[jHof]

I've been going threw my "How to draw the Marvel Way" book, as Fred had mentioned. I also have that Hogarth book, but I read an old thread. The thread about doing the white cube with out lines, that Hogarth isn't the best to go by. So I haven't study it to a great extent, still some neat stuff though. Anywho...

Was just hoping for some thoughs, feedback, helpful insight if any of you have time.

I have a desire to draw life-like concept art. Much like the guy from Westwood Studios does. I think is name is like JTame(TJsomfin?) or something on the forum here, haven't seen him on in a while. Prolly has some deadlines keeping him busy.

Due to prolly lack of confidence and being lazy threw High School. I would get discuraged at sticking my pencil in the air and measuring stuff for proportions. And having to think about all the perspective lines for vanishing points. When I look at some of these images on here, and then when someone else draws the perspective lines that would correct someones problem. I just get overwhelmed at all the technical thinking that seems to go on to do a quality filled art peice. So I tend to have more comic like drawings of humans. I'm guessing, that by slacking off on this area of needed skills. I'm going to have to work extra hard to develope my real-life drawing skills back. Which I can do(To an extent, of course.), but I just dread pulling out rulers.

Should I just be shuting my mouth and pushing threw learning the technical skills in hope that it will be natural? Does that happen? Or does like Spooge and all of you pull out rulers with each large scale thought out picture?

I'm posting a two full body concept art work sketches. So you can see where my style seems to be at right now. And I'm also posting links to larger images of a bunch of human head angles that I have been studing in my Marvel drawing book.

One thing that worries me about using the How to Marvel book. Should I go threw this book and learn it all: Facial expressions, muscle tone, etc. (Good perspective stuff in there too.) Or should I just use the basic templates for drawing the human figure. I would think learning the human figure from class/anatomy book or life would be the ideal thing to do.

Heres my concept peices:



Abbs are totally messed up, and my thighs are flat, needed some darks in there.

Link to bigger version.



Nice stubby legs eh!? LOL...

Link to bigger version.

And since these are a bit bigger and didn't wana clutter up the Download for everyone. Here are the links for the 2 images of all the head sketches I did. All I've been doing lately is these head sketches. Prolly have 5 pages or so in the last 2 days.

Heads.

And...

Heads1.

As always, thanks for any time you put into responding. For someone not in an art college yet, this site is very helpful. I learn so much each day with all your comments on other peoples art work.

YoinK!

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(IIVX)
"I think your going a little High man...?"
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I cleverly figured out how to add a 5th line to my signature file by

[This message has been edited by jHof (edited November 08, 2000).]

[samdragon]

I hate to see someone who puts effort into something and doesn't get a reply.
I can't comment on the concept art stuff, maybe one of the big dawgs can help you out, but I can offer some advice in the other realms..
don't get discouraged, you're doing fine. Just keep at it and keep practicing.
You can learn alot by drawing from life, but you need to know what to look for.
using the "marvel" book is good for learning some of the basics and getting an understanding of proportions and how the body "might" be put together. Just remember tho, these are all idealized versions of the human body. So don't use it as a "set in stone" way of thinking.
learn as much as you can about perspective from that book, I remember it has some great stuff on 3point.
don't skip the basics, that's your foundation. Everything you do will be based on how well you learn the basics. you may not see it now, but you will down the road, that's for sure.
Draw the human figure with out all that armor and stuff and learn how it's limitation as far as movement and such. then you can exaggerate it and add stuff to it. Your last sketch is a next to impossible pose with the back leg twisted like that. The torso wouldn't be facing us that much, try it,maybe my knee and hip is messed up, but I couldn't do it without being extremely uncomfortable. (imp speaking of stubby legs dude)

