Sketchbook Thread of HladekStepan

[NR43]

Hi

nice thread start :)
Couldn't find the reference for this piece. Her right arm seems out of proportion though...

Hope to see more soon!

[Rebeccak]

HladekStepan,

Welcome! :) Good to see you start a thread here. Is there any particular reason why you want to approach the figure via speedpaintings? I would love to see you work on an extended piece, and recommend starting with the skull painting exercise linked here (http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?t=403198).

Looking forward to seeing more of your work! :)

Cheers,

-Rebeccak

[HladekStepan]

Hi Rebecakk
Thanks for welcoming me so nicely :)
I think I generally need more practice on my painting and drawing...and copying old masters is supposedly a good way to achieve that, as the tradition tells us :wise:
And at the same time I'm kind of busy lately - so speedpainting is my choice for now. But I'd like to spend some more time with this one, it's a really nice nude (meaning the original reference of course - hope I can find it somewhere else than Pijoan). Btw you're absolutely right about her head, so it looks like head studies for me:D

NR43
Thank you:). Hopefully I'll google it up soon.
Didn't see that before/repaint it later.

[sturmkim]

welcome and show us more!

[HladekStepan]

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p234/stepus/skullstudy2.jpg

male skull

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p234/stepus/skullstudy1.jpg

female skull

both done this morning :)

the edges look all crappy, but then again, it's just to get practice,right?

no,seriously, I have to do better than this. :sad:

[HladekStepan]

http://www.the-athenaeum.org/art/display_image.php?id=46013

this is the reference for the nude...

[HladekStepan]

yesterday I attempted to copy one of Goya's paintings - and although the result's nowhere close to being an exact copy, I'm still kinda happy about it :)

click the thumb to get larger image...

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p234/stepus/th_LazarilloDeTormes.jpg (http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p234/stepus/LazarilloDeTormes.jpg)

[HladekStepan]

ok, I took a short break from painting to try a little 3d work. I'm not quite sure it belongs in this forum - but it's just sketches from now on,I promise:)

used Cinema and Photoshop; a sort of excersise to get familiar with cinema4d;


http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p234/stepus/hauntedcastle.jpg

and another one...

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p234/stepus/hauntedcastle2.jpg

[HladekStepan]

I did this one yesterday as a part of a long-term project (painting-caricature of a punkrock band). So I already have two heads out of five or six,cool,huh? :)

http://features.cgsociety.org/gallerycrits/235349/235349_1165060061_large.jpg

[HladekStepan]

how do I make the image appear smaller in the post?

[NR43]

resize it to maximum 800px width to prevent visitors of your thread having to scroll horizontally ;)

(use any photo editing software you have for this)

[HladekStepan]

hi NR43

*sigh*
so there's no way of doing this via IMG code? too bad.:sad:
I thought you could set the image size to 50percent while writing your post or st like that.

Thanx for visiting my thread (and sharing knowledge) :)

[HladekStepan]

took me about 6 hours in Photohop; originally it was meant only as a sketch, but I coludn't resist trying to finish it (off... :) )
I'm sure there's a few problems involved, only I can't see them - perhaps I could get some help here?

http://features.cgsociety.org/gallerycrits/235349/235349_1165486609_large.jpg

[NR43]

Hi HladekStepan

great study!
could you provide a link to the ref perhaps?
it seems to me the right upper leg appears a bit too big (hamstrings), it should be in one line with where it meets the calf muscle

otherwise, very interesting pose and I like the skintones

[SpiritDreamer]

Hi...HladekStepan...:)

Nice things starting to happen in that last figure that you posted...:thumbsup:
Really pays off better, to take your time on these figures...will learn more in the end...:)
One thing that I notice in your work, is you are getting a cutout / stencled look,in the figures, due to the outter edges not blending into and joining the background...like they are two seperate elements in your paintings
An easy way to keep this from happening, is to start out with a deep, almost black PURPLE background...drag or blend some of that purple into the figures edges and shadow areas...will look great with that copper, bronze, gold flesh color you are getting in the figure.
This technique was used by a lot of the old masters, and still works today..:scream:
It creates COLOR HARMONY, and gives the painting a ONENESS, or UNITY.
Nice progress in your work....looking forward to seeing more...:thumbsup:
TAKE CARE
Glenn

[HladekStepan]

hi NR43
thanx. I found the reference somewhere on DA a few days ago, but,shame on me, I didn't get the adress or the author. I'll try to track it back and not to make the same mistake again, so that I can credit the author of photo reference in the future.

