Sam Reeves
Oklahoma, USA
I paint and read a lot. Doing so before age 50, you're thought of as weird. After 50, it's mandatory.
Activity Feed
Siddharth Gupta
added comment inDrawabox AMA - "I'm already Uncomfortable, so you may as well Ask Me Anything"
3yr
Asked for help
Please critic my drawings
Sam Reeves
3yr
I see a lot of good things in the gesture and shading. There is some stiffness here and there in the poses and issues with proportion, specifically foreshortening--which is hardest for any artist by far. I would suggest finding ways to loosen up. Try scribbling. Allow the wild lines to wander wherever and slowly tighten them as you find the form. Change the way you hold the pencil. Do not hold it the same way as you do when writing. Try holding it with an overhand style.
Show all replies (2)
Show 1 more replies
Asked for help
Another series of practice sketches I did during the week. No reference used. Comments and Critiques welcome as always.
3yr
It is admirable that you would attempt figure drawing without reference, as it takes courage to do so. However, I suggest embracing reference. There is nothing wrong with using it. Many artists do so throughout their careers. If drawing purely from your imagination is a goal, wait until you have drawn from reference enough times that gesture, proportion, and anatomy come to you as easily as reciting the alphabet. It should be muscle memory. Something you do without conscious effort. Yes, occasionally for grins, try a drawing from imagination. This will help you mark your progress. But don't focus on it. A great exercise is to draw from reference 10 or 20 or 100 times the same figure or object, then try to draw it from memory.
Show 1 more replies
Asked for help
Hi Jeremy, welcome to the new Proko site!
I've been a long time fan of fantasy IPs and its definitely a goal of mine to do card illustration for Magic the Gathering, or do concept work for either Dungeons and Dragons or for Magic. I've been working over the past several years to try to polish my painting technique, and get my work to a style and level of finish that would match what you would find in those previously mentioned IPs. I'm curious if you think my work would fall in line with what WoTC is looking for.
Additionally, what do you think is the best way to actually get your portfolio considered for a company that big? I imagine that they get hundreds of portfolios coming in every day, and my work would just get lost by going through the regular application on their site.
Thanks for doing this!
3yr
Hi, Luigi. I have the same goal as you. 👍 I think you have a nice character set here. I like the angles, the lighting, and the concepts. And as far as getting your portfolio reviewed, I am just as curious as you. Clint Cearley said he simply sent them his portfolio.
Show all replies (2)
Show 2 more replies
3yr
What career opportunities are available for an artist who is 50 years old and works mainly with Photoshop? And in the same vein, is it possible to make a career as a fine artist or a portrait artist if you work digitally? ... By the way, thank you Marshal for helping me sort out writing vs painting.
Account deleted
3yr
3yr
@Anfissa Pruitt Did you see the Draftsmen episode where Stan talked about using a Zettlekasten? I read the book he mentioned HOW TO TAKE SMART NOTES by Sönke Ahrens and it helped me.
Show all replies (1)
Thank you! Always looking for reference.
Asked for help
wow this was harder that what I thought. This is my first time doing a portrait of this kind but it was really fun. I had problems in the mouth and I have problems with the eyes. I couldnt get the right proportion. Thank you Steven and all the Proko team!
Show 1 more replies
Asked for help
Here is my attempt. I'm okay about it. Comments welcome.
Show 1 more replies
Asked for help
Went back and worked on this some more. I still feel like the left eye is too high. Going to rewatch the video and start a new one.
3yr
Focusing on individual parts of the face--the eye, the nose--they are all really well done. The shading is smooth. The forms have nice contours. As for advice, like where you feel that the left eye is too high, you might look at some of Andrew Loomis' books. FIGURE DRAWING FOR ALL IT'S WORTH is an excellent one.
Show all replies (1)
