Shading

Currently Studying
Title: Figure Drawing for all it's worth
Author: Andrew Loomis
Page: 70
Subject: bones and muscles




Well my first serious attempt at shading in a long time. Massive improvement. As mentioned perviously everything seems to be fitting together. I just need abit more time to refine and I will be ready. Only one major thing that I need to focus on for a bit and that is heads (well and hands but that will just come with practice.)

I have been thinking alot about the future with reguards to my illustrations and I think I will specailise in manga art. Whilst this seems like a waste of time in learing to draw realistically I feel that my training with the real form will benifit me in a stylised one as I will know what I can "get away with altering and symplifying". Example I now have a good idea of the muscles that make up the arm so it will be eaiser to simplify the excess without damaging the biliveability of the final character.

Specailiseing will also allow me to focus on ideas I wish to explore. I have found a love for the stylised form that is not present in the realistic one. The manga style is very eye catching and whilst some will not enjoy the area I wish to travel I feel it is the best one for me.

Anyway todays studies.
Not perfect but a massive improvement to my previous efforts.

Drawing Bones and Muscles

Currently Studying
Title: Figure Drawing for all it's worth
Author: Andrew Loomis
Page: 60
Subject: bones and muscles




I have moved on to bones and muscles. I am finally understanding how everything fits together. Muscles and fat make up a good portion of what we see in the naked form. My initial studies are really paying off here as I don't need to measure every detail and as said before I can see how everything is related. I am pillowing through these studies. it is getting to the stage where I may need a new challenge.

I have looked further on ahead in the book and the next section is plains and how to shade. After I have done that I want to move to heads. That way I will be able to draw figures almost completely. Here are this mornings studies.

general anatomy

Currently Studying
Title: Figure Drawing for all it's worth
Author: Andrew Loomis
Page: 50
Subject: Perspective




Moving on and stronger than ever. Sorry for the lack of updates yesterday I was researching something that needed doing before I continue with any web stuffs.

Todays studies consisted of general anatomy studies and finding landmarks around the human form. Still not completely confident with the torso so I may need to go back to it at a later date, however I feel confident enough with my general anatomy skills that I feel I am ready to progress to full figures. This will be running parrallel with my Loomis studies as I still need to learn how to construct faces properly and the muscle structure of pretty much the entire human form.

I managed to get 5 basic drawings done today with out too much hassle. Only area that I continue to have problems with are the muscles interlacing with the ribs. They just dont feel right. Anyway on to the drawings.

Posemaniacs round 2

Currently Studying
Title: Figure Drawing for all it's worth
Author: Andrew Loomis
Page: 42
Subject: Perspective




This is just a quick set of posemaniac studies. I think the total time spent drawing all of them was about 30 mins. Definatly feeling more confidnet with the more complex poses. Maybe time for me to move on further in the Loomis teachings.

Posemaniacs

Currently Studying
Title: Figure Drawing for all it's worth
Author: Andrew Loomis
Page: 42
Subject: Perspective




Done some perspective studies with the torso. I really feel I am improving so I gave posmaniacs a go. I had some problems with the site (I thought there was a bug but it was just my slow internet conncetion. Again I feel I am improving quickly with my loomis studies.. As a side note I shade the figures to make them stand out.

Perspective round 4

Currently Studying
Title: Figure Drawing for all it's worth
Author: Andrew Loomis
Page: 42
Subject: Perspective




So I have created a quick tutorial on how to create 3d form. This is very quick and very basic. It is just to show my workings and needs allot of refinement. To be honest I am not completely comfortable with this method yet. Whilst the results seem to be improving I still need to focus more on getting perspective perfect. There are a lot of silly small errors in this but it is a start and that is better than nothing. If I can refine this and master it...

Step 1: Draw 3 versions of the manikin. One front view, one side, and one of the bottom. All images should be flat and in perspective

Step 2: draw a central line going from the base to the top of the bounding box. Then proceed to draw lines connecting all the land marks (nipples, naval, crotch) this should serve as a guide for the placement of the land marks.

Step 3: I quickly outlined the general shape whilst trying to keep in perspective.

Step 4: A quick colour job just to make the image stand out.

Note to self:
Really the only thing I can say here is I know where I am going wrong and I just need to focus on perfecting this method. Maybe some refinement is needed but the general idea I am pleased with. I need to keep practising this!

Perspective round 3

Currently Studying
Title: Figure Drawing for all it's worth
Author: Andrew Loomis
Page: 42
Subject: Perspective




This is just a quick update before I am due elsewhere. So last night I tried to draw torsos in perspective and failed spectacularly. That was untill my last attempt of the evening. I decided to look through the Loomis book one last time and I came across a section on solid form.

Previously this page intimidated the hell out of me. It seemd confusing and I could not wrap my head around it but then I started using it as a guide. This method works! I shall have more up tonight. Kind of excited about this. If I can memorise this way of thinking then figure drawing should get alot easier.

Note to self: 
I will put up my full workings out tonight along with an explination. The only images worth really noting are the bottom 2 which I used the Loomis 3d form technique. Must memorise this and learn to apply it with 2 and 3 point perspective.
Progress is being made. I am understanding more than I have ever understood befor with illustration. Must keep it up