[Chruser]

Greetings everyone, I'm new here, so for starters, I just want to say this is quite an impressive forum stuffed with lots of cool artists.

Anyway, I'm kind of curious about how much general "drawing skill" you gain when you're using specific, sometimes more or less unrelated tools, In other words, when you're using a specific tool, such as a mouse, tablet, pencil, watercolor brush, computer mouse or darts with color tips thrown at an A5 paper from 200 yards away, how much do you learn about general drawing from these or similar things? If you draw with a wacom tablet, do you get a lot better at pencil drawing or with real water colors? If you use a mouse, do you become better at drawing with real ink pens, or vice versa?

Some input would be great, because I got an Intuos a couple of months back and I've been practicing quite a lot with it, noticing I've become better at pencil drawing, but maybe I should just draw with a pencil instead and therefore get better at using my tablet a lot more rapidly... Hmm. Help me out here and I'll be really happy.

[jr]

a really soft pencil does the trick for me! not as soft as charcoal. feel what you're drawing, cry if you have to, but remember to feel it!
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[watmough]

sketchbook.definitely much more important just to draw all the time-doesn't matter what you use-just bring your sketchbook everywhere,that being said,you learn alot drawing with a brush.

[Tinusch]

Use everything. Variety is important.

[V Shane]

[mutong]

[Mikko K]

[Chruser]

Thanks a lot for your input guys, I really appreciate it.

Normally, I just try to draw my sketches quickly by using multiple lines at times to get certain, fairly complex curves right, but today I got some advice to absolutely not do it that way, but to try to draw the full curves without losing quality at a really high speed. Unfortunately, I'm fairly bad at this, especially if using a tablet. Does it really matter "how" I draw, as long as I draw? :T

Bah, sorry for the stupid question again. Just trying to be eager to learn more about the basics, just so I won't accidentally reach retirement age and realize I can't draw after years and years of practice. Ugh, I should quit worrying so much and just draw. Hmm, didn't Spooge post some speed drawing hints someplace?

[MadSamoan]

My advice is to use whatever medium that encourages you to put in mileage. If you find the medium difficult to manage, odds are you will avoid or dread using it and hence, not put in mileage. If you are comfortable in a medium, use it whenever possible. That's why digital painting has become as popular as it has. It's extremely forgiving and when you take in account the costs of charcoal, paint pigments, canvas, etc. it can be a cost effective medium as well in the long run.

[Duracel]

[Khatru]

It doesn't matter what sneakers you wear, it's still going to be the same sport.