Step into the DOJO

[Ninjerk]

Nice start to your sketchbook Ninjerk.  Have you tried studying Loomis at all?  His books are really good for figure work.  Keep going mate!

I did years ago, but didn't really follow up with it.  I suspect I didn't give myself the time to "get it."  Since I started doing little imaginative sketches involving figure construction, however, I think I've been using his pelvic abstraction (I think it's like two "dishes" back-to-back with orbs floating inside of that structure, something about the way I've abstracted leg construction too, I think) because when I got to the pelvis I started drawing something and I know I didn't come up with it!

Welcome to the forums, Ninjerk! :) Hadn't heard of TAP before, I might join that site too actually. It looks like you are beginning your journey with art after having wanted to for years, like me, congrats for getting going!

Keep going with those gestures, and do go to a real life drawing session if you can! It's good to mix that in with the photo studies if you can. I've heard that a ratio of 20% life drawing and 80% from ref is good if you are the kind to draw from internet ref a lot. I have not been able to find life drawing in my area, even at the so-called "art center". :'( Try to get confident with those gestures, and remember that the point of gesture drawing is to capture the movement of the pose, not the contours. Check out Proko's youtube channel for great tutorials on figure and gesture drawing. :)

Keep it up man, and put in those hours!

In the past I haven't used picture ref much.  I've been doing it lately because it's convenient.  I used to have this idea that using picture reference was cheating or something, but I think I see the value in it now.

This Proko channel looks pretty good, thanks!  Sometimes Bridgman can be a little esoteric, IMO.

Hey Ninjerk o/ I dig your username

Woo! Welcome to Daggers, feel free to dive into the community! It'd be great to follow your journey here <3

I checked out your TAP sketchbook, and good on ya for keeping consistent!

What I would recommend is that you sketch more in your sketchbook from life and make sweet love to perspective, as it is an absolute must for getting better at drawing.

I'll see you 'round!

o/ o/ o/

Thanks for coming over so quickly!  I need to dig out a sketchbook (I'm sure I have one) and start putting stuff in it.

Also, I like sweet love so I'll definitely go hard in perspective.

What I'm thinking right now for a study plan outline is to hit the figure construction/anatomy and posing pretty hard, coupled with some value studies so I can start putting characters in scenes with some confidence.

Today's gesture warmups: