AlexT's sketches and concepts

Looks like i'm having honor of making first thread here too

A word about myself.
As some you already know i've been studying all sorts of art as my hobbie. I had couple of amateur projects of my own (mainly 3D) on Abh Nation, but since then i was focused on learning (2D) traditional art, concet art and design.
I've been studying for a short time only so i'm no big pro yet, but i improve constantly and hopefuly quality of my works will improve over time.
I began using non-computer tools recently, focusing on pencil mostly so most of the pics i will post will likely be drawn on real paper, scaned and colored in Corel Painter which is actualy uses same principles as real life painting just allow me to work faster and waste less paper or film and keep my hands clean to drink tea

I encourage anyone on KOTS (kin of the stars) who like to draw to make pieces of their own and post in this "Creative works" subforum

Older from stuff from A.N. Feels like i done these ages ago. All done in photoshop before i even started to hold real pencil in my hand. I'll make thumbnails later.

This one is among first pics i ever done. I'm not sure what it is...attemt to draw some new Abh ship maybe - i had fish in mind when i made this.


A first attempt to make something in anime style..first shading attempts and "angry technician" character

This guy is attempt to draw Abh commando in combat armor

But this sketch is actualy done with pencil and is part of a new era for me ;)I'm still not sure bout her clothes before i finish it.

Forgot about older 3D stuff
Here's "Roil"


And "toy" or maybe "puppet" version of Lafiel

Ok, end of childhood - from now on i'll post the stuff i draw now, most of which are pencil sketches which are usualy my search for something that i'll paint in color later (once i'll find what i'm looking for).
Here, inspired by AN discussion i tried to imagine how Lafiel would look in real life - main question is how slim is she? But slim figures in real life and anime are different - real life body is not too pretty when it's extremely slim... so - finding that edge is important.

Looks like the thumbnail images are working now.
How did you make it work?

I didn't fix it - just used imageshack which provide link with thumbnail+url

Ah... maybe I'll look into seeing if Photobucket can do the same thing.

Another Lafiel in bathroom - trying to practice anime style. I just train when i have time so not much into quality at this stage. If anyone would like to see specific sketch in clean&colored version let me know.

When you hand draw do you use much,if any,charcoal to color?Or do you use only pencil?
At any rather better than anything I could do.

I'd say that it all depends on what you're painting. Mechanical stuff loves pencil, markers and some charcoal but for shading mostly. I'd say that charcoal is good for black&white organic stuff where you're not dealing with straight lines. It's the closest thing to how people prefer to paint in photoshop/corel painter with low-opacity brushes.
Anyway - i'm not anywhere good yet For some reason i experience difficulties with any non-realistic stuff. Can't figure out why, but i've been told that cartoons/anime/comic require totaly different approach and skill. We'll see
In my experience - video tutorials are the best teachers. Year ago i couldn't draw a thing and never even tried before Now it just gives me a lot of fun and it alone is rewarding enough.

Our library as two books one on how to draw manga and the other on how to draw anime.I haven't checked either out because we don't have the tools to really have a try at it.
Though I would really love to be able to draw people and animals.I think if I could draw the first thing I would try would be a cross over between Tenchi and Dual switching Ayeka and Ryoko with the two Mitsukis.

Repost from Abh Nation - a chopper style painted Roil i made for Acid at AN's closing day
I'm not entirely happy with it - i probably should've do better so i'll retouch it in future.



Mitsuki, just practice and have fun. You don't need any tools but pencil&eraser. I'm still not too good so i should not be advising anyone, but one thing i learned for sure - when you feel like you messed it up - know that you're one step away from making it better simply by realizing that you messed it up! What you must understand is why you realized it - it's because you learned how to make it better while doing so. Just figure out what is wrong and change it. Erase a lot - it's not problem, even mega-pro artist do 10 erases per each stroke that remains.
There are general rules/techniques for starting your drawing, like guide lines for example check this tutorial for drawing faces
http://idrawgirls.blogspot.com/search/label/Basic%20Tutorial%3A%20Face%203%2F4%20view
That site is gold when you want to learn drawing for free. I spent years collceting all tutorials and that one is the best for beginners.

