Hi everyone! How's it going?

I'm new to this place, I should introduce myself, but that will bore you out of your minds. Instead, I'm gonna skip the introductions and cut to the deal!

I've been drawing WORMS for a few years already, it all started out as a silly game on paper with my friend, but it somehow ended up as a whole comic. No, two comics. But that was about 2-3 years ago, and I wasn't a skilled artist back then.

Sadly, those comics are lost. Okay, I still have one, but I'm too embarrassed to show it anyway...

Wait, what I'm I doing here, then? Oh right!

Lately, I've picked up drawing these little guys again. No comics this time, just random sketches. I've developed my own style with these worms, so they're a bit different from the fan art I've seen over here. But that doesn't mean they're bad, I mean, there isn't a "good" or "bad" in art, right? Right!?

Anyway, without further ado, lay your eyes upon my artwork!

I'm not allowed to post more than 5 images at a time, so be sure to check out my DeviantArt and Tumblr!

http://homemadeawesome.deviantart.com/

http://thatwormsguy.tumblr.com/

Enjoy!

~Mark

http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x396/HomeMadeAwesome/IMG_0043.jpg
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x396/HomeMadeAwesome/IMG_0042.jpg
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x396/HomeMadeAwesome/IMG_0046.jpg
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x396/HomeMadeAwesome/IMG_0049.jpg
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x396/HomeMadeAwesome/IMG_0051.jpg

hey! that's not bad at all. Well done, sir (or madam)!

Yeah that's pretty cool, I like the simple-W2-styled worms, gives them a more simplstic cartoonish style we don't see used much anymore. :)

Thank you for your kind words! :)

To all those super-duper-artsy guys out there who know how to work with Photoshop, could someone please post a tutorial on how to take these kinds of sketches and make a full colored version a bit like this:

http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2011/102/a/e/banana_bomb_by_thurbo-d3dtlql.png

I'm making a comic as a school project, and I wanted to achieve something likt that.

Thought I'd try going digital. Well, you decide of the results, I think it sucks.

http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2012/116/5/c/worms_vector_1___biosuit_worm_by_homemadeawesome-d4xny8t.png

there are a lot of different ways to go about coloring a drawing like that.

If I can manage some time here shortly, I'm planning to do a worms-related drawing, and I can post up some progress shots for you. I'll see what I can arrange.

Just a tip, while it's handy to keep your pictures in big fat sizes for working on them, please resize them around 50% for posting on the forums, as anything larger than 1000x1000 requires a lot of scrolling and becomes a pain to look at. :p Most image hosting websites do this for you automatically.

As for your picture, it doesn't suck, the linework is nice and smooth and the colors fit well, which is a good start. It's just... well, plain and flat. You'll want to look up some tutorials on lighting and shading to make it stand out like the picture you posted. I'd suggest looking through the pinned threads or even other fanartists' threads for some advice and references, or just google as general-art advice will probably apply to worms as well as anything else.

That would be lovely!

Also, I added a little shadows to it, maybe it looks better:

http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x396/HomeMadeAwesome/vector_3.png

~Mark

Do you even have Photoshop? Just use layers. Make a top layer for the outline, and use it for all the black lines in your drawing. Once you're done with that, make another layer and put it behind the "outline" layer, and use that to colour in. Don't bother with the fill tool, just alternate between different sized brushes to fill in the basic colours.

If you don't know how to make layers, just google for photoshop layer tutorials or something.

As for shading, there's no magical way to achieve perfect shading. You need to decide where the light in your drawing will be coming from, and figure out in your head how light would hit the objects in your drawing. Sort of visualize the whole thing in 3D and go from that. If you have some clay around, you can just crudely recreate your drawing in small scale, and place it under a lamp(put the lamp where the light source would be in your drawing), and use that as a guide to see where the shadows would go.

Those are just quick tips tho, if you actually want to become good at it you need to practice a lot, maybe even take some art lessons or something.

I like his hazmat :)

If you do have photoshop then this website (http://freephotoshopguides.com/drawing-painting/creating-a-worms-worm/) goes over creating a worm and shading.

There's a list of worm drawing guides available on our forums (http://forum.team17.co.uk/showthread.php?t=24190). Though some seem to be dead now which is a shame :(

Do you even have Photoshop? Just use layers. Make a top layer for the outline, and use it for all the black lines in your drawing. Once you're done with that, make another layer and put it behind the "outline" layer, and use that to colour in. Don't bother with the fill tool, just alternate between different sized brushes to fill in the basic colours.this is exactly what my tutorial was/is going to be, basically.

Yeah I have PS. I watched a tracing tutorial and created that drawing I just showed you. Currently working on another one.

Thanks for the tips and link, guys! I hope things will go faster once I get my graphics tablet!

Has another go at PS. I think I need to work on my shadows a bit.

http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x396/HomeMadeAwesome/vector_5.png

http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x396/HomeMadeAwesome/vector_4_2.png

http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x396/HomeMadeAwesome/vector_5_2.png

I think I need to work on my shadows a bitdraw some things you can actually see, and pay close attention to how the shadows look. Your drawings are a great start, you just need practice at this point.

Thanks for the advice.

Here's another one I just did:

http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x396/HomeMadeAwesome/vector_6_2.png

Very nice!

By the way, guys, be sure to check out my tumblr:

http://thatwormsguy.tumblr.com/

I post up almost all of my Worms artwork there, plus I'd mighty appreciate requests.

Also, I had my first livestream. Details in my blog.

Enjoy!

~Mark

Quick question, guys...

Am I allowed to do commissions of Worms? Like the ones above...

Dunno, but I really can't imagine anyone wanting to pay for these drawings, if that's what you meant by "commissions".

yeeeeeeeeah. I doubt T17 would be ok with that, and even if they were, who's gunna pay for it? No offense, you're off to a good start, but you don't pay a novice draftsman to build you a house when there are masters around.

Nice job DeadMeat.

You can try "Adobe Illustrator" or any program for make vector images and have better outlines.

Thanks guys!

And yeah, I know I'm not THAT good of an artist for commissions (heck, I learned to vector this stuff a week ago!), so I'm not rushing or anything.

Just wanted to know in advance. Who knows, anything could happen in time!

Why does everyone keep talking about this Adobe Illustrator? I've never heard of it before...

Why does everyone keep talking about this Adobe Illustrator? I've never heard of it before...
Illustrator is to vector graphics what Photoshop is to pixel graphics. :p

http://www.mediafire.com/view/?1kppu42zy1uvlb9

http://www.mediafire.com/view/?1kppu42zy1uvlb9:eek: IS THAT THE WHOLE BOOK?! *faints*

Wow! This looks really helpful! Thanks for the link, man!

:eek: IS THAT THE WHOLE BOOK?! *faints*
I'm not sure, all the online downloads I was able to find end at that page.
Wow! This looks really helpful! Thanks for the link, man!
I linked it because even if you don't do animation or want to become a super serious artist, it's a simple book that contains a lot of stuff that should help you make simple worm designs look interesting. It doesn't take advanced anatomical knowledge to make them look good but it takes understanding of how to make a drawing fun and dynamic (and yes there is technical knowledge in that too and not just "creativity"). A problem with the fan art forum is that most people seem to view 'improvement' as making their stuff more and more detailed and shaded which is kind of missing the point of the aesthetic of this game. These things are limbless worms with floating hands, they're easy and fun to pose in a variety of ways and draw from varying perspectives.

Well, I don't have any words. This is simply amazing!

*shakes hand*

I'm not sure, all the online downloads I was able to find end at that page. I had only run across a selection of about 9 pages before this. I studied the CRAP out of those 9 pages, though! SO awesome that you posted the rest :D

And yes, Deadmeat, he's entirely right. Don't worry about the shading or the details or anything else nearly as much as you worry about the shape and the style. Nail the basic fundamental forms of your worms, and it won't matter how much or how little you add detail. Hell, if you really nail the form of something you can get away with NO detail.

The thing is that you need to keep things interesting with fun posing and expressions. I'll admit that I always thought that was an issue with Aku's art (and hell, my old pictures from this very forum), the worms just aren't lively enough. But it's nice that he's interested in books like this cuz he could easily move past that problem with such info. DeadMeat's got the right idea with the faces but the bodies & poses are pretty much the same. http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2012/123/3/3/worms_vector_7___sentry_gun_by_homemadeawesome-d4yergk.png I like the idea behind this picture though because it's a slightly different perspective than usual.

On perspective & composition there's these really nice notes that Brad Bird (the guy behind The Incredibles and The Iron Giant) gave out to the staff of King on the Hill http://www.animationmeat.com/pdf/televisionanimation/brad_bird_on_comps.pdf and even though it's made for professional storyboarders they're very simple, basic concepts that every artist should take note of no matter the skill level.

