Life Drawing class wrap-up

I took my first Life Drawing class last semester, posting some of my work on here. Silly student that I am, I didn't think a class on learning to draw realistically would benefit my cartoon work. I had severely underestimated the value of knowing anatomy.

 Done on the first day of class

I don't know if my new-found mastery of anatomy and human proportion shows at all in my work, but it has definitely made a difference for me. I now have the confidence to try poses and angles I shied away from before; and I can now draw decent hands and feet (!!!)

 My first self-portrait. Done as HW

The importance of trying different materials and techniques was never me true for me. I had always had a love/hate relationship with pencils....I loved to draw but hated pencils. I decided that this meant I can't draw. My teacher's insistence on using a variety of materials and techniques had me playing with charcoals for the first time.

 Half-way through the semester

If you are willing to get a bit messy, I highly recommend trying it before giving up drawing. I found myself making marks I had only dreamt about...I had been trying to make marks with pencils that, frankly, was impossible to do. I just had to find the right materials.

Second self-portrait HW

Last semester was incredibly rewarding and I am always pleasantly surprised when I realize that I have improved. I'm glad I stuck with it.

 More than one model for the first time! Last in-class drawing.

To see the entire progress of my work, check out my Life Drawing set on Flickr.

In-progress shot of my Final drawing

Well, hello there...

As the end of the semester came upon me, it became harder and harder to keep up with updating. The entire thing was the most physically exhausting endeavor I've ever undertaken. The fact that I was able to make it through the entire semester, when I'd woken up every day wanting nothing more than to quit...I guess that is an exhilarating thought.

Here's to getting back in the groove for 2011!

38: Rambling and sketches (NSFW?)

Oh poor neglected blogs. I'm so sorry. *hugs blogs*

Its been hectic over here. I've had my first couple of exams and they have been killer! (I aced my Math exam though! :D ) I have two more next week...Biology and an anatomy exam for Life Drawing. Ugh.

My arm has been steadily getting better. It's still sore but I am able to use it a lot closer to normal. My leg...well...I was starting to be able to put a lot more pressure on it that normal. I must have over-strained it because it started swelling even MORE than normal. I am now on a strict schedule of medicine, icing and/or resting every 3 hours, and basically keeping as much weight off it as possible. Bleagh.

I just want to be rid of them. My classmates and teachers have been so accommodating but I worry I'm wearing out their kindness. I can't wait to be self-sufficient again.

I've got a little painting in the works that I'm super excited about. I've got all the boring color-blocking done and now I'm working on the details. I love when a messy blotchy painting starts coming to life, looking more and more how I imagined in my head. No progress-shots, though! At least, not until I'm done with the thing.

Here's pictures of stuff I've been doing in Life Drawing class. I've found that a lot of times, I get very frustrated while drawing. I can see that the drawing isn't working but I can't tell what's wrong. Taking a picture helps me see it with fresh eyes. Usually, I can point out immediately what's wrong and go back in and fix it.

I think I've been improving. I know one of the problems I have (it shows most on my homework self-portrait) is shading. I usually end up with a dark line drawing where the shading follows the outline, not really doing much for the dimensionality of the form. Today, my teacher made us concentrate on the shapes of the shadows and lights, instead of just the contours of the body. After being very frustrated with it for a long time, I think something clicked today. I'm nowhere near good enough but I am definitely pleased with my progress.

What do you guys think?

(These are in chronological order from last week)

Wednesday

 

 

Monday

 

 

 

 

Wednesday (today)

36: Busy busy busy

Its been really busy over here at Sheikasaurus Rex land. In addition to the massive amounts of schoolwork, I've got the toning and prepping of OMGcow, mini-comics and 4 paintings to complete, and a Con to prepare for (and attend!)

As much as I hate to, I think I'm putting OMGcow on hiatus after the final comic of the First Year is done. There was a point in the middle of the first year where I had so much going on, I couldn't devote enough time to OMGcow. What resulted were sub-par comics that I am absolutely embarrassed to call mine. Rather than start the second year with comics made just for the sake of updating, with no thought to quality, I think a hiatus would be better.

