Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Sketchbook: Refined Poses for Dorothy



These are my refined pose sketches for my first two pieces. The first one intended as an Ex-libris and based on the first compositional sketch I uploaded a little while back. The second is for the first story Illustration, and is based on the sketch in the post directly below. I had drawn another sketch for the Ex-libris pose last week, but I noticed that there was something off about it. I could not pin point it at first and then I realized that I had become far too relaxed with my rough anatomical pose. Granted this is Illustration, not a design for a film; one can get away with some anatomical inaccuracies here and there. Still, I was not comfortable showing that last sketch so I removed it. Ultimately what really drove me to draw it again was that I did not want to settle on a mediocre plan. After all, these are the poses that will be in the final piece, and I wanted to be confident in the plan that I am laying out because once the inks and watercolors are applied I have to go with it whether I like it or not.

It has been rather enjoyable doing these sketches of Dorothy. One gets to know the personality of these characters the more they are drawn. I think once I have finished my first Illustration she will have emerged fully in my mind. She will be much easier to draw over and over again as I work on further Illustrations. Now the challenge for these first two pieces will be painting the Calico pattern on her dress. This is before she switches to her "OZ attire."

The Tin Woodsman has taken a bit of a back seat but I feel it was necessary since I have also been working on sketches for the "Munchkin Council." This made me realize that my design for the Tin Woodsman was a bit premature since the Munchkins revealed themselves to be of a rather specific physiological design. Nick Chopper was originally a Munchkin, so I am working on a design that will follow the pattern I have discovered in my sketchbook. I hope to post the Munchkin sketches within the week. Thanks for looking.

5 comments:

  1. I really really love the second one- great pose, good movement, and the anatomy is definitely more believable now. The sitting one feels a bit off to me at the head/neck/ear juncture, but the feet, arms, and sense of the wind blowing are spot on.

    It's really fun to watch you develop your process like this :)

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  2. Hey Heather,

    Thanks for the comment and the good observation. I may rework that one around the neck but it may be a rework as I start on the actual piece. :) Thanks for checking it out it is very appreciated. BTW we must go out and draw again! Take care.

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  3. Oh, I can't wait to see how it all turns out. Yeah, we must draw. I'm going to do Dr. Sketchy's this month if you are interested- it's roller derby this time.

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  4. This illustration you are doing is amazing, very particular yet very classical touches. I'm looking forward to working with you again someday.

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  5. Hey Christiano, thanks:) It IS particular and influenced by classic storybook Illustration However, it was that genre of work that influenced me before film or animation. I guess I made a decision to go back to those roots. It's been quite a journey. Likewise, I am looking forward to working with you again, its been a while. Let me know when you are ever in the Bay Area again!

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