Hey Guys,

Following yesterdays revelations I set myself the task of trying to combine the elements I had learnt this far to try to draw an accurate representation of a models pose. This entire sketch started as a Bean with a twist in the waist, I adapted the Bean using boxes to correct the alignment of the waist. From there I added curves and straights to draw the limbs. What started out as a bit of a mess and took a couple of hours to knock up I feel I got a fairy accurate sketch (see below). The anatomy of the limbs isn't quite right and the head isn't complementing the torso by angling back but as a sketch I wasn't sure would work... it kind of does, room for improvement but better.

(IMG 1 - Unknown - 18/01/2020) Female Sketch from Bean/Boxes & Curves/Straights "Its good but the head/right arm needs work"

I think its fair to say this is probably my most favourite sketch to date (despite its flaws). I think I captured here quite well I just wish I had done it in a time limit at a better pace probably with some subtler linework. All of my art tends to lean towards comic style outlines which is something I need to beat out of my sketches... I think I just like seeing the form captured and very clear with no doubt as to the pose. At the same time I love the flow in the gestures that are more free form, the problem with drawing outlines like this is they tend to box you in. Things quickly become rigid and before you know it you either have to rub everything out or accept its flaws.

Later guys!

Over & Out,
xXStItChXx

Hey Guys,

A quick and simple one for you today. I decided to focus entirely on the form in terms of solid boxes, no organics. It wasn't easy in fact it pretty much took the remainder of my lunch (after eating of course) just to get one image but I think it conveys the pose. Elements like the torso and pelvis were easy to break down, even the head had simple elements. Areas where it was a little tricky was again the limbs (my kryptonite). I wasn't sure if the limbs should have their own vanishing points but that made the most sense to me. I just wanted to ensure that firstly the form looked human and secondly that it was somewhat anatomically correct (see below for my 20 minute exploration).

(IMG 1 - 20 Min - 17/01/2020) Rough Block Body from Boxes - "20 Minutes, my personal best and it actually looks human AND FEMALE"

I feel as though I got a little lucky with this pose, nothing is really obscured and the twist is very subtle but I really love my attempt at her left forearm its not bad (for someone who is terrible at limbs). I couldnt figure out how to fix the back leg so I left it without any real definition I know thats cheating but for 20 minutes I was happy the image wasn't hours in the making. Usually just to get a half decent serviceable form I have to sketch over and over for 30 minutes to 2 hours just to get a sketch that works. It takes even longer then that with poses that I simply just dont understand. Maybe if I break poses down like this more I can use them to understand better... food for thought.

See you guys in the next post!

Over & Out,
xXStItChXx

Hey People!
Another update!

Beyond the 15th of Jan I started thinking of the body more in terms of geometric shapes as well as oblongs and quick CSI (C Curves, S Curves and Straight lines used for Gesture). Each of these underline a method to drawing the human form but also in their integration can be used in combination to give you a desired result. Recently, I've been exploring this a little more and I think Proko wants to provide a few avenues in which to come to a desirable human form. It can be tricky but lately I've found that starting with a Bean can help you discern the twist/overlapping or tilting elements of a pose while boxes allow you to define the bean and the CSI flows are best for limbs.

(IMG 1 - Unknown - 16/01/2020) Rough Block Body from Bean - "Better distance, pelvis is out quite far though"

(IMG 2 - Unknown - 16/01/2020) Various Boxes at various Positions/angles 5 - "Feedback I got was to try to draw the obstructed sides too"

I posted the image above (IMG 2) into the Proko gesture Facebook group and it got quite a few likes and stuff which is always a nice confidence boost. However one of the bits of feedback I actually got was to draw the cube as if it was transparent, I didn't realise how difficult this was until I tried it recently. It also shows you if you have drawn a cube wrong because if it connects in one axis then it should connect in all of them. I will bear this in mind going forward, I try to time these sketches but its not always easy to see and I like drawing a range of cubes not the same ones every time. This requires a bit of thought I think 10 minutes is a fair estimate, we will see.

Ill keep you posted!

Over & Out,
xXStItChXx

Hey Doods,
An entirely new type of post, WOW!

Try not to get too excited and this juncture its about understanding structure and thus the construction of boxes, cylinders and spheres in perspective/3D space. As a 3D artist I know a little about this, I have also done many box exercises in sketchbooks in the past. Probably one of the reasons I have put it off for so long. Its about understanding dimension and obviously applying that to the human form. While I was a little rusty with my first 5 minutes I think I got there in the end. I found you have to be quick with the pencil to get a straighter line and turned any graduation off of the apple pencil to lose the blurry line (IMG 2-5).

