Mabelma's Thread of Stuff (Art)

[Mabelma]

Here's a couple of new things I've done in the past couple of weeks. Trying to find a way to balance my art studies and still have a reasonable amount out of personal creative output so I'm trying to do at least 5 personal images every weeks on top of the freelance stuff and the art studies and all that.

[Mabelma]

Some new stuff (not that much today sadly)

[Chris2Balls [:B]]

Could you tell me a bit about the process of your sculpture studies? Like what size you're working at, the size of the reference, etc.

[Mabelma]

Sure, well I don't really think much about the size, I basically just download the image, open it up in photoshop and make a duplicate of the same size, so I can keep the proportions close, sometimes it fails completely but that's what I'm doing. Then depending on what I'm trying to study that particular day I will either sketch a rough overlay of the image or jump in with simple blacks and white, so I know that needs to be lighetened and what's shaded, and once I have that done, I just refine, refine, refine, till I'm happy with what it's shape, and it's look. I'm never actually happy with any of it, but there comes a point that you simply just have to move on to the next study, and repeat the whole process again.

[Chris2Balls [:B]]

Interesting! I have a few suggestions for your work flow.


If you have difficulties with wrapping your head around the shading/volumes of your reference:

• convert the reference into greyscale (Image/Mode/Grayscale), then play with the level posterization (Image/Adjustments/Posterize) to get an idea of how the shadows and highlights are placed. You can even keep this as a layer to look at from time to time.
  

A smart trick for keeping the proportions right:

• add a transparent layer on top the reference in which you set lines to point out various things, like the level of the chin, the nose, the eyes, etc. and you can even add some basic outlines. Keep it simple.
  
• transform it to scale (either bigger or smaller than the reference) if you want to work at a different size, then create a new file from it. You now have a proportional guide to start with!
  

One last thing: keep looking at the reference, put it next to what you're working on if you have room on your screen. Flip your work horizontally from time to time to notice anything that looks off.

I hope it helps. I can illustrate this if necessary.

[Mabelma]

Thanks man, all of this helps a lot. I'll definetly give it a try.

[Mabelma]

This week in Mab's Art If you're interested in seeing one of the images up close, let me know and I'll post it up alone.

[Mabelma]

Some of the newest stuff I've been working on in the past couple of weeks.

[Lexou Duck]

glad to see you're etting better at posing !

[Mabelma]

This week I bring you a couple of pokemon drawings, and a bunch of youtube cover arts, hope you like it.
Check out their stuff here.
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqzMraykdNktuMUCJBw53jA
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4bpcB-Zn-0tzfvETuVtK7g

[Mabelma]

Here's what I've been doing this week. If you wanted to see anything bigger let me know and I'll post an image of that alone.

[Mabelma]

Gonna start posting one at a time again, sporadically. So you can see the full image. I hope no one minds and you all like this. Enjoy. All C+C truly appreciated.

[Mabelma]

Some more studies, this time trying to do some colors rather than just studying black and whites.

[Mabelma]

More art studies this week, and even a couple of Pok-e-mons!

[Mabelma]

Kind of a very packed week this one has been.
Pokemon:




Adventure Time:


Youtube Fan-Art:
:
Study:

Christmas Collab