Work In Progress - Orc Concept Art WIP

Have begun coloring my pencil sketch of an orc. Here is the latest version:

Work In Progress - Kata

Yesterday I joined another online art challenge. Here is one of the first WiPs. Theme "The far east":

(ArtRage3)

From the Sketchbook - Frazetta master study

Yesterday I finished yet another study from a drawing by fantasy art grandmaster Frank Frazetta. It was another sketch for the Sketchstorm thread over at the ImagineFX forum.

(0.7 ink pen on standard office paper)

Figure Drawing from Photo

Brought out my easel yestarday and did some figure drawing from photo reference. Thanks to Hong Ly for providing so many great, free reference photos.

(Derwent Graphic HB on standard office paper)

(Nudity) From the Sketchbook - Female Life Painting

(Post contains artistic nudity)

Here is the start of a practice in painting the human figure from life. Done in ArtRage3 from photo reference:

From the Sketchbook - Female Thief Character

New week and today it's sunny, the sky is blue and birds fill the snowcovered bush outside my window. What better thing to draw then than a thief lurking in the shadows. This is a quick character sketch I did for the Sketchstorm thread:

(0.7 HB in sketchbook)

Work in Progress - Naiad (mini-tutorial, WiP 1-3)

Thus it became a new decade. New decade means new year. New year means new month and new month...means a new MyFX Monthly Challenge over at the ImagineFX forum! The theme for January is "Hiding in plain sight".

Posting the first three WiPs, this post is a very brief tutorial on the workflow I've used in the beginning phase of painting this image.

Since I really enjoy figurative painting and need to continually practice this challenging but oh so fascinating subject, I decided to paint a Naiad (water nymph). The idea is for her to be almost one with her related element (water). For this I used ArtRage3 and the oil paint tool.

Working from a photo reference of a female in a dress, I began by very roughly applying midtone to a colored background, as well as a dark and a light tone. Doing this I tried to capture the flow of the figure and her dress.

I also started to think about the underlying structure of the composition, as taught in the ArtTrek series  on design and composition by Charles Bernard The dominating shape of this image will be the circle or oval.

Naiad - 1st WiP

I then began working on improving the basic outline and form of the shade. Mostly in the face and on the upper right arm. For this I used the palette knife tool. I just love to first block in the colour roughly and then moving it around to its proper places using the palette knife.

Naiad - 2nd WiP

I kept defining the outline and basic tones of the figure working in much the same way. Also decided that some parts of the figure should "float" and mix with the surrounding water. I also decided to change one of the underlying shapes somewhat.

In order to apply more detail I zoom in on the painting. Since I plan for the final version to be 600x800, I'm working with a 1200x1600 sized canvas. I then know that if a detail seems alright when working at 75% of the canvas size, it will also work when I finally make the finished image half as big.

Naiad - WiP3

So far I think this piece is off to a rather good start. The next important decision is whether to stick to purely monochromatic or if I should introduce other colors, perhaps moving in a more expressive direction. We'll see where I'll take it from here.

From the Sketchbook - Munch Master Study

The start of another master study I drew the other day for the Sketchstorm thread. The subject for Sketchstorm #77 was "Art movements - expressionism" and I decided to do a version of a painting by the Norwegian painter Edvard Munch (1863-1944), most famous for his painting "The scream".

I felt like trying colored pens for a change as I did my own take of his "The woodcutter":

Learn to Draw, Lesson 4: Fantasy Beast/Animal part 2: Starting to Sketch

Learn to Draw a Fantasy Beast or Animal, part 2

Welcome to another lesson in my Learning to Draw series. For an introduction on how this "Fantasy Beast" part of the series will be structured, please go here. For the other parts in this series, go here.

In this part I will talk briefly about finding and setting up a reference to draw. Then I'll present the beginning of my sketch (after 5 minutes) and talk about why it looks the way it does. Get your drawing equipment (traditional pencil and paper or digital doesn't matter) and let's start!

Using a reference

In this project we'll use a reference as a foundation for our drawing. It is usually much easier to draw something you see than something you have to visualize and try to remember or imagine. "Life drawing" is also very good practice in observation and learning how light and shade interacts with an object.

I will use a simple plastic toy model of a leopard for this drawing. You can choose any animal, but my instructions will probably be easier to follow if you pick an animal belonging to the cat family.

I suggest that you put the model to the left of your drawing surface on a white piece of paper or a white background. This is in order for you to easily see the light and shade. I also suggest that you only have one lightsource, coming from the upper left (if you're righthanded and vice versa). The reason for this is that the shadows will only be cast in one direction and those cast by your own hand (if drawing traditionally) will not make it hard to see what you're drawing.

If you find these kind of practical suggestions booring (I sure did when starting out) I suggest that you just start drawing. Through trial and error (and frustrating drawing experiences) you will probably find yourself paying more and more attention to such matters. At least I do.

But what matters most if you're an absolute beginner or want to improve is: Start drawing and keep drawing!

Starting to sketch 

Well then, having the set-up ready (I will use a computer for easy editing and looking down at the model somewhat from above) it's time to start sketching. Try to think about drawing the main shape, the main forms focusing on the big, overall impression and not going into detail.

Also try to get into the habit of not using eraser until it is time for the final polish. You learn a lot more from simply drawing new, "better" lines and leaving the "bad" ones.

Here is what my sketch looked like after 5 minutes of drawing:

Far from being a finished or even good drawing, I still feel that it's a good start. Like a first lump of clay that you can start molding into a sculpture. A framework to build the finished drawing upon. There are parts of this quick sketch that I am definitely not satisfied with. But overall it will do as a start.

