My training
split goes as following :
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1. Day : pectorals, triceps, upper abs
2. Day : back, lower abs
3. Day : shoulders, biceps, linear abs
4. Day : thighs, thigh biceps, calves
I
have split my training also to a hard week (5-7 reps), basic condition
week (8-10 reps) and 'easy' week, where i will concentrate on my recuperation
(15 reps), and will not use so much weight on the sets. I will use basic
movements on my hard week (presses, squats, dead lifts etc.), and i will
take the other movements (shoulder raises, flyes etc.) to the training
on the basic week and recuperative week. I will take the sets to the limit
on hard weeks, and will do more of a pumping way of training on recuperative
week. Of course, i will stay focused on doing the movements correctly -
I have had my share of hurting myself while cheating on movements at the
early days on my training. My training time on the gym stays on a scale
of 50 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes. If I did more, i wouldn't be focusing
enough. Of course, that time does not conclude warming and stretching up.
Where did the interest come in doing portraits of bodybuilders and
fitness competitors?
- During the countless years with my own training in the gym my interest
in drawing has directed strongly into "bodyart", which means doing portraits
to competitive bodybuilders and fitness professionals, based on their photographs
from competition or striking a pose. Of course my interest in all the other
aspects of drawing has maintained too, but I have noticed myself doing
more and more artistic illustrations of these kind. I have noticed that
the never-ending play of lights and shadows has gotten me more and more
into its charm, and also I have noticed, that lights and shadows work really
well with especially these kinds of illustrations.
How do you work?
- Every time, when I have finished an illustration, I cease for a moment
and start to wonder that did all those lights and shadows really come through
that pen, which my own hand is holding? That is actually one of the best
prices, what drawing gives to me. It is naturally great to hear nice comments
and get appreciation from people, along with the work orders - but the
very best thing about doing these illustrations is to find myself to be
amazed of the end result, over and over again. Each finished illustration
I do, has to be just like that - it has to amaze me, or otherwise I cannot
release it forward. I am in a way a perfectionist - and in my opinion everyone,
who orders an illustration from me, has to have the same feeling which
I have, when I look the finished work. That is also another one of the
best prices I could get - it is a great feeling to release the illustration
forward, knowing that the customer will have exactly the same feeling what
I myself just had, when I looked the finished illustration.
You do your artwork from photographs. Tell more about it.
- I do my work with various forms of lead pencils. I use considerable
amount of time ensuring that the finished illustration will have the same
details, which were on the original photograph. Otherwise it wouldn't make
any sense for a competitive bodybuilder or fitness professional to send
me a photograph to be turned into illustration, if the finished illustration
wouldn't show the same cut and vascular muscles which are on the original
photograph. The athlete has used him/herself considerable amount of time
on getting him/herself into such a great condition, that I am obligated
to make my illustrations great too. This is the general idea of my work
- they look amazingly alive.
My
work is based on a photographs, or other pictures a customer would like
for me to turn into illustration. It would be good to have the originals
black & white, since my illustrations are made of lead pen, and are
thus black & white. Also black & white originals show the lights
and vascularity much better than colored photographs. Of course, if a customer
would like for me to use some color on them, it would be done -although
I recommend my illustrations black & white, because I have noticed
that the contrast will be shown much better that way.
I have been in contact with many bodybuilders, fitness pros, photographers
and bodybuilding magazines around the world, and it has been my pleasure
to notice that the response has been very welcoming and warm. This kind
of service has not really been available in the world, where someone would
draw you an illustration based on a photograph you yourself have given
him - and that the finished work would really meet your expectations you
had of it. Well, I can gladly tell you that now there is.
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