[Ash]

Hey guys im kinda new to the digital art thing. This is a pic I made for my website:



I have a little trouble drawing bodies. I made the picture in photoshop and it didn't turn out like I was hoping, probably because I didn't use a photo reference. I was going for a Dhablike superhero look but it looks more cartoony. I'm not sure what I did wrong, I followed the same steps that dhab uses but I just can't get it to look much like his stuff.

[Dylanphile]

I have found drawing in PS to be a pain. why not do your own style??

------------------
[URL=http://www.dntdesign.com/crazyjoe

[Jesus4Life]

Very Nice! Keep it up, Ash.
Can't wait to see more of your stuff.

[Tinusch]

It's a good start, but there are a few things that jumped right out at me:

1) Lens flares. Ugh. Try to shy away from lens flares as much as possible. They give the pic a very generic, "filtered" look.

2) Ripple filter. Again, it makes the pic look generic and filtered. The rippliness makes it difficult to focus on as well.

3) Anatomy. I know, you said you have trouble drawing bodies, but I just thought I'd mention it. Try sketching out the drawing in basic shapes first, then create a layer over the sketch and outline the actual body outline. Just a suggestion.

4) From looking at it, I'd say this was all done on one layer. Your best bet would be to keep the outline on a separate layer, and keep the color on its own layer(s). That way cleaning up and refining is much easier.

Aside from those things, practice is pretty much the only way you're going to progress is PS. This is very similar to some of my first PS pics; I used a lot of filters too, and the layer system was confusing at first. But you'll progress rapidly if you just keep at it.

But it's a good effort for one of your first digital pics. Keep it up.

[Ash]

What do you mean by layers? I didn't understand what dhab meant in his tutorial when he said that he put the sketch on a different 'layer'. Is it like some kind of plugin I can download? Can you let me know what plugins I need to get to start persuing a career as a digital artist. I want to really get into this digital art stuff, I plan to make a career of it after all it's something I'm good at and I also love doing it.

Hey Craig Mullins/Dhab, can you give me some helpful pointers?

[Hurri-cane]

im not dhab/craig but i think i can give u some help...a layer is a "thing" u add i photoshop...look at the meny..."view" or "window" there should be a line that sais view layer...then it pop ups a window...add a layer...and so on...im not good at english so forgive me

hope i help somewhat near some help



------------------
-H-U-R-R-I-C-A-N-E-
[email protected]
http://www.geocities.com/hurri_cane_1999/
-------------------------

[Tinusch]

A layer is like a sheet or an overlay for your picture, kind of... You can paint of different layers so that you can work on the painting one piece at a time, without affecting the rest of the image. You can delete layers, too, if the painting contains a section you don't like. It was very confusing to me the first time I tried them, but I ended up using more and more in each new picture I made. I usually get up to around 40 now... Anyway, go into Photoshop and make a new image. Do a quick sketch or something like that. Now, create a new layer. Use red or blue or something to quickly sketch in some lines of color. If the Layers window isn't already open, check the Windows menu and make sure the Layers one is checked off. It should say 'Layer 1' and 'Layer 2' in it, with a thumbnail of each. The color and the sketch, although they appear to be on the same pic, are actually completely separate. You can remove the color altogther if you want, by dragging the layer in the Layers window into the little garbage can icon at the bottom of the Layers window. So basically, layers allow you to paste/draw parts of your image on a separate sheet so that each one can be individually edited/removed without affecting your entire image. It's kind of a tough concept to explain for someone with a limited vocabulary such as I, but hopefully you understand what I'm getting at. Try that sketch experiment I mentioned earlier, hopefully that will help you begin to understand the concept.

[This message has been edited by Tinusch (edited May 22, 2000).]

[A.Buttle]

Ash,

It's insane to think that by reading a single tutorial by anyone, then sitting down and drawing something in photoshop that you are going to be able to match his style or level of expertise. Jesus4Life is nuts. This picture, unfortunately is not very nice. It was a failure, but can still be a learning experience.

Let me give you a few tips. First, avoid filters like the plague. Anyone who has used Photshop at all can look at a picture that has used filters uncreatively and say, "Oh, there's ripple, and there, that's a lens flare." Second, improve your traditional drawing skills and your, appropraitely, ability to draw on the computer will also increase.

And, while I'm here, let me vent something that Faust intoned before he left the board so abruptly; everyone is so damned quick to praise. Have you ever been to the pages over at Elfwood? Well, the site is full of crap, yet everyone praises every worthless piece of crap drawing they see. They always say things like "This is great, I'd love to see more of your work." Why can't people stop being afraid of offending people? If you put your art out for public display, then you are asking for criticism. Tell people what you think and don't give them this candy-coated bullshit that I've been reading so much of recently.

No artist gets better if he is being praised as god like every time he throws some pixels into order on a computer. Everyone should stop being so fucking obseqious and be more constructive and perhaps we'll see more growth in the members of this board.

