CosmicFlux

I was actually thinking that as I was looking through his other pieces. Who knows how many are his and how many are stolen? Too bad there isn't an image search engine where you could submit one image and the thing would find other similar images on the net.

Sadly, there are people commenting on his style and they probably have no idea about what happened.

Cosmic

Probably a Reed Richards fan.

Cosmic

I guess it would make sense if you were talking about someone who took their dog for a walk in a park, scooped up any doggie droppings left by said doggie in a bag, and then got chased around by a bunch of unsavory types. And then, during the process of being chased managed to misplace, drop, or otherwise fail to maintain possession of the aforementioned bag.

Just a thought...

Cosmic

Her costume looks too...intact.

Otherwise, very nice.

Cosmic

The site looks the same. What I had to do when I got the pdfs of the books was set up an account, and then the siteowner activated the account. Overall, it was pretty easy.

Cosmic

Thanks, Alex. I think I downloaded those before, but they're sitting somewhere on my computer at home. I'm going to have to see about printing them out. I completely forgot I had them.

Cosmic

I think I found it before, but I found it again as I was browsing around. It's not a tutorial, per se, but it does have some information on proportions.

My weak point right now is anatomy and figuring out how everything fits together and lines up, but I like this one on human proportions.

Cosmic

Earlier this morning, I was browsing around on DA to find some tutorials, mainly for figure drawing. Since I'm at work, I don't have my collection of books from home available, so I had to make do with what I could find online.

I think I've seen a tutorials thread in the past, but it was awhile ago.

I found one a couple weeks ago on drawing the head. There's a link from that one to another tutorial on understanding 3D forms.

Does anyone know of any other good, online figure drawing tutorials out there?

Cosmic

I know I'm only at level 13 with most of the level still to go before I get to fly on my own without assistance from a raptor pack.

I'm not sure if a scrapper was the right choice, but I am having fun. I think I'd prefer to have either a tanker, defender or controller. Probably leaning toward a defender or controler since my first inclination when someone's health bar drops is to heal them. :P

Though, I do have my wings. I guess I could come up with a defendery-controllery concept that's winged.

Cosmic

You could probably order some online if there's nothing local.

Cosmic

In a couple weeks, I'm starting up a class at one of the local community colleges called "So You Think You Can't Draw." Depending on how that goes, or how confident I'm feeling with my drawing after the course, I'm considering taking a figure drawing class over the summer term.

For now, I just need to get myself drawing and drawing and drawing. I guess even if it's bad, it's helping me to get better.

I've been trying to expand my collection of drawing books, to have as many references as possible. Now I just need to put them on an easy to get to bookshelf.

Cosmic

When I draw, I pretty much hold the pencil the same way I hold it when I write. I'm not sure if that's good or bad or nowhere in between. But, I figure experimenting and seeing what works for me is best.

I think the one way I tried was holding the pencil between my index finger and thumb (rather than between index finger, middle finger, and thumb).

Right now, I'm working on mastering the part where my brain tells my hand "Straight line down the page" and my hand, feeling a bit rebellious, instead makes what somewhat resembles one side of an Aztec step pyramid.

Okay, that's a slight exaggeration, but I am working on getting a little more coordination going between what I want to happen and what actually happens.

Cosmic

I have that one. I actually have a bunch of Christopher Hart books. I've read some commentary from people who don't like his artistic style or don't like something about his books. I like them. They are written in a light style that's easy to read and follow.

I was actually looking for my copy last night, be ended up flipping through Burne Hogarth's Dynamic Figure Drawing instead.

I also have his Cutting Edge Anatomy book.

Cosmic

Most of my sketchbooks are pretty sturdy, so even if I kick back on my bed, it's solid enough that I can draw. I have a feeling that drawing that way doesn't help me much, since all of the drawing comes from the wrist that way.

I was reading some stuff about drawing from the elbow or shoulder, and that doesn't work as well when you're propped against a backrest with a sketchpad in your lap.

I also read something about holding the pencil differently when doing a loose sketch, and I found that my scribbles are slightly less comprehensible that way. I may need more practice.

So far, working at my desk with the board has worked out the best since I can put up a picture on my monitor and draw from that. Next time, I need to remember to turn off the screensaver though.

Cosmic

I keep making alts on Liberty because that's my nature. But, I've had a lot of fun grouping when I've been able to catch people online.

Sadly, I'm not playing my namesake, instead a BS/Reg scrapper with wings. I decided to play the scrapper with wings...because I wanted wings. Perhaps once I get to level 14, I will switch to playing Cosmic Flux. Or I'll make more alts. Who knows.

It's been a lot of fun to play with other people on a semi-regular basis. On my home server, I generally only get to solo or get stuck in pick-up groups. Still haven't encountered a pick-up group like the one the other day where we never even made it to the mission before everyone died and the group broke up.

Cosmic

Currently, my work area where I try to perfect my skills as an uber artist consists of my desk chair, the edge of my desk, and a drawing board. One of the local art shops has a nice set up for an actually drawing table and stuff, but I don't have the space available for that.

