[fffredffflickssstone]

I had to change my log on name slightly to get back onto Sijun, I cant remember my old log on password...oh well...










Damn, Sijun is huge now...WOW!!!


Hello all. I have taken a short break from being online too much so I can get some of my stuff finished. I have a few tutorials I wish to put up here, but I have no site to ftp them for time being. I am looking into a website, so very soon they will be up.

Meantime, hello all, glad to see the digital art community is still in tact, and not flaming the heck out of one another. Here is a bundle of images I took from this past semester. This semester I am teaching lots of specialty classes, allowing me time to concentrate on the things that get most neglected in art, i.e. feet, hands, drapery, expressions, and such.

The previous semester, we had a really fun class called head quick sketch. Three of the pages here are from that. We had limited time, 2, 5 and ten minutes to draw the head of the model. It really taught me a lot about seeing and putting down info quickly.

The other class that has been a blast is expressions. Understanding the mechanics of what muscles do what to form whatever expressions. All these nuts and bolts classes are so necessary if a certain level of proficiency is to be achieved within the artwork. I expect a lot of myself, so studying everything really helps me focus.

I am also teaching concept design and storyboarding, through these classes, by helping students overcome their deficits with their art, I am polishing up my skills.

I have a good number of oils to show, but I have not yet photographed them. Hopefully soon.

I hope to get back online soon to do some more critiquing and as I said I have a good number of new tutorials I want to get up online for all of you. The one thing I have been noticing lately, are the number of really badly done tutorials that I think, cause more problems that help, but that is the naivety of many who, for the most part are self taught.

I have been tracking the artwork from time to time, and I have to say there is a lot of talent out there. You guys are all doing amazing, especially within your own personal growth, keep it up. I hope to stop by again and check out more of all your stuff, and put up those tutorials.

I have a new email address also. It is [email protected]. I have been at Angel Studios now for the past several months, a big change from Presto. More to do, and bigger teams. Needless to say, I have been overwhelmed at times, but it is a great place to work, and under the tutelage of Steven Olds, now that is a job perk�

Alright everyone, enjoy your lives and your art�


Ron Lemen

[ February 12, 2002: Message edited by: fffredffflickssstone ]

[The Magic Pen]

UHHH welcome back .... <----

[Mr. T]

wow

[MoleculeMan]

Those are all spectacular!!! Welcome back!

jacob a.

[ February 12, 2002: Message edited by: MoleculeMan ]

[Dr. Bang]

well, i find this is pencil drawing at its max. I dont think any one would draw better than this. Fred, how much drawings like this do you do every day? Whats your recommendation to become as good as you for the next 30 years of my life?

[Tinusch]

Wow, welcome back. May I ask what kind of pencils/paper you used for those?

[Akolyte]

Whoa, I am glad you are back. Those drawings are jaw dropping. A real inspiration, thanks.

[Sedone]

Aw damn! but those are mind-numbingly good. It's such a huge inspiration to look at your technique. You have some cool models to draw from, too. So what're you up to these days (professionally speaking)?

[Manik Monkei]

You son of a bitch.

I'm sure I can speak for most everybody when I say you have been missed around here. Amazing stuff. Maybe it's just been awhile since I've seen your work on here.. but it looks like your art has improved by leaps. (Scary, since it blew me away before).

How did the rest of your class handle the quick head drawings? I know you already had a lot of experience doing heads.. but how about the other people? Was there a noticable improvement from the beginning to the end?

Anyway, welcome back

[McSteed]

Hello Ron.

[fffredffflickssstone]

hello, I feel like such a kook for checking back in so soon, but I was quite surprised to see there were posts already.

First, thank you for the words of encouragement, everyone.
More Specifically:
Tinusch-the tools used here are 18 x 24 in smooth newsprint and charcoal pencil. THe pencil is a Ritmo, although I hear that the new batches of these pencils suck. THe other comparable pencil is the Conte 1710 2B cnarcoal pencil.

Dr Bang- I have been at this for most of my life. Realistically though, within the last five years is when I made the biggest growth. I teach at the Jeff Watts art atelier, and that has helped tremendously. But I have also searched for great instruction, I have been under the instruction of Steve Huston, and Andrew Burward Hoy, who helped me break through many rough spots in my art. My recommendation is to draw from life, every day. I do every day, it really helps. Also, for me, it helps to know about what I am drawing. I have been studying the human body, and what makes it work for several years now. A big thing I realize, the more I know, the more I leave out. You only need to get the edges and values right on an image, the rest is trivial, and academic at best. But, I do recommend learning it, as the more you know, the more you can recall immediately. But, and this is a big butt...copy from life, do not invent from life. Or, copy exactly what you see as you practice your development, do not draw what you think you know. nine times out of ten you will draw it wrong if you rely upon your memory.


Sedone-working over at Angel Studios. Concepting and art directing more games. I am designing some statues for a local big time sculptor A. Wasil...that has been fun, and I have been painting my ass off trying to get a new prtfolio together to get better freelance clientelle...thank you for asking...oh yeah, got married too. You can get to my wifes art pages through my web page...


thanks again everyone...


Ron

[Lukiaz]

Ah yes, 'The Lemon' returns.

Feck me these are fab.
According to me pencil just so happens to be the coolest medium ever and your skills are so ripe I can't stop dribbling.
*salivates*

[fffredffflickssstone]

Manik-geez, I cant type enough to keep up with the posts...the rest of the class handled it with what ever faculty they could. I felt a little further than the rest of the class, but I think everyone did a great job in that class. Most everyone else were making abstraction layins, while I was going for finishes. I have a couple more of these pages to put up as soon as I can find em...

