14251
Off The Wall / Re: Latest Buys
« on: May 11, 2012, 10:27:59 AM »
Then, some alcohol to drown one's sorrows? Nothing wrong with paying tribute to a loved one with a good drink.
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14252
Off The Wall / Re: Latest Buys
« on: May 11, 2012, 10:17:16 AM »
You should buy some booze like we did. Join us for a party! 
14253
Off The Wall / Re: Latest Buys
« on: May 11, 2012, 09:13:53 AM »
Yay!
Last weekend, I bought a four-pack of Firefly Southern Lemonade. It's vodka and lemonade. I have one bottle left. Yay, alcohol!
Last weekend, I bought a four-pack of Firefly Southern Lemonade. It's vodka and lemonade. I have one bottle left. Yay, alcohol!
14254
Fan Creations / Re: VC's Artwork and Fanart Thread
« on: May 11, 2012, 07:47:18 AM »
Extend the thighs passed the shorts. Though, if you want the shorts to be knee-length, then extend the shorts. It's getting there, but the thighs are still too short.
Also, instead of redrawing the entire picture over and over again, why not draw the pose? Draw the pose first, then draw the picture. Trust me, it is much easier this way. Here's an example using Asajj Ventress:
Overlooking the issues with her boobs (this is what happens when you try to apply real person proportions to a CGI biped), I drew her pose first. I grabbed my non-photo blue pencil and sketched it out lightly and quickly, and loosely. At this stage, don't tighten up your linework, this is the part people usually don't get to see. Keep everything loose and literally scribble it out. Hell, scribbling a pose is a method that many people use, as they can whip out the basic sketch in little time. With Asajj here, I drew her arms as sticks. She was literally a stick figure, and that was only to get the basic pose. Then, I added a simplified musculature. After I was satisfied, I then got a different pencil and started tightening everything up.
It may seem unnecessarily complicated or even arbitrary, but this method is the same method that artists use everywhere, even in manga. The proportions may be different, but the method is exactly the same. I use the same exact method for digital art, as well. Light blue quick sketch of the pose to start, then switch to black on another layer for the linework. It doesn't matter with what you're drawing, the method of putting together the human (or even inhuman) body is still the same.
Also, instead of redrawing the entire picture over and over again, why not draw the pose? Draw the pose first, then draw the picture. Trust me, it is much easier this way. Here's an example using Asajj Ventress:
Overlooking the issues with her boobs (this is what happens when you try to apply real person proportions to a CGI biped), I drew her pose first. I grabbed my non-photo blue pencil and sketched it out lightly and quickly, and loosely. At this stage, don't tighten up your linework, this is the part people usually don't get to see. Keep everything loose and literally scribble it out. Hell, scribbling a pose is a method that many people use, as they can whip out the basic sketch in little time. With Asajj here, I drew her arms as sticks. She was literally a stick figure, and that was only to get the basic pose. Then, I added a simplified musculature. After I was satisfied, I then got a different pencil and started tightening everything up.
It may seem unnecessarily complicated or even arbitrary, but this method is the same method that artists use everywhere, even in manga. The proportions may be different, but the method is exactly the same. I use the same exact method for digital art, as well. Light blue quick sketch of the pose to start, then switch to black on another layer for the linework. It doesn't matter with what you're drawing, the method of putting together the human (or even inhuman) body is still the same.
14255
Fan Creations / Re: VC's Artwork and Fanart Thread
« on: May 11, 2012, 06:51:11 AM »
His right (your left) forearm is a bit on the short side. Your foot is the same length as your forearm, from elbow to wrist. If you have the forearm and the foot size the same, that usually helps correct that problem. Also, the arm (upper arm), much like the thigh, is longer than the forearm. What I'm noticing now is he doesn't really have any curve to his spine; it's very straight.
When you get a chance, go into your bathroom and stand before your mirror in that pose. Nevermind the lower body for now, focus on the torso. It also helps (seriously!) if you do this shirtless, as you can see how the body bends. Stand in that pose and study how your ribs sit, how your hips sit, how your torso and neck are positioned, and where your shoulders are.
His left (your right) shoulder is rolled too far forward, and it should be slightly higher than his right (your left) shoulder. His hand on his hip pushes the shoulder up, whereas his other hand is hanging free and his shoulder is a bit more slack.
