Anatomy Thread of .: Mr. Mu :.

[Rebeccak]

Go Mr. Mu!

Great to see this up and running! I think this is...just supey! :thumbsup: :)

You just hadta be different, didn't you? .: :. :scream:

Looking forward to the good things that develop here. :)

EDIT: You have been linked up here: (http://forums.cgsociety.org/showpost.php?p=2817397&postcount=12)
http://forums.cgsociety.org/showpost.php?p=2817397&postcount=12

Cheers,

~Rebeccak

[Mu]

Great to see this up and running! I think this is...just supey! :thumbsup: :)

Well, now I feel supey inside!:beer:

You just hadta be different, didn't you? .: :. :scream:

This is just to reflect my inner differentness...:wise:

or I just figured it would look cool:scream:

feel free to edit the thread title and add twenty exclamation marks or all capslock instead:scream:


no ref used here, trying to find out what I know and whyt I think I know.

The look and technique is inspired by franck kobolt who does wonderful sketches on textured background and also by Dr. Bone or Mr. Mentler(?) whose figurative art in his anatomy thread I admire beyond words. I actually took a sample of his paper background and spread it via image hose all over the background. By adding lighter values of the bg color I can dip a toe in the pond of color while remaining monochrome and in therefor safe areas:

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c4/mkayi/sketch_fem_figure.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c4/mkayi/sketch_masonry.jpg

[GonzaloGolpe]

HEllouu Mr. Muuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!:p Great to see ya here with your own thread!!:wip:Ï´ll see your progress!!

┤ Zalo:p

[Rebeccak]

Well, Helen Keller mode being in effect :D I'll have to look at your work later. :) But glad to see you're already adding work here.

Supey! :thumbsup:

Cheers, :)

~Rebeccak

[Mu]

Gonzalo - thank you so much! Means a lot to know there's people watching this!
Rebecca - shall I describe the pics to you in the meantime?:p

[Lyneran]

hiya mr. mu! glad to see you made your own thread! now keep em coming ok :)

nice to see you've started weeding out the stuff you think you know from what you really know. about those 2 last drawings, i think proportion might be a good place for you to work on. Loomis said it's best to start with the overall proportion before getting into details, and his book is an excellent study material for that.

btw, great ofdw studies. i esp like the one done in artrage :thumbsup: hope to see more work from you mr. mu!

[SpiritDreamer]

Hi ...MR MU...:)

Great to see you have a thread now.
All it lacks is your first painting done in PAINTER, can't wait to see that one.
It will be a pleasure for you, I think, after all of the other programs
you've had to deal with lately.
You managed to pull it all together on #10.. in spite of those programs though
and that's to be admired for sure..:thumbsup:
I'm looking forward to seeing the progress that i'm sure you will achive..

Take Care..MR MU..:)
Glenn

[Mu]

Lyneran - thanks for watching! Yea, proportion... and line quality... and edge design... and shading... and smooth blending. Stroke flow: I could go on forever. I will try to mind proportion and think of an exercise which relies heavily on it, though. Thanks for the hint!

Spirit Dreamer - Especially happy you walked in, here! You actually do your name credit as you are very inspiring (which, if you dissect the word means "to put the spirit into someone", doesn't it?).

As concerns Painter, I am starting to believe something must have gone terribly wrong as the service hotline of my dealer said they sent it on thursday and it still did not arrive! I am somewhat frustrated - must wait til tomorrow cause they said they would investigate further. I sincerely hope this will not turn out to be a pain in the ass with mysteriously unaccountable /disappearing packages a.s.o.
:sad:

Anyway... with this I tried to tilt some heads and mind my lines. The pale sketches are actually layers I have used on top of each other (set to multiply), but have been moved on purpose here to serve as progress steps.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c4/mkayi/sketch_tiltedHead.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c4/mkayi/sketch_tiltedHeadII.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c4/mkayi/sketch_tiltedHeadIII.jpg

done in artweaver (*sigh*)

[Mu]

I have been trying to make artweaver provide me with an inkpen. Had one of Dr. Bone's sheets open and studied the look of the lines (from a brush design point-of view). I actually am quite fond of the inkpen I created.

What went through my head while doing this:

1. I will do master studies as I stated, but I think I will include my favourite artists from around here in this, too. After all, if they do things I like, there must be a lot to learn, there. This includes people like Gord, Dr. Bone, and others...

2. I read an article on digital art and how artists need to be aware of how the digital canvas lacks resistance and that you always want to make things perfect and erase mistakes while in traditional art mistakes make the picture (rough summary)... so I decided to not refine on a separate layer, but pretend I had a traditional one-way-ticket. Was fun...

http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/8116/sketchtiltedheadiv5kr.jpg

Next step will be proportions as promised to Lyneran...

See you soon

[erilaz]

I read an article on digital art and how artists need to be aware of how the digital canvas lacks resistance.


Mu, if you're finding the tablet doesn't have the same feel as pencil on paper, the easiest way to fix that is to actually tape a piece of paper to your tablet. You get about the same level of sensitivity, but with a little friction. That resistance can help wire your brain into thinking "traditional traditional traditional". :)

[Rebeccak]

Mr. Mu,

Finally got a chance to look at your work out of 'Helen Keller' mode :D and your progress through the OFDWs is impressive! :thumbsup: Very much looking forward to seeing you push your skills further here. :)

Cheers,

~Rebeccak

[pushav]

Nice work on the greyscale paintings!:arteest::beer:

[Mu]

Lyneran's hint was spot on - I don't know anything about poroportion...or maybe I knew nothing til tonight:scream:. Male proportions will follow...

http://img465.imageshack.us/img465/2205/proportionchartfem8ll.jpg

[fredlovebot]

I really like that proportion chart! Everytime I look at one Im suprised that the waistline is higher up than I always though it was, but once I look at a figure or such, its really spot on. Im looking forward to the male chart aswell!

[Mu]

pushav, rebecca - thanks for popping in and leaving a comment!

erilaz - I have tried this once and it gave the creepy feeling that you get when scratching your nails over a blackboard:scream:. Maybe it is different with wacoms as they seem to have different nibs for special purposes? I only have a cheap one for 15€. When I have finally saved enough money for a intuos I will give it another go.

But I think that the article referred to a form of inner resistance. Digital is easier for the sake of ctrl-zed-ing alone and if you watch at some of the sketches in Doctor Bone's thread, which are all traditional, then you see the spots where he actually corrected wrong proportions are all nicely integrated into the figure as a whole. This gives his drawings a very special look.
Now, what do I do when I make mistakes? I hit ctrl+z. I use layers in the first place to make sure I can erase safely.
So, the way I understood this article, it is worth taking risks digitally sometimes,
- trying to integrate the mistakes into the finished piece
- Use only one layer
- don't ctrl-z
- correct on-the-fly
- go over the spots with a different tool, things like that. I think it's fun. And, as I am not a dogmatic person, I feel one should try everything sometimes.


gorgnut - glad you left a comment and liked the charts. They are from "Figure Drawing for what it's worth" by Andrew Loomis. I indeed have to force myself to place the features where the plate tells me they should go as opposed to where I think they go.:scream:



http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c4/mkayi/proportionChart_male.jpg

[Rebeccak]

Mr. Mu,

Great to see these proportional studies! I kind of agree about the paper on wacom thing ~ I used to recommend it to people, but after trying it myself with limited success, I kind of got the same feeling about the 'nails on chalkboard' thing...:D...but on occasion, I'm sure it comes into handy. I kind of like your unique approach of just disregarding the CTRL + Z function...but boy, would that take discipline for me to use...:D

Cheers, :)

~Rebeccak

[Mu]

I kind of agree about the paper on wacom thing ~ I used to recommend it to people, but after trying it myself with limited success

lmao!:scream:

you never tried it before recommending it? I absolutely know this effect. Some things sound so convincing you adopt them as working ideas that it takes some time before you realize you never really checked them!

Do you own a wacom? Which brand. Would be interesting for me to know if it is actually a different thing with the wacom...

[Rebeccak]

Mr. Mu,

I have 2 small wacoms, 1 Graphire and 1 Intuos (the Wacom brand is Wacom :D) and they're both 4x6 I believe. Works for me. :) Paper doesn't work differently with them, though. It's still kinda scritch scratchy...but maybe people would get different results with different kinds of paper. :)

Cheers,

~Rebeccak

[Lyneran]

- don't ctrl-z

not use the one thing that keeps most artists sane (enough) ? nooooo!! :D well actually i'm forced to do this when i do 2, 5 and 15 min gestures and you're right, sometimes stray lines actually add to the whole image. :)

anyway, nice to see you spending time on Loomis. definitely a good step. glad you got the books before they were taken down btw.

[Mu]

Hi Lyneran,

thanks again for rubbing my nose in the dirt (proportions):wavey:

Yea, I ctrl-zeded like hell with these proportion charts:scream:, so it's not as if I am propagating the Iron Man Rules of digital painting or something:scream:

It's just worth relaxing sometimes - making things not look too smooth. Freedom, basically, if you all don't mind my using melgibsonized diction, here (I haven't started yelling it yet, so all should be fine)

EDIT: as concerns Loomis, anyone doing a search for rapidshare and Loomis around here should find links...

Here's proportion from the sides:

http://img361.imageshack.us/img361/2604/proportionsideboth9nu.jpg

[Mu]

just a doodle (after all those dry studies:p)

having fun with artrage2 - fantastic tool.

http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/451/doodlei8al.jpg

[Rebeccak]

Go Mr. Mu! Keep at it, you're progressing well. We all need a release every now and then, eh? :D

Cheers, :)

~Rebeccak

*runs off to dinner before anyone else posts!* :scream:

[fredlovebot]

Very nice progress Mr. Mu! :thumbsup: I was thinking, in your latest piece, do you sketch in the basic form with a penciltool and lines or do you just paint directly with 'masses'? I'm going to try out the 'mass' painting technique in the new OFDW (12), I think it acctuly will help me see the forms and proportions at an earlier stage.

