FPGeeks Art Gallery

[Yazeh]

You've been very busy
Do you start your sketches with pencil and then switch to Fountain pen or you start and finish with fountain pen?

[Pterodactylus]

You've been very busy
Do you start your sketches with pencil and then switch to Fountain pen or you start and finish with fountain pen?

Hi Yazeh,
I guess the question was for me.

I almost alway do a pencil sketch in the beginning.
I‘m not that confident to get all the contours and proportions first time right.

Goal for the pencil sketch is to get the proportions right.
This sketch contains only the outlines and the most important landmarks but no details, a guidance for the pen afterwards.

Then I start with the pen, usually with the outlines, then I start to render the form/tones with hatching.

In the latest 4 figure drawings I finished them emphasizing the shades lightly with a pencil.
IMO this smooth the shapes and improve the 3 dimensional impression.


What I see sometimes in the videos of some artists is that they start already with a permanent pen trying to find the right lines very loosely and light.
Seeing some of these construction finding lines in the final piece can give it imho also an interesting and loose look.

I‘m working on getting looser linework, as I like the look, but this is quite challenging.

[Yazeh]

Thanks Ptero for the detailed answer. The question was indeed for you.

I've been doing some blind drawing for the past week ir so, to better my eye hand coordination. Quite challenging.
I guess artists master the basic, and after that they can draw at their will.
After all looser line work is more vibrant and alive.... but that is after we master the art...

[usk15]

Thank you guys! I have stopped posting, not drawing...

This morning a quick small sketch:

[Pterodactylus]

And the next figure drawing practice with fountain pen.


Figure drawing by Ptero Pterodactylus on DeviantArt

(Pelikan Ibis 130 - EF ..... Rohrer & Klingner Lotte)

[Pterodactylus]

Today something different.
Also fountain pen but different theme.


Snail by Ptero Pterodactylus on DeviantArt

(Pelikan Ibis 130 - EF ..... Rohrer & Klingner Lotte)

[Kaputnik]

By showing this drawing next to the photo it is based on, I am making it clear how far it is from what I want to achieve. The result certainly looks nothing like Anatoly Karpov. I'll keep trying.

By the way, does anyone else think I made him look embalmed here?

But I am trying to take something positive from each drawing. I find it interesting how the accumulation of mistakes, each small in itself, has such a large effect. Sort of like chess. Karpov, for those who don't know, is a former World Chess Champion.

[RobJohnson]

By showing this drawing next to the photo it is based on, I am making it clear how far it is from what I want to achieve. The result certainly looks nothing like Anatoly Karpov. I'll keep trying.

By the way, does anyone else think I made him look embalmed here?

But I am trying to take something positive from each drawing. I find it interesting how the accumulation of mistakes, each small in itself, has such a large effect. Sort of like chess. Karpov, for those who don't know, is a former World Chess Champion.

To avoid an embalmed look look at the original image for light and dark and try to avoid drawing an outline, for example there is no outline in the original image.

Just draw the darkest areas first, parts of the hair, then the area under his right ear. then under the chin,

Look at the light areas, nose, chin and upper cheek.

Use more than one pencil, 4B, 2B and an H

Personally I think you have set the bar high in trying to draw from a photograph, have a look how Hans Holbein drew portraits, the lightest touch to produce an effect.

https://www.hans-holbein.org/Sir-Tho...e-1527-28.html

[Pterodactylus]

Moment of truth ...... when he realized that the cat is sitting right in front of him and there is most likely no escape .......


Moment of truth by Ptero Pterodactylus on DeviantArt

(Pelikan Ibis 130 - EF ..... Rohrer & Klingner Lotte)

[Kaputnik]

I enjoy your cartoon drawings, Pterodactylus. It's a whole different area of skill which I hope to explore some day.

I try not to post here too often, but I'm going to indulge myself one more time in two days, and then hold off until mid February, maybe March. I had another try at yesterday's drawing right after I posted it here, and it came out looking a bit less embalmed (I think).

I've been trying to learn drawing from a few books of the "anyone can draw" variety. A couple of them are showing here. The advice in these books is easily comprehensible. Actually putting it into practice seems to be a bit more difficult.

[Yazeh]

Moment of truth ...... when he realized that the cat is sitting right in front of him and there is most likely no escape .......

My cat has yet to catch a rat, face to face. Birds maybe. Rats, I doubt

[Pterodactylus]

Thanks Kaputnik,
do not hold something back
I think the portraits are not bad.
Doing is always more difficult than reading about it, but with practice we all get better.

Our cats bring also sometimes mice and little birds.
One of them almost always bite of the heads, I don´t know if she thinks the head is the best part of it.


Now we know what the rodent from before is starring at.


Badass cat by Ptero Pterodactylus on DeviantArt

(Pelikan Ibis 130 - EF ..... Rohrer & Klingner Lotte)

[Pterodactylus]

Remember Spirit - The wild mustang?


Spirit Ink Sketch by Ptero Pterodactylus on DeviantArt

(Faber Castell 223 - F ..... Colorverse Gravity Wave)

[Pterodactylus]

This week I received a new pen, a Montblanc 149 with their flexible Calligraphy nib.

Of course I had to try also drawing with it.
Just like Kaputnik I´m also a bit chess affine so I drew a chess piece.

So far I´m quite pleased with the pen.
The highlight is the flexible nib.
What I do not like so much is the big clunky girth of the 149.
Usually I prefer small pens, and I would never considered getting a 149 with a conventional nib before, but the Calligraphy nib changed my mind, and the nib is awesome.
So I have to get used to the clunky pen for the sake of the nib.



Chess Piece - Knight by Ptero Pterodactylus on DeviantArt

(Montblanc 149 - Calligraphy ..... Montblanc Midnight Blue IG)

[Yazeh]

Ptero both your horses have the same expression. Is that intentional?

[Pterodactylus]

Now that you mention it, yes I can see it also but it was no intention.
Actually I did the Spirit one already about 2-3 weeks ago but did not took a photo.
For the chess piece i took the Knight from my chess at home as reference, and believe it or not, that wood knight has exactly this expression.


Another one done with my new pen.


BeataBlue in ink by Ptero Pterodactylus on DeviantArt

(Montblanc 149 - Calligraphy ..... Montblanc Midnight Blue IG, Cretacolor White Chalk Nr.1)

[Pterodactylus]

Another output of a scribble evening with my new pen.



Old Fellow by Ptero Pterodactylus on DeviantArt

(Montblanc 149 - Calligraphy ..... Montblanc Midnight Blue IG, Rohrer & Klingner Helianthus)

[Pterodactylus]

As my son and I recently watched all the star wars movies in a row and really enjoyed it.
An ink piece done with fountain pen inks wet in wet, line work done with fountain pen and final touch ups with Polychromos.


Darth Vader by Ptero Pterodactylus on DeviantArt

(Montblanc 149 - Calligraphy ..... Montblanc Midnight Blue IG, Diamine Oxblood, Rohrer & Klingner Helianthus, Faber Castell Polychromos)

[Pterodactylus]

Another ink piece, only one ink used, line work done with fountain pen, ink washes, final touch ups with Polychromos.


Ink Dragon by Ptero Pterodactylus on DeviantArt

(Montblanc 149 - Calligraphy ..... Montblanc Midnight Blue IG, Faber Castell Polychromos)

[An old bloke]

Fantastic! I sent a copy of that to my 10 year old grandson. Loved it!