As for the anatomy, I flipped my canvas shortly after posting this and came to similar conclusion - the knee of her left leg should end more on the left, not touching the elbow at all. I hope I can hold myself back next time, and to review my work a bit more before posting it.

I guess I could put the reference on PhotoBucket, but I think it's too nude for that:)

[SpiritDreamer]

Hi...HladekStepan..:)

I think the figure looks fine, just needs the outter edges worked on...you want less hardness
on those edges...hard edges tend to flatten the form...you want soft looking flesh...yes..:scream:
If you have time, and want to,..take a look at the first page of my skech book / anatomy thread...you will see what effect that purple background that I mentioned above, can have on the figure, when blended into the figure....creats atmosphere...AIR...in the painting..:)
TAKE CARE
Glenn

[NR43]

I think the figure looks fine, just needs the outter edges worked on...

HladekStepan
If Spiritdreamer corrects me... he knows a looooot more about anatomy than me. ;)
Also check out his sketchbook thread if you have the chance... wonderful ride that is :D

[SpiritDreamer]

HEY....Johan....LOL..:scream: ....You type too fast...I didn't see your post,before I posted mine ...was slowly typeing mine, with one finger as usual...:scream: ....Your probably right about the thigh on her, unless it is
compressed and widened by the weight and action of her arm pulling her knees into her chest:shrug: ....In any case, I didn't mean for what I said to come across as me corecting you..:scream:
You have a pretty good handle on anatomy,.... seems like to me anyway.........:thumbsup:
I will just have to learn to type faster, maybe use two fingers.....LOL...:scream:
TAKE CARE
Glenn

[NR43]

Oh man Glenn I want you to correct me. The truth is you have a lifetime more experience than me :D
I don't want to tell people things that don't make sense

1 finger eh wow, and your posts are always so elaborately illustrated :D

anayway,
apologies for highjacking your thread here HladekStepan
We are both really looking forward to see an update!

[HladekStepan]

Hi Spirit
No need to talk of hijacking my looserthread :scream: at least it looks longer. No, really, I'm pleased, honoured and encouraged by your kind attention. Same goes for NR43:).

I'll definitely try to make most of your advice on sfumato (is that what it's called?), edges and all that. Update coming soon, I really need to tackle that anatomy monster :D

As for your thread, I come back to it now and then, but don't feel like posting any comments - for obvious reason:)

Thanx once again,
Stepan

[HladekStepan]

just a quick sketch done this morning.

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p234/stepus/hand1.jpg

[SpiritDreamer]

:) Hi...HladekStepan..:thumbsup:
LOL..:scream: ...There are no losers, or loser threads in this forum...everyone in here is a winner..:thumbsup:
We are all at different stages of developement in our knowlage of art. The only loser that I can think of, would be someone who thinks that they know it all.The more a person knows about art, the more they should realize, that they know nothing about art.
It's that realization that keeps the journy alive, and makes it an adventure worth traveling, and exploring....:bounce: :)

I like what you did with that hand....now, if you want to take it further, you could do what Caravaggio would do to it....bring the parts that are closest to the viewer into focus, by bringing out the details,..harder, more defined edges, and interior surfaces, ect. and leave out more and more details as it recedes into shadow, and becomes vague and softer.

