Portfolio Critiques?

[terminoob]

Art school deadlines are approaching and while I managed to make my top choice's Early Action deadline, I failed to get my applications in anywhere else. I figured the downtime between now and the time I get a letter back (if I'm accepted I'm obviously not going to apply anywhere else, but if I'm not, then having a stronger portfolio can never hurt) would be a good time to work on my portfolio. If you could comment on the pieces and give me critiques, it'd be much appreciated. I've gotten professional critiques, but I figure it's good to ask all types of people. :P

1 (http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/387595_2739246119511_1208146680_33201811_113933650_n.jpg)
2 (http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/387595_2739246199513_1208146680_33201812_625171536_n.jpg)
3 (http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/387595_2739246279515_1208146680_33201813_493765710_n.jpg)
4 (http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/387595_2739246399518_1208146680_33201815_890431566_n.jpg)
5 (http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/373807_2739262039909_1208146680_33201820_252470219_n.jpg)
6 (http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/373807_2739262159912_1208146680_33201822_352491836_n.jpg)
7 (http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/373807_2739262279915_1208146680_33201823_1263205101_n.jpg)
8 (http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/373807_2739262479920_1208146680_33201824_1557175548_n.jpg)
9 (http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/373807_2739262639924_1208146680_33201825_1901948289_n.jpg)
10 (http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/392784_2739278920331_1208146680_33201833_995389558_n.jpg)
11 (http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/392784_2739279080335_1208146680_33201835_624983378_n.jpg)
12 (http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/392784_2739279000333_1208146680_33201834_1418149681_n.jpg)
13 (http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/392784_2739279120336_1208146680_33201836_1100243281_n.jpg)
14 (http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/313295_2739288840579_1208146680_33201839_1076146417_n.jpg)
15 (http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/313295_2739288880580_1208146680_33201840_1876863718_n.jpg)
16 (http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/313295_2739288960582_1208146680_33201841_2008104550_n.jpg)
17 (http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/392784_2739279200338_1208146680_33201837_178589049_n.jpg)

Thanks in advance. :D

[Kitten]

the colors in 4 are very bright. i like it.
i wish 8 and 15 were in color.
i also like 12 and 13.

[JeSuisAmericaine]

I suggest studying anatomy for your drawings of humans, especially bones; Though the human figure can vary enormously once muscle, fat, and skin are added, bones tend to be very similar. I was trying to draw a few skulls and wanted to check with my mom (a physician) to see if they were ok; she responded by dumping an enormous anatomy book on my lap. After less than a minute of looking at skulls and bones, I noticed several major flaws that I didn't see earlier.
If you can draw bones well, you can then lay muscle and other tissues over that. So again, try to get a hold of a good professional anatomy book (your local library is a good place to start).
As for the apples... Take more time to look at apples. Have a few staring contests with them. It helps.
Cartoons were ok. I can get a good sense of your style.
You should also take some time finding the appropriate medium. For example, your pencil drawings were good, but for a more dramatic effect, you might try charcoal.
Also: Follow through! Inking drawings will eliminate those unattractive pencil outlines and will give them more substance, so don't leave them bare! Fill color sketches with color! Erase smudgemarks!

This having been said, I hope my experience will be of some use to you.

[deadpie]

Nice stuff. Well, the Dunkin Donuts cup might not be something to throw in a portfolio imo, because it doesn't look like it has much importance/value over everything else.

If you like drawing skulls, you should learn all the fun details about them. I'm going to recommend you to look at some of the art by romantic artist Paul Cezanne, his later works where he paints skulls like this (http://www.paul-cezanne.org/Still-Life-With-Skull-And-Candlestick.html) and this. (http://www.paul-cezanne.org/Still-Life-Skull-And-Waterjug.html) He has many more like that.

Your cartoon character drawings are nice too.

I don't have any drawing techniques to give though, because I don't know how to draw, so that's all I can say.

[starbrite5]

I would recommend paying more attention to the sensitivity of your mark. Don't just scribble in backgrounds; take the same time and care you put into the figure to fill them in. I think a more sensitive mark would also help you to put a full range of values, from 1-10.

[darkwoon]

What I think overall...

Lack of contrast: in most of those, the range of values (light<->dark) is way too narrow, reducing the picture to a grey blob with no thickness or presence. Pictures 2 and 6 for example suffer from this.

Proportions: None of the 'realistic' pictures shown here have really good proportions - they all feature rather noticeable size/shape weirdness. If you want to dive into realism, you should train yourself measuring volumes as accurately as possible.

Lack of self-criticism: By that, I mean "watching your own picture again and correct any visible mistake". Example: picture 3 - the bicycle's rear wheel is not round, and you don't need an art degree to notice it; yet you didn't correct it. Always have a second thought on any piece you make, and try to spot and fix what's obviously wrong.

Learn to observe: Most of the realistic pictures here show a common mistake - you painted your subject as you thought it was, and now how it was. IMHO, you have trouble putting preconceptions aside and represent the subject as objectively as possible. Typical example: in 8, you couldn't resist writing the text in a flat line, even if it would obviously appear curved around the cup.

What I'd suggest is to train yourself to observe things with an objective eye, and draw things as they are, and not as you think they are. A good way to force yourself to do this is to take a photo of your subject, turn it upside-down, and try drawing it.

Try also going out and make 1-minute speed sketches of everything you can see around; drawing so fast forces you to focus on the essentials and doesn't leave you time to rationalize and compare against what you know about similar objects.

Finally, I'd forget color for now - stay with black and white until you have a sufficient grasp on values. Similar comment about your drawing tools: get a simple set you feel comfortable with, and stick with it, and don't spread yourself between too many tools and techniques at the same time.

I hope this was of some use!