Alex's Digital Sketchbook - Art School (Term 2)

[chomper2010]

Hi everyone, I'm Alex. I'm an aspiring illustrator and developer. I've always been interested in art since I was little and have always loved drawing. I went to college for traditional art, but due to some personal issues and just not knowing what I wanted, I ended up dropping out and pursuing software development and graphic design.

Although I am grateful for graphic design and do enjoy it, I've felt a yearning for years that my true passion is in Digital Art and illustration. Thus, over the past couple of years I have really tried to start moving towards this path so I can finally create the things that I've always dreamed of such as video games, comic books, and animations.

Full disclosure I started term 1 before and had been doing the year long drawing challenge, but with the weekly schedules being introduced and just reflecting on my current progress, I thought that following these schedules and going back to Term 1 would hopefully allow me to get a better grasp on my fundamentals. I'm nervous, but excited. Been a while since I've put myself back in this situation. But that's my story, so thank you to everyone who stops by to look at my Sketchbook here. I want this to be the last time I restart this journey and I hope this assists in keeping me consistent.

Thank you everyone and Hopefully more to come soon!

[chomper2010]

Here is my progress on the Daily Work for Week 1 thus far. I've also been working through some Draw a Box work as well simply because I thought that it would help with some pen control and fundamentals. The Draw a Box work digitally is not great, but I'm starting to get the use of the Shoulder down and today, I was able to figure out a set up that works a bit better for me while drawing on the tablet so I'll take those small victories for now.

Daily Pen Control - 3-22-2023

Daily Pen Control 3-23-2023

Daily Pen Control 3-24-2023 + Draw A Box Lessons

Image Adjustment Assignment 3-24-2023

This was harder than it seemed. I know my lower images are not where they need to be. I'm thinking of trying this one again, especially with the final image. I just got to a point where any corrections I was making were either way over corrected or just going back and forth with what I already had. Any suggestions for this would be great!

Daily Pen Control 03-25-2023 + Draw A Box

Daily Pen Control and Draw A Box 03-26-2023

I've been trying to work with a much smaller brush size than what I was used to. I've been using a 3px for all of the assignments thus far, prior to that I was around 8px - 10px. I'm curious to know what is considered too big of a brush and where everyone else is usually running? I know I have to get used to using the smaller brush anyways, but would be interested to hear others opinions on brush sizes, cause it is difficult haha.

Anyways, thank you all for looking and if you have any feedback for me, I'd be happy to hear it. I know there's not much at the moment, but any tips or pointers for Term 1 and fundamentals I would also be happy to hear.

[mitsuki-youko]

welcome to the forums!!

I'm curious to know what is considered too big of a brush and where everyone else is usually running?

That depends on the size of my canvas and how thin i want my lines to be so it kind of varies

[chomper2010]

Thank you! And that makes sense, I didn't actually consider the canvas size when it came to brushes. Good to know!

[snakker]

Hey there, Snakker here, welcome aboard!

Looking good so far, these are good exercises. I agree with Mitsuki, no set brush size as standard, but thinner is probably better for practice on accuracy as smaller mistakes are more visible, thicker brushes are easier to work with

I notice a bit of trouble keeping horizontals, ofcourse you can help yourself with the software for perfect lines, horizontals etc, if your aim is to improve free hand though, and you are working from the shoulder, I find it helps finding a sweetspot angle. Once you are good at one angle, with one line, you can use that one for all your lines - you would only have to rotate canvas and keep doing the same motion. But then, if you want to challenge yourself you can also try getting good at all angles

cheers, and keep at it!

[chomper2010]

Hey Snakker, thanks! Yea that was my thought too. Want to focus on accuracy, I guess I was just wanting to be sure I’m not making things too hard on myself too fast ya know?

And yea, I only want to do free hand, feel like if I start to rely on the shift key that it’ll get me into bad habits and won’t help me much. I do rotate the canvas with the draw a box ones, still working on finding the sweet spot though haha.

With the Term 1 Daily Pen Control, I was trying to achieve it from the vertical angle itself, as Marc was in the tutorial. I know I’d probably have a better time getting clean lines from a rotated angle, but trying to work on some dexterity to see if I can master these from that angle.

Thank you for all the suggestions and for easing my mind on the brush sizes. I appreciate it all more than you know!

[chomper2010]

First day of working with a better setup, I think its made a difference. Noticed my lines are getting closer in my ellipses during my warm up and my lines seem steadier than they were. Obviously still a lot of practice is needed, but again taking the small victories where I can.

