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Zeimyth — Sleeping Soundly
Published: 2010-01-13 06:19:42 +0000 UTC; Views: 1116; Favourites: 32; Downloads: 10
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Description
It was a little bit trickier to color this than I had originally anticipated.
Still, I rather like the result. Plus, it's rather a change for me, choosing a color other than blue or green. XD I would have liked this dragon turning out darker, though... There's just something odd about a dragon with salmon-colored scales. o.ONot much to say about this. The coloring was really an afterthought, seeing as the real intent behind this drawing was shading and anatomy practice.
I tried to do a real background, but I failed at grass, so I laid down a bit of noise and added a motion blue. Cheap grass, but this sort of thing is really becoming my style.
Comments and critiques always welcome!
Time: roughly 5 hours (color only).
Line art: [link]
Shaded: [link]
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Comments: 74
Heh, well I must say the colors did not work out as well as I had planned. I initially was going to lay down a flat color on the body and then an appropriate shadow color for the shadow and vice versa for the highlights... But it looked horrid. The guy looked like a cherry. So I had to do it differently, and I don't like how it turned out. But, hey, the color wasn't the focus of this piece at all, and I've learned never to draw a picture in black and white and then hope to easily translate it into color. XD
The reason I didn't take the time to do any real grass was that I couldn't get anything remotely grass-like when I tried to draw it. This is just the wrong angle for true grass, at least for someone as unskilled at grass as me. XD So, I faked it. I tried to make it look at least somewhat grass-like, but I know I failed miserably... Needless to say this whole picture could use a good second going-over, if I ever feel up to doing it.
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You said that you don't mind critiques, so I suppose that you won't if I give you a somewhat in depth one.
Since one of your focuses with this picture was shading I'll stick with it. I see that you started out with a black and white image then added color. This good, as it is easier to recognize exact values when working only in black and white. One problem is that it does not seem that you go dark enough with your shading. What might work well is to use a black low opacity brush and go over the parts you want darker several times- don't be afraid of using a larger brush either. The idea is to basically be efficient with each stroke, sometimes a larger brush is better for larger areas. Highlights should be done in a similar fashion. While doing this remember that colors are more visible in grey tones- don't over do the shading and highlighting or you will kill your colors. This brings us to how to choose where the highlights and shading should go, and it will be different for each picture. This could be a very complicated topic to discuss here. light, it bounces off of surfaces, what we need to know is how. I think the easiest thing to remember is to think of a bouncy ball and how it bonces off of a surface. This is basically the way that light reacts when hitting a surface(if you neglect the acceleration due to gravity and some of the friction involved with the atmosphere, this representation becomes more accurate). So basically think of the light source of the picture as an area emitting a bunch of bouncy balls in every direction. Should the bouncy ball from the source hit a particular surface bounce off then hit the view point(camera if that helps), then that area should be made brighter. Should the bouncy ball come close to hitting the camera that area should be darker than the area that had the ball hitting the camera. The further it gets, the darker the shading. Sometimes there will be a situation where the bouncy ball will bounce off of one surface, bounce onto another surface, and then bounce to the camera. This will produce a dimmer greyish area. Also the second surface will take some of the color of the first surface. This is called radiosity. Should an area not be hit at all this area should be black, though that is not entirely realistic as there is almost always some kind of ambient lighting to keep this from happening.
As you can see from the above, it is important to have a clear idea of the forms that you are trying to render, or else you are not going to know how a bouncy ball will bounce on them. It is also important to have a clear idea where the light is coming from, sometimes it helps to draw an arrow to show where the light is coming from the strongest.
Hope this helps and was what you were looking for.
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Thanks for the comment. This was the kind of thing I was trying to think about as I drew the shading on this picture. I know I didn't do a particularly good or convincing job of it, but hey, it was my first try, and maybe I'll get better.
Thanks for the advice and stuff. I wish it were that easy to get good, natural shading into drawings, but I guess having an understanding of the physics of light doesn't do a whole lot for us (if this drawing is any indication!). I'll keep trying at it and see what I can figure out what I'm not doing - or perhaps what I'm doing wrong - with regards to shading. Thanks again.