As an aside, given that the book I linked is about super cartoony stuff I should also note that this isn't a matter of 'cartoony vs realistic' and real life is far looser than boringly 'realistic' cartoon & comic book art. We make all sorts of silly poses and our faces emote in all sorts of crazy ways that can't be emulated in cartoons by following a pre-made model sheet.

http://www.mediafire.com/view/?1kppu42zy1uvlb9
Damn that is a terrific book! I've only seen various isolated pics out there on the web but never the full thing.

One last reference that I still find really handy is Splapp's worm tutorial (http://splapp-me-do.deviantart.com/art/Worm-Drawing-Tutorial-24052488). While it's pretty short and aimed at his style (so you don't have to follow it strictly if what you do works for you), it gives out a lot of good advice and reasonings behind why he does what he does, like how the body parts should fit together, the impact of the shapes, colors and shading, expressions and organicness, etc.

That tutorial is like from 2005 and it's obvious that Splapp has learned new things since then. Some of the tips are great, others are questionable. I think it's a bad idea to sketch out hands by using only lines for fingers; THIS is way better http://tobyshelton.blogspot.com/2010/10/ive-got-to-hand-it-to-you-2010.html and I think even with worms it's better to start out by sketching out your character with basic 3D shapes + line of action (unless you're going for a very 2D style in which case use 2D shapes).

Generally it's good to know how to draw hands well because hands are a very expressive body part and it works well to make such simple character designs look interesting.

I seldom feel as happy as I am now.

I'm simply speechless on all the suggestions and tutorials you guys keep providing me! I can't even keep up!

And you're right, if my facial expressions don't have a problem, then my poses do. Don't really see how you can work it out with Worms, though...

Have a look at my newer artwork. It's way easier to draw movement through poses on humans:

http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x396/HomeMadeAwesome/IMG_0005-1.jpg
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x396/HomeMadeAwesome/IMG_0004-1.jpg
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x396/HomeMadeAwesome/IMG_0009.jpg
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x396/HomeMadeAwesome/IMG_0011.jpg

And I definitely don't draw hands through lines. I like to use squares and rectangles, though not 3D figures like cubes or boxes like in that blog.

http://www.mediafire.com/?dwuvdmtuzjj a good book if you want to do humans and other stuff

http://www.scribd.com/nik0la/d/255814-Andrew-Loomis-Figure-Drawing a more advanced version of the anatomy parts of the last book

http://www.posemaniacs.com/ and a good site for sketching

http://coelasquid.blogspot.com/2009/01/muscle-tutorial-thinger.html a simpler muscles thing from the author of a webcomic you may know

The stylization on those MLP human version pictures is a bit odd. Like how in the last one her arms are really angular and have those pointy bits but her right shoulder is perfectly round.

I seldom feel as happy as I am now.

I'm simply speechless on all the suggestions and tutorials you guys keep providing me! I can't even keep up!

And you're right, if my facial expressions don't have a problem, then my poses do. Don't really see how you can work it out with Worms, though...

Have a look at my newer artwork. It's way easier to draw movement through poses on humans:

http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x396/HomeMadeAwesome/IMG_0005-1.jpg
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x396/HomeMadeAwesome/IMG_0004-1.jpg
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x396/HomeMadeAwesome/IMG_0009.jpg
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x396/HomeMadeAwesome/IMG_0011.jpg

And I definitely don't draw hands through lines. I like to use squares and rectangles, though not 3D figures like cubes or boxes like in that blog.
While worms might not seem as interesting and varied as us full-bodied humans, you just have to be creative about them in different ways. They're basically just a face with a tail, and the face is the most expressive part of our body so put all you got into it!

Don't think of them as something completely different from humans, what applies to them applies to anything else, and worms are just made-up cartoon animals (compared to real worms anyways), so there's not a lot of realism keeping you down. Imagine if you took your human expressions and human situations onto one. Break out of the standard 2D sideways ingame mold, get creative with their style, mix up the perspective, put them into crazy situations and scenes, keep experimenting!

It also helps to see what other artists do, so feel free to look through the forum for inspiration, although it's really died down in recent years, so here's some cool deviantArts:
- HuntaKilla (http://black-charizard.deviantart.com/gallery/26002)
- Splapp (http://splapp-me-do.deviantart.com/gallery/4530)
- Slick (http://slickster.deviantart.com/gallery/?offset=48)
- Error404 (http://the-error404.deviantart.com/gallery/8767527)
- Thurbo (http://thurbo.deviantart.com/gallery/)

HuntKilla's drawings seem to be the best source of inspiration for me.

