After recent criticism of my work, I would like to ask for advice on how I can improve my sketches. Here are two samples: Would you consider these to be commercial quality? My target market isn''t within the games industry, but would that make a difference?

How to improve them? I think that''ll totally depend on what you''re aiming for, what sorta style you''d like. Commercial quality? Again, depends on what you''re aiming for. Art like this, if it''s not for a game, all I can think of would be a comic book. I suppose it could be considered commercial quality, but as usual to achieve that distinction you''d need to find someone to buy it.

The above sketches are attempts at anime style drawing, so yes, they are more oriented towards comic books and (if any developers would be interested in my skills) games. My main target market are small local businesses who would like us ( Dark Realms - http://www.darkrealms.creators.co.uk ) to provide assitstance with their multimedia marketing needs (ranging from e-card and web site design to leaflet design). As you can see, the sketches are only a small part of the plan, but are important for any work that may drift our way.

[edited by - Creative Talents on August 8, 2002 1:56:53 AM]

What makes both pictures look so "off" is that things just aren''t being affected by perspective properly.
The robot''s left leg (it''s left) is the best example of this. Why is it thicker than the other one? The pose would suggest it is behind , in which case it should be smaller.
Then look at the robot''s left arm. The cylinder at the elbow is almost completely perpendicular to the viewer, yet the lower arm is coming out. We should see more of the side of that cylinder.
Look at the main body. It''s facing directly towards us. But the limbs are going out as if it should be facing more to it''s right. The shaded curves where the breast-plate and shoulders meet makes it look like it''s turning the opposite direction than it should.
On the car, the front part of the wheels is too flat, it doesn''t match the rest of the car at all. The guys is very unproportionate in everything but his face. The rest of the car is great though.
The last thing you are suffering from is line-quality. Too many squiggly lines where there shouldn''t be, or you''ve noticeably gone over them several times. Use a ruler more often, try taping down the paper as well. It doesn''t hurt to have some circular objects around for curves.

No, I don''t think it''s commercial quality. I think you have the capacity to reach commerical quality, but you have a ways to go.

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Where''d the engine go? Where''d it go? Aaaaaah!!
MSN: nmaster42@hotmail.com, AIM: LockePick42, ICQ: 74128155

Thanks for your comments LokePick.

The Mech:

I already noticed the cylinder of his arm wasn''t right, but by this time, it was too late. I also noticed that I''ve drawn his arm wrong. If you look at the top parts of the arm, the two smaller cylinders should be position at the side of the middle cylinder - my mistake was that I drew the arm at the wrong angle... As for the main body, I purposely drew it facing the viewer. The mech is supposed to be facing forwards with his head and finger facing in the diagonal direction.

Thanks for the tips on the leg; I''ll remember it for next time. Also, I''ve never thought of using a ruler to perform crosh-hatching. I''ll incorporate in my next sketch.


The Car:

Thanks for the tips... Again, I''ll improve on these for next time...

You want to improve? Simple, take drawing classes like Life Drawing etc. Study up on every art style, form, and technique. And most importantly, PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE! Everyday until you can draw very well.

The trick is to learn how to see. Once you learn how to see, learn how to record what you see with your pencil, weather it be somehting you can see with your eyes or in your mind.
Pick up the book "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" great for a start.


Here's some of my latest work:


1

2

3

4




Liquid Moon Team

Project X2



[edited by - Sage13 on August 8, 2002 3:50:02 AM]