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Well, another thing I could suggest is to draw something simple like a box or a sphere for practice(I would do this a lot during class) then shade it. If you want to have a good setup for this in gimp, first draw the outline completely black. Create a new transparent layer, make sure it is on top, then fill in the shape with a grey set to 128 for RBG with the paint brush(another way is to use the fill bucket with sample merge selected). While you still have the new layer selected and are done filling in the shape on the new layer, click the check box next to the checkered icon in the layers panel. Go down to the lower layer then draw an arrow for the direction that you want the light to be coming from. Go back up to the top layer and select the round paint brush. Leave it at its default size setting, change the opacity to 10, make sure the color is set back to black, and begin shading on the opposite side from where the arrow is pointing. If you are using a mouse don't begin clicking like crazy, instead hold down the mouse and fill in the entire area you think should have the shade it produced, if it is going too slow, don't be afraid to enlarge the brush. Do this several time, going back further each time. Also be sure to a little on the side with the arrow(maybe one pass). Now switch over to white and shade off center from the middle to where the arrow is pointing, but don't shade directly on the edge. Try this method out with several basic shape, it really seems to help.
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Yeah, I've thought about trying a really simple method like this for shading practice, but I've never really tried it because I didn't think it would make much difference. After all, I'm drawing a dragon, not spheres and cubes.
Of course, first I need to get off my lazy butt and actually do some practice drawings rather than hoping to improve through only full drawings.
Thanks for the advice, though. I'm glad you used GIMP as your example program.
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You would be surprised. Just by simply sitting down and drawing you learn a lot. If you focus on one area for short times, it really begins to set in quickly. Gimp is free, therefore I have it and can write tutorials for it. I also have several versions photoshop, but gimp is an excellent tool as well. There are so many similarities between the two that switching between the two becomes simply looking for where the other hid a particular feature and what they choose to call it.
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Yeah, I've seen that a little bit myself... I used to have a goal of one sketch per day. I was able to maintain this for about a month before I stopped. XD But it helped with some things, for sure.
GIMP is all I have.
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Shading always seems to be difficult to get used to, but once you get it normally becomes the best part. It is point that you can finally see the picture coming together.
I actually have it legally 
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Yes, I totally agree there... Good shading is what really makes a drawing, in my mind. But for some reason it always seems tricky to do... I guess only practice can make it more natural, huh?
Heh, I wasn't trying to imply that you didn't, I was just giving my reasoning for why I don't have it.
What do you know, there it is.
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As it seems with everything (and as tiring as the saying is) practice makes prefect.
Sorry about jumping to conclusions there. Yeah, discounts help a lot, but she almost never uses it because she likes traditional better. I end up using it much more than she does.
This made me lol. Yep they have quite a few layer options.
Now I need to go and deal with my pizza.
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Yeah, isn't that the truth. It's annoying, and it hasn't changed a bit.
That's alright. I hate when misunderstandings happen, so I always try to make sure my words weren't taken the wrong way (sometimes it takes a few tries to do so, though
Ah, so you don't even need to worry about giving up the computer for her to use the program. That's nifty. XD Do you have a tablet?
I wish I had known about them while I was doing this drawing. It would have made a huge difference. Maybe it's not too late to fix the layers... XD
Ooh, pizza.
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I think that what it comes down to that if you like something enough it does not matter how much you have to practice it.
It's ok, I probably assume the worst too often, and this time there was really no reason for me to assume. Yep, that is right. She had a digital foundations course where she had to use it a few times, but that was it. Yes, I have a tablet and this is the model: [link] .
It helps to play around with programs as you could notice new nifty things.
Om nom nom nom tasty pizza. 
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Well, this is true, to a point. I guess it depends on what part of that something you like. XD For example, I don't draw for the sake of drawing. I draw because of what I can draw. The end result is what matters to me, which is probably why I haven't learned any good methods for getting to a good outcome.
That does look like a pretty good tablet. I've never had the chance to try a bamboo, but they sound like good tablets for their price - especially compared to the nicer Wacom tablets. XD Though they don't have the bonus of coming with a free version of Photoshop, but that doesn't matter to someone who already has it.
