Bruce Lee, The Legend!!!

Above is the portrait of Bruce Lee, my favorite Kung Fu master.

Bruce Lee is so fast:
a)Lee's striking speed from three feet with his hands down by his side reached five hundredths of a second.
b)Lee's combat movements were at times too fast to be captured on film at 24 frames per second, so many scenes were shot in 32fps to put Lee in slow motion. Normally martial arts films are sped up.
c)Lee could snatch a dime off a person's open palm before they could close it, and leave a penny behind.

Bruce Lee is so strong:
a)Lee would hold an elevated v-sit position for 30 minutes or longer.
b)Lee performed one-hand push-ups using only the thumb and index finger.
c)Lee performed 50 reps of one-arm chin-ups.

Bruce Lee Philosophy:
"Be formless... shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle; it becomes the bottle. You put it into a teapot; it becomes the teapot. Water can flow, and it can crash. Be water, my friend..."

"All kind of knowledge, eventually becomes self knowledge"

"Use only that which works, and take it from any place you can find it."

"Do not deny the classical approach, simply as a reaction, or you will have created another pattern and trapped yourself there."

The above portrait is drawn in A4 Size using Derwent graphite pencil (2H, HB, 2B, 4B & 7B). I should someday try to apply Bruce Lee philosophy into my drawings. It is a fun experience drawing this portrait, especially when a 'cocky' Bruce Lee looks from the reference pic, keep staring at me for hours.

I have been using my Handphone camera for blogging my drawings, which often results in uneven lightings and inaccurate perspective, etc. Finally I'm able to hook up my old vintage Cannon scanner which i bought during my school days. The output image from scanner seems to be much better now.

Here is the work in progress slide, comments and critics are most welcome. :) Alright, time for me to get some rest, Church day tomorrow. Cheers.

Economic Crisis!!!

Oh my God! Economic crisis seems to be hitting me hard! Look at my 4B pencil!!! Damn getting shorter than i can imagine. Hope i won't ended up drawing on sand at East Coast Park with a stick.
Well, if a pencil is short, you can always have a pencil extended attached to the end, and it solve the issue. But if you guys feel any part of your body organ is short, hmm, there isn't any organ extender in the market yet. Haha, better to hide it, or live with it. :)

Terry O'Quinn Portrait

The above is the portrait of Terry O'Quinn who is an Emmy Award-winning American actor. One of my favorite who casts as John Locke on the popular ABC TV series Lost.
I started drawing this portrait in February, but leaving it half done when i left for my Thailand holiday trip. Finally, I'm able to stay focus and complete this portrait. Below is the slide show of the work progress. Hope you will like it. Once again, critics and comments are most welcome. Cheers!!! :)

Clive Owen Protrait Slide Show

Clive Owen Portrait

Above is the portrait of Clive Owen, the man in the movies King Arthur. Recently, i found myself very much enjoy drawing portraits. I feel like God creating image... lol, not really to that extend, pardon me. But i certainly feel like a plastic surgeon, sculpting the subject cheekbones, forehead, eye sockets, lips etc. Suddenly, i became their hairdresser, styling their hairdo. I am now the makeup artist, plucking their eyebrow, and shaving their beard... its so much fun. Anyway, i hope you will enjoy this work progress post on how i finish this portiats Any comments n critics is most welcome. Cheers

1. Using the grid method, i outline softly the subjects features, focusing on getting the right proportion. It is important to be patience and get the right proportion at starts. I ever made the mistake of jumping into detail drawing only to realize that the proportion or perspective is wrong, by then is too late. It is like choosing your life time partner, cant really afford to make mistake at start.

2. I have a choice of drawing this portrait in details inch by inch, but i choose the positive and negative form shading method instead. Basically i just hold my pencil on long loose end to allow less control but more varies moment, for rougher strokes and feelings in the dark space and leaving the highlight white. This helps to bring out the forms n contour.

3. Once the basic form is up, i start working on the details. Since i am right-handed for drawing, (haha, in other cases, i may choose to use left hand instead :P) I prefer start on the top left hand corner of my drawing space, usually the eyes. By doing so, the chances of smudging the finished part of the drawing with my drawing hand is reduce.

4. Filling in the details takes alot of patience and effort. By having my drawing platform incline at an angle as mention on my earlier post, it helps me to see better. I am still learning on various methods and techniques to better achieve lifelike skin texture. I guess is still more practice.

5. At this stage, it is good to check back on the proportion of the subject. Check again, to reaffirms the likeness of the subject. This is where i got stuck upon, thinking how to do with the beard and mustache. Sometimes stumbling onto this kind of challenge, is where i enjoy most. The agony searching for solution, the fear of screwing up the whole drawing... geez... :P

6. Nevertheless, i just go ahead and start planting hair on his mouth.. lol... weeeeee i wish i have such a cool beard and mustache.

7. All the hard work is worthwhile. Nothing beats the feeling of doing what you enjoy most. Yea i know i should have done better... and i will... Tips of the day: a. off your msn and HP, making sure are alone indulging in your drawing world.... no $$ no honey... Here is the close-up.

Corn Drawing - Nov 2008

Corn drawing in progress.... seed by seed...

Size: A4 Medium: Graphite Pencil. Didn't turn out too well, but then again is a good training to test my patience and determination. I should have start with the leaves 1st, then the seed. :)

Reference Pics.

Lamb Of God

I drew this in ink during Nov 2008 on A4 paper. Didn't have a drawing paper back then, but turns out fine to me. :)

Your only Son, no sin to hide
But you have sent him from your side
To walk upon this guilty sod
And to become the Lamb of God

Your gift of love they crucified
They laughed and scorned Him as He died
The humble King, they named a fraud
And sacrificed the Lamb of God

O Lamb of God, sweet Lamb of God
I love the holy Lamb of God
O wash me in His precious blood
My Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God

I was so lost I should have died
But you have brought me to your side
To be led by your staff and rod
And to be called a lamb of God

Random Sketches - Oct 2008

The above sketch is drawn in ink on A4 paper.

The above left sketch study is drawn in ink, and the right sketch is drawn in Pencil. My old samsung Hp.

My Bedroom = My Drawing Studio

This is my bedroom, and also my 'drawing Studio' where i do most of my drawings.

I usually use a 'Drawing Block' inclined to my computer table at an angle, during drawing.
A non-slip rubber pad is stick to it for better grip.

My drawing tools are usually place just a hand stretched distance away. Currently i'm using Derwent.Graphic Pencil, Staedtler Mars Lumograph Pencil, and Sakura Micron Ink pen.