Man With A Sword Value Study In Watercolors

Just popping my head to show you something from Circuit 3 in my watercolor gym!

Here are blogs to previous circuits:

Circuit 1 based on Gonzalo Carcamo's course on Schoolism

Circuit 2 based on random images I chose from the series Vikings with the purpose of studying.

Using Reference:

I found the reference on Bodies In Motion where you can find a ton of dynamic poses and facial expressions.

One of the pros of using a GOOD reference photo is that it will force you to avoid boring and stiff poses. For example, when you work from memory, you tend to draw characters where everything aligns: skull, ribcage and pelvis. They all face front and are vertically on top of each other.

I drew this with a pencil several times, with modifications each time, until I was happy with it. Then I drew it in pen. I wanted it to look a little stylized.

TIPS

Drawing gum damages the hairs of your brush. and you don't want to throw a precious and pricey brush away every time you paint!

When you use drawing gum make sure you dip your brush in water with a little dish soap to protect your brushes, then use it with the drawing gum.
Wash it right after you finish using the drawing gum.

This is how you remove the drawing gum at the end...just rub it off

End Goal

I still need to use the reference only as a guide with my end goal of character design and concept art in mind. So, I redesigned the model to be a little more angular and thinner. I used pen first, then I painted with gum to protect the white areas while painting freely with watercolors.