Keep rockin' mate! :bounce:

[Mu]

Hi gorgnut!

nice to have you on the show:) Thanks for dropping by!

in your latest piece, do you sketch in the basic form with a penciltool and lines or do you just paint directly with 'masses'? I'm going to try out the 'mass' painting technique in the new OFDW (12), I think it acctuly will help me see the forms and proportions at an earlier stage

Massing in proportions or blocking in masses, whatsoever you want to call it, is definitely worth a try, but it works better if you have a solid understanding of the planar structure of the face.

As concerns sketching/construction - just to show how much I still need to develop and learn (in other words, how much I suck)- I don't have a fixed scheme at all:

- When I want to practise Loomis, I carefully construct a head and a plane to which I attach the masses. (Lines)

- When I want to gesture sketch, I don't give a damn 'bout anything and just see to it that I get it done in under 2mins:scream:

- for the color theory thread I even traced the outline of the flower as that assignment was about color, not lines or form...

- with the above piece I just wanted to try the new artrage2 and blotted the canvas randomly with paint til I started seeing things. So, til I started fleshing out the head I did not even want to paint a head (hope that makes sense to you, it hardly does so for me:scream: )

It's my first piece with artrage2 and I think they did a fabolous job with that software. I even think I could imagin shelling out the 20 bucks sometime this year (after I recovered from my painter purchase:D - still did not arrive, though:cry: ) for it, as 20 bucks for this functionality is almost free...

I think, the favourable method depends on what you are trying to achieve. I just want to have as many weapons under my belt as possible. Wonder what Hogarth is going to do with me, once I will start with his books...

[Mu]

first study for the OFDW12

http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/9488/firststudy0ww.jpg

[SpiritDreamer]

Hi ...MR MU....:)

WOW!! ....Great figure study for #12...Lots of energy and emotion... :thumbsup:
Also am likeing that purple doodle above...for the same reasons...:)
Looking forward to seeing more of both... :thumbsup:

TAKE CARE
Glenn

[Mu]

My second study for the OFDW12.

The more I study the parts the more I am glad I did not dive into the whole thing head first. It is hard. Urgh...

http://img475.imageshack.us/img475/7997/secondstudy8mm.jpg

[Mu]

WOW!! ....Great figure study for #12...Lots of energy and emotion... :thumbsup:
Also am likeing that purple doodle above...for the same reasons...:)
Looking forward to seeing more of both... :thumbsup:


Thanks Glenn,

means a lot to me that you like things in this thread.

I feel like I changed in my strive and studies, as if my learning steps are on safer ground somehow. Hard to describe. Feels a little more confident with what I do, so I am clearer about what to learn. Sort of. Kindalike. thingy...

[Rebeccak]

Wow, Mr. Mu, :)

This last drawing of yours is really impressive ~ nice concentration and focus on getting the inner emotions of the two contrasting characters to come to life.

Nice work! :)

Cheers,

~Rebeccak

[SpiritDreamer]

Hi.. MR MU... and WOW!!...one more time...:applause:

Can't say it any better than Rebecca just said it...:)
You really nailed that likeness on the face on the left also...:thumbsup:
I think you better sign that one ...I would, if it were mine..

Are you planning on doing the whole painting after these studies.
I think you should ...and if you do, I think you should go for the emotion of the whole drama first....just cut loose on it, and bring it up, and out from your heart spirit..make it yours...
Do details and refinements last.....the emotion portrayed in this painting,.. trumps detail ..
Really looking forward to seeing what I know you are capible of attaining,.. EMOTION WISE..:arteest:

TAKE CARE
Glenn

[fredlovebot]

Those OFDW #12 studies are awesome! Great improvment and the likeness is really close!
Makes me wanna fix my faces in the OFDW #12.. they kinda look.. uhh... terrible! :scream:

Keep pushing!

[Mu]

Thank you, Glenn!

I definitely plan on doing the whole piece. I restrict myself to studies for two reasons:

- This is by far the most complex thing I have come across and I need to break it up in smaller problems (old software developer's habit)
- I am waiting for my copy of PainterIX - it turns out they only sent it last week, because they had trouble with the credit card and now I hope I can use Painter with the next week or so.

Wether I grid it or go about it in that wild expressive (and impressive) manner you went for I still don't know...

EDIT: thanks gorgnut! whenever I look at your updates I feel like "aargh, how I am I gonna catchup?" Everyone's so far into this while I am fiddling with details...

focus on getting the inner emotions of the two contrasting characters to come to life.
That's an interesting point by the way.

Had to think about what Bouguereau(what a name - the french have too many letters in their names:scream: ) actually did here:

I think the left one is Vergil while the one on the righthandside is supposed to be Dante. While trying to get a likeness I noticed how subtle Bouguereau indicates their emotions and how interesting these emotions are.

While Dante looks with a bitter contempt (corners of his mouth) at the torture the sinner has to suffer, Vergil hides most of his emotions by hiding his mouth completely, but I think his eyes betray signs of that fascinated disgust mixed with lust that comes with witnessing a spectacle.

Important thing is: both of them show absolutely no signs of mercy.

I think Bougerau made a statement about how artists or storytellers in general (be it musicians, writers as in the case of the two characters or painters) lack mercy when observing things. This lack is an important trait for telling stories, isn't it?

[Rebeccak]

Originally posted by Mr. Mu: I think the left one is Vergil while the one on the righthandside is supposed to be Dante. While trying to get a likeness I noticed how subtle Bouguereau indicates their emotions and how interesting these emotions are.

While Dante looks with a bitter contempt (corners of his mouth) at the torture the sinner has to suffer, Vergil hides most of his emotions by hiding his mouth completely, but I think his eyes betray signs of that fascinated disgust mixed with lust that comes with witnessing a spectacle.

Important thing is: both of them show absolutely no signs of mercy.

I think Bougerau made a statement about how artists or storytellers in general (be it musicians, writers as in the case of the two characters or painters) lack mercy when observing things. This lack is an important trait for telling stories, isn't it?
Really interesting points here, Mr. Mu :) ~ I have to confess literary ignorance of the works of Dante and Virgil, too much pop~culture for this one, I guess. ;)

Here's an interesting website on the two authors:

http://users.erols.com/antos/dante/about_dante.html

Maybe I'll get me some edumacation. :)

EDIT: Here's a link to Dante and Virgil as depicted in other works of art:

http://users.erols.com/antos/dante/art_gall.html

I think we've chosen wisely. :D

Cheers, :)

~Rebeccak

[Mu]

Maybe I'll get me some edumacation. :)

lmao!:scream:

I think we've chosen wisely. :D

:eek: makes Boo-jaroze's genius stand out even more...

[Mu]

My Hogarth epiphany

Before the workshop started I said to myself "three or maybe four weeks! Great! I'll do studies like the old masters did the whole first week!"
Now, whenever I open the OFDW012 thread I feel like I accidentially stumbled into the Speedpainting thread!:scream:

Hard to stick to your resolution under these circumstances somehow, but today just reaffirmed me in my plan, because something absolutely magically happened.

The whole Bouguereau is covered with beautiful intimidating hand poses. I love hands. I just can't draw them. I still read Burne Hogarth's "drawing dynamic hands" on a regular basis (before I go to bed, on the toilet:D), but I never really understood his approach.

My girl-friend expressed what I thought better than me (it was her who bought the book):
"Hands just don't look like that..."

Now, while I was drawing the study of the hand at the bottom of this post it was "like a veil had been removed from before my eyes"(Sting:D) - all of a sudden I could see all of the structures I had been staring at in the Hogarth plates for hours. I never understood them til today. Hands do look like that, really!

I am so excited!
I have a whole book full of wonderful study material I can relate to now, while before I was just staring at it, confused...

http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/7787/thirdstudy2oj.jpg

Hogarth epiphany pic:scream: ...:
http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/3561/fourthstudy7rw.jpg

[Rebeccak]

Really impressive, Mr. Mu! :wip:

I think that it's a shame that some people (not you) think that Hogarth's work is not worth exploring ~ though I wouldn't want to draw in the same style as he did, I think his breakdowns of the body into simple, understandable forms is nothing short of brilliant. Glad to see yet another person benefit from his teaching...nice work! :thumbsup:

Cheers, :)

~Rebeccak

[Mu]

piece for the DSG, topic: "gotta catch them all!"

Had to think immediately of Holden Caulfield, companion of lonesome teenage days...

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/3213/dsg601catcher1te.jpg

[Rebeccak]

Mr. Mu,

I see you're putting to good use some of the things you've learnt in Kirt's Workshop ~ good to see! :wip:

Did you use any Reference for this piece, or was it from imagination? I would encourage you to spend time finishing pieces which you start ~ this develops a healthy habit of not generating a lot of unfinished 'sketches' which may leave you (the general you) with a sense of being unsatisfied with your work. Not to say that my approach is for everyone, but when working traditionally, I'll throw out work that is unfinished / or just isn't going anywhere ~ no sense in keeping it, and it gives you a psychological sense of having a stronger body of work.

Just my two cents. :D I think sketches such as these are good to do, so long as they're balanced out with more finished pieces, such as you have certainly been doing with much success for the OFDWs! :thumbsup:

Having said that, what I really like about this piece is the background (very sophisticated, really!) and the eerie white light ~ it's a really interesting mood, and definitely gives the viewer the sense that there is a story behind this piece. :)

Cheers, :)

~Rebeccak

[Mu]

Hi Rebecca!

I was just about to post new things when I saw your reply. Always happy when someone leaves a comment. So thank you, first of all...


I see you're putting to good use some of the things you've learnt in Kirt's Workshop ~ good to see!

Yeah, I think if I manage to integrate what I do with anything I have learned I will someday produce good paintings/drawings...

