Chiaroscuro Class, Week 4

This was my first time trying to do a realistic depiction of cloth. Really struggled with the different between form shadows and cast shadows. Also, the pot/grapes didn't come out to my liking. This studio assignment made me realize that the position of my paper and how I hold it across my lap could really skew my perspective. Also it made a big impact on me how much a well sharpened piece of charcoal matters.

 

The homework for this week was to set up a still life at home that we could work on for 3 weeks. We were tasked with getting a sharp, clean sketch down. I'm actually proud of how accurate my line art is here, especially on the wrench and the cranes. I stayed away from the vine charcoal this time, stuck to the hardest ones and did very little smudging, if at all. Much, much better...I'm really looking forward to getting back feedback and shading this one. :)

Chiaroscuro Class Assignment #03

Done during studio class, about 4 hours of total work. It's still unfinished, but marks today's progress: a lesson about glass. It was really great to see the wide variety of styles and different ways of interpreting the same thing. Even with the same medium, every student work was really distinctive. Talking to some of my classmates to get a sense of how they work, struggle and triumph with the process realizes the shared sense of camaraderie as well as helps grow technique.

I've been expecting to feel more behind since the majority of students there have an undergraduate degree in a related field, but I feel like I'm actually holding my own okay. Despite it being such a humbling experience, class is definitely the highlight of my weekdays.

Chiaroscuro Homework #01, part 2

Added backdrop and scattered light detailing on the apple and tried to even out the tones to hide my charcoal lines. I also worked really hard to try and clean things up and fill up the "white dots" from the paper texture that Brendon didn't like in my greyscale chart. Charcoal smudges sooooo easily. Making one wrong mark, one accidental swipe with my sleeve cuff or pressing down on the charcoal just a *tiny* bit too hard could be aggravatingly difficult to recover from. I have a hard time just not making a general mess of things.

I've been having a noticeably hard time keeping the mortar and pestle symmetrical, so I reversed the photo to see how far off I really was. I was horrified to find out the severity of my symmetry and perspective derp... I'll make one last attempt Tuesday night after work to correct it the best I can.

Chiaroscuro Homework #01, part 1 - Square One.

A week ago I began my MFA studies at the Academy of Art. First semester, first class. So why not record my progress? Maybe one day when I am a total badass I can look back upon the start of my journey and laugh. :P Anyway, everyone's gotta start somewhere, right? Here's to the start of my mileage.

Homework #01 was to set up a still life of 3 solid, non transparent or reflective surfaces at home with one point lighting. This is my progress halfway in. (please excuse the crappy cellphone pic) Charcoal is hard. Drawing symmetrical objects is really hard. Yikes. My hope in all of this was that I still found it thoroughly enjoyable.

Conclusion? I am easy to entertain, but difficult to please. Hopefully part 2 will go better.

Girl with Rhinoboar

I've been so busy with work and homework that I've ignored this blog, but I have been doing lots of painting and sketching. (Must learn how to paint in photoshop!)

Since posting regularly is a good habit that encourages regular practice, here goes again. Sketchdump, resurrected by Girl with Rhinoboar. This is my first pass, I need to figure out how to do backgrounds...

1st speedpaint of 2012

1.5hr, photoshop with reference

Mike Po

Boyfriend sitting in a cafe. Pencil and photoshop 1.5hrs

Autumn

gauche on cardboard. the colors look really wierd scanned in.

some habits might die hard, but getting into the habit of posting starts hard too...blech.

Christmas Llama

A post just to post.

Cigar Lurker

He looks more serious than I meant him to be...3 days worth of practice, freehanded in photoshop.

Cat and Dancer

havent done anything digital for a while, since i sit on my computer all day at work... so here is a lighting study adapted from memory and the sketch of a 5 minute pose from last week's figure drawing session. photoshop, 1.5hrs.

September

freehanded in photoshop, need to up the contrast in my lighting and colors.

Lost Battle

2 hours, freehanded in photoshop. i'm trying to understand lighting on faces. not enough contrast. oh well, you live to fight another day.