I also like the way you painted that Goya painting..my favorite artist of all time, or at least one of them for sure.
If you like his work, you might want to take just a small piece of one of his paintings to start with,..maybe a hand, or face even,..and see how close you can come to reproducing it.
This is a GREAT way to learn and advance your knowlage...just take your time, and really take the time to see every little detail that he put into that hand or face.
When you do these exercises, all that little information gets recorded and trapped in your memory, and will show itself in your future works, making them better as you go forward.
There is no magic to it, ..It is just a matter of learning to see, and using what you have seen, on what you are creating at the moment...:)
Hope these words help you, ...and don't ever or even be intimadated by anyone on this forum...MYSELF INCLUDED...We are all in the same boat here, and we are all here to learn.
You and everyone in this forum, are always welcome to state your opinions, views ect. concerning my work or whatever in my thread.....I DON'T BITE, MOST OF THE TIME ANYWAY..LOL:scream:
TAKE CARE
Glenn

[HladekStepan]

:) Hi...HladekStepan..:thumbsup:
LOL..:scream: ...There are no losers, or loser threads in this forum...everyone in here is a winner..:thumbsup:
We are all at different stages of developement in our knowlage of art. The only loser that I can think of, would be someone who thinks that they know it all.The more a person knows about art, the more they should realize, that they know nothing about art.
It's that realization that keeps the journy alive, and makes it an adventure worth traveling, and exploring....:bounce: :)

Hi Spirit
thank you for writing this - it pretty much sums up the reasons why I like this forum so much. btw I wish I knew there was something like that a couple years ago...:) I don't think I'm all that timid, just trying to be polite - maybe I overdo it time to time.

yeah, Goya rocks :buttrock:
thanks for tips, I'll definitely give a try that Carrvagio detail study.:)

Later, Stepan

[HladekStepan]

2 sketches / portraits done in ArtRage; each took less than an hour (it shows); first one is my roommate Zdenek and done with live reference, other one I sketched down in a cafe in Budweis and copied with wacom later. well, speedpainting at last! :scream:

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p234/stepus/zdenekbarva.jpg http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p234/stepus/herecka.jpg

[HladekStepan]

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p234/stepus/skull.jpg

another skull attempt, hope it's better this time :)


http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p234/stepus/skull2.jpg

a little update

[Rebeccak]

HladekStepan,

Very nice to see your progress here, the figurative study you have on page 1 is particularly nice - I think when you really buckle down and concentrate, you produce some lovely work. :)

Really liking the skull so far, my recommendation if I may would be to create a few swatches of color, tints (lighter versions) and shades (darker versions) of the existing hues you have so far, and then directly paint to build up the lights and darks and give emphasis to the areas where you want to lead the eye. Liking the moodiness to your tones and handling of the shading, and looking forward to more.

Happy New Year! :)

[HladekStepan]

Hi Rebeccak :)
Happy new year to you also. Thanks for advice (very much welcome indeed), I'll try to stick to one piece for a longer period - I always feel like I'm done too soon (probably general laziness :D)

I'll go swatches then, update coming soon...

As for the New Year, I played around with C4d and Photoshop a bit... here's the resulting PF:

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p234/stepus/PF07PA.jpg

and some ballpointpen sketches from the train to Budweis:

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p234/stepus/ruceCGS.jpg

(finally I got me a scanner, so I'm still pretty much overwhelmed with the new possibilities:))

[HladekStepan]

well, posting sketches seems quite addictive :scream:
this time it's my grandparents - I hope to paint a nice portrait for them later...

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p234/stepus/grandparentssketch.jpg

[HladekStepan]

the story goes like this: the female character has discovered a secret passageway behind her dresser, leading into a sort of secret underground base (how original :D).
I tried to capture the moment she enters a commandroom and is confronted with it's long dead occupants...

Used a pencil drawing for the character; still in a very sketchy stage.

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p234/stepus/skeletalparty1.jpg

worked some more today :bounce:- only a small update though.

