Lesson 1 [Head Construction] - part 2

The $100,000 Animation Drawing Course - Lesson 1, part 2

The Vertical Egg Face

This is one of the best exercises I've ever done. Trying to sketch a face on an egg from a million different perspectives is a big challenge. Definitely worth the time and effort. (Am I the only one who had a hard time copying the face onto the curved surface of the egg itself?)

Here's my best bear (clicking on image will enlarge):

Here's Blair's bear in red:


And Blair's bear overlapped with mine.

I still have issues with:

• ear shape and placement
• size of eyes and nose
• mouth angle
• jaw curves
• cheek curves

Here are two worksheets for the Vertical Egg Face part of Lesson One.

Page 1 of 2 (clicking on image will enlarge, clicking on enlarged image will allow you to enlarge again [in IE and Firefox]):

Page 2 of 2 (clicking on image will enlarge, clicking on enlarged image will allow you to enlarge again [in IE and Firefox]):

Lesson 1 [Head Construction] - part 1

The $100,000 Animation Drawing Course- Lesson 1

I thought I'd post-pone the learning of electronic graphics tools for a bit. John Kricfalusi is offering to walk folks through the Preston Blair Animation Classic. How could I pass up an opportunity like that?

I'm a little out of John's target age range of 10 - 24 years. So it's going to take me a little longer to break some bad habits, learn new habits and find the time to get the lessons in. John's already on Lesson Three. I've just completed the first part of Lesson One. I think there are 3 more discrete parts to Lesson One. This could take a while.

So here's my assignment for Lesson One, Part One. Sadly, it's the 20th such sheet like this. You should see the first sheets! Thanks to Mr. Kricfalusi and Mr. Worth for offering the lessons and the valuable feedback.

(clicking on image will enlarge, clicking on enlarged image will allow you to enlarge again [in IE and Firefox])

Notes:

From Stephen Worth:

1. "If you just look at the drawings and read the text, you'll end up with educated eyes and an educated mind... and ignorant hands. A lot of artists excuse their lack of skill by claiming that flat drawings and unappealing shapes are their "style". Poor drawing skills don't constitute a style. "

2. "I would recommend using paper and pencil at first. Drawing a perfect curve, like the one on an egg is difficult enough with a paper and pencil. Adding the separate layer of the wacom tablet is just going to slow down your progress and frustrate you.

Instead of trying to draw with fast sweeps, take your time and really focus on getting the construction shapes absolutely perfect. You need to draw hundreds and hundreds of eggs to get your hand used to drawing exactly what your mind is telling it to... Once you become adept with the pencil, THEN pick up the wacom and train yourself to get used to it. That way, you'll learn one thing at a time. "

From John K:

1. "Use tyracing paper to trace the construction off of Preston's drawings then lay
the tracing paper over your drawings to see where you are off.

Write notes of the mistakes.

Then redraw the same drawing again, trying to fix the mistakes. "

Anamorphic illusions

Anamorphic illusions are specially drawn so that when viewed from a certain perspective they appear 3 dimensional. I've posted my two favourite pavement chalk drawings from Julian Beever's site. "Boat" and "Arctic."

Saturday scribblings

Still learning how to use Photoshop. Still intimidated by Illustrator. Perhaps it's time to investigate the Adobe alternatives listed here.

Under the "use it or lose it" theory, here's what I what I had time to knock-off today.

Today's quote

Seek out that particular mental attribute which makes you feel most deeply and vitally alive, along with which comes the inner voice which says, "This is the real me," and when you have found that attitude, follow it.

William James

It comes from the inside

Keri Smith had another post that touched me. Especially the quote:

"Good drawings come from the inside, reflecting the artist's state of mind or sense of being. It has nothing to do with technical ability or amount of detail. A simple line can evoke emotion. "

It's applicable across the artforms I think. Acting. Dancing. Writing. Music. When it comes from the inside, it touches your soul. Regardless of your formal training, the quality of equipment, lighting, environment.

Especially important are the words "come from." Not "forced from." Not "dragged out of you kicking and screaming." It comes. Naturally.

Thanks again Keri!

Seeking inspiration

Nothing creative today. So I'll cheat by playing around with something I saw at this blog.

Make your own here!

Our resources are finite

Keri Smith had a thought provoking post yesterday about "what living out loud really means."

I expect that it means something a little bit different for each of us. At the heart of it, however, there is the commonality that we all have limited resources. Limited time and energy.

Of what opportunities do we deprive ourselves, if we waste those precious resources on things over which we have no control? Keri listed some fine examples: wanting to be liked, wanting to project the image of perfection, being "nice" for the sake of being nice, wanting to be in control and trying to live up to perceived expectations.

What is the worst that could happen if we shed our carefully crafted social masks? What is the best?

Just for today....

"Dance like no one's watching
Sing like no one can hear you
Love like you've never been hurt
and live like you'll die tomorrow."
- Authour unknown

How to feel miserable as an artist....

Thank you Keri Smith for this wonderful post! (I love it so much I'm resposting it here with credits back to you).

I'm guilty of so many of these!

Waiting to exhale

Hey there and welcome!

I've been finding it a little confining to have a cartoon blog at http://sodsnodds.blogspot.com/ without using it to speak my mind as well. Since I don't want my chatter interupting the flow of the cartoon, I thought I'd set up shop here. Let's see if I can get my head around co-ordinating two blogs!