Help on my Venom art please...

[Crowforge]

Not that I'm the greatest adherant to anatomy or artistry in general or spellin, but you forgot to draw his left shoulder (both his arms are floating actually but the left one really jumps out at yah). You don't have to learn perfect anatomy but it would look much better if you boxed it out first

 

[Anita18]

Actually, you've got the harder of the elements nailed. The hands, the muscle structure, the posture, even the freakin feet.

I don't see any feet, LOL. Okay, just that half of a foot...

I personally don't think that you're missing the shoulder really, but all of his muscles have the same roundess, and that isn't very correct. There are different degrees of roundness even on muscular guys (except for competition bodybuilders but they're freaky-looking IMHO), so it's a good idea to vary the roundness of the muscles so Venom doesn't look like the Michelin Man.

 

[webhead731]

Thanks guys.

The original drawing, before I put it in PhotoShop, had both hands and feet visible. I didn't like having him more in the middle and I wanted it to fade out at the bottom so I cut them.

 

[webhead731]

Ok, I used a little of the Plastic Wrap Filter too detail it up a little. I don't know how to add the blue shading like you guys said without it messing up any detail or it looking out of place. I don't know how to get the right areas either. Help please?
Also, what about the collar bones? It doesn't look right when I erase them. I don't know what to do with those either.


Thanks.

 

[Asteroid-Man]

his neck is abnormally large

 

[webhead731]

Okay, his neck isn't even visible there...

 

[Vartha]

Hey webs you're getting better since I last saw some of your art!
Think of a balloon WB, Venom is supposed to look almost slimey or wet.
What I'd do to help alittle is on the side where the sun is coming up leave warm colors,but on Venom's shadow side use cooler colors. That is what that new SM3 poster is like but that guy over did the green hues. I'd try to use Blue's on Venom's shadowy side. Think Sliver Surfer, Venom has a very slick suface almost like water.

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

I drew this Venom.

I have PhotoShop, how do I make him look unflat?

Photoshop can't teach you about anatomy.
Look at how the left side of his head is rounded and the right side (our right) looks like Frankenstein's monster.

And that line on (our) right side of his chest that you highlighted...I think you wanted it to be the collar bone, but it can't be because it's down way too far.
But if it's the pectoral muscle, it should be flowing into his shoulder muscle.
There, it looks like his pectoral muscle attaches to his bicep at a right angle.

a perfectly symmetrical figure seen straight on is of course not very dynamic, but what you should be doing is taking a roughly symmetrical human figure, and then putting it into "motion" or a pose with foreshortening.
But that humpy back/shoulder muscle on our right doesn't go with the angle of the rest of his body at all.

Also, it looks like you're going for a sort of comicbook semi-realism with the body and the background, but his tongue looks very out of place, too crude, like a first grader's construction paper valentine that was cut out and pasted onto an entirely different drawing of Venom.


I would say that you should get some books on how to draw the human figure and workworkwork on the basics of anatomy and perspective.

 

[webhead731]

"I would say that you should get some books on how to draw the human figure and workworkwork on the basics of anatomy and perspective."

Does a book help on big muscle guys? I mean, Venom is big you know lol.

"Also, it looks like you're going for a sort of comicbook semi-realism with the body and the background"

I'm glad you see that.

"Look at how the left side of his head is rounded and the right side (our right) looks like Frankenstein's monster."

Thanks for letting me know.

"but his tongue looks very out of place, too crude, like a first grader's construction paper valentine that was cut out and pasted onto an entirely different drawing of Venom."

I don't think there's anyway to fix that now.
Is it THAT bad? Like does it ruin the picture?

Thanks for your help.

 

[webhead731]

Hey webs you're getting better since I last saw some of your art!
Think of a balloon WB, Venom is supposed to look almost slimey or wet.
What I'd do to help alittle is on the side where the sun is coming up leave warm colors,but on Venom's shadow side use cooler colors. That is what that new SM3 poster is like but that guy over did the green hues. I'd try to use Blue's on Venom's shadowy side. Think Sliver Surfer, Venom has a very slick suface almost like water.

Yeah, I kinda' see your point.

Thanks.

 

[LennonBoy]

Well...Hes Not Big Enuf It Looks Too Much Like Spiderman Wearing The Suit

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

Does a book help on big muscle guys? I mean, Venom is big you know lol.

Well first of all, even though comic guys are super exaggerated, their anatomy is still based on real anatomy. All great superhero comic artists study anatomy.

Thing is though, learning all of that stuff can be boring.
When I was a kid, all there really was for people who wanted to learn to draw comic art was "Drawing the Marvel Way" which was really vague and basic and not mega helpful.

But just the other day, money was burning in my pocket so I went to Barnes and Noble to look at books and in the Art section I was amazed at how many really good books there are now aimed at learning to draw comicbook art.

There were tons. If you go to a big chain bookstore like Borders or Barnes and Noble and look at the art/how-to sections I guarantee you that you will find many books that will shoot you lightyears beyond where you are now, if you buy and study them.

These days they even have really detailed specialized ones, like, "How to draw hot chicks", "How to draw Manga (there's a whole series of, like, 20 books just on the different aspects of Japanese comic art), etc.

And it's cool because there are so many, that you can pick and choose, based on whose art you like......like, Joe Kubert has a school for comic art and a lot of books out, but his art SAWKS, so why would I want to get tips from him?
But I remember when I was a kid I liked John Byrne's art (don't anymore), and he made a "how to draw comics" book and it helped me tons!

 

[webhead731]

Where...do you see a Spider-Man body size on that, LennonBoy?

