Every Other Week? (SUMMER '15 #2)

Yeah, it's shameful. This figure drawing class I've been in has been keeping me busy. I haven't done any 3D this week, despite having a chair in my brain that I'd really like to get started on. I finished one of my sketchbooks, so we can check one of those boxes for my Summer Goals, but I should be working on my figure drawing sketchbook and every time I work on other things I feel guilty. There's just too much to do! But yes, that was my big accomplishment for the week. Freakin' sketchbooks.

Jeez. Colors look WAY too hot on this first one. Were they that bright before I uploaded them? 

(Sketch)

(Colored)

This last one made it in cuz Thomas gave it his stamp of approval. 

Yeah. Still working on not failing all my goals. REALLY REALLY need to use referenceeeee

Just Give Me Two Weeks (SUMMER '15 #1)

Geez! Where have I been? Very busy! Aspects of this 3D nonsense have proven much harder than anticipated and I've been floundering in my attempts to paint the object(s) I've created. Also, the figure drawing class that started this week [as an inappropriately lengthy aside, I thought classes started on the 12th, but apparently they started on the 11th. I'm very sad I missed a first day of class, even if it is just the day we discuss the syllabus. I like to have near perfect attendance.] is looking to be more demanding  than I had planned on. I'll keep trying to chip away at 3D, but I don't know how far I'm going to get with the sketchbook for figure drawing looming over my head.

Anyway, here's stuff I did:

These first 3 images are what took me so long. The 3D sword was giving me tons of trouble. Coloring that junk in? Jeepers. I hope the next thing I do isn't anywhere near as painful. 

(I rendered the sword in Maya because I was overwhelmed and cranky. I'll try for a more elegant solution next time)

These next few sketches are images I'd like to take to a more finished state in the next couple weeks.

Then I have the normal scribbles.

I saw this guy on the bus on Friday morning.

I didn't see this guy, nor would I want to.

So yes... Two weeks in and I'm not exactly where I planned. But I have a finished painting and some good sketches to start from and a couple ideas for more 3D props. I still need to find a way to work from reference more (or just get out and draw from life more), but hey! I have the whole Summer, right? Some of these guys have the EXACT same face, or hand, or feet, or pose or whatever. I aim to avoid that in the future.

Hopefully the next update comes much sooner. 

Summer 2015: MISSION BRIEFING

Note: this post outlines my goals for the summer. There's a lot of text. If that bores you, art will be towards the bottom of the post.

Hello. I missed last Sunday because I was making sure everything was ready for finals week (which went well [just kidding, I have no idea how it went, I'm just glad it's over]). Wednesday night I was coloring something but I didn't want to post it yet. 

Sorry for the absence, and welcome to May.

You'll remember that last Summer, I failed my goals in a fairly spectacular manner. I did, however, come away with a few things I really liked. This year I hope to come away with some rad stuff, but also meet my goals a little more. So first, here are my goals (transcription after the image): 

1. Finish the two remaining sketchbooks [from Spring 2015 semester], (one per month tentative): This goal has a slight addendum I need to mention... My friend Dallon gave me a sketchbook and it's huge. The dimensions aren't significantly larger than what I use, but it will be a challenge. As far as the school sketchbooks, one is maybe half done and the other just has a few pages in it (why did you ask us to buy a sketchbook?!)

2. Finish 3 (or more) pieces (color/painted):

This is just to get me to take sketches to a finished level of completion, perhaps finding a good workflow through which I'll be able to complete more art faster, rather than just posting sketches all the time. See also goal 8.

3. Render 3 Characters, one per month:

I know that my numbering is inconsistent, I should either fully type out the numbers or leave them as numerical characters, but I've just been scrawling these out as I think of them. BUT! I have a fairly intensive string of tutorials I'll be putting myself through to really make 3D a part of myself.

4. Make some props in 3D (Chair, table, sword):

More 3D. This incorporates stuff like UV mapping and texture painting, both of which are skills that I want to explore more thoroughly.

5. Be a good husband:

I asked Kaitlin what goals I could add and she suggested I add this. We both know I'm a good husband, but I think she wants to make sure that I don't forget and start smoking and wearing a leather jacket and greasing my hair and joining gangs.

6. Make sure it doesn't say "Student" anywhere online:

If I'm not a working professional by the time I've graduated, I'll be pretty cranky. This goal involves changing all aspects of my internet presence to reflect the fact that I want to be treated as a professional. I'm serious about this, and by the end of the Summer would like to have some strong portfolio work.

7. Try to incorporate more environmental aspects into work (architecture, plants, etc):

This goal is for my mother. She always points out that my characters are floating in space. It's essentially just a way to give work a more finished feel and work on perspective. I have some environmental stuff for you today! I'm already winning my summer goals!

8. No more B+W posts UNLESS there's also somefink [sic] colored:

Ah, this one's a doozy. I'm not allowed to post sketches or anything unless I've got something colored to show you! 

I'm also adding a 9th:

Use reference for everything and stop drawing out of your mind.

As far as post frequency here, I imagine I'll be posting all the time, but just in case, I'll always do a Sunday post to recap the week. Okay, that's all. 

Stuff from the week:

Colors are hard for me (by the way, I'm still working on that other image I told you Kaitlin and I were working on together) and so this might be a little freakish, but I'll be working on it!

Original sketch. You can see I severed his arm and shifted him a bit.

Environments!? Can it be!?

Some dudes.