The human body is not something that you can copy-paste from different pictures. One needs to learn how the body works in concert first, and then they can put together poses from bits and pieces. Also, even manga books will tell you to build your poses like my example. Theirs will be more simplified, but the basic structure is still the same.
When you get a chance, go into your bathroom and stand before your mirror in that pose. Nevermind the lower body for now, focus on the torso. It also helps (seriously!) if you do this shirtless, as you can see how the body bends. Stand in that pose and study how your ribs sit, how your hips sit, how your torso and neck are positioned, and where your shoulders are.
His left (your right) shoulder is rolled too far forward, and it should be slightly higher than his right (your left) shoulder. His hand on his hip pushes the shoulder up, whereas his other hand is hanging free and his shoulder is a bit more slack.
The human body is not something that you can copy-paste from different pictures. One needs to learn how the body works in concert first, and then they can put together poses from bits and pieces. Also, even manga books will tell you to build your poses like my example. Theirs will be more simplified, but the basic structure is still the same.
14256
Fan Creations / Re: VC's Artwork and Fanart Thread
« on: May 11, 2012, 05:53:53 AM »
His thighs are still too short and his knees are still too high. From what I can discern is that you're piecemealing from several images and trying to put together the pose and concentrate on the finished linework first thing. To build adequate proportion, you should lightly sketch the basic pose first, then work on the details.
This is what I meant by sketching the pose. Note how there is absolutely no detail, aside from a simplified musculature. It is drawn loosely, (and usually lightly, but I darkened it for the example) so that any mistakes can be easily corrected without having to redo the entire drawing. This also serves as a guideline, so that you can see how clothing and fabrics will fold and hang on your character. Remember, your characters have weight, and they will displace space. If you can't draw their mass in the basic sketch, no amount of shading will give them form and depth. I've seen this before; people will concentrate on their shading and coloring and have the drawing almost photorealistic, but the drawing, no matter the depth of shading, still looks flat. That's because the artist never learned how to draw mass.
Most art guides will describe a drawing process similar to the sketch above. Some may do it a bit differently. Mine is based on Drawing Comics the Marvel Way. But, they all boil down to the same principles exemplified above: Action line for the direction of movement, and a simplified anatomy for proportion and mass.
Try starting off your drawings not with the finished linework (as what you're doing now is just drawing the same thing twice), but with a simplified sketch. It's quicker, you can draw quickly and more loosely, add fluidity and motion, and be able to see how the various aspects of the body work together. When you view references, break them down into their basic shapes and see how they fit together.
This is what I meant by sketching the pose. Note how there is absolutely no detail, aside from a simplified musculature. It is drawn loosely, (and usually lightly, but I darkened it for the example) so that any mistakes can be easily corrected without having to redo the entire drawing. This also serves as a guideline, so that you can see how clothing and fabrics will fold and hang on your character. Remember, your characters have weight, and they will displace space. If you can't draw their mass in the basic sketch, no amount of shading will give them form and depth. I've seen this before; people will concentrate on their shading and coloring and have the drawing almost photorealistic, but the drawing, no matter the depth of shading, still looks flat. That's because the artist never learned how to draw mass.
Most art guides will describe a drawing process similar to the sketch above. Some may do it a bit differently. Mine is based on Drawing Comics the Marvel Way. But, they all boil down to the same principles exemplified above: Action line for the direction of movement, and a simplified anatomy for proportion and mass.
Try starting off your drawings not with the finished linework (as what you're doing now is just drawing the same thing twice), but with a simplified sketch. It's quicker, you can draw quickly and more loosely, add fluidity and motion, and be able to see how the various aspects of the body work together. When you view references, break them down into their basic shapes and see how they fit together.
14257
Forum Games / Re: "What Are You Thinking Now?"
« on: May 10, 2012, 06:59:07 AM »
Good luck with that.
I'm fighting off a fever tonight. Been feeling sick all day.
I'm fighting off a fever tonight. Been feeling sick all day.
14258
Forum Games / Re: "What Are You Thinking Now?"
« on: May 10, 2012, 06:31:22 AM »
Haven't read Hunger Games, but I hear so much hype about it that I don't care to read it. Same with Game of Thrones.
14259
Fan Creations / Re: VC's Artwork and Fanart Thread
« on: May 10, 2012, 05:49:01 AM »
I was sick all day, so I'm not in the mood to scan anything. If you get to it before me, great. If not, I'll eventually get around to scanning.
