Taking on human anatomy

Another update--and yes, I have been sketching.  Albeit not as often as I should be, I plan on fitting in as much practice time as possible during the next week or so, or however long I find I have during my winter break.

Anyrate, I've set a new goal for myself.  It's a fairly lofty one, but we all need a good challenge now and again.  Stagnation is an alternative I don't feel like settling on.
By the end of this break, I'm going to gain a near-complete understanding of the human form.  The subtle yet complex curves of the muscles and spine that make up the torso as it twists, a better understanding of proportions, range of limb movement, etc.
I plan on understanding it all.  I'll also practice facial expressions and whatnot.  If I gain a better understanding of those than I do currently then that will an added bonus.


I feel that I have only a basic grasp of the human form and anatomy.  Yes, I know the 'proper' proportions for the human face and body--but even with that knowledge to back me up, without constant practice, I won't be able to go as far as I want as an artist.
I consider fully understanding (or even -almost- fully understanding) the human figure to be one of the greatest things an artist can aspire to do--by having that understanding, I believe an artist can better create work that evokes emotion.  Of course, that isn't to say work that does not include the human figure cannot do the same, however, I know how difficult it can be to tear my eyes away from a piece with human subjects that makes me feel something.

Anyway, I've been pussying away from practicing people, so hear are a few sketches of torsos and a random Medic head.

So, yeah.  I'm exhausted.  Not from drawing, by any means--it's just that it's two in the morning.  I have more stuff to upload, but that'll have to wait.

More books, holy cow

Huzzah!  More art books!  Free!  Agablagablaga /spaz

So recently a good friend of mine gave me a couple of books that will undoubtedly prove very useful as I strive to master digital painting.  The first I'll cover is Fantasy Workshop, by ImagineFX, which focuses entirely on digital painting.  Might I add that one of the artists profiled in this book is Bobby Chiu?  He's a digital artist I've known about for the past year now.  I discovered his work on Deviantart and from there sifted through his website (he owns his devart account jointly with Kei Acedara, and both of them with a number of other artists make up Imaginism Studios, which is an awesome site I highly suggest you take a look at. )

But anyway, fangasm on my part.  Or my brain just congratulating itself for remembering something. Anyway.

A cursory flip through the book showed step by step processes on how the individual artists render their characters and whatnot.  It also seems to yield a good number of tips for working with Photoshop, as well as tricks that any good artist should know about and utilize. 

The second book, Drawing and Painting Fantasy Landscapes and Cityscapes (Rob Alexander)  is another book that will prove invaluable.  It focuses entirely on rendering environments, and profiles specific ones, such as desert, caves, etc.  A very, very handy tool that I will be referring to as I begin to create fleshed-out characters. 

So yeah, today I received some awesome, useful books for free from a friend.  I think today turned out alright.  : D 

Thanks Matt!

I've been drawing. Really, I have.

It's just that most of my drawings over the past few weeks have been crappy little observational sketches.

I'll post more imaginative work eventually, I promise.  

Books and laziness

A book I ordered on Amazon finally came in today--Color and Light, by James Gurney.

  I put off buying it earlier because I wasn't sure how far I would take painting.  Now that I've gotten into digital and oil painting, I can't think of a better time.  Looks to be an interesting read.

I feel like I've been putting off other work to further my knowledge and skill of painting.  I need to learn how to budget my time...

Ruins Speed Paint

One last inconsequential sketch before I head to bed...

Canti, and a hilarious expression

Abandoned Boat Attempt

Crab Sketch