joejameshunt

If you've been reading my journals you probably know that I'm on a journey of becoming a better artist--well, what artist isn't on this journey themselves... anyway, I've always loved eyes (the iris mainly), not the whole eye, including brow bone etc. I've always screwed up on that part.

But while trying to get THAT perfect eye, I did create an eye that can be replicated and used--a sort of stock/resource.

This was the first set of eyes... I'm in love with these, especially those in the centre as they look a little metallic-y.

I then created another set, with the same eye, but different colours, mainly because of request, but also because I wanted to see what other colours would go well with the eye.

And then a different type of eye altogether--I tried to do a manga style and also an animal (lizard, dragon, etc.), I prefer the animal style ones to the two types in the below deviation because it's different, and there's also a texture feeling to them.

YOU can use these in your work, as long as you credit me. They're PNG files, and might need a little cropping to fit in your eyeholes aha. If you have any colour requests, please get them in, I'll try and get them done when I've had enough to create another lot of stock!

I hope that you're all super duper and enjoy the eyes! <3

Although this sentiment is true to a lot of things where practice and hard work are concerned, but I can say "I'm better than I was yesterday!" and so can many people. I know more than I did, I've drawn more than I would've, and I'm learning.

I'm "suffering" from a lack of sleep--this is done to myself because I know that I get really inspired when I've not had much sleep, so I'm trying to create some good piece, or even just get some nice sketches done as practice. I can become really picky and fussy when I start to draw i.e. a line that seems off might make me scrap a drawing--it's not something I'm proud of, and it's a rut I'm trying to get out of.

Last night I drew this: 
It was from one of my practice eyes, and then the whole face just came together. This is probably one of the first drawings that I've done without a guide to help me; although I had used a grid to create the eyes. I might redo this one, it's quite haunting, especially because there is no mouth, and she looks quite angry.

AND THEN, I drew this one, partly inspired by what I'd done with the above piece.

THIS is one of my favourite pieces because I incorporated a background into it, and I really felt that was one of the areas that I needed to improve on. So, here's me improving! YAY!

If you're reading this, share some of your good news!

I'm so excited to get up and draw every day, even if it's just for an hour, even if it's just to use my pen and do a quick doodle... much like with my writing, the more you practice and use that ability, the more it will grow, so obviously this is the case with my art, something that I wasn't too sure on until I was watching a YouTube video by Sycra - he was discussing talent in one video, and in another practice.

His videos are so helpful. The sketches below are what I created after watching a tutorial on how-to draw adult male proportions. And, I think I understand it. For the first two I needed to go back and reference the video, but after that, I let myself loose on a couple of them.

They're both in my Scrapbook--Sketching the Male Form and Sketching to Colour Process!


And then I outlined and made another "pretty", before adding colours and trying to flesh the piece out.



If YOU know of any helpful tutorials, or if you have any helpful information on how to get better etc. then it's always appreciated!

I'm one of those people who can become discouraged quite easily, especially when I feel like I'm stagnating with my art--I want to get better with my art. I've always love drawing, and my teachers at high school encouraged me to pursue it, but I didn't, and I regret that decision so much, in fact, I hated it when people were enjoying their art classes so much, and I was a little bitter in the fact that I'd chosen not to do that.

Anyway, I recently invested in a Bamboo Wacom graphics tablet, and I've got my passion back. I want to draw all the time, and I want to get better.

I've been watching tutorials and reading journals from loads of amazing artists here on the site.

So... today, the 24th of July 2014, I'm going to be challenging myself to become a better artist.