Imaginative Figure Workshop #001: Self Portrait As A Creature


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            [b][size=2]Background image courtesy of [i][Antropus](http://antropus.cgsociety.org/gallery/)[/i] (thanks Kris!)

[size=3][color=PaleGreen]EDIT: DEADLINE EXTENSION TO THURS., FEB. 19[/color][/size][/b][/size][b][size=2][size=3][color=PaleGreen][/color][/size][/b][/size][size=2]
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EDIT: VOTE ON THE TOPIC FOR THE NEXT WORKSHOP!
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Imaginative Figure Drawing Workshop #001 - Self Portrait As A Creature

[b][i]*2D or 3D[/i][/b][b][i]*[/i][/b]
                 
                 
                 For this Workshop, I invite you to [b]reimagine yourself as a creature[/b]. It's up to you as to what creature that may be, but you must [b]combine your own portrait with that of an animal or fictional creature[/b].
                 
                 You need only create the[b] face / neck and the top of the shoulders[/b] - no body, unless you really want to go for it. Go for [b][i]QUALITY[/i][/b], not quantity in this piece. Polish this drawing / digital painting up to the best of your abilities! 
                 
                 [b]Some General Guidelines (mostly applicable to 2D but can be adapted for 3D):[/b]
       
                 
                 For those of you with your own process, feel free to ignore this part. But for those of you without a working method, you may find the following guidelines useful:
                 
                [b][i]Part 1[/i][i]:[/i][/b] [b]Decide on a creature and do your Research[/b]
                 
                 Decide what creature that you want to combine with your self portrait. This can be a real life animal or any fictional character.
                 [b][i]
                Reference Resources:[/i][/b]

[ul]
[li]As always, Google Image, Flickr, Pbase, and your own books or books are all fair game as reference resources. Just be sure to not directly copy any copyrighted references that you find - you must significantly alter any reference image in order for it to be considered legally yours. Also be sure to look through some of your favorite artists as inspiration. Check through some of your favorite blogs or image sources to get your creative juices flowing.[/li][li]If you have other resource sites that you would like me to link, please let me know.[/li][/ul]Part 2: Ideation

                 [b][i]Process:[/i][/b]

[ul]
[li]Create a set of small, rough thumbnails in your sketchbook (traditional or digital) before embarking on any finished piece. Try to convey the mood and atmosphere of the piece before ever adding any details. Think of the light source, the mood which you want to convey and a background story for this morphed self-portrait and creature.[/li][/ul]Project Considerations / Criteria:

[ul]
[li]No boring, fully front on views of the head without any sense of dynamism or expression! Give some tilt or twist to the head / neck to make the pose more interesting. Maybe even the head is in the process of speaking, giving a snarl or smile, in the middle of “lunch” (whatever that is) etc. Try to evoke a mood as much as fulfill the basic requirements of creating a morphed self-portrait and creature.[/li][li]Consider a strong sense of lighting / chiarascuro. Look at the work of Caravaggio to get a strong sense of lighting. Note the clarity of the light source and the strong sense of design via lights and darks alone.[/li][/ul]Media:

[ul]
[li]As always you can use the media of your choice - 2D Traditional or Digital.[/li][li]Feel free to work in Black / White / Grayscale only or in full color.[/li][/ul]Part 3: Final Drawing / Digital Painting (or 3D Render)

                 Once you have nailed down your concept and selected your best thumbnail, work up the linework for your piece and shade / paint it. Post your work here - [b]no more than 4 total WIP images (including your final image)[/b].
                
                Have fun!

#2

RULES FOR THIS WORKSHOP:

[left]1. This Workshop runs for TWO WEEKS, between Jan. 29 - midnight of Feb. 12, 2009 (whatever your midnight is).

  1. Any reference imagery that is not yours must be significantly altered and cannot be directly copied without permission / citation from the copyright holder.

                                    3. The work created in this Workshop MUST be TASTEFUL, SINCERE, and for the purpose of serious study of the human figure. Those who post silly, disrespectful, or tasteless work will have their posts deleted immediately and will no longer be allowed to post on this thread. 
                                   