14260
Forum Games / Re: "What Are You Thinking Now?"
« on: May 09, 2012, 11:10:22 AM »
Yeah, Meyer is an arrogant ass. Her four-volume schlockfest isn't any better than some of the crappy fanfics out there. 
14261
Forum Games / Re: "What Are You Thinking Now?"
« on: May 09, 2012, 09:48:33 AM »
Haha, how coincidental! 
Oh, and on the topic of fanfiction, roleplaying and other things... This was an interesting article on the importance of fanfiction.
A nice change of pace from the usual lot of articles that I see, with published authors, including Stephanie Meyer, telling fanfic authors that we're nothing but lazy time-wasters with no talent.
Oh, and on the topic of fanfiction, roleplaying and other things... This was an interesting article on the importance of fanfiction.
A nice change of pace from the usual lot of articles that I see, with published authors, including Stephanie Meyer, telling fanfic authors that we're nothing but lazy time-wasters with no talent.
14263
Fan Creations / Re: VC's Artwork and Fanart Thread
« on: May 09, 2012, 06:36:01 AM »
Koi is referring to sketching the current proportions of your character's pose, while I was referring to drawing your character's pose with the right proportions. At least, that's what I assume Koi meant.
14264
Fan Creations / Re: VC's Artwork and Fanart Thread
« on: May 09, 2012, 06:16:53 AM »
Ditto, as earlier I had sketched the pose. I'll scan it tomorrow evening. This evening, I was feeling sick and napped.
14265
Fan Creations / Re: VC's Artwork and Fanart Thread
« on: May 08, 2012, 11:22:23 AM »
Well, there's your problem. You're not referencing to real people.
Proportions are better studied on real people. The third reference pic, her lower legs are too long. I have long legs and my ankles are where the cuffs of her socks begin. I also noticed that you're trying to apply female proportions and balance to a male drawing. Men have a different center of balance than women do, and their pelvises are shaped differently. Thus, they stand differently. They also walk differently. If you're drawing a male character, it would be better if you referenced from a male.
Proportions are better studied on real people. The third reference pic, her lower legs are too long. I have long legs and my ankles are where the cuffs of her socks begin. I also noticed that you're trying to apply female proportions and balance to a male drawing. Men have a different center of balance than women do, and their pelvises are shaped differently. Thus, they stand differently. They also walk differently. If you're drawing a male character, it would be better if you referenced from a male.
14266
Forum Games / Re: "What Are You Thinking Now?"
« on: May 08, 2012, 10:58:30 AM »
It's only marginally better, in my opinion. The lesser of two evils. But, yes, in an RP setting, I would rather see a Mary Sue than someone screwing over Vader's characterization to make him into a dark wizard.
Though, in fanfiction... neither are good.
Though, in fanfiction... neither are good.
14267
Fan Creations / Re: VC's Artwork and Fanart Thread
« on: May 08, 2012, 10:41:57 AM »
Hoo boy... feet and hands. They are hard to draw. The best method for learning how to draw them is to either model your own hands and feet or ask someone to model for you. I noticed that the right shoe is a bit off. There are several ways that you can remedy this, the easiest being to reference your own shoe. Position your shoe as it is in the pic and draw what you see.
Another method I learned was lightly sketching the foot as a floppy figure-8. Then, after some study of how feet are built, add on the basic shape of the foot. This works for shod feet as well as bare. The figure-8 helps with positioning. Picture the 8 on a plane and imagine looking at that flat 8 from different angles. Heck, draw that 8 from different angles, then build the foot on top of it.
To add to Koi's feedback... Concerning the crotch. It is too high. Specifically, he has no crotch. Now, the reference you used... was someone wearing those shorts? How low toward their knees was the crotch? Cargo shorts for men have roomier crotches, as, well... Men need the room in the crotch. With the crotch as high and close to the bottom hem of the shirt that it is, it makes it look like he either has no crotch or his torso is strangely short. There would be no room for his ribs. In fact, if I were to trace out his anatomy, he would have no waist, as his ribs would connect with the hips.
Also, a person's thighs are longer than their lower legs. The femur is the longest bone in our body. I advise investing in some photo reference books. The Comic Artist's Photo Reference is a good book, if you're uncomfortable about having nude references. All the guys and girls are wearing underwear. Though, don't discount the wealth of reference you would get from a book of art nudes.
