[wiecksewitte]

Hi people!
Well im really totally new to this..and also to the whole art scene ...but i saw some of your guys artworks and DAMN those are really amazing dudes

But can you guys pls tell me a bit how you do it..and does such a tablet really work (at the moment i only use 1 pencil for drawing and nothin more..so pls any suggestions for better materials are also welcome :$)

Oh and here is my very first serious drawing i've ever made (besides all those sill 4 years old crappy drawings i used to make:D)

Can you pls give me any suggestions? cuz it really seems somethin is wrong (like making the nose better come out...)


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[Sumaleth]

It's purely a question of practice. The only thing between you and where you want to be is 50-100 pictures. And I'm not talking about 10 minute sketches, that's 50-100 pictures of genuine effort.

Start off working from photo reference. You shouldn't aim to build a professional reliance on photos, but the first hurdles you need to get over are 'technique' and 'proportions', and working from photographs can get you practiced in those steps pretty quickly.

Then start working from life. Life is a quite different to what is represented in photographs, and so by working from life you'll gain a better understanding of form, volume and light.

And then at some point you want to start working from your imagination. You don't necessarily need to wait until you've nailed everything else before throwing your imagination in there, but just keep in mind that it's easier to proof-check your technique when you have something real to compare it to.

Also keep in mind that it is not necessary to androitly copy your reference material (unless you're into photorealism). As you pick up skills you can start to experiment with the whole gamut of variety that art has to offer. You can get ideas simply by visiting artist's websites or by letting your mind run free.

As for graphics tablets -- if you want to do illustration on a computer then they're a HUGE benefit. If you have the money then a Wacom Intuos table seems to be a good bet, otherwise you'll have to google for reviews to find out about other brands. As for size, that's really down to personal preference. I find it difficult to work with a table that is larger than 8"x6", but I know people who can't use anything less than 12"x12".
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Art Links Archive -- Artists and Tutorials

[nafa]

Besides the great advices from the administrator, do note that there are a huge source of good tutorials on the web dealing with all subject areas. A simple search will provide you with hours of learning. Here is one that deals with shading and should be relavant to your unhappiness about the drawn nose:

http://www.portrait-artist.org/basics/shading-explained5.html

[jinnseng]

I've only been working on improving my drawing skills for about 5 months now. One major discouragement sometimes is looking at other peoples artwork you admire. I see amazing work out there and I want to work on something and create a great piece! Then I get frustrated with myself when I can't lay down the image I really want because I still lack the skill and technique. The important thing to do when looking at art you really like is try to disect WHY you like it, what makes the piece interesting to you? Then try to understand how this is achieved. Unless you're gods gift to drawing, it takes alot of time and effort to improve.

I think another important part of improving is having the right attitude. I feel I have a huge hunger to learn, it encourages me when I feel I have improved. I see other students in my class who were much better at drawing then me at the start of the semester, but they lacked the passion to really learn and listen to what is being taught. Natural talent is not everything.

My drawing teacher said something in class that really made some sense to me.

"It's important that you understand in your head, not just your hand."

Keep practicing, good luck to you.

[sweetums]

www.saveloomis.org
Check out any of the drawing books there. You can use some of the pages for inspiration and practice, and you will learn TONS of basics to help improve your drawing across the board...
Lots of reading, though.
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Life is short. Expect nothing, enjoy everything.
That which does not kill you should make you wiser...

[Capt. Fred]

I am interested in the idea of drawing from photo-reference before moving on to drawing from life, suma. I don't disagree or anything, but i just struck me as interesting.

Is there a Why?