Did you use any Reference for this piece, or was it from imagination?
This was from Imagination

Oh,

Rebecca - you might not be aware of it, but I soak in every word from you like a sponge (it took me quite a while to decide that your replies in the threads of lemog and zapan do not necessarily hold that big an amount of information for me...:D)

This sometimes leads to my infamous german decisionmaking deadlock. :scream:

I absolutely understand both of your following statements or guidelines individually,... but I can't figure out how to follow both of them. Or rather, when does each apply to what I do and when does it not so much?

I see it depends, obviously, but on what?

Guideline 1:

There is definitely a difference between drawing for the sake of doing a 'nice drawing' and drawing for the sake of Analysis. I would really emphasize to anyone who is in the process of learning to improve their drawings that Analysis is more important than trying to do a finished work.


Guideline 2:

I would encourage you to spend time finishing pieces which you start ~ this develops a healthy habit of not generating a lot of unfinished 'sketches' which may leave you (the general you) with a sense of being unsatisfied with your work.

Forgive me, I am probably too tired... (2.00 am around here).

And by the way: I am soooooo depressed and frustrated that I cannot explain how much without overstepping CGTalks diction policy here, because that dealer (licensed Corel dealer!) did not manage after almost four weeks to deliver that damn package with my Corel copy or just tell where on earth it went and I had the order deleted, and now I have to order somewhere else and I can't possibly use Painter for the OFDW, which means I have to do with artrage and AAAAAAARG!

Which is the reason for the (in short) following post...

[Mu]

As I can't go digital the way I want (see above post of mine) I went traditional last night, with charcoal, Hogarth and a sketchbook.

The title of "Drawing dynamic hands" in german is something like "drawing hands made easy" which is ridiculous as it implies it's something like "drawing hands for dummies" which it is certainly not (I would have bought such a book, btw...)

On the contrary it's for people who can draw well in the first place and are looking for in-depth material to give their drawings that last tweak into professional/brilliant realm... So you might wonder what on earth do I use that book for, seeing that I suck at drawing? This, however is a long story and I am way too talkative and lengthy in my posts already.

I do apologize for that.

My charcoal mine holder and tweo sketchbooks. The little one's a moleskine.
http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/5174/material0cb.jpg

my copy of hogarth, the large-scale sketchbook

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/2450/ressource6fw.jpg

trying to understand hands... will post digital some time soon, with a fresh understanding of hands
http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/2510/hogarthstudiesi9rj.jpg

[Rebeccak]

Mr. Mu,

Haaaa!!! You are killing me! In a good way. :scream:

Yeah, I think if I manage to integrate what I do with anything I have learned I will someday produce good paintings/drawings...
I think you're already doing a good job with this. Your progress from your first painting is really kind of amazing. :wip:

Rebecca - you might not be aware of it, but I soak in every word from you like a sponge (it took me quite a while to decide that your replies in the threads of lemog and zapan do not necessarily hold that big an amount of information for me...)
That is funny!! I have to apologize for all that spam...but those two keep me laughing, and I have to admit I stalk Lemog...well, not really...*I'm writing this from France* :scream:

This sometimes leads to my infamous german decisionmaking deadlock.
Ha!!!

I absolutely understand both of your following statements or guidelines individually,... but I can't figure out how to follow both of them. Or rather, when does each apply to what I do and when does it not so much?

I see it depends, obviously, but on what?
On the one hand, it depends on who you are. On the other hand, it depends on what your definitions of 'Analytic Drawing' and 'Sketch' are.

This is really funny to be taken with such razorsharp seriousness. :) I totally understand ~ whenever you (the universal you) are learning something new, you stick to the rules like glue...and when the 'rules' contradict themselves, then this can result in mental herniation...:scream:...which I absolutlely want to prevent from happening. :)


Quoting you quoting me: Originally Posted by Rebecca in El Chief's thread: There is definitely a difference between drawing for the sake of doing a 'nice drawing' and drawing for the sake of Analysis. I would really emphasize to anyone who is in the process of learning to improve their drawings that Analysis is more important than trying to do a finished work.
Yep, I agree with me. :)


Quoting you quoting me: Originally Posted by Rebecca: I would encourage you to spend time finishing pieces which you start ~ this develops a healthy habit of not generating a lot of unfinished 'sketches' which may leave you (the general you) with a sense of being unsatisfied with your work.

Ay, there's the rub. I don't see your DSG sketch as being so much an Analysis, as something just done for fun to match the topic ~ does that make sense? There's a difference between the kind of drawings which you posted in your last post (Analysis) and the kind of images which show up all the time in the DSG ~ not that I don't love the DSG (I do) but I don't always think it's the best thing for beginners to get into the habit of thinking that posting a large quanity of incomplete (and often, untutored) pieces is the same thing as making progress artistically. I hope that's not harsh ~ I love seeing the work in the DSG, but sometimes I want to force a few people to do grayscale paintings...:D

Having said that, I see the enormous benefit of painting things that are not just figurative studies as we do here on the Anatomy Forum. ;)

And by the way: I am soooooo depressed and frustrated that I cannot explain how much without overstepping CGTalks diction policy here, because that dealer (licensed Corel dealer!) did not manage after almost four weeks to deliver that damn package with my Corel copy or just tell where on earth it went and I had the order deleted, and now I have to order somewhere else and I can't possibly use Painter for the OFDW, which means I have to do with artrage and AAAAAAARG!
I'm really sorry to hear that, Mr. Mu...I know how frustrating it must be. If it makes you feel better, I had to seriously argue with the people who 'delivered' my desk that they had to actually bring it inside and not just deposit all 397 lbs. of it at the base of the stairs. I do hope you get your copy of Painter soon.

~~

Second post:

About your new traditional drawings, I think they're fantastic! These are what I think of as Analytical Studies ~ drawings where you are just trying to understand how forms are put together / constructed. I think that these are frankly some of the most fun types of drawings to do, because it leads to a level of mastery, which you, with your love of logic, should quite enjoy, given that every piece you learn lends itself to every other piece, which has a cumulative effect of understanding a topic (from your own point of view).

Even if you approach this OFDW from the standpoint of analyzing the individual forms of the painting ~ some combination of head, neck, torso, arms, legs, hands, feet ~ I think you will have gotten a lot out of the Workshop ~ maybe more than by just copying the painting.

Hope this makes sense and helps. As always, your enthusiasm over the subject matter is encouraging and appreciated. :)

Cheers,

~Rebeccak

[SpiritDreamer]

Hi ...MR MU ...:)

REALLY ...REALLY ...liking those Hogarth studies..You watch...you may not think so
right now, but what he is teaching you , will show up very shortly in any figures you do.
Won't look like his hopefully, but will be your own style, with the solid underlying structure
he has taught you in them.
Sorry to hear about your PAINTER nightmare, but everything happens for a reason.
Maybe your not suposed to get it until we start doing that painting you fell in love with.:)
Looking forward to more of those Hogarth studies...GREAT WAY TO LEARN...:thumbsup:

[ErichSchreiner]

good work, just keep it up and you'll make big progress.

Painter: don't take that too serious, even if it would have arrived in time, it sure will take you a few weeks until you get used to painter...cause its tools and possibilities are just overwhelming. :)
And i heard ArtRage is a good tool too...

[Lyneran]

nice studies mr. mu! i see that hogarth's working his magic on you :) keep drawing as much as you can, these are great.

you know i totally appreciate these discussions you have with ms.k about different stuff, coz i'm very bad with words so when i get confused about certain things i don't really know hot to ask about it without confusing everybody else with my tangle of words. thanks for putting it out there. i've been wondering about balancing finished and quick studies.

[Mu]

*I'm writing this from France* :scream:

lmao!:scream:

This is really funny to be taken with such razorsharp seriousness.

yea, erm, heh...
*tries to loosen up*
*shakes vigorously*
*stays all cramped up*


I don't see your DSG sketch as being so much an Analysis, as something just done for fun to match the topic ~ does that make sense?

Oh man! It does make sense, absolutely! Maybe it was a little bit too late for me yesternight, after all...

As for the DSG sketches and the type of work there: When I joined CGTalk it was because of the DSG. I figured I could progress and learn there by doing daily sketches, but I soon realized that was not the case. Then I found your place, here...
I think the DSG is mainly a kind of loose brainstorming area - still a fun place and really nice people to hang out with, but not that big a helper for inexperienced beginners.

Even if you approach this OFDW from the standpoint of analyzing the individual forms of the painting ~ some combination of head, neck, torso, arms, legs, hands, feet ~ I think you will have gotten a lot out of the Workshop ~ maybe more than by just copying the painting.

We shall see - I will try to make the best of it in any case!

Glenn and Eric - thanks for your support, comfort and comments!

Lyneran - thanks for dropping by again. Good to see that my line spam in my own thread is useful for someone!:scream:

[Mu]

Hi there,

as I got two comments about the background of the "Catcher in the Rye" piece I figured I should maybe enlarge upon what I did here.

Why?

Because I went for digital wizardry here - or, erm, well I made life easy for me anyway...:D

I needed blades of Rye, but did not want to manually draw hundreds of them, as it was a DSG piece I did mainly want to have fun with for a limited amount of time.

So I drew this:

http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/9687/rye7zg.jpg

Then, I made a selection of the whole image and captured this as an image for the image hose in the app I used which happened to be Artweaver. I know Painter has an image hose, too, as do many others. You use it to spread an image over your painting/canvas.

I set the image hose tool of Artweaver to change the source image's angle, opacity and size by pressure of my pen and created that Rye-background. I partly blurred the background on the right handside to sleazily add a focal point and distance.

I did not want to go for the impression of a real field of Rye, as the book (haven't read it yet? Are you kidding me? Go and buy it! Definite recommendation!) by J.D. Salinger uses that image rather symbolically/metaphorically. I wanted to rather have a thicket of Rye, here.


You could have, however, achieved a more realistic effect by drawing longer blades and not changing direction/angle by pressure or randomly.

