Figure drawing

[lowlight]

Not bad so far, but remember, it doesn't mtter how realistic the shading is if the underlying structure is incorrect. I can't go into all of the details, but I can point out a few things:

- An average male's elbo area, the spot where the forearm and upperarm meet, "always lines up with his "belly-button" or navel area. It can usually be off by a few cm, but that's usually the rule as far as anatmoic illustration goes. Females on the other hand have their elbow area lie about 1/3of a head measurement "above" the navel; give or take a bit. I say all of this for the mere fact that your character's arm is off in the image in respect to his ribcage and navel.


- When illustrating we often get caught up with objects as we know them in the world, rather than observing the lines that are created by the breakup of the objects placement. In this case, you've preoccupied yourself with detailing certain structures of the legs rather than maintaining the contour that would be/was created by the model; in short, one leg looks plastered over the other. Try simpy drawing the "lines", created by the the break up of his body, and try not to think of the body parts your trying to create; Open up your Right Brain and shut down the Left Brain.


That's about all I can say for the moment. If you haven't done so already, I'd suggest giving the book called "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" a good reading. I can't recall the author's name, but I'm sure you'll improve quite quickly after you've read it! :thumbsup: Good Luck.

[j e e v]

Well, lowlight thanks for your comment. Let me tell you that I got feeble knowledge about the anatomy. So, I may have used the shading to cover that up. Actually, I'm not satisfied with the scanning. What you call as "plastering effect" is also happening due to this.

Concerning the right elbow, I've tried to make the model put 1/3 of the weight on the pillar. So, I wanted the elbow to be pushed up and pressed a bit. It might have got too small to be called an elbow. I should have pushed the shoulder bone a bit higher.

Yes, I do understand that lines are very important. I did start the legs with a continuous rough contour in about a minute.. I love light and shade so much that it must have overwhelmed the outline. Also, the lines in this scanned image unfortunately got blurred. I got to darken them a bit.

Yeah, my teacher also showed the book along with 'The Natural Way of Drawing'. He also taught me about the importance of scribbling and using the right brain. But, I didn't give it a real push.

Finally, thanks for the emoticon, the really is kicking me. Thanks

[lowlight]

:)


Good, I'm glad your teacher was able to show you some of that; please don't take his/her advice for granted, believe me. I found out the hard way on this issue myself when I was going to school; the image always "looked" good but was never proportionate. You should, as you say, "give it a push"; you may like the outcome of what you get and it really is rather light reading IMHO. As far as having "feeble knowledge" of anatomy, don't let that discourage your human illustration endeavours; you'll have to know eventually. There are actually plenty of free resources available to digital painter's/artists as far as anatomy goes. For example, I here that the "Loomis" book of illustration was posted up somewhere on the net some time ago for reference purposes. Loomis (I can't recall his first name), was a very effective graphic design artist back in the 50's/60's and wrote many books on the subject to help aide newcomers to the field of commercial design (back then).

Anyway, I also suggest giving that at least a lookover, if not "Grey's Encyclopedia of Anotomy". You don't have to study it, just use it as a reference for situations like these. I appreciate your interest in form and light, and how light actually "forms" objects in 3D space effectively...but remember that even a house has to have a foundation; contour lines in this case. It doesn't really matter what medium you work in, be it watercolor, oils, pen, or even ketchup (my personal fav :xtreme: ) contours are independant and must be maintained. :cool: Again, I wish you luck

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