Arts and CraftsThe place to talk about stick figure avatars, graphic design, fan art, or any application of the visual arts and creative writing--or just to show off your latest masterwork!
I'm really curious: how did you come up with the details on all those robot pictures? I love them, but I have no idea how I'd draw something similar; it seems so complicated...
The operative word here is "seems". At its core, drawing something like this is just making a frame and filling it with purposeful-looking doodads. It helps to understand how machinery works, of course, much like with living things and anatomy. But mostly, it's just a series of beams, panels, and neat-looking details. I might succumb to nostalgia (haven't done one of these in a while) and make a step-by-step description of how I draw these things. Assuming I haven't forgotten how to, of course.
__________________
Bearer of the Psionic Flame
---------------------
Current occupation: Considering drawing a better Psionic Flame avatar.
---------------------
Skills: Competent Modder, Proficient Programmer, Accomplished RTD Game Master, Adequate Artist, Dabbling Writer
--------------------- Join Dropbox! It's free! And useful!
Umm...I'm not sure if this was mentioned yet, since I haven't read all of the posts yet, but for those of you who think your irises look "wonky," try making the eyes shinier. Add in little anime white bubbled in the pupil or overlapping the pupil and the iris. The ponies are adorable little animated creatures, and as such, have super emotional and shiny eyes. Hope that helps a bit. =)
Day 4, Fluttershy. Where wings join eyes in the "I hate drawing them" club. Perhaps they can get fancy shirts?
Spoiler
Spoiler
Overall, I'm pretty pleased with how this one turned out. The wings, and again, the eyes could definately do with some work. Though I'd place these amoung my better eyes, so I guess that counts for something. Looking back at it, her tail is rather sketchy, I could have neatened that up a bit. And her mane behind her head looks like it's not there. But other than that, I like her mane.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sean Mirrsen
Well, it's swirly, so works as "aerial", I guess. I think the last time I tried to draw engraved armor it was this lil' thing:
Spoiler
Aand since I'm pulling up old pencilled robots, here, have a few more:
Spoiler
Laser-headed robot dinosaur motorcycle!
Two iterations of a character from my first RTD:
The player team from the aforementioned RTD game doing something they didn't quite get around to doing after all.
Bonus points if you can identify the BattleMech.
Wow, they're very impressive.
__________________
Thanks to Skeppio for my avatar.
Overtaken by randomness, took a part of that victorian-esque robot of mine and spiffied it up into an avatar form. No idea at all why I did that. I have better things to do. >_>
Might as well post it though:
__________________
Bearer of the Psionic Flame
---------------------
Current occupation: Considering drawing a better Psionic Flame avatar.
---------------------
Skills: Competent Modder, Proficient Programmer, Accomplished RTD Game Master, Adequate Artist, Dabbling Writer
--------------------- Join Dropbox! It's free! And useful!
As well, here's my second work. I decided to add a little color to this one.
Reference picture
Spoiler
Final result
Spoiler
Looks very nice! The proportions and pose look right to my eye, and the color seems to have turned out well. You seem to have the basics of drawing ponies down really well; I'd suggest you try playing around with things in addition to more regular drawing, like trying to draw one from memory, or seeing how much you could capture with a limited number of lines, or drawing while watching the show without pausing or screencapping.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Level8Mudcrab
Day 4, Fluttershy. Where wings join eyes in the "I hate drawing them" club. Perhaps they can get fancy shirts?
Spoiler
Spoiler
Overall, I'm pretty pleased with how this one turned out. The wings, and again, the eyes could definately do with some work. Though I'd place these amoung my better eyes, so I guess that counts for something. Looking back at it, her tail is rather sketchy, I could have neatened that up a bit. And her mane behind her head looks like it's not there. But other than that, I like her mane.
Actually, I think the wings came out pretty nicely, along with the mane, you seemed to get the shape and positioning down quite well. I'd still suggest working with a more compact body, but it's looking good!