I think I might take Rebecca's advice and follow this piece a little further.

[Rebeccak]

Originally posted by Mr. Mu: Oh man! It does make sense, absolutely! Maybe it was a little bit too late for me yesternight, after all...
Yay! Glad that that's clear *wipes sweat from brow* :D

As for the DSG sketches and the type of work there: When I joined CGTalk it was because of the DSG. I figured I could progress and learn there by doing daily sketches, but I soon realized that was not the case. Then I found your place, here...
I think the DSG is mainly a kind of loose brainstorming area - still a fun place and really nice people to hang out with, but not that big a helper for inexperienced beginners.
Oh, I totally understand the value and benefit of fun threads...and I see a lot of amazing work there. The problem I sometimes see is that the experienced people work at their level, and those with less experience don't seem to get more. But I think that the fact that there is so much work generated there is inspiring! Don't get me wrong about the DSG ~ I just think that the fun stuff has to be balanced out with more serious study, and vice~versa. :)

I did not want to go for the impression of a real field of Rye, as the book (haven't read it yet? Are you kidding me? Go and buy it! Definite recommendation!) by J.D. Salinger uses that image rather symbolically/metaphorically. I wanted to rather have a thicket of Rye, here.
Ehm...guilty! :scream: At the risk of appearing as a total retard :D I do actually like to read...though I must say, since becoming addicted to the forum here, I've read nary a book (nor have I watched much television, when it comes to the point).

I do love good books (though there are definite gaping holes in my book list) ~ one of the best books I've read in recent history (meaning the last 6 months!) is Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell...I would recommend it to anyone, it's a really beautiful book. Okay, back to art. :)

I think I might take Rebecca's advice and follow this piece a little further.
Cool! :thumbsup:

Cheers, :)

~Rebeccak

[Mu]

Alas,

I need to learn how to keep the fresh and rough brushstrokes of a quick outburst while producing a detailed painting.

It somehow looks neither right nor interesting... or does it? Ah, I don't know....

http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/6788/catcherintherye3cs.jpg

[Ravena]

Hi Mr. Mu,

I pursue yours thread since a few days, great progress here!
I like the last one, because of the your play with shadows and ligths and the details. Looks very interesting, mysterioes. Go on with the good work! :)

Ciao,
Ravena

[Rebeccak]

Mr. Mu,

I quite like this update, and continue to enjoy the 'white light' look to it, which is kind of refreshing after staring at the doom and gloom image of the Wm. Bouguereau piece...the main suggestion I would have is to find a reference photo of a man who looks similar, and concentrate on the face, perhaps eliminating the arm for the time being, unless you want to find reference for that also (which I would of course encourage ~ it just depends on how much time you have for this piece). :)

It is difficult to maintain that fresh spontaneity ~ let me know when you've figured it out, so you can tell me the secret! :scream:

Cheers, :)

~Rebeccak

[Ego]

*knock! knock!

Mr Mu, excellent study pieces here. Sorry I didn't visit before, just didnt know you started.
Keep up the good work :thumbsup:

[Mu]

Ravena, Queensoul - glad you dropped by! Hope you will enjoy your visits in here!

I tried Doctor Bone's method as I was in half-hysterical mode about the fact he elaborated on his drawings anyway. So, I figured, if I can understand what he's talking about in every single step I might it just give it a try albeit being an untrained art idiot:scream:

And, surprise! I really liked my gesture sketches!
I think I will use this method a lot to practise gesture and proportions. I wanted to do gesture sketches and afterwards analyse the proportions to look where I am wrong most of the time (next step after copying proportion plates...), but I will have to leave this analysis undone for today. My flat is a mess - we got a new kitchen today and everything is out of order...

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/7747/bonestudiespart10fv.jpg

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/1681/bonestudiespart26qu.jpg

[Mu]

another quick Mentlerism - really so much fun! Still not analyzing my proportions, though...


for everything (tuuurn tuuurn turn) there is a season (tuuurn turn turn)
*lalala*

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/1589/bonestudyii4ir.jpg

[Ravena]

Hi Mr. Mu,

your gesture sketches looks great! :thumbsup:

Ciao,
Ravena

[Rebeccak]

Go Mr. Mu! :bounce:

[SpiritDreamer]

MR MU....Like the feel of that last one...solid figure painting...works well in that atmospheric
background....nice experimenting...on to something new, made from something old, tried and
true...:)
Was wondering if you can do layers with that program your using....might be nice to see all
these experimental figures your developeing put on one page, in one painting...would be a nice
progression in a developeing style kind of thing...just a thought..
Also some of your paintings evoke your personal thoughts on subjects you read and write
about....the EVOCATIVE FIGURE// LANDSCAPE - ANY MEDIUM thread might be a nice
home away from home for them to be showcased.....just another thought...:)
TAKE CARE
Glenn

[Mu]

solid figure painting

Oh Glenn... I think I will print this out and wear it like a badge on my t-shirt!

here are some hand gestures. I remember having asked Rebecca "Is it possible to gesture sketch a hand?"
Rebecca: "sure, why not?"

*silence*
*dog barks from afar*

guess I had to simply try it, huh? Maybe I'll do a little Hogarth a little hand gestures rotatory...:D

from imagination:

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/8592/handgesturesipart15cj.jpg

http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/7294/handgesturesipart21kj.jpg

[Mu]

....and I am still working on this one, by the way... just so you know...:D

http://img466.imageshack.us/img466/6348/catcherintherye23gz.jpg

EDIT: I need to give the eyes a little squint so the light is more present in his expression - also, I removed the dark values on his cheeks as the blinding light is more or less everywhere (hot summer noon or something, we shall see)

[Rebeccak]

Mr. Mu,

Nice progress here, both on the hands and the face! Looking forward to seeing more Burne Hogarth studies and studies from life as well. :thumbsup:

Cheers,

~Rebeccak

[GonzaloGolpe]

Muuuhttp://www.gonzalogolpe.com/vaquita.jpg:D How´re you?Hey, I really like that olive green background!It gives to the sketch figures a powerful light:thumbsup:

┤Zalo

[Rebeccak]

That is hilarious! :scream:

[GonzaloGolpe]

I think the cows should govern the world,lol!Look at that, what a beautiful little face:D :D

[Mu]

:wise:Can't I leave this thread without surveillance for a few hours?

*sigh*

besides, don't make fun of cows... they are dangerous... ask Kirt!

http://www.loyno.edu/%7Edawhite/LarsonCowsCars.jpg

[Rebeccak]

Oh no...cow spam! :D

[Mu]

noticed the lack of updates?

I caught the flu after a nice day when we went sledging for a day in a nearby low mountain range. I feel a little better now and did this for today's DSG.

Oh, Rebecca I know "finish what you started"....

*shakes fist*
Try some of your own medicine!
:scream:
ah, no sorry... I know you are right: it will give me a good feeling to completely finish pieces. I promis I will when I fully recovered
*sniffles*
:sad:

http://img286.imageshack.us/img286/4677/dsg614tommismith1uh.jpg

[Dreamy Kid]

wow nice mu, nice to see you back, hope you get well soon :cool:

[SpiritDreamer]

GREAT and POWERFUL...Painting and Image.... BY ANY MEANS NECESARY !! ...:thumbsup:

TAKE CARE OF YOUR..SELF...AND GET WELL SOOOON...MR MU..:)
Glenn

[Mu]

still trying to finish this one. Adding a first hint on the squint in the eyes, fixing anatomy and pose.

I am not sure about the pose. While the anatomy was worse in the previous versions the pose was a little more dynamic (leaning forward) while at the moment it is more reclining.

Opinions on the pose? Forward / backward?

http://img426.imageshack.us/img426/2024/catcherintherye31ql.jpg

[Mu]

shortened the skull altogether
started to occupy myself with the details of the eyes
decided to take this as far as possible so it qualifies for the evocative landscape/figure thread that Glenn suggested posting the final piece in

http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/9020/catcherintherye46ok.jpg

[Rebeccak]

Mr. Mu,

This is definitely looking better! :) Did you manage to find any photo reference for this? I highly recommend the site 3d.sk. I joined recently, and it's $13.50 / month, with all of the downloads you can possibly make in that time of hi~res Reference images of all types of people / animals / etc. It's really good. I was resistant to it at first, but have come to really like it. :)

Then, there's always good old Google ~ I'm always amazed what I can find! I think the key to really delving in to this painting is finding suitable reference.

Re: taking my own advice ~ you're totally right! :D But, I'll let you reply to everyones' posts for a few weeks, and I'll kick back and work on a few paintings. :scream: I'm totally not complaining...you know I'm a forum addict! :D

Cheers, :)

~Rebeccak

[Mu]

still tweaking th'accurséd face anatomy...
the nose was too long and too perpendicular to the ground (among other self-fabricated bs... aaargh!)


http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c4/mkayi/catcherintheRye5.jpg

[Mu]

But, I'll let you reply to everyones' posts for a few weeks, and I'll kick back and work on a few paintings.

lmao:scream:
yea you're right. About time to just say it again: you rock, Mylady. Always helping anyone out, blitzposting to newbie and professional with motivating comments, while at the same time hosting a big workshop and still enthusiastic about the whole thing - what would we all be doing without you?

Re: Reference, I am still doing without. That's not some goal I set for myself with this one. I am definitely too bad still for going completely without ref (one day in a far far future, maybe)
My prob is: I can't bring myself round to search google with "depressive reclining guy" or something. I am clueless as to how to search. Will maybe try it later today.

