Animation Student | Drawing Tutorials Online Blog

Rex’s Second Sketchbook

by Matthew | Oct 21, 2017 | Sketchbook Videos, The Blog | 4 comments

Wow are you in for a treat, Rex’s second sketchbook is out of control awesome. It’s also a little overwhelming.

Rex is definitely a special individual. She is playing at a level different from most. Her sheer work ethic alone is a key takeaway from this video.

As you flip through her sketchbook like I said you might get a bit overwhelmed. Some self doubt might start to creep into your mind. The antidote to self doubt is focusing on what you can control right now. What you can control is working within your own sketchbook. Focus on you and your drawings.

Understanding that everyone improves at their own pace. Personally my entire 20’s set me up for my 30’s, I feel I didn’t get really good until I was in my 30’s. So needless to say I peaked late.

Draw with purpose in your sketchbook, don’t just doodle. Practice drawing some figures with light and shade. Practice drawing one anatomical part of the human form every week. Practice drawing from life, photos and your imagination.

Try your best not to always do the same thing. Challenge yourself, get out of your comfort zone. Be willing to crash and burn, your drawings will improve with time.

Enjoy Rex’s sketchbook. Turn that overwhelm into drive and determination.

Check out Rex’s Instagram. Thanks again Rex for sharing your art. looking forward to the next sketchbooks.

Ting’s Long Lost Sketchbooks

by Matthew | Sep 2, 2017 | Sketchbook Videos

I just recently discovered that I had Ting’s sketchbooks on my iPhone. Her work is definitely special and I wanted to make sure that I shared it with you.

As I start off the new academic year this upcoming Friday September 8th I look forward to a new group of students. I’m really looking forward to filming some new inspiring sketchbooks.

My main goal as a teacher is to provide students with skills. Skills are the name of the game. Without them a career in the arts is just a fantasy.

I look forward to tirelessly teaching and training all of my students both in the classroom and online this Fall.

Enjoy Ting’s sketchbook. I’m really going to miss last semesters group of students. Thanks for watching!

Check out Ting’s tumblr. Thanks again Ting for sharing your amazing drawings with us.

Madeleine’s Sketchbook – Part Two

by Matthew | May 6, 2017 | Sketchbook Videos | 2 comments

Madeleine was enrolled in my foundation drawing class at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan New York. Madeleine is definitely playing by her own set of rules. She wants to create her own animated series for Cartoon Network.

I am a very big fan of Madeleine’s artwork. It’s extremely non traditional. It’s extremely cartoonish. It’s extremely colorful.

Personally I tend to gravitate towards realistic art displaying a dull color palette. But when it comes to Madeleine’s work I just cannot get enough of it.

Being a professional artist my entire life I truly appreciate Madeleine’s output. She creates so much art in such a fast way. You can really see her passion shine through.

What you want to take away from Madeleine’s sketchbook is passion! Madeleine has so much drive and so much passion it’s something you want to take note of. Yes even if you are only into traditional academic style art.

I can really see Madeleine succeeding. She knows who she is as an artist. She knows where she wants to take her art. Madeleine has clarity to the ninth power.

Check out Madeleine’s website. Thanks again Madeline for sharing your art. looking forward to the next sketchbooks.

Natalie’s Sketchbook Part Two

by Matthew | Mar 25, 2017 | Sketchbook Videos, The Blog | 5 comments

Natalie is a student currently enrolled in my Foundation Animation drawing class at the School Of Visual Arts in Manhattan New York. We’ve got one month left in the Spring semester. I will miss Natalie and her incredible drawings, however she is onto bigger and better things. Natalie is pursuing a career as a Character Designer and Visual Developer.

Natalie’s character design is super authentic. Her characters combine elegant beauty with a touch of grit. I truly love how Natalie works to balance out each sketchbook page through cut out pieces of origami paper.

Her incredible line quality adjacent to pattern and vibrant color really work together. As a teacher looking through Natalie’s sketchbook is very inspiring.

I hope you find some inspiration as well from browsing through her two sketchbooks. She is of a group of students that is just playing at such a higher level.

Check out Natalie’s Instagram.

Ting’s Sketchbook

by Matthew | Mar 4, 2017 | Sketchbook Videos | 1 comment

Ting is a student currently enrolled in my drawing class at the School of Visual Arts. As you can see from flipping through her sketchbook she has made great strides in a short period of time. Ting’s improvement is actually pretty awesome.

How did she improve so much in such a short period of time. Education, direction, focus and hard work. Ting is currently away from her home in Colorado. She is spending a lot of time drawing. She is totally focused both in the classroom and out of the classroom.

I especially love the way she draws her twisty dark looking animal type characters. I also very much like how she is using what she calls, cheap bank pens.

If you would like to improve faster you definitely need to educated. But that is just the first step. You then need direction and feedback on what you are doing right and wrong.

You need to be focused, not always jumping to the next shinny thing. You also need a strong work ethic.

It is certainly a pleasure to have Ting as a student in class. I hope you enjoyed looking through her sketchbook and are now inspired to get out there and kick butt.

If you are looking for direction and feedback we are here to help. Check out our membership site.

Check out Ting’s tumblr.