[worthless_meat_sack]

I am a little insecure about my pencil drawings, mainly cause I never do them. But one thing I do is change my process all the time. It leads you to things you would never have seen if you don't. I remember some car designers begin ideation about car forms on one project with salt water taffy. The end result was very unique.

So in that spirit, I am doing what every other artist does first- a line drawing! But my line work has always been really fuggly, but this one is a little better, believe it or not. I sat down and said, “draw until something comes out.”

I have been inspired by all the great character work I see here, and some of the stuff over at Elfwood. Thanks for bringing that to my attention, Isric.

The horizontal lines are print through. I like to draw on the back of old printer paper. This one had an invoice on it. Nothing intentional.

The plan is to paint it. Any ideas?

[dr . bang]

Well, to me, a pencil drawing and a painting is a two completely different subject. I think i learned alot more about the face when it's in pencil. A paiting can be overwelming sometimes since it's more than just simple black and white shading. And if you plan to paint it, i really want to see your picture a bit brighter than your other previous potrait since i see you do that very little The only one i remember you did is that Jedi guy from Starwars who stands under a sun on a desert. Well, i hope that helps, i'm trying my best here

"But my line work has always been really fuggly"

I disagree with that, your line work seem like you didn't need any eraser. All the lines are perfect without any sketchy lines.

Btw, i saw a pic by Micke that resemble your elf so much, http://www.katode.org/noguchi/web/_tutorials/goblin/goblin5.jpg

[ June 26, 2001: Message edited by: dr . bang ]

[Frosted Flame]

Haha! Wicked!

He has so much personality. I feel like gently rubbing his head

I mean, I know you have issues with your own work, but never for the life of me am I able to understand why. To me at least, your linework looks incredibly strong. It looks confident, and well-crafted. I really, REALLY like this Craig. It's so different for you, and I am totally loving it. I can't wait to see what your magical brush brings to this.

The fact that you draw on "older paper" is perhaps one of the coolest ideas I've heard in a really long time. It's all these little "tricks" that you have that combine to make virtual masterpieces every time you come near a canvas. I think it's amazing to watch, and quite frankly, feel very lucky to be able to.

I'm going to go sketch on some older paper now and see if it brings another level of interest to my line drawings. Don't worry, I have no plans on copying you, or stealing your neat little tricks, but I just gotta see for myself how useful it is.

People often rag on your for not posting MORE, but quite honestly, I am in awe with the time you take to offer your knowledge to us all - it's quite kind-hearted of you, and I for one appreciate it with every single ounce of artistic passion I have.

I hate not offering any critique on this, but I'm trying, and for the life of me I can't find a single pencil-stroke that looks at all awry. I know you must get sick of people being like "you're so perfect! don't change a thing!", and I apologize for conforming to that. I just truly think that this piece is VERY, VERY strong. I can't wait to see what happens next...

The only thing I can REQUEST (and please, it's just a dream.. heh), is that maybe you colour him with a really obscure, strong lightsource? Like Dr. Bang mentioned, when I try and remember portraits or charicatures that you've done, I always envision these faces completely enguled in tonal shadow. I'd really love to see what complexities you can bring out in this character with a bit of a quirky lighting situation.

[gLitterbug]

When I read the subject I looked forward to seeing a beautiful elfish face, but instead its an ugly elfish guy.
It�s very well done, but I�m used to beautiful elves as there�s that picture of tall, slim and attractive people in my mind!

I agree with dr.bang, your lines are very good without an underlying rough sketch! It�s very interesting to see line drawing of yours.

[Dude]

I must say also that when I see your linework, It looks strong and confident and I think to myself, That man knows his *$hit*
I think it shows off your structural knowledge which I think it awesome, nice sketch

[hwei]

he looks like a very wise and cynical elf. paint him strongly likewise I liked this very powerful, sketchy colouring of one of Dhabib's bald elves (looked like Morpheus from the Matrix) in his gallery (2000 work), something similar to that but with softer lines... the lighting in that is amazing. or, you could leave him like this. this is good enough.

[Vgta]

man if you are insecure about your line drawing I won't even tell you how I feel.
Seriously though, I like that elf drawing it has a lot of character and he's got more of that ancient elf than what we are used to seeing; and at the same time he feels more like a rouge elf. When I first saw it I felt he should have nose rings and earrings etc... with tattoo markings on his face.
Anyways, back to line drawings, there is really nothing I can say about it. You the man.

[NullTygre]

Nothing to be insecure about, your line work's up there with the best of them. And for suggestions about the painting: he looks like a wood elf, so it would look really cool with soft green light filtering through the trees, and some treehouses in the background.

[silber]

quote: frosted flame ''I know you must get sick of people being like "you're so perfect! don't change a thing!''

I think you just want some sort of feedback
and if I get picky
I would crit the way the hair on his head looks like
some areas are very flat and others get bunched to a heavy package without
influencing the rest of the hair

his expression is just awesome
(I don't know why but he resembles a friend of mine in former times-can you hear me tron?-hehe )

-silber

[ June 26, 2001: Message edited by: silber ]

[Roy Batty]

I think you like to think of yourself as little people so you can grow even further.

This is a really cool sketch, sure bound to be an awesome painting as well. Well-done forms.

I am gonna practice to be a worthless meat sack after work tonight.

[Frosted Flame]

I have already accomplished that! I am currently a worthless meat sack.. literally :P

Anyway, I took literally 3 mins to try and illustrate what I was thinking.. please don't kill me for hacking up your sketch like this, I just wanted to make a suggestion. I realize the many flaws in my QUUIICCCKK little wanna-be paintover, and again, it was simply to get my point accross. Sorry if I offended you Craig (genuinely).

[patrick]

Paint it, draw it, finish it!!! I think both mediums offer a challenge to bring out the inner character. I like the old wisened look of this guy. The only nit I got is his left eyelid seems to puff right into the eyebrow. Way too cartoony. Awesome lines, don't change a thing.

[Farwalker]

Whew, this hard looking elf has some mean character... Thank you for not drawing some dream fantasy elf as in Everquest.
I have never been so pumped to see a paint over. I want to truly see how far color with dynamic lighting takes a line drawing...

Thanks for sharing your art growth with us Spooge!

[Rinaldo]

Hmmm..it is hard for me to know what to say becuase I am pretty sure you don't "need" this drawing to paint. whereas I need a drawing to paint over, and thus try to do all my thinking at the drawing stage.
there is a lot of character here=). I am not sure about the hair tho. the composition it creates is nice (assuming you are going to use something similar to these dimensions for the final painting) somehow it makes me uncomfortable but that goes with the character somewhat it looks a bit wierd that's all. mostly where the braids (or whatever) come out of the head. you will probably make it look more natural at the painting stage.
Although I suppose your linework is not up the same standard as people who do it all the time and have been working in the art field as long as you have. this really is rather good=)(understatment) definitly a lot better than what little other line drawing I have seen of yours.
it has that nice clean and confident Craig touch=).

Can't wait for the colour=)

[Dryfire]

cool

[Cos]

Looks cool spooge, I like the penciling style, like the loose hair, construction of the face. Something reminds me of scienvevicz again, not sure why (I know I've compared your work to his before).

Input wise maybe something about the eye on the right (our right) looks a little odd, abit straight from the brow to his eye, not really sure. Looking good, can't wait to see it painted