------------------
I'm wearing black French knickers under my suit. I've got stockings and suspenders on. I'm feeling rather loose.

Joe Dillingham
[email protected]

[Jesus4Life]

Im nuts, Buttle? I may not know art but I know what I like, and I totally dig Ash's style. It's unique and modern, I think he is a genius. Ash, don't let him get you down he's just jealous of your rare talent.

[spooge demon]

There are some good tutorials going on on this board right now. Do them like your life depends on it, cause it does.

If your work was highly original, I would say something different. Since you asked me, I assume you like my/dhab's approach. If this is true, leave the computer alone for a while. Get a 100 page sketchbook and carry it with you everywhere. Keep the pencil on the page as much as you can.

best of luck, and let's see you in the tutorials!

[Foxfire]

Hey Mr A.Buttle

You are so right. I normaly would keep such a glaring negative thing to myself but since Ash has no problem telling others they are gay or accusing them; or What ever! like his opinion matters? I will say what I feel. Ash can you take it as well as you dish it out? I can't critque your pic sorry. I would have to write a 500 page book on how to ; but then it would look nothing like your original. (thank God) BTW when you publicly ridicule others you leave your self wide open to the same thing. But hey whatever floats your boat. Looking forward to commenting on more of you stuff yes stuff not art not work but stuff sort of like belly button lint.

[sfr]

Uh, are you serious Ash? Well, your pic really doesn't look any different from all the other bad Photoshop work out there... but I guess that's exactly what makes it so different - it's bad so it's good, right? You're a postmodernist genius indeed.

(You might also seriously consider dropping your 'style' for a while and listening to spooge.)

Saffron / Sunflowre

[Jesus4Life]

Ash, can you post some more of your artwork? I have a friend with a web design company and he is looking for graphic artists to hire. I told him about your modern style of art and he expressed interest in you.

[Affected]

Sarcasm - It saves the day every time!

[Nex]

Did you two guys email each other the ultimate plan to fool the forum or are you guys being really serious?

I guess you are not

[Jesus4Life]

I don't understand why people on this forum are having such a difficult time taking Ash seriously as an artist. Some people see an unusual and untalented style in him, but I see a kind of raw artistic expression. Maybe it's the motion of the brush strokes or the use of color that I like, but whatever it is I really dig it.

[B]

let me clarify for all the readers,..

this picture sucks,..and it sucks in a bad way,..

this is no style, this is a lack of skill... skill which can be improved, and will be if the apropriate steps are taken.

9 out of 10 piece i create on the computer i stop working on halfway through and just leave as is, because i think they suck.

this piece should be in that catagory for ash..

refine the basics.

oh, and RATM Rocks.


<just my comments as usual,.>

[Mozeman]

I've been hesitant to respond because I thought this was a joke.

I certainly don't mean to knock anyone, but this just can't be for real...

Are J4L and Ash in on the same inside joke?

------------------
Mozeman
************************
[email protected]
************************
"I like it rough..."

[AliasMoze]

You guys are suckers. This is obviously a joke.

BTW, here's my post:



See, it's not even an image. Now THAT'S modern!

[Lange_Pisang]

Have......to...kill.......this.....thingies:



Hate.....modern.....art.....argh....

[Joachim]

This is for sure a joke, or two certain people must live on a totally different planet than I.




------------------
Joachim
web: http://home.sol.no/~jbarrum/

[osk]

,,,

[This message has been edited by osk (edited May 25, 2000).]

[osk]

...

[This message has been edited by osk (edited May 25, 2000).]

[Jesus4Life]

I am not Ash, nor do I know Ash. But I certainly admit that I was being sarcastic about liking his picture. I mean....just look at it, it's not what I would call a work of art (no offense, Ash)

[Nex]

Jesus4Life:

Style is no excuse for a lack of skill. (I include myself in this statement).
I think you can only have your own style when you already know the basics.

Thje most important thing an artist HAS to have is the KNOWLEDGE THAT HE IS NOT PERFECT and must always try to improve. Ash has potential maybe, if you tell him now that his drawing is perfect you will destroy his urge to grow better.

Compare some people here with a very unique style and look what's the difference between them and Ash's work here.

Synj

g:tech

Frost

faustgfx (gone already)

etc. etc.

Ash: No offense given, we all started. You will get better for sure, just practice.

P.S. Synj: I will accept any donations on my bank account

[Ash]

Like J4L said, your all just jealous of my unique style. I realize that my picture may not share the same 'look' as many of the other pieces on this forum, but my unique and stylish look is what makes my picture so dynamic. It stands out among all the other pictures which look so similar. Yes, I acknowledge that my pictures looks different, but that's what makes it ROCK!

RATM ROCK ON!!!!!!!
BULLET IN YOUR HEAD!