Gesture Sketches / Sketchbook Update

I got pretty down about my art a couple months ago and decided, against all odds, to actually do something about it. For 21 days I did 7 gesture sketches in my sketchbook before bed: small, loose drawings to capture a pose.

I started off a little shaky and unsure, but soon got into the swing of things.

 

 Things became smoother once again when I started referencing poses found online.

There's a notable difference between my start and end pages, and I've found it very helpful in my art - not just for sketching out poses, but getting me back into the habit of using my sketchbook again.
I've produced some bigger pieces based on some of the gesture sketches I completed during this time, and I can see its helped my characters look much more natural and relaxed:

2D Head Turn and Take

Next in 2D we were tasked to create a head turn, followed by a surprise take, with an attribute such as hair or long ears with which to demonstrate overlap and followthrough. To begin with, we had to create a turnaround showing front, profile and 3/4 views of our character. I decided to revisit my character Noelle, previously seen in A Walk Cycle, But Not.

Noelle turnaround.

First I worked out the basic movement of the head as it turned, and then recoiled in surprise.

I then added detail with the face and eyebrows, giving the character expression.

Next I drew out Noelle's hair, giving it drag and followthrough separate from the movement of the stiffer head.

Finally in the roughs stage, I sketched out the pupils, exaggerating their shrink to emphasise the character's shock.

I then inked the animation:

And lastly I added colour.

I am pleased with this work, however I know it is not as good as it could be - there are a few slightly odd movements in the top of Noelle's hair, particularly as she first comes to a stop after turning, and some inconsistency in the size of her eyes and the edges of sections of hair. I am most pleased with my final sketched version of this piece, and may revisit the inking and colouring stages in the future.

Drawing For Animation - Les Miserables

For our second weekly drawing for animation task, we had to ask our fellow students how they were feeling, then draw an exaggerated caricature of them in said feeling.

Many people I talked to during the week gave me the response of either 'ill' or 'okay' - but I tried not to repeat any poses or expressions.

I am most pleased with my drawing of Tabby, leaping in the air as he feels 'hyped for life'. I think that this pose has a strong line of action and portrays the feeling well.