Lemma Soft Forums

trying to improve my art. comments and critiques appreciated!

- i'm trying to use a tablet only instead of pencil/scanning.
- right now i'm mostly focusing on light/dark and sketches for practice.

i used a reference for this pic. not great, but i think the people are recognizable (i hope).

didn't bother with the hand. focused mostly on the faces.

using reference to practice with skin shading/highlights.
and drawing shiny, shiny bewbs.

i suck at drawing hair. QQ

....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUF4wHM5biw

http://annebobroffhajal.com/2011/04/han ... shininess/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dV7-1LrxikY

http://idiotsguides.com/static/quickgui ... iques.html

http://www.scribd.com/doc/44644962/8-Art-Pencil-SHading

thanks for the links!
i don't have any formal training, so i just wing it and fudge around with things without looking for tutorials on specific topics.
i need to structure my practice, i guess.

also, i LOVE the stan lee/marvel tutorials. GREAT STUFF!!!

edit:
urk, shiny stuff isn't easy. my lines aren't straight enough. =(



edit2:
meh. all my random doodles end up like this. *facepalm*

Lol my formal "training" was 7th grade art class. The rest was mimic and online tutorials

Check out Mark Crilley's stuff for more detailed stuff on anime styled shading.

You might also want to try http://ctrlpaint.com/library/ as it covers quite a broad area and is helping me a lot.

thanks for the link! =) bookmarked and will try to go through them when i have time.

I GIVE UP!!!
I CAN'T DRAW PRETTY THINGS!!!! QQ OTL

switching back to horror mode. =P
i'm gonna use this is for 'mister average'.
(i'll finish tweaking it later to get the lighting/highlights right)

AM I KAWAII???? UGUU~!!!!

i think i need to move the cthulhu spawn's hand around a bit so i can see more of the forearm for a better pose.
crud. i knew i shoulda put it on a separate layer. QQ

----
edit:

rough sketch for a 'girl next door'-type character. - i'm having A LOT OF TROUBLE drawing pretty eyes, so i'm trying a simplified eye style until i get better at drawing.
if anybody has good tips on drawing eyes, it'd be much appreciated. coloring the eyes doesn't seem as difficult, just
getting the outlines right.

- didn't use any references, so the pose seems off - especially the arms. some of the angles and lengths maybe.
i need to use references, but it just feels like cheating and copying. maybe i need to get over that hangup. dunno.

- i don't mind her weight being shifted to her right leg. feels more dynamic and cheerful. her arms are also out so i think
that balances her out. maybe.

- her helmet, um, her hair ... yeah. gonna have to devote some time to hair study. it's temporary.
i'll fix it up after i study the hair. i was going through some of the advice given on this forum and
read some good tips on drawing hair (no disconnected lines).

- her design is pretty plain, but just wanted to sketch something to start with and improve upon.

edit2: (tl;dr urgh, it sucks. so frustrating trying to draw kawaii.)
edit3: sorry about all the ninja-editing. can't help myself.

For your ( octopus ? ) monster, I think you need to accentuate a perspective from below.

Relimount wrote:For your ( octopus ? ) monster, I think you need to accentuate a perspective from below.

ah, thank you for your advice. like a worm's eye view?

but for my story, these are humanoid Cthulhu spawn-type creatures. i made them a little bigger than human-sized, but not mammoth like Cthulhu. (hmm, just realized i better make sure that is also clear in my writing ...)

there's also another reason why i like the eye level shot ... but that has to do with the story. so it's a secret.

Yes, like a worm's eye view.
And I see, with the explanation.

Oh, I love your art! Especially the monster. Those tentacles were marvelously well drawn (for me xD). Keep it up!
Also, I like Brooke's hair. Kinda lends more to her 'girl-next-door' character.

P.S. Disclaimer: I'm not an artist, but I DO like your art! (: I'll be following this thread for updates (:

- quick sketch. hope his personality comes through.

- hmm ... i think i dislocated his right shoulder. i'll pop it back in later. QQ

- the idea about using a worm's eye view made me want to make it seem like he's looking down on you.
- triangle leaning back kinda feel.
- trying to avoid stiff poses, unless that's their personality.


edit: urk. going thru some mark crilley videos. :/ they're all kinda like, "hey, watch me draw stuff."
"i'm gonna draw an eye."
*draws an eye*
"i drew an eye. hope u enjoyed it."
why u no explain??? QQ heheh.

edit2: ooh, discussion about sparklies.
http://lemmasoft.renai.us/forums/viewto ... 46&t=21803

edit3: discussion about shading.
http://lemmasoft.renai.us/forums/viewto ... 54&t=21830

edit4: johnny sparkles. lol. for 'unreliable'.
- cleaned up, shortened upper arm, fixed shoulder, etc.
- still wip. don't like the folds in his shirt.
- going thru anatomy tutorials on DA to see what i'm doing wrong.
- hmm. need to check other stuff i'm not sure about.
- oh, yeah. his face is supposed to be blank. edit5: hand looks too small?

meh, i give up.
can't quite get what i want, but this will have to do until i level up my drawing skills.