Art Help

Well, my career has officially been decided (assuming that life doesn't own me). I have enlisted at SWOCC, a heavily art-oriented junior college in Oregon. As soon as my senior year ends, I will be heading up to Oregon to register as a citizen, as to avoid the out-of state costs.

I'll be able to heavily polish up my art skills while I'm there (I'll be getting a two year degree, stretched out to three years to ease the general ed requirements). Once I graduate, I will hopefully be able to enlist at an actual, honest-to goodness art college.

A large part of being a better artist is taking criticism and improving one's work. I know quite a few professional artists, so I can get plenty of help from them.

Buuuuuut... a large part of art is merely looking at things from different perspectives. Therefore, the more people critique your work, the more perspective you are able to gain.

So, as I progress through my artistic education, I would appreciate it if you guys would tell me what you think of my work. You don't have to be artistically inclined, either. Just tell me what you like and don't like.

Oh, and in case Mr. DNA shows up, it be NES related, because I plan to make more than a few videogame-inspired pieces. So there.

So, if you managed to make it through that ponderous essay, could you tell me what you think of this?

It's the pattern for a mug I'm making. It's got a hell of a lot of symbolism, which was the assignment. Sorry for the poor quality, but I had to resize it.

Looks good. Get Jenni to help you! She owns!

I think it looks pretty cool, but I feel like there should be more detail maybe. The bird and the snake could really use something extra, and the mountains in the background also (I'm pretty sure that's what those are). I like the mangled fingers, it aids the centerpiece. Overall, just more detail I think, but I'm no artist.

I think you should definetly go for art, I'm doing that myself. Unfortunetly, I'm not hosting any of my art work on the internet...

Thanks, guys. I was thinking of adding detail once the pattern was traced onto the mug. But I'm still not sure, because I'm going for a medieval woodcut look... But the hands are too accurately detailed for that style... Still figuring it out.

Oh! And I forgot to mention. I need help deciding which parts to applique, and which to carve.

The asterisks denote what I am currently planning to carve, and the arrows are pointing to what I'm thinking of appliqueing. Any suggestions?

Thanks! :D

I'm not a big fan of too much "white space" (unless it's a portrait). I would add a bit more the the bottom left and right sides to even out the picture. But don't put something overly detailed, you don't want to take away from the center of focus (the mountian/iceburg guy with the hands).

This is just my thoughts, keep in mind my art teacher in high school hated me (I haven't figured out wether it was me as a person or my art).

This is the Off Topic forum. Why would anyone be opposed to you sharing your art in here?

It looks like you were day dreaming about greatmightypoo

just kidding. I like how there is sort of a border around it. The arms look really cool but they should be on something different, not greatmightypoo, it just kinda clashes. And I also like the lightning, lightning makes anything cool .

Contgrats on the school and stuff!

I'm not a big fan of too much "white space" (unless it's a portrait). I would add a bit more the the bottom left and right sides to even out the picture. But don't put something overly detailed, you don't want to take away from the center of focus (the mountian/iceburg guy with the hands).

Problem is, item on the pattern stands for something, and I'm strapped for ideas for more symbols to put in.

The mountain range with the Iron Cross represents Fortress Europe (WWII had a heavy, look like the mountain had arms. So, I moved the right arm down and in, so that only the hand and wrist was showing. Didn't work entirely, but hopefully, when it is actually on the clay mug, it will be more apparent.

The clouds are the winds of war, which are causing chaos in the sea and in the air (air and sea combat). The serpent represents Germany, coiled around the British Isles. The serpent is trying to devour the raven, but is foiled by a Scottish Claymore, upon which the bird is perched.

The claymore was popularized in medieval times in the Scottish Highlands., where life was tough, life was harsh, and they didn't have any fancy armor. So, the ideal weapon was still the claymore (basically a broadsword), even though the rest of Europe had evolved to using piercing swords.

So, I could find no better symbol for the strength and toughness of the British isles (If anyone else has a Scottish heritage, , the Serpent/Claymore/Raven situation as a whole is a reference to the English legend that, should the ravens ever leave the Tower of London, the British crown would fall.

So I can't think of what else to put in. Maybe more clouds...

This is the Off Topic forum. Why would anyone be opposed to you sharing your art in here?

It was a playful and meaningless jab at your distress over off-topic subjects, like execution and gay marriage (which, of course, have nothing to do with art).

funny thing is, he's the one that told me it was a off-topic forum when I bashed on figg for creating the "God, the real answer" thread

To stop any farther disruption of Uber Newbs thread here, I'll make my case. I know the comment was all in good fun, but I still feel I should explain myself.

This is a forum, and we all like to talk about various things. Most of it is gaming related, particularly about the NES. But often we want to talk about other things. That's why we have the Off-topic forum.

The Off-topic forum, as I see it, has a few unwritten rules. There are some topics that should just not be discussed on a general interest board. Those things include religion and faith, abortion, and heated politics. Sometime this can also include sports. These topics are almost completely based on opinion, and people also happen to be very passionate about them.

Why should we stay away from these topics? Because these topics bring out the worst in everyone. Especially over the internet. I've seen it happen many times. My concerns lie with keeping this place fun to visit.

