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Description
“Remember your basics, for they are your greatest strength.”
This has been said throughout history in so many ways and variations, and, it is still true today. Of late I have been having some serious art block, my poses I try and create fall apart, or I find myself repeating old lessons, and I could not find out why I could not make any head way.

Then it finally came to me.

I had forgotten my basics. The most core and fundamental aspect of drawing, that without no progress can be made.

Fun little fact about me: throughout my entire schooling carrier, from the lowest grade all the way though collage, I have been at war with my art teachers, professors, and mentors. On a good day we would only chafe at each other’s philosophy and style, and on a bad day we would go toe to toe in a heated debate that would cause other students to promptly vanish, as much as the room permitted.

I can recall several very heated debates over the principles of art, the style, design, and makeup of the composition. How I hated the ‘Golden rule’ or the ‘Principles of the Renaissance painters’ and don’t get me started on ‘Style and cartoon composition’.

All that being said, I never really looked back on my own history until now, only to realize just how many great artistic minds I got to rub shoulders with. I have had the chance to train under renowned cartoonists, art historians of both the Renaissance era and paleo era artists. The later of which I did enjoy, tough we still butted heads a lot. And of course, the basic professors who try and teach you the fundamentals.

The more I look back, the more I realize I was probably the Zuko (Avatar the Last Air Bender) of the class room, angry, impatient, and always demanding to be taught the advanced lessons.

Now, after so many years, I find myself going back and repeating those old exercises that were drilled into me so long ago. Look at the light, the shadows, what are your lines doing, how strong or weak are you making them.

So, for any of my past art professors who may recognize my style and stumble across this, I just wanted to say:

Thank you. Thank you for being patient with me, and for hammering home those basic fundamentals of art.

Oh, and for not flunking me. Even though you did threaten to do so several times.

This piece is a free hand depiction of the image posted by the lovely here on DA. The original piece can be found here: I Don't Play the Viola Please Be Nice to Me So you can see just how much work I have ahead of me.

Some things to note about this piece: Please note the line weight favoring the left side of the model, the shadow depth, and smaller areas of attention around the knees, and elbow, and chest.

If you feel the urge to offer a critique, advice, or anything else, please do as I am putting this up here as a means to help me grow.

Yours,

C.S.

Description
“Remember your basics, for they are your greatest strength.”
This has been said throughout history in so many ways and variations, and, it is still true today. Of late I have been having some serious art block, my poses I try and create fall apart, or I find myself repeating old lessons, and I could not find out why I could not make any head way.

Then it finally came to me.

I had forgotten my basics. The most core and fundamental aspect of drawing, that without no progress can be made.

Fun little fact about me: throughout my entire schooling carrier, from the lowest grade all the way though collage, I have been at war with my art teachers, professors, and mentors. On a good day we would only chafe at each other’s philosophy and style, and on a bad day we would go toe to toe in a heated debate that would cause other students to promptly vanish, as much as the room permitted.

I can recall several very heated debates over the principles of art, the style, design, and makeup of the composition. How I hated the ‘Golden rule’ or the ‘Principles of the Renaissance painters’ and don’t get me started on ‘Style and cartoon composition’.

All that being said, I never really looked back on my own history until now, only to realize just how many great artistic minds I got to rub shoulders with. I have had the chance to train under renowned cartoonists, art historians of both the Renaissance era and paleo era artists. The later of which I did enjoy, tough we still butted heads a lot. And of course, the basic professors who try and teach you the fundamentals.

The more I look back, the more I realize I was probably the Zuko (Avatar the Last Air Bender) of the class room, angry, impatient, and always demanding to be taught the advanced lessons.

Now, after so many years, I find myself going back and repeating those old exercises that were drilled into me so long ago. Look at the light, the shadows, what are your lines doing, how strong or weak are you making them.

So, for any of my past art professors who may recognize my style and stumble across this, I just wanted to say:

Thank you. Thank you for being patient with me, and for hammering home those basic fundamentals of art.

Oh, and for not flunking me. Even though you did threaten to do so several times.

This piece is a free hand depiction of the image posted by the lovely here on DA. The original piece can be found here: I Don't Play the Viola Please Be Nice to Me So you can see just how much work I have ahead of me.

Some things to note about this piece: Please note the line weight favoring the left side of the model, the shadow depth, and smaller areas of attention around the knees, and elbow, and chest.

If you feel the urge to offer a critique, advice, or anything else, please do as I am putting this up here as a means to help me grow.

Yours,

C.S.