Archive for October, 2007

The assignment for this lesson can be found here: http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/2007/08/animation-course-1-lesson-1-beat-kali.html

Bosko Bounce rough

Bosko Swing rough

Here is the first of what should become many drawing practice posts.  I'm copying frames from the golden age of cartoons in an effort to improve the use of construction in my drawings.  Construction is simply breaking down of a character into simpler forms, spheres, cylinders, etc.  When you draw the character, you first draw those simple forms as a foundation.  Then you build the features and details around those forms.  Its the best way to give your characters dimension and make them feel like they live in a 3d world.  I should do a post illustrating this concept for those of you not in the animation world.

For those of you also practicing  this drawing concept, let me know your progress!  I'd like to hear any tips, tricks, trials, and tribulations you've learned/experienced in your pursuit to become better artist.

So, a long time ago I designed and modeled my take on Dracula.  I drew up the first sketch while talking to my mom or sister on the phone, and it was just perfect.  The problem was, after that I could never draw him or pose the 3d model in a different pose and be happy with it.  So just recently I decided to loosen up on his design and just explore.  I used other artist as inspiraction, mainly looking at work done on Looney Tunes and the work of Bill Waterson ala Calvin and Hobbes.  Here are some of the results.

First, this was the sketch/model I did years ago in college.

And here are some recent drawings I did to break the mold on his design in my mind

A few weeks ago I tried to draw just using pen and sharpie during my breaks at work.  Inevitably my drawings started to look a bit spooky, which made me want to draw some Tim Burton stuff.  Here are the results

Edward Scissorhands

Vincent

Magget

Tim