(IMG 1 - 5 Min - 15/01/2020) Various Boxes at various Positions/angles 1 - "Some of the boxes look a little misshapen"

(IMG 2 - 5 Min - 15/01/2020) Various Boxes at various Positions/angles 2 - "These are starting to look a lot better"

(IMG 3 - Unknown - 15/01/2020) Various Boxes at various Positions/angles 3 - "Lots of nice variation here but be aware of your angles"

(IMG 4 - Unknown - 15/01/2020) Various Boxes at various Positions/angles 4 - "Looks like a cube explosion good vanishing point"

(IMG 5 - Unknown - 15/01/2020) Rough Block Body from Bean - "The torso and pelvis are quite close - keep this in mind"

I did a few basic box exercises by drawing just random boxes at any angle. Towards the end I tried constructing dimension for a rough bean I knocked up by dividing the singular fluid form into boxes (IMG 5). It kind of worked I mean I thought the twist would be hard to knock up but I actually found it harder to separate forms that are over the top of each other. I think the key here is to draw the form that is going to be overlapped first so then its placed. I realised after that I didn't space them enough which I believe is because I'm not too confident overlapping boxes, I will be practicing this more and more till it goes in. Wish me luck :)

Later people!

Over & Out,
xXStItChXx

Hey everyone :)

I decided to use the 14th to go back to some of my former lessons on the Proko course I will probably try to do this more often because I dont want other parts of the course to go rusty. I did more quick gestures and more Beans which actually came out quite well (IMG 1-2). I have more control over the pencil since my earlier Gestural efforts and I tend to lean into flow by default I just sometimes make the mistake of drawing over it with more pressure when I should probably leave it. We had a power cut at the office on this day so I had an extended period of time to work on sketching. It was nice just to focus on drawing for a while.

(IMG 1 - 30 Sec - 14/01/2020) Various Beans from Female Pose Series Tests 43 - "Nice range of beans - nice and loose"

(IMG 2 - 2 Min - 14/01/2020) Pushing chest out female pose series revisited x10 - “Not bad not too messy could you do these in a minute?”

(IMG 3 - Unknown - 14/01/2020) Gesture/Bean - "Good form but it took quite a while to do - keep studying the anatomy"

I think I'm beginning to understand why people say that quicker sketches have better flow. I look at my gestures on this page and I actually prefer them to everything else. They are not defined but they actually look like they have more flow and are somewhat interesting. It appears the longer I slap lines down on something and define it more and more it loses the force, the life if you will. Something appears to be lost the longer you fixate on an idea. Maybe on some weird lizard-brain level I know how to draw these poses by now but can only really tap into that mindset when I am moving a mile a minute. Not sure, I need to get back into my timed excursions more!

Over & Out,
xXStItChXx

Hey Guys :)

The 13th was a good day (despite its horror connotations). I got a few sketches out and for the most part I was happy with how the came out. I spent quite a bit of time in the evening trying to figure out the pose of a female leaning forwards (IMG 3). What kept throwing me here was the gravity and the position of the shoulders and thus the position of the arms (which I still feel needs a little work). Strangely enough I actually prefer my lighter efforts which once again shows me the benefits of keeping things loose. There were quite a few good takeaways from the sketches notably how big the posterior is in comparison to the torso for this particular woman. Good times :P

(IMG 1 - 5 Min - 13/01/2020) Gesture/Bean - "Good form and flow - very nice for 5 minutes"

(IMG 2 - 10 Min - 13/01/2020) Gesture/Bean - "Not as loose as the first but still quite nice :)"

(IMG 3 - Long Sketch - 13/01/2020) Gesture/Bean - "Good form arms are a little questionable and fingers"

I always have to tell myself when I draw the female form that the torso and pelvis are not necessarily the same size. I usually find that the pelvis is winder then the torso. You also have to tell yourself not to round things out too much I know some women are curvy but its not all about the long curves especially where the top of the hips are concerned. I generally try to think that men's legs connect underneath the pelvis where as women's connect to the sides of the pelvis. I know it doesn't work that way but it really helps me understand why you give their pelvis extra width. Well that concludes this little post for the 13th :) not far from present day!

Later guys!

Over & Out,
xXStItChXx

Hey people!

Another post but for the 12th its only a single sketch. Didn't really get a long lunch so I was lucky to get anything. I know I try to sketch when I get home but this day in particular was quite stressful I just got in ate and went to bed. That being said it was a really effective 10 minute sketch (IMG 1). Most of the form is actually on point for a change the only thing I'm not entirely sure on is the perspective and thus the angle of the gesture. She is leaning on her right thigh but I dont know I'm not keen on how the left floats a little. I'm still trying to broaden my skill across a range of poses and angles its just not always easy especially if you have other things on the brain.

(IMG 1 - 10 Min - 12/01/2020) Gesture/Bean - "Excellent flow, pose works work on the perspective!"

One of the other things I notice about this sketch is its a big more of a caricature then an accurate anatomy pose. The size of the head and hands is what makes that more evident. Its pretty cool though, I wish my other 10 minute sketches would work out this well. The line weight is still something that continues to plague my work but its not so terrible here I just have to keep a close eye to make sure I'm not using pressure and sharp line to create artwork. Its just a sloppy way of working, you dont get a flow and you end up locked in to whatever you draw because its such a pain to get rid of it via rubbing it out. I may have to say it again... KEEP IT LOOSE! (directed at me)

Over & Out,
xXStItChXx

Hey People!

