Does this rough motorcycle drawing "read" correctly?

Question

I rarely do cars or motorcycles, but I am preparing to do a watercolor of something like this sketch, and I was wondering if the thumbnail sketch looks proportional. If not, what needs to be changed.

This is really meant to be a value study, with no detail. But if you see anything, shading, angles, etc. that does not "read" somewhat realistic, or that is confusing or detracting, please be specific.

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g172/lefthandedly/100_2201.jpg

Answer 1

Looks like the female counterpoint of The Dark Knight.

Answer 2

Frankly, it is such a beautiful sketch I thought it was from one photo or from real life, even until I read your additional details.

One thing to be mindful of is the way little distortions creep into your work when you work from sketches.  You can find Ingres's portrait of Louis-François Bertin on the web, and presumably the preparatory drawing which appeared in Janson's History of art.  A comparison of the two will show that even that masterful draftsman stiffened up his sitter's pose considerably in the final painting (though it is far better than I could do).

In particular, I would like to point out that the handlebars on bikes generally slope back towards the rider, rather than coming straight up.  In this sketch it is ambiguous, and you can easily make it look like it is straight up.

I would definitely use other reference while you are doing your watercolors.  Both photos of recent model bikes from different angles, and, if possible, panels from the 1960's underground comic book Trashman of the Sixth International by Spain Rodriguez.  His unique style back then was influenced equally by Jack Kirby of Marvel Comics and Biker Magazine graphics.  That meant he exaggerated the shapes of everything, the way Kirby did, but had these incredibly detailed motorcycles, where everything was pristine and clear (and lots of women who looked like dominatrixes).  (His recent work not only features fewer motorcycles but mostly is less blatantly Socialist.  However panels are around on the web and people are selling a reprint collection of the strip -- if you like motorcycles whatever your politics it is worth looking at).

Again, I'm not prepared to say the handlebars are wrong, but get some reference for the structure of the bike from another angle.