I do want to get more organized since all of my pencils and erasers and such are just piled into a spot on my desk. I'm not sure if I need a dedicated art table or how much it would help me. I think the biggest help would be just focusing on drawing time, but having a nifty, organized space would probably help more than reorganizing my space to fit in another table.

Anyway, where does everyone else make their art happen?

Cosmic

Very nice work.

I really love these boards for just how inspiring they are. I try to come here every day to see what new and exciting things people have posted, and there's always something amazing.

When I look at pieces like this, I realize just how far I have to go with my own artwork. I know it would be so very easy to be discouraged by the long, long road ahead of me, but I'm not letting it get me down.

Thank you for today's inspiration, 8baller.

Cosmic

From when I first started looking into a tablet, I've been looking at the Intuous. I got confirmation today that I am in the class that I registered for a week or so ago, so I'm hoping the class mixed with my own sketching whenever my hand picks up a pencil will be able to allow me to justify a tablet purchase.

Trying to psyche myself out by getting an expensive toy so I'll be forced to use it doesn't work. So, I'm trying the alternate approach of telling myself if I can get good enough that I can justify its use to myself, then I'll spring for one.

I think that the class I'm taking will help some, but I think I also want to take a figure drawing class.

If I can force myself to pick up my sketchbook at least once a day, hopefully more, I think I'll soon start to see improvement and then be able to reward myself with a new tablet.

Thanks again for all the suggestions and advice. The support here is very helpful and it helps me to keep on going. Now I just need to draw something I'm happy with so I can post it here.

Cosmic

The plan I'm working on right now for my drawing is to continue to do my penciling with a pencil and then do any inking and coloring in the computer. Though, I would like to try inking with real ink before I switch to using the computer.

That's at least the plan for now.

Cosmic

While I was creating a new alt last night, I got caught up in working on a sketch instead of making the alt. I thought that was appropriate. I almost ended up naming the alt (an energy/energy blaster) Cosmic Toast. I think it was because all of the Cosmic <something that sounds vaguely energy blastery> were already taken. I'm not quite sure how toast and energy go together, but I'm sure there's a connection somewhere.

I was so tired, now I can't even remember what I finally ended up naming my character.

Cosmic

Thanks much for the information all. I just checked my Amazon wishlist (where I tend to add all the things that I want to remember that I want later) and the Wacom Intuos 6x8 was there already. I also have a 6x11, though that sounds like it may be overkill for my needs.

Thanks for the non-Wacom suggestions, LJ. I think I tend to gravitate toward Wacom because I've used one in the past and they tend to be the big name in tablets.

I don't think I'm ready to get one yet since my artistic skills aren't quite up to snuff. I'd like to stick with traditional media to improve my skills before entering the world of digital. But, I am looking forward to digital coloring, and the thought of using a mouse for that makes me cringe.

Cosmic

While I don't need one right now, I do eventually want to get a drawing tablet. While I fantasize nightly if a Cintiq, I know that's a bit beyond my means and needs at the moment.

Does anyone have any tablet advice? I'm not entirely sure if I need to look at. Is a Wacom Graphire suitable, or should I really be looking at an Intuos?

Thanks in advance!

Cosmic

I've started keeping my sketchpad near my desk, so as inspiration hits I can just pick it up and start drawing. Last night, in the middle of creating a new alt blaster on Liberty, inspiration kicked me in the nose, and so I picked up my sketch pad.

Rather than relying on my memory, I used a photo as reference. I think of all that I've added to my sketchbook so far, this one that had me sitting at the costume screen for a long time is the one I'm most happy with.

Unfortunately, after doing some rearranging, my scanner isn't hooked up, but I plan on hooking it up tonight. So, if you check back in this space later tonight, there will be something new with a linky.

I don't know how all of it will turn out, but the skeleton with cylinders I have so far is looking good...at least until I end up ruining it by adding in too much detail.

Drawing something you're happy with at this stage of drawing is a huge motivational boost, that's for sure.

Cosmic

I got to level 4 last night before being too tired to continue. I definitely need to start playing earlier. I made Cosmic Flux, but decided I wanted to play a character with wings, so Cosmic Slash is my winged BS/Regen scrapper.

Except for the Dark/Dark Defender I also made (because alts are like potato chips, one just isn't enough), all of my characters on Liberty are Cosmic Something. My DDD is Destiny Rose.

Cosmic

I've never even considered trying to get anyone to draw one of my characters for free. If someone ever does, it would be a huge surprise for me and I'd probably die of overthankfulness.

My preference would be to either pay for a commission or a do a trade of pieces, but since my current skills are not really all that skillful...trades are not really even an option yet.

Heck, at this point I don't even have reference pics of my characters. Then again, I'm a terrible altaholic and it would take a few days to get enough screenshots taken...

Eventually, I hope to be able to post my work here, but still have a long artistic road to travel before I'd feel comfortable trying to bring people's character's to life. And for myself, I wouldn't feel comfortable asking someone else to draw my character if I can't return the favor in some way.

Cosmic