[Sketch] Tree's

[Josh]

Hey all,
I will be applying at Vancouver Film School, but to apply I need to give them some portfolio images. I decided that I need to start sketching. Well, I didn't just decide, but a certain someone *cough*tami*cough* sort of pushed me in the direction since the industry asks for animators to be able to draw. I know how to draw sort of... I've never practiced drawing or anything so I do need to work on it.

This piece was inspired by ArenaNet (Makers of Guild Wars) artists. [url=\"http://bp1.blogger.com/_uyq6xoa4-3g/RslDd1tP66I/AAAAAAAAAQM/APy0FK52WC8/s1600-h/DSC_2205.jpg\"]This is a piece of art made by a person named Jason[/url] at ArenaNet. I loved the lighting in it and the basic feel to the piece. I loaded this image into Photoshop and made a quick sketch over it just to get a feel for how to draw the tree's. Once I got a feeling for it I drew a couple of my own tree's and tried to do a small sketch of a squirrel. After I did the initial sketch I got rid of the original piece of art completely and just started painting with Photoshop.

I hope I don't get in trouble for doing something an ArenaNet artist already did, but it's for my own personal gain as an artist so I can get a feel of how to draw things. If ArenaNet staff see this .. uhh... I'm sorry if it makes you mad? I hope it doesn't because I did give credit. /smile.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':)\' />

While I didn't get the same lighting or feel, I did find this to be a pretty beneficial experience. I'm not going to edit this piece anymore so please don't give me any critique as to what I could do to make this piece better. I would, however, love to hear your advice of what I can do in future sketches/paintings to make those better than this one. Keep in mind this is my first attempt [i]ever[/i] so this isn't going to look astonishing!

Thanks all!
Josh

[Marko]

That's not a bad starting point.
Here's some constructive criticism;
You need to make the trees feel more 'grounded' as they appear as if they are just placed on the page. You squirrel looks good on the grass because it has a shadow. I guess trees need their shadows too. /blum.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':P\' /> Also try and get rid of the 'pencil' outline for the grass, at the point where it merges with the 'sky'. Try to do it just by using colour to contrast.

[Josh]

Shadowing is definitely my trouble area.... I never even thought that the tree's would need it... lol. Silly me. Thanks Marko.

[Tibs]

I think you did very good on your first attempt and I hope you get allowed to go to VFS cause people that go there make some great modelling/animation reels.

For the shadowing I always learned it's best to start with a simple cube and colour the sides in several gradients to make them fit the light. Something like this:

[url=\"http://www.geocities.com/~jlhagan/lessons/images/per9a.gif\"]http://www.geocities.com/~jlhagan/lessons/images/per9a.gif[/url]

Good luck with it !