July 2012
51 posts
I’m glad you’re doing the 30 day meme! your art makes me all happy. :D
Thank you so much ^^ I hope you will enjoy this meme! I’m working on the list of things I’m going to draw because I am doing a mash up between several memes. Some are too fandom related, some are too “me, me, me”, some are too “I have to draw the same scenery in blue, red and white 67 times”, so I am trying to choose funny and interesting stuff from various sources.
To tell you the truth, I’m maybe gonna upgrade to Photoshop CS5 in August so I am waiting for this upgrade to AT LAST let go my old Photoshop CS and to use something descent for this meme. I think I know what style I am going to adopt but I’m still sketching a bit to be sure :)
You said on Step 7 that you used wite-out. Do you use it often? Do you fail a lot when arting in ballpoint pen?
It depends on the complexity of the art but I must admit that yes, I use it at least once or twice in a sketch but just in very very small quantity (= very light touches). I don’t use it to hide a whole face, a hand or something big. My wite-out stains are between 3mm to 1cm, give or take :3
I understand the circle is a guideline for three-dimensionality, but to what part of the head's structure is it related? For example, is it where cheekbones will be drawn on the front of the head?
This circle is my starting point, you can call it the “superstition circle” because I draw it much out of superstition, than out a real technical need. It goes from the top of the head to the nostrils. It disappears quickly because I don’t need it, or just as a kind of vague guidelines to draw the oval of the face. Once I drew the nostrils, it’s gone.
I draw also other construction lines for the face but they were too pale to be visible by my scanner (even after some PS enhancement). But I do need them, badly, the face doesn’t appear by magic xD You have construction lines for everything (the eyes, the lips, the nose, etc..). I think it’s the main mistake I made regarding this WIP: I should have redrawn in PS with red lines the very light blue construction lines that were not visible, it would have been easier to understand how I can go to Steps 1-2 to Step 3.
Why do you prefer ballpoint pen for sketching? :)
I find it more convenient than a pencil, easier to handle. You sketch faster, the shading and the lines come more easily but it’s a pure question of habit and feeling. It’s a typical YMMV thing. I’ve been sketching using ballpoint pens for years (I started in Junior High because I found math class boring) so I find it more natural to sketch than a mechanical pencil for instance.
The only drawback is that you can’t erase. The only way to correct your mistake is wite-out :/
