Term 1 - Photoshop Practice

Not a lot of apples, but I really wanted to focus on making it look convincing.
And as you can see, I took some liberties on the stamp/heal brush assignment. XD

This assignment was by far my most favorite. I adore sci-fi fantasy scenery and I wanted to try my hand at making my own. I had a hard time figuring out the placement of the airship, but a friend of mine suggested that I shrink it down and put it closer to the castle so the center of focus was easier on the eyes. All in all, I love how this turned out.

Term 1 - Figure Drawing Practice

I'm no stranger to figure drawing, but the tips and tricks Marc shared really changed my approach on the concept especially with foreshortening.

Daily Gesture Drawing - Day 1

Daily Gesture Drawing - Day 5

Term 1 - Perspective

The fear of many (next to hands), but after doing these assignments, I feel a little more comfortable tackling this subject and I look forward to what lies ahead in mastering it.

Squares/Shapes in Perspective

Meant to show this again without the rough lines, buuuut... you know you work hard on a layer but realize too late you were on the wrong one?... Yup.

Street Perspective Studies

This is the first room I've ever done in a long while so I kept it simple. Referenced from the house kitchen.

It's supposed to be two point but it looks kind like 3 point. haha

It's so uncanny how seemingly complex doing shapes in perspective appears at first until you realize that it's all just a matter of dividing squares into smaller squares/triangles until you get the angle you need. This course never ceases to amaze me and I can't wait for what's next in Term 2!

Thanks! Happy to hear!

Term 2 - Visual Communication Study of the Elements:

The first thing that came to mind that I wanted to review first was Judith Leyster’s “The Last Drop, (The Gay Cavalier)”. It’s an interesting piece that depicts two men carelessly indulging themselves in drinking and smoking, while unaware of the presence of the skeleton (Death), who appears to be warning them that their time is almost up. Aside from the symbolism of the painting there is a lot to take in based on the eight elements.

“The Last Drop, (The Gay Cavalier)”
Leyster, Judith - Wiki.org 4/5/2023

The first thing that appears to catch attention is the standing man’s right arm/torso which is the most illuminated by the candle and guides the gaze up and down the man’s body and gradually towards the skeleton’s head or pants of the sitting man. From there it leads the view to the bottle which the drinking man is holding due to its overlapping scale, and as we look down, the highlights from the sitting man’s pants lead towards the bright red colors of the standing man, thus looping back the to the starting point. As our gaze continuously follows the loop we also catch details on the side such as the standing man’s cup, his pipe, the skeleton’s hourglass, and the skull it’s carrying. While the painting is being made by organic forms, if we were to simplify it, we can see lines that direct our vision as well as the dots that create Dots that catch our view, some more so than others.

The scale of the figures take up the entire space of the canvas, likely to cover up the baren background and maintain focus on the three characters in the foreground. While it’s a good use of space, I feel like it makes the scene a bit cramped, especially with the skeleton barely peeking out between them. Though it could have been intentional to depict the carefree perspective of the two drunken men that are completely oblivious to the presence of “death”. Out of sight, out of mind as they say.

The colors are also very murky and some areas dark, like that of a chiaroscuro scene, except for the standing man’s contrasting red jacket and pants, the blue colors of the sitting man’s pants, and the skeleton’s skulls and torso who is being lit up by the candle it holds. With that, it’s clear that Leyster wanted the standing man to be the main focus in guiding the viewer, especially when the bright colors on him show the textures and details of his clothes. In second, the skeleton is the next center of focus to clue the viewer into the narrative of the painting, while the sitting man is there to obscure it. Though because the standing man’s red attire stands out so much, it appears that it lacks some volume in terms of darker darks, compared to the sitting man, making the composition lack balance, and breaking the chiaroscuro theme.

Even so, Judith Leyster’s piece is an intriguing and ominous piece to behold that displays many elements that compose it.

What do you think? Agree or disagree? Hope your studies are going well!

Term 2 - Photoshop 2 - Logo Assignment:

Something I made based on an OC character. Also working a bit ahead for the box art project which I can't wait to put together.

Haha, yeah I had to do quite a few Art History classes, so the influences of them is definitely prevalent.

I definitely see what you mean that the colors of the hourglass is more muted and difficult to see, as well as the narrative of over indulgence.

Thanks for the input.

Term 2 - Pen Monster Assignment

Made a suspicious looking little cyclops spider.

Term 2 - Box Art Assignment

Fun little something I made with an old render of my original Character Rig, Aurora.

Thanks! It's amazing what you can do with Blender now a days.

Term 2 - Photoshop 2 Assignments:

Line Weight

Shade Practice

6 & 7 - Color Blend and Fence Brush

Thanks! I was actually pretty concerned about it, even after adjusting the strength!

Term 2: 1 - Volumes in Perspective:

I feel like I have a reasonable understanding with shading curved surfaces though I feel like I might be struggling a bit with how to shade flatter surfaces. Any advice on how to gauge it properly?

Term 2 - Nose Practice from Reference