Three more P&P sketches

[MichaelRH]

I was back at the newsprint this morning. This time..in addition to the usual colored pencils..I used a large black marker.
All three were done VERY!!! quickly..just to put down roughs of a couple new ideas/themes. (I'll have to STOP sketching soon...and get on to the painting!!!) lol
Will try to catch up with everyone in the Cafe over the next couple of days..(I'm OFF! work) Michael
(all images were unfortunately cropped on the scanner)
Just a couple notes about the sketches. First one..I was thinking about the dramatic impact of just large graphic shapes..and used black marker to emphasize those angles.
Second theme...a woman "walking the plank"...is an idea I'd really like to develope further, but I feel I would not be able to paint the picture I want (and resolve all the spatial/perspective problems) by the project due date. Milt..as you can see..I have not at all resolved perspective in this brief sketch!!!! (frown!) Third one..just trying to convey action/movement.
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Critiques/User/pstudy3.jpg
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Critiques/User/Pstudy4.jpg http://www.wetcanvas.com/Critiques/User/pstudy5.jpg

[This message has been edited by MichaelRH (edited May 05, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by MichaelRH (edited May 05, 2000).]
Milt...(about sketch 3-"Walking the Plank", I know this sketch is horribly off with regard to composition/perspective. I do like the theme..and if you'd care to re-draw..offer suggestions to simplify or make the "idea" better...please, have a go!!
For lack of a better excuse.(lol!).it is ONLY!! (rolling my eyes!) a SKETCH!

[This message has been edited by MichaelRH (edited May 05, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by MichaelRH (edited May 05, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by MichaelRH (edited May 05, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by MichaelRH (edited May 05, 2000).]

[cagathoc]

Cool! But come on Michael, there's no way those guys would make that georgeous woman really walk the plank in #2! http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/wink.gif

Michael, Are these from your imagination or do you use photos as reference? Where did you find the acid free newsprint? Can you outline your process again (colors, etc)?

It is always a pleasure to see your drawings! We need a new photo up! A lot of people did Kim's photo...


cindy

[bruin70]

the plank scene looks good to me. the problem will be how depth is shown from plank to water. that's a value issue. you'll also want to distinguish her more from the everything else, since she is REALLY pushed forward. you already started this with the greying of the background. i see another girl to the side. so there are several gals walking the plank. i'd put that gal behind the first instead of the pirate, to tell THAT story. the pirates are implied, so they only need to be suggested. the only perspective that can improve is to show the wooden side of the ship in perspective........milt

[bruin70]

i was trying to do something and it's too hard on this laptop. i will try on tuesday. but i did see something. you have both the end of the plank and the bottom of the ship touching the edge of the page. this not only 2-d's both, but it also doesn't make the plank stick out like it should. i would pull back on the boat so it ends above the level of the plank. also let the plank fall a bit short of the edge. even in these storyboards it's a good idea to use three or two simple values. i'll try once again with psp

[bruin70]

m,,,,,,if you do a lot of this kind of art, may i suggest you try to find european comic books. are you familiar with them? if not, try the internet,,,,french, spanish and italian. their westerns are great. if you can't find any, trip on over to montreal, and find some small magazine stores in the french area,,,east montreal.....milt

[MichaelRH]

