Okay. I’m jumping in here. I’ve got 9 pages of my personal Anatomy Sketchbook, having used several Artist Anatomy books as my reference then going in and building the shadows more completely. Let me know what you think. Thanks you all.
Sincerely
Boni
Hey, very cool. I especially like the last 4 pages - your shading is very good, everything seems so solid like I could reach out and grab it. I wonder if you would mind explaining what you use for shading and erasing/adding lights (types of pencils, charcoals, erasers, whathaveyou). I’m trying to learn shading and making a real mess out of things 
Thanks!
Abby
For a quick reply … I used a 9b to a 6b pencil and kneeded erasers. I’ll be back to give details.
Boni
Hi
that’s a great start!
I’m a bit curious… could you tell us a bit about your art background?
9b to 6b huh… I haven’t touched any black pencil anymore since I’m going to school, where we are obliged to use HB. It’s forcing me to press the pencil harder, which is a good thing for more solid linework I think.
Are these studies from a book?
bonim,
Welcome aboard! Some really nice anatomy studies here - I look forward to seeing more of your work!
Cheers and Happy New Year,
-Rebeccak
Abby: Okay, I’m back … I do use very soft pencils, they don’t destroy the tooth of the paper and I like the texture of the paper showing in the work. I use very soft strokes or small circular strokes so that the actual pencil stroke doesn’t show, the texture of the paper does. I lift the dark areas with a kneeded eraser, carfully as not to smudge (Unless that’s what I want inwhich case I use “stumps” or blending sticks … then again that’s more on smooth bristal board where I want an almost photographic smoothness to the image) I also use a chamis (sp) cloth like they use to polish cars.
NR43: See the above for the use of the pencils. Background. I’ve drawn since I was 2. It’s an obsession with me. I also have a BA in Fine Art from the University of Wyoming. I’ve done portraits for quite a few years … even been paid for a few. I love doing emotion/fantasy illustration drawings and 3d art. Also most of these studies are from books. Barcsay’s “Anatomy for the Artist”, John H. Vanderpoel’s “The Human Figure”, and Peck’s “human anatomy for the artist”.
Rebeccak: Thank you so much for noticing. I know you are busy. Your comments are greatly appreciated. I will add more shortly.
derseemann: Thank you. I was told as a small child that you can tell a good artist from a poor artist in how they draw hands and feet. So I challenged myself.
Intervain: Thank you as well. I always wanted my work to look 3d even as a child back in the 50’s and 60’s … (pointing out that it was before computer graphics became readily available) so shading is the trick to that and I’ve used several shading techniques to do that … especially having the shadows meet at the 3/4 point of the figure. It doesn’t always work, but generally with pencil drawings it accomplishes the effect.
Thank you all, I hope to translate my traditional artistic background into computer generated skills with all of your help.
Peace
Boni
Boni,
Thank you! I have some of these things. The blending stumps I just discovered and those are great. The kneeded eraser I’d never even used, interesting - will have to experiment with that some more. For pencils, I’ve mostly just been using a #2 HB (is this the same as a regular old #2 pencil?) but I also do have a 4B and 6B - are the higher numbers lighter? Or are they only softer?
I also have a couple charcoal pencils that are what I’m making a mess out of so I think I’ll avoid those for the time being - I assume you’re not using any of those?
Sheesh, I need to find me a drawing supplies 101, huh? Thanks for helping! I’m experimenting with what you described and I see what you mean about the paper texture, how wild, I never would have even considered that.
Abby
Deco-3d: Hea, good to hear from you so soon. The pencil grades go from hardest to softest as: 9h 8h 7h 6h 5h 4h 3h 2h h hd f 2b 3b 4b 5b 6b 7b 8b 9b. One piece I did with 4h,2h,2b,4b, and a 6b was this portrait:
It was done from a 1913 photo of my great grandmother at 15, right before her wedding.
Here is a closeup detail to show I used very light touch and made sure the texture of the paper came through … and didn’t show the stroke of the pencil.
The original drawing is only about 4.5 inches by 6.25.
Now for this one I didn’t want and “smears” so there were no use of blenders or kneeded eraser, (except to clean up any unintentional smears). You mentioned charcoal. I love charcoal, but you have to really have a tight setup for your drawing to do detail in it. I used black charcoal and a chalk like pencil in a few pieces, but none have turned out the way I like them … yet. I’m still working on that.
Boni
This piece is just a few years old. I did it of my partner’s 2 grandsons at the time (there are 2 more now!). I call it “Brotherly Love” it was a commissioned piece.
This was primarily a 5b and 9b pencil … didn’t use any hard pencils on this one except to block it in. Before anyone mentions it … the baby’s ear is slightly deformed.
Just to show the style.
Boni
Oh my gosh, these are wonderful! Its hard to believe they were just done with pencil, I can’t even fathom how much work must have gone into them. The expression and feeling you captured in the boys is just amazing as well. Thanks so much for sharing, am looking forward to seeing more of your work!
Abby
My question is this … how do I duplicate this style in photoshop? Is it even possible. My vision isn’t as good as it was when I did these pieces. I have help … (visual aides and such) but Photoshop seems to work so well for so many. What I did manage to do in Photoshop was emulate a pen/ink drawing. Another form of drawing I’ve always enjoyed. This is a portrait of my partner. (the grandmother to the boys) Yes I have permission to use her likeness.
This was done totally in photoshop a few months ago. I would like to do pencil emulations as well. Also feel free to e-mail me … or ask questions about my technique. I do enjoy sharing.
Boni
Painter would be a the best tool I think. Would just have to use one or more pencil brushes and add a paper texture to the canvas… could even use the charcoal brushes for shading…
However,
you’re not using Painter, you’re using photoshop, right?
Do you have a camera?
You’ll have to make some custom brushes that simulate a pencil.
If you have a camera with a macro lens you could photograph a closeup of the graphite on paper and use it as a basis for a custom brush. It’s always fun to have a few variants too I think. Experiments are always a fun process and when they lead to a desired result… what a kick…
Just throwing in a few ideas here, maybe they are of any use to you
edit: you could also start from a scanned pencil drawing instead of taking a picture…
I will look into that. I need to repair my digital camera … the battery terminals aren’t “connecting” properly and it keeps saying I have no battery. Your suggestion is wonderful.
I also have Painter Classic … but it has no layers so I don’t use it much. It was a “freeby” from Metacreations back when I was a software sales associate for Fry’s Electronics.
I’ll have more later.
Boni
I did this after a cancer scare about 10 years ago. I thought it fit the theme and decided to share on this thread. Let me know what you think.
Sincerely
Boni
Okay, It’s been a while. I’m actually here becuase I’m agrivated with my attempts at UV mapping on Wings 3d. So… I’ve taken a half an hour and used some tutorials here to create a drawing in Photoshop. This is just using a standard brush … 3 grayscale tones and 3 brush sizes and the smudge tool. Now mind you, I did NOT use a photo reference so I’m sure there are a lot of proportional booboo’s but this is an experiment in blending and getting the textures, “modeling” and eyes the way I want them. Just wanted to share and get some feedback.
Again, this was a half an hour sketch to take out my frustrations. But I liked it and wanted to share.
Sincerely
~ Boni ~
Okay, I’m on a roll. This one did have a photo reference. My partner’s granddaughter. I couldn’t resist the Princess. 
Hope you like it. Sketchy … but I think I’ve gotten the basic feel for the 2 year old.
Sincerely
~ Boni ~
I’ve started something a little different in teaching myself color work with a tablet. I’ve worked in traditional media all my life so I’m jumping in now that I feel I’ve got a little more control of the Wacom tablet I have.
I started with a Poser Render (Yes poser, I don’t have live models) This is for reference and getting proportion, outline … etc.
From there I sketch an under structure to see where I want to take the highlights, modeling and wieght of the image to develope.
From here I make an outline with highlignt and shading indicators and model the hair more the way I want it.
Next I put on the costume … brief as it may be … and jewelery.
Next … since I’ve found a great and simple coloring technique that I’ll experiment with here … I block in the basic colors I want to use in the image. (although I haven’t added the shadow highlight colors and the reflective colors yet)
So … any feedback on the technique I’m developing here would be appreciated.
Peace
Boni