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p234/stepus/skeletalparty2.jpg

[HladekStepan]

quick sketch (not really a study - got no reference - wish I had a nice polished skull in my room:scream: ) for the wip:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p234/stepus/lebkydoSPweb.jpg

[NR43]

Hey

Nice work HladekStepan

One thing I might suggest is when you draw a head, skull or anything else, to try to see it as a 3D object. Try to create mass, almost as if it can be touched. It is up to us artists to create the illusion towards the viewers they are looking at a real object/person, not just a sketch on paper or (digital) canvas, which is only 2D

Why not draw a few real life objects as an exercise? Use traditional media if you can. Pencil and paper is ideal for this. Carefully observe, then simulate where you want your line to be drawn a few times, then draw the line and move on to the next part of the object you want to draw. This will show you what I am trying to explain above.

you're doing great, keep going!

edit: forgot to mention... I think you would benefit from doing some perspective exercises as well... think about it... no work/studies you do are a waste of time... they all come in handy later on... ;)

[HladekStepan]

hi nr43
yeah,guess you're right - it all looks kind of flat. I think I got spoiled by 3d sw :D. Really, haven't done anything like stilllife study or anzthing with a lot of perspective in it for ages... well that's next. as soon as I finish this one:scream:
and I'll straighten it up a little...promise. :)

I hope for the lightning to save this dull interior a bit too.

Thanks for droping a line.

[HladekStepan]

worked on them skeleton guys a little :)
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p234/stepus/skeletalparty3.jpg

[HladekStepan]

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p234/stepus/skeletalparty4.jpg

worked some more on the background, I guess I want it less smudged out (and more sci-fi, yes:D)

[HladekStepan]

this is what i did for the OFDW20.

Choice 04:
Lord Frederick Leighton (1830-1896)
Clytemnestra



http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p234/stepus/ClytemnestraFin.jpg

[NR43]

Your OFDW piece came out really nice
well done. (I still have to finish myself argh and i only have a couple of hours on jan 10th left )

[HladekStepan]

hi Johan
thanks, guess it's not all I've expected to be :D
I'm looking forward to seeing yours finished, looks a lot more elaborate than mine. :drool:
Anyway, no more effort till the deadline from here, bussy :beer:

[HladekStepan]

still quite a lot left to do, but I'm finally done with the basic layout. :arteest:

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p234/stepus/skeletalparty5.jpg

[NR43]

you know the girl's legs seem awefully short... you might want to fix that ;)

[HladekStepan]

hey, thanks Johan, haven't noticed that...oh well, I'll try to fix that later.
for now I've experimented with lightning a bit - how about some spooky green light? :scream:

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p234/stepus/SecretPassageLight1.jpg

[SylvanMist]

Hi there. I think your proportions are off on the girl. And on her right hand, her finger that you kinda colored brown, you should make it the same color as the rest of her skin tone..maybe only slightly darker, right now it's really darker and it doesn't look like her finger.

You might also want to check out Steven Stahlberg's paintover thread:
http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?f=199&t=359226

He can help you get the right foot on the ground especially with regards to anatomy things & lighting.

Good job on the master copy! It really does help to learn more by copying and using photo references :)

[NR43]

You should think about composition as well. I'm missing a focal point. Right now my eyes don't seem to find their way... donnow where to look first, if you know what I mean.
the skeleton on the right, having it's head cut out of the image partly really disturbs me.

It's good that you experiment with different lighting situations.
Think about where the light is coming from, why is it coming from this or that certain direction and not from another? Which elements in your scene will be affected by it?
For example, the chairs are lit from a light source coming from the viewers direction, but positioned very low, just above the ground. I think part of the skeletons should be affected by that same light.
It is always a good idea to plan your light sources at a very early stage.

Anyway,
there are a million things to say about using light.
There is a lot to find about this on these lovely forums. (use the search button ;) )
Also there are some interesting tutorials on www.imaginefx.com (http://www.imaginefx.com)

Each and every one of them will talk about light at one point or another...

Hope this helps and you will keep pushing yourself :)

greetz,
43

[HladekStepan]

hi Roja and nr43
thank you :)
Of course there are masses of errors in this piece - and yeah, I'll keep on pushing it :thumbsup:

the composition: yes you're right. kind of bleak. I was thinking like putting a falling torch light somewhere bottom right of the girl - it would change the lightning and give the scene a focal point...
the right skeleton needs to be completed - perhaps I should change it's pose as such? His head seems rather disturbing, not just the clipping but proportions as well...good point.

the light: supposedly coming out of that litlle green dot that looks like being pasted there:D
thanks for tips nr43, I'll give it more attention, update coming up.

