Some random Quill stuff for crit :)

[Quill]

Mildly embarrassed to show any of my stuff. I went to a university that did not specialize in art, though it did have its own art department...graduated in art studio with a minor in art history.

I would love crits - I do this more as a hobby now, but would love to improve on my art! It is quite a bit of fun, and it makes people happy. And I think more than anything, I love to make people happy - if something I draw gives someone a moment of happiness in their day, that is enough to keep me going.

Being as all of these are "finished", so to speak, I'm not changing any of them - however, I would really love suggestions on how I could improve with any aspect of drawing or color work

http://dragonroost.org/tmp/sketches/Akil001.jpg

http://dragonroost.org/tmp/zombiegirl.jpg

http://dragonroost.org/graphics/ikana_profile.gif

http://dragonroost.org/Furrypaws/Commissions/spring2009/breezedragonLS.png

Thanks a million, guys! I love that I have the opportunity to be here with everyone, despite my time restraints. It has been a blessing.

[JayTea]

On the first drawing, Akil001.jpg, the relative sizes of the hands bother me. The hand with the cigar looks to me to be slightly closer to the camera but smaller than the hand on the right. If anything it should be the same size or somewhat larger.

You obviously have quite a bit worked out with these bird-men. Do you have any stories/animation/comics based on them posted online? I would like to see more :)

zombiegirl.jpg
It feels like you drew the outline of the dress without working out the body beneath sufficiently. The "stepped" color gradations I find a bit distracting and, for me, confuse the form.

ikana_profile.gif
The hawk girl looks pretty cool.

breezedragonLS.png
The face looks lopsided with the way you cheated the far cheek out where you can see it.. The near cheek has far less meat on it. Though using such a cheat is more or less personal preference. Makes him look cuter. I'm also a bit confused by there being no sign of a second wing.

Thanks for posting and listening :)

[Quill]

JayTea, thank you so much for taking the time to look these over and offer some advice! I greatly appreciate it. It is very difficult for me to find good crits anywhere, and this will really help me in the future. I can pinpoint what you are talking about, so now I know what to watch out for next time around :)

The bird man is actually sort of a fan character, a role playing character of mine...both of the bird people are. There is quite a bit behind them. :) Everything is kept pretty private between me and my mate, however, as we've kept it a private online role playing game ever since we started. We've both been life long gamers and finally got tired of dealing with that third wheel or a whole group - easier to work out story line kinks between two people than with several. Er, to actually answer your question - I'm afraid I don't have any comics or such going with these guys. I do have a website that is in the works, but it has been in the works for over a year now, and will probably never be done.

[Don Bluth]

I would love crits - I do this more as a hobby now, but would love to improve on my art! It is quite a bit of fun, and it makes people happy. And I think more than anything, I love to make people happy - if something I draw gives someone a moment of happiness in their day, that is enough to keep me going.

Before I read your notes, I looked at your drawings, and I must say you definitely have a talent for drawing. I particularly like the rough sketch of the man with the "big hands." The colored entries are less impressive. I'd like to see you stay in sketch mode for a while, until you can capture the emotions you are trying to convey with your character. Drawings that are not symbolic of feelings are lifeless. They have no power to impress the viewer. The good news is that you have great potential.

[lavallelee]

i really like your artwork, very nice stuff

i like the dragon and the sketch most of all, would love to see them animated :cool:

[Quill]

Extremely belated response, but thank you Don!

I will admit, I'm not 100% down with color work at all. Far from it. I feel like it kills too much of my time, and nothing that is really "good" comes from it.

I try my best to get in at least 15 minutes or so of sketch work a day. On good days, several hours. I will continue working in sketch mode :) Thank you so much for your time and critique!!

