- Squid Update #4
- 26 December 05
- How to
- 7 Comments
After a couple of weeks hiatus, I am determined to complete Charlie before the New Year...after all it is the Christmas holidays and I should take advantage of the time. I deliberately had a quiet Christmas (drinks wise), so I could draw today (Boxing Day). I'm glad I did, bright and bubbly this morning.
Firstly, a small piece of finishing off to do on the previous set of tentacles, namely the addition of a few minor tentacles to provide a bit of bulk and interest. Also it might add to the illusion of writhing tentacles.
The overview of this drawing now looks like this. I half think it is some form of mutated elephant! I am not an animal! I am a squid! screeches Charlie.
Now onto more tentacles that will positioned below the head. Again, it's a case of layering graphite in the appropriate area and building up the squid's skin. I'm putting in some lighter areas, to provide some curvature to this tentacle. The dreaded splotching is also required, so I have to draw and scribble little dots on the skin. Likewise a few suckers need to be added for effect. The result ends up looking like this.
Having completed that little infill of tentacle, we now move onto the outer tentacle, which will be a bit wider and more powerful to provide the propulsion Charlie needs when he's swimming. The same technique as before was utilised.
To put you all in the picture, this is what've now achieved. It's coming along OK, I'll fiddle with this final tentacle a bit more - darker shading on the outer edges and some more definition around the white areas me thinks.
After the fiddly finishing touches are completed it's onwards and upwards and we can then commence the hood.
And finally some more cephalopods have joined the club, rocking ones: Derek Hess and Laughing Squid, here, and here <<Older Main Newer>>
comments
Charlie certainly is coming along famously! Thank you for keeping us updated on his progress!
Posted by Sideshowmom on 26.12.05 at 01.16pm
Tell Charlie he is doing a fine job of not being an animal for Boxing Day
Posted by Anonymous on 26.12.05 at 03.19pm
Charlie’s looking great! I think you WILL be able to finish him by New Years!
Posted by Linda on 26.12.05 at 09.45pm
Happy Boxing Day! I love watching work progress, and I’m particularly fascinated by the fact that you don’t do a light composition sketch first, but draw every segment in careful detail from the get-go. A couple of questions: how soft is the darkest pencil you use, and how large is this drawing? (It’s surprising and beautiful btw.)
Posted by andrea on 27.12.05 at 01.45am
Lots of great shapes and textures are appearing right before our very eyes! Go, Detlef, go! (and Happy New Year, too.)
Posted by Laura on 27.12.05 at 04.04am
Thank you guys (well gals really) for dropping by. I’m glad that people are getting some insights.
Now to answer Andrea’s questions: I only do a light outline sketch and then yes chunk it down and get straight into the detail. The darkest pencil I use is 9B the lightest is B. Most of the mid-tone values are 4B/5B. This drawing is on a piece of paper that measures 1000mm x 700mm (approx 39 inches x 28 inches) - so it’s reasonably large.
Posted by Detlef on 27.12.05 at 07.05am
Wow!
Posted by Terri on 27.12.05 at 11.07am