milt..great to see your posts, and your comments are very helpful...made me think. I DO like this theme, but I'm certain I will not have time to have this painting done on the P&P deadline..(may work on it and turn it in in the future!!). Actually, the page was cropped, and I had done another sketch (the first one) of the same idea..that is why you see another girl upper-left corner.
Milt, as you can imagine..I really wanted the girl on the plank to be RIGHT up front..and I wanted the viewer to be just ahead and somewhat above her face..but far enough away to see her full figure. Pushing the line of the ship/water up and back is a great idea, thank you!!! I also want to just suggest the pirates in the background..and I have seen this kind of thing (almost like selective focus with a camera) done VERY effectively, now..if I'm up to it!! That would really bring the girl..and plank into an almost exaggerated perspective. The fact that you were somewhat comfortable with my perspective made me feel better..(One of the most demanding classes I had at Art Center), the instructor was a MASTER of curved horizon-line..CITY SCAPES..and all the minute detail..streets..buildings etc. He knew I was interested in the figure and fashion illustration....so, guess what...he gave me a "C"..but i was not one for the geometric underlying construction...if it is simple, nature perspective I'm ok..
Again, wonderful suggestions milt..
YES!! I have seen the european comics..(Love them!)...and as you can imagine by now (from the leanings of my work)...I have found the artists quite good. NOT to mention..I've found the sensuality of (some) ofthe work of interest also!!!
Now, (lol), as you know milt..my interest has been extremely broad (we talked about this before)..so, I feel I must really narrow my interst down..and FOCUS!! on one or two areas at very most. I am getting and expect to get portrait commissions with much more frequency very soon, as I am adding a "Models Wanted" AND...a (I can hear members whispering among themselves as I type this).."Paint Your Portrait"---(sensual photography and oil painting section) very soon..within the week.
Ok..I know..the "shamless plug" thread is on another page!! sorry (lol!!)
Thank you again m..will have to budget time for all of this. http://www.krweb.com/pages/mike/index.shtml

[bruin70]

how you emphasize and the values you assign will be VERY important in popping(so to speak) the girl. just remember that keying on her is your most important goal. so you don't need to be realistic(read: push unnecessary elements way back). like the ship behind the girls left shoulder. i would push that waaaaaay back. it sits too close to her and might 2-d your image if you show too much of it......milt

[MichaelRH]

Hi..(((Cindy)))
Hey..I CHEAT!! Believe it or not, the first drawing, (Pirate with head in hand) was sparked by a photo of (you won't believe it!!) Robin Williams holding the oscar..(a photo in people magazine).
Second one, girl on plank is my idea..pirates, ship and view-point is my own..borrowed a photo of a woman, but quite a bit different from this gal on the plank. Last sketch, also from a photo..but image was NOT!! a pirate.
I often see a gesture-(photo)-- (for lack of model) that I feel will fit an idea..and yes..I very often sketch figures out of my head. While at Art Center, I did very long sketch of figures in purgatory..all kinds of figures, and the instructor wanted to know where they came from..(they were out of my head).
I always emphasize working from a live model, but when you get better with the figure, you can see a figure in ANY photo..doing something..and transform that figure into the figure YOU want..doing what YOU want. An easy (lazy) approach. But, yes..I do both..work from my head and rely on models, and photos.
Acid-free newsprint was in our local art store..you should be able to pick it up anywhere. It is fun to draw on..
Process..(For most oil paintings) A model, photo-shoot (many photos!!)..sketches of photos..or the model, narrow down sketches..(done almost always with red, blue, and graphite pencil, who the hell knows why I favor those three!! lol) and often small oil/value studies on CHEAP canvas panels. Then..I'll re-draw the sketch MUCH LARGER on a stretched canvas..often leaving the drawing lines visible in the painting.
When drawing the figure, I will start with very light red lines..to get lines of movement or action. Roughing in the head is usually next (or first at times!)..followed by stronger lines in blue pencil, the lines that are more correct. Finally, I'll either darken in the darker values with blue pencil or graphite pencil or both. I would do a finished DRAWING pretty much in the same way. I use blue pencil or graphite pencil to re-draw on the large canvases..lightly!!! at first. Cindy hope this helps..but you will (and ARE!!!!) finding your own way quite nicely.
Michael

[This message has been edited by MichaelRH (edited May 08, 2000).]

[bruin70]

small point. the angle of the ship is not perpendicular to the plank,,,,as it would be if the plank were set out over the side. you might explore lessening the angle you've made for the ship. but it's not real important unless it helps you with the plank jutting forward....milt