__________________ I never saw an ugly thing in my life - John Constable
Looks very nice! The proportions and pose look right to my eye, and the color seems to have turned out well. You seem to have the basics of drawing ponies down really well; I'd suggest you try playing around with things in addition to more regular drawing, like trying to draw one from memory, or seeing how much you could capture with a limited number of lines, or drawing while watching the show without pausing or screencapping.
I'm not sure I'm good enough to attempt that just yet, but I did do something kinda tricky (for me, anyway).
I drew a pony without a reference object.
I find it really hard to get the scaling right, especially at the start, if I don't have an object in the image to refer back to.
I seem to be keeping up a pace of a drawing a day. Doubt that will last.
Reference picture
Spoiler
Final result.
Spoiler
__________________
Flashpoint avatar by DirtyTabs.
Apparently I'm a good pony.
Spoiler
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thanqol
Vorpalbob is now best pony.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kindablue
... Vorpalbob remains best pony.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Strife Warzeal
Vorpal still remains best pony, and possibly a sub-channel of Pinkie Pie's energy.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BlasTech
Vorpalbob continues to remain best pony.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Athaniar
Like I said in the IRC, you are best pony.
Quote:
Originally Posted by HalfTangible
You are best pony.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Titanium Fox
Vorpalbob is Best Pony. You win everything. EVERYTHING.
Ear's wrong. Ponies have really big ears. Nose starts too low and goes out too far. And the legs are a real problem; remember, as SiuiS says, the length of the legs is as long as the head.
Bluh. I've been trying to draw Fluttershy for the past two days, and I just cannot get things to work. I'll probably try again tonight and post the WIP to see if I can get any suggestions...
__________________ I never saw an ugly thing in my life - John Constable
Thanks. I'm going to try some custom designs next, from memory. A few of my friends, upon hearing that I draw, insisted I ponify them.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sean Mirrsen
Here's the completed thing-I've-been-working-on.
Spoiler
Turned out rather nice, I think. Although the fic itself appears to have stalled for some reason.
Looks great! I'm not sure if this was a deliberate part of your art style, but the legs do seem a little long, making the Mane 6 look a little awkward.
Other than that, fantastic.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Neoseanster
I went out and bought myself a mechanical pencil on the way home today with the intention of trying this... "drawing" thing.
I'll post the results of my horrible embarrassing failure later tonight.
Don't worry, man. That's exactly what I was thinking when I first tried drawing Scootaloo. Just find a good reference picture and go slow for the first little while.
__________________
Flashpoint avatar by DirtyTabs.
Apparently I'm a good pony.
Spoiler
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thanqol
Vorpalbob is now best pony.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kindablue
... Vorpalbob remains best pony.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Strife Warzeal
Vorpal still remains best pony, and possibly a sub-channel of Pinkie Pie's energy.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BlasTech
Vorpalbob continues to remain best pony.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Athaniar
Like I said in the IRC, you are best pony.
Quote:
Originally Posted by HalfTangible
You are best pony.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Titanium Fox
Vorpalbob is Best Pony. You win everything. EVERYTHING.
Well, today was...trying to say the least. I couldn't get Fluttershy to come out the way I wanted, and then after I finally got down a Scootaloo I was ok with posting, the scanner turned out to be broken.
*le sigh*
__________________ I never saw an ugly thing in my life - John Constable
I know the whole "Fluttershy is a tree" thing is quite old at this point, but just as an experiment, I sketched Fluttershy as a dryad/naiad/nature spirit:
Spoiler
The stare is intentional, but there seems to be something wrong with the face.. a few extraneous lines somewhere.
edit: hm, I think I accidentally the whole sketch. Dropbox is cool, but sometimes I forget which files I link. Anyway, complete color version:
__________________
Bearer of the Psionic Flame
---------------------
Current occupation: Considering drawing a better Psionic Flame avatar.
---------------------
Skills: Competent Modder, Proficient Programmer, Accomplished RTD Game Master, Adequate Artist, Dabbling Writer
--------------------- Join Dropbox! It's free! And useful!
