Sketch Trip: Train Station + Sketching: Week 5 + Comic & Illust Exhibit.

Last weekend, I and some of my classmates decided to spend one night at the train station to do our sketch homework. Why at night, you ask? Well, that's because people who travel at night, tend to nod off while waiting for their ride -- ideal, when you're trying to sketch them. 8O















It was really cold, and I, for one, kept getting sleepy while trying to sketch, but, it was fun! I'm glad I didn't miss the experience.

As for sketching from life in itself, well... In order to do that properly, you'd have to pay attention to all the technical elements of drawing, as well as make the execution as natural as possible. Apparently, there's no better way to do so than by making models of random people doing random things.

There's a difference between a model who is trying to maintain a pose long enough for you to draw it, than one who is not. Sure, at our level, our models would have moved several times before we finish our sketches. Then again, this is called 'speed drafting' for a reason -- we have to learn to memorize poses at a glance.

One way to do that is: first, familiarize yourself with the structure of your model -- know where the light falls and shadows are cast, why one part is lighter / darker than the other, etc. Second, learn to pinpoint the center of gravity -- make pose look natural, and not forced.

Lastly, develop a sketching technique that you find comes naturally to you, and practice it. Don't think that you have to draw in a certain way. The sky's the limit with art, and, the more unique, the better! Also, don't stick with a technique that you're uncomfortable with! Masochist. X ))

Here are some of the speed drafts by Chinese master artisans that Gu laoshi showed us. Confident strokes, confident dabs -- there are no words.





Also, there's this one artist whose style I've personally fallen in love with! His name is 顾生岳 (Gu Shengyue), and you can find some of his speed drafts here.

Sketch class: week 5. We're still doing speed drafting, with two quiet male models this time.







Gu laoshi also took us to see selected pieces created by 'pure FA' students -- that is, students who are taking up sketching / painting courses. You'll notice how their works look and feel 'complete' compared to ours. ^x^

These are their speed drafts, ...













paintings, ...









and, sketch portraits.











Here are some of the selected works exhibited by Comic -- not [Japanese] manga -- & Illustration sophomores and juniors. There were only a handful of digital works there, and these that I took photos of, are all traditional. Impressive!













Some departments in the School of Media and Animation also recently updated the contents of their showcase.











Whenever I see vectors and typography, I remember ADMU -- so sue me. : ))



Anyway, a hell of a lot has happened since I last updated, so I think I'll be blogging again real soon. Till the next post! *3*/