Yeah... I guess I've just gotten comfortable enough with GIMP that I've stopped looking for new things.
Pizza sounds good right now. Hmm... XD
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I really don't think that anyone draws for the sake of drawing. There is always some kind of result or message that they are looking to deliver. What drives the practicing is the desire to better convey the message.
Actually depending on the package it came with you could get photoshop elements 6 with it, though I actually liked elements 2 better than elements 6 even if 6 had more feature. The interface that came with 2 was simply better and it felt more useful. cs 4 extended takes the cake though. It is going to be difficult to get me to work regularly with another package again. Actually I think mypaint is pretty awesome as well [link] even if somewhat limited. I mean look at all those custom brush options. O_O I've been able to make 15min beach paintings with a mouse during class that have some people saying wow with this software.
Well, gimp and photoshop are really close to having all the same features, and it is fully possible to produce professional work with gimp, so yeah, gimp is still an excellent choice. If you are familiar enough with the interface I would just forget about photoshop. My only problem is that my tablet does not work with gimp again. I had it working before, but it seems to have decided to quit working today. I should investigate the problem more.
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Hmm, well sometimes it seems that some people do like to just draw. They're usually the really, really good artists, the ones you see just doodling randomly at every opportunity. XD I guess I assumed more people were like that.
Yeah, that's basically what I have to depend on to get myself to do any kind of practicing.
I have no idea what the difference between all of the different versions of Photoshop is. I'm sure I'd be more familiar with them if I owned the program, but there you are. XD Thanks for the link, I'll check that out.
Yeah, which is one reason I've never had much of a problem with using GIMP over Photoshop. It does have tablet troubles, though... The one time I used a tablet on my computer, I had to do some weird things to get it to do what I wanted. Photoshop is definitely more natural for tablet use. Hence why I might get it if I get a tablet... Otherwise I can do (almost) everything in GIMP.
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My sister is kind of like that, but it is mostly because she has a particular type of drawing engraving in her mind that it becomes all automatic when she has a pencil in her hand. Her doodles are always chibis with an animeish style. I guess that it could be considered practice, but I don't really think any improvement would be noticeable after. You won't find many people drawing for improvement randomly.
There are so many versions of photoshop, that I don't have any idea either. The element versions are geared more towards non-professional photographers though digital painters can use it as well, just not as well as the cs versions.
I seem to have gimp working again with the tablet. Not quite sure what was wrong in the first place. If you plan to uses a tablet with photoshop, then avoid some the elements version. It seems with some of them the ability to sense pressure is not as useful.
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Heh, that sort of thing is enviable in its own right. She must be a really natural artist - though I wouldn't really expect less from someone pursuing art in school.
I guess I just have the idea in my head that any sketching is beneficial in some way, because at least you're drawing. Which makes plenty of sense for me, seeing as I am really not too good at drawing and therefore find a great deal of benefit in simply doing a sketch (line art practice XD), whereas most people are beyond the point that a sketch will help them with much artistically.
Well, I suppose that's why I always hear of people talking about the CS versions, then. I don't know a lot of photographers, so I'm not sure how many people I know with Photoshop who have an elements version. I suppose I'll look into all of the different versions in detail if I ever am going to get the program.
I guess GIMP was just being stubborn, then? Odd how programs will stop cooperating and then work again a little while later. o.O
Heh, well I'll definitely want a version with pressure sensitivity. That's not the whole purpose for a tablet, but it sure is a large part. XD
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Well, she mostly started from fanart, much like myself. For awhile she would do a drawing a day, be it soul caliber or something else(it seems Legend of Zelda was a favorite and Yuna from FFX). For a some time my drawings remained more advanced than hers, but she keep at it and eventually she passed me. Then recently I put in more practice and now it is difficult to compare our artistic abilities. We both have our strong and weak points. Sketches are useful for quickly laying down ideas to build off of until it seems picture worthy. At least that is how I've been using the lately.
Elements is cheaper, but not as good for the digital artist 
Half of last year I was working without pressure sensitivity because I was still using elements and gimp is stubborn
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Fanart is one thing I've never been able to get into. Perhaps it would be different if there was something I was really a fan of. XD Probably as good as anything to get people started in art, though. That's neat that you're at roughly the same skill level though. Is she older or younger than you?