EDIT: depressive reclining guy does not work! just tried it... :D

[Rebeccak]

Mr. Mu,

Hehe, thanks! :D

How about "old man" :D

http://www.dustylens.com/Old_Man-best-small.jpg
http://www.dustylens.com/Old_Man-best-small.jpg

http://k43.pbase.com/u41/barbados/upload/26677415.oldman4574.jpg
http://k43.pbase.com/u41/barbados/upload/26677415.oldman4574.jpg

>>LARGE IMAGE LINK<< (http://www.11eleven.at/press/1pic/photographies/oldMan.jpg)

http://www.geogr.uni-goettingen.de/kus/pics/vn8/www-vn2002-old-man-pagoda-mittel1.jpg
http://www.geogr.uni-goettingen.de/kus/pics/vn8/www-vn2002-old-man-pagoda-mittel1.jpg

>>LARGE IMAGE LINK<< (http://hulubei.net/tudor/photography/photos/O/l/Old-Man-3-1000x1500.jpg)

http://www.business.auburn.edu/%7Ewhittdo/Old%20Man%20Photo.jpg
http://www.business.auburn.edu/~whittdo/Old%20Man%20Photo.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/82/Oldmansea_fuentes.jpg/180px-Oldmansea_fuentes.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/82/Oldmansea_fuentes.jpg/180px-Oldmansea_fuentes.jpg

Cheers, ;)

~Rebeccak

[Mu]

hehe, "old man" ... yea I should keep it simple...

I just discovered that the ear was way too high... as if I'd never read a single page of Loomis...:rolleyes:

I decided I took this as far as I can without ref - no need to pretend I could do without it. So, I'll let it rest for today and will start looking for adequate reference to take this to the next level.

Thanks again Rebecca, the refs posted are wonderful! That first one is :eek: Is that Gregory Peck?! What a guy! Really, I mean...

detail of the lowered ear... I feel like "nip/tuck"-ing all the time:scream:

http://img459.imageshack.us/img459/1957/catcherintherye66zr.jpg

[Mu]

some new gesture sketches in-between...
I tried another Mentlerism, but halfway through I felt they were too stiff. So I figured I could just let go of it all for once and just churn out some gestures without thinking too much.

- drew some froody lines of action
- placed a Loomis-esque hip
- established ribcage
- connected the two elements
- drew cylindrical legs
- establish head and arms
- traced everything again adding opposing curves

was fun all in all
Damn, I just saw I forgot to add a hand to the first one...hehe...:D
http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/4140/mugesturesipart25iv.jpg

http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/5816/mugesturesipart11oa.jpg

[Rebeccak]

Go Mr. Mu! :applause: Fantastic! :wip:

[SpiritDreamer]

MR MU....:)
Finally cutting loose.....kind of like playing the guitar...once you learn the notes, then
it's time to play the song....nice twist, and motion in those figures MR MU....:thumbsup:
TAKE CARE
GLENN

[Mu]

Rebecca - thanks for being my personal cheerleader!:scream:


kind of like pyaying the guitar...once you learn the notes, then
it's time to play the song



Finally you are starting to speak my language...:scream:

thanks for dropping by!

[LoTekK]

Very nice gestures. Very dynamic and all. :)

[Ravena]

Mr. Mu,

cool gesture sketches! Absolutly great! I am honestly inspired.

Ciao,
Ravena

[fredlovebot]

That's way cool Mu! Big improvement! We want more! :drool:

[Mu]

"So...", you wonder, "... what on earth is this?" I did some more gestures and all of a sudden felt like just following no system at all. I slightly overreacted, so to speak...

Now, it was fun, but I also felt it is about time to return to my normal ways of logical deduction, Watson,:wise: and that's why I ordered the Da Vinci edition of the Master Draughtsmen series to start doing master copies.

Hope it arrives faster than Painter(still waiting), though (it ships from NY and the price is twice as high as in the U.S...:rolleyes: )

http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/3404/freelines45sd.jpg

http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/7122/freelines25tq.jpg

http://img456.imageshack.us/img456/3715/freelines19mw.jpg

[Lyneran]

nice gestures mr. mu! hope your book comes without problems, i'd love to see master copies from you :)

[Mu]

Today I noticed it might take a few weeks til my book arrives from NYC so I did some more gestures.

By now I figured I could also look for masterdrawings on the net (duh!) so that's the next thing I will do (probably...)

I only like the one in the upper right corner:
http://img108.imageshack.us/img108/449/mugestures67xb.jpg

figured I should try different proportions, too
http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/3066/kopievonmugestures77sl.jpg

extreme perspective I
http://img108.imageshack.us/img108/1366/mugestures819ab.jpg

extreme perspective II
http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/4058/mugestures827bp.jpg

[Rebeccak]

Nice work, Mr. Mu! :thumbsup:

I remember my first breakthrough like this...it felt really great! I finally felt as though I understood the secret to figure drawing, and I probably cackled a little maniacally...*ahem* :scream:

Great stuff, keep up the good work! :)

Cheers,

~Rk

[Mu]

first mastercopy.

many things wrong here (angles/proportions), but I figured I will do better with mileage under my belt so I quit it and let it be a start.

I downloaded 45 master drawings by Raffael and Da Vinci tonight....

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/671/raffael19wz.jpg

[Elsie]

Hey Mr. Mu ^^

Just dropping in to say that you've really improved throughout this thread, the proportions aswell as general presentation of your sketches :)

I especially like the collection of poses two posts above, the different proportions ones are very nice aswell as the extreme perspective - although in the extreme perspecive II on the right I think the guys legs should be a tad shorter? anyway, keep up the good work!

[Mu]

Hi Rebecca!

thanks for dropping by - I really appreciate this as I know you are not left with much time now.
It's cool to read you consider this a breakthrough and I guess you are right. I just felt much more confident with the drawings on this page than with anything I did before. I do have a good foundation to build on, now.
Also, my loosening up can be considered a breakthrough for all of us, I suppose?:scream: Much less german decision deadlocks...:D


Elsie! You know I absolutely admired your work in the OFDW12 and felt so glad on your behalf for the frontpage plug you received! And that's why I really appreciate your leaving a comment here. As for the legs: I am the wrong person to ask, really:scream:, but I guess you are right. I shall get better. Thanks again!

[woodyradica]

Hi Mr. Mu

Rebecca pointed me in the direction of your thread as im currently taking her class at the moment.

Its really nice to see your overall progress doing so many master copies and gestures really seems like the best way to improve.

Keep up the good work......:thumbsup:

Woody

[Ravena]

Hi Mr. Mu,

your gestures become ever better and your line too (and more sicherer). Fleißig, fleißig der Herr. :)

Ciao,
Ravena

[Mu]

ravena!

irgendwie ist das schön, mal auf Deutsch gelobt zu werden....:)


woodyradica!

great you joined her class! Judging from last workshop's results which were posted in this forum you will be doing great things soon and I am looking forward to your drawings!

I decided to join the Storyreel Micro Challenge which was introduced in the DSG. The goal is to do an animatic for a chase scene. I chose the Matrix script and will do the very first chase scene (with sexy trinity in her tight leather suit:drool: )
I never did a storyboard before, but as I dream of one day being able to create 2d-Animations I just had to take part.

This will maybe delay my mastercopies a bit, but I might squeeze some in if I get things done quick...

C&C always welcome, esp. from storyboard experienced fellow artists.

http://img377.imageshack.us/img377/6417/shot10dt.jpg

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/6553/shot26fr.jpg

[Rebeccak]

Nice stuff so far, Mr. Mu! I've alerted the proper authorities (Kirt) :D so let's see if he makes an appearance. :) Looks like you're putting some of his "Simple Theories" exercises to good use! :thumbsup:

Cheers, :)

~Rebeccak

[Kirt]

Hard to give a good crit from just two panels, but here you go ...

Loose the gritty texture and use flat shades if you want to communicate more info about your scene to the viewer. You can use special textures and effects when you doing the film. But for storyboards, simple and neat is much more effective.

[Mu]

Oh Wow!
Kirt, thanks for taking a look at this, and I agree, it's not very much to see.

I will give those two the flat shade treatment as you suggested and will repost them. You (and others, too ) might check out my appropriate thread for the challenge in the storyboard forum (http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?t=319653), as I might enlarge upon what the heck I was thinking more over there.

Thanks again, Kirt, appreciate every bit of help!

...and thanks Rebecca for leading the firefighters the right way:scream:

[Rebeccak]

Ha!!! I'll go the check out your thread now. :)

Cheers, :)

~Rk

[Mu]

quick update with the suggested flat shades. The shots read much better now, thanks Kirt!

I will do the sketches in Artrage as I like its pencil and flatshade it in Artweaver...

http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/2594/shot18yi.jpg

http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/8148/shot27oy.jpg

[Kirt]

Yes :thumbsup:
Much easier to see what's going on now.

[Mu]

aaaaand another one. God, seven days are short. I have a whole fight scene to do before I will be able to do the chase itself (challenge topic)...:eek:

http://img454.imageshack.us/img454/3717/shot32gr.jpg

[Mu]

update and overview, more details in the other thread (http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?t=319653)

http://img482.imageshack.us/img482/5990/storyboardoverview9ns.jpg

[Gord-MacDonald]

Hi Mr. Mu

You have been doing alot of hard work You are defintely making of progress. Good work and keep going!

Gord

[Mu]

Hi, Gord!

I really appreciate your comment as I admire your paintings a lot!

next panels:

http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/7834/shot125al.jpg

http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/5568/shot136xc.jpg

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/4691/shot147pp.jpg

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/5000/shot156rm.jpg

http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/4610/shot165lr.jpg

and an updated panel overview:

http://img108.imageshack.us/img108/3859/storyboardoverview7pp.jpg

Does anyone around here know how to extract audio from the original film for my animatic's audio soundtrack?
EDIT: forget it - found the answer... :)

[pushav]

Nice sequential storytelling Mr. Mu

[SpiritDreamer]

Hi... MR MU

Good story telling...a lot harder than it would seem LOL!!
Great exercise for the imagination.....GREAT JOB ...MR MU...:thumbsup:
Too bad you don't have your Painter program yet...would have made it a lot easier..layers ect.
Were you the only one doing this exercise, and how much time do you have left on it
just curious...........I have a few ideas that might help you out. :)

TAKE CARE
Glenn

[Mu]

Too bad you don't have your Painter program yet...would have made it a lot easier..layers ect.

ouch, yea rub it in...:D you know, things are just plain strange, the mailman with the package was standing there in front of the door with the Painter package and he left because some dickhead had removed the names on the door bells of the house (haha funny) so the distributor got the package back saying "unkown" and the dealer (after a phone call) is waiting now til the package arrives back to send it again.

