MantisGirl13
Well-known member
Does anyone paint or sketch their mantids? I do, and I thought I should share some of my sketches on here! Please give me your honest opinion of my artwork. Thanks! 
- MantisGirl13
Mantis Inspired Art
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Does anyone paint or sketch their mantids? I do, and I thought I should share some of my sketches on here! Please give me your honest opinion of my artwork. Thanks! - MantisGirl13
Graceface
Well-known member
I love it! You did a good job capturing their personality in your drawings ❤ The Ghost is giving me a look that mine give me all the time
MantisGirl13
Well-known member
Thanks, @Graceface! It can be so easy or really tricky to capture the personality. It was pretty easy for me in the orchid and ghost sketches, but the Violin and Thistle were harder and they don't look as good.- MantisGirl13
whimsyandreverie
Member
Oh wow! This is exactly what I was planning on doing with my collection as it grew - draw them! I love having live models to draw and, hopefully, draw further inspiration from (life drawing is definitely something I find soothing, but creature design is one of my real passions!)
These are looking quite nice! I definitely agree that you've managed to capture personality in your drawings. One thing I would recommend in general is to break down you drawings to their simplest bits before building them up. By this I mean, start off with the gestures - a few lines to indicate the subject's line of action in its pose. Then break down the subject's form into simple shapes. Some circles and ovals, triangles squares, etc... Then you can connect the shapes and lines and add in those details and shading as you wish. The first two steps may seem a little abstract at first - I can make an actually helpful visual guide if you're interested - but they can definitely help in any drawing once you've gotten the hang of it! These drawings are really lovely. Keep up the good work!
These are looking quite nice! I definitely agree that you've managed to capture personality in your drawings. One thing I would recommend in general is to break down you drawings to their simplest bits before building them up. By this I mean, start off with the gestures - a few lines to indicate the subject's line of action in its pose. Then break down the subject's form into simple shapes. Some circles and ovals, triangles squares, etc... Then you can connect the shapes and lines and add in those details and shading as you wish. The first two steps may seem a little abstract at first - I can make an actually helpful visual guide if you're interested - but they can definitely help in any drawing once you've gotten the hang of it! These drawings are really lovely. Keep up the good work!
Mantis Lady
Well-known member
Your sketches are looking very good 
hysteresis
Well-known member
MantisGirl13
Well-known member
Thank you for the tips! I am not so happy with the Violin and the thistle, but they were the first ones I ever did. I have a few more pictures somewhere that I can show of a few other sketches I have done. Do you sketch much?
- MantisGirl13
MantisGirl13
Well-known member
Your sketches are looking very good
Thank you!
- MantisGirl13
whimsyandreverie
Member
It's not uncommon to feel unsatisfied with the first attempt (and really all attempts thereafter, as I've learned. Many artists are rarely satisfied with their work, myself included
) I'd love to see your other sketches if you'd like to share! You've definitely got some great potential in your art!I do enjoy sketching, though with my present work schedule I've had far less time to do it as I'd like. I've learned that sketching from life and photo reference is an important skill to have if you wish to hone your skills in most visual arts (I've of course yet to try ALL visual arts, so I could not say this certainly for every branch)
Wow! The detail is extraordinary! You've painted (metaphorically) a picture in my head! The ghosts sits in wait to snag some dinner. It's jerks his head at the first sign of movement. It anticipates the catch, tensing her muscles, flexing her claws till the the poor morsel came close enough. And then it struck!
My favorite has to be the ghost, then the fourth one, then the violin, then the last one, and my least favorite is the second one. That's the order I like them in.
You have so much potential, and since your young, you can keep getting better day by day! Good luck sketching!
My favorite has to be the ghost, then the fourth one, then the violin, then the last one, and my least favorite is the second one. That's the order I like them in.
You have so much potential, and since your young, you can keep getting better day by day! Good luck sketching!
Love your sketches, I sketch all the time my mantids and reptiles. I love the ghost how it just stares at you. My favorite is the ghost, then the Orchid, 3rd the panther mantis, 4th the violin mantis and last the second one which appears to be a spiny flower mantis. Awesome!!!
MantisGirl13
Well-known member
Thank you! I love sketching because I enjoy capturing the personality of the mantis. They are fairly easy to sketch because of their exoskeleton and the way the light glints off of it to create light and shadow.
- MantisGirl13
MantisGirl13
Well-known member
Yeah, I often feel that my sketches are not so good, though I am proud of some of them! I will see if I can find pictures of some other mantids I have drawn.It's not uncommon to feel unsatisfied with the first attempt (and really all attempts thereafter, as I've learned. Many artists are rarely satisfied with their work, myself included
I do enjoy sketching, though with my present work schedule I've had far less time to do it as I'd like. I've learned that sketching from life and photo reference is an important skill to have if you wish to hone your skills in most visual arts (I've of course yet to try ALL visual arts, so I could not say this certainly for every branch)
- MantisGirl13
MantisGirl13
Well-known member
Thank you! Btw, the second one is a thistle mantis. I will post a pic (eventually) of a spiny flower I drew. I think it is much better than the thistle.
- MantisGirl13
MantisGirl13
Well-known member
Yeah, I know it looks like a spiny! It was my first mantis drawn so it is not the best sketch!
- MantisGirl13
MantisGirl13
Well-known member
Here are some pics of my spiny flower sketch and my 'Chaeta sketch:
- MantisGirl13
- MantisGirl13
whimsyandreverie
Member
Being able to see your mistakes helps you grow as an artist, while being able to see your successes helps you maintain joy in creating and growing. Both are equally important.
I love the other drawings you've posted. You've definitely got some talent! Please keep at it, you're doing excellent work!
MantisGirl13
Well-known member
I agree, if I never saw my mistakes or was criticized by someone with greater talent I would never have been able to even replicate a mantis on paper!
Thank you so much! I definitely plan to keep sketching!
- MantisGirl13
