this and that

Mara · **Posted:** Mon Jun 06, 2011 12:50 pm

oh thanks Igo, glad you liked those digital shenanigans ... I see what you mean about there being some commercial potential in there, but if I'm gonna be honest I just did them to prove that I could if I wanted to. And that's not exactly a strong motivation so yeah I would definitely have to find a way to make them more my own if I were to continue. I shall keep experimenting, that's all there's to it!

I'd love to do some figurative studies! only it's hard to find figures haha, I keep trying to persuade my sister to sit for a portrait but she's less than enthusiastic ... :d I'll round someone up eventually though, or I'll start doing still life or something. I really hope my new school has some figure studies on the schedule!

nnngh you're probably right about the hands, not because I don't like drawing hands or I think I'm bad at it or anything, I just tend to always draw them last and by that time I'm sick of the drawing - if it's just a sketch I just can't be bothered to draw them in properly. but I should start doing them a bit more justice. just for you though - I included some hand studies in my recent sketches. <3

dylanglynn: thanks! that's exactly what I'm striving to do ... like a contrast between realistic and naive.

ok here are sketches.

Mara · **Posted:** Mon Jun 20, 2011 6:04 am

fuck, I'm totally unable to follow through with things lately. well I'm quitting my job in two weeks, I'll have more time for stuff then ...
for now, some really unserious sketches, just playing.

for more see mah blawgh: http://disawallander.blogspot.com/

dENNIS · **Posted:** Mon Jun 20, 2011 8:27 am

That final piece is just lovely, love the fragile form amidst the rough environment

you have a great thing going on stylewise as well

Wednesday · **Posted:** Tue Jun 21, 2011 6:54 am

man, im loving that first post on this page.. so much character in these sketches. i'd love to see them animated, or in sequentials.

its hard to crit your stuff, cause your doing your own thing and doing it so well!
just love from me, carry on~

Mara · **Posted:** Tue Jun 21, 2011 8:20 am

thanks dennis! I did like that one aswell ... woods n stuff are one of my favourite things to draw.

wednesday, yah, if only I could animate eh - but I'm doing a comic (that's dragging on a bit). it'll be up here eventually.
aw thanks! *blush*

I got crackin' on the Soda challenge immediately! basically my plan is to make them into street gang punks and give them an urban/ maybe slightly sci fi back drop. thumbs tomorrow!

D_Murdoch · **Joined:** Mon Oct 11, 2004 12:57 pm **Posts:** 1059

Don't color it! It's lookin' good though. Swap Sir Psycho with Simm. It'll make for a stronger comp. Weight on the sides.

Igo · **Posted:** Tue Jun 21, 2011 9:27 pm

Rad Idea. Im with David, but it raises a question. It looks like you're going for all the baddies (except for Deadfang's absent) but Azure's in there, might as well go full-on epic and just squeeze everyone in there and make them one huge ass gang.

And Badfunk definitely needs a huge ass boom-box on one shoulder.

Keep on kicking ass Mara!

Mara · **Posted:** Wed Jun 22, 2011 5:34 am

thanks for the feedback! I prolly shoulda clarified tho: that wasn't a composition or anything, just some character design to get me going.

yeah Igo, I just started out drawing the characters I like best, not thinking about it really. I could definitely smash in a couple more, and if I have time I'll do 'em all! this contest clashes with one of Swedens national drinking holidays though, so we'll see ... >__>

I wanted to draw them hanging out on a rooftop, just thought it'd be cool and I really want to draw some buildings. but I can't decide between a top view or a bottom view. the right one could be more menacing I guess but I dunno, I kinda wanted to draw a cityscape.

rasga · **Posted:** Wed Jun 22, 2011 10:31 am

The idea is pretty cool, since you're going for a cityscape what about making it a post-apocalyptic "shithole"(we talking about the baddies here).

Igo · **Posted:** Wed Jun 22, 2011 12:49 pm

Gotchya!

And I dare you to go for a crazy ass 3-point perspective fish-eye city scape view... DARE you...

Gunstar · **Posted:** Wed Jun 22, 2011 2:05 pm

Mara!!! You amazing person, you. I have to thank you for your sketchbook posts.

