful NUDES can be found at www.photo.net go to the gallery and set the filter to nudes.

http://photo.net/gallery/photocritique/filter
i believe that should be a direct link to nudie pics

rts

Thank you guys for the suggestions, those are both good resources.

KDW and DeadlyDorito nice work, awesome to see people already submitting. I will get some critiques up for you guys sometime tomorrow probably.

surrealitycheck

I foolishly decided to do this with a 0.3mm mechanical, and then my camera phone raped it while simultaneously making stroke marks very obviously.

AND THE SUN WAS IN MY EYES ALSO

srsizzy

I want to do this but I will warn that I have no scanner and will have to use photos.

also, check out xxxlolnudephotoz.com for some good references.

NightDragon

I also would like to know if there's any technique/emphasis you'd prefer, Cake. I'd like to work on getting the subtleties down on the rendering part (while also getting the anatomy correct, of course :P) but I tend to think that rendering subtleties is one thing that will really improve my drawings. Also, any time limits? Time ranges?

Or is this just kinda, "draw however you'd like, take however long you'd like" self-direction?

Loomdun

bewp

earthwormadam

Did a quick 15 min sketch wow I suck. The proportions are really bad and off. Didn't purposefully not draw the feet, I just ran out of paper. But for the record I can't draw feet.



Me drawing from life is a constant battle inside my brain over real versus cartoon, and you can see which side usually wins.

Tam

Tam wrote: »

You know I don't read past the first sentence.

also, I don't know how many finished entries you're going to get in a week.

Well I stand very corrected indeed. This definitely isn't the trend for most assignment/challenge threads.

DeeLock

I dunno if you're tired of deiantart galleries but I really like this guy's photos:

http://gentlemansclubstock.deviantart.com/gallery/

edit: Photobucket deleted my image...uploaded it again but i'm not sure how long it'll stay there.

Loomdun

you people are approaching shading wayyyy to fast and not looking at the figure enough

Kendeathwalker

Loomdun wrote: »

you people are approaching shading wayyyy to fast and not looking at the figure enough

You shouldnt make broad and ambiguous statements like that with out specific validation. It helps no one.

Loomdun

Being ambiguous is what I do best, I thinkkkk i'll just stare and doodle rather then comment

rts

Awesome work guys, I will get critiques out for all of them tomorrow (today a buddy of mine is in town).

NightDragon wrote: »

I also would like to know if there's any technique/emphasis you'd prefer, Cake. I'd like to work on getting the subtleties down on the rendering part (while also getting the anatomy correct, of course :P) but I tend to think that rendering subtleties is one thing that will really improve my drawings. Also, any time limits? Time ranges?

Or is this just kinda, "draw however you'd like, take however long you'd like" self-direction?

Just this first week I was planning on not giving you guys much direction. I wanted to see how everyone approaches the figure to start with and I felt this was the best way to do that. You know, I will probably spend about 3-5 hours on mine when I do it (likely sometime tomorrow). I will also shoot photos of mine as I do it step by step so you can see. I will also try to write down what I am thinking in each phase as I approach it.

As for helping you specifically with rendering issues we can definitely do that. Based on your cast drawing and the little girl in your signature though (which are amazingly rendered) I would say that your issues with the figure are more observationally based. Subtlety comes mostly from a slow build up of tone, and I think if you really want to work on rendering then it might be best for you to work with a .5 mechanical pencil.

Next week we will try some more specific exercises. I will do a sample before I post the reference as well so you can see what I am talking about (I will do my sample with a different piece of reference though). I am really excited to see that so many people are participating, I think this can be a great thing for this community.

earthwormadam

three cheers for cake

NightDragon

Cool beans, duder!

cakemikz wrote: »

As for helping you specifically with rendering issues we can definitely do that. Based on your cast drawing and the little girl in your signature though (which are amazingly rendered) I would say that your issues with the figure are more observationally based. Subtlety comes mostly from a slow build up of tone, and I think if you really want to work on rendering then it might be best for you to work with a .5 mechanical pencil.

Well, that works just fine for me - that's my medium of choice, anyway! You can get such a great range with just a single .5 HB lead. I think both of the pieces you mentioned 1-3 years old by now, so hopefully my observational skills are a bit improved. I'll keep that in mind, though. I always try to get everything down as accurately as possible, so I'm guessing I mainly just need more practice. We shall see.

I've got a really great picture to suggest for next week's session, too.

Food

Hey, this is a good idea. I will participate.

Loomdun

I wonder if we could somehow get some of the photographers to help us somehow, except I don't think it would involve nudity though so nevermind

Shizumaru

Cool thread cake.. maybe, just maybe, I'll participate.. I'm having a hard time, finding time(oh the pun) these days..

Asamof the Horrible

i'll probably have one in by sunday.

ManonvonSuperock

I'll be participating as well.

Lord knows it's been long enough since I've had a figure drawing course. My last painting course had a model, but it was more composing with figural elements than it was representing the figure.

Kendeathwalker

NightDragon wrote: »

I also would like to know if there's any technique/emphasis you'd prefer, Cake. I'd like to work on getting the subtleties down on the rendering part (while also getting the anatomy correct, of course :P) but I tend to think that rendering subtleties is one thing that will really improve my drawings. Also, any time limits? Time ranges?

Or is this just kinda, "draw however you'd like, take however long you'd like" self-direction?

I feel i might be in your same boat. Ive got no trouble seeing value relationships(well its the least of my worries) but before attending laafa I wasnt happy with my actual figure drawing. So id say you should focus more on .. anatomy and form..(turning the figure into simple shapes and constuction.. then take the constuction further with anatomical study) ... Doing it is some how excuricatingly boring and exciting at the same time. Ill shut up now as this is cakes party.

rts

If you have something to contribute go for it, I don't think of myself so highly that nobody else could help.

DeeLock

cakemikz wrote: »

If you have something to contribute go for it, I don't think of myself so highly that nobody else could help.

Lies!

Nappuccino

I got home late tonight and then l4d beckoned my presence, but I should have mine up by tomorrow assuming I don't find it to be utter shit and refuse to post it for fear my artistic rape will ensue.

foursquareman

Help me. I haven't drawn since High School.

Love this thread though.