Worms are every bit as expressive as humans, even in terms of body language, the trick is only that you have fewer parts to work with. You may have to retool a pose to work with a worm, but you can fairly easily do any post you want with them.

As an example, I did a quick sketch of the people you posted as worms:

http://i48.tinypic.com/2vsj7mv.jpg

The hands on the first human don't work at all, but there are other ways you could use the same pose, and even without hands, she looks just as relaxed and into her music. The second pose translates without issue. The third pose is a little awkward because the worm won't have legs to come off the wall, but at the same time you just have to accept that a worm would be sitting up against the wall anyway. Fourth pose translates directly, you just have to angle the hands correctly to get the tension right. I didn't feel putting much effort into it, but hopefully my craptastic sketching gets the idea across. And the last pose translates directly as well. You miss out on the leg kick, but that's not exactly an essential part of the pose anyway.

I've even done some pretty outlandish poses as practice work, and you can nail some pretty dynamic human shapes with worms, assuming you take into account the simplified anatomy and make that work. It's just a matter of simplifying the pose shapes into larger, less complex geometry.

edit: and yes, I realize that the above poses weren't the most difficult to translate into worm form, I was just going for a simple example.

I quite like your drawings Deadmeat, they're pretty good! The tips people have given so far are pretty much what i'd say too, so i haven't really got that much to add. As with anything, practise makes perfect!

Something I always try to do when i'm drawing worms is to try and exaggerate expressions as much as I can (within reason). As Aku pointed out, you have fewer body parts on a worm to work with (no arms for example), so a good facial expression really helps out. Eyebrows are also very effective... the position of them can change an angry looking worm into a shocked looking worm without even modifying the face. I'm also a sucker for little details... for example, creasing and folding the worms skin (where appropriate) to add a more organic look to the picture. For example, where the tail meets the body.

Having said that, it's been bloody ages since I drew worms properly, so i'm a bit rusty! Oh, and don't really pay much attention to that drawing tutorial of mine that was linked... it's ancient and looking back at it makes me cringe :p

Worms are every bit as expressive as humans, even in terms of body language, the trick is only that you have fewer parts to work with. You may have to retool a pose to work with a worm, but you can fairly easily do any post you want with them.

As an example, I did a quick sketch of the people you posted as worms:

http://i48.tinypic.com/2vsj7mv.jpg


Ha ha! No way! You actually did that!

Just when I think you guys can't amaze me anymore, BAM! you do the unimaginable...

As for the poses, that's a very interesting approach to it all, I'll definitely keep that in mind!


I quite like your drawings Deadmeat, they're pretty good! The tips people have given so far are pretty much what i'd say too, so i haven't really got that much to add. As with anything, practise makes perfect!

Something I always try to do when i'm drawing worms is to try and exaggerate expressions as much as I can (within reason). As Aku pointed out, you have fewer body parts on a worm to work with (no arms for example), so a good facial expression really helps out. Eyebrows are also very effective... the position of them can change an angry looking worm into a shocked looking worm without even modifying the face. I'm also a sucker for little details... for example, creasing and folding the worms skin (where appropriate) to add a more organic look to the picture. For example, where the tail meets the body.

Having said that, it's been bloody ages since I drew worms properly, so i'm a bit rusty! Oh, and don't really pay much attention to that drawing tutorial of mine that was linked... it's ancient and looking back at it makes me cringe :p


Wow! Thanks for the tips!

I gotta say I love your artwork, man, following you on DeviantArt! Your tutorial was really helpful, even though I'm using a different style.

I used to think that I should actually lay down with the wrinkles instead of exaggerating with them.

I guess I'll have to try that out.

I'll be sure to post up my latest sketches here, although I suggest you guys occasionally take a peek in my blog!

instead of exaggerating with them.ALWAYS exaggerate when you're drawing cartoons! ALWAYS.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o3tvGN5wm6M/TqpH7SXUDAI/AAAAAAAAUNw/QhTvfkvyDO4/s1600/klh452223.jpg

If it was good enough for Tex Avery, it's good enough for you.

Rainbow Dash, drawn as a human female?
Is that reverse-bronie-ism? :p

ALWAYS exaggerate when you're drawing cartoons! ALWAYS.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o3tvGN5wm6M/TqpH7SXUDAI/AAAAAAAAUNw/QhTvfkvyDO4/s1600/klh452223.jpg

If it was good enough for Tex Avery, it's good enough for you.
It's effective to keep some level of subtlety. I'm part of the minority that still likes these Tiny Toon Adventures episodes (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWCYkvSwjBU#t=17m20s) (the Kennedy Cartoons ones, which got them fired from the show for being too over the top wacky) and I loved them as a kid (tied with the Tokyo Movie Shinsha episodes as my favorites) but others will find them too 'out there' and it's good to know how to draw both subtle and wacky stuff regardless.

