As we continue our master studies project, I’ll show you my process for doing a couple master studies from one of my favorite inkers, Roberto De La Torre.
Newest
Gabi Gueron
2mo
Master: Alberto Breccia. He worked with pen and brush.
Before watching the demos, I focused on his use of line weight, but didn’t feel the need to reproduce the strokes (I was too I obsessed with proportions, specially of the eyes, in order to retain the bewildered expression.
The last attempt centers in part of the face. Before watching the demo I worked two hours on it, and after watching the demo I reworked to approximate the quality of the line strokes, but the sheer size this parity made it daunting. The way I hold my pencils as left handed forced me to work upside down. Si that took me an additional hour and a half to correct.
Lessons learnt: when the aim of the study is to practice the quality of strokes, I need to
-adjust size to match tools
- be aware of how my left handedness might impact stroke quality;
- not to focus on faces where both details of stroke and proportions will impact the overall expression.
2mo
Catching up with a quick study of Roberto De La Torre's Conan ink. 4b graphite on cheap-o printer paper (I need to prioritize my sketchbook more, the printer paper texture started fighting me toward the end.) Can't wait to do a bunch more of these, love Roberto's brush work! I really got a lot out of trying to replicate brush lines with graphite.
Lolo
20d
Nice job!
Cal Stanback
4mo
The master I went with is Dave Malan I love his line work. this took me a long time, I know I can work on my line control and proportions, but I learned a lot from this portrait. I’m ready to redraw it again lol
Tony Zhang
4mo
Okay! I better catch up so that I meet the critique deadline for shape lessons!:)
Too lazy to grab accurate proportions so I applied the style to a cartoon character! Hahahaha. Not a serious study, but great fun! Credits to both artists!:)
Tony Zhang
4mo
Again… putting off the task.
Applying my previous master study style on Gengoroh Tagame art. Next time I’ll study Tagame himself!
Tony Zhang
4mo
The case study today looks like crap. Doing it digitally is extra hard cuz everyone uses a different brush! So I just used my last case study and applied it to my “sexy ranger” in a previous study. Looks pretty good!

sahara anoot
4mo
I think the biggest challenge here for me was figuring out how to use the sides of my pencil 🤣 I'm not sure I've managed to do that yet. But this was so fun!

pedrobranco
4mo
Here's my tribute. Inking is hard with a pencil.
Juice
4mo
Is there anyone else here doing this course that have a chronic illness? I struggle alot atm. My illness has been worse the last 7 weeks. With fever everyday and im just lying in bed. I live for doing art but havent been able to draw or sculp anything the last weeks. It makes me so sad. Anyone else in similar situation?
Devon D. Yeider
4mo
hang in there!

Sarah NP
4mo
So sorry you have to go through that, glad you are here! Maybe this will help. I have a family member who is quite ill so I don't have the time or attention that I had in the beginning. I'm doing what I can and enjoying what I can do. I pay attention to the videos and comments. It's all learning. The course will remain up so I will be re-doing the course to get the daily practice in.
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Sean H
4mo
Thanks for this demo! I love graphic art styles so most of my art heroes tend to work with ink or digitally. This helped a lot with figuring out what I should focus on when studying them.
Tlakawepan
4mo
Are you using graphite or charcoal?
4mo
these were both done with graphite.

emanuele85
4mo
really excited to get my hands on issue 1 of that comic!!
Elena
4mo
Inspired by the video I searched for Roberto de la Torre and found this horse … below you can see the original and my raggedy version 😂
Lolo
20d
Nice!
4mo
that's really good!
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Larry
4mo
Modified chisel points on drawing pencils have been seriously under-rated in recent history in my opinion but what do I know.
Ralph
4mo
@Stan Prokopenko You mention that you try to understand how strokes were made, in what direction, how the drawing tool was held and such. How do we do studies of images where that is no longer clearly apparent? For example if I want to study from someone who works digitally, is that less suited to copying in an analogue medium because the techniques used might not be replicapble? So in other words: At what point does a reference become less suitable for an exercise like this? Or is there no such thing? Is it just about taking what we like and trying to replicate it in our chosen medium and then move on?

Memori 0
4mo
I think digital art studies should be treated differently (although I don't know how), because the final piece often doesn't show anything about the the process that got it there. So many things you can do without any signs of it (filters, blending modes, adjustment layers, brushes etc.).
Honestly these are my thoughts, as I have a lot of difficulty trying to do digital art studies, pencil ones are much easier. I really would like to have an insight into this if possible.
@Stan Prokopenko
Dan Stevens
4mo
Awesome pearl about the different planes of the pencil. Makes one simple instrument very versatile. Amazing how closely you can replicate an inking brush with one stroke of the pencil. I was sort of building my lines with a Staedtler, and while you can kind of dull the tip down and achieve some cool effects, nothing quite like a regular #2 pencil it seems. Really enjoyed watching you do this. Thank you

Mike See
4mo
Every attempt I’ve ever made at any kind of hatching has always ended miserably. Much less so this time- thanks Stan!
Zach Pipher
4mo
So basically we're not trying to copy it exactly, but trying to think about it abstractly how they drew the line? And if we get as close as possible to their drawing that is bonus points?

samkatz405
4mo
Seems like it! I think the bonus points are earned if we understand How and Why we made the markings. Building up our own tool box!
Tiago Silva
4mo
My attempts doing it together with Stan. Roberto works are soo good.
Steve Lenze
4mo
Hey Stan, I know I'm not part of this coarse, but I love this guy! He does Buscema as well as Buscema. I just did some quick master studies of him yesterday. I hope you don't mind me posting them here :)
4mo
great lines!
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About instructor
Founder of Proko, artist and teacher of drawing, painting, and anatomy. I try to make my lessons fun and ultra packed with information.