Mcsteed, hello, sorry I havent written back to you yet. That artwork you sent was awesome. It is exactly like what you described to me at the theater. Brilliant characturizations, she is so repulsive...loved it. We are also lagging at the studio, so we have been a little slow in getting those extra projects up and running. As soon as they are, I will be contacting you...


I have to level test now. Have a great day everyone...


Ron

[10ten]

[Morbid Guy]

Whoah, excellent sketchin and rendering style on these...

[Vesuvius]

fuck yeah! good to have you back flickstone, you don't know me (I don't think) because I used to lurk when you used to post, but it's great to see you back, a number of us wondered what had become of you in a discussion in random musings....
I love the guy in the bottom left of the first image and the entirety of your third pic. (not to belittle the rest, which are all above average, but the ones I mentioned seemed more alive/less idealized to me)

[aquamire]

Incredible Stuff Ron..

I might see ya in May man! Im going down to San Diego in May hopefully, and will be checking out Watts. Hope to be going there next year. It'll be a tough move though.. I've never moved anywhere in my life, and going from Northen Minnesota to Southern California is one hell of a step for me.

Im quite sure it will be worth the move though, your an awesome teacher and so are the other people at the Ateliar. I've written to Mr. Watts himself, and it sounds like you all have a blast.

Anywho, I'd never of known of the Watts Ateliar if you had never made an apperance on this forum so long ago. Very glad to see your alive and well.

[el scoono]

amazing drawings! when i was in school i took a figure drawing class with Warren Chang (don't know if you've ever heard of him). he insisted that we use 18x24 newsprint and charcoal pencils. i remember having one hell of a time getting used to this style of drawing. i can only wish i had produced drawings that looked like this! anyway, your drawings really brought back fond memories of that class... just beautiful.

[fffredffflickssstone]

10ten, Morbid Guy,vesuvius, aquamire, el scoono, thank you all for the kind words and such. El Scoono, I have not heard of him as an instructor. WHere did you attend art school?

aquamire, your name wouldn't happen to be Casey would it? If not, I apologise , but I hope you do get the chance to come to our little school, a great deal of knowledge is here at the atelier, anyone wanting to get better at art, I highly recommend attending, it doesn't get much better than what we have going on...

enough soap boxing. thank you again...

ROn

[el scoono]

warren was my instructor when i was at pratt. however, i think he does most of his teaching on the west coast.

your drawings really reminded me of warren's drawings. they have that incredible sense of light and form that i associate with masters like Loomis.

[fffredffflickssstone]

el scoono, when did you go to Pratt? THe technique we use here at the atelier came from Pratt, and the Art students League...a guy named Frank Reilly created the technique, or I should say perfected it. Loomis dabbled in it, but Reilly really took it and ran with it. A guy named Jack Feragasso has written books on the technique, but I dont think his art does the technique justice. Reilly taught a guy named Fred Fixler, who back in the eighties, started a school in Los Angeles, that rekindled the old illustrators techniques with fine art.
I am trying to do what James Bama, Frank Frazzeta and the others who became great artists out of those schools did. James and Frank both studied under Reilly, both of there art is absolutely solid.
I havent looked up your profile yet, I would like to ask, what do you do now with your talents??? Are you a working professional???

And thank you again for the kind words...

[Anthony]

Welcome home kiddo, you don't have to reply with a standard blurb. ;] I'll look forward to the tutorials, and some repaints in the distant future.

[tyron]

damn, you're such an inspiration!
THANKS for sharing!

[Farwalker]

Right on! Top notch work. Good to see a face of the past again. I really like the wide array of subjects here. The quick sketched faces are my favorite. So much life. Keep up all your hard work Ron! Congrats on your marriage also!

[aquamire]

Ron, nope, my names not Casey, sorry to say. Jess Triska would be my name. Doubt you've heard of me, hehe.

[Gimbal8]

Great to see your stuff again. Welcome back!

Your artwork always impressed me before, but seeing this post really seemed to show that one of the best could actually improve.

And not to speak poorly of anyone elses skills here at Sijun, there is an insane amount of talent here, but I often see art posted that I think looks good, great, or even fantastic. Looking at these drawings suddenly made me realize that there is something missing out of many of the pictures. I can't put my finger on it but I can see it here in your drawings. Can't wait to learn more from you.

(edit) Oh I almost forgot I wanted to mention the skulls in your post. Looks very interesting. Is that an excercise division of light and dark I see going on there?

[ February 12, 2002: Message edited by: Gimbal8 ]

[immi]

Hey hey Ron....you've returned. What a treat to see you back.

You do realise you created quite a stir a few weeks back with old whathisname hoffman?

Anyways, good to see you back. Looking forward to the tutorials.

[manta2saint]

Very good. I'm highly impressed. It has been to long since I've seen such mastery of the charcoal pencil in physical drawing. I personally use the same type of pencil and paper. Glad to hear that someone else uses it. Hopefully I shall see more from you.

For so many that see them as perfectly done, even the most talented and best have room for improvement. Still, I'm sure you all already remembered that. (ha. There isn't -that- much room beyond his current skill level, though. )

[jasonN]

Wow you've returned! Hope you stick around, your work is truly inspirational.

Now all we need is for spooge to return...

[el scoono]

hey ron,

i graduated from pratt a couple of years ago with a degree in graphic design. i think my design skills are far stronger than my drawing skills. however, i've always been interested in illustration so i enjoy looking at all the beautiful work on this board. there are so many talented people here.

i wasn't aware that this technique was developed at pratt. it's basically painting with a pencil, as i understand it. seeing an object as values and shapes rather than lines. it really is a distinctive looking method. i knew most of your drawings were done this way the instant i saw them. for a second i thought my teacher was posting here!