Latest artwork, some anatomy studies and endless legend study

Some other recent studies and sketches

Hej folks,
it's time again to share some recent sketches and studies with you guys. All of them were created within the last months, and I'm especially happy how the last one turned out. It is a photo study of a desert path through a canyon. I tried some new ideas how to get the surface of these little bastards right, and work on another similiar piece to refine my technique and understanding of the subject matter.
On another note: the renovation of my flat is still ongoing, but the heating works now, no another frosty winter for me, yay! My part of a yet unreleased project is also done, you can check it out at: http://www.threetwentyonegame.com/
There is not much to see yet, but you can get the game for free (or donate) when it will be released from there. The donations will be forwared to Winston's Wish, an UK-based charity that helps bereaved children.

Fly save
- Chris

Some architecture sketches and studies

ArtCast #86

Chris Oatley's latest ArtCast was released about a few days ago, which I a great episode in my opinion. It's always easier for me to stay focused and paint while listening to podcasts, especially the ArtCast. You can listen to it here.

Paint it again: Into the Mountain

Hej guys, I started to redraw an old image of mine these days, to see how far I can push it. Beneath are the repainted version and the original of 2012.
I changed the dimension and gave the mountain a red light of the setting sun to create a focusal point through colour and light. The long scene beyond the mountain was not necessary in my opinion too. The middleground is also covered in snow now, to better show the harsh environment around these mountains and to desaturate the area around it. I also repainted the foreground a bit, killed the little hill to open the view and tried to improve the road and grass a bit.
One moon is also a bit smaller now and got a new shape.

More rough studies

Rough environment studies

Update time

A happy new year to all of you. I hope you guys are well and sound and had a good start into the latest sun circulation effect of our planet. I started to use tumblr (anmaril.tumblr.com) as my main blog last year, and almost forgot to add the latest sketches and artworks here. I prefer tumblr for its nice design and ability to create categories for the audience, kinda like a portfolio for all the not-portfolio stuff.
I will continue with environment studies and paintings this year, to bolster my portfolio, and look into anatomy later one again. My french is mediocre still, but I look for tandem partners to speak it more often. If some of you guys are interested drop me a line.

Apart from it, I thought about writing about my learning process of the last year.
I never was into sketching and studying, despite other artists telling me to do it all the time. But doing so in the last year, was a great opportunity to limit myself and focus on the topic instead the of the technique. I noticed how important it is for me to keep sketching every day. And guys, I had a hard time doing it. Especially because study sketches are no portfolio material most of the time. I had the urge to work only on art which attracts potential clients and get myself into a better financial situation to gain more independence.
Doing sketches has freed me from it to the point that not everything has to be perfect and polished. Which I think was the most important lesson I had to learn.
I'm a perfectionist by heart, and curious like a cat. If there is a topic, I probably have read about it. And I learnt - despite me loving my curiousity - it is a part of how I deal with anxiety. To know more is important for me not just because of the standpoint of just knowing stuff. But also understanding it to improve my ability to deal with my every day situations. It gives me the feeling of being able to controll and assess a situation better. And I did the same in my paintings.
And there was no way of blaming a program or technique, or skip a step while sketching anatomy. I am well aware some of them looking amateurish, and that's because I had to learn it. The whole purpose of this blog is to show other that there is no magic in drawing at all, no talent. But practice and hard work. This may scare some people off, who thought it would be easy, because they were always the best in their class.
But it also means, everyone can learn it. And as hard as it gets sometimes. Don't hesitate, just do it.
It was frustrating to sketch every day when all you can draw looks not good enough. And I have this feeling all the time. But slowly but steady, it went slightly better. I became faster and developed a better feeling for proportions. And when I was browsing back I noticed the differences. They may not be big, but they are there. And it teaches me, to just do it. Put in the time you need. No matter how long you need to learn something. Just do it. There is no other way.

Cheers and a happy new year.
- Chris