That's like Spider-Man on gamma rays if you think Spider-Man is built like that.

1. I really don't care for Hulk-Venom.
2. I keep my Venom just a bit bigger than Spider-Man.

I don't understand what you're saying.

 

[webhead731]

Well first of all, even though comic guys are super exaggerated, their anatomy is still based on real anatomy. All great superhero comic artists study anatomy.

Thing is though, learning all of that stuff can be boring.
When I was a kid, all there really was for people who wanted to learn to draw comic art was "Drawing the Marvel Way" which was really vague and basic and not mega helpful.

But just the other day, money was burning in my pocket so I went to Barnes and Noble to look at books and in the Art section I was amazed at how many really good books there are now aimed at learning to draw comicbook art.

There were tons. If you go to a big chain bookstore like Borders or Barnes and Noble and look at the art/how-to sections I guarantee you that you will find many books that will shoot you lightyears beyond where you are now, if you buy and study them.

These days they even have really detailed specialized ones, like, "How to draw hot chicks", "How to draw Manga (there's a whole series of, like, 20 books just on the different aspects of Japanese comic art), etc.

And it's cool because there are so many, that you can pick and choose, based on whose art you like......like, Joe Kubert has a school for comic art and a lot of books out, but his art SAWKS, so why would I want to get tips from him?
But I remember when I was a kid I liked John Byrne's art (don't anymore), and he made a "how to draw comics" book and it helped me tons!

I think I have that Marvel book lol.

Yeah, thanks though. I need to find some books on this stuff.

Thanks alot.

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

Lennonboy is wrong. Your Venom was plenty big enough.
THIS one isn't big enough...

 

[webhead731]

lol. Wasn't that supposed to be Topher Venom?

I still think Topher was a great choice for that role.

 

[StrainedEyes]

Why ask for advice if you're basically going to ignore it?

P.S. NEVER cut off a figure by the wrists or ankles, never ever ever ever do it. It looks amature and takes alot away from anyones work.

 

[webhead731]

1. What did I ignore?

2. I thought it looked better the way it is than having the hand and foot in there.

 

[Anita18]

1. What did I ignore?

The fact that everyone's telling you to study anatomy and forget the Photoshop filters, LOL? Photoshop can't help Venom if Venom's muscles are attached at the wrong places...

I think that learning anatomy would help you lots, since you do have a lot of bones and muscles starting and ending where they shouldn't. The size of the muscles will obviously be bigger on comic-book heroes, but they're always attached at the same places as a normal human being. It wouldn't even have to be "learning" like memorizing muscles and bones, but just having an anatomy book around so you could reference it every once in a while.

I actually didn't notice the tongue at first glance, but yeah, it does look like a Valentine's Day heart now that it's been pointed out. As for if it's too far gone, nothing's ever too far gone. Are you satisfied with it? If not, work on it some more. To me, a sign of a true artist is someone with the ability to trash something they did and do it over again with absolutely no hesitation. I've trashed sketches and I've trashed more finished works, but so far I haven't had the heart to trash a finished piece. I've gotten close though...

 

[Mrh7448]

Yes you need to think about the anatomy. It's better to build it from the inside out rather than drawing the outline. Begin with the rudiments of a skeleton and develop from there adding on top the structure and shapes of the body.

For Example:

 

[starwars22097]

Lennonboy is wrong. Your Venom was plenty big enough.
THIS one isn't big enough...

it's Topher venomt:

 

[webhead731]

For Example:

Actually, that's kinda' how I started it out. I swear.

For my last 5 drawings or so I've been using the "ball and stick" method. I can't draw without using that anymore. Before I could never do that right, for the past few months I've used it and it works better.

 

[webhead731]

Guys, I have been taking the advice, I've been messing with this for a few days now.

Looking any better? I added more veins on him, the blue shading, (is that what you were saying, Vartha?) more lighting, more red lighting, and fixed the collar bone on HIS left, and fixed the head shape at the top. There's also a little tiny bit of Plastic Wrap filter on him.

What do you say guys? Better? Anything else to fix up? I'm still not 100% done. I know there's a few little things to fix, but how is it now?

And thanks for the help. I'm really glad I'm getting somewhere with this. It's actually the largest amount of time I've spent on any art piece of mine.

 

[StrainedEyes]

Guys, I have been taking the advice, I've been messing with this for a few days now.

Looking any better? I added more veins on him, the blue shading, (is that what you were saying, Vartha?) more lighting, more red lighting, and fixed the collar bone on HIS left, and fixed the head shape at the top. There's also a little tiny bit of Plastic Wrap filter on him.

What do you say guys? Better? Anything else to fix up? I'm still not 100% done. I know there's a few little things to fix, but how is it now?

And thanks for the help. I'm really glad I'm getting somewhere with this. It's actually the largest amount of time I've spent on any art piece of mine.:
(

Dude, adding veins and using plastic wrap will NOT fix the anatomy issues that we all keep bringing up.

What you need to do is take all of our advice and start over with a new picture. You'll never get anywhere if you are unwilling to start over because it isn't working. Adding flowers to a pile of dirt doesn't change the fact that it's a pile of dirt.

Draw him again, fix the anatomy, compose the picture better (Keep the hands and feet in the image) render him better, don't use flat colors, follow the patterns of muscle. All things we've been suggesting which you consistently ignore. In all honesty, it hasn't changed much from the first version you showed us, despite all these 'changes' you've done.

 

[Mr. Smash'n Bash]

I gave up after I kept seeing that vivid white outline.