In the meantime, here are some more sketches done in Life Drawing class. This was our first male model and it was almost shocking how different the muscle masses of the male body are from females. It was incredibly difficult and frustrating, especially since class was cut short.

35: Self portrait hw

For homework was a figure drawing assignment. I couldn't get anyone to model for me...but I do have a full-length mirror in my room.

Normally in Life Drawing class, we are not allowed to have our phones or cameras out. (Understandably  and rightfully so.) Unfortunately, I am not able to take in-progress shots. Since the model this time is myself, I figured I'd take the opportunity.

I started with vine charcoal. Just loose gesture drawings, trying to get the main masses down -- the head, ribcage and pelvis. Fleshed those out then added in the furniture.

First off, I realized the head was way too small. The left arm was too long, so that got shortened. The neck given a little more fleshing and the left leg fixed up. The boobs were also kind of lop-sided....fixed that! Just minor changes. Once I was satisfied with the over-all proportion, I went back in with a harder charcoal stick for the outlines. Defined the right arm a bit more, as well as the right knee.

Left the head pretty much un-touched for now. Started putting in some mid-tone shadows.

Finished! I wasn't sure about drawing in the face but I figured I might as well. I decided to leave the furniture lighter and more unfinished to keep the figure as the focal point.

34: Figure Drawings 2

So I've been seeing my Physical Therapist for a week now. My leg hasn't really changed much but my arm seems to be getting a lot better. They've been massaging it with an ultrasound machine which has reduced the swelling a lot and given me a wider range of motion. Hopefully this means I'll be better even sooner!

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An hour-long sketch from Life Drawing class tonight. This is the first one where I've had time to go back in and put some shading in. I'm not altogether satisfied with it, though. The pose was difficult for me and I feel that even though the proportions are correct and the line drawing is acceptably accurate, there is a lack of....movement...of...uhh...life in it.

33: Figure drawings

Work done for my Life Drawing class. It's nowhere near finished, though I doubt I'll be able to work on it again. I'm one of those people that really need a reference. I can't just draw off the top of my head. Unless I can get someone to model the same pose and have the same body type/size/shape...yeah, I'm most likely not working on it anymore.

Before the drawing above, I'd spent about 3 hours frustrated. Before this class, we had done sketches from a hanging skeleton. I'd memorized how the skeleton looked and was imagining how the model's skeleton looked underneath her skin and flesh. I would first sketch out how I visualized her skeleton looked, then drew the flesh around it.

All of these came out wrong. The torso was alright, but the pelvis/hips/butt region looked....off somehow.

I spent a long time staring at these and doing more and more sketches trying to figure it out. Then I realized where I was going wrong. I had been drawing from a skeleton, though a real one, that was hung in a way that the human body is not.

I was imagining the model's skeleton the way it would have hung. I was drawing the hips as if the head of the leg bone was hanging an inch below the socket....the way the skeleton's leg hung from a wire.

It took another half hour of sketching till I got it right. After that, we got a 45 minute block to draw one pose. the result is the first picture of this post.

What do you guys think?

32: Sketches

I was looking over the archives of this blog and just realized how personal it has become. My intent originally was to have someplace to post my works in progress, sketches, experiments and other pieces that aren't finished enough to post at my other art sites. It has quickly turned into a place for me to vent and unload my thoughts.

I...ah...apologize to anyone who reads this and expected a different beast. Haha!

Some sketches, though! I've found that doing these quick ink sketches when I first wake up help to loosen my arm for the rest of the day.

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So my parents were able to talk to our neighbor across the street, a really nice retired old man, and he has agreed to give me rides to and from school, as well as to and from my physical therapy appointments. We are paying him a small fee but really, its amazing that he's taking so much time out of his day to help someone completely unrelated to him.

I'm going to stick out this week and see how it goes. So far, its been a lot easier on me than last week. Just cutting out the commute really makes a difference!

31: Skelly ton

A quick shot of my skeleton sketches in Life Drawing class. My first couple were absolutely awful and have been destroyed!