Yeah, that's true. I haven't really done a lot of sketches for that purpose, but I have done some that I liked enough to turn into a full drawing. Like this picture here, for instance.
Well, I'll probably be getting a CS version when I do get Photoshop, then. Just don't know how new of one... XD
Aw, dang, that stinks. >.< I suppose that makes a tablet nothing more than a glorified mouse. Yeah, I don't know why GIMP has trouble with tablets like that though... I hope it's something they correct soon.
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Well, dragons. 
Even when a tablet is just a glorified mouse it is still a massive step up from using a mouse. I hope they get the next version of gimp out as it is planned to support the ora format.
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True. I'm a fan of dragons. >_> But I don't think I'd consider this fan art...
I know I should be looser when I do sketches, but I'm enough of a perfectionist (at least, when it comes to art) that I want my sketches to be refined... Hardly sketches at all. Which is part of why I'm proud of how I managed the initial sketch for my "On Mighty Wings" picture, but I think I just knew going into it that I would not get a good sketch with a mouse, so I didn't expect it. I just laid down a framework and did the details when I actually started drawing the dragon.
Yes, very much so! XD I would far prefer to use a pressure-less tablet than a mouse. But it seems silly to get a tablet with no pressure sensitivity if you're going to get one at all...
Ooh, so it will be in the next version? Can't wait for that.
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I probably should have responded by now, but I fail at such things sometimes. I would also like to be more inspired to work on new art, but right now I feel kind of dead artistically... artist block... maybe tomorrow...
It is easiest just to not be a perfectionist and just realized that no matter how hard anyone works on something there will be some flaw somewhere. That said, it is still good to put decent effort into what is being made, so it does not end up being completely useless.
Have you tried scanning in (or photographing) pencil work? I always would work in pencil first then scan in the lines and color in photoshop before I had a tablet. It is much more natural to work with a pencil that to click with a mouse. I would recommend it... or I could have completely misunderstood what you are saying here?
Have to agree there. Pressure sensitivity is a major plus to owning a tablet.
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That's alright; it makes no difference to me whether I get a reply one hour, one day, or one week later. XD I still have to use "original" to re-read what I typed...
When I'm not being a perfectionist, I get art like my "On Mighty Wings" piece. There were a lot of things on that drawing that I didn't like as I made it, but I told myself to just keep working on it instead of being horribly picky. And you know what? I'm not all too happy with the end result. XD Not that I would be anyways, but still.
Yes, I've done this a lot. In fact, I've done this every single drawing except for my fractals and "Mighty Wings". The trick is finding time to get to the scanner (I could just take a picture, but my cell phone takes horrid pictures and I want the pencil art to look halfway decent). I'm kind of moving away from that, though, simply because it's easier for me logistically to draw completely digital than starting with a pencil line art.
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Ok. Yeah art blocks can be annoying.
Well, it is good if you are able to self critique. For the on mighty wings drawing I would say that the body and clouds look good. but the legs should be larger, and look more like the skin on them is connected to the body. You did a good job on capturing the pose overall, the biggest problems are in the details. I'm sure that you already have, but don't be afraid to look at tutorials or review good one multiple times. Here is one I have found rather useful : [link] .
It maybe easier to go at it all digital, but I still enjoy doing a few concept sketches in pencil simply because it feels more natural. Of course everyone has their preferences.
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Heh, I'll just say I was not happy with the legs the moment I began them, but it was pretty much impossible with how things were set up to do anything with them. I couldn't get much better than semi-formless blobs. And since I didn't take the time to shade that drawing, the only way to know that the legs were there was to separate them with a little while like I did. XD
Sometimes I have trouble finding tutorials. Especially at the moment when I wish I had a reference for a specific part of my drawing. XD I've seen this tutorial before, though. It's a great one.
Well, I do like doing sketches and drawings traditionally (especially over using a mouse XD), but I'm shy enough about drawing around other people that, if I relied too heavily on pencil sketches, I'd rarely have the chance to get anything done.