Curious, how do you start a sketch? Do you lightly sketch out the pose and proportions before tightening everything up and working on the actual pic? Or do you do the final sketch straight off? If it's the latter, I recommend starting your drawings with a lightly-sketched pose. This way, you can work on the proportion and anatomy. It will also allow you to draw by mass, rather than by line. You'll see how a figure takes up space on a two-dimensional plane. This method is what all artists use and it's one of the first things that are taught in art guides, including the manga guides.
Another method I learned was lightly sketching the foot as a floppy figure-8. Then, after some study of how feet are built, add on the basic shape of the foot. This works for shod feet as well as bare. The figure-8 helps with positioning. Picture the 8 on a plane and imagine looking at that flat 8 from different angles. Heck, draw that 8 from different angles, then build the foot on top of it.
To add to Koi's feedback... Concerning the crotch. It is too high. Specifically, he has no crotch. Now, the reference you used... was someone wearing those shorts? How low toward their knees was the crotch? Cargo shorts for men have roomier crotches, as, well... Men need the room in the crotch.
With the crotch as high and close to the bottom hem of the shirt that it is, it makes it look like he either has no crotch or his torso is strangely short. There would be no room for his ribs. In fact, if I were to trace out his anatomy, he would have no waist, as his ribs would connect with the hips.Also, a person's thighs are longer than their lower legs. The femur is the longest bone in our body. I advise investing in some photo reference books. The Comic Artist's Photo Reference is a good book, if you're uncomfortable about having nude references. All the guys and girls are wearing underwear.
Though, don't discount the wealth of reference you would get from a book of art nudes.Curious, how do you start a sketch? Do you lightly sketch out the pose and proportions before tightening everything up and working on the actual pic? Or do you do the final sketch straight off? If it's the latter, I recommend starting your drawings with a lightly-sketched pose. This way, you can work on the proportion and anatomy. It will also allow you to draw by mass, rather than by line. You'll see how a figure takes up space on a two-dimensional plane. This method is what all artists use and it's one of the first things that are taught in art guides, including the manga guides.
14268
Off The Wall / Re: Reposted Picture Thread (56K Warning)
« on: May 08, 2012, 10:27:42 AM »
Vava is immune to retcons! Lucasfilm, take note!
Lucasfilm, take note!
14269
Forum Games / Re: "What Are You Thinking Now?"
« on: May 08, 2012, 09:45:11 AM »
For Wizardry, I converted over the bounty hunters. Hey, it works out.
But, yeah, some character crossovers, if not done correctly, are just... what the kriff. Though, at least you don't have people shouting "I outwit your outwit!"
But, yeah, some character crossovers, if not done correctly, are just... what the kriff. Though, at least you don't have people shouting "I outwit your outwit!"
14270
Forum Games / Re: "What Are You Thinking Now?"
« on: May 08, 2012, 07:40:43 AM »
And speaking of crossover fanfics... I hate it when people try to crossover stuff that isn't even remotely related in any way, shape, or form. I mean, I can see a Starfox/Star Wars crossover. Why not a Mass Effect/Star Wars crossover? But... Star Wars/Merlin?
14271
Forum Games / Re: "What Are You Thinking Now?"
« on: May 08, 2012, 06:57:30 AM »
I know mine does. It loves to play in the gutter and get all muddy.
14272
Off The Wall / Re: Reposted Picture Thread (56K Warning)
« on: May 07, 2012, 07:19:00 AM »
Or the designers really liked Boba Fett.
Isn't that right, Vava Fett? How about you, Wubba Fett? Yep. Started the clone revolution long before Jango.
Isn't that right, Vava Fett? How about you, Wubba Fett? Yep. Started the clone revolution long before Jango.
14273
Forum Games / Re: "What Are You Thinking Now?"
« on: May 06, 2012, 09:57:44 AM »
Ah, the Faerie Festival... If only I knew about it years ago...
14274
Off The Wall / Re: Reposted Picture Thread (56K Warning)
« on: May 06, 2012, 08:55:29 AM »
Megaman... IN SPAAAAAAACE!
14275
Off The Wall / Re: Reposted Picture Thread (56K Warning)
« on: May 05, 2012, 09:25:32 AM »
Dated gif is dated, but I still laughed anyway.