While beginning my art adventures, I decided to start with this drawing of Wolfie's head, as it demonstrates simple construction fairly well.
My first take on it...isn't so hot. Looks like something you'd see in a later-era Lantz cartoon...bland bland bland!
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| (Please pardon my tablet's crappy camera...I tried my damndest to make these look more presentable.) |
The second one turned out MUCH better...but, as evidenced by my chicken scratch, there is still plenty to improve on.
But while starting the third one, I started to pick up on something else. Probably completely unintentional. All of Wolfie's features naturally flow off his head. They follow a clear line of action. Said line of action more obviously affects his snout and ears, but also his eyes and his cheeks.
It helps communicate his expression more clearly. You can tell what he's thinking even without dialogue.
There is another Wolfie head on this page that demonstrates this, too.
In both, his facial features follow the main line of action.
For my third study, I kept this in mind. It came out a lot better...
...though seeing it next to the original, I feel there is still plenty of room for improvement. The original is pushed a little further...and I think I just made his snout too fat. Plus his jaw should be out more.
After doing this one, I tried my hand at some original Wolfie faces putting my flowing line of action theory to the test;
More to come!
