My Sonic art - Drawing (56k)

[Master hunter]

You may remember my last topic on Colouring and Shading on the last version of TGN. This is the other side, the more traditional side. (Anything in blue was done ages ago)

Normally I would draw most of this lightly in pencil, it's pen to help you see it better.

All I use is an A4 pad of paper, a pencil, a 0.5mm fineliner black pen and a bog standard eraser.

Before I start I will give you two tips.

1. use a reference, particularly with official characters or poses.
2. Draw Big, i.e. use plenty of the white space. See this photo for what I mean

Photo

Image on the left is steps 1-4, Image on right is step 5. I redrew the image using my techniques

The subject here is my characters' Nega form. Being both female and a bird it's probably my most complicated character.

Ok then first off we do a rough pose

step 1 - Rough pose

Just to note here that no sonic character ever has a neck. Pose was thought up on the spot.

Now we add detail to everything but the head and wings

Step 2 - Torso, feet and hands

Hopefully everything you need to emulate me is there. I've added a nipples section despite the fact I've never actually done a pic with them.

[Master hunter]

We have a picture limit? How odd.

Anyway continuing

Next the most complicated part, the head

step 3 - the Head

Some Sonic specifics there, not all of them. You can see I messed up Amy. I also really hate doing Sonic's spikes, they are harder than they look. I find Shadow/Super spikes are easier.

Jade for the record is general girl eyes, bird beak muzzle, bare forehead, general triangle ears. I wasn't too sure about beaks but doing a separate mouth didn't work.

Joz is general boy eyes, general muzzle with general nose, tails forehead hair, bat ears.

If you do draw shades do them separately.

Finally for Jade we finish with the wings. Now there are two types of wings that I've drawn so far and I've covered them both here...

step 4 - finishing touches, in this case wings

Tails' tails would appear here I guess. I should do a section for them sometime.

[Master hunter]

Time to tidy up for the scan. Normally I would go over my pencil marks with the fineliner (note not filling in any black bits) and rub out the pencil. Though this time I just went through the steps again and thus they appear slightly different

End result is this next pic. We would then scan into photoshop and start the digital phase.

[Kaitos]

Nice work, you're obviously talented.

I don't normally do plans, I just let it flow, so to speak. So in my case, I'd just continue going over lines until I get the shape I like.

Since I started full time work, I've tried to draw using just a biro, normally manga, which is qute challenging- no room for mistakes

[Master hunter]

Thanks.

I've been there with the biro at work drawings too. (http://www.deviantart.com/view/22891597/)

[Kaitos]

Nice.

I kinda like drawing in biro. More pressure on you not to make mistakes.

With only a red, black and blue biro, plus a couple of highlighters, you can make some pretty decent drawings. It's just a shame that I draw them on scrap pieces of paper and the cleaners bin them at the end of the day. I've got a few knocking about though.

I've also been experimenting with different techniques as well, such as using random shapes to build up a face, or my latest drawing, making a face using nothing but dots. It took me five working days of on- off work, as well as irritating my boss and work colleagues by the constant tapping of the pen

[cutmymilk]

Time to tidy up for the scan. Normally I would go over my pencil marks with the fineliner (note not filling in any black bits) and rub out the pencil. Though this time I just went through the steps again and thus they appear slightly different

End result is this next pic. We would then scan into photoshop and start the digital phase.

So... what is it?

[Andrew]

Looks really nice.

[Dr Kong]

Your wings could do with some work.

[Android18a]

It's good, but the pose is a little rigid. Try making your characters "flow", their poses should be natural and comfortable.