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Flay's Flailings (NSFW/NSF56K)

2456712

Posts

  • Toji SuzuharaToji Suzuhara Southern CaliforniaRegistered User regular
    edited March 2011
    The figure drawings have improved pretty steadily in the last month. Especially the proportions.

    Whatever you're doing, keep doing, because it's working.

    Toji Suzuhara on
    AlphaFlag_200x40.jpg
  • FlayFlay Registered User regular
    edited March 2011
    Thanks! That's really encouraging to hear. It's difficult for me to see the difference in proportion clearly, but I do feel like I'm starting to understand three-dimensional form a bit better.

    Flay on
  • Angel_of_BaconAngel_of_Bacon Moderator mod
    edited March 2011
    Flay wrote: »
    I gave up on this one when I realised I was making things worse rather than better:

    smYKm.jpg


    This sorta depends on the quality of the paper you're drawing on/the size you drew it at/the sharpness of your pencils, but if possible I think you might want to take this sketch a bit further, because you're really starting to get some solid stuff going on with it- it really just needs some rendering time to really make it work.

    What I'd specifically look at is refining some of your edges to help the reading of form. For example, making sure that the outline of cast shadows (such as the head on to the neck/shoulders, and arm onto the body) are defined with crisp, hard edges, and taking areas where the form rolls away from the light gradually, such as on the ribcage, are defined with softer edges. Also, darkening up some of the terminators (where the shadow is the deepest, where the primary light has completely fallen away and the reflected light hasn't kicked in yet) could help the form pop a bit more.

    I took some time to do a draw-over to show what I mean (I didn't do enough work on the legs but you get the idea.) Given, this is photoshop so I had the advantage of being able to blow it up and using as tiny a brush as I wanted, and you may be limited by what you're drawing with (a soft pencil like a 2b tends to blunt more easily and pick up the rough texture of the paper more than a harder pencil does), the paper texture/quality, and the size of the picture- so what I'm getting at may be more applicable to future work than to this one specifically.

    FlayFig_1.jpg

    Zoom-in detail in case it's hard to see how I would go about this with pencil strokes (forgive the wonkiness of some of the hatching, my wacom coordination isn't all that good, but should give you some idea of how I'd about it, (presuming I was going for a look where the strokes give way to the tonality at viewing distance, rather than one where the hatching is more explicit like Greuze's work.))
    FlayFig_1_B.jpg

    Angel_of_Bacon on
  • FlayFlay Registered User regular
    edited March 2011
    Bacon continues to give the best crits. :^:

    Rendering is probably what I'm worst at, but I'll keep developing it with that in mind.


    Some more pages:

    mDWi1.jpg

    XQJ3L.jpg

    L0Gfi.jpg

    2iUMs.jpg

    p0JQe.jpg

    Flay on
  • FlayFlay Registered User regular
    edited March 2011
    Here's what I'm currently working on for university:

    diVJ5.jpg

    Nowhere near finished, but you get the idea.

    Flay on
  • FlayFlay Registered User regular
    edited March 2011
    Another something for university:

    DnVAR.jpg

    I haven't had a great deal of time for figure drawing in the past week or so, but i do have some more uni stuff I hope to post when I get around to it.

    Flay on
  • FlayFlay Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    TDEv9.jpg

    Flay on
  • FlayFlay Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    Ack this took longer than it should have:

    BsS4R.jpg

    Flay on
  • john-briner-artjohn-briner-art Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    I can see improvements in you're illustrations and I think you're doing a great job. Hope to see more from you.

    john-briner-art on
  • FlayFlay Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    I can see improvements in you're illustrations and I think you're doing a great job. Hope to see more from you.

    Thanks very much! I'll keep working to improve. :)

    I was out on a photoshoot for most of today, but I managed to get started on this:

    txmf3.jpg

    This is pretty much my first environment drawing ever so I'm covering a lot of new territory.


    EDIT: Page three ho!

    Flay on
  • FlayFlay Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    Update!

    k46QF.jpg

    I think I'll say I'm done with this. It could certainly use more refinement, but I have a lot of work I need to do before the deadline.

    Flay on
  • NappuccinoNappuccino Surveyor of Things and Stuff Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    I'm sure you've seen my comment in on this in facebook. But i thought of one other thing to add/change- the right most set of windows. They make the front of the building non-symmentrical because they extend much father than the left most windows... they too have the wrong perspective as it would be more of a downward line from right to left

    Nappuccino on
    Like to write? Want to get e-published? Give us a look-see at http://wednesdaynightwrites.com/
    Rorus Raz wrote: »
    There's also the possibility you just can't really grow a bear like other guys.

