[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!