Sketchbook for ongoing criticism

[Saxon]

I struggle to produce illustrations which I'm satisfied with, so I'm going to make a thread for my ongoing illustrations so that more experienced people can offer advice on how I may improve my technique, compositions and choice of subject matter to draw a bigger audience. 

 

This is what I'm currently working on:

[BerryBubbleBlast]

Out of curiosity, what is it which makes you feel dissatisfied with your work? Is there anything which feels insufficient or do you just desire to improve yourself even further?

[Saxon]

40 minutes ago, BerryBubbleBlast said:

Out of curiosity, what is it which makes you feel dissatisfied with your work? Is there anything which feels insufficient or do you just desire to improve yourself even further?

I get bogged down in details, so I fail to draw convincing anatomy and I struggle to draw backgrounds, so I often omit them entirely. I find heads and facial expressions extremely difficult to draw. 

My watchers have become less interested in my submissions with time, so I think that if I redressed these deficiencies, I could rekindle interest. 

[Saxon]

Opinions, criticisms? 

 

http://www.furaffinity.net/view/19450903/

Edited March 22, 2016 by Saxon

[Guest]

I don't have much to say about this, it's excellent. I'm especially diggin' how you actually drew the fur (many people don't bother putting that much texture, if any at all) and how the sky looks. Atmospheric (no pun intended). Hell you even put texture on the snow as well, that's pretty damn detailed

If anything, in my humble opinion the shins look slightly too short (but that may well just be me as I idealize my characters by drawing them with longer than normal legs) and the right foot a little too long. Furthermore, while the trees on the left look good perspective wise, the tree in the middle looks a bit off. I don't know, for some reason it makes the fox look like a giant in comparison, unless that tree is a young tree instead of a fully grown mature one in which case I'm wrong and it's fine as it is. Lastly, I'da probably drawn the right hand ''sinking'' a little deeper in the snow. In that pose the arms apply quite some pressure

That is all. I'm far from being an art expert myself so take my critique with a grain of salt. Personally I think your art is amazing. You're wrong when you say that you fail to draw convincing anatomy, on the contrary I'd say it's one of your strengths. That and the large amounts of detail and texture you put in your works. This background looks very good to me but I can't say much about it critically as I too rarely (or rather, never) draw backgrounds. 

As for subject matter, well, being this the furry fandom you know what it wants: handsome animal people and dicks, preferably penetrating some orifices. Those spanking pieces will have probably drawn a couple of people too which I suppose will want more of that. I dunno, just throwing in my considerations. There are many artists that make changes of direction in their career. I started with world building, now it's nudes and, shortly, porn. I lost some watchers while I gained others in the process. Your desires come before anyone else's, including your audience's. You do you mate

[Saxon]

@Amiir The tree is indeed meant to be young. I agree that it distorts the perspective, though. I also agree with your point about snow. 

Most of my NSFW drawings actually pull a very small crowd; my traditional paintings and sketches from 3 years ago had the biggest appeal. I'd actually like to draw much more NSFW content in a much more cartoony style, which is why a lot of it never happens. I might post cartoons here later, for review, to see if I can fix this problem. 

[Saxon]

 

So this is the next thing which is coming along. 

Edited March 23, 2016 by Saxon

[Saxon]

 

More progress

[Saxon]

With questions

[Saxon]

This is getting finished quickly. I'm probably going to put a wood in the background. 

[Saxon]

 

This is my first attempt at cartoony stuff. 

Any plushophiles in the house? 

 

(Should I upload this to FA?)

Edited March 25, 2016 by Saxon

[Newt]

On 3/24/2016 at 11:44 AM, Saxon said:

With questions

The better style depends on what you're drawing. Since you're drawing a canine, you should probably use the style on the right to mimic the texture of fur.

The abs look a bit off because there's no clear definition for the oblique muscles. There should be lines running downward from the side toward the groin, as pictured here:

The abdominal muscles also stand out a bit too much from the sides/rib area. Even on highly muscular bodies, those areas blend together more.

 

 

It may also be worth noting that ab muscles are relatively similar in size, even if they are not entirely symmetrical. Consider making the top set larger and less slanted.

 

Edited March 25, 2016 by Newt

[Saxon]

(Your hidden comment doesn't contain any information, by the way)

[Saxon]

@Newt 

Is this better now?

