Trying to recreate one of my doodles into a cleaner sketch, but struggling with the basic posture to start it of with...
If anyone wants to do a quick drawover or show me how to build the structure for this pose, I'd really appreciate it.
​
I'm trying to improve my drawing skills, and as someone who usually just doodles, I was advised to try purposefully recreating one of my old ones, so here is my attempt.
Reference: 1st image, the one boxed in red.
Attempt at redraw: 2nd image
Problems/Roadblocks I'm running into:
I can't get the overall composition right.
Struggling to make the knight actually look like they are sitting on the throne properly (both sitting normally and with legs crossed).
I can't figure out how to make the cape realistically drape and cover the side like it does in the doodle.
The armor itself is giving me trouble when I try to actually define the shapes.
What methods, shapes, or techniques can I use to make this work?
Even any references I can look up would be welcome too.
I'm wondering if there is a title out there that features a dual-character choice, one protagonist representing a classic Western Fantasy setting, and another representing an Eastern Fantasy Murim setting.
The ideal map structure would be two distinct lands, one Western, one Eastern, separated by a massive ocean or archipelago that is completely swarming with pirates when you attempt to cross between them.
(The idea being from the story I heard of it being historically possible for a Cowboy-Pirate-Samurai to meet at some point)
For context on the gameplay I enjoy (based on the topic), my rankings:
Sekiro and Hollow Knight
Elden Ring and Nine Sols
Ghost of Tsushima
Witcher 3
Does a single-player game actually exist? Even if a game only hits a few of these specific marks, I'd love to hear about it!
I usually do these random scribbles with a ball pen to pass the time. Sometimes I really like how they turn out, so I cropped out 10 of my recent favorites here.
Have some holidays coming up and would like to try redrawing these into better, more "proper" versions.
The issue is I struggle with perspective and getting the structure right, so when I try to redraw them, they usually end up looking flat or the details get messed up.
(Looking for suggestions and such to help with this in genreal)
To give you an idea of what I was actually trying to do (since some are pretty messy or have two subjects), here is what I was going for in each image or its caption:
1st image:
Well, there is two things here,
Left: hand+wings of a 'being' each doing multiple things and would like to know how to takle it (A pair trying to invite, one calling a servant and another fixing its dress)
Rigth: Also a 'being' that's puppetring (or a shadow to) a lord
2nd image:
Trying to make a fire-cloud wing, and the hair going down to his legs angle, close enough
3rd image:
I was trying to make a ferry man, but ended up with a broken down guy with a top hat and broom...
4th image:
I was trying to go for a locked up psychotic guy seen in movies but liked the idea of it being a deranged businessman of a devil and drew the devil on the left.
5th image:
It was just some random circles that ended up looking like some characters saying goodbye (redrew a mini version to the left)
6th image:
Just like how the lady looked hyped up for breakdance
7th image:
Cat, what else...
8th image:
Idk, succbus?
9th image:
Started of with a pigman sitting on a flying carpet, became a waiter instead...
10th image:
Two stuff:
Left: It was supposed to be a dragon head, became too round and turned into a bull cardinal
Right: a duck smoking a cigarette
(Remaining 5 are just the full doodle page from where it was cropped in case you are interested)
If anyone wants to do a quick drawover, or just give me some advice on how to build an actual foundation to redraw these, I'd really appreciate it.
Hello, thanks for the replies on my last post, I wanted to give a quick update to show what exactly is going on when I draw, still asking for advice on places to improve...
I haven't actually started 'implementing' the advice yet, but I've come to terms with the fact that if I want to go beyond just doodles, I'll need to touch up on the fundamentals (just something to consider for now).
Some people suggested trying other mediums or markers. That's something for down the line I guess, but right now I'm just more comfortable using a standard ball pen.
As for reference drawing, I actually did a few a long time back (like luffy/zoro from one piece, chained up HK, charizard, 'Friend' from 20th century boys, and even some eldritch horror I don't really remember). But since it's been a while, it's something I'll try to pick back up again too.
A few comments mentioned "automatic drawing" and letting the pen flow, but there seems to be a bit of a disconnect for me. While I do make the initial base scribble without much thought, find a shape and try to add details... but I somehow mess it up at times either do something with it or just start a new one. Then, while wandering around the page, I might see that older scribble in a 'new' perspective and give it another shot or add details to it.
