The Attempt to Draw

Since my last two blog-post is about drawing, I managed to at least to put the theories into test.

After the whole bunch of theories, video and picture tutorials I've seen, I find it very hard to draw with pencil. I realized that it's because for the past two months my hand has been idle for drawing or even writing. It was actively dancing above the computer keyboards and mouse. After a few attempt trying to make a sketch with pencil, I finally gave up. Go back to the good 'ol marker. Maybe if I get used to sketch in a piece of paper, I will manage to look at the video and picture instruction on how to make a portrait...

Here's some work that I've done using a marker, and a post it note.

Drawing Tutorials are Everywhere

Having the freedom not to write thesis makes me want to improve some of my interests. One of them is drawing sketches.

It all started when I went to American Book Corner in the center of The Hague in a middle of a break of writing my thesis few days ago. In the discounted books section, I found a book on how to draw portraits. It is one of "Artist's Work Book" series called: "The Practical Guide to Drawing Portraits". I got it for 3.99 euros with a 10% student discount (one of the privileges of being a poor student).

Although there are all sorts of techniques and methods on drawing portraits, what I found interesting in this book is how they explain the techniques like teaching to an idiot. Actually I've never read any books about the practical guide on drawing portrait, but I found this book is quite helpful to me. Because I never actually applied help grid properly to make a sketch.

The other I find interesting in this book is in one of the tips section. It says:

Always try to produce exactly what you see in front of you, and not what you don't see. Trust your eyes. They are very accurate.

when drawing, I Sometimes wildly use my imagination, since I am much exposed to fictional comic strips. But I do like and would love to make a proper portrait.

Youtube also have lots of How To's for drawing. One of the video I like is the one that uses the Andrew Loomis approach.

There are many other techniques that you can find on youtube. Now, with a tutorial book and Serge's sketch book in my hand, we'll see if I can actually produce a skecth, or just end up finding my head stuck in the internet looking at the work and techniques, drawn with amusement.

Artist Feature: Serge Baeken

Belgians comic artists never stopped to impress me. As a child I am much exploited to comics such as Tintin, The Smurfs, Spirou, Lucky Luke, and Steven Sterk. It also affected my style for making a sketch of a character which is more comical.

A few hours after I hand in my final report, I went back to the library to look up something interesting. Being a library bug for the past few weeks makes me see things that I find interesting to read. Since I am such a poor reader, usually I will always go to the music and kunst (art) section in the library. In the art section today, I found a small fat book with lots of sketches in it. I was stunned, because it is what I was looking for. Not specifically the title of the book, but the contents in it. The book was sketches from Belgian artist named Serge Baeken. Inside the book is all of his selected sketches that was made from 2007-2008. The were no captions, all sketch!

Shortly, I loaned the book, and find myself fascinated by the sketches that Serge made. The book has 412 pages of Serge's sketches. Funny that when I tried to find the book in amazon, they don't have it. Because I absolutely would like to have a copy of the book.

To see more of Serge Baeken's artwork, visit http://www.bloggen.be/sergebaekenblog or his website http://www.sergeontherocks.com/

In my opinion, I find that the first link is more convenient.

Cards for the dancing Animal

Before my departure from Jakarta, the guys at the dancing animal had a serious talk about making some greeting cards of our own. Made a few sketch as I arrive in Holland. Here's some of my sketches:

This is the first drawing that I made on September. It was meant to be a "sorry" card.

This one is the second sketch, it was for a new born card.

The third one is another sketch for a new born card, that was inspired by one of my favourite Star Wars character, the storm troopers.


This one was rather coincidence, because it was requested by my little sister, Alya, after she saw some of my drawing in my notepad. But I probably would put it on the card later on.


Since that I don't have Photoshop in my computers here, in Netherland, I asked my girl, Nike wether if she'd like to add colour to my sketches. This is some of the wonderful coloring job that she made:


If you want to check the rest of the cards that the guys from the dancing animal have made, click here