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Well, you could work with an outline on the entire drawing so that it remains consistent.
Seems to be a very popular tutorial; many people I run into already have seen it.
Yeah, a mouse is only good for blocking in colors or using a pen tool. It is not even all that good at those. If possible pencils is definitively the way to go.
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I don't think I could have done an outline for the feet themselves - the picture size was too small (and I couldn't make it larger). Lines would have made the legs more clear, though, but I do try to avoid using lines if I can help it.
I just found it recently, so I haven't seen how popular it is. But I can understand why a lot of people would know about it.
The only way to really use a mouse properly is to do cell shading or use a brush that offers some measure of opacity. I really like the airbrush (that's how I did all the shading on this one).
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To zoom a picture in gimp use the view tab. Typically if a picture is only going to be flat colors then as you realized there will need to be outlines. To keep the picture consistent it is typically a good idea to give the whole thing an outline if part of it has one.
Yeah the guy who made it claims that he will not draw for someone for under $200 an hour. I guess when you are good you can really jack up the price.
You do know you can adjust the opacity on any brush to your liking... as far as I remember the airbrush is timer based, so the long it is held, the more it goes to the color being used.
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I wasn't using GIMP, though. And the picture was too small in any case, even though I was already working zoomed in. I'll consent to the fact that I probably should have gone with lines on the whole picture though.
Good grief. O.O I guess it's not too surprising that his art is really that good, though I don't think I've seen any of it... That's incredibly expensive, though. XD
Sure, you can change the opacity of any brush. But the big problem is that every time you release the mouse and click again, it will start going darker over areas you've already drawn once. I prefer the airbrush because of its timer opacity.
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Oh I see. I have used one of those things once in my life, and I didn't know then what I know now. I doubt I would be able to find the picture I made with it though(mostly because I do not remember where it was made). Now it feel like I was pushing you around to much with that last post.
Yeah he does things for magazines and sometimes video game cover art from the looks of it. I think that as a freelance he basically takes what he can get that is within his price range. He has several doodles posted [link] [link] [link] [link] [link] [link]
you get the picture
Well, you have to be careful with both because timer based means you have to time your strokes as opposed to watching the clicks.
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Annoying thing wouldn't let me go above 900x900 and I didn't want a square pictures.
Gosh, wow those doodles look amazing. I would love to see some professional art of his.
It seems to work for me, though. I'm not sure, maybe it's just because I work with a mouse. There is just something very unnatural about a click-based system that a timer-based system doesn't seem to have. I'm sure it would be different with a tablet, because I'd have more manual control over opacity.
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Yep shading is very important, especially considering that variations in hue and saturation are not nearly as significant as light and shadow. [random] I made a speed paint of my latest [link] [/random]
His professional work is like his doodles, just more refined.
Thats true, tablets help greatly in this area.
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I'm still trying to learn how to shade properly. I need to find a good technique for it that I can use. Also, I usually have a little trouble envisioning in my mind how some parts of the dragons are lit.
That's a really great speed paint! I'm going to want to watch that one again... Clearly you don't have the same issue with shading as I do. The lighting on that piece looks wonderful. XD
Really neat concept too, by the way.
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Thank you. It probably is not the best for learning how to shade though because it is full of glowy bits that would look unnatural in a usual drawing. What would probably be better for learning directional lighting is the dragon guard speed paint. The best way to learn is still probably going to be practice though and considering what makes something work and what does not while practicing.
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It has good shading things for me to pick up even if it's more reflective lighting than your Dragon Guard picture (I've seen that one too 
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Actually, I'm disappointed with it now. It is full of flaws that I did not notice while I was drawing it. Actually, both are. I guess the best thing I could do at this point is to learn from my mistakes and move on.
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Well, flaws or no (I don't see much of them... But then I'm not the artist XD), they do a good job of showing technique, which I think is more important than doing a perfect job.
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Does look pretty comfortable, huh?
Glad you like it.
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Thank you!
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Ooooh, I really like how he turned out.
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Hee, thanks.
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Art seldom does.
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Yeah, that's true...
Hee, I'm glad you like it then.
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Thanks! I'm glad I was able to make them look alright.
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