Dominicque's Sketchbook

[cgmythology]

Excellent updates once again! Really loving the variety of figures, and they all have this elegant vibe that really suits your style quite well! The new figure with the tree combo is very well done, very natural anatomy and convincing as well. Keep up the great work and Happy New Year!

[Dominicque]

Ok, after drawing I feel better. This following R63 Gambit is where I took a real slump and I found it really hard to finish. I paused for a long time, because I just really wasn't feeling it. I was just riding the moment and trying to learn how to draw people sitting down. I found one pose and I kept on drawing it and started to have fun, again. I then used this a character. 

I know the arm doesn't look right, but not sure how to fix it, that might be where the impetus for the slump was.



After I did this an Idea of an Iron Fist image appeared in my head, that I quickly noted down. I then instead of putting this off, started drawing thumbnail sketches. I'd never really done this before, but it's so helpful! It also helped me relax and it didn't have to be the final image or the internal pressure to finalise the drawings. A sketch, can just be a sketch. 
I then started using PureRef, and actually getting straight front answers from Perplexity really helped not frustrate my workflow. 




Here is the refined version I ended up going with. I pushed it more with the eyebrow, but in the final idea thumb (or close enough) he looks more contemplative and I did like that. It doesn't feel finished to me, because I want the lightsource to be much stronger, which should mean more of his body obscured in shadow, so the highlights really pop. But, I'm not to sure where to map that out, so any help helps!

[Dominicque]

Excellent updates once again!  Really loving the variety of figures, and they all have this elegant vibe that really suits your style quite well!  The new figure with the tree combo is very well done, very natural anatomy and convincing as well.  Keep up the great work and Happy New Year!

Oh hi CG! I didn't see your post when I was crafting the latest update. Thanks for your encouraging comments as usual, I can trust you for that haha. 'Elegant'? Aww, thank you. I think it's because I've been focusing on accuracy and line for so long, it's followed me 'till now. I'll deffo take the compliment, tho! I might look at other 'elegant' type artists to push it, like Rebecca Guay and of course, Alphonse Mucha. And, just remix that with the other design styles and ideas I want to draw and/or render out. Going 'low and slow' is helping immensely, too.

I really enjoyed drawing her, after the idea sparked from the pose and expression of the model. Thanks and you, too! May you continue to improve and create new projects this year. 

[Dominicque]

Really wanted to draw a pretty guy as the 'Girl with the pearl earring'. I'm actually pretty happy with how it turned out. I'm definitely a sucka for really clean edges and chiaroscuro. Really aimed for that here. Deffo wanna draw more beautiful men as the subjects (objects?) of my work. Focusing very much on the 'female gaze'. Still having problems making really smooth transitions and making the darks super dark.

[cgmythology]

Awesome updates! The most recent one with the 'pearl' earring is very well done, especially the folds. Some nice use of values and lighting there, keep it up!

[Dominicque]

Awesome updates!  The most recent one with the 'pearl' earring is very well done, especially the folds.  Some nice use of values and lighting there, keep it up!

Thank you, I spent a couple of days on this and outside of wanting to draw a beautiful guy  , the values were the main thing I was trying to focus on. 

I drew a thing for the Authority fandom, I bought new acrylic markers and really wanted to try them out, but I was worried I'd ruin the work, therefore I make sure to scan the pencil work first. I then tried them out, it took awhile to get started out and comfortable, but 'Trust the process', adding pencils and pen liner really helped. Really love how it turned out, especially the 2nd and 4th panel.




Really wanted to try and complete a portrait using them, but got really frustrated. I draw some lips from another and decided to break in my Strathmore mixed media sketchbook and really tried to get the correct proportions. I took my time and used the confidence of thicker paper to make multiple layers where I needed to, and adjusted with coloured pencil. I didn't get the accuracy of great likeness, but I do like the style I was able to produce. Getting a consistent and lifelike skin tone is the hardest. Here's the OG Picture:  Pin page

[Anvar Khamidov]

Awesome updates!  The most recent one with the 'pearl' earring is very well done, especially the folds.  Some nice use of values and lighting there, keep it up!

