Style Changes

Good Afternoon!

Just a quick post, I thought I'd draw something a little more cartoony today as I've been spending more time on the realistic side of things.
And it turns out that the more realistic side is starting to show through in the less realistic, at least I think it is.
The main thing is drawing is more fun now than it's ever been and that's what's most important!

Today's first sketch....

Sketchbook cut and Pastes

Hi!

Thought I'd post a cut and paste collage of this weeks sketchbook sketches.

I'm quite happy this week as my pursuit in the improvement of more lifelike characters seems to be coming along nicely, with each sketch seeming easier and easier. I have a long way to go but the journey now seems less daunting and I'm looking forward to it more than I have done in the past.
And my characters drawn from imagination are getting less Cartoony and more the way I'd like them to be, so all good!
That's not to say I'll drop drawing Cartoons completely, they're fun!
These are just a few that I've done this week, my task for next week is to work on figures in motion, and clothing (Both static and in motion).

So until next time people....

Face Study

Hi You!

Here's the finished drawing that I started over the weekend, unfortunately the scan of it just doesn't seem as nice as the original, and with this you can't really see any of the detail, but never the less I'm quite happy with how it turned out.
I could easily spend ages more on this but I kind of felt the need to draw something else, so now onto starting the next picture!
Below are both the original and the Photoshopped versions of the drawing.

Catch you next time people!

Realism Practice Work in Progress

Hi Internetters,

Continuing with my efforts to improve on both anatomy and realism in my artwork, and to push myself to draw in ways I'm not used to, I decided to try drawing a realistic looking face, but doing it at full A4 size which I've not tried before.
I've always preferred to draw much smaller and drawing at a larger scale definitely is a challenge, but a fun and welcome one.
Here's the progress on it at the moment, I'll post again once it's finished.
Until then enjoy your Sunday afternoon!

Comparative Face Studies

Hello People of the Internet!

This week I decided it's about time I tackle the things in drawing I always have avoided.
Women's faces, and drawing hair.

These subjects are two of the main things a lot of artists seem to struggle with when learning to draw, and I am one of those artists for sure.
Not everyone does have these troubles, but a great deal of them do.
My drawings have always lent towards the cartoon style, mostly because it's what I've always felt most comfortable with, and usually takes the minimum amount of thought to execute!
But I have decided that that's no good way to think if I'm going to actually put together a graphic novel that looks anywhere near half decent. I had planned to draw the comic book out in quite a carttony style, but I believe that train of thought was based on laziness, the story lends itself better to a style at least halfway realistic looking.
And now I want to see what I can do when I actually think about what I'm doing, whilst doing it.
So from now on I will be taking longer over each picture, and doing my best to practice drawing things that are as far out of my comfort zone as possible. Improvement and style development are the name of the game!
Below is this weeks sketchbook page, done here and there when I've had a little spare time, hopefully with each sketchbook page I complete I'll improve a little more on the things I've always avoided drawing.

Until next time peoples....

Manga Studio Colouring Test and all round praise for the program!

Hi All!

It's been absolutely ages since I last updated, work, PS4 and various other distractions have kept me from being able to do much in the way of drawing.
I have been drawing quite a bit when I've had the time, most often in the mornings with a coffee, but it's mostly been gesture sketching and that doesn't make for the most interesting posts.
Writing and plot development on the other hand has been going strong, as that can be done whilst travelling. I tried doing some sketching on the train the other day but the momentum doesn't make for a very enjoyable experience.
This morning though I decided after watching some videos by Comic book artist, Youtube regular and Mangastudio tutorial creator Jonathan Rector to give the program more of a chance than I have in the past. And I have to say I am very glad I did!
It's inking capabilities are excellent, I have used Artrage in the past but am finding Mangastudio just a little better.
The colouring was what I thought I'd give a go today and although Photoshop still feels better to use, with more tools and options at your disposal,  I'm wondering if it's just the amount of experience there that is causing that.
The pencilling and inking in Mangastudio definitely is the best I've tried in any program so far, with the response time and feel of the tools nicely mimicking real life (I wish I had a Cintiq!) and if I can get used to the colouring side of it then I'll be a fully fledged convert.

Hopefully I'll be posting more often again, so until then have a good day whatever you may be up to!

Day Job work

Hi All,

It's been ages!

I haven't had much time to post anything this past month, mostly due to 3d work for my day job, and playing too much PS3....
But I have been writing still, and happily progress with my story is still going strong, hopefully lots more will be done and show-able over the holiday period. I'm going to get sketching now as I've finished any urgent design work for the day, and am very much looking forward to it, it's been too long!

For now here's my latest natural playground design for anyone who fancies a look. At the moment it's just a big rectangle of rubberised flooring, so hopefully the kids'll get something more interesting if we get the job.

Catch you all soon!