Last Skull

Here's the last skull for a bit. I was going to render it a bit to show depth and shadings, but I'm actually rather happy with the line-drawing and don't want to mess it up.

Skull (4)
graphite on sketch (6x6")

I think I'll try hands next...

Back Again

Yes, yes...I suck.

I'm back after a break partially because of depressing work problems, and partially from drawing burn-out. How can one burn out after just a few drawings, you ask? Fine question...it's not the drawings, per se, but the voluminous reading I do on a subject when I'm in that phase of interest. Nevertheless, I'm back in the swing. :)

Drawing some random object doesn't really get me all excited to draw, even though I realize that it's going to have to be an essential skill to be practiced a LOT. I'd rather pick subjects for now that get me enjoying and in the habit of drawing. That way drawing can become fun instead of work for me...which it kinda is now.

After copying some comic/cartoon art for an easy and satisfying end result, I decided to work my way through some art-anatomy books by copying a bunch of the drawings to get good at anatomy, and thus gain confidence and skill in a very difficult subject...

We shall see, but I'm encouraged by my not-completely-suckful results thus far. :)

Drawing (Skull)
graphite on newsprint (5x5")

Drawing (Skull2)
graphite on newsprint (7x7")

Drawing (Skull3)

graphite on newsprint (3x3")

So...there we are.

I actually do have a digital camera now, but I forgot about it until just now. Better pics next time, I promise.

I was pretty happy with these. There were a couple warm-up skulls before this, but I showed you the better few. I was kind of hoping to get the bone structure of body parts first and then build up anatomical knowledge through muscles to outer form. By then, I figure I'll be able to begin posing the various body parts instead of copying pictures...or at least start drawing from pictures in magazines and such.

Once my work stuff levels out, maybe I'll be able to take a weekend seminar on Basic Figure Drawing or something at Gage.

See you next time...hopefully tomorrow. :)

Value Sphere

Realistic rendering is going to need an intuitive understanding of value upon a surface, so here's a sphere trying to use a continuous gradation of shading.

Value Sphere
(Graphite & Sketch, 5x6")

Class Drawing

Here's a drawing I did in class a couple months ago.

Fossil, Feather, & Wood
(Graphite & Sketch, 8x10")

Second Drawing & Values

Two days in a row! I'm in the zone...:)

Go Stones
(Graphite on Sketch, 5x6")

It also occurred to me to create a value range for the combination of graphite on sketch paper so that I have some comfort with this combination.

From top to bottom, the squares are: very light, normal, very hard. Any values appearing to be out of order are due to my inconsistency of technique.

Values: Graphite & Sketch
(Graphite on Sketch, 5x6")

One last thing for today...here's a list of the artists that I like the best, and plan to use as inspirations for the personal styles that I hope to acquire one day.

Standard Art
Norman Rockwell
Robert Bateman
Lawrence Alma-Tadema

Fantastic Art
James Gurney
Matt Dixon
Gerald Brom
Frank Frazetta
Justin Sweet
Daniel Horne
Scott Gustafson
Greg Staples
Michael Whelan

Comics Art
Stan Sakai
Mike Mignola

Asian Art
Japanese Shin Hanga (20th C. woodblock prints)

I suppose next time, I'll go into the aspects of what I consider good art...

Initial Post

Hello.

Well, I've finally succumbed to the narcissistic temptation to create a blog. I suspect that I'll update it for a few days, get distracted and forget about it...but we'll see how it goes.

My main purpose for this blog is going to be as a format to organize my progress (if any) as an artist.

I recently finished an art class at the Gage Academy (Seattle Academy of Fine Art). This class, Foundation Drawing, is the only art class I've ever had.

Since I know I'll just keep this knowledge in my head without putting it to practical use if left to my own devices, my hope is that updating this blog with new images will force me to practice and improve my drawing skills.

All that being said...here's my first personal drawing :)

Pawn
(Graphite on Sketch, 5x6")