But 'super-wacky' beats 'boring' for me. The old Tracy Ullman Simpsons episodes were technically awful but I'll be damned if they're not more fun to look at than modern Simpsons or Family Guy.

Rainbow Dash, drawn as a human female?
Is that reverse-bronie-ism? :p

Nah, it's just brony-ism. There are tons (and I mean TONS) of humanized versions and styles out there, I just have my own.


It's effective to keep some level of subtlety. I'm part of the minority that still likes these Tiny Toon Adventures episodes (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWCYkvSwjBU#t=17m20s) (the Kennedy Cartoons ones, which got them fired from the show for being too over the top wacky) and I loved them as a kid (tied with the Tokyo Movie Shinsha episodes as my favorites) but others will find them too 'out there' and it's good to know how to draw both subtle and wacky stuff regardless.

But 'super-wacky' beats 'boring' for me. The old Tracy Ullman Simpsons episodes were technically awful but I'll be damned if they're not more fun to look at than modern Simpsons or Family Guy.

I agree that it's best to find a "middle road" in these situations.

As for the movements, I took a peek into that Advanced Animation Guide.

http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x396/HomeMadeAwesome/IMG_0076.jpg

Definitely an improvement, but I still got a long road ahead of me...

I don't like these uber-exaggerations either. In remembrance of this work of my own though, which was only to show what kind of exaggeration I don't like to draw personally :p

http://i597.photobucket.com/albums/tt52/Thurbo1/ExaggeratedExpression-1.png?t=1275481314

If you want to see a nice bit of subtle exaggeration, have a look at this fine piece of officially official Team17 artwork:

http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1lt8ise6f1qd6hl8o1_500.jpg

The realistic style mixed with those slight exaggerations like the cartoonish tongue and overlarge eyes and nose is simply adorable.

Yeah, I really liked that over-over-overreaction you did there. :D

But that last pic? Creepy, if you ask me... *shudders*

Had another go at expressions and movement. Even faced an arch nemesis of mine - perspective...

http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x396/HomeMadeAwesome/IMG_0077.jpg

Please don't mind the thick lines, my H pencil broke, so I only have a 2B and a 9B pencil now...

It's effective to keep some level of subtlety. I'm part of the minority that still likes these Tiny Toon Adventures episodes (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWCYkvSwjBU#t=17m20s) (the Kennedy Cartoons ones, which got them fired from the show for being too over the top wacky) and I loved them as a kid (tied with the Tokyo Movie Shinsha episodes as my favorites) but others will find them too 'out there' and it's good to know how to draw both subtle and wacky stuff regardless.The animation there got them fired?! Good lord, I STILL remember loving that animation even well before I was considering animation as a career....

But 'super-wacky' beats 'boring' for me. The old Tracy Ullman Simpsons episodes were technically awful but I'll be damned if they're not more fun to look at than modern Simpsons or Family Guy.That's basically what I meant with the exaggeration thing. Subtlety is a requirement, as you can't possibly claim to be proficient with wacky until you also understand subtle, but if you have to choose one when drawing a cartoon, 90% of the time, the exaggeration wins it.

And Deadmeat? That first of those two latest drawing is way overkill. The pose is fine, but tossing in that overly-exaggerated eye roll was a bit much for that pose. If you wanted to exaggerate, you should've pulled it even further and made it just completely ludicrous, otherwise reign it in just a hair. When you're working with extremes like that, it's a difficult balancing act to make it look professional and good while still being crazy and out there. There's a reason Avery was so acclaimed. Just keep practicing, basically. Practice'll get you where you want to be and help you find that balance.

Wait, the last one was overkill too? I thought the previous one was, but not the last one...

Yeah the last one is definitely better, but it looks like you're just turning them all into crazy madmen. Yes worms fight all the time but they don't have to always look psychotic about it, there's more expressions out there. :p

Usually cartoon exaggeration just involves taking any human expression, and exaggerating the physical features beyond realistic limitations to really accentuate the expression into hilarity (like the Tex Avery cartoon posted above). Splapp's work is a pretty good example on cartoony exaggerations, if you need a wormy reference, although they're not to everyone's tastes.

