Wow!!! Amazing work on rendering! For the first two, i wouldn’t recognize them from original posters. Are these pure pencil works?
How big are these? Because Leonidas’ face seems very detailed…
The last one seems a bit “fluid”. Did you use solid shapes to set the composition?
Maybe you should add some sort of background
Please, bring more! 
Hi,
NR43: Sorry, I don’t get what you mean by ‘push the lighting’ more. You mean heighten the contrast throughout the piece? You are right about the faces, I didnt work on them enough (contrast I mean). 
Will upload a new version edited based on your comment sometime later 
.
Dionysis: Hmm yeah they are just pencil renderings. The first two are done with 2B pencils (I was amazed when I was shown how dark 2Bs can go). The latest with pencils of different tone gradations. I mostly draw on A2 layout pads.
Sorry, I am not clear about the last piece being ‘fluid’. Do you mean the texture looks watery or it feels ‘soft’ and flowy like water or it doesnt have impact? Would love more elaboration on this.
Hmmm… i didnt use solid shapes to block out the composition, typically i have an idea where i want to place the subjects before I start.
It’s also unlikely i will add a background because I need it to be white in order to use it to create transparency in photoshop later for some other purpose. Thanks for the suggestion, because it was a good one.
Louis
It seems like the people are fluid, mostly the right and left ones, that they tend to flow. Imo it would help a lot to shape out the people first, set them according to each other, make them stand correctly, and then start rendering.
Keep up Louis!
Hi angelicvoice,
very nice work on this pieces, very nice rendered! The hhead of the guy on the left looks not this good like all the others but it’s ok
Keep it up
Thomas
Hi …Louis …
Lots of work in those drawings…coming out GREAT…
I think that maybe a colored, toned background would really enhance these types of drawings, and also add to their mood.
The colored background, would create a mid tone, then it is just a matter of throwing in some darks, and some highlights here and there, keeping your eye on the lighting as you go along…Just a passing thought that might be of help to you in your future studies…
Keep going, …GREAT progress happening…
TAKE CARE
Glenn
Hi,
Thomas: Thank you
Glenn: Thanks for the suggestion! Sounds like a good idea, will definitely think about the colored backgrounds when I edit some of these pieces in photoshop in the future.
Verdell: Thank you, glad you liked it
Made some changes to the last piece based on Johan’s comments, (sorry cannot respond in time to all the critiques) - increased the contrast on the faces based on my meagre knowledge of the skull and facial muscles.
There are some unnatural highlights at the corners of the paper due to scanning, as usual:
At the same time, just to let viewers of this thread see how much contrast really catches the eye. This is something I feel beginning artists sometimes lose focus at. I think it takes courage (as well as knowledge) to really bump up the contrast accurately and in a pleasing manner. Something I always try to work on everytime I draw.
Just compare above and below (heightened the contrast w photoshop, at the risk of losing details in the dark areas,of course) :
I think it’s much better now!
I must hand it to you that you’ve made an awesome drawing here, because of the angle at which the subjects are seen is really hard to draw.
Great stuff!
Hello, it’s been a while. Been really busy with my short film, now in its final phase, so lesser time to do A2 sketches. Ok, ok, it’s an excuse, I know.
Took Mr Spiritdreamer’s comments about using colored bg for the sketches.
As usual, comments and criticisms are welcome.
Now there’s a new trend in my school - my juniors are starting to draw bigger without attention to details eg different levels of toning or minor details like creases and folds, it seems. At least where copy sketches are concerned. Think it defeats the purpose of such copying, which is to train the eyes to catch details. Not that mine has a lot of details, of course. Just a thought.
My last copy sketch, which should stay the ‘last’ until I get the short film sorted out. Couldnt get imageshack to show it any bigger than this, I am not sure why:
BEAUTIFUL RENDERING!! :applause:
Just love soooo much detail,on such big drawings…
want more…
Ratul
Hi …Louis …
GREAT DRAWINGS…
I find it very interesting that your juniors are forsaking details, for substance I hope.
I see alot of people going overboard with details, especially in 3d…VICTIMS of photoghrapy/photo realism…just a passing phase I hope.
It kind of reminds me of that old saying…YOU CAN’T SEE THE FOREST BECAUSE ALL THE TREES/DETAILS ARE IN THE WAY…:banghead:
Just a passing thought concerning detail, and it’s abuse in art.
REALLY looking forward to seeing more of your work and progress…
TAKE CARE
Glenn
Thanks Ratul and Mr/Mrs Spiritdreamer for the encouragement!
I think my juniors just dun have the time to do detailed drawings. I agree though, that certain things like details shouldnt be overdone. 
The other trend they have, i heard, is to overly depend on grid lines. Drawing grid lines on the paper, then drawing grid lines on the reference, then translating one for one with the help of the grid. Good help, I think, but once a certain level has been attained, I think they should use less and less grids.
It’s just like using less of crutches once your legs get stronger from walking more? Otherwise the reliance will stifle development. . .
Thanks Lili,
It wasnt like this at first. Just to let everyone see my early sketches (and possibly laugh at them) about 7 mths ago:
one of my first attempts (the reference was about 20 times smaller, making it much harder to get correct. Guess I didnt know what i was up against):
Thought there was an improvement here, but nope, my instructor felt it didnt make the mark.
Tried harder this time, and this was placed on the wall of my classroom:
Ref:
Here my lecturer taught me the value of details. Look at this, can u believe it’s Orlando Bloom?
To expand the eyes at the top left of the drawing to see it better:
My eye:
My lecturer’s version:
Previously I thought the eye was just a ball of black. It isnt really so. See how much adding details make the eye look more alive?
There are a few things that my lecturer look for when deciding on whether to put up a drawing on a noticeboard (if i rem correctly):
The overall form - proportionality for eg. No matter how much detail or furnishing there is, if it looks wrong, it’s not correct.
Toning - does it bring out the 3dness of the subject, for eg?
Quality of details - eg. details on the eyes, mouth etc.
Composition - is the overall drawing pleasing?
After a while more (sob … a C grade):
Ref:
As you can see, there is more accuracy, but the toning has too little contrast. Still bad.
The more I drew, there is less reliance of grid lines, though I still use the basic direction and distance to mark out landmarks on a sketch.
There is some progression, as you can see. If someone like me can improve over a few months, anyone else can. Just draw everyday. Or every other day. Or every other other day. Hope it helps to inspire, even if by a bit.
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