    Not even BEAR vaginas can defeat me!
    cakemikz wrote: »
    And then I rub actual cake on myself.
    Loomdun wrote: »
    thats why you have chest helmets
  • m3nacem3nace Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    I read the windows to the left as stopping about the same length from the edge as the ones to the right, seeing as if you follow edge of the building from the top and down it would look right. I think there's another building behind which color's kinda flow together with the Hudsucker building.
    If that's the case the two buildings need to be separated more in shade.

    m3nace on
  • winter_combat_knightwinter_combat_knight Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    Looks cool. very Batman TAS.
    I prefer the sense of scale in the original version rather than the update. The update looks like a 'regular' city building, but in the original, my mind kinda filled in the blanks and i imagined a massive tower overlooking a new york cityish skyline.

    winter_combat_knight on
  • FlayFlay Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    Cheers guys.

    I'll have to double check the perspective, but the windows on the left are meant to be very close to the edge of that protruding part of the building. I'll have to make that more clear, as m3nace suggested. It isn't actually another building that's behind, it's a part of the same building, mirroring that part you see in the rightmost bit of the composition.

    @WCK: I'd like to do something much more out there, but I'm meant to be responding to a script/brief which calls for something a little more conventional. Shame. :(

    Flay on
  • tynictynic PICNIC BADASS Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited April 2011
    Flay wrote: »
    Cheers guys.

    I'll have to double check the perspective, but the windows on the left are meant to be very close to the edge of that protruding part of the building. I'll have to make that more clear, as m3nace suggested. It isn't actually another building that's behind, it's a part of the same building, mirroring that part you see in the rightmost bit of the composition.

    @WCK: I'd like to do something much more out there, but I'm meant to be responding to a script/brief which calls for something a little more conventional. Shame. :(

    Initially I thought it looked mostly solid, but the line along the bottom edge of the clockface and the text seemed really warped. So I downloaded to check some perspective lines, and there do appear to be a number of more subtle issues which are adding up.


    hudsucker_lines.jpg

    Some of these lines may not be accurate, especially around the left edge of the building, since it was kind of hard to get a read on what was going where - but this might be part of the problem, ie even if the perspective there is ok, it's not reading well because of values blending or something.

    tynic on
  • FlayFlay Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    Okay, I'll do my best to fix those up.

    In the meantime, I'm trying to deal with my third magazine cover. I wanted to attempt something different, but I don't feel like this is working, at least not yet:

    hdEcu.jpg

    Any suggestions as to how I could spruce this up a little? I've got a mental block and can't think of anything. :?

    EDIT: I might ask the photo thread about how to go about colour correction, because I do a pretty crappy job of it.

    Flay on
  • NappuccinoNappuccino Surveyor of Things and Stuff Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    Maybe try making the edges of the bottom photo blur around the crisp edge of the overlayed photo? That might help make the different levels pop a bit more.

    Also, the upside down triangle just makes me thing the center image is upside down, which i don't think was your intent.

    Also maybe the two top edges of the triangle could touche the ring of the circle (or perhaps even cross over it into the square picture?

    Nappuccino on
    Like to write? Want to get e-published? Give us a look-see at http://wednesdaynightwrites.com/
    Rorus Raz wrote: »
    There's also the possibility you just can't really grow a bear like other guys.

    Not even BEAR vaginas can defeat me!
    cakemikz wrote: »
    And then I rub actual cake on myself.
    Loomdun wrote: »
    thats why you have chest helmets
  • FlayFlay Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    Hmm... I've tried a number of different layouts, including the ones you suggested. I don't think adjustments are going to fix the problem of the layout not really working as a whole; I'll try approaching the same idea from a different angle.

    Flay on
  • NappuccinoNappuccino Surveyor of Things and Stuff Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    Maybe try some pictures with very very distinct colors/ textures ? As it is now, the three center photos are very similar.

    Nappuccino on
    Like to write? Want to get e-published? Give us a look-see at http://wednesdaynightwrites.com/
    Rorus Raz wrote: »
    There's also the possibility you just can't really grow a bear like other guys.

    Not even BEAR vaginas can defeat me!
    cakemikz wrote: »
    And then I rub actual cake on myself.
    Loomdun wrote: »
    thats why you have chest helmets
  • FlayFlay Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    I tried a heap of different layouts and went on another photoshoot, and I still couldn't seem to get this one right. It feels incredibly hackneyed, and the layout just isn't working, but I don't really have much choice at this point other than to submit what I have. I hate it when this happens. :(

    h5G5v.jpg

    I did my best to make the three photos stand out from each other a bit more, not sure if I succeeded.

    Flay on
  • NappuccinoNappuccino Surveyor of Things and Stuff Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    Its more successful than the previous version i think, but i'm definiately not a fan of the triangle's placement.

    Nappuccino on
    Like to write? Want to get e-published? Give us a look-see at http://wednesdaynightwrites.com/
    Rorus Raz wrote: »
    There's also the possibility you just can't really grow a bear like other guys.

    Not even BEAR vaginas can defeat me!
    cakemikz wrote: »
    And then I rub actual cake on myself.
    Loomdun wrote: »
    thats why you have chest helmets
  • FlayFlay Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    Could you explain? I've done my best to improve it, but really only have two options for a layout (this and the one I posted above):

    w57EP.jpg

    I've gotten rid of the lines that were connecting with the triangle's corners and moved it down a little bit, and also adjusted the colours.