My suggestion would be to just play around with expressions, draw worms being happy, sad, angry, sneaky, evil, clever, etc, and then play around with them and exaggerate features until you get a balance you're happy with.

The last one is pretty nice, yeah. I want to say you should experiment with humans too but I dunno, I think you should do some basic anatomy lessons first. it helps significantly and your stylized humans will look waaay better.

I liked your last drawing, and I played with it, I hope you don't mind.

Ready to color:
http://uppix.net/d/6/1/c521781a1e7c3cd231904ce075914.png
I thought that looks better without open eyes

I thought that looks better without open eyesneeds more wrinkles to indicate that's an upper eyelid rather than a smooth eye.....

Woah! Dude! That's friggin' awesome!

Can you show me a tutorial on how you did it? My vector are all pixel-y when I work with them...

Also, I think we all loved that last one, 'cause I finished it myself today.

http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x396/HomeMadeAwesome/IMG_0078.jpg

Can you show me a tutorial on how you did it? My vector are all pixel-y when I work with them...If he made them in illustrator, it's impossible for it to be pixel-y, as illustrator doesn't work based on pixels. If you like the perfectly smooth style, illustrator is an amazing thing.

needs more wrinkles to indicate that's an upper eyelid rather than a smooth eye.....

Thanks for the tip

Woah! Dude! That's friggin' awesome!

Can you show me a tutorial on how you did it? My vector are all pixel-y when I work with them...

Also, I think we all loved that last one, 'cause I finished it myself today.

http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x396/HomeMadeAwesome/IMG_0078.jpg

I'm glad you liked. I enjoyed doing the vector.
Your finish work looks really awesome.

If he made them in illustrator, it's impossible for it to be pixel-y, as illustrator doesn't work based on pixels. If you like the perfectly smooth style, illustrator is an amazing thing.

Yes, I used Illustrator (as you know how to vector in Photoshop, you will find that in this program doing vectors is easier, almost same tools but with more options, so I think a full tutorial is not required, I only used the Pen Tool similar tool for doing the vectors in PS).

If you don't have Illustrator there is a free Software for doing vectors (Inkscape), easy and intuitive to use.

Actually I did acquire Illustrator (don't ask me how), but I'm having a hard time with the pen tool. It seemed way easier in PS, for some reason.

Actually I did acquire Illustrator (don't ask me how), but I'm having a hard time with the pen tool. It seemed way easier in PS, for some reason.

You only need more practice, then you are going to love it.

I search on youtube for a tutorial, I dont know if is the best tutorial but covers the pen tool and some other tools that can help you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DzpT8POAME

Funny. I saw the exact tutorial and learned nothing from it. :D

Maybe you're right, I need a little more time to get used to it...

In the meanetime, I guess I should post up some artwork (this is an artwork thread, after all)...

So, enjoy!

http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x396/HomeMadeAwesome/IMG_0048-1.jpg
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x396/HomeMadeAwesome/IMG_0074.jpg
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x396/HomeMadeAwesome/IMG_0066.jpg
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x396/HomeMadeAwesome/vector_7_2.png

Note: for some reason my vectored worms look very yellow. It may be my school's computer screen, but they shouldn't look like that...

This is some really good work DeadMeat.
Nice, clean and defined lines are key.
Keep going and keep practicing.

http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x396/HomeMadeAwesome/IMG_0074.jpg

Spotted the unplugged plug there, nice gag :p

That's a great image overall but since you've mentioned the issues you are having with getting perspectives right, the ray equipment thingy on the right seems a bit too small compared to the other one further in the background. Same for the monster and Frankenworm there, compared to the Doctor in the background, his monster appears relatively small. Just continue practising, you'll get the hang of that eventually... take your time and look out of the window or around your apartment and draw what you see. That really helps learning how to draw using perspectives.

Also on the last image the light source for the left worm seems to originate from a different direction than for the right worm. Not sure if you can follow me but since the worms have a round, not a square shape, the shadows should be identically set for both of them:

http://i597.photobucket.com/albums/tt52/Thurbo1/attempt.png

Sorry for the unprofessional attempt, this is not all right either but you understand what I mean I hope :D

Note: for some reason my vectored worms look very yellow. It may be my school's computer screen, but they shouldn't look like that...

