07-17-2014, 06:57 PM
Though I am always reluctant to take reference so early on, I think you've be working with it very well with how you have been drawing through everything, and constructing the figure through gesture and form so thoroughly, so kudos for doing that. It looks like an excellent way of learning to think things through from the ref rather than becoming a slave to it.
I know you probably haven't hit this point yet, but when you get a chance, try shooting some reference for that arm as well, preferably doing some of them whilst holding/suspending something (fairly light, from experience I can say holding up a bird of prey is no significant strain) as well. It could also help to get some shots of your arm tilted and rotated at slightly different angles around the one you want. Possibly also try rotating the torso slightly to change the arm orientation a bit too, and see how the shoulder enters into view with that. It will make it a bit easier to interpret what is going on, as this is a rather tricky arm pose to get right, though with how you break down your reference, I think you'll learn a lot.
I really admire the effort you are putting into this piece though, and how prepared you are to go back to fix things. Good luck!
I know you probably haven't hit this point yet, but when you get a chance, try shooting some reference for that arm as well, preferably doing some of them whilst holding/suspending something (fairly light, from experience I can say holding up a bird of prey is no significant strain) as well. It could also help to get some shots of your arm tilted and rotated at slightly different angles around the one you want. Possibly also try rotating the torso slightly to change the arm orientation a bit too, and see how the shoulder enters into view with that. It will make it a bit easier to interpret what is going on, as this is a rather tricky arm pose to get right, though with how you break down your reference, I think you'll learn a lot.
I really admire the effort you are putting into this piece though, and how prepared you are to go back to fix things. Good luck!