Working on redrawing my OC

[Bleu 28]

I am not sure if this is the right place to post this, 
if not, mods, if you are kind enough, could you move it to the correct place? thanks!

It is just a rough sketch, I am not really good with drawing (still getting used to my drawing tablet)

I am just looking for some feed back and suggestions, thank you!

[Emerald Claus 24,855]

@Bleu

Hello!

Your work so far is excellent, but the first thing I noticed is the head-to-body ratio is a bit off, so I would suggest trying to fix that part. Either make the head smaller or the body the slightest bit bigger.

That's really the only thing I can think off of the top of my head, but the expressions are nice.

 

[Quinch 1,120]

27 minutes ago, Emerald<3 said:

Your work so far is excellent, but the first thing I noticed is the head-to-body ratio is a bit off, so I would suggest trying to fix that part. Either make the head smaller or the body the slightest bit bigger. 

Not an artist here, but this basically - probably the former, along with making the neck shorter and thicker.

But I'm not an artist, so take this with a full saltshaker.

[Bleu 28]

@Quinch

@Emerald<3

thanks for the tips, I will add it <3

[Indigent.Squirrel 4]

@Bleu

I think you got a great start going here! Getting used to the tablet was, for me, the hardest part, you'll get there!

The best advice I have ever received in regards to art, outside of the tried and true "practice makes perfect," is to use references. Referencing some characters from the show (or comics, or even other OC's) can help you get a feel for the show's proportions, which you can later modify to suite your own aesthetic (once you've identified that certain something that screams pony).

Admittedly, some artists seem to think referencing is some sort of blasphemy or that using such somehow voids their style. However, I feel it is quite the opposite: references can help eventually develop a style by allowing you to take what you like or you feel necessary and cut what you don't. Working from memory is often not very efficient (especially if you don't have photographic memory) and can lead to various inaccuracies. Besides, nobody works in a vacuum.

And if you are already using references, awesome! You are well on your way then! If your at this stage, I recommend trying to "see the forest for the trees." That is to say, if one were to draw a heart, one should erase or otherwise block the symbol of the heart from the mind, and attempt to draw what is seen.

(also thanks for your kind words on my piece! Don't sell yourself short, everyone can make great art, you just have to keep at it!)

[Bleu 28]

9 hours ago, Indigent.Squirrel said:

@Bleu

I think you got a great start going here! Getting used to the tablet was, for me, the hardest part, you'll get there!

The best advice I have ever received in regards to art, outside of the tried and true "practice makes perfect," is to use references. Referencing some characters from the show (or comics, or even other OC's) can help you get a feel for the show's proportions, which you can later modify to suite your own aesthetic (once you've identified that certain something that screams pony).

Admittedly, some artists seem to think referencing is some sort of blasphemy or that using such somehow voids their style. However, I feel it is quite the opposite: references can help eventually develop a style by allowing you to take what you like or you feel necessary and cut what you don't. Working from memory is often not very efficient (especially if you don't have photographic memory) and can lead to various inaccuracies. Besides, nobody works in a vacuum.

And if you are already using references, awesome! You are well on your way then! If your at this stage, I recommend trying to "see the forest for the trees." That is to say, if one were to draw a heart, one should erase or otherwise block the symbol of the heart from the mind, and attempt to draw what is seen.

(also thanks for your kind words on my piece! Don't sell yourself short, everyone can make great art, you just have to keep at it!)

thanks for the nice words   
I already use references, which surprisingly helps me out a lot
but I understand why some artists think its wrong to do so, when I draw from a reference, I don't feel like its "my drawing" I feel like
I am just copying from someone else, its kinda weird, ya know?

[Splashee 28,563]

@Bleu, my man! Nice work so far

So I had a closer look at your current avatar. It's an in-motion pose, or an inbetween motion. It's quite difficult to reproduce (mostly because of the artist's way of drawing that mouth). It means that only for a split second you see that wide smile, before turning to a more normal position. I can think of other places I have see that same motion:

 

So, I might agree with the other ponies here about what to do with your pose, however I don't see you strictly having to follow them. Since we are talking about an inbetween, exaggerated, stretched body parts are completely fine here, almost preferred by me at least.

My main advice from me is, as you remember from our earlier talk: Layers, layers, and more layers:

To capture the moment, but also not lose other moments or part of them, make a new layer, redraw your pony a little bit different. Compare, see if some parts made more sense or felt more right to you. Did you feel the motion in your drawing? Add another layer, hide or mask parts that you don't think will work. Eventually you end up with something unique and hopefully takes our breaths away!

And the final thing, it is an inbetween pose. That means there is a motion to it, and an action line is a good start to make the flow just right:

Direction of movement can be seen in the shape of the neck, and the mane/hair flow:

 

Post your progress and if you need any more help

Edited July 20, 2019 by Splashee
Add sweat drops, NO DON'T :P