I think I'm getting better

[Dave (RayFriedh) 246]

Ahright, I guess I owe ye a critique. 

 

Here goes:

 

Note 1-That eye actually looks really nice! It does seem a little off on the face though, a little too far left.

Note 2-A nitpick, really. The CM should be higher.

Note 3-You seem to know this already, but is worth mentioning again, just in case. Curves are very important for ponies to be interesting and cute to look at. For most of the drawing, you seem to be very aware of this, but some of your lines are almost completely straight in others (Left foreleg).

Note 4-Ears are very thick.

Note 5-Though your guidelines are supposed to help you locate where a pony's bones would be, remember that their skin is not just something that covers them, they have a little more meat to them. Yes, guidelines will help you know where to flesh them out, but you seem to be forgetting a little part of the "flesh". Ponies are neither thin nor chubby, unless you want to draw them that way, but most ponies are perfectly healthy. This note is directed particularly at the legs.

 

Note 1- Though ponies' heads ARE oval, they are more like stretched circles than just ovals. The basic form of all pony faces is always circular-loike. 

Note 2- Front-shots are tricky, even the animators cheat perspective a little to make them look better. They do this in order to make the pony's body seem like it's still there. Your picture is technically correct, but is not as pleasing to the eye as the RD on the right.

Note 3- Is that even equinely possible?

Note 4- Thick ears again.

 

Overall, you do seem to have a firm grasp of ponies. You have the capability to improve, as you've shown here, and as you've said in the title of this topic. You understand that curves are important in ponies, and for a novice artist, you're quite familiar with pony proportions. I actually expected the bodies to be either very stretched or compressed, but their bodies are actually quite fine! With practice, I know you'll do better in your artworks, you're off to a good start. Hell, I couldn't even draw wings when I started, and not even now am I very good with them. (Speaking of which, the way you're drawing reminds me very much of how I started as well!)

 

Anyway, getting a tablet is good idea, Arcus, it's really not too different and doesn't take that long to get used to. It comes with many advantages. Here's a tip though: Customize your painting program so that instead of having to press the buttons on your tablet to undo and redo, you press the keyboard. The tablet buttons require more pressure, and sometimes I'm not even sure if I pressed correctly. Also, having your hand rest on the keyboard is comfortable.

[Arcus (Silver Lining) Wind 983]

Ahright, I guess I owe ye a critique. 

 

Here goes:

 

Note 1-That eye actually looks really nice! It does seem a little off on the face though, a little too far left.

Note 2-A nitpick, really. The CM should be higher.

Note 3-You seem to know this already, but is worth mentioning again, just in case. Curves are very important for ponies to be interesting and cute to look at. For most of the drawing, you seem to be very aware of this, but some of your lines are almost completely straight in others (Left foreleg).

Note 4-Ears are very thick.

Note 5-Though your guidelines are supposed to help you locate where a pony's bones would be, remember that their skin is not just something that covers them, they have a little more meat to them. Yes, guidelines will help you know where to flesh them out, but you seem to be forgetting a little part of the "flesh". Ponies are neither thin nor chubby, unless you want to draw them that way, but most ponies are perfectly healthy. This note is directed particularly at the legs.

 

Note 1- Though ponies' heads ARE oval, they are more like stretched circles than just ovals. The basic form of all pony faces is always circular-loike. 

Note 2- Front-shots are tricky, even the animators cheat perspective a little to make them look better. They do this in order to make the pony's body seem like it's still there. Your picture is technically correct, but is not as pleasing to the eye as the RD on the right.

Note 3- Is that even equinely possible?

Note 4- Thick ears again.

 

Overall, you do seem to have a firm grasp of ponies. You have the capability to improve, as you've shown here, and as you've said in the title of this topic. You understand that curves are important in ponies, and for a novice artist, you're quite familiar with pony proportions. I actually expected the bodies to be either very stretched or compressed, but their bodies are actually quite fine! With practice, I know you'll do better in your artworks, you're off to a good start. Hell, I couldn't even draw wings when I started, and not even now am I very good with them. (Speaking of which, the way you're drawing reminds me very much of how I started as well!)