Thank you, I spent a couple of days on this and outside of wanting to draw a beautiful guy  , the values were the main thing I was trying to focus on. 

I drew a thing for the Authority fandom, I bought new acrylic markers and really wanted to try them out, but I was worried I'd ruin the work, therefore I make sure to scan the pencil work first. I then tried them out, it took awhile to get started out and comfortable, but 'Trust the process', adding pencils and pen liner really helped. Really love how it turned out, especially the 2nd and 4th panel.


Really wanted to try and complete a portrait using them, but got really frustrated. I draw some lips from another and decided to break in my Strathmore mixed media sketchbook and really tried to get the correct proportions. I took my time and used the confidence of thicker paper to make multiple layers where I needed to, and adjusted with coloured pencil. I didn't get the accuracy of great likeness, but I do like the style I was able to produce. Getting a consistent and lifelike skin tone is the hardest. Here's the OG Picture:  Pin page

Hey Dominicque, replying so I can provide some advice if you would like any. 

Overall, you are on a good path. I scrolled through your sketchbook a week or two ago and I already thought that, but seeing the latest portrait made me sure of it. The colors are really nice, they are vibrant and feel very alive. I see that you are putting a lot of preparation and patience into your work, and that's always good. Keep going this way, and you have a long life in art. 

On the matter of you asking for advice on lighting, I have some things to say. Thank you for providing a reference you drew from, it really helps. 
I understand the wish to get the likeness of a person, but for the purposes of studying art, I would not make it a general priority, unless you want to become a professional portrait painter. The likeness will come with more practice even without a lot of targeted effort towards it. 
Another thing you mentioned was about the lifelike skin tones. The reference you provided has a specific light used in it that blows out all the color and presents it in a slightly distorted way. I usually avoid any pictures made with this specific lighting setup, think professional magazine cover lighting. I would suggest using photos of people during overcast weather. If you can't find any, use natural sunlight. Overcast is great for showing true colors of things without blowing one color out of proportion. Generally, any kind of soft lighting that is devoid of saturation is great to pick accurate colors from. Good luck!

[Dominicque]

Awesome updates!  The most recent one with the 'pearl' earring is very well done, especially the folds.  Some nice use of values and lighting there, keep it up!

Thank you, I spent a couple of days on this and outside of wanting to draw a beautiful guy  , the values were the main thing I was trying to focus on. 

I drew a thing for the Authority fandom, I bought new acrylic markers and really wanted to try them out, but I was worried I'd ruin the work, therefore I make sure to scan the pencil work first. I then tried them out, it took awhile to get started out and comfortable, but 'Trust the process', adding pencils and pen liner really helped. Really love how it turned out, especially the 2nd and 4th panel.


Really wanted to try and complete a portrait using them, but got really frustrated. I draw some lips from another and decided to break in my Strathmore mixed media sketchbook and really tried to get the correct proportions. I took my time and used the confidence of thicker paper to make multiple layers where I needed to, and adjusted with coloured pencil. I didn't get the accuracy of great likeness, but I do like the style I was able to produce. Getting a consistent and lifelike skin tone is the hardest. Here's the OG Picture:  Pin page

Hey Dominicque, replying so I can provide some advice if you would like any. 

Overall, you are on a good path. I scrolled through your sketchbook a week or two ago and I already thought that, but seeing the latest portrait made me sure of it. The colors are really nice, they are vibrant and feel very alive. I see that you are putting a lot of preparation and patience into your work, and that's always good. Keep going this way, and you have a long life in art. 