That whole freaking delivery is jinxed I am telling you....



Were you the only one doing this exercise, and how much time do you have left on it
just curious...........I have a few ideas that might help you out. :)

Well it is too late for this Microchalleneg, but please let me know anyway as I am already settled to not let this be my last storyboard. And, besides, I always appreciate feedback and knowledge from you...

I am all ears!

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/8691/shot179yk.jpg

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/9318/shot188rx.jpg

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/5480/shot195ck.jpg

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/9660/shot203jg.jpg

http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/5606/shot218eq.jpg

[Rebeccak]

Mr. Mu,

You and Painter were just not meant to be! :sad: That's crazy! I really hope this gets sorted out soon...hasn't it been months? :eek:

You're doing a great job with your studies! Has anyone else entered the storyboarding competition? :)

Cheers,

~Rebeccak

[Mu]

Yes,

RaisedByWolves, Zyrinx and Wiggin have joined in!

http://forums.cgsociety.org/forumdisplay.php?f=156

My problem at the time being is that I won't be able to add soundtrack because I don't have the DVD at home. I went outside (you know, into that thing that is widely known as the real world) and tried to rent it at two video stores and both of them only had the crappy two other parts in store.

How strange is that?!

It's going to be a silent one, now. But it was fun, however, and a great step into this whole animation thing. When I was around 12 I loved to create flip-book films drawing stickfigures! And I only recently realized that with my newly relaunched draughtsmen career (:D ) I can revive this hobby-horse, too. Of course, PainterIX, with its animation features could be a big helper, here....

Argh, no, I accidentially reminded myself!

BTW, yes, Rebecca - it was somewhere at the beginning of January I first ordered it at the other dealer...

:rolleyes:

:cry:

[Rebeccak]

Awww, soon, Mr. Mu...you will take over the world!!! Muahahahaha!!! :scream: :applause:

There there...Painter will arrive...when it is time...:wise:

:D

Cheers, :)

~Rebeccak

[Mu]

*wipes a tear off his lower lid*

*straightens himself*


thank you!

[Rebeccak]

:D Hehe...thank goodness for ArtRage, then. ;)

Cheers, :)

~Rk

[Mu]

final panels


http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/3921/shot225fq.jpg

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/245/shot237iq.jpg

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/2507/shot247zs.jpg

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/8568/shot255oe.jpg

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/5457/shot266zu.jpg

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/9471/shot273jd.jpg

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/2220/shot284yx.jpg

http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/1112/shot296rj.jpg

[Mu]

http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/8710/shot307ct.jpg

http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/5194/shot314zd.jpg

Now I will go knit it all together

[Mu]

the finished story reel (http://rapidshare.de/files/14055973/MicroChallengeMatrix_0001.wmv.html)



It was fun! I will definitely be expanding on CG filmmaking in the long run... in the long long run...:D

[Rebeccak]

A big thank you, Mr. Mu. :)

Cheers,

~Rebeccak

[Mu]

it was my pleasure, you know.... :)

[SpiritDreamer]

Hi....MR MU...:wavey:

I am going to wait tell MRS SPIRIT DREAMER gets home from work, and let her open that surprize up...I don't want to mess up and lose it or something...she's the computer wizardtress
around here, not me....I just paint...:)

Talk to you later...:thumbsup:
TAKE CARE
Glenn

[SpiritDreamer]

WOW !! BEAUTIFUL..STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART AND A BEAUTIFUL HEART IT SOUNDS LIKE
Thought I was listening to Crosby Stills Nash and Young there for a moment
Thank you so much for shareing a piece of your heart with us...MR MU
IT will always be a treasure in our ...CHEST
Well I don't want to ramble on too long ...just want to tell you.....THANK YOU... and:wavey:
HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT AND BEAUTIFUL DAY, in return for makeing our day that way...:thumbsup:
TAKE CARE.....Marat

Glenn and Jessica // MR and MRS SPIRIT DREAMER...

[Mu]

Glad the two of you liked it.... again: it was my pleasure! :)

[Rebeccak]

If you haven't already, you should totally join the Challenge!

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/journey_begins/enter.php

Cheers, :)

~Rebeccak

[Mu]

Hello fellow Anatomy Forumites!

I joined the challenge based on my general approach of bold idiocy...:D

But I will give my best and already have an idea I really like. Also, this first sketch was fun to do and I like it very much, though it is os unrefined and sketchy.

Check out my thread (http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?t=323719) - I will put work into it and can use the assistance.


http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10148/10148_1141259002_large.jpg

[Mu]

two new character studies for the Challenge, Eldest and Youngling,


http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10148/10148_1141342485_medium.jpg


http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10148/10148_1141322911_medium.jpg

[SpiritDreamer]

Mr Mu:

The Lakota Sioux, a Plains Tribe in the US, former leaders Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, have a Sacred Place called the Black Hills. Considered the Center of their World. And where all the Spirits of their ancestors come from and return. And is where they seek their visions on their Vision Quest.
In the Australian Tribes the Center of their World is Ayers Rock. Serves the similar function as the Black Hills. They believe that is where all their ancestors spirits come from and return on their journey. Thier basic spiritual faith a belief is that life is a mystical existence and journey, and they call this journey "Dream Time". Is kind of like the philosophy the Chinese have of "Is life the dream or is the dream life." Any way not easy to explain in just a few words.
Might also read the words to my Master and Servant Challenge. Has similar thoughts of the earth being the container of spirit..

Here are a few links maybe can help with your research.

Ayer Rock and the Digeridoo:

http://aboriginalart.com.au/didgeridoo/what_is.html (http://aboriginalart.com.au/didgeridoo/what_is.html)
Lots of Digeridoos:
http://www.didgeswedoo.com.au/ (http://www.didgeswedoo.com.au/)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Aborigine_music (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Aborigine_music)
Google images of Ayers Rock:
http://images.google.com/images?q=ayer+rock&hl=en&btnG=Search+Images (http://images.google.com/images?q=ayer+rock&hl=en&btnG=Search+Images)
Beautiful photos of Ayers Rock with sunsets:
http://www.synaptic.bc.ca/gallery/uluru.htm (http://www.synaptic.bc.ca/gallery/uluru.htm)
Dream Time and pictures:
http://www.crystalinks.com/ayersrock.html (http://www.crystalinks.com/ayersrock.html)



Marat: Good luck on your Journey and your Vision Quest
Take Care
Glenn

[Rebeccak]

I'm really liking these latest sketches, Mr. Mu! :thumbsup:

[Mu]

I am happy with this one:

:)

http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/2305/dsg6430ru.jpg

[Rebeccak]

There's something really cool about this piece, and I can almost see it as a stylized animation, where the boat is rocking with the waves, and I can hear the sound of a foghorn...:)...it's really interesting how some things can spark your imagination, but I think this is a cool direction and possibly one worth exploring further.

Nice work Mr. Mu! :)

Cheers,

~Rebeccak

[SpiritDreamer]

Hi .....MR MU....:wavey:

The lines converging that I mentioned about for this painting in the Evocative section, where
you posted it ...are...the horizon line...the shore line of the big island, the top line of that island, and the figure that sticks up from the bow of the boat,...is that CHARON with an orr. That's what I keep seeing.....anyway, all of those lines or edges converge almost dead center
in the composition, and when I get to that point of convergence, is Charons head looking back at the figure sitting down, or at the destination. Right above the figure in the bow of the boat.
That's the area I was talking about....maybe define that area more, with distance,light, or object, or all three.
Also, stay away from dead center, convergence....a neat trick...take an unused picture matt,
cut it in half, top and bottom...now put both halves onto your painting...slide halves of matt
over each other to recompose your painting...make less sky, less bottom, away from center
ect.....good way to experiment with composition....hope I did not confuse you to much here
Just trying to keep you from falling into compositional traps.:)

TAKE CARE
Glenn

[Mu]

.the shore line of the big island, the top line of that island, and the figure that sticks up from the bow of the boat,...is that CHARON with an orr. That's what I keep seeing.....anyway, all of those lines or edges converge almost dead center

ah! now I understand!

Embarrasingly, avoiding dead center was one of the first things Kirt taught me in this workshop....:blush:
Ehem, I will keep an eye on that.

Thank you!

Here's another face. Basically I am trying to muster up the courage to start my character position sketches for the challenge...
*sigh*

until then, this:

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/6498/facestudy6tj.jpg

[Rebeccak]

Mr. Mu,

This image has a nice mood to it. :) Are you using reference? If not, I really recommend using reference ~ I think it will help put a lot of things into place You might prefer to start from imagination, and then look for similar ref. Just a thought. :)

Cheers,

~Rebeccak

[Mu]

Mr. Mu,

Are you using reference? If not, I really recommend using reference

You are right. I am having a hard time at the moment putting as much work into the paintings as I actually want to. Long boring story.

My Painter package actually just dissolved itself into nothingness on its way from my nephew (who did the purchase) to me. The German parcel service DHL lazed it away, it never arrived, and as my nephew did not make it an insured package my money's gone and the package not there...

Almost three months of the strangest incidents in connection with my attempt to get hold of this software passed and I am totally tired by now.
I am trying to think of a workflow which will allow me to work at the resolution the Challenge demands. I will have to swap to and fro between artweaver and artrage - dunno.

Alas! I am recovering from the main frustration right now and basically trying not to lose momentum over this bs. Sadly though, I felt it was the right time to step up and make use of more sophisticated tools.

Whatever.