 

Anyway, getting a tablet is good idea, Arcus, it's really not too different and doesn't take that long to get used to. It comes with many advantages. Here's a tip though: Customize your painting program so that instead of having to press the buttons on your tablet to undo and redo, you press the keyboard. The tablet buttons require more pressure, and sometimes I'm not even sure if I pressed correctly. Also, having your hand rest on the keyboard is comfortable.

Thank you for your critique. I think it's the first time anyone has left a REAL one. First off the ears. I know they aren't show accurate, and that's because this is acually my style (or at least how I'm starting to develop it) The curves I know I need to work on, but it seems when I make them more curvy their legs are to big. I will try to make their head more round from the front to. Thank you for pointing that out. Note three on picture two...I guess it is since I drew it from a reference that I believe came from the show. And yeah, I'm sure my drawing will improve when I get my tablet. Thanks again for you advice. I will deffinetly think about those tips next time I draw.

[Dave (RayFriedh) 246]

Thank you for your critique. I think it's the first time anyone has left a REAL one. First off the ears. I know they aren't show accurate, and that's because this is acually my style (or at least how I'm starting to develop it) The curves I know I need to work on, but it seems when I make them more curvy their legs are to big. I will try to make their head more round from the front to. Thank you for pointing that out. Note three on picture two...I guess it is since I drew it from a reference that I believe came from the show. And yeah, I'm sure my drawing will improve when I get my tablet. Thanks again for you advice. I will deffinetly think about those tips next time I draw.

 

It's no problem Arcus.

 

-In my opinion, the thick ears don't work well with the type of head you're using.

 

-As for the legs, take a look at this: 

 

Sometimes the show does bend anatomy a little, purely to express what a pony is doing, and it works most of the time, but sometimes it is largely unnecessary and doesn't look quite as good. Example:

 

(from "Too Many Pinkie Pies" S3E3) The hindlegs are very, very awkward when she's lying down.

Edited March 23, 2013 by RayFriedh

[Arcus (Silver Lining) Wind 983]

It's no problem Arcus.

 

-In my opinion, the thick ears don't work well with the type of head you're using.

 

-As for the legs, take a look at this: 

 

Sometimes the show does bend anatomy a little, purely to express what a pony is doing, and it works most of the time, but sometimes it is largely unnecessary and doesn't look quite as good. Example:

(from "Too Many Pinkie Pies" S3E3) The hindlegs are very, very awkward when she's lying down.

I'm not sure what you mean by the ears not working with the type of head I'm using. I like the big ears. I will try to make the legs more curvy the next type I draw.

[Dave (RayFriedh) 246]

The ears are very distracting. They're almost as big as the head. Big ears rarely ever work in any design for this reason. One example of an exception to this would be Fennekin from Pókemon. But the ears and the tail help to accentuate its small body and head as well as his small feet. He look a little flimsy though, but I guess all pokémon sorta do.

 

Also, your curves are actually already good! You just forget to make some parts curved. Though you could use a little more curve, don't go overboard.

[Thedoctorholmes 0]

Great job with Octavia:) keep up the good work, I'd like to see more. I've been trying to draw ponies but I'm not near as good as you yet.

[Arcus (Silver Lining) Wind 983]

The ears are very distracting. They're almost as big as the head. Big ears rarely ever work in any design for this reason. One example of an exception to this would be Fennekin from Pókemon. But the ears and the tail help to accentuate its small body and head as well as his small feet. He look a little flimsy though, but I guess all pokémon sorta do.

 

Also, your curves are actually already good! You just forget to make some parts curved. Though you could use a little more curve, don't go overboard.

What kind of ear would you suggest then? I definitely want to do something with the ears to make my own style.

 

 

Great job with Octavia:) keep up the good work, I'd like to see more. I've been trying to draw ponies but I'm not near as good as you yet.

Well keep at it. I've only been drawing for about two and a half months, but I've learned so much from other artist in this community. Most of the really good ones have been at it for years, so it's definitely not something you get overnight.

[푸딩군 48]

It is good ^^

i like them all but specially the last one ^^

i like the way you draw, it would be great if you color them :3

i am sure it would look even better

[Arcus (Silver Lining) Wind 983]

It is good ^^

i like them all but specially the last one ^^

i like the way you draw, it would be great if you color them :3

i am sure it would look even better

Thanks. I've tried to color with pencils but I just mess it up. I'll be getting a digital drawing tablet soon though and I'll start coloring then.