benjonesart weigh in (LH)

[Beastie]

Yeah, I'm struggling with this too.

The 3 pics are all very different and really do seem to have the feel of work that has been created with reference material at hand.

Because of that, I don't know how to judge the pieces.

[Juggertha]

I believe this artist is primarily an inker that's pushing into doing more of his own stuff - and I feel that pummel is a great place for him to do that.

The hands bug me tons... but the brushwork makes me feel all warm inside. lol

[Fallenangel]

Gonna vote LHW...though still have some doubts about this....

[Dann]

I went LHW too....

The pics are too varied to tell for sure which class to put him in. The tiger pic tho....really nice! Great brushwork!

[benjonesart]

yes im an inker primarily now but been working more on the drawing skills as of late. I dont use many references as some of you have implied just sometimes Im more ispired than others. The wolvie piece was more of a con sketch style warmup. But hey no excuses ill take what you guys say because getting better is always me ultimate goal.

[Juggertha]

Yeah, part of being here is simply being able to stomach hearing ppl call out your short comings. Generally though, you'll find there's a pretty balanced look at the art. Those same ppl giving crits are also quick to praise.

[amadarwin]

Frankly, I'd be surprised if the first two images aren't referenced.

[Emperorsteele]

Yeah, we've had a couple people who've relied "too much" on reference, and it caused a big spat, and so now everyone's paranoid about it.

The first piece is BEAUTIFUL. However, that could easily be looking at a photo (though it's obviously not copied, the contrast is too well defined). That's not a bad thing: I look at this and it seems more to me like you're showing off your brush work, NOT the fact that you can draw a tiger, so I give it a pass =)

The second piece is an obvious homage to a certain Rolling Stone cover... though again, not directly copied. Still very good. I am, however, a bit bugged by the style contrast between Jean and Wolvie. Yes, women should be smooth and curvy, and men should be angled and rough, but this almost looks like 2 different artists worked on the piece. I don't think this is the kind of thing that would bug too many other people, however I'm just pointing out something I noticed =)

Third piece, sketchy, but still very crisp. Very nice line control.

Still, no colors, no backgrounds, no action... these are things that we have no idea where your capabilities lie, and assuming the worst, will come back to bite you in the behind if you're voted in at too high of a weight class. Still, I think LHW is a good place for you. Welcome to PUMMEL!

[benjonesart]

I guess the definition or better put "your" definition of reference needs to be addressed. For me a reference can mean a lot but not copying a picture complete. I have all kinds of references for anatomy,lighting, ect. Like the tiger piece one of my daughters has several books on big cats and I used the book often to check out how the fur swirls, the shape of the eyes and how shadows play on the skull.

Second one was just me remembering the rolling stone cover, think i pulled up a few pics of it just to see where the back persons hands lined up with the placement of the breast.

3rd one was whipped out in maybe an hour or so just from pure memory.

So in this case of reference I guess you could say the first 2 are.

on the styles, for a long time people said my women looked very manly because my natural style is very angular so ive been attempting to make sure I smooth out my women more but I still keep the angularness on my men to make sure they are differentiated in my drawings I guess. I have a bad habit of saying F'it to get the picture done so im pretty sure you can tell where I got and said "ok lets finish this off.

I don't do much color work mostly just black and white.

Backgrounds...well...you can see how much I love doing them lol

[Emperorsteele]

Well, reference in and of itself isn't bad... just how one uses it. The issue is actually Copying/tracing. THAT'S where problems start. I apologize for being ambiguous =)