In short, I usually start with something and end with something else entirely.
To expand on last point , while I can't really do a timelapse, I attached 3 new doodles where I then added markings that might help show what I mean.
I added little stick figures, arrows, and notes next to the scribbles to show what they actually ended up as, or how they evolved in the spaces between.
For example,
One that looked like an angry elephant from the side, but it ended up as a horned woman in a sweater.
Another was supposed to be a crow holding a baby, but turned into a griffon pitching.
There's also one showing how a dark fantasy esque plant evolved, and an attempt at a knight sitting on a horse that just didn't work out.
The other little sketches are mostly just redraws of the final shapes.
Thanks again for the advice on the last one.
Hey, thanks for the replies on my last post. I wanted to give a quick update to show what exactly is going on when I draw.
I haven't actually started 'implementing' the advice yet, but I've come to terms with the fact that if I want to go beyond just doodles, I'll need to touch up on the fundamentals (just something to consider for now).
Some people suggested trying other mediums or markers. That's something for down the line I guess, but right now I'm just more comfortable using a standard ball pen.
As for reference drawing, I actually did a few a long time back (like luffy/zoro from one piece, chained up HK, charizard, 'Friend' from 20th century boys, and even some eldritch horror I don't really remember). But since it's been a while, it's something I'll try to pick back up again too.
A few comments mentioned "automatic drawing" and letting the pen flow, but there seems to be a bit of a disconnect for me. While I do make the initial base scribble without much thought, find a shape and try to add details... but I somehow mess it up at times either do something with it or just start a new one. Then, while wandering around the page, I might see that older scribble in a 'new' perspective and give it another shot or add details to it.
In short, I usually start with something and end with something else entirely.
To expand on last point , while I can't really do a timelapse, I attached 3 new doodles where I then added markings that might help show what I mean.
I added little stick figures, arrows, and notes next to the scribbles to show what they actually ended up as, or how they evolved in the spaces between.
For example,
One that looked like an angry elephant from the side, but it ended up as a horned woman in a sweater.
Another was supposed to be a crow holding a baby, but turned into a griffon pitching.
There's also one showing how a dark fantasy esque plant evolved, and an attempt at a knight sitting on a horse that just didn't work out.
The other little sketches are mostly just redraws of the final shapes.
Thanks again for the advice on the last one.
I've been doodling for years. I'm in my final year at uni and bought some sketchbooks to keep the hobby going as an alternative way to pass the time instead of doomscrolling or playing video games.
My process is basically scribbling with a (0.5mm) ballpoint pen and seeing what shapes emerge and just doodle on till i get some semblance of...uh...art... (Recent ones attached).
However, I've noticed my initial scribbles are starting to feel a bit repetitive, and I'd like to figure out how to mix those up so the base shapes are more varied.
My "inspiration" comes mostly from manga and fantasy/ action games. I don't want to just copy art 1:1. I'd rather try to capture the essence (?) of those characters and creatures, but draw them in my own messy style.
The other issue is I struggle to hold onto details. They look fine from afar (or squinting), but I want to get better at detailing them or maybe redrawing a good outcome of some of these doodles into a proper piece down the line.
Since this is a casual hobby (for now), I'm not looking to grind fundamentals like anatomy, shapes or perspective right away.
Does anyone have advice on this?
I've been doodling for years. I'm in my final year at uni and bought some sketchbooks to keep the hobby going as an alternative way to pass the time instead of doomscrolling or playing video games.
My process is basically scribbling with a (0.5mm) ballpoint pen and seeing what shapes emerge and just doodle on till i get some semblance of...uh...art... (Recent ones attached).
However, I've noticed my initial scribbles are starting to feel a bit repetitive, and I'd like to figure out how to mix those up so the base shapes are more varied.
My "inspiration" comes mostly from manga and fantasy/action games. I don't want to just copy art 1:1. I'd rather try to capture the essence (?) of those characters and creatures, but draw them in my own messy style.
The other issue is I struggle to hold onto details. They look fine from afar (or squinting), but I want to get better at detailing them or maybe redrawing a good outcome of some of these doodles into a proper piece down the line.
Since this is a casual hobby (for now), I'm not looking to grind fundamentals like anatomy, shapes or perspective right away.
Does anyone have advice on this?