added comment in“The Queen” and the quest for some good paper.
2yr
Hey @Ramon Romaioli, pretty cool drawing! Love the idea!
I’m not from Europe, so I’m sorry I won’t be able to help you with the shop recommendation.
I do have some thoughts on your drawing though regarding composition, in case you’re open to feedback - just let me know! 🙂
Best regards!

Ramon Romaioli
2yr
Thank you Liandro ... and Yes every comment and suggestion will be very much appreciated :)
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Asked for help
I'm struggling to find an online shop Europe based where I can find a large size block of Strathmore Smooth Bristol Board 300 series. It's a great paper for ink drawing but unfortunately here in Italy is quite hard to find. (Am*z*n sells smaller size of Strathmore then I need and above all it is the worst seller when comes to this kind of item unless you like to receive smashed corners blocks and tore sheets of paper ).
I've found a UK based shop but due to Covid they do not ship overseas for the time being.
Any suggestion will be very much appreciated.
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added a new topic
“The Queen” and the quest for some good paper.2yr
That's “The Queen ( … and the king)”.
Dip pen, manga nibs, manga ink and red pastel pencil Carbothello on A2 size Bristol board.
My aim here is to get to a monumental composition yet suggesting dynamism and motion.
2yr
This is the final version of "Red Shoes".
Dip pen, Indian Ink and red pencil pastel Carbothello on Bristol board.
I posted a study months ago and now I have got back to it using better paper, better ink (thank you @queennobleart, eventually I managed to buy somewhere on line that Talens you suggested me ... and it's very good !). Hopefully the final result is better too.
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2yr
I think it could be the part of the trapezius muscle that attaches to the scapula. It could look that weird, because the scapula pokes out and pushes this part to look that way. But I'm really not sure. Hope this helps anyway ;)
2yr
I agree with @Giuliano Lo Bartolo and @Stan Prokopenko.
In my opinion the answer is "Both". Just there the middle portion of trapezius overlaps the spine of the scapula where it emerges from the medial edge of the shoulder blade. That bump is kind of a mix of bone and muscle.
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2yr
Da Vinci Masterstudy on Ballpoint pen
2yr
Hi my name is Regina and I work mostly with Indian ink and a small dipping pen. Animals are my favorite to draw and all my work is done without pre sketching.
2yr
Hi Regina, I like your beautiful drawings. Maybe you can help me. I'm not satisfied with the Indian Ink I'm using (Herbin). It's not as black as I want it. I'm looking for something matte and very dark. What's your favourite brand ?
... which paper you like the most ? Thanks.
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2yr
Glad to find a place for ink lovers. This is just anatomy study based on Stan's tips of trying to maintain gesture, but also an attempt to be less dependent on hatching. Done with brush an ink ( though I did use the computer to make the paper completely white).
2yr
I like that full black following the core shadow. Very expressive and Comics like.
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2yr
Asked for help
This is my first final work in a long while, maybe 18 months. So happy to eventually have worked out something that's not just an exercise.
It's an application of triangular composition to a symbolic subject.
Dip pen, manga nibs, indian ink on bristol paper.
I'm experiencing some issues with the ink I'm using (Encre de Chine - by Herbin). Not dark as I'd like and it dries too fast on the nib.
I tried Sennelier too but it gives a glossy effect if the layer is too thick. I want it matt.
Any suggestions about brands I could try ? Thought about something from manga world ?:)
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Peter Capaldi is such a great subject
Great job - those are well done and interesting!
2yr
Thank you ! It's been so fun and useful ... I think I improved at portrait drawing ... at least now I'm more confident when it comes to it.
This face drawing are looking really nice and enticing
2yr
It took me a couple of months to get to 100 and getting closer to the end I decided to put in some references from Pinterest I thought working better for me. Yes ! it's far beyond the 10 days challenge it was supposed to last, but I couldn't have made better than this. Gradually I slowed down and conceded myself more time to study details and cross hatching.
Many thanks to Ahmed Aldoori, it's been so inspiring and productive.
2yr
Asked for help
These look great, definitely, you are improving! What is the title of the course/lesson that has this challenge in by Ahmed Aldoor?
2yr
Thank you Scott ! No there's no course or lesson for as I know, just a video on Youtube where Ahmed Aldoori introduces the #100HEADS Challenge. If you want to get in follow the link to the Pinterest Board where you'll find the 100 Reference Pictures and the video too. You are supposed to complete it in 10 Days (10 portrait a day) … but it's not mandatory … my speed rate is actually far lower than that (3 or less a day) … I'll be happy just to make to 100th. This challenge is the chance I was looking for to try and sort out my issues with portraits.
https://www.pinterest.it/aaldoori/portrait/
2yr
I think these look fantastic! Keep up the good work!
2yr
Impressive! I'm inspired to do the same.
added a new topic
Ahmed Aldoori #100HEADS challenge2yr
I'm halfway through Ahmed Aldoori #100HEADS challenge. I feel something's getting better.
2yr
Nice drawings, the cross hatching on the first one is very nice.
As for the second one and your "soulder blade in the shadows" problem, I think you wanted to highligh her left shoulder blades receeding sides and left them white ie. the same value as the areas receiving light. That cannot happen since it is within the shadow area, and even if it may receive some baskscaterred light, it still need to be darker than any values of the light area.
Another thing: you can diffuse the edges of the cast shadows of her hand+shoes on her left leg: as it goes along her leg toward the ground: near the hand = sharp edge, away from the hand = loose edge.
Otherwise, great resemblance (I recognise Saturn from croquis café if I'm not mistaken, I remember drawing that pose).
2yr
Thank you Julienne, your tips are great and to the point. Your scheme is clear … you are definitely right about diffusing and fading the shadow running down the leg. Yes … that's Saturn, one of my favourite female model … as talented as beautiful.
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2yr
These are really nice! I can see on the first drawing that the breasts are very low, even though they can sag, the start of the breast seems to be lower than it should. Another thing I see on the first drawing is the indent of what I am assuming to be the elbow. From the turn of the hand, you would actually see more smooth/ bumps on the outside of the shape, since the bone/joint is on the other side of the arm. The foot in the first drawing is pointed a bit outward, I'm not sure if this was intentional, but the toes that are on the other side should become less visible when they are away from where you are looking (in the current state all of the toes are equally visible, creating the look as if the foot is pointed towards the camera). For the second picture, the thumb wouldn't be visible if she was trying to use it to hold the shoes, the fingers gripping them should also have a split (two on the right two on the left) to show that she is holding both shoes. The way the arm goes out so much is a bit awkward, I'm not sure if the reference was like this but it seems unnatural with the shoulder blade in a neutral position while the arm is so far back. The last thing (for both drawings) is that you might want to push the gesture a bit more just to give the poses more expression. These studies are amazing and I hope you achieve mastery at hatching!
2yr
Thank you Anfissa for spending your time on my issue. I'll try my best to put on paper the thorough and precise advices of yours.
2yr
Nice work! I would comment that details should be lost in the shadows. Having shadow areas with basically no detail is a great art choice. Rembrandt would be a great example; his paintings have nearly no detail in shadows. Therefore, the anatomy details should not really stand out in shadows, which is probably why you are finding it difficult to find them.
2yr
Thank you James ! I've taken a look at your digital paintings and got a clear understanding of what you mean. They are great by the way! Hope to keep in touch and have more of your valuable advices in the future.