03-27-2023 Daily Pen Control - Warm Up- Draw A Box + Sketch

Did a sketch with limited references of "Maliketh" from Elden Ring. Obviously not super accurate but just wanted to do something kind of fun with all of the course work I've been doing. Just really like his design and was inspired this morning. First time I've attempted any flowing hair or smoke/fire. Still lots of work to do for improvement but oh well it was fun.

Thanks for looking, and again any feedback, tips, etc are appreciated!

[matthewwemes]

Very cool sketch and the hair looks very good for a first attempt. Keep up the good work!

[chomper2010]

Thanks! I'll do my best haha

[mitsuki-youko]

ooooh i rly like ur linework! and that is a very nice sketch! it looks pretty professional actually imo

[chomper2010]

Thanks! I’ve been really working at my lines this week so happy it seems to be paying off haha. And you’re being too kind, but thank you I really appreciate it. It means a lot!

[snakker]

Woah! That Maliketh is awesome!

Elden ring ftw

[chomper2010]

Had higher hopes for this evening's drawing session, but got home from work and had a horrible headache. Took something for it and watched through the Nude Figure Drawing lecture and took notes, hoping that it would subside by the end of that. That didn't pan out so I just pushed through my warm up, daily pen control, and the daily 5 minute observation. Was hard to stay focused and it shows pretty bad, especially when I had to subdivide with no lines touching. Think that's probably the worst outing I've had with the exercise thus far.

Kind of a disappointing way to end off my first full week of doing these exercises, but oh well. Made it through a whole week of consistent practice so here's to week 2 and the continuation of my journey!

Daily Pen Control and Warm Up 03-28-2023

Didn't realize how bad that green would show up on here, sorry about that. Not entirely sure how I got it switched to that color in the first place and I didn't really care in the moment. Will ensure that I don't get it swapped to that color again in the future and stick to my reds and oranges.

Thank you all for the kind words and reactions, means a lot! I apologize if I haven't made it to your pages yet, was hoping to do that tonight, but I'm gonna have to call it and get some sleep. Just wanted to make sure I did everything as usual to try to cement this as a habit.

[mitsuki-youko]

ooooh i like how crisp these are!

[snakker]

Nice ellipses there
Keep at it, just don’t burnout

Cheers

[chomper2010]

Well onto week 2. Not the best work, but gotta start somewhere. Any feedback or tips you guys have for cylinders and my basic skeleton would be great. Still trying to figure out which set up works best for me. Need to test the squares and the mix of squares and ovals tomorrow.
Anyways, here's what I got for the day.

03-29-2023

A lot to figure out with these, like I said, any tips you guys have for how you tackle these would be much appreciated. I got some to look okay, but just not where I want them yet.

Tomorrow I'm also going to use different colors to identify the limbs and the line of Action, just to kind of keep all the parts separate. Might drop the opacity of the reference a bit more too, depending on how it shows up for you guys.

This was trickier than I thought it would be and felt like I was missing a lot during it. I don't know, I'm gonna rewatch that section tomorrow and then give it another go.

Thanks for looking as always, its appreciated.

[snakker]

looking good, I recommend working with or changing the color of the lines on the figures as I find it hard to see the contrast to be able to give better critique (that or I may be color blind XD)

cheers!

[chomper2010]

Yea, sorry about that, a misstep on my part.

I am definitely going to be changing the colors and using multiples to distinguish between the masses, line of action, joints and limbs to make it easier to see. Will also play round with the opacity of the reference image so its easier to critique.

Thanks for the feedback though, I appreciate it

[chomper2010]

Yesterday got away from me, had two meetings that I had to attend and the last one ran way over so I wasn't able to get home until late. So I didn't post yesterday, but did do most of the assignments (forgot to do the page of cylinders, woops). So Gonna post two days worth of stuff.

03/30/2023

Got my butt kicked yesterday, just couldn't get things to go right for me. Was tired and I could feel it. Got through it though.

03/31/2023

I get really in my head with cylinders and I think I'm self sabotaging. It's like I want them to be perfect but my skill isn't there yet so my mind just tries to overcorrect and then they end up worse. Will work on that, as these are a real struggle for me so far.

Hopefully the different colors and lowering the opacity of the reference more helps you all see the skeletons better. Let me know, if not I'll try something else with it. Felt better tonight that last night, just was able to kind of let myself be loose and I think I did alright with it. I like the different colors, helps me to distinguish where I'm going and I can be more critical of what I need to do better.

I am curious to see if I got the angle on some of the hips correct. I was standing up to try and see where the weight was going on my own body when I was trying to replicate the poses so hopefully they turned out.

Thanks for looking everyone, tomorrow the plan is to get my daily work done, do one of the photoshop assignments, and check out everyone else's new work.

[snakker]

These are looking great!