Focused on a few more laying down poses on the 11th just to try and improve my confidence in foreshortening. The 5 minute sample I did I think really worked out well (IMG 1). I then got a little more carried away with a simple side on shot but my focus here was the twist from the pelvis to the torso (IMG 2-3). You also have a bit of foreshortening from the pelvis to the upper body and then of course the legs which are a little balled up. The unknown time limits crept up though, I didn't spend hours on them but they were somewhere in between 10-20 minutes and I dont know how long exactly. Rather then lie about the times I just put U/K (Unknown).

(IMG 1 - 5 Min - 11/01/2020) Gesture/Bean - "Subtle with good form try to add limbs next time"

(IMG 2 - Unknown - 11/01/2020) Gesture/Bean - "Good form and anatomy - keep an eye on that linework!"

(IMG 3 - Unknown - 11/01/2020) Gesture/Bean - "Good twist and subtle lines for the legs be careful of harsh lines"

(IMG 4 - Unknown - 11/01/2020) Gesture/Bean - "Good form and limbs chest is a little too big"

IMG 4 is a further attempt at the pose from the prior 2 days, the model sitting and twisting from a low angle. The feet I drew are certainly simple enough and more in line with what I am after. Just have to keep reminding myself to go for a triangle (larger sole plant leading to a thin extended heel). I just underestimated the orientation of the torso and thus increased its depth when it should be quite thin especially at the waist. The line strength is always the area of contention, the longer I stay on a pose the more precious I get and then the harsher lines come out. I NEED to keep things loose, if you are reading this (me) KEEP THINGS LOOSE!

Later people!

Over & Out,
xXStItChXx

Hey People!

Things seemed to be getting back on track for this post, my beans while a little hesitant (IMG 1) the samples do seem to show the tilt and placement of the centre line at least for the most part. I even started trying to separate the forms more so less overlap. This resulted in a few poses that worked a hell of a lot better then before. I still have my hesitant moments here (you see the choppy lines) but thats because I'm actively thinking about what the body is doing and how to represent that in the 2 central forms (pelvis/torso - a.k.a. Bean). Its not always easy unless there's a super obvious overlap (lean/twist/bend/etc). Ill keep at it, I'll get it eventually.

(IMG 1 - 45 Sec - 10/01/2020) Various Beans from Female Pose Series Tests 42 - "Good samples keep the confidence up! (lines)"

(IMG 2 - 5 Min - 10/01/2020) Gesture/Bean - "Good volumes and mass maybe a little too close"

(IMG 3 - 5 Min - 10/01/2020) Gesture/Bean - "Very hesitant and the form is wrong - keep an eye"

(IMG 4 - 5 Min - 10/01/2020) Gesture/Bean - "Better but try to keep things light the posterior weight is nice"

The deeper I get into this course the more there is to understand but then there are things which I'm sure other people dont even think about when they draw. I have a tendency to overthink everything so I am more then likely going overboard with this but that may be how I have to learn it. I'm hoping there will come a time where I dont have to think about it so much and can just draw the pose within 10 minutes with no fuss, I know its a bit of a longshot. I mean I have to keep an eye on the anatomy, the twist and turns of the pose, the angle and view as well as the flow of the gesture and the weight of the lines. Its a lot, but through repetition its getting better.

Later Guys!

Over & Out,
xXStItChXx

Hey people!
The next post is here!

Another day where things at least in terms of sketching were not going right. That being said I never sat back from the prior days to absorb exactly what was going on. Anatomy is something I feel that you come to learn the more you do it. In my case I think talking about it helps too. Looking at the head and neck region of IMG 1 it actually looks pretty good. Its the body and its bean forms that are incorrect anatomically. You also have to consider what the body is doing when it is moving, what can the viewer actually see (how much of the torso). Is a breast obscured? It should be wrapping up the arm to the torso. The hips need to be lower because she needs a stomach, etc.

(IMG 1 - 5 Min - 09/01/2020) Gesture/Bean - "Lots of issues - anatomy is wrong/too harsh line/not flowing"

(IMG 2 - 10 Min - 09/01/2020) Gesture/Bean - "Better flow and form build on this/try to achieve more in 10 mins"

(IMG 3 - Unknown - 09/01/2020) Gesture/Bean - "Too harsh line, use a lighter touch/main masses too close"

While this day of sketches was a bit of a mess I cant help but see a bit of an improvement in my understanding of feet which I have abbreviated to inverted triangles. I'll try to keep this in mind going forward. I also noticed from studying these sitting poses that for most (myself included) the thighs and backside expand as they impact a surface. Anything that has fat really should expand. You find its less of an issue with muscle because thats obviously rock hard and generally toned. I have to try to keep making a mental note that I should be pressing too hard on this canvas I tend to fall back to this mind set when I spend longer on a sketch. Food for thought.

Over & Out,
xXStItChXx