So I'm just jumping in here and throwing out a suggestion for a first goal as an example.

I really think making a character turnaround is one of the best things to get over with early on. I'd be glad to critique turnarounds that get posted here.

Should we set time limits on these threads? A week? 2 weeks? Anyone? Anyone?

I say 2 weeks. anyone else?

We can give 2 weeks a try and see what we all think.

a link to Jason's turnaround article if one doesn't know where to get started.

Two weeks, please! I'd love to give this a go, though.

Okay, Two weeks it is. (give or take a few days I'm sure)

Challenge Accepted!

I figured even though I haven't gotten very far with this challenge, I'd post an update to show there are people actively engaged! I also plan to edit this post as I make further progress.. (as opposed to posting a new reply). Hopefully that will keep the thread easier to follow. I don't know if that's the best approach, but since this is the first challenge, it's experimentation time!

Warning: I'm going to be pretty verbose about how I am approaching these challenges since I'm very green. Super green.. you might say. Speaking of green.. I think I'll set the font to green for updates, to make it easier to see what's changed since the last time.

So far this has been my work flow:

1. Brainstorm a character as a subject for a turnaround (I actually had brainstormed up a character the day before.. but it was still the first step). (1-2 days.. off and on)
2. Find a few reference photos online (just some objects I am thinking of incorporating into the design of the character) (20 mins)
3. Some very loose pencil (3H) sketches in my sketchbook to play with my ideas. (45 mins)
4. Pencil (3H) in a very light grid on a piece of 8x11 (landscape) sketch paper. With the help of a t-ruler I made 8 'rows' and 5 'columns'. I went with 8 rows since I've read in several places the ideal figure proportion is somewhere between 7.5 and 8 heads (I think). The 5 columns are are placeholders for the various view angles in a half rotation of my character (like Jason's example sheet). The columns are not especially wide (roughly 2x the height of a single row or 2x a head unit) so my model will probably have to been drawn with arms at the sides. (30 mins... I'm betting this will take far less time the more I do it)
5. Scrapped the old grid. I decided the height/width ratio was too big. The separate view angle images were going to be right on top of each other. Too squishy. I made a new grid with with a smaller height/width ratio (1/3). So now I have 6 cm wide columns and 2 cm tall rows (1 head). Oh and my paper is actually 12in x 8.5in (why is that important? It isn't. Just aiming for full disclosure! )
6. Started lightly penciling (3H) a front view of Sephilia (I think that's what her name is going to be) in the first column. I've been referring to page 27 of Loomis' 'Figure Drawing For All It's Worth' to help me with the proportions. I placed a sheet of blank paper over the rest of the drawing to avoid getting the rest of the page dirty.
7. I finished the roughs for the front and side views (more or less). There are certainly some issues with the anatomy that could use some tightening up but I'll probably just push forward at this point since I'm way behind schedule (threw in the bold emphasis in honor of the punctuation thread).
8. I started on the pencils for the 3/4 front view. Here are the rough rough roughies. I really don't have a clue about 3/4 views. (I've replaced my fear with despair)
9. Tightened the 3/4 up a little, then said eff it. Let's try inking. Umm.. it's hard to ink sloppy lines.



Here's a progress shot. The pencils are actually much, much lighter, but I used jason's levels trick to make them darker and easier to see.

coming up...
not going to hit the deadline.... uh oh

Excellent idea!!- I did a whole layout concept package for school with a tutorial on character turnarounds.. I can't seem to find it now, it would have been good. I'll keep looking and if I find it I will be sure to post it here lol

I actually have something of a strange obsession for turnarounds, and while I have a whole list of favorites from other people I'm not exactly sure what makes a 'good' one. I suppose I should try to make one and see how far off the mark I am ^^

Hmm... I might do this, if I can get some free time.
I've only done a turn-around once and while I was drawing it, I got very dizzy. But it was a really small image, I think that's why XD

So we have to make up a new character for this, right?

Strontium-Chloride - You can make up a new character or you can do one for your current comic Panic + Smolder! In fact I'd recommend doing it for Panic + Smolder because it's always good to have a good turnaround to reference.

I'm guessing that when I edit a post it doesn't mark the thread as having a new post to read. I'm being pretty 'noisy' while working on this challenge, so maybe it's a good thing that every time I update my progress it doesn't mark the thread as having activity as some people might quickly grow annoyed at my verbosity. Anyway.. I thought I'd risk a thread bump in case anyone was curious about the progress shot I just posted (above in my 'work area').

Looking great new Thrall! I'm enjoying seeing your progress as you update your post. Keep it up! I'll hold my comments until you have more complete.

Another bump, since I haven't updated for over a week. truth be told, I was on vay-kay with limited internet access. Admittedly I had hoped to accomplish much more penciling during my time away but all that fun got in the way of my fun! I did manage to get a little drawing in and have updated my work area above to show the progress.

I had also hoped to find (upon my return) posts of others' forays into the turnaround challenge, but alas, nothing but tumbleweeds in here.

Good looking start, new Thrall! If nobody else posts anything then it just means I can focus more on helping you get yours polished! The 3/4 view is usually the hardest but I'm sure you can do it just fine. Looks like you already have a cleaned up version of the profile for your avatar picture. Looks great. Once you have the 3/4 up I'll dive into a critique.

That doesn't sound so bad.

But in all sincerity thanks so much for creating this site and taking such an interest in other people's works/efforts and especially for giving this workshop sub-forum a try. It's unbelievably cool to be able to participate in these challenges. This first one has given me a finite goal to work towards. Creating a web comic is such a daunting task; especially for those of us that are really still in the learning stages of our art. These little challenges are the perfect impetus to start moving from wishful thinking to actual doing. I'm also really looking forward to hearing feedback. Don't pull your punches at all.



Ya, I figured, It was about time I had an avatar. So... I inked my lines with my ancient wacom and added a little shading. It doesn't look too bad at that tiny resolution. I'm even less experienced at inking than I am at drawing (or is illustration the appropriate term?). I think I need to go take a peek at the inking sub-forum for some good digital inking tutorials.

I think we still have two days, right? :X I have most of mine finished...

Also, it's looking good Thrall ^_^ Like Jason, I'll keep my comments to myself till it's done. Assuming everyone is allowed to critique, but if not.. well. XD shutting up now.

Cool, cool, cool! I can't wait to see yours!!!

I welcome critiques from any and all. I feel that should be one of the main points of the workshop. Receiving feedback from each other. Not only will it potentially help the artist receiving the input but also the critiquing artist as they analyze others' work. I'm really looking forward to hearing any suggestions you might have to help me improve the design, the execution, etc.

Please, by all means, everyone is allowed to critique!

Aagh!!! I'm seriously so slow.... I'm not going to make the deadline. I'm trying to digitally ink my pencils.. but I'm realizing that since my pencils were still very rough I'm trying to define lots of poorly defined lines while trying to fix anatomy problems at the same time and that's only on the first view angle! I haven't even gotten to the next angles.

However I am having a blast and I'm learning a lot (hopefully) as I go.

Hey, so long as you're having a blast, right? I understand what you mean about slow, though. XD My process isn't exactly speedy, either. What are you using for your inks?