I'm not really sure if I can salvage this trainwreck. 

I'm not really sure how I'm going to cover up the haram parts, either. 

[Newt]

Yeah, the abdominal area is better.

I wouldn't say it isn't salvageable, and I certainly wouldn't call it a trainwreck; it's pretty good.

If you don't mind me making some suggestions, there are a couple things that could be changed that might make it look better.

The ribs on the right side of the image stick out too much. From this perspective, it makes them look much larger than the ones on the other side.

His left shoulder also sticks out too much, so you should put it closer to his body.

The right arm is a tad confusing to look at. With the way the elbow and muscles are placed, it seems like I'm viewing it from a side profile; however, there appears to be foreshortening with the forearm, which wouldn't make sense. Perhaps lengthening the forearm would help.

As for the cover up, I wouldn't worry too much about it. You can probably get away with making that area flat.

 

I should point out that I'm not most qualified to critique this sort of thing, so I could be completely wrong. You should look for a second opinion.

[Saxon]

@Newt

I agreed with the suggestions you made, has this sorted them out? 

Lengthening the arm was relatively easy, although relocating the arm on the tree involved a lot of messing around with the shoulder. 

Edited March 27, 2016 by Saxon

[Saxon]

 

I'm also working on this image at the moment, which I have had to doctor to post here. 

[Saxon]

I went for a fig leaf.

 

I'm not really sure what to do for the background; it's some random colours at the moment. 

[Mikazuki Marazhu]

I like them

But do you know how to draw other body types? Like big men?

[Saxon]

1 minute ago, Mikazuki Marazhu said:

I like them

But do you know how to draw other body types? Like big men?

I'm not really interested in overweight men.

[Mikazuki Marazhu]

2 minutes ago, Saxon said:

I'm not really interested in overweight men.

Like... beefcakes perhaps? I'm sure you're thinking "Marazhu is just Horny and he wants porn" but in honesty I just want to know if your knowledge of anatomy is limited to one body type. I have seen artist draw the same anatomy which appeals for a specific demography but doesn't artists want to improve their knowledge of anatomy but trying out different things? I know you're a technical sort of artist otherwise I wouldn't be seeing much details on your pieces.

[Saxon]

3 minutes ago, Mikazuki Marazhu said:

Like... beefcakes perhaps? I'm sure you're thinking "Marazhu is just Horny and he wants porn" but in honesty I just want to know if your knowledge of anatomy is limited to one body type. I have seen artist draw the same anatomy which appeals for a specific demography but doesn't artists want to improve their knowledge of anatomy but trying out different things? I know you're a technical sort of artist otherwise I wouldn't be seeing much details on your pieces.

I've drawn a very limited collection of overweight figures some years ago, when I didn't use digital:

http://www.furaffinity.net/full/8300181/ (NSFW? Not sexual)

http://www.furaffinity.net/view/8300107/ (NSFW? Not sexual)

I aimed to portray the figures as grotesque, though. 

 

Overall I want to be able to draw like meesh, though; that's my end goal. 

http://www.furaffinity.net/gallery/meesh (Absolutely NSFW)

[Newt]

The drawing looks better.

I find your style much more interesting than Meesh's to be honest with you. What about it are you trying to emulate?

[Saxon]

23 minutes ago, Newt said:

The drawing looks better.

I find your style much more interesting than Meesh's to be honest with you. What about it are you trying to emulate?

Do you think the background's working? I'm not sure whether to just dispense with a background entirely and use grey. 

I like Meesh's style because it is clear and isn't overly complicated. I would like to be able to draw figures like (?She) does, because I want people to think my drawings are sexy. 

I'm also a fan of Omari: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/omari/ (NSFW)

Edited March 27, 2016 by Saxon

[Teto]

I like your art, and I enjoy seeing the stuff you post. I have thoughts, looking at it, but I'm not a good artist. Just another guy with a point of view. 

Your art's distortion and busy detailing makes some of your art harsh to look at, for me, like thinking about a million things at once, and not comprehending half of it. That kind of reaction makes it feel almost tormented, which looking at some of your other stuff is basically what you're going for, or a habit you've picked up? It's not a bad thing, and it's a valid expressive style. I never really enjoy high-detail furry stuff, even from well-renowned artists. Gets a bit too uncanny valley for me.