On the matter of you asking for advice on lighting, I have some things to say. Thank you for providing a reference you drew from, it really helps. 
I understand the wish to get the likeness of a person, but for the purposes of studying art, I would not make it a general priority, unless you want to become a professional portrait painter. The likeness will come with more practice even without a lot of targeted effort towards it. 
Another thing you mentioned was about the lifelike skin tones. The reference you provided has a specific light used in it that blows out all the color and presents it in a slightly distorted way. I usually avoid any pictures made with this specific lighting setup, think professional magazine cover lighting. I would suggest using photos of people during overcast weather. If you can't find any, use natural sunlight. Overcast is great for showing true colors of things without blowing one color out of proportion. Generally, any kind of soft lighting that is devoid of saturation is great to pick accurate colors from. Good luck!

Hi Anwar, thanks for finally stopping by my sketchbook side of the woods. I was always afraid of using a wet medium, despite my hoarding of gouache and other paint mediums, that probably gone off my gone at this point, because my previous attempts went badly. Perhaps, I just need more patience. Discovering videos on Arrtx acrylic markers got me super, duper excited to try them. They seem like a great in between. The most frustrating part painting for me is lack of control and losing/gaining detail is a very mercurial process wayy of my comfort zone. Like, I said the first attempt didn't vibe with me, but I when slow doing the lips of another study. Felt more confident, but the paper felt super scratchy, afterwards.
Time to burst out the super thick imported mixed-media sketchbooks I asked for Christmas! So, It might on just be patience I need, but also the right paper that can take a lot of layers, as I fix things and readjust. I'm glad she came out OK, because I always think things look worse once scanned.

RE: Gaining likeness, due to my 'plagiarism OCD', I kept flopping back and forth, between wanting a likeness to show my skills in fine accurate detail, and me not wanting to really involve myself in a piece too much, I use them as the main basis of a character design and get sued. Yeah, my brain tends to catastrophize a lot. Now, I'm more relaxed using references, I am seeing improvement, and 100% likeness is actually pretty darn hard, especially outside of tracing verbatim. I'm using a model's face to inform how I was to draw a certain character, but I like his features so much I might try to apply it to my male characters. Thick lips, sharp jaw line and cheek bones. I did a study for him, as you'll see. I mean if Adam Hughes can make Audrey Hepburn (the main inspo for) Catwoman. 

Thanks for the tip, I noticed this, too. But, I still wanted to try and see if the markers I had could try and get the same colour as the super exposed lighting. It did prove difficult, trying not to be too hard on myself and if if it was different to how I usually (want to) work, I still really appreciate the style that was developed. I really wanted your advice on how to map out the lightsource for the Iron Fist piece, it doesn't feel totally finished for that reason for me. I want more of Danny's body to appear in shadow with the only light being from his fist. I would also love advice on the arm positioning on the 63! Gambit. Thanks in advance! 

After months of putting it off, I finally going the lookbook for the Midpollo family. Great, now that I can get PureRef to work for me. Shout out to Perplexity to the quick answers to not impede my workflow. The plan, after planning is two draw all three family members in various poses and outfits. Here's the development: 
The ref was obscured by fabric, so I tried to rough out dangle of hips and legs. Any pointers, let me know!
I love how Midnighter turned out it the first go round, but I wanted him to have his arm round the chair, however I feel I lost the neck definition and muscle tone. Maybe it would be better turned inwards? Any help or redlines appreciated.
Any suggestions for pant designs?
He's the ref of the model. Really enjoyed myself here! I even didn't get angry when I didn't get it the first time and tried again. Pin page
I was having a tough time deciding on the third pose for Mid. I was edging for a standing pose and did two studies, but then saw this Emma D'arcy and Wow, it didn't leave my head. But, also, wow, it was really hard to nail down the pose. I feel the head is not consistent to the other Mids, and the shoulders and making them male and muscular AND look correct was driving me kinda mad. I found a more high dep version of the pic and it did help, but I feel it still needs work. Here's the pic: Emma D'Arcy (ES Magazine Evening Standard)