Master Splinter

[M.ellis]

C&C welcome.

[swampy19]

Cool i wana learn form Master Splinter

[NickRocks]

doesnt look like a rat.

whats going on with his gut? he looks like he has fat lady vagina.

the back foot looks wrong.

[John Shine]

I know the approach you are going for in your work, and you need to keep your line loose. See the lines around the ears, the lines of the sleeve- beautiful. You lose your sense of grace when you try to "build" the line, if you know what I mean. The sketchy line around the front leg has no confidence, and it will be your undoing Grasshopper. (Check out kentwilliams.com and look at his drawings for the "confidence of line" I am talking about.) Also when shading, don't be afraid to use the side of the pencil lead. Keep going, wax on, wax off.

[M.ellis]

I know the approach you are going for in your work, and you need to keep your line loose. See the lines around the ears, the lines of the sleeve- beautiful. You lose your sense of grace when you try to "build" the line, if you know what I mean. The sketchy line around the front leg has no confidence, and it will be your undoing Grasshopper. (Check out kentwilliams.com and look at his drawings for the "confidence of line" I am talking about.) Also when shading, don't be afraid to use the side of the pencil lead. Keep going, wax on, wax off.

oooooooooooooooooo..... Kent Williams....... holy crap, that guy's incredible! If you know any other artists like him, please send their sites my way.

I agree with you 100% about the line losing its vitality once it loses the sketchy quality. I just finished a self portrait in charcoal (which looks pretty damn good, if I do say so myself, but since it's nearly life-size it won't happily fit on my scanner). It's pretty highly rendered and accurate, but my art teacher said it loses its "drama" when the lines get too locked in, to literal.

I'm not sure how to overcome this. At some point you have to lock into a form with a contour line - especially in comic art. I mean, how do you translate that sketchy spontenaety to ink without making a big mess? Or with pencil and not have the line lose its life? What you said about confidence resonates with me. It's all fun and organic when I'm scribbling away, but soon enough I have to lock it in and make it more specific. I get so picky that I overdo it.

As I seek inspiration and study, I'm gravitating towards artists who have a looser, expressive style. I'm talking Bill Sienkewitz (sp?), Dave McKean, David Mack, Simon Bisley, Gustov Klimt, now Kent Williams... I like moody atmoshperes and expressive forms. Know any others in that same vein?

[M.ellis]

doesnt look like a rat.

whats going on with his gut? he looks like he has fat lady vagina.

the back foot looks wrong.

Fat lady vagina?! It's his gi.....

I see what you're saying. The piece needs work for sure.

[John Shine]

Check these guys out. I think you'll like them.

http://www.jasonshawnalexander.com/works_on_paper.html

http://www.gregthings.com/splash.html

http://ashleybambaland.blogspot.com/...gio-toppi.html

[M.ellis]

I knew about Ashley Wood. The other guys are news to me. Thanks!

[Tecknic]

I have to agree with Nick in that the head doesn't look very rat-like. It has a distinctly dog-like appearance to it. That may be due to the hair on the side, or perhaps the lack of visible whiskers, but it just looks like a different animal altogether.

Otherwise, you'll get no complaints from me.

[John Shine]

Cool, although I assumed you knew Ashley Wood. The guy on that page I was actually pointing out is Sergio Toppi. He totally kicks ass, very expressive, and a big influence on Walt Simonson, too.