Second city comp feels stronger to me. This competition is on fire.

Mara · **Posted:** Thu Jun 23, 2011 8:31 am

rasga, yeah it's gonna be all dirty like

Igo, don't mess with me like that! I can barely draw simple perspective well enough, BUT I CAN'T DENY A CHALLENGE
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

Gunstar, you're ... welcome? haha
and yeah it is better isn't it
ah fuck I want to get drawing now

Monk · **Posted:** Thu Jun 23, 2011 10:18 am

Personally I think the first sketch has a little more potential. I think the other one is a bit too frontal, the first one's got a more interesting camera angle in my opinion. Although the characters get a bit dwarfed, maybe space them out so some are like right in front of the camera, while others are hanging back?
Either way, gonna be sick. Your sketchbook posts are amazing as always.

ankles · **Posted:** Thu Jun 23, 2011 4:23 pm

yeah im really digging each of the character designs. they are gorgeous

and i have to agree with fabian, i much more prefer the first composition. maybe even tighter in on them, bring them closer together

bird · **Posted:** Thu Jun 23, 2011 4:44 pm

oh god you need to finish these

and i agree, if you don't choose the first one, then do BOTH! hahaha

oh mara i really adore you, a yellow badfunk holy fucking shit

t-wei · **Posted:** Sat Jun 25, 2011 1:17 am

Loving the organicism of your style Mara. Gives kind of a Julian Callos type vibe.

Mara · **Posted:** Sun Jun 26, 2011 5:59 pm

thanks for the feedback everyone! I used it all in drawing up my composition, which ended up being sort of a mashup between both of the previous ones. and it's only SLIGHTLY fish-eye, but I reckon it counts!
and I included nearly everyone, except for death fang because I can't fit him in. but I might still, like just a tiny face in a window or something.

it ended up being more of a laid back chill out type snapshot, I guess! I do like it, but there's still room for revisions, so fire at will ...

Igo · **Posted:** Sun Jun 26, 2011 6:48 pm

Rad update. You can totally fit Deadfang in there, quit being such a sissy.

Only crit Id have is to push either SIM or Azure (who ever is sitting in the bottom left) a bit more to really help get people on different planes (closer to the viewer) and crank up Badfunks size a bit. Just something to help more with the depth overall and messing around with the skylines a bit.

Mara · **Posted:** Mon Jun 27, 2011 8:13 am

yeah yeah okok, I fit him in alright, now the crew's complete. :cool:

oh yeah badfunk did need to be a bit bigger. I pushed Azure into a lean-in shot, but she looks pretty weird now ... something about the legs, I have to fix that. they're probably too small.

the buildings are gonna be more varied and interesting, gonna focus on that next!

dylanglynn · **Posted:** Mon Jun 27, 2011 9:46 am

Really like where these designs are going, a totally fresh take and look. I personally preferred first composition where the camera angle was above and there was more space, I don't really love the idea of cramming so much information into one piece, but that's my personal taste. I'm a bit reluctant to say that because you're already well on your way with the other composition, and I'm sure it will turn out nice anyway. You could also think about revising the piece you're going with now to create more of a feeling of space, maybe take some characters out of the foreground, or have less characters in this piece? Btw I really like your pencil sketches that are a bit loose with the nice harmonized, earthy, subtle digital colour. Very beautiful. There are two in particular, the ones with the sea mood. Really love that.

Mara · **Posted:** Tue Jun 28, 2011 5:26 am

thanks, I really appreciate the feedback dylan, but like you said - I'm really too far along already to make any big composition changes at this point. I usually follow up my time-consuming worked-through contest entries with a last minute one though, so I'll take your advice into consideration for that piece, if I get around to it.

and thank you, yes, I did feel like I hit some kind of vein with those toned down pieces you mentioned. I'll probably keep messing about with more things in that direction.

Igo · **Posted:** Tue Jun 28, 2011 12:54 pm

Newest update is looking great!

