Hey Guys.
It's been a long time since I've posted anything on CCAS. 4-5 months I'd say, but you will all be happy to know that in those months, I enrolled in a life drawing class and passed with a B+. I know in the art world, grades in art classes really don't matter, but I still feel I've accomplished something.
So, here's my first post after being gone so long. Please critique, and be brutally honest.
Have at it.
Replies
Hey Landon,
The mouth can vary as can everything else. 1/2, 1/2 and 1/2 are usually sound distances. Eventually what will happen is your characters will begin dictating where their features go - some might feel more comfortable with a larger space between nose and mouth, some with smaller. Things are flexible.
How do I explain contours ... In my case, sometimes especially for foreshortening - when things come towards or away, especially for legs or arms, drawing a typical cylinder in perspective doesn't quite cut it - so in order for me to figure out the mass of the leg, I will use the contours to build the mass to where I want it. Once It's formed to my satisfaction, then I will outline the leg to get my shape.
So I guess, yes, contours are a guideline.
Below I use more than one color - that's not a necessary thing - I just use two or more colors to help show what I'm doing.
Thanks.
Though I was using the template you gave from the first critique. That one said the mouth was 1/2 way between the nose and chin, not 1/3rd. Which is it? I do use the wrap around technique for eyes.
How are the contour lines supposed to give volume if you erase them in the end? I know guidelines are key, and by using them, I can set up a figure, or car, whatever, have the arms legs and such fall into place. Then of course erase the guidelines to give it the finished product. Are contour lines the same as guidelines?
Hey Landon - yup seen both Tron's. Just didn't know what those thingies were called. I obviously didn't care too much.
Anyway below a couple of sketch overlay info thingies. If they don't make sense I'll try and make some better ones.
With your heads - make sure you get the cranium in- the part that holds the brain.
Start with the basics of:
1.Shape of head,
2. eyes at about halfway between top of head and jaw
3. Bottom of nose at about halfway between eyes and jaw
4. Mouth about one-third to halfway between nose and jaw.
5. Heads are approximately 5 eyes wide
6. Leave enough room for forehead
7. Base of neck is at approximately the same place as the bottom of the nose
8. The beginning of the Ears are generally 1 eye width away from the eye and usually extend from the top of the eye-line to the bottom of the nose and are generally about halfway between the front of the head and the back of the head.
NOW the above rules are all merely guidelines - but once you master the "basic head" you can start moving stuff around- what if the eyes were one-third from the top of head, and the nose 3/4 of the way down? Or if you shift ears up and down etc.
Also - study people in nature and you will very quickly realize that a lot of people don't fit the guidelines - some people have ears really low on their heads, others further back. Eye and nose configurations vary as do the placement of the mouth. Some people have gigantic jaws, but their mouth is really high on the face etc.
But once yo got the fundies down, then you can stretch all over the place.
Also remember, "Lines don't exist, shapes do" - this means that you should think of your lines as containers for shape. So if things look a touch flat, then beef that shape up.
Hope this somewhat informative.
Again, your life drawing has helped a whole lot, and your central figure reaching for the disc is not bad.
Martin Murtonen said:
Landon, Welcome back!
Well you put your money where your mouth is and took a life drawing class - and it shows.
Where you still need some work:
All that said your central figure's anatomy isn't bad, though his face needs tweaking. Overall, I would say that you've had a major improvement.
Really do work on making me feel your shapes. Give them volume and form. You can help yourself when in the preliminary sketch phase by drawing contour lines across the form to build up your mass. Once the mass is built, then you can draw the outlines that hold the mass - and then erase the contours. (If this makes no sense, I can post an example).
Keep up the good work. Will send an overlay drawing if interested.