So this happens to me from time to time now that'm trying to sharpen up my skills again. Its early. I'm munching on some PB&J on toast, drinking some coffee and watching some pro on YouTube just nailing the demo - Like Foot-Fist-Way 'King of the Demo' nailing it - and I get pumped to paint. So I pour up another cup, run to my desk and jump right in. . . and proceed, without reference to produce a terrible sketch.
But I'm psyched, and high on caffeine, so I paint it in. It takes forever and I overwork and noodle and switch directions etc. And get to a stopping point. Bleh.
Then I come back to it with the bare minimum of not quite applicable ref and go back into it. ugh.
Usually, at this point. I get discouraged and quit. I move to something else, hide in a 3D program. But today I didn't. I did quit the painting, however I regrouped. Grabbed some solid ref, decided on a goal and thought about everything that went wrong. Then I tried again.
Much more solid sketch based on ref.
Better idea of lighting, again, referenced.
Thoughts on clothing material, hair texture, etc. And then time was up. No Sargent, but a vast improvement over the Bounty paper towel guy.
I used to draw a lot more. I'm just getting back into consistently drawing and painting. Its tough, mentally, when you're relearning or learning or something new. The temptation to quit is real. So I just want to say to everyone out there, keep at it. Stick to it. You will be better this week than you were last week and before you know it you will be killing those YouTube demos.
I'm gonna go draw another silly face and listen to Greg Manchess talk about ninja & painting.
Hope you have a great night!
4
(PS - If you don't get the 'King of the Demo' ref, check out Foot Fist Way. Danny McBride's first film. It's solid gold!)
Also - Things that I have been looking at lately:
http://muddycolors.blogspot.com/2016/08/update-8-above-timberline.html
https://www.google.com/search?q=frank+duveneck&client=safari&rls=en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiqsdHku8rUAhVX6GMKHffsAG4Q_AUICigB&biw=1419&bih=966#q=frank+duveneck&tbm=isch&tbs=isz:l&imgrc=CtILQ8ugHmvVWM: