Sketchbook: The Panda Pad

#101

… Today’s update. Still trying to learn photoshop. It’s hard going from graphite to Wacom. The world of digital is sooooo different.

#102

Todays sketch… Looking in the mirror, feeling inadequate / angry / frustrated?

#103

Euhm…why? (if I may ask?)

#104

Looking good Chua! Your Photoshop stuff is looking awesome. I’m really impressed with the progress and productivity you accomplished in 2010. Cheers!

#105

@NR43: Ohh the usual problems between boys and girls. I’m just channeling it through art rather than ranting (hopefully). Thanks for asking.

@jabuhrer: Thanks for the kind words! I love how your sketchbook is improving as well!

Today’s sketch…

The fact of knowing the universe plain sucks sometimes.

#106

Today’s sketch… I’m heavy handed, or just mentally limited without a mentor.

#107

Today’s update…

This drawing was just a quick(ish) value study with the prismacolor col-erase! There is so much more potential in wax pencil crayons than there is in standard graphite (in my opinion). I don’t think I can go back!

#108

Today’s update…

I re-designed my previous painting for my friend Krista. Hoping she’ll like it.

#109

Giving charcoal another chance. I actually blended using toilet paper. Otherwise, done on newsprint with a flat stick of charcoal. Proportions are off here. I never seem to get those right. :stuck_out_tongue:

#110

I tried to focus on the values… But i ended up doing it for two hours straight. It gets really tedious after a while. And the eyes are overworked. Oh well.

#111

A couple study cards drawn during lunch break at work. The first was actually charcoal on lined paper, but I used Photoshop to remove the lines. Still… it’s a pretty roughed up image.

The second is just a prismacolor pencil.

#112

… Today’s Update. Well I lost my job today (QA job) due to a work shortage. Oh well, I was prepared for this. And at least now I have more time to study.

On the bright side, I managed to make a charcoal drawing at work.

#113

Beautiful stuff :eek:

#114

I’m really sorry to hear about your job. That really sucks. On the other hand I’m glad to hear that you’re looking toward the brighter side of things.

Your latest drawing here is AWESOME I really like the composition and the control you have over the shadows. Really cool :buttrock:. A lot of the time, my eyes draw toward one location of a piece, but with this one I enjoy the entirety of it. So in other words thank you for the inspiration.

#115

its sounds like a cliche but i’ve been there and new doors always open…new possibilities, new opportunities…its not a good thing when you’re living it but it can ultimately end up a new horizon…take it as it comes, don’t get down or be bitter about it…rise to the challenge is my advice and you’ll sail through choppy waters wondering what all the fuss was about. its the way of the world at the moment unfortunately so take it on the chin…move onward and upwards…and never underestimate or undersell yourself…its clear you have talent make sure your next employer knows it…and good luck. :arteest: :thumbsup:

#116

@soundwaves: Thank you!

@Splinter: Thank you for the kind words. :slight_smile:

@flingster: I will sure try! Thanks for the motivation.

… I just thought I’d post the final drawing.

#117

… Today’s update. I couldn’t do a color painting in photoshop (my brain refuses to process color). So I did a monochrome sketch instead (WIP). Sigh, maybe next time I’ll finally make the leap into color.

P.S. Just to be clear, I can color; if you imagine a grade school student with crayons. That’s how I color right now.

#118

“my brain refuses to process color”

I’m assuming that you are trying to paint in color from imagination…

Try making a painting in color from life.
Any subject will do, but it’s best to start with simple stuff (still life).
I’ve drawn in b&w for 5 years and I recently switched to painting in color, having the same issues as you are: a block. Painting in color from life allowed me to break through that wall.
Color is hard so don’t be too discouraged when it doesn’t seem to work out as well as you hoped at first.

Some excellent work here since I last visited!
Good luck.

#119

@NR43: Thanks, I’m a bit downed that I can’t seem to grasp the basics of colors, but I’m glad I’m not the only one struggling. Thanks for the encouragement!

… Today’s Update:

Did not have much time to work on my painting this week. Just been exhausted and busy. But I wanted to post a little update to make sure it stays alive.

#120

I have been in a few art classes over the last few months and I see no reason why you should use lack of a mentor as an excuse for not getting to where you want to be. Your drawings aren’t bad, and they are getting noticeably better as you post. A teacher will critique your work, teach you some techniques, tell you to observe, and practice. You can do all of these things on your own and gain valuable, usually much more thorough, critiques online in communities such as this one. Most of the work spent learning in a classroom is spent out of the classroom as it is, the masters of the past had no one who knew everything, they figured things out on their own by understanding the world. If you had a teacher you still wouldn’t see magical results, nothing will make it easy. I like your drawings keep it up!

About the color, it is nothing but a step. Think of it as you did when you learned to add form to shape. You have the understanding of value down, color is nothing but changing the mood.