From the sketchbook - Sword

Here is a quick sketch I drew yesterday of  a sword: (ArtRage3)

From the Sketchbook - Start of a Frazetta study

Just drew this sketch as a start for another study of a painting by Frazetta. Tried to focus more on basic forms and less on details than usual (0.5 pen):

From the Sketchbook - Alan Lee master studies

Drew these two quick studies on the commuter train the other day (0.7 HB pencil):

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)

(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 - Golden Gate Bridge

As the subject for Sketchstorm #82 recently was "Bridge", I decided to draw a sketch from photo ref. This time I chose the magnificent Golden Gate bridge. It was really fun to draw (used my beloved 0.7 HB in Sketchbook as I usually do for sketching).

For those awaiting another graphic design I can also reveal that I have begun working on a portrait of the popular actor Jason Statham. Hope to finish it soon.

Wish you all a great weekend!

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 - 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)

From the Sketchbook - Whitney Houston

Another sketch I drew for the Sketchstorm thread. This time we were supposed to draw an album cover from any album by Whitney Houston. I chose the cover for My love is your love:

(mechanical 0.7 HB in sketchbook; Original Photo by Dana Lixenberg)

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":

(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)

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)

From the Sketchbook - Mossberg Birch Tree Masterstudy

One of the things I enjoy most to draw is trees. I can really understand why the tree has become such an important symbol throughout the ages.

Bo Mossberg is one of my favorite artists when it comes to painting nature. Once more I decided to do a masterstudy of one of his watercolor paintings. This time it's a Birch, drawn for the Sketchstorm thread.

Speaking of watercolor, I upgraded my version of ArtRage to ArtRage 3. Some great additions like "fill bucket", watercolor tool and ink pen is making me really happy. Hope to soon have an AR3 work to post here. Will certainly be useful for drawing tattoo/graphic designs.

Anyway, here is the tree study (mechanical 0,7 HB pencil on standard office paper):

From the sketchbook - Hot Air Balloon

Just finished drawing and posting another sketch for the sketchstorm thread at ImagineFX. This time it was supposed to be a particular vehicle - a hot air balloon:

(0.7 mechanical HB pencil on standard sketchbook paper)

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)

From the Sketchbook - Winter Scene

Since I unfortunately have caught a flu, this is what I just drew lying on the coach. Some kind of simple winter scene:

(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.

From the Sketchbook - Another Lee Master Study

Here's the start of another master study from a Lee drawing. This time of Goldberry from the house of Tom Bombadil. (Used a mechanical 0.7 HB pencil on regular office paper):