Improve Your Designs with Shadow Shapes!

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Scott Flanders is back with another Monster Lab critique! In this lesson, he looks through student submissions from his “Shapecarving” assignment. He gives advice on the technique of shape carving in concept art, emphasizing the importance of simplifying shadows and using less detail to convey form.
For the rest of this summer a percentage of all Scott’s print sales will be donated to Maui fire relief efforts in Lahaina - shapecarver.gu... and 100% of proceeds from the sale of this print will be donated to the Maui Strong Fund - shapecarver.gu...
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How to Add Personality to Your Character Designs - • How to Add Personality...
Character Design and Shape Carving with Scott Flanders - ​​ • Character Design and S...
Digital Shape Carving with Scott Flanders - • Digital Shape Carving ...
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ABOUT PROKO:
Instructional How to Draw videos for artists. My drawing lessons are approachable enough for beginners and detailed enough for advanced artists. My philosophy is to teach timeless concepts in an entertaining way. I believe that when you are having fun, you learn better. I take pride in producing high-quality videos that you will enjoy watching and re-watching.
CREDITS:
Artist | Instructor - Scott Flanders ( / shapecarver )
Producer - Stan Prokopenko (www.stanprokope...),
Production Assistance - Charlie Nicholson, Melanie Nachtmann
Editing - Melanie Nachtmann, Charlie Nicholson ( / shloogorgh , Sean Ramsey (www.peoplewhodr...)
Student Artist - Ireneusz Paszkiewicz (www.artstation..., / nekidesign
Music Used with Permission
Intro - The Freak Fandango Orchestra
Additional music by Epidemic Sound

[@ProkoTV]

Help those affected by the Maui wildfires - shapecarver.gumroad.com/l/BeautyandtheBeast2?layout=profile

[@RezaKaviani11]

shape design and simplifying shapes I think Is very important. I always get caught up in details and forget to merge shapes together and simplify them.

[@ProkoTV]

I feel you! This important step can get overlooked when trying to jump right on in. This key step helps us SO MUCH down the road!

[@willheydecker6179]

Flanders really is the man. The way he blends Mignola-esque simplification with clear design principles and a bulletproof process is something more artists should study and learn from.

[@shavp]

I admit I was skeptical at first about this shape carving technique, but not only did it improve my workflow it also improved my art skills overall. Now I can create many random characters in half the time that it would have taken me just to do 1 rough sketch Thank you Scott Flanders

[@ProkoTV]

That's awesome!

[@dhzinck]

Of all the classes Proko offers, this is the one I wish I could take in person. Always motivating to see Flanders work and get inspired by the students work.

[@thechoripankiller]

My two cents on this is that level of detail should depend on the exposure level. Let's say, you have a face blasted with hard light on the left side and hard shadows on the right. Depending on which side has the most detail, that's how you define the exposure. Because, for example, if your eyes are well accustomed to light, then you'll see the light side more detailed. Your eyes are accustomed to that level of brightness, so it can catch those details, but the dark side will look like a dark blob and you won't get much detail. On the other side, if your eyes are accustomed to darkness (like after being blindfolded for a long time) and you suddenly see this face, then the shadows will have a lot of detail. You'll be able to capture those details because your eyes are accustomed to low levels of light. Meanwhile, the bright side of the face will look like a blinding lightbulb, and you won't be able to catch details in that side, which can seem counter intuitive at first (like, what do you mean? more light = better vision, better vision = more detail, amirite?) but we need to consider how our eyes perceive the world. So yeah, shadow shapes are a good concept, but don't think it only applies to shadows! You can have light shapes, and your _shadows_ can be where the details are on instead.

[@cloverbiird]

thats a great bit of information! ill definitely keep it in mind while painting future works

[@grimreaper9350]

this sounds logical

[@gvagear]

this is not about the physics of eyesight, it is about the amount of details your mind can process in one go and therefore you can understand it as a readable story. too much details make your eyes lost in a search for patterns and storywise it is boring.

[@flammabletoast5820]

That’s very interesting, I’ve heard about and applied in my own pieces the grouping of shadows and the lesser details that blend together in shadow areas, but I’ve never hear or thought about the opposite, when it’s the light that’s blinding and shadows that have more of the detail, I will definitely experiment on this, thank you for this brilliant insight

[@advent_ds]

That pupil changed the game

[@NATA5II]

Probably one of the most important parts of learning for new artists. Instead of focusing on lines, stay big and use shapes and forms. Not only is it easier to correct but it also makes your work look more dynamic. After all, we’re trying to create believable 3D objects on a 2d surface.

