Merick's Art Blog (Hello!)

merick 2020-03-25 12:59:24 UTC #1

Hi everyone! I've been a long time procrastinator, and I have recently left my university course to fully pursue art as a career. Ill do my best to stay consistent and engage fully with everyone!

I hope we can all grow together!

https://twitter.com/d01nk5

p.s. whilst this is amidst the Conoravirus pandemic, i wish you all safety and health.

Kindest regards, Merick.

merick 2020-03-25 13:01:54 UTC #2

Starting my post with Term 1 - Perspective!
Please let me know what you think.

I had some trouble filling the room up, i realised after a couple days I was spending a lot of time with little to show for it, so i decided to move on.

If you have any tips, Id be grateful!

Kindest regards, Merick.

Villainy101 2020-03-26 20:14:04 UTC #3

Hey man awesome and glad you decided to join all of us here on Cubebrush.
(That sounded like super official in my head and by no means am I an officiating party of anyone but myself lol)

I really like your linework, it is very clean and sterile. You mentioned having trouble filling up the room in the assignment and from what I can see I think the room needs to be more lived in. That space is very clean, like brand new type of clean. Like I cleaned my room so my parents or whomever would let me go outside kind of clean.

While I might not be in Term 1 here I have some art education and I think adding some 'trash' or throwaway items like clothes and magazines can help any space look more lively. Hope you stay a while and we can get the community talking more.

Wishing you health and regards,
Villainy.

cedricgo 2020-03-26 23:34:19 UTC #4

Something that can help if you have trouble filling up the room, is just imagining which person lives in it. What are their hobbies and personnality, what do they use the room for, etc. For example, if you decide they are a musician you can add some musical instruments, some books, music sheets or band posters on the walls.

merick 2020-03-27 12:33:58 UTC #5

Hey Villainy! Thanks so much for the encouragement, your advice is really sound, I think you're exactly right about it looking sterile! I tried adding some scenery in the background but didn't put the effort into the actual setting haha. Ill make sure to use your advice!

Thanks again!!

merick 2020-03-27 12:36:08 UTC #6

Wow I realize after reading your suggestion that had been something I completely neglected. I didnt get the room its own character. Thats really helpful thank you, Ill make sure to write that down!

merick 2020-03-27 12:53:08 UTC #7

Thought I'd post some anatomy/pose practice I was doing from imagination (mostly, grabbed an image here or there to make sure my anatomy wasnt incorrect for the most part)

Im looking forward to posting more, hope everyone is enjoying some time at home during this lockdown

Kindest regards, Merick

vardanian 2020-03-30 21:05:12 UTC #8

hey man, cool sketches! Maybe turn that pose into a full character, would be neat? : )

merick 2020-03-31 14:12:02 UTC #9

Hey! Thanks so much, I think youre right, I should start to make something a bit more substantial! Ill start working on it now :>

Villainy101 2020-03-31 16:14:55 UTC #10

This sketch from imagination shows a really good grasp of anatomy. It's also great that you pulled some reference up just to check your landmarks.

"ALWAYS USE REFERENCE" That has been drilled into my head over a decade lol. Nowadays I like to just make sure I have proportions right and all the little landmarks are in the right spots - rather than following something exactly to the letter ALL the time.

merick 2020-04-01 12:27:36 UTC #11

Im very poor with color and textures, since im do more line work than anything. So I will try my best to do more texture studies. Its really tough to find the sweet spot between detail and letting go of certain areas. Im sure thats a never ending struggle, that will just come to be less of one with time!

Today ill start some more Term work from Art School and on the side ill do my best to create my own character! Thanks everyone for the encouragement!

Kindest Regards, Merick

merick 2020-04-02 12:22:52 UTC #12

Ayy thanks so much man, and yeah seeing the anatomy without drawing it can be tough sometimes, but I defo feel so good when I dont have to think too much and the info just comes to me, although that isn't very often hehe. I appreciate the support man!

vardanian 2020-04-03 13:28:10 UTC #13

that bird is so darn cute!! As for practicing textures, I remember doing a long time ago a challenge on Swatches which was really fun! Might do it again haha xD
So try this out : ))

Villainy101 2020-04-04 00:37:56 UTC #14

This is an amazing idea and seems like a spot on excercise.

merick 2020-04-04 03:58:13 UTC #15

That is so awesome! Im definitely gonna add that to my list of to-do's! Thank you @vardanian . Youre really encouraging n_n

merick 2020-04-14 11:25:02 UTC #16

Hey Guys, trying my hardest to do some work. Uni finishes up in a couple weeks and I've decided I want to finish my year, just so I can have that peace of mind. With the corona virus, its given me an opportunity to do so. I may post less, but I'll do my best to atleast get something out every week (Edit: This didnt workout lol). I apologize if some of them are phoned in, there is a lot I have to catch up on in a short amount of time!

Just a little character sketch I did while I was thinking of Ideas,
A sort of mech/armor/golem thing haha.

Hope your'e all well and healthy,
Merick.

vardanian 2020-04-14 20:43:15 UTC #17

good on u for sticking with uni! it's not easy balancing life with art, but I'm sure it will pay off in the future : ) try doing a small sketch in ur notebook every day, that will keep the creative juices flowing

still waiting for that texture exercise ; )

merick 2020-04-15 13:47:44 UTC #18

Ayy Thank you, I think it will too, and definitely, its been challenging for sure.

And yees! I'll post do that excersise, im gonna put in on my desktop right now! 100%.

Once again thanks so much for the encouragement n_n

merick 2020-07-01 13:21:34 UTC #19

Ayyy, So its only been like 3 months

Finished Uni (Passed)
Since it was a really intense time, I decided to chill for a week, and then that kind of turned into its whole own thing haha, but slowly here and there I have been hustling.

I think mostly just working on my own perspective when it comes to my art work and creating in general, so hopefully this time off and self reflection shows some results, and if not.. It was at least fun.

@vardanian
Im really grateful for this suggestion btw! It was really difficult figuring some of it out, and just plain fun for others, for sure Ill be doing more in the future.

So many places I can improve, but I didnt want to just sit on this like its my Magnum opus or something..

Hope everyone is well.

Villainy101 2020-07-03 19:51:28 UTC #20

Congratulations on passing uni! Some time off, you definitely deserve after powering through the rest of your studies for the semester in that way. Your improvement is apparent in your work, even if you don't see it (or you do, but it is becoming apparent to yourself as baby steps.) Just keep at it! But also, take some time away from serious artistic endeavors and allow all that new art juice/knowledge marinate inside your brain. Then try something after that little period of time and see if you have improved a much more surprising amount.

I call that the level up phenomenon. What I think the intended reaction and outcome for any of those 'Level up your art/anatomy/etc' videos on youtube are. Hope that made some type of sense, hope all is well and looking forward to your next post!