Maybe you are working with CMYK colors and saving to RGB or RGB to CMYK if you are in PS you can Adjust color (Workspace and other things) pressing: Shift + Ctrl + K

Maybe you are working with CMYK colors and saving to RGB or RGB to CMYK if you are in PS you can Adjust color (Workspace and other things) pressing: Shift + Ctrl + KOne monitor to another makes a big difference no matter how you go about it.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1w4dgnP0sMw/T5snykT8PVI/AAAAAAAAAKA/MVbxmM_CdN0/s1600/SupSuper4.jpg

this image looked REALLY bad on the screen I drew it, but once I moved it over to a monitor with better color, the image fixed itself. I made it knowing it would do that, but assuming deadmeat isn't as used to his monitors as I am (which is likely given these are my personal monitors and his seem to be school monitors), it's pretty likely it could just be something as simple as calibration differences.

I made it knowing it would do that, but assuming deadmeat isn't as used to his monitors as I am (which is likely given these are my personal monitors and his seem to be school monitors), it's pretty likely it could just be something as simple as calibration differences.

That just may be it. Not a fan of LCD monitors anyway, I'd really like to get an LED one.


Spotted the unplugged plug there, nice gag :p

Ha ha, thanks! :D

That's a great image overall but since you've mentioned the issues you are having with getting perspectives right, the ray equipment thingy on the right seems a bit too small compared to the other one further in the background. Same for the monster and Frankenworm there, compared to the Doctor in the background, his monster appears relatively small.

Big, big thanks on noticing. It's extremely hard for an artist to notice the flaws in his own work.


Also on the last image the light source for the left worm seems to originate from a different direction than for the right worm. Not sure if you can follow me but since the worms have a round, not a square shape, the shadows should be identically set for both of them:

http://i597.photobucket.com/albums/tt52/Thurbo1/attempt.png

Sorry for the unprofessional attempt, this is not all right either but you understand what I mean I hope :D

Eh... Sorta. I was trying out different lighting angles, so I thought it was right... Maybe the left one didn't work out, but, in your case, perhaps the worm on the right needs a larger shadow.

in your case, perhaps the worm on the right needs a larger shadow.the only way that's the case is if there's a spot light on the left worm. ambient global light would yield similar lighting on both worms.

Either way your first lighting was wrong, unless there was a spot light on the ground behind the worm to the left shining specifically on the right worm whilst the left worm was angled just perfectly to catch that amount of light. It's technically possible, but it's a REALLY specific lighting that would require a background to make any sense.

If you have difficulty conveying movement with the simple body of a worm, you can always give worms more human features. It's not like anyone can stop you. :cool:

http://s16.postimage.org/6e4910ag3/ohglob.png

If you have difficulty conveying movement with the simple body of a worm, you can always give worms more human features. It's not like anyone can stop you. :cool:

http://s16.postimage.org/6e4910ag3/ohglob.pngthat appears to be broken. If it's the image I think it is, however, I'm glad for that :p

Probably not considering it's brand new Quality Angelus Art.
http://i1251.photobucket.com/albums/hh555/mtlangelus/ohglob.png
Here, is this better?

Here, is this better?No. No there isn't anything on this earth which that could be considered better than. I include in that list the Holocaust.

No. No there isn't anything on this earth which that could be considered better than. I include in that list the Holocaust.

Is that a challenge?

Probably not considering it's brand new Quality Angelus Art.
http://i1251.photobucket.com/albums/hh555/mtlangelus/ohglob.png
Here, is this better?

Dear mother of God...

Is that a challenge?

It better be. That scourge must be eliminated. Fast.

Is that a challenge? NO! :eek:

WIP
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x396/HomeMadeAwesome/IMG_0081.jpg

WIP
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x396/HomeMadeAwesome/IMG_0081.jpg

Nice. If I would be a worm, I would not bother anyone on that team. ;-)

With every image you are improving a little.:)

I think you'd benefit from using construction, rather than drawing freehand. Here's a nice tutorial on 'lazy lines' that has a lot of useful advice about considering your drawings as 3D objects.

http://www.animationmeat.com/pdf/misc/waltstanchfield/32ws_lazy_lines.pdf

Thanks a bunch! :)


Due to the fact that my exams are dangerously close, I'll be laying off any artsy-fartsy stuff until they're over.

In the meantime, I literally just tested out my luck at traditional animation. Yes, I know it sucks, it was my very first attempt.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ctCCrlkMco

Enjoy!

~Mark

Thanks a bunch! :)


Due to the fact that my exams are dangerously close, I'll be laying off any artsy-fartsy stuff until they're over.

In the meantime, I literally just tested out my luck at traditional animation. Yes, I know it sucks, it was my very first attempt.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ctCCrlkMco

Enjoy!