    Flay on
  • NappuccinoNappuccino Surveyor of Things and Stuff Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    I feel like having the triangle upright makes the image very bottom heavy and i think that if you're going to have one angle poking through the circle you should have at least two if not all.

    However, i do think the design looks much better with just 3 images instead of the 4.

    I wish I had some better abilities to mess around with the image a bit

    Nappuccino on
    Like to write? Want to get e-published? Give us a look-see at http://wednesdaynightwrites.com/
    Rorus Raz wrote: »
    There's also the possibility you just can't really grow a bear like other guys.

    Not even BEAR vaginas can defeat me!
    cakemikz wrote: »
    And then I rub actual cake on myself.
    Loomdun wrote: »
    thats why you have chest helmets
  • FlayFlay Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    I'm still doing things, here's some stuff from today:

    SBvXX.jpg

    9hT7k.jpg

    Trying to work out magazine layouts. Speaking of which, Napp, this is what the covers turned out like:

    OluB7.jpg

    Cj5sI.jpg

    giLRC.jpg

    Hopefully I addressed some of those problems you mentioned.

    Flay on
  • ParadiseParadise Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    Cool design work. I'm liking the focus on simple geometry.
    Quick note: the Hudsucker piece is nice, but it needs more of this:
    circle.gif

    Paradise on
  • NappuccinoNappuccino Surveyor of Things and Stuff Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    like the final cover- seems to have solved most of the issues i had with it in the little time frame/ assets you could use. Good work!

    Nappuccino on
    Like to write? Want to get e-published? Give us a look-see at http://wednesdaynightwrites.com/
    Rorus Raz wrote: »
    There's also the possibility you just can't really grow a bear like other guys.

    Not even BEAR vaginas can defeat me!
    cakemikz wrote: »
    And then I rub actual cake on myself.
    Loomdun wrote: »
    thats why you have chest helmets
  • FlayFlay Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    @Paradise: Thanks, I'll keep that in mind.

    @Napp: Thanks for all the advice! :)


    Workin' on this some more:

    xE3E4.jpg


    I also figured I'd try another figure drawing from imagination, half an hour time limit.
    Qu95i.jpg

    Still not great, but hopefully there's a bit of improvement.

    Flay on
  • DeeLockDeeLock Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    Love where the design is going, clear visual storytelling in an interesting way. I love the type placement in the body text and the way the arrows mimic a brain.

    The shape of the head may be a bit too ambiguous however and need to be defined a bit more to come across on the first read. I would try moving it over a bit and bringing the nose out further. A minor critique for a beautiful design.

    DeeLock on
  • FlayFlay Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    Agreed. Perhaps having some overlapping lines near the nose and ears would help make things clearer too. I don't think you'd be able to see the eyes from that angle though, which is a shame. Thanks!

    Flay on
  • ParadiseParadise Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    Flay wrote: »
    @Paradise: Thanks, I'll keep that in mind.

    :lol:

    Paradise on
  • FlayFlay Registered User regular
    edited May 2011
    A figure study:

    guDgq.jpg

    Probably around three or four hours (I'm quite slow). I've only just realised the head's too small, unfortunately.

    Reference

    Flay on
  • tapeslingertapeslinger Space Unicorn Slush Ranger Social Justice Rebel ScumRegistered User regular
    edited May 2011
    I think if you add a few more wisps of hair and angle the shadow under the chin, it might not be that noticeable. It's a really nice sketch!

    tapeslinger on
  • FlayFlay Registered User regular
    edited May 2011
    I could give that a shot, I need to bump up the contrast too I think. Thanks!

    I'm still working on this layout

    uzamD.jpg

    QxQIx.jpg

    I'm almost done with the first spread, but the second one (unfinished) just isn't working. I'm okay with the general layout of the text, but the imagery isn't that great. Critiques?

    Flay on
  • FlayFlay Registered User regular
    edited June 2011
    Uni semester is over, now I have time to do my own stuff again yaaay!

    I've been studying the anatomy of the head recently, I figured I'd test what I've learned by doing a few sketches from imagination:
    IrtfE.jpg

    Flay on
  • DirtyDirtyVagrantDirtyDirtyVagrant Registered User regular
    edited June 2011
    Your proportions are a little off. You're placing the brow (and the rest of the face) just a bit too low on the head.

    DirtyDirtyVagrant on
  • FlayFlay Registered User regular
    edited June 2011
    Ack, now I can't unsee it. Thanks for the crit!

    (Also looking at these again, the guy on the right is creeping me out.)

    Flay on
  • FlayFlay Registered User regular
    edited June 2011
    Did a couple of things for the Digixal thread in SE++, might as well post them here:

    oC2Nr.png

    lhNJz.png

    Flay on
  • tapeslingertapeslinger Space Unicorn Slush Ranger Social Justice Rebel ScumRegistered User regular
    edited June 2011
    is that a zebraccoon?

    tapeslinger on
  • FlayFlay Registered User regular
    edited June 2011
    Supposed to be digital raccoon, imitating DE?AD's style from this thread.

    Flay on
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