Hi. I'm still trying to wrap my head around cool lights and warm shadows. The pictures are my most recent attempt to my oldest (from a few days ago). I tried starting with a slightly warm neutral base for the shadows, and white that is a touch cooler for the lights, but I noticed that my studies look metallic instead of plaster. I tried making the background a matching colour to the shadows so that the shadows don't look so out of place, but the objects still don't read like normal plaster cast.

For the torso, I used yellow ochre as the base for the shadows, and neutralised it with cobalt blue and burnt sienna, but I didn't realise until much later that the shadows on the dark side are too warm and too saturated compared to the shadows on the lit side.

I would love some tips and advice on how to control the saturation and warmth of my colours. Any feedback is welcome!

My apologies if this sort of critique request isn’t allowed, but I’m a bit shy with my work. Anyway, I was bitten by the art bug about three years ago and have had fun playing at first, then had some fun with “serious” practice. For the past several months, though, I’ve felt like I’ve hit a wall.

What I like drawing just happens to be the human head and body. Loomis is my foundation, though I’ve read some Stephen Bauman and Oliver Sin too. I’m working my way through Anthony Ryder’s figure drawing book, as well.

So, I’m looking for one or a few kind souls to take a look (it can be as deep or as cursory as you’d like) and share your hard-won lessons with me. Blind spots, weaknesses, recommendations for further reading. I’m more interested in foundational critiques (your value layering is bad and this is why) than minor cosmetic critiques about things you would apply to a mostly finished piece (you should vary your line weights to direct attention).

If you would happen to be interested, you can post here or shoot me a DM and I’ll send you a link to my pieces, and, if you wouldn’t mind, please also share one of your own pieces as well 😅

Also posting an example piece so as to not break any rules. I hope to talk some art with one or two of you!

I have been trying to learn to draw figures for a while but unfortunately I have reached a point where I've seen little to no improvement. Pretty much this year so far I don't think I've seen much improvement from January to now.

I feel as if I have many skills I still need to develop but I'm not sure which direction I need to go in. I feel lost if I'm honest. Any advice is appreciated.

I’m doing Sadie Valeri course I’m in Intro and I’m doing value shading. These are my pencils I think they’re sharpened correctly, I gently and slowly shaded it like her but I just couldn’t get that consistent look she has. My pencil basically was making deep lines on the paper and the shade is inconstant. The last slide is what it’s supposed to look like. If anybody has done this before can you tell my issue? If I have any habits possibly maybe be laying my hand or elbow somewhere on my easel.

Hi. I call this one "Something's Wrong". I wanted to paint a scene that features jumpscares, and to try leading the viewer's eyes away from the real jumpscare first before leading them back to it.

The water in the sink and the reflection are the decoy jumpscares, and the real jumpscare is the person's neck being twisted the wrong way while the her body is facing the other way.

I'd love some feedback on whether it worked, and if not, what could be improved? My biggest struggles were painting the light source to make it look like coming from overhead, and making the pose look normal at first but still look obviously wrong if you look at it more closely.

I've attached some process photos and a previous attempt. Any feedback and critique welcome!

Im doing this portrait of Peter parker (tom holland version) but i dont think this looks like him at all

Any ideas?

Ps:I used reference photos

I fear my style is too scribbley. Can you makes out the form or are there aspects that blend in too much?

Hi. I've been doing some two colour studies in watercolour to get used to mixing colours. While working on them, I ran into a couple of issues. I noticed that I often had to rush when controlling edges. It's easier when I only want crisp edges, but when it's hard on one side and softer on the other, I had to quickly feather some water around the softer edge, but if I rushed too much, I'll get ugly blooming effects.

The other thing is that I'm not sure what colour to use for the shadows. Right now, I tend to default to straight ultramarine or whichever of the two pigments that gives me the darkest value. As a result, the paintings don't look very realistic, but I also feel like I don't want to paint the shadows dark grey. I'll be doing more two colour studies with other colour combinations, but I'm not sure how to go about it when I go beyond two colour studies. How do you decide what colour to paint the shadows? I'd appreciate any advice and feedback.

Haven't touched my pastels in a while and recently had the urge to use them.

I struggle a lot with the colors and I am insecure if I am good enough for an investment in a few more decent soft pastels..

Jaxell carré pastels 72 set
Claire Fontain samd grain mixed media paper

Thanks to Dixbit for the 3d model

I’m really struggling with drawing flowers this is with willow charcoal. It’s just not working at all for me it’s not smooth it looks like I’m mentally sick etc someone pleaseee help me 🙏

I didn't realize the back wheel is too far forward and I messed up the bumper a bit. Still good practice though.