I did take an art class when I was going to high school in Anchorage(West High...Motto:East is Least,West is Best!...Ok...East High was our BIG Rivals)back in the day.
I do some tracing when I feel like it.Don't have proper tracing paper though so it's hard to see the picture I'm copying.
I tried drawing a pic of Ami/Sailor Mercury from Sailor Moon once and it ended up so/so.

I was thinking about some new abh uniform design - something abhs other than fleet guys would wear... Messed up while scanning pencil sketch though. Doesn't matter - just a sketch anyway.

Some how the song:"I'm Too Sexy For My Shirt" springs to mind here when looking at that last pic.

mitsuki lover wrote:
Some how the song:"I'm Too Sexy For My Shirt" springs to mind here when looking at that last pic.

Yeah, good reference.

Seeing the crossing lines at the neck, reminds me of the meshes some gang members wear on their heads.
Btw. the mantel sides that get down over the legs... I have noticed the designers had something in mind regarding rank and status regarding the length.
The longer the higher the social or military rank, different in each, though. Also woman's are a bit shorter which is for revealing their legs I suppose.

Ok...let's go for realistic style Here's what's called "light pencil sketch" of Admiral Almael. The way i see him in Almael's story. Inspired by Almael's Abh Nation avatar - that's why he wear glasses.
I think i'm almost happy with the face, rest is just quick decoration atm.
"Hard pencil" and full color will take some time but i'll do them after i make some more corrections.
Hope you'll like it

The only question I have is do the Abh really need glasses or even have them?I suppose they would be able to genetically create children with perfect eye sight so that glasses wouldn't be necessary.

As one of the youngest Admiral ever (with 3x experience!), I decided to wear fake glasses to make me look better. (same reason as Clark Kent and Peter Parker) At the moment I'm at Spoor's system trying to organize the imperial fleet. This should give me additional reason not to meet the Spoors.

@AlexT: Thanks!
There are some things to be corrected, thought.
My alpha has a holding extension in the middle curving up-around the head, the wings are a bit longer, the base ring is also a bit thicker;
There should be 5 stars on my badge.
My arms are a bit longer, too. And where are my wrist computers?

Edit: you can look up at the picture I posted in the 'Seikai Cosplay' thread.

Now, while i'm doing my best to fix our Admiral - another star from "Darkness" is coming to stage! Greet Wadrosal aka "Vic"!
PLEASE view this picture full size/actual pixels since i noticed that a lot of details and feel is lost when not.
And of course special thanks goes to Victoria.



Oh my, i guess i should draw Alex next...never done self portrait before

Ride side eye (left eye) could use to be more matched up alignment wise with
the opposite eye.. but otherwise very nice.

If I had the skills, I'd model her in 3D and use her in my game mod.

Actually I think Peter Parker's glasses were real.I think he wore them,even though he didn't need them after the spider bite so that Aunt May wouldn't think something was wrong.
I love Roy Mustang's idea from FMA in having all female officers wear mini-skirts!
I wanna see Lafiel and Spoor in mini-skirts!!!!

I guess if you have spider eyes and senses then you don't need eyes.

Huh, sixty fashion? Hmm....

I think her eyes are ok, the scan is just not horizontal. More importantly she looks a bit too manly. Her proportions needs fixing, that is if you are not going to hide it from her. Or I could tell her.
And I see you have the same trouble with noses. Try a simple line approache. I know it's not to our senses but it works.

Well, body proportions need fixing.I just didn't pay much attention to it below the shoulders for now. Face is focal point here and i'm relatively happy with it - she look as cunning as she should
As for nose - simple lines would be a step back from realistic approach...there's a slight shadow to the left that may confuse...but i guess i should either leave stuff in line art stage or shade it properly to avoid uncertainty.

She look manly because she's quite athletic. I like and always prefered this type of girls and i'm sure most of abhs are like this
I'll fix her. Alex's "light" sketch is next. Self portrait - maybe tricky

AlexT wrote:She look manly because she's quite athletic. I like and always prefered this type of girls and i'm sure most of abhs are like this
I'll fix her. Alex's "light" sketch is next. Self portrait - maybe tricky

Like a female clan warrior from Battletech?
Don't forget the image in the mirror has to turn sides... not that it matters:geek:

You don't need to fix my portrait anymore, I will post one instead.