So that's how I see things.

And OGTL, you are right:

board. I think a community with a certain sense of anonymity mixed with an amount of comfort and familiarity is the perfect place to bring something like this up. Of course, that's assuming it doesn't turn into a flame war.

Hopefully the people around here are smart enough to realize that getting enraged about religion, politics, and sports over the internet is a waste of time and just makes everyone look stupid.

Hopefully.

I guess my faith in the internet has been reduced since September.

Uber Newb, keep drawing man. Can you imagine what video gaming would be like if the game programmers were still the ones providing art for their games?

Personal project of mine...

Been driving me nuts for a long time. I don't know how to finish it!

My problem is, that I want to personify the front of the house, so that it like the house is a living thing, battling the fires which consume it.

However, I can't figure out a way to draw the front of the house without it looking like a , which is the last thing that I want.

This is a way far off idea but maybe make the house look like it's "pulling up it's skirt" or in house talk "the foundation".

A house can fight all it wants but fire is all consuming and unless the house is brick; the fire in the end will win.

Not exactly what your looking for but that's what I though of when I saw it.

That's what I'm looking for; a different perspective.

Cosmic.

You could bunch up the windows away from the fire? Like, ah, they're fleeing it?

Maybe you could try just a really crappy looking house (the kind you would feel sorry for)? I just think it would fit with the "feel" of the drawing. Like the house kind of that it is its time. The whole picture (with the AWESOME moon and all the fire) kind of has a sad feel to it....

You know like a "Don't go silent into that dark night" -Bob Dylan.. or was it Dylan Thomas????

"The house trying to flee from the fire" kind of has a Disney feel to it for me .

Awesome drawing man!

Thanks

Here's something I did for art class. It's white chalk on black paper.

It's the shadows sequence from Citizen Kane, if anyone was wondering. Well, whaddaya think? Portfolio-worthy, or no?

That's sweet!
Now I wish I had chalks (and chalk paper)! Chalk is so much fun, minus the drying out of one's hands.

It was really a chalk pencil, so there wasn't any of the drying out, plus it was easier to control. I'm planning on getting one of my own.

Right now we're working with black scratchboard (photo paper covered in a layer of dried black ink, for those who didn't know)... 'tain't nearly as fun. In fact, it kinda sucks... not because the medium sucks, but because we have to do a full range of values on it... meaning lots and lots of stippling.

that it is its time. The whole picture (with the AWESOME moon and all the fire) kind of has a sad feel to it....

You know like a "Don't go silent into that dark night" -Bob Dylan.. or was it Dylan Thomas????

"The house trying to flee from the fire" kind of has a Disney feel to it for me .

Awesome drawing man!
Are you talking about "Don't go gentle into that good night"? A poem written so he could try to convince his father to fight to live, instead of giving up?
I did it in reading class last year

scratch board is hard. If you mess up your screwed.
My brother did some really cool wolf scratch boards in high school. My neighbor once tried to buy one for $350 but he wouldn't sell it.

Portfolio-worthy, or no?

i'm not exactly an art teacher or anything, but i'd say it's portfolio worthy. good job 'Newb.

I like the last two you posted, i know a little bit of art, more into digital art, but some rules apply for both. In the first two i think you should work more on detail maybe add a light source and add some shading.

Do you mean add a new lightsource above the two men, or enhance one of the original three? I'll probably add more lighting by the lamp.

scratch board is hard. If you mess up your screwed.
My brother did some really cool wolf scratch boards in high school. My neighbor once tried to buy one for $350 but he wouldn't sell it.

Holy hell, he's certainly a more dedicated artist than I am... I'd gladly whore out any of my work for 350!

scratch board is hard. If you mess up your screwed.
My brother did some really cool wolf scratch boards in high school. My neighbor once tried to buy one for $350 but he wouldn't sell it.

Holy hell, he's certainly a more dedicated artist than I am... I'd gladly whore out any of my work for 350!

Are you talking about "Don't go gentle into that good night"? A poem written so he could try to convince his father to fight to live, instead of giving up?
I did it in reading class last year

There is also one similar done by the other poet/writer.. whatever they were.

And AWESOME pic Uber!!!! Definatly portfolio worthy! I wish I could see the real thing and not a scan.

Someday Newb, you'll have a showing of your work at a gallery. Just don't forget about us!

I can see it now, you'll be walking around in a smoking jacket a Hef's playing in his arcade. (After he just spent a gazillion on your art)

I wish. My current career plan is to make it as a political cartoonist... however, that occupation has a helluva lotta competition, from people who've been in the field for decades, so the more likely direction is as a webtoon artist...

In other words, a daytime grocer.

Are you talking about "Don't go gentle into that good night"? A poem written so he could try to convince his father to fight to live, instead of giving up?
I did it in reading class last year
No, I'm pretty sure it's the same one. The author was Dylan Thomas on Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night.
Do you even know who Bob Dylan is? I do know who Bob Dylan is.

But there is a song by Bob Dylan that resembles/has close to the same meaning as that poem by Dylan Thomas. It might just be a line in a song or something.... anyways....