Roja, I think the thumb really got too much shade - shall fix it right away. the proportions - could it perhaps be that her legs are too short? :scream:. Thanks for the comment, I really appreciate it

later
Stepan

[HladekStepan]

okay, I finally managed to get back to this...
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p234/stepus/discoveryFinalCGS.jpg

[HladekStepan]

guess I need to study some more :argh:

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p234/stepus/legarm.jpg

[Cyanid]

hi,

I like the wip so far! nice expression and movement.
There are some problems with the lightning. The only lightsource is the flashlight,
So her body is only lit from that source. The lightning on her hair therefor is nog good...it seems like the light comes from above. What NR43 said ;)
Also I can not see whats going on in the dark place...is that some kind of electronics?

Keep it up, you'll learn a lot from it.

Cyanid

[NR43]

Hey I like your anatomy studies! I hope to see more of those soon!

Your painting is a lot better already!
Much more tension now... sure it still needs some work, but definetely a huge improvement... only by changing the light... Imagine what would it will be like when you improve on the other aspects of digital painting :)

Keep going you're improving a lot!

[HladekStepan]

hi Cyanid
thanks for dropping by. I'm glad you like the wip, though I only recently realized it needs to be started over again. So I'm back on pencil sketch now. Yeah, the strange stuff back in the shadows is supposedly some sort of futuristic high-tech whatever :D. But I think this time I'll just draw the whole thing, no cheating with Photoshop :scream: It doesn't look good anyway and feels weird with those figures. And, I hope to get little bit more space and 3d in there next time...we shall see.
Yes,learning is what I'm here for :thumbsup:

hi NR43
well, no more studies yet. just a little 3d enviroment attempt (the theme comes from a czech novel). Perhaps I'll learn something about lightning that way? :shrug:

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p234/stepus/tleskacPA.jpg

[HladekStepan]

alright, I started over on this one. hope I got rid of that flatness in the composition. :twisted:

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p234/stepus/SPstage1.jpg

[HladekStepan]

a few ballpoint pen sketches I did on train:)

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p234/stepus/Skbook1.jpg


http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p234/stepus/SKbook3.jpg

the dragon looks kind of dumb I'm afraid :D

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p234/stepus/SKbook2.jpg

skulls, skulls and more skulls

[NR43]

Well I like the dragon.
His legs bother me a bit but overall it's a great sketch
Maybe worth putting some extra effort in this in your favourite painting program :D

[HladekStepan]

I got back to the wip again, a small update:

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p234/stepus/SPstage2.jpg

I tried to keep this in perspective, but there definitely are weak points. I want the skeleton on the right to be leaning in a drunk-like way, grasping his bottle:)

[HladekStepan]

I tried playing with c4d a little, shame my HW doesn't allow me to do more complex stuff.
[/url][url="http://s129.photobucket.com/albums/p234/stepus/?action=view&current=dr3preview.flv"]http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p234/stepus/th_dr3preview.jpg (http://s129.photobucket.com/albums/p234/stepus/?action=view&current=dr3preview.flv)

[Rebeccak]

Really liking the focus of the grayscale piece, keep pushing that! :)

[HladekStepan]

yeah, I found out it really pays off to give that a lot of time:D
thanks for dropping by,Rebeccak

[HladekStepan]

I'd like to try my hand on new OFDW theme ... so this here's a little warm-up...I hope to come across a decent devil this way:)

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p234/stepus/3certiPA.jpg

personally I like the one on the left best (actually last one to get done)...more to come...

[NR43]

nice devil heads...
now try adding an expression on the faces... squint some eyes, lift some lips to show some threatening teeth,...

keep at it!

[HladekStepan]

a prehistoric landscape detail:

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p234/stepus/trilobitiWebPA.jpg

[HladekStepan]

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p234/stepus/DevilsInHellCGS.jpg

I hope tol get this finished one of those days...

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