I can understand your interest in having a cleaner style like Meesh or Omari. Their style is a lot tighter and sculpted, whereas yours has more distorted lines and figures. It's more the rabbit mask from Donnie Darko from what I've seen - even the cartoony plush one.

These are all things I won't doubt that you've picked up on. I don't know how self aware artists are generally, because I'm not at your level to know what comes off as being patronising or simplistic.

I generally do like your style though, there's a crazy amount of energy in it, which I sometimes find overwhelming.

[Saxon]

Keep developing the forest, or lose it? 

 

@Teto Yeah, fussy and harsh is really not what I want to draw like. I would prefer to be a cartoon artist, but I have a lot of difficulty with that. :\ 

[Teto]

43 minutes ago, Saxon said:

 

@Teto Yeah, fussy and harsh is really not what I want to draw like. I would prefer to be a cartoon artist, but I have a lot of difficulty with that. :\ 

What's the problem you tend to have? General artist teething problems people tend to have with anything new? I think even just exploring the extreme difference from your style is worth it.

My problem starting out right now is not really having much of a style (ie. a kind of visual vocabulary of symbols for describing form, I mean), so I just straight up copy other peoples' styles as study, and then when I go back to doodling in my own time, the quality depletes, but I'll find little traces of their influence, in the way I draw the eyes or the face, etc. Like for a while I'd taken away teardrop eyes from copying character designs from the movie Fritz the Cat, and I catch myself referencing that every now and then. Artists are always like "nah, find your own way man" but who has time for that. I know plenty great artists who started out following tutorials and referencing other peoples' work.

Copying other people, studying their styles, is kind of just learning a lot of words, and then using that language later on. That's where my philosophy stands as of now, at least. I feel like I'm talking like some kind of sage, and I don't even have the confidence to crank out competent doodles at a respectable rate. Just some of what I've experienced. I'm also very tired, and this could be garbage. Take away from this what you fancy.

[Saxon]

1 minute ago, Teto said:

What's the problem you tend to have? General artist teething problems people tend to have with anything new? I think even just exploring the extreme difference from your style is worth it.

My problem starting out right now is not really having much of a style (ie. a kind of visual vocabulary of symbols for describing form, I mean), so I just straight up copy other peoples' styles as study, and then when I go back to doodling in my own time, the quality depletes, but I'll find little traces of their influence, in the way I draw the eyes or the face, etc. Like for a while I'd taken away teardrop eyes from copying character designs from the movie Fritz the Cat, and I catch myself referencing that every now and then. Artists are always like "nah, find your own way man" but who has time for that. I know plenty great artists who started out following tutorials and referencing other peoples' work.

Copying other people, studying their styles, is kind of just learning a lot of words, and then using that language later on. That's where my philosophy stands as of now, at least. I feel like I'm talking like some kind of sage, and I don't even have the confidence to crank out competent doodles at a respectable rate. Just some of what I've experienced. I'm also very tired, and this could be garbage. Take away from this what you fancy.

This is what I feel about 'style':

I can't comment on your specific work (Do you have a sketchbook thread?) but I can say that I think appropriation of other people's techniques, habits and short-hands is the best way to learn. 

 

I'm not sure why I struggle to draw cartoons. 

I have produced a wide variety of styles, from realistic depictions: http://www.furaffinity.net/full/10383299/

to psychedelic: http://www.furaffinity.net/full/9871421/

 

but clean and simple seems to be something beyond me. :\

 

[Saxon]

 

I've just got to finish the woodland floor and the feet now. Do you guys think this composition is working? 

[Teto]

@Saxon ehhh, I don't really have a sketchbook thread. I don't have the output to make it worth anybody's time to assess my work, and I think for the moment there's nothing anybody could tell me which I wouldn't be able to see myself. When I feel like I'm really pushing my skills, then maybe I'll start up a thread. For now though, I just have one or two decent sketches in this one thread I made. I sandblast my confidence in that thread much as I do here, to keep myself humble and protect myself from ridicule.

Also, continuing comparisons, an intermediary point between your art and Meesh would be stuff like Kamui. Theirs is still relatively cartoony though.

I know that my style of drawing comes through my own expressive nature. I draw differently in different moods, or in response to different kinds of music, and I haven't figured out how to utilize or control that energy very well. The dream is having the skill to express that emotion without impassable hurdles.