Id scale Sim down a bit, she's looking slightly too large/out of scale with where she is, but Azures legs look fine to me. You might get a bit more locking her arms so they are straight, that might push her boobs together but I think it'd sell the lean forward a bit more. Maybe even turn her hands 180 degrees so the palm is on the outside and her fingers are on the inner thigh, give it a bit more attitude.

Go to town though, cant wait to see this finished!

Mara · **Posted:** Fri Jul 01, 2011 7:53 am

chucking this here aswell:

followed your advice on the hands/arms Igo, I think it helped the pose make more sense. thanks! and you're right about SIM, it crossed my mind too, but in the end it just seemed like too much work to fix ... whooops :oopsbf:

I know I facked up the perspective on the buildings and stuff ... I'll go and practice drawing man made stuff now kthxbai

oh, right
forgot to say that my harry potter illustration got in on the Gallery Nucleus Harry Potter Tribute Show!
so if you're in the LA area, you can go see it in person, opening July 9th. more info here: http://www.gallerynucleus.com/gallery/exhibition/244

and here's how it looks framed:

Igo · **Posted:** Fri Jul 01, 2011 12:36 pm

Im so in LA, and Im so gonna fucking go to that, and Im SO going to get a picture with the piece. How the hell do you guys get into these tribute galleries at Nucleus?

Mara · **Posted:** Fri Jul 01, 2011 3:09 pm

awesome! send me the picture if you do! unfortunately it's in the wrong end of the world for me ... actually, would you mind getting a picture of the piece by itself as well? it's my first ever gallery show so it'd be cool to have something like that.

and as for getting in the shows, it's really easy: you just submit a picture of your piece to their blog, and if they like it you're in. huzzah internet generation!

Mara · **Posted:** Fri Jul 08, 2011 3:53 pm

and stuff

Igo · **Posted:** Sat Jul 09, 2011 4:48 pm

I want a HR of that last piece.

Also, your name is right below Drew Struzans on the artists list for the HP gallery. DAYUMN!

Ken · **Posted:** Sun Jul 10, 2011 2:35 am

Shit yeah! Congrats on winning the comp. Totally earned it though, Azure's face is gorgeous.

Oh, and that last one is gold. Been showing it to some friends on facebook.

Mara · **Posted:** Mon Jul 11, 2011 1:41 pm

here's a big one for you Igo, and anybody else who wants it:
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/85 ... ystor.jpg/

Igo wrote:

your name is right below Drew Struzans

oh, is that someone famous? can't hurt I suppose! although it looks like I already sold my piece anyway ...

thanks Ken! glad to be spreading the midsummer spirit around ~

a poop for the sake of it:

Kanta-Kun · **Posted:** Mon Jul 11, 2011 4:18 pm

Drew Stuzans is the guy who draws all those epicly-handdrawn movie posters. Harry potter (1), Indiana Jones and crystal skull stuffs, goonies, etc.

Mara · **Posted:** Mon Jul 11, 2011 4:38 pm

yeah I visited his website but I didn't really recognize any of it except the blade runner poster. not even the harry potter one, funnily ... ah I guess I'm just not much of a cineast. those are hand drawn though? that's pretty amazing.

Kanta-Kun · **Posted:** Tue Jul 12, 2011 11:29 pm

Yeeep. Acrylics and pencils.

Mara · **Posted:** Thu Jul 21, 2011 10:24 am

UPDATEEEE TIME

I just keep doing things I'm not supposed to, and ignoring things I AM supposed to be doing but
sketchbooks are so easy and everything else is so hard
sniff

whoopdidoo

Gunstar · **Posted:** Sat Jul 30, 2011 8:51 am

Rock Lee and Gara <3<3<3

OMG you win so much, it's not fair.

Mara · **Posted:** Sun Aug 28, 2011 4:34 pm

ey cheers gunstar!

aww man feel like I've been losing touch here, got all tangled up in organizing my move ...
I was just looking through my thread from the beginning and started feeling pretty amazing, guess I really did level up this year! with lots of help from everyone here for sure so thanks! totally ready for uni now ...

here's a couple of picks from the past month:

as you can see I got into a bit of a fanart groove ... good times!

Mara · **Posted:** Mon Aug 29, 2011 3:58 pm

Blindly pullin' stuff outta my ass.

this and that

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