~MarkJust a quick tutorial on that? When an object moves, be it an arm, leg, jet plane or pair of eyelids, the majority of the slow action happens right at the beginning and right at the end of the movement. In this case, you have each frame spread out along the duration of the animation pretty evenly spaced in terms of distance that it's travelled. What you SHOULD do is have several frames very close to each other right when the blink starts, each gradually moving further than the last until the majority of the movement in the blink is done with one single frame, and then it slows again as it approaches being closed. Then repeat in reverse to reopen.

As always, extremely helpful advice.

I'll re-attempt traditional animation sometime, and I might do something else (maybe even hoomans!:eek:), so I'll definitely try that out.

Bump.

Welp, with my English exam finally behind me, I found some time to create THIS piece of horror!

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4dpvpCwjK1r5i1vto1_500.gif

Yeah, I still got a lot to learn...

EDIT:

Made ANOTHER one!

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4h6flzUKl1r5i1vto1_400.gif

That animation guide is GOLD!!!

the first one needs some clean-up, but the second one looks great! well done!

Scrap that drawing I showed you, making a bigger one!

Part 1 (the left side):

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4w601PgwT1runil1o1_250.jpg
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4w601PgwT1runil1o2_250.jpg
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4w601PgwT1runil1o3_250.jpg
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4w601PgwT1runil1o4_250.jpg
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4w601PgwT1runil1o5_250.jpg

Part 2 (the right side):


http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4w601PgwT1runil1o6_250.jpg
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4w601PgwT1runil1o7_250.jpg
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4w601PgwT1runil1o8_250.jpg
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4w601PgwT1runil1o9_250.jpg

I like it.

ink pens. Invest in a set. :p

You know what's ironic?

I used to draw only with pens.

Until I found out how useful pencils are in drawing. Who knew?

And besides, it's a WIP. Very far from finished.

EDIT:

More animation. Literally JUST did this.

http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x396/HomeMadeAwesome/animation-test-4.gif

The movement is too linear. Oh well, I guess I have to learn from my mistakes!

You know what's ironic?

I used to draw only with pens.

Until I found out how useful pencils are in drawing. Who knew?

And besides, it's a WIP. Very far from finished.lol, well I only meant that it was very difficult to see. The drawing looks fine, it's just faint after being scanned. Needs some ink or some photoshopping.

EDIT:

More animation. Literally JUST did this.

http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x396/HomeMadeAwesome/animation-test-4.gif

The movement is too linear. Oh well, I guess I have to learn from my mistakes!too linear in more ways than one. It neither moves in an arc nor gains/loses speed as the animation goes along. The ball should slow down as it approaches the ground and the apex of each bounce, and it should leap off the ground slightly more quickly than it approached it. (SLIGHTLY)

lol, well I only meant that it was very difficult to see. The drawing looks fine, it's just faint after being scanned. Needs some ink or some photoshopping.

too linear in more ways than one. It neither moves in an arc nor gains/loses speed as the animation goes along. The ball should slow down as it approaches the ground and the apex of each bounce, and it should leap off the ground slightly more quickly than it approached it. (SLIGHTLY)

Strangely enough, isn't the movement FASTER right before it hits the ground? I gains momentum through the fall, logically. In fact, perhaps the slowest movements could be RIGHT after it bounces off the ground AND in midair, when it reaches its peak.

I'll try that out sometime.

Strangely enough, isn't the movement FASTER right before it hits the ground? I gains momentum through the fall, logically. In fact, perhaps the slowest movements could be RIGHT after it bounces off the ground AND in midair, when it reaches its peak.

I'll try that out sometime.haha, I'm an idiot and typed that out wrong. Yes, the speed increases, not slows, as it approaches the ground. As for the right after it bounces, a lively object will require a large leap after hitting the ground, a sluggish object will drag after the bounce. It all depends on the personality you're trying to give your animation.

So, now that my exams are finally over, I'll be returning to more serious arsting!

In the meantime, have a very crappy animation test:
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x396/HomeMadeAwesome/animation-test-5.gif

Oh, and a slightly stylized drawing of Loki:
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x396/HomeMadeAwesome/IMG_0004-2.jpg

Hey guys! Sorry I've been absent, preparations for my graduation took more time than I expected!

Anyway, I'm in a really cartoon-y mood lately, so have a random drawing I drew the other night:

http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x396/HomeMadeAwesome/IMG_0014-1.jpg

Enjoy!

~Mark

neat, nice work.