Stan Prokopenko
San Diego, CA
Founder of Proko, artist and teacher of drawing, painting, and anatomy. I try to make my lessons fun and ultra packed with information.
Courses
Albums
Stan Prokopenko
3d
Stan Prokopenko
4d
jasonj33
added comment inCritique - Simplify Pear from Observation
5d
What brush are you using to critique these drawings?
4d
hehe this is a Lane Brown brush that I don't think he released yet. But once he does release this pack, It's called McCaig Pencil.
5d
@Stan Prokopenko when you say to work on shading, do you suggest putting all the lines in the same direction (as in draw a line, pick up the pencil, go back, draw another line) or to go back and forth in kind of a zigzag fashion? I get that we should use the tip of the pencil. I'd like to practice but would like clarification on process. Thanks!
4d
My approach to zig zag vs separate lines is...
If I'm shading really tight, without any space between the lines, I zigzag because it's faster and doesn't have any bad side effects as far as I can see.
If I'm hatching with intentional gaps between my lines, I will pick up the pencil because I think it looks nicer than zig zag especially in detailed areas like halftones of a face. Sometimes if I want more texture in a shadow or background I'll make a visible zig zag.
Show all replies (1)
Stan Prokopenko
5d
12d
lol
Show 1 more replies
12d
I was upset that I spent 40 minutes doing the rough lay-ins for just a portrait drawing but after seeing Stan spend an hour and a half on it I realized that getting the correct proportions does take time. That's why a lot of my portrait drawings, while they look like real people, don't look exactly like the actual subject. I relied too much on my pre-established knowledge of the placement of facial features (loomis method hello) that it hindered my observation skills.
12d
Ya unfortunately that's a side effect of studying online. Too many time-lapse demos out there. I try to find a balance in my demos (leaning heavier on real time) where you can see the real speed of my hand and get a feel for the pacing of my decisions, while still being enjoyable to watch.
But I also see the value of completely real time demos. When I was in school, watching a 3 hour demo was so sluggish that sitting down to do my own 10 hour drawing felt fast and exciting in comparison.
Show all replies (1)
12d
I love how you're breaking this down into simplified shapes, my instructors never taught me that skill whilst I was getting my Visual Arts degree. I just went straight @ this assignment and paid attention to values and anatomy on my end. I'll have to try the trick or thumbnailing the portrait moving forward, looks like it may be a very useful skill to have available in my toolbox.
12d
Ya thumbnails are extremely valuable. I probably go a bit too far with my thumbnails before attacking larger drawings/paintings. For example with my anatomy demo Torso Drawing Part 1 – Preparing for the Drawing with Studies, I did separate studies for proportion, value, gesture, and anatomy! For most artists this is probably too much, but I really enjoy the process of deeply studying something, so it's not a chore.
Show all replies (2)
Stan Prokopenko
13d
Stan Prokopenko
13d
Asked for help
this took me almost 45min. I thought it was a great exercise. Keeping t escapes angular helped me not to get lost while I was concentrating on the details.
16d
I like your shapes. They're simple and geometric but still have an organic quality to them.
Show all replies (1)
Show 2 more replies
16d
Asked for help
Shading with mechanical pencils wasn't the most time efficient idea I ever had.
16d
Not efficient, but look how clean it is!
Show all replies (1)
Show 3 more replies
17d
Asked for help
I think I went in on the detail waaaaaaaaayyyy too early. Need to SIMPLIFY shadow shapes much more. Was a good exercise learning to stick with just using five (four) values. Had fun.
16d
I agree, some of the shapes you put in initially are too small. Should be simplified to convey the major form of the pear, rather than the minor bumps. Also, try not to outline all your shapes with dark line. Try to make a sharp edge with just the value of the shape itself. Your value organization is great though.
Show all replies (1)
Show 6 more replies
Asked for help
Hi All! Here's my attempt at the pear, working on the portrait...
17d
great job!
Show all replies (1)
Show 1 more replies
I must say fruit are boring😂. But I guess we have to learn the boring pictures before we can do the exciting and fun pictures.
17d
Fruit CAN be exciting! There are some great shapes in this pear that can be celebrated in a drawing. Try just looking at it for 5 minutes without drawing. See if there are any relationships between the shapes that you like. Any angles that you appreciate. Draw it again and try to capture those things. I think an important skill that we develop as we learn to see like an artist, is the ability to find beauty in anything :)
Show all replies (1)
Show 1 more replies
17d
My first assignment. Struggled with the light area. It looks really flat.
17d
Ya it's going to look flat because I'm not allowing you enough values to round out that large light area. You did make the darker halftone a bit skinny at the bottom.
If you're up for it, you can try another one with 6 values... 2 shadows, 4 lights. Still very simple but will be more effective in showing the roundness along the right edge.
17d
Hi!!! Happy to post the level 1 assignment, I think it ends decent. What you think?
17d
Shapes look good! Try to do it again without dark outlines around each shape. Just a sharp edge. Also it will be a little easier if you utilize the full value range that your pencil allows. The value you're using for the outline of the shadows - use that dark value for the darkest shapes. That will allow you to have darker halftones whiteout competing with the shadows. Right now your halftones are very similar.
Show all replies (1)
Stan Prokopenko
17d
17d
Attempt #1. First time drawing fruit and shading! I may have simplified a bit TOO much. Will give it another go this week. Any feedback is appreciated!
17d
On the next attempt, try to create a sharp edge around each shape WITHOUT a dark outline.
Show all replies (1)
17d
Hey guys, here are two more pear photo for you if you want to practice some more with different shadow shapes. I also added them to the downloads tab.