[@iFlow420]

This is the information I’ve been missing for years with drawing comic book figures for years now. I could always draw realistic shadows, but I struggled with a more stylized/graphic look. Thank you

[@billy9129]

Wow painting the celling made such a difference. I would have never guessed! And the color palette of this room 🤩 wow!!! Dark red /brown are colors I shy away from but you just blew me away with all the natural textures and tone combo! Great job Drew!!! I can't wait for the last step - styling 😁

[@alanvillanueva8820]

Scott! So great to see you! So random coming across this and seeing you! Miss you! Great feedback and input. You're still killing it bro!

[@ashfield4313]

Very, very helpful. Thank you so much for making this free to watch.

[@TheGroenings]

Those character designs are so cool! I would love to see them in a video game

[@shadowlicked]

shapecarver so good. total wizard.

[@ProkoTV]

He's great!!

[@rishen]

Man! I love how this man makes artwork!

[@onan5785]

those small little details make such a huge difference

[@ProkoTV]

Absolutely! It all adds up!

[@WhiteRussianDolls]

What a pro! Let's also not forget that Mignola studied Kirby and Rembrandt in this fashion.

[@antigrav6004]

Mignola is definitely one of my inspirations. I want to understand his technique more.

[@OceanMan_Blue]

I’m a simple man, I see Scott Flanders and I click like

[@simpledrawingschannelsdc3352]

Amazing work 🤩

[@VicesandNeeds]

Thank you so much for this video and every video you do! this was awesome!

[@drubailey9796]

Dope instructor and great adjective selection

[@UniDeathRaven]

Perfecting shadows in drawings equals to 60-70% of completed art. I'd say that shadows play MOST important role in art.

[@tomnookstoebeans]

"old lady boob" has me crying

[@burningarmadillo5457]

always awesome seeing Scott

[@Androiyd]

I think I just found my artstyle, goshhh the artstyle is incredible!!!!

[@duongtrann2108]

Hey Proko Can you do a chapter on describing fabrics or drawing creases in clothes? I look forward to it 😁😥😉🦊

[@ProkoTV]

This is definitely something we'll tackle in the future BUT Marco Bucci just did a great video on this in the meantime: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mmGaf5Skm76Hbrcsi=Ws9BuBytZXZTITgy

[@ArtistOdysseyMaster]

Thank you!

[@3mily_12]

5:39 I would imagine that people who can already perfect a lot of that, in applying it to this, would get something absolutely stunning like Darkest Dungeon art! I've been wanting to make some recently based off the game but felt myself intimidated by the linework, when in reality I'll probably just use this method instead.

[@Crim_Zen]

I've been doing this for years now. The shadows do help, a lot... Btw I first started doing this because of some DeviantArt pics I saw around 2012.

[@SeifWL2]

i am not artist neither intrest in art i just found this guy handsome and deserve a like

[@hoangtransonhai7383]

Without working so hard, how do you have enough experience to know which is the right way for you, and how do you keep improving, expanding to not be left behind in this endless cycle of struggle? I once believed in this "work smart, not hard" mentality, until myself entering this industry, and I have to tell you, it's actually those who work the hardest to always expand and improve, or those who are too unique are irreplaceable.

[@Drawxton]

I have been trying to paint directly using lights and shadows and they seem much more fluid than chicken scratching a concept

[@melodiasinger]

Gracias por enseñar ❤🤗 excelentes consejos!

[@zamkowicz]

If you close your eyes it sounds like Pedro Pascal is teaching you art

[@Stygian360]

You had me at using Mike Mignola to illustrate your point

[@HiNi.]

SCOTT FLANDERS YES

[@ukmonk]

Great video thank you! Is there any good reference showing techniques for this style please?

[@pasteldoll7274]

I know I should do this since it would help a lot, but man do I hate to do this. I don't really know why, but I know it is important too. So I will just have to force myself through it

[@full_recline]

Great video! 🔥🔥🔥

[@mai2015]

Does anyone know a link to the artist? I’d really like to follow them this piece of art is amazing and I want to see more of their stuff!!

[@ProkoTV]

The artist instructing the course is Scott Flanders. The student whose work is shown is Ireneusz Paszkiewicz. nekidesign on most platforms.

[@LaMatadora]

@mai2015 you can follow Mike Mignola

[@viniciusvmrx2845]

Amazing!

[@Joit_Voitege]

the thumbnail reminded me of a channel from a while back

[@shadowdemon9043]

which channel?