Just like how I have to tap into different emotional states to understand different music, maybe you have to try and figure out the emotion in a drawing to understand how to replicate it. How do you feel about emotion in your art? It's definitely there.

Again, the problem with listening to my take on this is that it's all untested philosophy. It's interesting and inspiring to think about though. Sorry if it's self indulgent and unhelpful though, do say if it is.

Edited March 28, 2016 by Teto

[Saxon]

What think of latest developments? I'm not really sure what to do with the rabbit's head and background; heads are difficult to do. 

I'd also like thoughts on composition and feet, for the duggy image. 

@Saxon ehhh, I don't really have a sketchbook thread. I don't have the output to make it worth anybody's time to assess my work, and I think for the moment there's nothing anybody could tell me which I wouldn't be able to see myself. When I feel like I'm really pushing my skills, then maybe I'll start up a thread. For now though, I just have one or two decent sketches in this one thread I made. I sandblast my confidence in that thread much as I do here, to keep myself humble and protect myself from ridicule.

Also, continuing comparisons, an intermediary point between your art and Meesh would be stuff like Kamui. Theirs is still relatively cartoony though.

I know that my style of drawing comes through my own expressive nature. I draw differently in different moods, or in response to different kinds of music, and I haven't figured out how to utilize or control that energy very well. The dream is having the skill to express that emotion without impassable hurdles.

Just like how I have to tap into different emotional states to understand different music, maybe you have to try and figure out the emotion in a drawing to understand how to replicate it. How do you feel about emotion in your art? It's definitely there.

Again, the problem with listening to my take on this is that it's all untested philosophy. It's interesting and inspiring to think about though. Sorry if it's self indulgent and unhelpful though, do say if it is.

 

So I like Kamui's art, particularly their mock posters, although some of their characters' heads look like rectangular boxes. Their painterly technique is currently beyond me though; I'm not really sure how people paint like that. 

Regards emotional art, I don't much care for it; I want my art to give people an erection. 

Edited March 29, 2016 by Saxon

[Teto]

1 hour ago, Saxon said:

Regards emotional art, I don't much care for it; I want my art to give people an erection. 

I'm talking about expressiveness when I talk emotion, I'm not big into symbolism or meaning either, unless you're doing a character that you've made or something.

I've talked enough for someone who only has ideas to offer though. I'll go do, and then maybe I'll have some advice worth giving.

[Saxon]

I'm making a reference sheet for a friend, because the artist that he hired never produced the goods. 

[Saxon]

[Saxon]

[Saxon]

Any thoughts? 

[Saxon]

[Saxon]

This is the preliminary finished version, so if anybody can spot mistakes I would be grateful. 

[Saxon]

Honestly some feedback would be very useful because I'm going to have to hand over the final file soon. 

[Newt]

1 hour ago, Saxon said:

Honestly some feedback would be very useful because I'm going to have to hand over the final file soon. 

Put blotches of the character's flat colors in the corner so other artists can draw him more accurately.

You generally don't want to shade ref sheets for this reason.

 

Edited April 2, 2016 by Newt

[Guest]

Personally IMHO, the outer pelvis bones (don't know how they're called) look too protruding. Other than that, it looks fine as is

[Saxon]

2 hours ago, Newt said:

Put blotches of the character's flat colors in the corner so other artists can draw him more accurately.

You generally don't want to shade ref sheets for this reason.

 

Okay, I'll add some circles with the colours in, in a pane down the side with the rest of the details.

 

There's also an underwear version guys. C:

 

 

[Saxon]

Okay, this is the final versions that he requested (non panty versions omitted)

 

http://www.furaffinity.net/user/arcaeni/ 

^ user who requested gave permission for me to link to their account (NSFW content in their favourites gallery).

[Saxon]

I'm working on this again. I've added a pretty flower. 

[Saxon]

[Endless/Nameless]

13 hours ago, Saxon said:

I'm just an amateur non-artist so I'm not even going to try to "critique", but I'm just gonna say that that really does look fucking amazing. It's not really my type of thing aesthetically cuz its really gay but the colors are so vivid, the details so nice... It's just really good. It looks like a lot of heart and skill went into it's making. 

[Saxon]

[Saxon]