[cartuneman]

Hi Quill,

Like don said You most definitely have talent for drawing. I love the sketch work of the bird man and the gesture in his hands are well drawn. I myself had years of disappointing attempts at drawing hands and feet and to this day sometimes give me trouble. You seem to have aced it until you go to finish art. I can't see the same feeling in the finished pieces like the sketch............. The dragon is a fine example of coloring but the one of the person holding the spear looks hurried. I am of old school....if you don't know how to do something don't just not do it. learn it. I can tell you are well on your way with the coloring and finish work. I love the fact you devote time for art and sketching. A lot of us draw when we find time not when we make time hahahaha Thats where I lack a ton of and thats time.

All in all your work is very enjoyable to see and I would love to see more! keep it up!!!

[GullyStomper]

And you don't draw for a living?!! These look really good. My favorite is the first one. The bird-man shows a lot of personality. His hands are a little off though. His right hand is closer to us, so it should be larger than the left hand. The other 3 characters are cool too. As Don mentioned, the color could use some work. I'd stick to the basic shading technique you used on the 3rd drawing. It's simple and not as detracting. Great character designs, btw. By any chance are you a fan of The Legend of Zelda game, Wind Waker?

j.

[Quill]

First, to cartuneman...

Thank you for an honest critique!
Hands and feet both are extremely difficult. I’ve always had issues with hands in general, and have worked very hard on trying to perfect them. I’m nowhere near it, but I continue working on it. And again, as far as
finished color works go, I know I’m nowhere near where I need to be. :) I realize one day I will get there, but it will take a lot of time and practice. I’m willing to undergo that.

And now, to Gully, I hope you don’t mind me calling you that XD
I always wanted to go into animation when I was young. Blame Don Bluth (Not Walt Disney!) for that! I was infatuated with All Dogs go to Heaven, in particular, for its darker side. Even though I was seven years old, I saw it. I adore darker story lines. I adore “reality”within animation in general. All Dogs was fantasy within the doggy realm, but at the same time it was a terrific story of redemption and truth.

And as far as the birdman with big hands goes, he is my baby. And yes! A big fan of Zelda, Wind Waker! I’ve been privately Role Playing an extending story line with my girlfriend (via wind waker /phantom hourglass story line) for several years now. I live Zelda. I remember when the very first game came out for the NES. I own all of the Zelda games, they have been a great inspiration to me, even the cheesy 80’s cartoon! My girl is extremely sweet to me. bought me those wretchedly animated cartoons on DVD for Christmas one year. I cherish them. The animation is so bad it makes you break down into a maddening laugh midways between, but all the same...it is Zelda. And for me, Zelda is my life line.

[beavotron]

I'm really digging the first one, it's a cool design for sure.
People have already mentioned some great crits on here, so I won't really go into it, just wanted to tell you nice work :)

[Quill]

I'm really digging the first one, it's a cool design for sure.
People have already mentioned some great crits on here, so I won't really go into it, just wanted to tell you nice work :)


God bless, beavotron :) I'm going to continue to work on my sketches the best
I can. Thank you so much for the comment!!

[Josh Lokan]

Hi Quill,

Nice drawings!

I see some people are commenting on how they like the sketch, but how the colored images seem to loose something. I feel it too. I like Don's suggestion about sticking with the sketches for awhile, but when you're ready to move onto color I have an idea for you...

To start, this is why I believe people are having this reaction to your drawings and paintings. The sketch doesn't have any defined light source (or volumes) yet. The design is solid and since no light has been defined, as the viewer, I tend to fill it in where I believe it should go - hence the appeal. As for the colored images, how light is affecting your volumes...it's pretty off. And so the same appeal isn't there.

Good news though. This is totally fixable, and totally common. Hence, I've got a suggestion, and it comes from one of my instructors when I was first learning to paint in color. Paint as though there is only one light source. No bounce, no fill, no back light, or any other extra light... Instead only focus on one light and get your sense of volume with that. Once you get that nailed, which you totally will, then move onto 2 lights, then 3, then 4, and so on...

You've got great stuff Quill! Can't wait to see more! :)