I really like this picture of Mickey. John's posted a few on his blog that are obviously from the same source, and they're all so fantastically cute. I am interested in figuring out this cute trickery and stealing it for my own questionable purposes.
I don't think I did too bad of a job! I checked my errors just the right amount of times, drew LARGE, drew with a regular mechanical pencil, had a really clear b/w print of the reference.
Of course, there are still some errors... the cane is at a slightly wrong angle, the viewer's left leg is too thin, there are some small accuracy issues with the hands, and I stretched the bow tie a bit. I didn't push the mouth shape far enough-- it just needs to be "more." More back, slightly wider open, etc.There are some wrinkle inaccuracies in the main curtain shape, and I only noticed this upon scanning but I ACCIDENTALLY MADE EVERY CURTAIN FOLD VEER TOO FAR TO THE RIGHT. I have no idea how that happened.
Also, pianos, particularly when they are submerged in darkness, are really hard to draw. I misinterpreted some angles again, there, but I was surprised how much easier the shapes were to handle with some good ol' hierarchy.
Maybe one day I'll learn to see angles correctly. Haha.
Anyway, I've done other stuff, too, but I feel kinda sheepish making a ton of posts here. You guys annihilate me, but I wanna make it clear that I'm participating!
Click here to read me blather on about making these two studies.
ADDENDUMS FROM JOHN:http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/2006/05/design-appeal-mickey-mouse-club-cute.html
http://www.michaelspornanimation.com/splog/?p=1357
http://mayersononanimation.blogspot.com/2006/06/little-whirlwind.html
http://www.cartoonbrew.com/advertising/mickey-styled.html
(6:37:47 PM) John K: try copying some more of those Mickeys without worrying about 100% accuracy
(6:37:53 PM) Geneva: okay
(6:38:04 PM) John K: aim for understanding the principles instead
(6:38:08 PM) John K: and get flow into them
(6:38:21 PM) John K: then try your own poses
(6:38:24 PM) John K: like Paul did
(6:38:37 PM) John K: I wanna loosen you up a bit
(6:38:45 PM) John K: get some real pencils!
(6:39:02 PM) John K: mechanical pencils are for 'mos
(6:39:08 PM) Geneva: haha, do I need anything special or just regular yellow #2?
(6:39:20 PM) Geneva: well, that'll come to an end then
(6:39:22 PM) John K: well start with those
(6:39:33 PM) John K: you might wanna try b pencils and 2 bs too
(6:39:51 PM) John K: the softer the pencil, the more flowing your poses will be
(6:40:05 PM) John K: but you can't clean up easily with soft pencils
(6:40:36 PM) John K: but you should see a difference in your flow right away
(6:41:34 PM) John K: you should write notes on things that you learn
(6:41:49 PM) John K: like how a mouth works-how it attaches to a jaw, etc.
(6:41:58 PM) John K: anything you notice about how things work
(6:42:12 PM) Geneva: Ok!
(6:42:26 PM) John K: that helps you to understand the concepts
(6:42:46 PM) John K: and then makes it easier for you to apply them to your own work
(6:43:37 PM) John K: the best drawings come from a combination of the eye and the mind
(6:43:50 PM) John K: does that make sense?
(6:43:53 PM) Geneva: Yes sir
(6:43:58 PM) John K: ok, cool
(6:44:03 PM) John K: you're doing great
(6:44:25 PM) John K: do more mickeys until you understand how he's built
(6:44:31 PM) John K: then draw your own poses
It's great stuff. You have a very good eye.
ReplyDeleteNow - throw away your mechanical pencil!
But the lines are much improved from before. They will be even better with a real pencil.
Wow Geneva! these are great studies!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!
The characters look really solid and constructed!
great!
I have a few remarks that might help you:
1. I think Jerry's line of action flows across his fist, towards Tom.
2. Tuffy's head is too big.
3. I believe that the puching ball should be a little more removed from Tom, only a little.
I think that will help
Anyway, I think is great
uau Geneva..
ReplyDeletecongratulations.
about the pencils... I was using 5B and changed to 4B... it is very soft and you dont need to put a lot of pressure in your hand to have lines that are very black and loose.
good job :)
John: Thank you so much for your input! I will buy some real pencils soon...
ReplyDeletePaul: Thank you very much! And yes, you're totally right on Jerry's line of action (I don't know how I overlooked that before). Tuffy's head is also definitely way too big (horizontally especially). And yeah, I messed up the ball big time, actually, haha. Thank you!!
Davi: Thanks! Maybe I'll get a few different hardnesses, including a 4b, and see what happens. Thank you. :)
Too funny about the pencils. I used to use mechanical pencils too. Then switched to B and 2B but still wanted something softer that felt more like the col-erase. So I bought 4B, 5B, and 6B. They felt great. So smooth and so dark, but me being heavy-handed when I draw, as well as finding the line, like John said, it is difficult to clean-up. Oh, and the side of my drawing hand would be black and shiny.
ReplyDeleteI think I'll stick with the col-erase for a while and tighten up with the 2B. As Katie Rice noted, just switching drawing tools sometimes sparks a new flow of creativity.
Oh and great work!!!
ReplyDeletehehehe,
ReplyDeletewe need to be proud when our hand is "black and shine" :)
Geneva.. if you had used the vanishing poit in the floor of Mickey's drawing you would have a great feel of space..
ReplyDeleteif you see that it is possible to use vanishng point I sugest that you use it... but it doesnt work when the perspective is too intuitive.