At the start of this year in Semester 1, I set myself a checklist to pursue so I can chart my personal development and skills. I feel like I've pushed myself a lot this year, to learn new techniques and skills and to think in a new way. I have finally been confident enough to post my work as Works In Progress online and to accept and act on feedback/critique from friends and strangers. It's been a great year.
But I must also see how I've done in compassion to my list. Here is a link to my first ever list/PDP post: http://deercreations.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/personal-improvement-list.html
Software: Photoshop - In the end, Photoshop really was my primary use of software. I pushed myself to try new tools, go on menus I hadn't been before. Examples of tools I've used this year which I hadn't before is liquidify, warp, quick masking layers, pattern stamp. Effects on layers, creating my own texture brushes and X was great fun and interesting to dab around with. My only regret was to not create more brushes, or use pre-made ones. I am too comfortable with the round edge brush. I hope I can use brushes in the future that enhance skin pores, wrinkles, and moisture.
Life drawing - I attended afew life drawing classes at the end of semester 1/start of semester 2. All of my classes progresses are up as blog posts. I am sad I could not continue to go to more in semester 2, but life or work was interfering until I could no longer go whatsoever. I have however practiced drawing from photos and posemaniacs.com.
Individual anatomy/weak points - As stated above, I've drawn from many many photos this year digitally, to get used to drawing digitally, and to better understand muscles. I feel much more confident painting lips too, and the male form (muscular). I also feel like I've improved on faces, and while I could use more practise on leg muscles, better understand how they work too. I wish I had taken extra time to improve my understanding of hands and feet bones and muscle definitions.
Perspective - I had said my drawings were too flat. I attempted to paint one illustration with an interesting perspective, and while it was lacking in colour, interest and could have had a better staging presence, it was nice to focus on perspective of the human body from interesting angles. I am keen on painting more interesting angles of illustration over the Summer, as I personally think the paintings that obscure the human physic into something unusual are the most interesting pictures.
Poses - The item I've worked most on improving and personally see an improvement. Using posemaniacs and many many dedicated Stock photo artists who specialize in taking varied poses for artists to draw from, I've tried my best to move away from static boring idle stances, and to look at ways of showing subtle emotion, see how muscles work and bend properly, and where a persons power/center of balance could be in a pose. I also did many silhouette works to determine if the pose would work. I now can't imagine creating a character without that step.
Character Concept Design - This one I'm very excited for. Tutorials online showing step-by-steps to create a character the "right way" e.g silhouetting, research, development, story, personality, etc.
Staging - I feel like I have not hit my personal quota with staging. I've painted afew illustrative pieces where I paid great attention to staging, but I don't think this is enough. It also does not help that I am not doing any environment concept/paintings, which is why I initially put staging as a goal.
Colour & Light - I think my skills improving in textures, photoshop abilities, and layer effects have benifited me greatly in this area. I was careful with colour schemes and contrast/harmonization for all my characters, and have used some tricks for blending colours or making them bold and defined, but I could have improved more on my use of a light source. Another area where I feel I could improve on is colouring and texturing different skin colours.
Style - I'm proud enough to say I love to draw anime style, and many things can be learnt from it, but it is not an art style that can evolve. It is stifling if it does not evolve. I tried really hard to incorporate everything I've learnt about the human form and posing into my style, to blend a style that is not photo-realistic but not too cartoony or generic either. There is never a point where an artist should be 100% satisfied, and like that I strive to learn new techniques and naturally evolve the way I produce art and the style that defines me.
No comments:
Post a Comment