[@밈분쇄기]

what brushes do you use?? and where can I get that????? plzzzzzzzzz

[@CHUNKYNUGGET666]

I call them contouring lines 🤷‍♂️ Definitely a skill that needs understanding!

[@nazuki274]

1:06 Mudskipper!

[@respecmybrain4324]

no idea what theyre talking about but the pictures look pretty

[@Micca_]

Super cool ❤❤❤❤

[@billy9129]

Do you have video on cross hatching?

[@kazoof5652]

really reminds me of mike mignola

[@Wastelandman7000]

Looks like the start of a set of villains from Darkest Dungeon. (meant as a compliment)

[@musicpatron1693]

people have always been taught this...but it's hard to learn when the teacher is saying "BLOCK IN THE VALUES"

[@Msannamitta]

I like this.

[@sadepennbrook]

I’m still stuck on the silhouette part. I think I need anatomy lessons. 😢

[@Jeffyisaninterestingguy]

It might just be me, but the way that character on the thumbnail looked really reminded me of Mithrix from RoR2. Anyone else?

[@Wastelandman7000]

Interesting.

[@ukmonk]

finding this style really hard to get my head around and I don't know why lol

[@ProkoTV]

Despite how simple it can look, it involves you using some pretty wide-ranging skills on inventing shapes and understanding those forms on the fly. But keep at it and build up that skill!

[@ukmonk]

@@ProkoTV thank you for taking the time to reply. Yeah I’ll definitely keep at it, until it all makes sense.

[@OilyOaf]

Trad artists are weeping. I’m a trad artist

[@cyansalvatore6011]

You can still do it with traditional art! Just use color theory to suggest shadow shapes that work with the actual color palette of the piece.

[@kadamin]

Maximum nice :)

[@DarlexGardenWarden]

what do you guys use to draw?

[@ProkoTV]

In Scott's course, he starts his sketches in pencil, then takes a quick digital picture and refines those shapes in Photoshop.

[@DarlexGardenWarden]

@@ProkoTV Oooh cool I heard Photoshop is a great app to draw hope I can use it after I graduate from Art School

[@TJ-el3gr]

Wait...... Did I see Steppenwolf??? 1:18

[@granola_barr]

I thought that character on the thumbnail was Boisvert

[@ameershazubair9803]

❤

[@PocaLuz29]

Abri o vídeo e me assustei achando que era o primo rico ksjsjsjsjsj

[@someperson4819]

Where's Proko?

[@ProkoTV]

I was just on the last video, dang! lol

[@Relish.]

Kind of sound like kermit

[@Tetronus]

Proko please release more of Marvel comics on youtube

[@ProkoTV]

I'll see what I can do!

[@Tetronus]

@@ProkoTV ok

[@TheFinalGamer92]

I can't be the only who thought you started by saying sh*t carving 😂

[@ProkoTV]

Depends on how bad the first drawing is 💩

[@Noils]

at the risk of sounding negative, you spend a lot of time describing rendering techniques. That's great if you're looking for rendering techiques and how to describe volumes, but the video is called improve your design with shadows shapes. Readability and visual clarity is great... but... ok nuff said. thanks anyway.

[@dawwe8869]

Eyy

[@emerilmacayaon5186]

looks like boisvert

[@SketchySometimes]

whenever I get critique from someone all I hear is: "It looks good but throw it all away"

[@ProkoTV]

That's a common problem with critiques. Sometimes, the person giving the critique can do it too harshly OR the person getting the critique takes it way harder than it's intended. It's hard to strike that balance. But if you try to take every piece of criticism as sincere and truly well-intended, it helps. Try to see what the person means and how you can apply it. Even if they're being a jerk, it'll help to take it that way. Hope it helps!

[@jumhed994]

Only ask people who's art you respect. Everyone else is a bellend

[@Limbo_Design]

[@Sentinelladlc]

.

[@angelvigilante82]

they looked fine before you messed with them tbh

[@jaymobiggety9903]

My AI mastered this technique already.

[@ProkoTV]

Sure it did! Have fun with that.

[@jaymobiggety9903]

@@ProkoTV thank you so much! This made my day.

[@royalecrafts6252]

of course you can improve your design with shadow shapes, so you can forget about functionality lol, remember guys is way harder to cheat linedrawing

[@harrymalfoyemailyn7540]

That's so great! It is very useful. If yes, can you do about how to draw natural phenomena like thunder, fire or water?

[@royaebrahim2449]

❤