Last edited by Sean Mirrsen : 11-05-2011 at 11:12 AM.
And then, after getting OCD-ish and cleaning it up a little...
It's not perfect, but I surprised myself for a first try.
Things that I noticed were wrong with it or that were pointed out to me in IRC (thanks Dispo!):
Spoiler
The lines from her body on the left and right of her front left leg don't match each other.
Her ear is too pointy.
When I was cleaning it up, I accidentally made her mane merge with her body, instead of the line for it being raised a little.
Head doesn't properly overlap with neck, makes it look like she's reaching her neck out or something.
Bow is too rounded.
Bottom of her forehead lock is too straight.
Front left leg is a little too curved.
Back leg joint could be a little more rounded.
Eye could be a little rounder.
Any other criticisms are welcome. Maybe I'll try someone else tomorrow, or I'll redo this one and see if I can avoid the same mistakes.
Right now I'm going to sleep and wondering why I was up at 5 am drawing ponies.
That's an excellent first pony! You didn't ruin your circle at all; you made it better!
Dispo seems to have given pretty good feedback, I don't have much else to say, except heed the experienced pony-drawer.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sean Mirrsen
I know the whole "Fluttershy is a tree" thing is quite old at this point, but just as an experiment, I sketched Fluttershy as a dryad/naiad/nature spirit:
Spoiler
The stare is intentional, but there seems to be something wrong with the face.. a few extraneous lines somewhere.
edit: hm, I think I accidentally the whole sketch. Dropbox is cool, but sometimes I forget which files I link. Anyway, complete color version:
Spoiler
I like the way her wings are made of twigs and leaves; it's a neat touch.
Also, the scanner is working again! Huzzah!
So, cowering Scootaloo it is:
Spoiler
Based on this:
Spoiler
Thoughts:
I didn't get her head cocked up quite right, and there are still some proportion issues with her hooves, although I think it's a bit better than in the Rarity one I posted before. Also, although I'm broadly happy with her mane and tail shape, you can definitely see deviations from the source.
Overall, I'm a little frustrated; I switched to this picture from Fluttershy because I just couldn't get the proportions right, and even with the simpler terror!Scoot screencap, things were hit-and-miss. Maybe if I try to blame it on the HUB logo blocking the shot...
__________________ I never saw an ugly thing in my life - John Constable
I know the whole "Fluttershy is a tree" thing is quite old at this point, but just as an experiment, I sketched Fluttershy as a dryad/naiad/nature spirit:
Spoiler
The stare is intentional, but there seems to be something wrong with the face.. a few extraneous lines somewhere.
edit: hm, I think I accidentally the whole sketch. Dropbox is cool, but sometimes I forget which files I link. Anyway, complete color version:
-snip-
She looks much older here. Dunno if that was deliberate. Probably due to the lines on her face.
Sorry I can't be more constructive with anyone elses stuff. I can't really spot anything that no one else has mentioned. Plus I'm knackered right now.
So here's a Trixie I did. I left the guidelines in, I find it helps.
Spoiler
Based on:
Spoiler
Thoughts: The tilt of her head and body looks off, and the hind legs aren't bending enough. One thing I've learned here is that pony legs taper towards the joints more than I thought.
__________________
Just call me Diego. Mr. Havoc was my father.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SiuiS
Diego Havoc, one of the hoopier froods I've met, up there with DeLancie.
As per an odd request in the Bay12 ponythread, I'm trying to draw AJ diving in a wetsuit. Or something. I've really no idea how it's supposed to look, so I'm trying to extrapolate from things I saw on TV and the like. So far, this is the resulting sketch:
Spoiler
Anything immediately wrong that you can see?
__________________
Bearer of the Psionic Flame
---------------------
Current occupation: Considering drawing a better Psionic Flame avatar.
---------------------
Skills: Competent Modder, Proficient Programmer, Accomplished RTD Game Master, Adequate Artist, Dabbling Writer
--------------------- Join Dropbox! It's free! And useful!
