Roll the bones

Taken alone, which looks more like a tree:  the trunk and branches, or the leaves?  The same holds true of the figure.  Without a solid understanding of the skeleton, the figure won't work right.  This is especially apparent in portraiture -- a good drawing of the face is also a good drawing of the skull beneath it. 

I don't have any portraits, or even skull drawings, handy.  But I do have a hand.

First Marks

No drawing is ever better than the first three marks on the page.  A good start doesn't promise a good finish, but a bad start guarantees a bad one. 

My intent here is to post my own drawings and talk, if only to myself, about what I'm doing as an artist.  The human figure is my main focus, thus the title.  Although the figure I'm posting to begin isn't really human.

This is Charlie.  He is a Fish Monster.  He is accompanied by his mysterious isopod, John.

Charlie and John wish you a cold, damp welcome to Mythic Figures.