Andrew Gaia's art Thread

[GuruGaia]

Hello everyone I am just popping in to say hi and I'm ready to go. I have been doing some art studies and plan on doing plenty more work in pursuit of my passion (as I imagine many of you are). Looking forward to getting some art up and will as soon as I complete some works. As always critiques (as long as they are helpful) are always welcomed and appreciated.

[Patrick Lawrence]

Welcome to the art cours GuruGaia Also if you want critiques bisides min you need to start a sketch book thread in that section of the course. Just you and I are the only ones that can post in your art course thread. But I do recommend you start a sketch book and share your work and get to know the other nice people on the forum.

[GuruGaia]

Here is my first assignment. I think it went relatively well unless I was rushing (the usual case). I also noticed that when I traced it and held it up to the original some were a tiny bit larger then the original. But all in all it went well. Let me know what you think. Ifs funny I did tones of perspective drawings a long time ago but never really understood the point of it. Although I do like using my thumb or hands as a reference rather then a string I think.

[Patrick Lawrence]

Good to see you getting started GuruGaia. First of all if you have Photoshop of something like it would you do a digital overlay so I can compare yours to the original. If you do not have it that is fine I have seen these enough to have a good idea.

Now things I noticed. Your lines seem rather wobbly and unsure. And this is translated into the images. What you want to practice doing in visualizing the starting point and ending point of the line. Then practicing the movement without touching the paper a couple of times to get the feel. Then make the line in one sure stroke but without rushing it. This will help you make strait lines and get more control. And the lines will look a lot more sure. 

Also I would also estimate you are at least 10% - 20% off in a lot of places. That is enough to make a huge difference on say how a face looks for instance. 

Now none of this is a problem since we are just getting started. Matter of fact it is very normal:) So go ahead and move on but it would be a very good idea to come back to this and try it later after you have done a couple of more lessons. And of course always let me know if you have any questions.

[GuruGaia]

Yes I agree with all of what you said, I do get these wobbly lines, I try to get out of that but they just keep popping up(will most likely change as I become more comfortable and confident with where and how I draw I would imagine). Also I did notice areas being off when compared to the originals. I actually learned a lot about how I work from this study so there would def be a huge benefit from me redoing this one periodically to remind myself of these little issues that make big differences. Thanks a lot for the tips.

Also, yes its so true when i do studies the images themselves look alright but nothing at all like the people I am drawing lol, but its nice to know techniques to help to correct this rather then just hoping a solution will be created by constant random drawing. I like the knowledge approach.

[Patrick Lawrence]

Ya as I said all of this is normal at this stage. And one of the things you learn by doing this type of thing is to see better. For example to be able to see when you are off without having to measure so much. Any way look forward to seeing the next lesson:)

[GuruGaia]

Alrighty I gave this one a go, I left up the ones that were messed up to remind me of what to do. At first it was difficult but as I went further it became easier. I think its because half way through I thought to myself "but this line makes no sense" thinking about it instead of seeing it, then I told my brain to relax and just draw it how I see it and they started coming out better.

[GuruGaia]

Here's my first assignment over the original as well. I thought the green color showed the contrast the best between my lines and the original. I can see how certain mistakes made (even if off by a tiny bit) really threw off the entire composition. This really emphasizes my oath to take my time with drawings because the second I begin to rush the entire work is then done from one error spinning into a series of many more errors.

Ok well I tried to get it to reduce properly but it doesnt want to cooperate. But just seeing it myself helped, so that's good. If I figure it out I will post it up.

[GuruGaia]

Ok I took the liberty of getting to the next lesson because there is no one in my house and I love opportunities like this to work. I copied the bargue plate a little different then all at once. I first drew the "roughs" and changed the scale a few times from a little bit bigger then a lot bigger (resizing them to fit the template, no stretching or bending just maybe a twist to line them up right). Then I went and drew the "final" sketches by using my "roughs" as a reference for size and the plate as a reference for more detailed form.

I am really beginning to see how I can make such disproportion in my other drawing. From what I am seeing is that a lot of times it starts with drawing a "length" line at the wrong angle which then disrupts all the following lines. 

I am glad that I am beginning to change how my eye looks at things but man I wish it changed faster. I think that these "plate" copying techniques are great for me when it comes to getting my proportion accurate. I am going to keep them handy. Let me know what you think, any tips or advice always welcomed Patrick.

[Patrick Lawrence]

Yep the boxes have lots of problems with perspective etc. When you start to really work on perspective it will make it much easier to draw boxes from life.
 
Cant comment on the one you have not posted yet:)

And no problem moving on because you had more time. I can always have you backup and so something again as needed. So just work at your own pace if I am not around.

Next I am glad you are seeing how very important it is to be able to see and draw accurately. Understanding there is a problem here is the first step. Because now that you are aware of it you can work at getting better in this area:)

By the way how are you doing these. Are you working at an easel or a table? The reason I ask is I need to know how you are working to be able to give you any tips.  Maybe a picture of your setup if you have a chance. 

[GuruGaia]

Well that in itself could be part of the problem. I was bouncing between different ways of drawing.

First I used the easel standing up because well that seemed to make sense for the first lesson. But I really didnt like it.

Then I tried a slightly more angled easel for the second lesson from my chair and that was ok but I felt like I want limited in line movement.

Finally I take my paper and drawing board then put that either on my drawing table and sit right up to it, or angle it on my lap with my knees up a bit or propped on my chair and desk.....ok may sound crazy but all three of those give me the same basic angle (very slight maybe 5 10 percent tops) when I am drawing and seem more comfortable.

I just wanted to follow the lessons properly so I did them easel style until the third lesson. I like the top down approach more but I dont like to limit myself either, I have only really done gesture charcoal sketches with an easel before.

Hopefully these pictures will make sense of my rambling.

Thanks again for helping out, as you can see I so need it.

[Patrick Lawrence]

For the early studies it is probably best to use the easel if you can. I know it will feel weird if you have not done it much but it is the only way to do the measuring etc correctly. Since for example you have to stand in the same spot to measure then step forward to make the mark. Cant really do that at a drawing table. That does not mean you will never be able to work at a table but just at this point it is better to be standing at an easel. And it need to be tall enough. I cant really tell if yours is.  Any way your setup should look like this for the bargue drawings. http://www.mimsstudios.com/betsysmall.jpg

[GuruGaia]

well it was shortened for now (kid was using it)but it does go tall enough, when I extend the legs. So its entirely possible to do the studies like the image provided. I'll stick to that for now. Thanks

[Patrick Lawrence]

Sure glad to help. Also did you read the parts on how to set it up so that you are working on to one.  And how to find the right angles of lines etc?

By the way I know working this way gets tedious for most people. So remember it is not how you have to work for ever:)

[GuruGaia]

I thought I read it right but theres no harm in going back and re-reading it when I redo it just to make sure its right. Yeah I was reading some others progress through these steps and it seems I'm not the only one that gets a little frustrated with it this way. But all in all it is already helping me to see things a different way and to notice more and more areas I need to focus on improving, so its def worth it. No matter how frustrated I am I still love this stuff