This Blog is Moving

Hello all. This blog is moving to a more powerful and user friendly Wordpress site. Same domain, but the URL for the blog is now on the frontpage. Ie, just type in:

http://www.freshdesigner.com

and you will be taken to the new blog address. Or you can just eliminate the "blog." from the old URL. Please update your bookmarks and such. I look forward to seeing your comments on the new and improved blog.

Thanks again,
-Chris



Read more...

How to Create a Flip Canvas Hotkey in Photoshop

This photoshop hotkey tutorial will demonstrate how to create a flip canvas hotkey using the Actions menu. This tip saves me the headache of having to reach up to the file menu and going through the steps to flip your canvas horizontally (or vertically). Learn how to create a hotkey using the actions menu so you can flip your canvas with the press of a button. This little tip saves me lots of time and headaches and really speeds up my workflow.

Of course flipping your canvas while you work is good practice. This tutorial is great for photoshop users and digital artists of all levels.

Read more...

Figure Quick Sketch Video: How to Construct The Limbs

This video is demonstrates how to construct the limbs (how the draw the limbs) during a figure quick sketch drawing. The video demonstrates basic figure construction of the arms and legs. Topics covered include gesture drawing, anatomy and landmarks. There are examples from 3 different poses. Narrated by the artist.

This is the video version of the how to construct the limbs tutorial.

Read more...

Figure Quick Sketch Tutorial: How to Construct the Limbs

Now that we know how to lay-in the torso, well at least from the front view. Let's construct the limbs to give our figure some arms and legs.

The approach from the torso study tutorial is sometimes called a "construction" approach. It's a methodical way to observe and de-construct the figure. Besides construction, there are other considerations when laying in the figure. For example, gesture and rhythms are what animate our figure drawing and give it life.

For this tutorial, I will use a a combination of construction and rhythms. It all depends on what the pose is giving me. Some poses the structure is prominent (or can be made prominent), in some poses the gesture (and thus the rhythms) are very interesting. Bottom line, good observation leads to good judgment and good judgment leads to good marks and so on. So always observe, observe, observe. Speaking of observation...

Step 1: Observe

The first thing you want to look for is the gesture. The major and minor rhythms, swoops and arcs. All the visible, and sometimes visible lines that give our figure movement and life. Then, when you're ready to construct your figure, look for the landmarks.

As a general rule, the legs are of greater significance then arms which is why we follow the torso with the legs. The key landmarks are: the connection to the crotch, connection to the hips, point of knee, connection of thigh (hamstring) to calf, , connection of lower leg to foot, point of ankle bone, heel and big toe. Yes, big toe (Fig. 1). That sounds like a lot, but with practice, good observation will become second nature.


Step 2: Gesture

Having identified our landmarks, we describe the gesture. The major rhythms may not always follow the form, but when possible, use the landmarks to guide your gesture marks. Start with the thighs move down to the the calf.

Step 3: Cross sections

Cross sections really help to define form. They also describe perspective and foreshortening. Before randomly drawing cross sections, observe the model's anatomy. For example, cross sections can be added at the peak of the thigh, the end of the adductor (thigh) muscle, the top and bottom of the knee, the ankle and depression of the calf.

Add cross sections as needed to describe form and anatomy. It's not necessary to cross the entire figure. Our objective of the lay-in is to give us enough information to add light and shade.

Work your way down to the feet and then move on to the arms. Approach the arms the same way. Becomes of the arms range of motion, they will tend to lend themselves more to a rhythmic approach. Of course it all depends on the pose.

Let's go through a few more examples.



Summary

That pretty much sums up basic limb construction. First, observe for landmarks. Next, draw the gesture and rhythms. Then, add cross sections as needed to describe anatomy and form. In their most basic and geometric form, the limbs can be thought of as jointed tubes. Using a dynamic gesture line as a guide will give our "tubes" movement and life.

Keep in mind, the lay-in is simply the framework for our drawing. It's not necessary to replicate the figure with our lay-in lines. The key is to give yourself enough information to add light and shade. Let the light, shade (values) and edges do the work of describing form and anatomy (Fig. 8).

More information on shading, can be found in the other figure quick sketch tutorials and videos.


*** Quick Sketch CHALLENGE! ***

This demo is meant to be a guide and a starting point. It's almost impossible to learn and appreciate all the nuances of figure drawing from a static tutorial. The best way to apply the techniques is to watch it first hand or go to a live figure drawing session and draw from the model. So here is the challenge:

The first person to post a full page of quick sketch will get a charcoal original from me. I'll even pay for the postage.

When I say page, I mean 18"x24" newsprint pad, but that size isn't necessary. It's just an ideal size pad to practice. Above is a page of 5 minute poses I did during an open figure drawing workshop.

Now, the minimum number of drawings to qualify are:

• 8 full figures at 3-5 min. pose length or
• 20 full figures at 1-3 min. pose length.

Basically whatever you can draw during 2 live sessions. Generally a model poses at 20-25 minute sessions.

Pretty simple. Just some incentive to get out there and draw from the model. First person to respond with a jpg snapshot of their quicksketch sheet wins. Good luck and I look forward to your entries. Read more...

How to Render Concept Art Using Blending Modes Part 2: Overlay Layer

This is part 2 of a series on how to render Concept Art using Photoshop. This video demonstrates how to use an overlay layer to add lights and highlights to concept art.

This video is perfect for those who are new to Photoshop or are starting out in Concept Art or digital illustration. Narrated by the Artist. Music by Japanese DJ Artists Tsutchie.

Read more...

How To Render Concept Art Using Blending Modes Part 1: Multiply Layer

This tutorial is the first part of a series on how to render Concept Art using Photoshop. This video demonstrates how to use a multiply layer to add tone and shadow to concept art.

This video is perfect for those who are new to Photoshop or are starting out in Concept Art or digital illustration. Narrated by the Artist. Music by Japanese DJ Artists Tsutchie.

Read more...

How to Draw Head Quick Sketch using Reilly Method

This video is a demonstration of head quick sketch drawing using the Reilly Method, narrated by the artist.

Quick sketch is a name for a short, 1-10 minute, drawing or study from life or model. Topics covered in video:

• drawing fundamentals
• head lay-in / construction
• adding light and shade
• edgework

This is the video version of the Head Drawing tutorial.

Read more...