Snowman: starting from the very beginning

[Snowman]

I am going to begin the process of learning to draw, and am starting off with some relatively basic stuff to build a foundation. Katatafisch is my instructor  , helping me out with what I'm doing wrong so I can continuously improve. I figured I could post my stuff here as well and see if I could get some additional pointers/critiques.

[Ravenseye]

great start keep practicing. Think about line edges in sketchs. For instance on the mountain sketch make the lines thinner at the tips of the mountains and thicker at the base ... this implys depth and tricks the brain into thinking its geting lighter. This can be used on things like the fork. Make the line thicker in the shadowed part of the fork and thinner where the lights hitting it.

[Snowman]

That's a great idea, thanks Travis. I'm gonna try that out 

[Ravenseye]

No problem .... But just remember that in our every day there are no lines only edges. So when you use lines in this form you want to remember to be thinking about what they look like as edges. Anyways do some more stuff and get it up soon for us to see! Remember knowledge is great ... our culture deteriates with with mass amounts of uneeded schooling. Find what you love and learn lots about it. If you really enjoy trees .. learn about them and study them and draw them alot!!!!

[Loathsome]

Nice studies. But don't be afraid of using more solid tones. They are a bit blurry but I think you nail the line structure quite well on them, just watch the tones.
The anatomy needs most work, but I don't think you'll have any problems since you seem to have a good eye on structure. Judging on the line structure from the still life.

[Snowman]

But just remember that in our every day there are no lines only edges.

I'm stuck in a statistics mindset with those words, what is the artistic difference between a line and an edge? Just that not every outline of an object is necessarily a line? 

Nice studies. But don't be afraid of using more solid tones. They are a bit blurry but I think you nail the line structure quite well on them, just watch the tones.

I guess I'm pretty much a beginner with all this terminology, hahaha. Do you mean use more solid tones by pressing down with the pencils harder?

[Ravenseye]

a line is a tool used by humanity. A line can be used to edge out a shape. But in reality there is no line there are only edges. When light hits an edge the shape can be very defined where the light is hitting it. yet as you travel further away from the light the edge will begin to loose its sharpeness. This is hard to get used too and im still learning my self to work with it. This is why some artist will paint a object and where the light is shineing it will be very refined but as you go into the shadows its very muddy and unrefined.

[Snowman]

I can tell most of this stuff came out crooked, but I think I learned a lot just attempting them. I started redoing stuff then realized it would be best not to abuse the eraser 

[Ravenseye]

good job i can see where you did some where you made the line softer and the line thicker. The key and some of the boxes in the perspective peice. Remember to think about that when your drawing it. The points thats being hit by the light are the points that you want to draw lighter. At the same time i think you can go a little darker with he shadows. For instance at the bottom of the key you could have made it slightly darker gradating upward. Or on the hilt of the butter knife. Keep practicing!!!!

[Snowman]

I'm trying to work on that line thickness, I guess thick lines are kind of a safety net for me. I feel like they need to be there so I can clearly tell where the edge is. I'll try to break away even more from that habit.

And I think I know where you're coming from on the shadows using some more gradation. I was just trying to draw the values as I saw them, they probably do start darker at the bottom and I just wasn't observant enough.   

Thanks for the critiques, I appreciate all helpful information 

[Snowman]

Okay, I've been very busy but sketched a few things here and there. I just had to update my sketchbook!





I asked a few people if they could tell who that last guy is and they could, so I was content with it. 

[Katatafisch]

wow, what an awesome start man!!! the scetches look really good! at some points the planes and outlines look still a bit wobbly (second page the object in the upper right corner) but thatll come with practice man! keep it up

[Snowman]

Update!







Last one is for all the X-Men fans 

[Twin-Dragon88]

OMG WOLVERINE!!!! I like the attention to the contrast in light but I think you could improve your construction a little more. It seems like the head is leaning to the left as it gets closer to the top. I really like your objects drawings. It's a great habit to get into. We had to do 30 for class and I find it easier to draw from observation in general now.  Good!!!

[Snowman]

Hey, thanks for the critique! I see that leaning thing you're talking about on Wolverines head, don't know how I didn't notice that as I was sketching. I guess I can hope that'll come with time, hehe. I was seriously trying to ensure the construction was perfect on him.

You know, I was actually starting to get out of drawing little random household objects, but I think you're right about how they help in the long run with drawing from observation. I might try to keep myself doing them just for that benefit you brought to my attention.