                                    3. [b][color=YellowGreen]YOU MAY POST [u][color=Orange]NO MORE THAN 4 WIP IMAGES (including your final image)[/u] FOR THE DURATION OF THIS WORKSHOP.[/color][/b] While you may comment as much as you wish, [b]anyone posting more than 4 WIP images TOTAL will have their posts removed[/b]. [/color][color=YellowGreen][b]Please respect this rule.[/b][/color]
                                   
                                    4. Artists who post comments and critiques of other artists' work on this thread must be RESPECTFUL, POLITE, and offer CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM. Flaming will be NOT be tolerated, and constitutes dismissal from this Workshop.
                                   
                                    5. I will be offering the occasional comments / critique - however, the main focus of the Imaginative Figure Workshop threads should be on Group Critique and interaction. :)
                                   
                                            7. ANY MEDIUM or STYLE may be used: Traditional or Digital Drawing / Painting.
                                   
                                    8. 3D Artists who wish to use the topic to create 3D models are free to do so. 
                                   
                                            9. Please limit the SIZE of your POSTS to 800 pixels WIDTH x Appropriate pixel LENGTH. No huge posts, please!
           
            You are welcome (though not required) to also post your work to your Personal Sketchbook Thread if you already have one, or to create one if you do not, here:
    

[center]Personal Anatomy & Sketchbook Threads

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#3

It eez on. :slight_smile:


#4

Whoah, how cool is this!! I actually wanted to contact you, Rebecca, about making a workshop because I missed these things. You read my mind!
It’s definitely worth to give it a try. A month would be nicer, but oh well…Let’s get it on!


#5

Lol this should be fun!


#6

finally a new workshop…yipppeee!!
it will either be a bat or a wolf… (im fictionally able to associate myself with these creatures so…) but i wonder how edgy it can be…any examples as in how drastic changes can be made in our original face?? :twisted:

its so on and i’m getting my name in highlights for sure this time :arteest:

KM


#7

Wow. I was really missing the workshop. So cool


#8

Go as far out there as you are comfortable!


#9

I’m so entering. :smiley: Great timing, becca, I wanted to do something, but doing master copies just wasn’t working for me…so this couldn’t have come at a better time!


#10

are u going to do this?:Dit sounds fun indeed


#11

Hell yeah!

What about you Michael :slight_smile:


#12

Great initiative! I’m in. Long time I’ve drawn by hand :slight_smile: and this seems like the ideal opportunity to start over.


#13

Great! I am in! :bounce:


#14

OMG, this is the challenge I’ve always wanted to do. Just unfortunate that I’m still on HMC#18…

Might give it a shot anyway…:arteest:

Is it allowed to take a photograph of yourself and use that as reference?


#15

This is sooooo tempting!


#16

Ooooh…just getting back into drawing after a lull, and I really like animals, and drawing them at that, so…lol. Torn between nervousness to merge my appearance with that of an animal, and excitement at the prospect. Should I or shouldn’t I? Hmmm…


#17

JAN. 29, 2009

THANKS for the new workshop Rebecca…Great concept for a workshop.:thumbsup: :slight_smile:
Initial sketch
SELFPORTRAIT AS DRAGON…Not the European version,… but the ancient Asian version of DRAGON, which represents the SPIRIT and FORCE OF AND BEHIND NATURE :smiley:
Z Brush 3D sketch.


#18

OMG Rebecca freaking awesome idea :smiley: - I’m totally in :slight_smile: was going to ask you lately if there were any plans for a workshop! :applause:


#19

man, this would be fun! I’ve got so many deadlines by Feb 12 though. :frowning: I suppose I can always try and just do my own interpretation when my schedule frees up.:shrug:


#20

Great to see the response!

Definitely, that’s fine with me. :slight_smile:

Hey Jesse I am going to try to make these somewhat regular so if you can’t join this one there will [hopefully] be others. Would love to see what you can do with this!