(wow what an elaborate whitewash for my laziness about reference, eh?:scream: I will have to get to that for the challenge - thanks for not tiring of pointing that out to me, Rebecca :) )

[LoTekK]

Sucks about your copy of Painter. :(

You've got some interesting stuff going on here, nice perception of form. Nice mood in the campfire pic, too. I gotta salute you for using 100% opaque brushes, too, and getting decent form out of them. :) But yes, more reference! :)

[Rebeccak]

Oh man, I am really sorry to hear about this, Mr. Mu.

I really wish there were something I could do...

[Rebeccak]

Mr. Mu,

I've been asking around for you, and I was given this good advice:

"If it never arrived, then he should contact the people who make Painter. They should be able to see that he's not registered his license of it, so they may be willing to send a new copy of it."

Also, when you talk to them, see if you can change your order from the box version to (http://store.corel.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&mpe_id=10654&jspStoreDir=CorelUS&intv_id=21554&partNumber=OL_PF09&evtype=CpgnClick&langId=-1&catalogId=10103&ddkey=ClickInfo)the download version (http://store.corel.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&mpe_id=10654&jspStoreDir=CorelUS&intv_id=21554&partNumber=OL_PF09&evtype=CpgnClick&langId=-1&catalogId=10103&ddkey=ClickInfo). Then you don't have to worry about delivery. It's $10 cheaper, though you might want to order a backup cd if that's what they offer (I'm not sure about that, you should ask). Make sure to get the name of the person with whom you speak (sorry if I'm sounding like a dad, this is what my dad always tells me :D) so if something goes wrong with the download or whatever, you can always know who to call back.

Hope this helps. I'm still waiting to hear from someone who may or may not be able to help.

Cheers, :)

~Rebeccak

[Rebeccak]

Bear in mind Mr. Mu, that even if the package was delivered, you never registered the license. So assuming it was lost (and not stolen, and someone is secretly painting kittens in their basement ;)) you should still be able to get another copy for the price of shipping as mentioned in PM.

Cheers, :)

~Rebeccak

[Mu]

(and not stolen, and someone is secretly painting kittens in their basement ;))

...well if someone of the parcel service stole it it would be a perfect punishment: sitting in a basement, having to paint kittens...:scream:

thanks for everything you did today. I will try and contact them. We shall see.

:love:

[Rebeccak]

No problem. ;)

[erilaz]

Progressing along Mr. Mu! Keep on hammering. It's a pity about the painter. i hate when stuff like that happens...:sad:

[Mu]

LoTekk - thanks for visiting me in here... My brushes aren't always 100% opaque. I do use a round hard edged brush most of the time for sculting, though - if that's what you meant. If not, please be so kind as to thinkk of another compliment...:scream:

erilaz - thanks for your comment, man. Eventually, all shall be well. :beer:

I have always wondered how using reference for a piece that actually started from imagination would work. I mean, I was wondering "Do I have to look for the needle in the haystack and find the one photograph that is exactly like the object I painted?"

I just compiled a lot of three-quarter shots of young men and it works like a charm. Much better now, imho. Started a general remodeling of the forms. The eyes had to go for now. Will use more ref in the days to come for this and other stuff.
*sigh*
I wish I hadn't avoided this for so long. I figured I would feel limited somehow, but it's actually quite a release to not have to guess what the features look like.

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/8180/facestudy27ah.jpg

[Rebeccak]

Nice work, Mr. Mu! The bridge has been breached! The bridge has been breached! :D

Cheers, :)

~Rebeccak

[Mu]

after all this time your blitzposting still leaves me flabbergasted!:eek:

and, erm, yea... ref...:D You are free to ho declaim on "I told you so"

:D

It's the dawn of a new era...

:bounce:

[erilaz]

Hey mu, if you're ever stuck for reference, i'm pretty decent at finding it. Let me know.

[Mu]

erilaz - thanks - I will get back to it!

I noticed I need a schedule or something as there's so many activities with overlapping timeframes around here.

- The challenge is the all important goal. It is ongoing. I need to get that done.
- secondary goals: finishing the catcher in the Rye and that last portrait doodle.
- wishful thinking: finding the time to participate in the comic book challenge.

So, first of all I will finish that last portrait doodle, then come up with a final concept for the challenge and then finish the catcher in the Rye.

just an in-between doodle to reduce my schedule to absurdity:scream: :

"Don't be silly it's only a tree..."

http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/2656/treeghost4js.jpg

[Rebeccak]

Hey, that's really cool, Mr. Mu! I like this piece a lot ~ seems you are drawn to horror / mystery types of genres. :)

Cheers,

~Rebeccak

[Mu]

Rebecca - thanks! As for horror in general - I am actually a complete coward (I could not sleep with my copy of "It" in teh same room and eventually gave it away...:D :rolleyes: )

But, well, scaring others might be better :scream:

I forgot to add something very important to my schedule...


http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/9563/davincicover0fa.jpg

my copy of "Master Draughtsmen - Leonardo da Vinci" arrived the other day and now I have some 40 (+ another 50 from artrenewal.org) plates from raffael and da Vinci. So regular Master copies will be part of "the Schedule", too.



something completely different:

I never added this piece from the sketchathon, but I was fairly happy with it at the time:

http://img483.imageshack.us/img483/3581/olympicgymnasiast0ja.jpg

[Rebeccak]

Hey, great to hear you received your book! Heh, at least the postal system is not completely unreliable ay? :D I really look forward to seeing your master studies. :)

Cheers, :)

~Rebeccak

[SpiritDreamer]

Hi...MR MU...:)

Was thinking that a face like that one in the tree, might look good in one of those sacred
rocks, that go with the story of the DREAM TIME, which is the basis of your journey..:shrug:

Looks like a great book you just got....MRS SPIRIT DREAMER just got me a great book for
valentines day...Leonardo's Notebooks....Edited by H. Anna Suh ...GREAT BOOK...:thumbsup:

Like those studies you've been doing, looks like your really getting the hang of it, and each one
is looking better than the last....looking forward to seeing more thoughts on your journey...:applause:

TAKE CARE
Glenn

[Mu]

Heh, at least the postal system is not completely unreliable ay? :D
lol, yea... that uncomplicated delivery took me rather off guard. I mean, the package arrived and I was like..."what? just like that? No inquiring? Nothing messed up?":scream:



Was thinking that a face like that one in the tree, might look good in one of those sacred
rocks, that go with the story of the DREAM TIME, which is the basis of your journey..:shrug:

wow. Interesting idea. I will keep it in mind. :thumbsup:



just got me a great book for
valentines day...Leonardo's Notebooks....Edited by H. Anna Suh ...GREAT BOOK...:thumbsup:

I talked to a friend of mine today. She's a writer, too (she already published her book while I "only" short stories *envy*) and she told me how fascinated she was with his personality and the fact he wrote mirrored notes a.s.o. - so his notebooks must be a fascinating read! He was one of those universal geniuses - ingenious at everything he did. I hope science one day finds out he sucked at music, that would save me...:scream:

[Mu]

I officially hate this face. I completely remodeled it. I shaved off the hair. I needed to find out what the skull looked like again. Still using ref.
Concentrating on the planes and how they are aligned, the angles between them and such.

http://img460.imageshack.us/img460/3685/facestudy41lt.jpg

[Mu]

remodelling and tweaking and shifting and it always changes, but never gets any better.

Feel humiliated by this head in the meantime. Maybe it simply was too early to go for a finished painting from imagination, even with reference to keep me on track (which it doesn't somehow).
I obviously don't know my shit. Back to school for me. Next thing I post will be a mastercopy.

http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/9354/facestudy56ep.jpg

[Rebeccak]

Mr. Mu,

Don't be so hard on yourself! This is a good solid study, and I think the main bit is to try to blend the values a bit more. :) I am not very familiar with ArtRage, but may download it today.

I think people go overboard in their stressing of being able to draw from imagination. It's not the be all end all, it takes years of drawing from life and reference to be able to draw and paint from imagination. Some of these sayings get bandied about the internet and taken out of a real context. It is ultimately important to draw from imagination, but think about artists like Degas who drew from models until his death ~ MOST artists took life as their subject, so I don't see why it seems MORE important to some artists to be able to draw from imagination than from life. To me, it's a distortion of a principle.

Cheers, :)

~Rebeccak

[Rebeccak]

Mr. Mu,

I did a paintover of your piece ~ hope it helps!

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b380/rebeccak5/Anatomy%20Thread%20of%20Mr%20Mu/Head-Demo_Mr-Mu.jpg

I think the main bit is to blend the values and to really go after some darker darks in the skin tones ~ you tend to make everything too light, and then run out of value in the light range, which flattens things out. Also, where a light edge of the head / subject meets the background, make that area of the background darker, and vice versa. You don't have to make the bkgrd black, but just something darker to set the foreground object off.



Cheers, :)

~Rebeccak

[SpiritDreamer]

Hi...MR MU...:)

I have to agree with Rebecca on the points she just mentioned. I think that the original
thought or vision can be captured in a thumnail drawing, using just your imagination, but
to take it to it's completion, you are much better off working from life...will get a much better
result, from the real thing, than a generalized acount from your imagination.:)
THANKS FOR THE ...Z BRUSH information ...MR MU..will try it out shortly...:eek:

TAKE CARE
Glenn

[Mu]

Rebecca - thanks so much for this paintover. It looks so much better without being too far away from what I have so far - that makes it very comprehensible for me. Will study your advice in depth...:P

Spirit Dreamer - Yeah, I just came to the same conclusion. Without ref I am lost. Good to know, though and indeed: It'd make me much happier to be able to paint good by using ref than just being able to paint only so-so without ref... erm, heavy syntax... hope I got my point across...:scream:

[Rebeccak]

No problem, Murat. :) Glad it's helpful.

Cheers, :)

~Rebeccak

[Mu]

wow, this IS helpful...!

