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Staying Under
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Category Archives: bodybuilding
Placid
Well, the year is almost over. Have I learned anything this year that can be applied in the next?
No.
I’ve had lessons reaffirmed, but I guess I’m at that point where I get more refrains than anything else. All of my new adventures are old ones… except now I go left instead of right.
For example; I recorded almost this entire piece being made. It was fun work and I let my subject see the clips, which made her even more excited for the end result.
However, she posted them and let her fans and clients see the process as well. I woke up to a very large uptick in friend request and people had liked past images accordingly. I could actually chart pieces by popularity!
I’m a videographer by trade; you would think that I would have always done these, lol. So now I’m going to try to, with the caveat that it will take a while to produce. We’ll see. Also those tattoos were hand drawn as opposed to being a selection tool manipulation.
But definitely worth it 😊
Dancing Pants
Well, I finished! After several trips and lots of stress I can relax a little. So I spent the night finishing my painting and making a clip of my work 😊
I try to be positive as much as possible, but sometimes it’s a difficult task. But I’m starting to separate my grief from my daily life.
I’m already starting on a project that would have been timely a week ago. With video! Should be fun.
Type
It’s a good thing that I have a high stress tolerance! I’m working on a podcast right now (not my own) and there were a lot of mistakes made. I’ll fix them after I post this 😉
I love doing these preview shots. When I first started, they were a pain to remember. Now it’s almost second nature.
I got my start as a kid doing comic style art. I still defer to it sometimes. Like here, to keep separation between the character and the background. But it’s hard to fight the urge to do realism.
Honestly, I’m getting better at working around my job as a videographer. I was so used to doing images in one sitting, so learning to pace myself has been very helpful.
As for digital…here I turned off the color for most of the background. I’m not happy with it and need to make changes to create depth. Working slower helps me avoid some of the mistakes that tend to sleep into a speed painting.
So next week, you’ll see a finished project and a video as well! In the meantime, enjoy your week.
UPload
This week I learned that putting a house 1100 miles away that you inherited on the market is hard. I ended up driving to Alabama. I’ve had very little sleep, lol.
But enough of that. I’m doing another female bodybuilder, yay! I get asked if that’s all I draw or is it a fetish or something. The answer is no. But I have been a powerlifter since I was 16. So I have traveled in the same circles.
Plus, women in general tend to be more receptive to being drawn. It’s a little flattering and you get to see yourself the way that the artist does. Most women I’ve met who lift weights tend to be a bit more confident and self assured. They aren’t manly at all; most are so girly and giggly that it’s kinda sweet.
Also, a few haven’t had a lot of self esteem. Changing yourself, your body through an act of will is very empowering. Once you conquer you, you feel as though you can conquer anything!
So I end up trying to capture this for them. They get a lot of flak and unjustly so. Hopefully my art makes them feel appreciated.
Everyone Needs
Sorry about the background. I’d left the transparency, instead of adding a layer of white. For some reason, it’s expressing as black.
Weird.
Anyway, here’s my first digital picture in awhile. My process is pretty simple, all things considered.
A line drawing by pencil, transferred to Photoshop as a layer, copied over as line work then filled with an establishing color.
It was a bit easier; I guess my skills have improved quite a bit, which makes me happy.
The work on this was relaxing for me. It was a nice return to why I loved drawing in the first place.
I wasn’t trying to please anyone. I just put myself in the moment and did my best. Seems like great advice and definitely the kind I should take.
The final result actually garnered me some interest with a gym interested in making shirts and stuff. The owner is a professional bodybuilder who likes my style.
So being myself paid off.
Blur
FINALLY got another set of non-photo pencils. Thanks Blicks, you guys are a life saver.
It’s been an interesting week. I’ve been so busy! And I’ve been asked to do a piece based on another amazing female bodybuilder (what else).
I have to admit, I wish prismacolor had more lighter shades of brown that were warm. It’s as if the idea of them being skin tones never occurred to them, hahaha.
Still, they have light peach and peach, so I make do. Maybe next time I’ll show myself making a pallet. I usually throw those away; I’ll try to do better. In the meantime, I hope you stay healthy and have a great week on your personal island.
Cloudy
Last post before the new year! I’d love to lie about being ready. I really would….
As you can see, I’m back to doing digital painting. Believe it or not, this one was fairly easy for me.
Everyone thinks that I have my own special, custom brushes for doing this kind of thing. Nope. I’m doing it the hard way. Opacity on 10%, so most of the brush strokes you see are built up. It’s how I get that feathered look.
As for the details… I’ve gotten a lot better at crossing the finish line nowadays. Those little things are the difference when it comes to your art.
To be honest, I never trusted myself with being able to bring them out.
Anyway, I’m not sure if I’m happy with it. I gave the old background more pop and a 3D feel, but…
…. we’ll see.
Void
Well, it’s that time of year when people approach me to draw really buff women. I don’t mind ❤️
Believe it or not, the whole thing is something that flowed from a lifelong love of weightlifting for me. I have absolutely no problem with a woman trying to be as strong as she wants.
Of course my first show as a spectator made me want to draw these superhuman physiques. And the ladies were more amiable and less guarded than the guys when asked. So I naturally started there.
Having someone willing to pose for dramatic effect was a turning point for me. I’d never had an opportunity to do still life drawing; so I relished having access to people so willing. I guess you can say that I gained a new artistic appreciation for bodybuilders.
I try not to over sexualize the people I draw. That component is there of course, but it’s not the point.
If you’re trying to get the same effect in your work, you have to understand that the people you’re drawing ARE PEOPLE. I do the same thing with cosplay. I find it brings out the best in them.
Sometimes it’s good to just draw an emotion. It keeps things simple, but gives a clean look. I actually like those best.
So that’s that! Now you have an answer for my drawings of women being mostly muscular.
Oddly enough, no one wants an off-season image of themselves, lol.
There are a few exceptions. And honestly, if you’re one, let me know, because I’d love to do more pictures like this one.
Howly Time! 