Figure Studies

More practice figure studies.  Gotta keep ma brain all limber and stretchid-like.

Made using the Figure Drawing Gesture Tool.

Anchor Lady

Another drawing finished.  First design to incorporate anchors!  I've been browsing through a lot of tattoo-specific image-collecting websites and taking note of the recurring themes, on the assumption that these will be primary subjects when I (hopefully) am tattooing with a machine myself.  As far as self-criticism goes, I feel like the lady's anatomy is pretty wonky, and the anchor could have had stronger symmetry.  But on the plus side, my line-work is improving in confidence, and my designs are more consistently complex.
     My friend Dustin also pointed me to the works of Sean Morgan, of Scarab Body Arts in Syracuse, NY.  Though he is still apprenticing there, his body of work is quite strong, and I'm totally digging some of his layered wavy skull-things.  Totally cool.  Gonna have to try some of that soon.

Scarab Body Arts (tattoo)

Off-Topic

GET FL STUDIO MOBILE
I can't help it.  I've loved FL Studio ever since it was Fruity Loops 3.5!  This program has come a long way from it humble roots, growing from a simple MIDI sequencer to a full-fledged music making champion.  Now, FL Studio has grown to the mobile scene and I couldn't be happier to help people discover the wonder and ease of creation that this suite offers.

Tracer!

No, I do not have any images to share today, but that is not to say that I have been unproductive.  On the contrary, this day has been pretty busy.  Signed up for jobs to keep the ship floating, hung with friends and made a mean barbecue, and, yes, that most derided of art tasks- tracing.  My linework is too shaky, and they (sparkle greysuit monkey mooks) told me to practice by tracing.  So I started some of that.  Woo.  Oh, wait.  I lied.  I did some figure studies using the Figure Study Drawing Tool.  Good to keep in practice with something different.

Look at them. LOOK AT THEM.

Drawing, drawing, drawing.  I'm loving the practice I'm doing.  I've been keen to keep talking to the artists at the shop and get their feedback, and hoy, I got some!  One of the artists, Shane, told me that I spot-on in terms of design, which is often the hardest part of making tattoo's.  Ego-boost for me!  But, he also said that I need work in making stronger lines, particularly lines that aren't wonky and shaky.  And to use Micron Pens.  Apparently, Microns come very close in mimicking the line-widths seen in using a tattoo machine.  He was even kind enough to provide me with a small set of pens.  Thanks, Shane!  So, next week, I will be taking all the flash I can find and will be copying them with the use of the shop's light-box, which they were also very kind enough to offer.  Thanks again!  Practice, Ahoy!

Well this is pretty Cool!

Ever Wanted to just sit down, draw a few posed figures or animals, and get in some quick sketch practice? Well, now there's a website that'll help you get some good poses to draw in between visits to your local figure drawing club or association.  The awkardly-titled Figure Drawing Training Tool is filled with a variety of choices for subject matter, including mixes of clothed, nude, male, female figures, and animals of all shapes and sizes, including selections of animal skeletons!  The web-tool even comes with a range of differently-lengthed drawing sessions, going from a quick 30 minute sit-down to a whopping six hour marathon.  The good news is that all of these sessions have built-in break times, to let you stretch, relax your eyeballs, and chill before the next wave of figures.  And, as you can see, there are controls next to the image allowing you to pause, skip through images, and stop the session altogther as your life deems necessary.

The only downside to this is that you are using photo's, and they will never give as much information as can be gleaned from your own pair of eyeballs in a real studio type situation.  But perhaps a tool such as this can entice people into practicing enough to want to attend more live-model drawing sessions, so who knows-- this may become something really special!  So, don't be a sourpuss.  Try it out, and if it gives you enough a neat-factor, Donate a dollar and help keep this tool in good spirits!

http://www.pixelovely.com/gesture/figuredrawing.php