Gunpowder Gertie

Perfect. Model sheets are definitely great ways to advance your posing. Learn from the professionals. These guys were awesome. Also- another exercise you can do is- quick sketches. I made a tape- oh yeah- you probably don't remember tapes do ya?- <sigh> Anyway- make a CD or an MP3 that is just silence, with a sound of some kind- beep, something not too annoying- at 60 second intervals. Make it about a half an hour long. Listen to this while you draw. THEN- draw a pose- you have 1 minute. Then you have to draw another pose, and then another. Eventually you will stop "thinking" about the posing- and it will become second nature. It will take a while. It is VERY difficult at first- but it will really help you with your posing. Make the poses dynamic too- no cheating. And really- start with the line of action, and then base your drawing around that line. Aids in posing, and fluidity of motion. Watch the feet though- superb construction of arms/torso/abdominal area. Feet and legs- meh. Remember as feet contact the ground, they are not straight across. The overlap the ground to some extant. don't forget ankles- legs have 'em and they need to part of your structure. Make every part of your drawing as strong as the other parts. I mean- look at the Bugs' feet- volume, structure- all there. Look at the feet and legs of your drawing- very simple in comparison to the rest of your drawing. I know I am hammering this point at you- but- every part of your drawing must be STRONG. Also- another way to strengthen the feet position- is draw a light perspective grid where the feet would go- then you will know how to pose the feet, and what angle they have to follow.. Here is a ruff model sheet I made for a personal project- these poses are all from the 60 second posing exercises I told you about. Strong line of action, balance, and silhouette. Yet very simple.Silhouette is very important too- the best poses can be coloured in with black ink- and you can still tell what the character is doing.. Sorry- I know this isn't piratey- but it's all I have to show you... And - bear with me - one more: See how I just made studies of feet and legs? And made a point of drawing the feet and legs in the act of being unbalanced- as they step from one pose to another?And- if you look closely at the more rendered elephant, you can see where I placed the grid lines, so that all the legs are solidly placed, in perspective.Also- notice the line of action in the elephant shaking it's head- learn to putdown a quick line to indicate the direction of your pose, and it will make your drawing more fluid. Continue to work loose..light underdrawings, like you are sculpting the drawing with your pencil- lots of light loose lines to establish your movement, then go in with your pencil to carve the detail, and volume. I know we've strayed a bit from the pirate theme here, and I apologise, mods please bear with me.. but it's all I have here to illustrate my point. We'll continue with the pirate drawings from here...right Lt. Alex??

Well- that is one thing you have to get over, and that is only drawing your best when you are jazzed about the idea- when drawing professionally, you have to draw what you are paid to draw, even if you are not as happy about the project, because often you don't have control over which character/project you are assigned to. You have to find a way to be the best you can be. But when you get on a project you love..and believe in - it's awesome. I even took exceptionally low wages and went clear across the country one time to work on a project. And- although the employer knew we were there because we believed so hard in the project, and essentially ttreated us shamefully- it is still one of the best projects I worked on- because of the people I worked with. It sounds like the next step is to find a pirate group close by and get yerself into garb! THEN you'd have a tricorne fer sure! Haharrrrrr!

It's obvious you have some real skill. In University your feedback will not always be as gentle as <ahem> it is here. It's good you are willing to listen. Stories abound of people working in animation being told their work is "crap" by their bosses.So- don't take it personally, and take the criticism as it is given- all in the name of making you a better artist. Now- to work on your posing! Your posing so far is a bit static. Try - for your next drawing - to make it more dynamic. Not facing square to the viewer- but either a three quarter pose, with some movement. If these drawings are going into your portfolio- this would be the perfect kind of drawing to attempt! yeah defiantly, gonna try a mid combat pose for my next sketch ;D! sad story gertie such a great shame. I hope I make it to the point were i get paid to do what i love doing, whilst listening to Boney M . Im going to hertfordshire university :) was my first interview and i got offered a place on the day! i was so chuffed ! since it was my best option i didnt go to all of interviews only 2/4 So- do you still have to show a portfolio? If so- work your arse off- remember- you get back what you put into this kind of program. Greatest piece of advice I ever got was from one of my animation instructors. DO WHAT'S NECESSARY.If that means driving all night to get to a animation festival to show your portfolio to a prospective employer- sleeping in the van for a couple of hours, getting cleaned up in an A & W washroom..and then throwing that portfolio down on the sidewalk, opening it, and tweaking the contents, adding some and removing others, and then running to the venue just before it opened. Then you DO IT. JUST DO IT. (which I have done - and yes I did get the job) But if you are still making a portfolio to show- work on some great stuff now- and the best you have- may be the stuff you produce now, and may replace some of your older stuff. You have lots of potential- and you are still young. Become a sponge. Soak up all the info and advice you can. I'm assuming you will be working with professionals, and these contacts can help you so much. And- I am also assuming that at the end, industry professionals will be invited to take a look. This is the most exciting time. Just do what's necessary- and you'll be all right.

They are only one sided though. The double sided casting was way to thick and difficult. Both sides are painted though so if you wanted them to hand out to kids I could make you a bag of em if you want. That might be cool- especially if ye could add yer pirate group contact info, or some kind o' sayin' on the blank side! D'ye think that is possible? Or wait- what about this- paint the blank side black- and depending on the disposition o' the kid- ye could either reward them with some shine... er gi 'em the BLACK SPOT! hahar! PIRATE! I might be interested inthat!

McCool- I just found the very thing on the Arrbay! A plastic gold coin that looks exactly like Spanish doubloons- 8 reale size! A bag o' 72 for less than 5 bucks. They are hard t' come by- but I can send ya the seller!

It's obvious you have some real skill. In University your feedback will not always be as gentle as <ahem> it is here. It's good you are willing to listen. Stories abound of people working in animation being told their work is "crap" by their bosses.So- don't take it personally, and take the criticism as it is given- all in the name of making you a better artist. Now- to work on your posing! Your posing so far is a bit static. Try - for your next drawing - to make it more dynamic. Not facing square to the viewer- but either a three quarter pose, with some movement. If these drawings are going into your portfolio- this would be the perfect kind of drawing to attempt!

Recently- after my accident, I talked to a local storyboard artist. He does quite a bit for Disney- anyway- he encouraged me to try and get into that field. But I don't have enough confidence to know I can walk into a meeting and just blow them away. I still need reference. I first came out here to take a course in digital animation- but my funding fell through. Then- my bro died and I had a car accident in quick succession. Hence my status as a "used to be" professional artist. but let me just say- drawing for a living? Listening to music and drawing for about 8-10 hours a day? AND getting paid great money for it? Priceless.

THERE ya go! yes! Yes! Yes! Even the shoe construction is better! Nice! oh- and one more thing- it is apparent you are working "through" the drawing- by that I mean structurally you are following the line of an object through the figure, and the angles are all meeting, and aligning. And that is sometimes very hard to do. And that is very good!

Well- I AM driving down, and I could pick ya up on the way..you could sleep in the van...but I think Colorado might be a tad far for a quick detour!

Whoa! VERY cool theme! I'm IN.

I agree- a bit o' advance warning would help! - especially with me very full June schedule. And I also can't wait to meet you at NorCal, Ransom! BTW-They've finally upgraded the website with all the vendors and the entertainment!