--- In SkunkworksAMA_at_yahoogroups.com, Scrapper Black Dragon
<scrapperbd_at_...> wrote:
>
>> You'll have to try something more warped to give the group
> members a challenge, Jim. ;-) Though I reckon when the
> web sites are up, people are going to be wracking their
> minds to try and match your devious warp factor. :-P
Oh, don't worry about that; I've got an idea or two up my sleeve.
>
> Looks like there are a few structure issues in regard to
> the faces are not centred on the sphere of the head, making
> the head look a little 'off-centre'; centre-line of the
> face does not agree with centre-line of the head (as can be
> determined by the sit of the jaw and location to the ear).
> I think the line on the far edge along the line of the nose
> is probably too hard and suggests and edge where it is
> actually more of a curve. I'd suggest just leave it out
> and stay with the shading leading up to it as you have
> done. Human faces are damn hard, since we are all so
> familiar with them, the slightest flaw is easy for us to
> spot. A big advantage of anthro art - most of us don't get
> to see faces like that too often (if ever!).
Yeah, overall, I wish I hadn't inked the picture. The faces were
straighter and softer in the pencil version. Unfortunately, my
right eye's vision is deteriorating due to a cataract, so it's kinda
hard to see the lines when I'm inking them. Ditto with the color;
I'm actually surprised I didn't screw that up since I really
couldn't see the details as I was drawing them. I just kinda let my
hand do the work, even if my eyes couldn't see it.
But it did at least allow me to get some inking practice. It's
been a long time since I've actually inked something. Although
it'll be off-topic, I could probably post one of my "mainstream"
pieces so you can see a more finely detailed face. The fact the
girls' faces are only 1.5 inches in the picture also made it tricky
to lay down any soft lines or details. Hence, why my mainstream
stuff is drawn larger.
>
> Shading and texturing, particularly the hair is very nice.
> Drawing without reference can also be very hard, especially
> if trying to draw 'correctly' as opposed to 'toon
> interpretation'. Is Treska's eye supposed to be all blue?
Yeah, it is pretty tough. I can draw from photographs (anyone who
can weild a pencil with any skill should be able to), but it's more
of a challenge to simply draw what I see in my head, and to try to
draw it properly.
Actually, Treska is dark purple, as are her eyes. But for
whatever reason, my scanner makes the purple look more blue. Oh
well.
> As Jim mentioned, this is a 'practice pic', so the girls
> being depicted as a collage of 'bust shots' with
> insufficient room to stand is a moot point; Lori and Des
> occupying the same space, for example.
Yeah, otherwise, I would've had to use a bigger sheet of paper!
It was a practice collage, or whatever the hell it's called.
> What sort of time frame does a pic like this take you?
Normally, I should be able to kick something like that out in
about 8 hours, including draftwork. I ended up drawing the picture
probably 15-20 times before Iwas happy with the initial draftwork.
I rendered it several more times after that, trying to fine-tune
stuff. In retrospect, it would have been easier (and quicker) if
I'd only drawn one face per sheet of paper. Then they would have
looked more realistic and proportional.
> Done well, especially for a half-blind out-of-practice
> artist. ;-) Having said this, I've an awfully long way to
> go to get even _near_ this stage, so do feel free to ignore
> this weekend-scratcher. I very pleased you're even sharing
> your art with us! :-)
Well, aside from the eyes, I've also got to get a kidney and a
pancreas transplant, since the doctor says my current kidneys are
probably only going to last 3-5 more years, at most. I'm on a super-
restrictive diet now, in order to keep my OEM parts running as long
as possible. Still haven't told Des any of this, and I'm not
looking forward to doing so...
--JMH
Received on Sun Aug 06 2006 - 14:46:35 CDT