Here I have roughly indicated some things I (mostly subconsciously and without paying attention to it) had in mind during these 5 minutes of sketching. If you find it hard to follow what I mean by shapes, rhythms and construction lines of the sketch, I suggest you just remember these three words. If you get serious about drawing and studying the principles behind good drawing you will encounter these (and many other) aspects of a figure over and over again. I suggest that you return to this post after six months of practice and see if you understand these concepts then. If not, give it another half year or so.

This is the reason books (and tutorials) on drawing should be reread over and over. You will find that the more you learn, the more you will understand and be ready to apply of the underlying theory.

Most important though: Draw, draw, draw!

Here are the notes for my five minute sketch:

In the next lesson I will complete this animal sketch and talk about how I did it. After that the time has come to distort the poor cat's proportions and features into something even more hideous and terrifying.

I hope this lesson has been valuable to you. Please give me feedback and let me know what I need to explain further, what has been most helpful or if you would like me to help you with some issues. I regularly try to revise these lessons and need your help to make them as clear and useful as possible.

Also let me know how your sketch is coming along. I would love to post "Reader's sketches" here at the blog as well. Just let me know (through mail or comment) and we'll arrange that.

Now, stop reading and go fetch your pencil. It's time to sketch.

Happy drawing!

(Nudity!) From The Sketchbook - The Night

(This post contains artistic nudity!)

A sketch of Van der Schardts sculpture The Night that I recently did for the Sketchstorm thread I've started:

From the Sketchbook - Quick Portrait From Life

One of the best drawing exercises is to sketch people from life. I talk more about this kind of practice in the second of my free drawing lessons. Here it's enough to just mention that it is one of the most challenging - and enjoyable - things to draw.

This is a quick portrait sketch from life that I drew in my sketchbook this morning: (0.7 mechanical pencil HB on sketchbook paper)

Free Tattoo Design - Shakira

For those who have been waiting, here it is: A Shakira tattoo design.

Hope it will be useful and inspirational to you.

I am grateful for any feedback on my designs. Also let me know what kind of designs you would like to have available for free. Tell me if you would need any of my designs posted in a different size or color than I've posted them.

To download image just right-click and choose "Save image as..."


For more designs and terms of use please read this post.

From the Sketchbook - Kelly Manowar Cover Study

Did Frank Frazetta have any students? Yes, there is at least one great fantasy artist I know of that has been taught by him: Ken Kelly. Many of his paintings make me really nostalgic, since they were among my favorite covers during the "Dungeons and dragons-era" in the 80's (along with Frazetta, Royo and Vallejo).

Kelly is also famous for his many record covers for bands such as Kiss, Rainbow and Manowar. Today's sketch is a quick master study of one of his Manowar covers:

(mechanical 0.7 HB on standard sketchbook paper)

Work In Progress - Good Vs Evil (WiP 4)

Monday, new week and finally the grey clouds have parted. White snowflakes slowly fall to the ground and yesterday me and my son built the first snowman of the year.

No snowman, but at least a shoe-throwing Cinderella is what I have to offer in my latest digital piece. Here's an update of it.

Have yourself a great week hopefully enriched by innumerable snow crystals!

(Done in ArtRage so far)

Good Vs Evil - Work in progress (WiP4)

Work In Progress - Frazetta Female Master Study

Woke up without fever this morning. Felt like returning to one of my beloved Frazetta art books and started drawing another master study. This time a female about to be attacked by a lion.

(mechanical 0.7 HB pencil on standard office paper)

Work In Progress - Good Vs Evil (WiP 3)

Have added some more color to my latest digital project. Used the oil paint tool in ArtRage set to a 20% size. Not quite happy with the look of the pages in the book that the characters are standing on. Probably will use the palette knife to spread the scattered darker colors.

Since there are so many characters in this composition I'll try to make the background rather simple. Otherwise the overall impression will be too cluttered. Which I feel it is at the moment:

Work In Progress - Good Vs Evil

Here's a little update on the Good Vs Evil piece I'm doing for the December challenge at ImagineFX. Done in ArtRage 2.5 this far.

Have made a new transparent layer and begun adding some thicker color using the oil paint tool (thinner 50%). Only had time for parts of the background and some of the characters this far though.

How many fairy tales can you find? (it's supposed to be more than 5 there).

(Nudity) From the Sketchbook - Female Figure Master Studies

(Note: Post includes artistic nudity)

One of the best ways to improve figure drawing skills is to study the masters. Since drawing from the masters is something I just love doing this is one of my favorite ways to practice. I actually try to do some kind of master study every day and truly recommend this for anyone serious about improving.

Here are some quick female figure studies from masters like Tizian, Corregio and Dossi. Hope you like them and that they can inspire you to draw. (HB mechanical 0.7 pencil on regular office paper).

Have a great weekend.

From the Sketchbook - A Dürer Master Study

Monday and another week with Fantasytree. Soon time to leave a grey November behind and welcome December with Christmas in all it's fantastic glory. Don't forget that Santa Claus is probably one of the most famous fantasy character ever! (Albeit some minorities of the population actually believe that he exists).

Anyway, what better way to start a week than with a study of a true master? By many considered to be one of the most skilled draughtsmen ever, Albrecht Dürer's (1471-1528) works never cease to impress.

This sketch is merely the beginning of a study in pencil from a painting he did of his father. Drawn with a 0.7 mechanical HB pencil on regular sketchbook paper.

Wish you all a great week.

Finshed Drawing - Elvis Presley Portrait

Yesterday I mentioned that I had finished a drawing project. Today I can reveal that it was an Elvis drawing for my mother. Drawn with a Derwent Graphic, a 0.7 and a 0.5 mechanical pencil (HB) from a photo by Bettman/Corbis this is what it looked like. Scanned it before handing it over to my mum yesterday:

Elvis Presley (2009)

[21x29 cm]