I ended up not having time to do a pony yesterday, I blame the new episode. Instead, have Rainbow Dash today.
Spoiler
Reference.
Spoiler
The left eye could do with some work, but I'm happier with the right one. Don't like the wings either. And I now suddenly realise I forgot the second wing. Silly me.
Well, I've now done the mane 6. I've still got a long way to go, but I am doing better than I'd first expected, so that's a plus. I think I'll try something different for tommorow.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sean Mirrsen
As per an odd request in the Bay12 ponythread, I'm trying to draw AJ diving in a wetsuit. Or something. I've really no idea how it's supposed to look, so I'm trying to extrapolate from things I saw on TV and the like. So far, this is the resulting sketch:
Spoiler
Anything immediately wrong that you can see?
That is a bit of an interest request. Looks pretty good though. What's that bit on her shoulder? Edit: Oh, I think it's an Equestrian badge/symbol type thing?
__________________
Thanks to Skeppio for my avatar.
Last edited by Level8Mudcrab : 11-06-2011 at 06:28 AM.
I ended up not having time to do a pony yesterday, I blame the new episode. Instead, have Rainbow Dash today.
Spoiler
Reference.
Spoiler
The left eye could do with some work, but I'm happier with the right one. Don't like the wings either. And I now suddenly realise I forgot the second wing. Silly me.
Well, I've now done the mane 6. I've still got a long way to go, but I am doing better than I'd first expected, so that's a plus. I think I'll try something different for tommorow.
Can you people scale down your scans? They're stretching the forum somethin' fierce.
For the drawing, the proportions are off. The body seems too big, and the neck too short/thick. (that tiny line between the wing and the mane is too high) And the cutie mark seems to have migrated a little. :) The legs are mostly fine, but the point where the hind leg intersects with the abdomen is too far back, giving RD a rather "fat cow" appearance. The mismatched eyes and missing wing you've already noted. Otherwise, well, I can still tell it's RD, so it's not half bad. :)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Level8Mudcrab
That is a bit of an interest request. Looks pretty good though. What's that bit on her shoulder? Edit: Oh, I think it's an Equestrian badge/symbol type thing?
Well, the request is less weird if you've seen the last episode - at least the line of thinking leading up to it becomes clearer. And yes, that thing on the shoulder is some sort of Equestrian spec-ops badge. I've no idea how the Navy Seals badge looks, so I just improvised using the horse head symbol as a base.
__________________
Bearer of the Psionic Flame
---------------------
Current occupation: Considering drawing a better Psionic Flame avatar.
---------------------
Skills: Competent Modder, Proficient Programmer, Accomplished RTD Game Master, Adequate Artist, Dabbling Writer
--------------------- Join Dropbox! It's free! And useful!
So here's a Trixie I did. I left the guidelines in, I find it helps.
Spoiler
Based on:
Spoiler
Thoughts: The tilt of her head and body looks off, and the hind legs aren't bending enough. One thing I've learned here is that pony legs taper towards the joints more than I thought.
Yeah, the big thing to notice about ponies is how much some of the lines actually curve. In particular the ones that define the front part of each leg are challenging to get right, because they have to be somewhat concave to give them the right look without seeming fat, but too much curve and they seem abnormal. I find I constantly have to go back and tweak lines I've drawn to shallow or to straight during my rough layout.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sean Mirrsen
Cleaned up diving AJ a little:
Spoiler
No idea how to color it properly though.
Hmm, I would go with a blue-black for the wetsuit, and similar colors for the diving gear. The patches you could probably go wild with, but I'd imagine the cutie mark one should look a bit like her normal color scheme, and the Spec Ops one would probably use the sort of color palette they do in real life - mostly dark browns, greens, blues and whites, but some primary colors (especially yellow and red) for accents. Besides that, it's mostly just AJ's body, so that should be straightforward.
__________________ I never saw an ugly thing in my life - John Constable
RSS Feeds: 
Re: Ponythread Learns to Draw! Together!
Bleeeeh! Alfalfa Monster!