A quick self portrait made for the profile pic of my new Tumblr blog. Yes, yes. I made a Tumblr. We'll see how long I can go updating it. LOL

(If you're curious, its over at stuffi.tumblr.com)

30: Worst Week Ever

I've had the most awful week. I've been agonizing over the decision of dropping the entire semester or keeping at it.

The first day of school was dandy until I started getting tired near the middle of the day, then it was excruciating on the way home. The next day, I woke up swollen and sore all over but decided to go to school anyway. As I hobbled home that night, cars honking at me as I tried crossing the street, I started crying. I was hurting all over, my leg was throbbing worse than it has in weeks and everything was sore. I cried all the way home and for a good 2 hours after that on the phone with Micah.

The next day, I woke up unable to move. Even lifting my head hurt. Everything was so painful and my leg was still swollen. I desperately called up some friends, and they were amazing enough to give me a ride to school and back. Just cutting out the 2 hour commute did was amazing. It hurt like hell to move but it was much mroe bearable.

The last school day of the week, I woke up still hurting and swollen but got ready for school anyway. As I stepped out the door and hobbled towards our gate, all the soreness and pain made themselves evident. I started getting panic attack just thinking about the rest of the day. I started crying uncontrollably again, went back inside and just collapsed in bed, crying until my parents came home.

Then came the mental anguish of trying to decide what to do. I love all my classes and I want desperately to take them. I lucked out and got them with the best teachers available. Plus, I really don't want to be set back even further than I already am. However, the commute and pain prevent me from doing my best. When I get to class, my arms are so sore I can barely mold my clay. My right arm, still unhealed and even more painful from the commute, can barely draw. I get home and sleep right away, not waking up till its time to leave. I've had no chance to do any homework. I worried that even if I were to tough it out and keep going to school, I'd do badly in my classes anyway.

29: Worst Day Ever

Yesterday was absolutely miserable and I don't expect today to be any better.

I walk a lot faster with just one crutch so I figured that would be all I needed. A few hours in and I was so exhausted, I was walking at a snail's pace. My messenger bag, which is normally a breeze to carry around, hurt my back so much. I think it was the funky angle I have to walk due to leaning on the crutch. Today I'll be trying two crutches. Its  a slower walk but I don't get as tired because I can lean on them.

The commute was the worst. Crossing Long Beach Blvd and Carson was awful. Huge streets with impatient drivers honking at me the entire time.

Yesterday, I did all of it in the daytime because a friend gave me a ride home. I'm terrified of the commute tonight. Urgh. Taking that week or two off school is starting to sound a lot better.

27: Apprehension & brush pens

I am absolutely terrified of going back to school. I can move around a lot these days but crossing the street is absolutely horrific, even with Micah holding my hand the entire time. I can't imagine how the commute to school is going to be like. I know I have the option of taking the first few weeks off but I think that would do more harm than good. I'd be so behind in all my classes.

I'm just so freaked out and anxious about this. I can't think straight and keep getting panic attacks. AAARRGHHH!!!

Sorry you guys. I just needed a place to let it out.

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Micah and I visited Little Tokyo last week. It was exhausting walking around on crutches so I spent most of it sitting in the middle of a very tourist-filled courtyard while Micah wandered around. Lots of silly tourists asked to take pictures with me. I think they assumed I was in cosplay? That's why people have green hair, right? Haha!

Anywho, in a small gift shop with random stuff, I picked up a brush pen. I love drawing with brush pens but haven't yet found one that's waterproof. They also have felt tips that get worn blunt in about two days of heavy use. This is awful for me since I draw almost constantly. For $1.99 though, it wasn't a bad deal.

I was complaining about it on my Facebook when Dylan Horrocks (of Hicksville comics) mentioned the Pentel GFKP. Unlike the cheap felt-tip brush pens I've been buying, this has individual nylon bristles that make up the brush tip. The ink is waterproof (india ink, I believe?) and refillable. It's incredibly cheap compared to the Kuretake Brush Pen I was looking at in Blick's last year. (I was told at the time that it was the only other type of brush pen available on the market.)

I'm planning on ordering the pen off e-bay the next chance I get. These have great reviews and seem to last a while. Totally worth it in my mind.