a few sketches

[meeks]

In an effort to post something a little more positive...





While I'm generally happy with the artwork I've been producing over the past year, one thing I feel could use a lot of improvement is the sense of space in my drawings; my pictures tend to be very character focused, and the environment around them suffers from my lack of confidence in drawing scenery, which tends to limit the range of pictorial composition that I choose to work with. The two images above are a start at trying to remedy that by getting some practice. These were done in ArtRage using something approximating the non-photo blue pencil I sometimes sketch with IRL. I used several photos as reference but didn't directly copy any of them. I think they turned out decently, but they took a really long time to do...hopefully I'll get faster as I do more of them and get more comfortable with this kind of subject.

That much detail really does get kind of tedious, so after awhile, I found myself doodling this, based on the audiobook I was listening to:


...and I ended up using it to experiment with 'inking' using the oil brush in ArtRage. The lines aren't as fluid as I would have liked, but the next attempt should be more successful, now that I know the canvas can be turned while working so you can 'pull' all the strokes like you would on paper :P

Comments

[zora113.livejournal.com]

I think your pencil backgrounds are beautiful. The detail is pretty amazing. I've never even attempted a background that detailed. I usually cheat and use something prefab if I need one.

But, of course, I really love Hiccup. I keep thinking I HAVE to get ahold of the British Audio Book editions. For all the obvious reasons. *g*

[meeksp.livejournal.com]

Is there a non-British version of the audiobook? The ones I got from the library are read by David Tennant, and they're *definitely* worth a listen. I'm really visual, so it's not often I prefer an audiobook to the printed version, but he doesn't just read the text, he performs each character with a distinctive voice and personality. I was even able to recognize a character in disguise before the text would have given it away *heehee*

[reymonkey.livejournal.com]

These are so amazingly awesome! I am in awe! I need to work on backgrounds, I know I do, but this... just wow.

Try this...

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

If you're good at focusing on a character, maybe look for characters who are focused on the environment. You might try drawing a naturalist examining exotic flowers, or sneaking up on a dragon's nest.