Hello! I am a current college student who works full time as a firefighter. I take online courses to try to get my degree in Illustration. Its something I've wanted for a long time, although I'm not sure what I'm going to do with this degree once its finished. Haha. Anyways, I kinda stumbled on this board and figured I'd throw out some of the drawings I've had to complete this semester, and see how you all like them.
>>7940678This is charcoal
>>7940678More charcoal
>>7940678Another charcoal.... there's alot of charcoal. But I promise there's other mediums as well. Haha
>>7940678Digital drawing in 3pt perspective
>>7940687
Welcome! Awesome current job, and that’s a beautiful first panel. Your city’s also super atmospheric. Go for it and join in on any of the general topics here, [most replies to art posted would be critiques.] We’re pretty messed up here, but it’d be very cool to see your work around.
>>7940678it sucks you need to die in a fire.
>>7940678>>7940681>>7940682>>7940683>>7940688Your skill is alright but you need to start drawing illustrations.if you want to be a illustrator and start telling a story with your finished work and thinking about narrative illustration. Your skill level is about a /int/. Low to mid imo, though I would say low.
>>7940704With that opinion, what would you suggest i do/ work on to improve?
>>7940702Its why I have good life insurance. Ha
>>7940701Thanks! I dont really expect much from 4chan as far as constructive criticism. Just kinda seeing how things work here. Ive never posted anything on this site and its kind of something I just browse through occasionally when life is a bit slow. Haha.
>>7940720I think you need to work on your figured not in terms of accuracy it finding a style you like to draw your human figures. They are kinda boring. But that's just not picking. You need a project and start drawing what you actually like. There's a reason why the OP image is the best one. The spider has nice values. The charcoal hands and figures are alright but kinda boring imo. But you need to figure out what exactly you want to draw and because you def have the skill to do what you want to draw. You just need to start doing it. Could be figure drawings like Vilpu or that Proko or could be a comic or manga or whatever, it just depends on what you want to do now, that's the best way this help you, is by drawing what you actually want to draw.So whatever it is, start do it and also do studies related to your project that will make your art better from your project.Ie why draw backgrounds if you just want to draw characters. So if you want to do a check comic you gotta start drawing OC's which means character design, shape language, backgrounds (depends) etc. You have the fundies to do whatever. (Still practice them though)
>>7940704Also, full disclosure, I have zero intention of working as an illustrator. I really wanted to major in fine arts as I really enjoy painting. But, many of the fundamental courses for fine arts were in illustration. And with me having to do online courses due to my work, there would have been zero chance I could have been able to complete the fine arts pipeline. They had courses that required kilns and such. And I have no access or time for that. I honestly see myself possibly doing tattoo work on my days off, already have an apprenticeship lined up (the picture i posted weren't my best works. Just the first ones I bumped into on my camera role, plus, they were only homework assignments. So, hit or miss if I got to choose the subject matter. ) Anyways, you seem to know alot about illustrators and what they do. Are you one? (Honest question. I know this site tends to breed trolls and such. Not trying to do so with you.)
>>7940728No problem, and I do the same. This is pretty much last forum-based site left to post art, so I feel you.
>>7940731Thank you! And youre right. Figure drawing is blah. Its just a skill showcasing and practice. And I think youre right. I really would like to draw what i want to. Its kind of been placed all on the back burner with school, work, and im starting a cross country move to work at a different fire dept. Plus getting my capt. License for 100 ton vessels. Lol. I kinda just... idk. Like doing alot of things. I tend to get bored if something isnt challenging or if it becomes monotonous. Haha.
>>7940735>>7940741Well I don't know much about tattoos but if I had to guess then you need to work on your lines, figures, portraits and whatever is popular with what people want drawn. Being able to draw from reference (portraits) and designs/patterns, tracing, and values.I just draw for myself but I guess I would call myself a illustrator rather than a artist. Idk just the logical conclusion that I wanted to draw vehicles and characters, which meant that I had to do backgrounds as well and also thumbnailing and then to not making it boring I also had to show a little story as well... Which is basically narrative illustration.I never worked professionally as a artist, but I'm just doing video game art for my own project. Which basically is characters, backgrounds, sprites, animations, scenes etc. Since I'm making a game, my art also has to be narrative since I'm also making a story etc.
>>7940749Thats cool! I wish you the best of luck on making a kick ass game!
>>7940678Solid stuff. It's pretty clear there's a gap between your observed work and your imagined work, and that's pretty common. If you goal is to draw from your head, you need to spend some time intentionally memorizing and recalling bits and pieces of anatomy, architectures, fashion, ect. so you can draw it without reference. It's a skill on it's own that I don't really see taught anywhere.You should also spend some time doing some master studies. Observation shows you the "what" of drawing; master studies show you the "how." You'll learn more about mark making and style from doing studies of works from artists you like than you will from life drawing.>>7940735>They had courses that required kilns and such. And I have no access or time for that.I don't know where you live, but there's a non-zero chance that there's a local pottery place you could go to for this sort of stuff. Throwing is actually a lot of fun.