While your drawing from these books, keep in mind that it's important to think while you draw. I can pick out the ones that you drew from the book and the one that where from your own head(pun,hehehe). the point is, Learn from it, don't just copy it down. Who cares how crappy it looks, as long as you're learning. If you're learning, you're going to make mistakes and do some crap work, but as you learn you'll make less mistakes and less crap work.
So the next time you draw some heads, shut the book and try to visualize it on the paper. Study the shapes, ask yourself why this shape is positioned that way, or why this shape is curved and not square.
Everybody feels they have to produce the best possible image right away. This is good for the ego, but it really hurts your talent. You'll resort to short cuts or cheats to get that "oh hell that's awesome" response. (I'm not saying you do this,I'm speaking in general)

Not everyone can afford all the best books to learn from, but you do have your environment and unless you live in a cave somewhere in Alaska, you probably have people roaming around outside or in a shopping center. Draw them! I carry my sketch book with me everywhere I go. As I'm waiting at the restaurant for my food I draw as many people as I can. I have a whole series of people eating and a few of them glaring back at me
You can learn alot from the masters, but then again, you need to know what to look for. Just looking at picture and saying" hmm, that's pretty" and then duplicating it will not get you too far. You need to understand why this stroke or that shape is there and why that color is being used for that object. Constantly ask yourself questions about any art you view, concept or not.

phew...that was alot..take it for what you will. It's just my way of looking at things, and it's just one of a bazillion.
Good luck with things and keep drawing, the only thing you got to lose is time....

[Fred Flick Stone]

It took me a while to figure out who Mr. Stone was...hehe

I don't want to be a dark cloud on a bright day, but the reality is that if these are the types of things you really want to aspire to, then you really have to work hard at all the different aspects of what it is you are doing. FOr conceptual design, there is so much to figure out. FIrst and foremost, your imagination has to be as active as can be, coming up with new variations of the same ole stuff. In order to do this, you also need to know about form, mechanics, anatomy if is recommended, architecture, engineering, etc, to smaller degrees, but to help your work stay convincing, I would say that you will need to know all this stuff.

The biggest thing to do is to buckle down and keep working through it all the way you are. THere is only so much you are going to learn with the books until you know you need more info. Then you should be venturing out and finding classes to fullfil the parts of information you are looking for. ANd always keep up the mileage, or putting time in every day to get further.

The head drawings are looking fairly descent, you have the proportion thing going on pretty good, now you need to commit to more finished pieces so you can complete the final parts of the head drawing as convincing as your lay in. Or making the details look as good as your mechanical starts.
Just keep drawing and painting every day. Do not stop for any reason, and constantly look at others for inspiration, not plagarism. YOu are progressing little by little, do not get discouraged if you do not see it. Others do, and they will remind you. YOur job is to just take it all in and learn.
Keep up the practice, and let the discouragements be your ecouragements, suck up what you feel is wrong, and chug forward again. Eventually, you are going to get yourself to a fairly proficient level, so long as your heart is there.

Hope any of that mumbo jumbo helps...

[jHof]

Ah sweet... Thanks guys. Been having a sucky day at work right now. But read'n some feedback is like candy for me. I love it when people rip my art apart, you learn so much. Even if you don't go with what they say on that picture, you might on another.

I took this one art project I did in HS, that one best color pencil in the state to some art college professors(?). The teachers at HS loved it and I thought it was a good job too. But once the college guys saw it, they just tore it to peices. I was just amazed at what they saw that I hadn't seen, or even thought to look for. Very sweet stuff...

I know it's gona be a challenge for my brain on all the technical stuff. He likes to be lazy. Any who, I'll shut up...

Thanks again, I don't have any of my art buddies around me to much any more. So's this forum helps me when I don't feel so good at art. I come here and just see people work'n their as's off, and makes me wana let loose my trolls! WOOO! I hope the pros on here to get flooded off in another years time, but ah well I guess. Life goes on with our without a forum.

ZoRT!

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(IIVX)
"I think your going a little High man...?"
3
I cleverly figured out how to add a 5th line to my signature file by