Darkness falls across the land...:scream:...meaning I darkened my overall values to give me more headroom. Also, I had to think of something zhuzhu said somewhere that along with hard edges it's important to use soft edges for proper blending, too. And as Rebecca also said my pics lacked blending I used that soft edged brush for the first time.

What can I say? It blends like magic. I can see why people say to not over do it, but seeing that I did not use it at all so far, I can't go wrong, can I? :D

first round:

http://img359.imageshack.us/img359/8200/facestudy61ys.jpg

[Rebeccak]

Wow, Murat! HUGE improvement! Keep up the excellent work, and keep going! :bounce:

Cheers, :)

~Rebeccak

[SpiritDreamer]

LOL!!....LOOK AT IT THIS WAY MR MU.you learned a lot about painting in the IMPASTO STYLE:scream: ....

That blending looks good...sometimes it looks good, when you go on top of the blends with
the impasto brush strokes, and just feather the edges of the impasto brushstroks a little, just
to soften their edges a little, and leave crisp surface of brush stroke in center of stroke.
Now ...you do know what impasto brush strokes are ....DON'T YOU ....LMAO...:bounce: :)

TAKE CARE
Glenn

[Mu]

you do know what impasto brush strokes are ....DON'T YOU

mmmm...Impasto Bolognese! Yummy...:D

:scream:

cool tip with leaving the crisp surface in the center will try it - after I got round to giving this two more treatments of blending and widening value range.

:thumbsup:

[Mu]

round 2 (I am starting to sound like that voice in Tekken...:scream: )


http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/6393/facestudy78ol.jpg

[Rebeccak]

Wow, Murat! Now that is what I call fast progress! :thumbsup:

Cheers, :)

~Rebeccak

[Mu]

round 3

slowly getting there. Most important improvement above all visible ones is that I get a feeling for how you can subtly change the whole appearance with a few blending strokes. It's fun - but not finished...

http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/2701/facestudy88uv.jpg

[Rebeccak]

Great progress, Murat! I would suggest finding reference for the ear...but I know how that goes...:D :scream:

[Mu]

Hey Rebecca,

What's wrong with the ear? I consider it finished....:scream:


No, seriously,
I learned how to break myself of the bad habit of not using ref... I was thinking that I will probably give him a hairdo (when I fixed his nose and some of the facial planes, that is) so I don't even know if the ear will be visible after all.

But, anyway, thanks again for your fantastic paintover. I realized I absolutely did not get what you meant by "more blending" and now it opened another new door for me.

:thumbsup:

I do want to get this finished soon though in order to come up with something new for the challenge and make it a good habit to draw mastercopies...

[Rebeccak]

Sounds good! :) I look forward to your master copies...given how quickly you are picking up digital painting, I've no doubt that you would produce some nice pieces. :)

[LoTekK]

Coming along nicely, Mu! The portrait piece is looking pretty good so far, but I feel like you're detailing unevenly; as in, you've got the eyes done up nice and tight, along with the nose and mouth, but the rest is completely undefined. Try detailing in stages, to some extent, so that you push detail all over the piece in somewhat equal measure. There was a bit in one of the Scott Robertson Gnomon DVDs that summed up a good reason for this: if you decide you're bored of the piece, and it's basically been detailed to a mostly equal level throughout, you're okay. However, if you've detailed the heck out of, say, an eye, but left the rest of the painting undefined, you can't very well drop it and say it looks finished. :)

But keep it up! Looking forward to your progress.

[Mu]

Hey Lotekk - good advice about applying only one level of detail to a subject, but to be quite frank as of yet I am not sure about how to apply detail to, say, a cheek....:D
We shall see...

_______________________

I remember the first time I saw zhuzhu's watercolor tutorial I was totally electrified. I had the feeling that "anything goes" digitally, as watercolor is the most chaotic medium I could think of.

I realized it was for Photoshop, though, which I did and do not own.

However, when I learned to control Artweaver (http://www.artweaver.de)'s brush creating capabilities one of the first project was to create watercolor brushes. So I used my own set of watercolor brushes for this (link in the sig...)

With these I followed Zhuzhu's tutorial, making use of the GIMP (http://www.gimp.org/)at times (to be precise: when Zhu recommended using the levels dialog box in PS I used the GIMP on the exported layer which held the colour).

Also, I did not apply the paper texture to the whole canvas but only to parts of it as Artweaver allows a brush to only apply texture (with pressure control over its sharpness a.s.o.)

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/1092/zhutestingexport0ax.jpg

[Rebeccak]

I quite admire your experimentation, Murat! Would you like a paintover to show some areas that might be corrected in terms of drawing? Up to you. :)

Cheers,

~Rebeccak

[Mu]

Rebecca - thank you. And as concerns paintovers and actually anything you have to say...

err... let me make this official:

_________________________________
Certificate Of Counselorship

This is to certify that Murat Kayi, the beginner in the following, considers Rebecca Kimmel, the wise woman in the following, his official counselor and teacher.

Subject matter of this certificate are blunders, fumble-driven weak concepts, blunt incompotence and various other occurrences of beginnership on the part of the beginner.

Paintovers, subtle or broad hints, laughing and pointing, as well as praise and backslapping are hereby encouraged, allowed and appreciated on any occasion.
_________________________________

think this should settle this question once and for all...:D

Meanwhile at his desk....
Here's an update on the facestudy. I tried to correct the nose and facial planes as well as give more detail to the lips and the cheeks and the eyes.
I also experimented with texture, but that I will only reveal later on. Thinking about a hairdo, but only udercover...
I increased contrast...with sliders this time around, because I know what I am doing...hehe God, feels good to say that! :scream:

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/6672/facestudy94ox.jpg

[Rebeccak]

Murat,

Very funny! :scream: And very nice work with the portrait! Very impressive progress! :thumbsup:

Okay, below is a paintover gif:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b380/rebeccak5/Anatomy%20Thread%20of%20Mr%20Mu/Mu-Review-02_paintover.gif

and the paintover jpg:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b380/rebeccak5/Anatomy%20Thread%20of%20Mr%20Mu/Mu-Review-02.jpg


I think the key is to focus on the structure of the ribcage and pelvis, and to think of them as basic forms: the rib cage / upper torso can be thought of as sort of a box, as well as can the pelvis / lower torso. Always find the center line of the body, and find the center line of the face. The axes of the features of the face ~ brow, eyes, nose, lips, chin, etc. ~ will all be parallel to one another, no matter what the angle.

Hope this helps. :)

Cheers,

~Rebeccak

[Mu]

here's his hairdo. Think it's pretty obvious whose tutorial I followed for it.

Consulted some navajo portraits - had the feeling he was sort of native american.

Next things will be final round on the face and skin textures as well as background (simple one)

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/7263/facestudyhairdo4hp.jpg

[SpiritDreamer]

Hi...MR MU...:wavey:

Maybe just a little more cheekbone on far side, corner of mouth for expression, raise center arch line of nose maybe,....depending on what age you are going for. I think you have come a long ways in a very short time....really nice job...:thumbsup:

TAKE CARE
Glenn

[Mu]

Maybe just a little more cheekbone on far side, corner of mouth for expression, raise center arch line of nose maybe


hey, excellent hints - all three of them!

[Mu]

followed Glenn's advice, concentrated on the mouth in general, too. Next thing: skin textures


http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/9104/facestudyhairdo23ny.jpg

[Mu]

experimentation on skin texture...
followed a neb tutorial for it. Problem is I am missing a suggested layer mode, but it might work with an equivalent in my app. Also important is to somehow separately do the eyelids and the nostrils as well as the lips.

more testing necessary though...


http://img439.imageshack.us/img439/3087/skintexturetest2ui.jpg

[Rebeccak]

Murat,

First I want to say that I'm sorry to see the name "Mr. Mu" go the way of the Dodo bird! :cry: I really liked that user name, but I'm guessing you had to change it to get a CGPortfolio account. Ah, well, we can't have it all ~ and CGP is definitely worth it. But "Mr. Mu" had a certain charm. It will be missed. :)

Your painting is coming along terrifically! I think the key is, again, to find reference!!! ;) You've taken it to this point, but the very least step would be to find reference for the eyes ~ I think this will help you to determine the gender of this person, who currently looks a bit gender neutral. :) But you are making great strides here, and I really look forward to seeing how far you push your skills ~ I admire your willingness to try new things and to experiment, and I think with a lot of work, you will really start to produce some nice works. :)

Cheers,

~Rebeccak

[Mu]

First I want to say that I'm sorry to see the name "Mr. Mu" go the way of the Dodo bird! :cry: I really liked that user name, but I'm guessing you had to change it to get a CGPortfolio account. Ah, well, we can't have it all ~ and CGP is definitely worth it. But "Mr. Mu" had a certain charm. It will be missed. :)


Tell me about it! I always had to think about Peter Lorre and Mr. Moto when typing in my username, but alas! the names they are a-changing...


Your painting is coming along terrifically! I think the key is, again, to find reference!!! ;) You've taken it to this point, but the very least step would be to find reference for the eyes ~ I think this will help you to determine the gender of this person, who currently looks a bit gender neutral. :)


Yea, I was wondering myself what gender this should be. And apart from the eyes I still don't know about the lips and the cheeks either... but it's not finished yet...



But you are making great strides here, and I really look forward to seeing how far you push your skills ~ I admire your willingness to try new things and to experiment, and I think with a lot of work, you will really start to produce some nice works. :)


thank you, and I really should, considering I gave away the "Mr." to showcase them properly...:D

[Jack Shannon]

Mr Mu,

Wow, I admire your experimentation. I agree with Rebecca about finding referance, you've got really far without one but it needs more.

So, now that you've got tone and form sussed, will you be experimenting with colour maybe?

I miss the Mr. too, but you'll always be Mr Mu to me. :) How do you change your name btw, because I need to change mine so I can buy a cg portfolio.

~Jack

[Mu]

Hi Jack,

colour will have to wait a little, I am afr