The WIP and planning thread

A thread to talk about the sort of planning you do, and post sketches of works in progress.

I really enjoy looking at blocking, both traditional and digital. It's even better if I can see snapshots at different stages of the process: seeing how the picture evolves, and how the artist elaborates on details and fixes mistakes. Some good examples can be found here◊, here and in the sketch pages here.

Most of their plans are better than any of my completed works. Sadly, my own planning seldom pans out to a nice finish, but I enjoy blocking figures and compositions. Here's◊ some stuff◊ I'm working on at the moment.

Do post some of your own or discuss the techniques you use.

Don't have any of my own to share, but I like looking at these too, since I think they're really helpful for getting a better sense of what compositions work and that sort of thing...aaaaaand I'm just going to link dump now: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

There are more but I'll stop there for now...

I guess this is only tangentially related to the topic, but until taking art classes I never realized some people actually work on sections of their artwork until that section is completed before moving onto the next part. I pretty much always do a little bit of everything, then go through on another pass, and repeat until everything's done. This is regardless of whether it's a silly 10 minute doodle in my sketchbook or a full painting.

I'm planning two drawings (a request from my brother). So far, the planning has consisted of searching around for good pose references and scrawling rough faces and hairstyles around my notes. I did a very rough sketch, but my idea for the pose is different now.

Arise, dark thread, from your premature death!

I decided to take some pictures of my latest drawing project at various points. Since I tend to draw a lot of floating heads, it's about time I do something else. Here's what I have so far:

• Planning◊
• Starting the head◊
• Head's almost done◊
• Starting the clothes◊

I really should have used an easel - the proportions of the head are wrong because of my perspective from where I was sitting. The biggest problem is the rough style required. Since I normally use the same size of paper to draw a bust, I tend to draw with as much detail as possible, even with charcoal. This is rather more difficult on this scale.

Also, Benedict Timothy Carlton Cumberbatch has a really weird face.

I've been commissioned to turn this◊ into something better.

I started by updating the sword.◊*

edited 18th May '12 9:03:44 AM by Wheezy

wow that's a cool sword.It is already 20%cooler

I am working on "vectoring" this two pictures for my comic

Scared Celesia◊

Angry Celestia◊

First pencil lineart. Unfinished.◊

My main problem is the sheath's strap. It's based on this one◊, so the wide, cushiony part is supposed to sit over his shoulder. However, for it to sit like it does at the angle he's holding it, it must be passing, ghost-like, directly through his neck.

This is a big problem. One that would take a total redo to fix.

So... Leave it and hope the commission buyer doesn't notice, or repeat at least 6 or 7 hours of drawing?

...When I'm already way behind schedule and my internet's out at the studio, meaning I need to drive 2 miles to the nearest WiFi hotspot if I need a reference picture for the new pose.

Also, finding out how to draw muscle tone on his arms and back using only lines is a right pain in the ass.

Edit: @Yuanchosaan: Holy shit, that's awesome. How did I not see that before?

edited 25th May '12 5:20:17 PM by Wheezy

Well, we have the internet back, and I was able to do the research I couldn't before.

...And I found that drawing a sword that long in that position is impossible, anyway. It's longer than his arm's reach.

So, time to re-evaluate what I'm going to do with this drawing. The commissioner asked me to show two things: His face and the sword's full sheath, with all the jewels visible. They apparently have some plot significance. That last catch is what keeps me from just using a pose like this.

Also, I want the new pose to at least kind of resemble the old one, so maybe I'll draw something similar to what I tried the first time, but without him unsheathing the sword.

Edit: Or even better, how about a pose like this◊, but from the other angle?

...But the only problem is that you can't really carry a sword that big at the hip like a katana.

See, anime kids? BFSes are stupid.

Second Edit: This pose◊ might work. However, I've been researching it for almost three hours straight, and I'm tired without having even drawn anything yet.

People keep telling me I overthink things.

edited 28th May '12 1:36:10 AM by Wheezy

After throwing a few away, I finally have a pencil sketch I'm (mostly) happy with◊.

The swords's crooked, but I'll fix that.

Next step: Inking. But before that, sleep. I've gotten maybe 1 hour of it in the 12 since my last post.

edited 28th May '12 12:57:49 PM by Wheezy

4 hours or so into inking.◊

Someone else is going to color it, so I'll let them handle the muscle tone.

edited 29th May '12 3:48:51 AM by Wheezy

There's nothing wrong with looking for a physically possible pose =P

Wow, I really like his face.

Thanks.

Meh. Hand's still too small, but good enough, I think. Maybe.◊

My second commission (from a different person):

Redraw this.◊

Here's step one.◊

This one's going much more smoothly than the last.

Currently inking for the first time in my life.

[1]

edited 3rd Jun '12 6:31:23 PM by Fancolors

...and done.

Me too.◊

*

edited 4th Jun '12 9:03:51 PM by Wheezy

Assignment III:

Redraw this.◊

Here's a pencil sketch that took 8 or 9 hours.◊

No, really. Most of it was spent erasing and re-drawing her hips, hands, and fans.

Done.◊

Inking was much quicker. About two hours.

Next commission doesn't involve drawing people. Someone wants a logo that involves a pen and a baseball. I'll see what I can do.

she is beautiufl I love your work

Thanks.

Pencil sketch, first draft.◊

Going to bed now. Haven't slept since I started inking the fan dancer.*

This was the finished version.◊

They didn't like it, and asked for "a fountain or quill pen inside a baseball."

Let's see how this◊ works.

Nope. He wants me to draw the same thing but horizontal, then another version with either a fountain pen or a quill that "doesn't look so animal-like."

Drew another baseball. Messed up on it in a way that can't be fixed 80% through the inking process.

[1]

Something tells me the paiting process is going to be far more painful.

[1]

Added some more details.