Matt Haslett
Matt Haslett
Earth
Matt Haslett
Ok, so this is the furthest I've ever gotten on a drawing before, but I feel like there is still something missing and I'm not sure what it is. I would love some critiques on the shading of this one. I used 2 pencils (Staetdler HB and 2B), a blending stump and an eraser. I don't have brushes.
Write reply...
Drop images here to attach them to the message
H H
Hey Matt! I haven’t gotten to that part yet, but I’m pretty sure you could do it in any medium. I think it’s a great idea to render it like you would a comic, since it’s more relevant to your goal. I’m not sure what style comic you draw in but here’s a few David Finch videos : https://www.proko.com/lesson/how-to-cross-hatch-for-comics-david-finch/discussions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okQfa98uLlQ Other good ressources: Robert Marzullo and How to Draw Comics . NET on Youtube and this video by page Page One Comics https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxNe6jqiTDk (it’s a long video - he starts rendering anatomy around 27 minutes in) I hope this will be of some help!
Write reply...
Drop images here to attach them to the message
Matt Haslett
Gabi! Great response and thank you for the links. David Finch is perfect for this question. I'm going to get a lot out of these videos and can certainly apply them to my drawings. Stan's style of teaching is so precise that he really makes it easy to redirect yourself according to your style at any stage along the journey. Gabi, best of luck with the figure drawing course, you're going to love it if you don't already. Thank you!
Reply
Matt Haslett
I'm nearing the end of Stan's figure drawing course, and It has been pretty spectacular. I can't think of one element of the course that I'm not excited to practice indefinitely as I improve my skills except for the shading portion. Stan's method is outstanding, and serves its purpose beautifully, but I'm looking to keep my focus primarily on developing my style for comics. Because of this, I'm hesitant to buy the materials (charcoal powder and brushes) just to finish the course. I'd rather shade my drawings in a way that I can practice indefinitely as well on my way to becoming a comic artist. Has anyone had this same experience with the course? If so, are there any other good videos out there that can help me take my drawings to completion with light and shade that don't include charcoal and a brush? Thanks in advance, ~Matt
Matt Haslett
This is my first attempt at shading, and I'm stuck on a thought. While I understand the basics (conceptually more than in practice) I'm wondering if there's a different way to approach shading to tailor the drawing more to a comic book style. Can you do the shading with just pencils to make it look more cartoony? That said, do comic book pencilers ever use charcoal powder and brushes? Cheers, ~Matt @Stan Prokopenko @David Finch
Write reply...
Drop images here to attach them to the message
Matt Haslett
More Mannequins, actually, kind of morphing into figures, and then adding shading. I just started on the shading module. It's a lot, included in here are my first attempts.
Write reply...
Drop images here to attach them to the message
Matt Haslett
Elson, Great question and thank you for posting it in the forum. I've been working as a teacher for quite some time now (middle school) and my wife is a nurse in an intensive care unit. We say to our friends frequently that as a couple, what I do makes life worth living and what she does keeps people alive. I think it's similar with art. People care deeply about having a life that is enriched with meaning and purpose. In my experience, in order to find that, whatever it is that you do has to be very personal in some way, and art is very personal. Its easy to get lost in the objectivity of it, like how clear your lines are, how good your gesture is, your anatomy, etc..., but ultimately, those are just the tools that you are developing to produce work that is deeply personal and honest. I think that is what resonates with people. I remember being a kid and reading Todd McFarlane's Spider Man books. There was so much drama contained in the images that it was one of the only things that could hold my attention. I was a slow student, and an even slower reader, and I honestly credit the comic medium with helping me learn how to read. The images leapt off the page to the point that I didn't want to miss anything happening in the story, so I forced myself to learn how to read the words as well. Eventually, I was able to lose myself in books without pictures as well. No one could have taught me that, but the imagery awoke in me the desire to do it. Now, at 41 years old, I have a love for comic books like no other, because so long ago I had that formative experience. It helps me as a teacher. I helps to bring that emotional drive to teaching that kids crave so deeply. The mind makes an intimacy with the places in which it wakes up. For so many people, art is that place.
Write reply...
Drop images here to attach them to the message
Matt Haslett
These were quite a leap from mannequins. I had trouble with it at first, but after the first two, I think things started to click as the third one ins markedly better. Would love critiques, and as always, happy to critique yours.
Write reply...
Drop images here to attach them to the message
Matt Haslett
I did a bunch more of these after some great critiques (thanks @Jesper Axelsson) on my mannequins. I found this to be more helpful than the 2 min sketches. Either way, the time restraint really got me out of my head. As always, would love any and all critiques, and would be happy to critique anyone else.
Write reply...
Drop images here to attach them to the message
Matt Haslett
Instead of diving into balance, I just practiced mannequins all week. I have a specific question: With the last two on the last pic (with the bow staff) I started with gesture, whereas on all the others I didn't. To my eye, they are the standouts because of that. I'm curious to see if they stand out to any of you as well? That would confirm for me the importance of starting out with gesture. As always, any and all other feedback is welcome and appreciated.@Brandon Miele @Jesper Axelsson
Write reply...
Drop images here to attach them to the message
Brandon Miele
Would really appreciate some critique on these, thank you.
Write reply...
Drop images here to attach them to the message
Matt Haslett
Brandon, with your first pose, it looks like there are some excess lines, particularly around the neck and shoulders. It looks like you might have tried to sketch the scapular spine to help identify landmarks. The impulse is right, but it takes away from the mannequization feel, which is meant to be simplified shapes. Your second one feels more deliberate, and obviously the lines are clearer, what I would critique about this one is that some of the cylinders (ie the legs) could use more dimension. Marshall Vandruff gives a great tip on this in the mannequin critique video. Your leg rhythms are great, try layering a box on top of it to give it that 3-D feel. Nice work, keep it up!
Reply
Carl Harrison
Hello all, these are my second batch of balance and construction drawings. I have found the exercise challenging in breaking the body down into forms and would really appreciate feedback on the construction and balance of the figure drawings presented here.
Write reply...
Drop images here to attach them to the message
Matt Haslett
Carl, really nice poses. Your line work is clear and each of your limbs have good dimension. For example, in drawings 4 and 5 I can tell that you used a box to give the "cylinder" of the legs depth and perspective, and it worked nicely.
Reply
Matt Haslett
This was my run on the last video of this series with some extras thrown in for good measure. Would love to hear some critiques.
Write reply...
Drop images here to attach them to the message
Andrew Wilson
Here's most of the mannequins I've done throughout September, just been rewatching videos and trying to pick up tips and tricks.
Write reply...
Drop images here to attach them to the message
Matt Haslett
Nice. It looks like you've really got gesture down and your lines are really clean. What are you drawing on?
Reply
Matt Haslett
1st pass at mannequins. I am loving this course and would love to hear any constructive criticism. I'd be happy to do the same for anyone else too.
Write reply...
Drop images here to attach them to the message
Matt Haslett
Hey guys, new to this thing and really enjoying it. Would love a word or two on my pieces.
Write reply...
Drop images here to attach them to the message
Help!
Browse the FAQs or our more detailed Documentation. If you still need help or to contact us for any reason, drop us a line and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible!
Your name
Email
Message