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)

From the Sketchbook - Face Studies from Photo, Frazetta and Mind

The human face is truly one of the most challenging (and fascinating) things to draw. Here are some face studies I did the other day. I tried drawing first a simple line drawing of a face and then a "mass" version, adding tone and values.

The first and third of these were drawn from fashion photos, second is a master study of a face from a Frazetta painting. Fourth and fifth were two quick attempts at drawing completely without reference. This clearly shows the importance of using references for your work if aiming for a correct, realistic rendering while learning the anatomy of various body parts.

There are so many shortcomings in the last unreferenced face that if this had been a sketch for a painting, I would probably redraw it from skratch. I include it here for instructive reasons. Notice how I have managed to misplace the features and also made the torso much too small in the second one.

It is important that you do not become too discouraged when one of your sketches "fail" like this. Remember:

Mistakes are actually what teach you the most - if you learn from them, make sure you don't keep repeating them and use the new knowledge to adjust and improve your next attempt. This is true for drawing as well as life.

(0.7 HB in sketchbook)

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":

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

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).

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]

Work In Progress - Frazetta Warrior Study

One of the projects I'm drawing is a study of a Frazetta sketch for a warrior painting. Here is the beginning of the study, drawn with a HB pencil:

Sketch Of The Day - Best Album Ever?

The next sketch for the Sketchstorm thread was drawn from an album cover. According to one of my favorite sites, rateyourmusic.com this is the best recorded album ever. Indeed, The Beatles Revolver does include many gems.This is just a rough, simplified version of the remarkable original artwork.

Drawn with a HB pencil on ordinary sketchbook paper. No eraser has been used as you can tell:

(Nudity!) Sketch Of The Day - Laocoon Study

Nudity alert!

Next sketch is a study of a classic sculpture, the Laocoon group. Truly challenging but fun to sketch. Used an ink pen for this one. Drawn from photo reference:

Sketch Of The Day - Tom Cruise

Another sketch for the Sketchstorm, this time a pencil drawing of Tom Cruise from "Mission: Impossible II". Drawn with a HB pencil

(Nudity!) Sketch Of The Day - Raphael Master Study

This daily sketch is another one that I drew for the Sketchstorm thread at ImagineFX. This time a Raphael master study, drawn in ink pen as usual. A reproduction of the original along with 99 other master drawings can be found in Robert Beverly Hale's superb book on figure drawing, Drawing Lessons From The Great Masters.

Sketch Of The Day - Real Life Gestures

Today's sketch is some real life gestures drawn for the Spartan Camp at ConceptArt.org. These are drawn with an ink pen.

As I explain in part 2 of my free drawing lessons, it's very good practice to draw quick sketches with a pen, since there is no way to erase mistakes. You also improve the confidence of your lines since you have to draw quick strokes. If not, unwanted "blobs" will immediately appear. I used to draw with a ballpoint pen, but have found that a pen with more flowing ink is more challenging to use (and therefore even better practice).

Looking for a challenging drawing subject? Draw children and animals from life. You're lucky if they keep the same pose for even a few seconds.

Sketch Of The Day - Another Frazetta Study

Another sketch from a drawing by Frank Frazetta. Have been drawing on it for a while now. Used a HB pencil for this one, but the next time I will use ink - using the same medium as the artist I'm studying.

Sketch Of The Day - Drummer Mike Portnoy

Today's assignment in a sketch thread over at the ImagineFX forum was to draw "your favorite musician". I picked the drummer from Dream Theater, one of my favorite bands: Mike Portnoy

(ArtRage 2,5)

WiP of the day - Male figure (Nudity alert!)

Latest WiP of a figure drawing I'm doing from a Marconi photo reference (pencil, HB):

(Click for full view)

Master study of Algardi bust

While sketching the Bronzino portrait in ink, I worked on a master study in pencil. This one was drawn from a sculpture by Algardi:

Algardi bust (2009)

Sketch Of The Day - Botticelli Portrait Study

A quick digital sketch I have done for one of the amazing anatomy lesson threads at the Cgsociety forum. These anatomy lessons are run by Rebecca Kimmel and are based on studies from master works. Since I just love doing master studies I am so happy that I have found this great instructional resource.

Fantasytree tip #11: If you wish to improve your figure drawing (the way you draw humans, animals, beasts etc.) you should definitely register at Cgsociety and join one of the lessons or workshops found in the forum.

This sketch is a quick (15 min) master study from a portrait by Sandro Botticelli (ArtRage 2,5):

WiP of the day - Pencil Portrait

Here is the latest update to the portrait I'm working on in pencil. (HB and - today - 2B):