Since the end of the 2008 is really near, I’ve decided of writing an article about the most amazing Masterpieces I’ve seen this year in the web and on the books. It is an hard thing to do, since there are really a lot of artists here around! This article is dedicated to CG Character: this will include 2D and 3D illustration of creature, people and characters in general. It is a bit long and it may take a bit to load!

This is another Tutorials Series published as ImagineFX Workshops in the magazine, but you can download a free pdf copy of them ath the magazine website.

In this series, the painter Katarina Sokolova teaches how to paint the different parts of a human face, in four step-by-step guides:

- Paint Fantasy Eyes – [link]

- Paint a Realistic Nose – [link]

- Paint Realistic Ears – [link]

- Paint Realistic Looking Lips – [link]

The result of the four tutorial is the image here, on the left! Personally, I found these tutorials really useful when I started to learn digital painting and human anatomy. I truly think these can be a valid tool for learning digital painting tricks and a bit of anatomy for everyone!

About the Author: Katarina Sokolova is an Ukrainian artist; she studied painting and graphics from when she was a child, and she’s famous for the wonderful women she represents.

She is also a great photographer and a graphic illustrator.

Katarina Sokolova: Website | DeviantArt | CGSociety

ImagineFX Magazine: [link]

2D Artist Magazine is a Low-Cost pdf downloadable Magazine about Concept Art, Digital & Matte Painting. It is full of interview, articles, galleries, tutorials and techinques from the most amazing and famous artists here around.

Issue 36, December 2008, is out now! In this issue you will find:

- Interview with: Andrée Wallin;

- Interview with: Sven Sauer;

- Interview with: Philip Straub;

- Gallery: 10 of the Best 2d Artworks;

- Challenge: Stylised Characters – This Month’s Finalists/Last Month’s making ofs;

- Tutorial: Speed Painting with Justin Albers and Emrah Elmasli;

- Tutorial: Space Painting Transport Part 6: Spaceships;

- Tutorial: The Human Face Painting Series – Part 3 – by Nykolai Aleksander;

- Making Of: Nastya;

Link: 2d Artist Magazine

Have you ever tried to make your own sketchbook? Having a personalized sketchbook can make the difference for an artist! You can use your favourite drawing paper, you can choose the cover and size of the pages. You can also create a space for the pencil or the pen. Also, this can be a really cheap solution, instead of buying premade ones. And you can show your style from the cover!

Well, I love to carry with me my sketchbook because I need to fix inspirations and to take notes when I need. And I think it is a must for an artist, if you want to learn drawing, you should start a sketchbook, where you can draw in the spare time, wherever you are.

So, in the past days, I googled for a sketchbook tutorial, and I found an interesting explanation here: [link].

I think this can be a very usedul, easy to make, and cheap thing. Also, this can be a great Christmas gift! Sure I will give it a try!

The site is owned by Dani Jones, an child books illustrator, and is full of great articles and tutorials, so try to give it a read!