New Guy Looking For Help

[dcproductions25]

Whats up everyone, this is my first post. I have been watching this site for a couple weeks and the work on here is amazing. This is the level I am looking to reach. My goal is to utilize the desire for video games and art, to make it a career. But as you can see I will need any help that can be offered. I have another issue, I need to develop a style, and try to work without references. Some of these drawings are copied from other images, and copying is not really a style.

[smmcisaac]

I must say your treehouse was very well thought out. By chance do you have any more sketches like that one, that would be purchaseable? Keep up the good work, try to avoid the super hero stuff.

[SEVANS]

Firstly welcome.

Secondly - You don't need to develop a style. You need to draw and improve, style comes with time and experimentation. Style also doesn't hide drawing weaknesses.

Thirdly -References are your friend. ALL good artists have or do use reference. You cannot learn to draw anything without looking at the real world (even monsters). Your right, copying isn't a style, but references aren't evil either.

Forget about style and just draw. Practise your anatomy - your heads are way too big and start any automotive drawing with a box in correct perspective. Check out the cars on my site www.sevans.co.nz , they have all been placed in a box of sorts - even the ones with exagerated, curved perspectives.

[dcproductions25]

I checked out your site, unbelievable. It's safe to say you've done this foe a while, and those cars are flawless. My biggest issue now is doing original work, I need a project to give me a direction to follow

[SEVANS]

I need a project to give me a direction to follow

I find that having a reason to draw always helps me too, If you can't think of one try doing a re-design idea or similiar. Take a film or comic you love and radically redesign the characters, setting etc. Go crazy

And thanks for the other comments. If have been drawing for a long time, but still don't make a living from it (I do graphic design though). The cars aren't flawless, but thanks anyway.

[zephyri]

Welcome! I know how you feel about style.. I used to worry over the same thing... whether or not my wok would stand out as something original. But I've learned in time that style will come of its own, if you study and take in as much as you can, experiment and just enjoy the process. You say you need a project to work on.. if you want to get into the video game design area, you might want to check out the various challenges here like Character of the Week or Creature of the Week, shortish time scales and a brief, it's great practice and you get to see how others tackle the subject.

Sevans is right about the anatomy an basics like perspective. It gets said a lot round here with people wanting to improve, but it really does make a big difference to the quality of your work if you understand what you're drawing, even when using references. But on the positive side, you've got nice control over your lines, everything is neat and tidy and decisive, certainly a good start!

[dcproductions25]

I was looking through your sketchbook, I love your use of color, and the 2 1/2 inch thumb nail painting that is unreal, a whole lot of patience. I will definitly check out the gaming concept art section and try to post some art.

[dcproductions25]

Had to color in one of the pics, just got Photoshop finally.

[dcproductions25]

Thought I would try some Color and compare, they will still need work.

[dcproductions25]

Yeah, I'm having way to much fun with photoshop today. Also trying to work on perspective, I am having issues keeping my objects aligned properly.

[EchoArt7]

Well with perspective try and figure out which type your going for whether it be one or two point. Also work out where your horizon is and make sure the vanishing points work out with the horizon with each of the surfaces and figures.

Also about your coloring in your previous pictures.. its not a good idea to just fill in a scanned artwork in photoshop with the paint bucket because you'll get those nasty white outlines in your piece. Try and use brushes and other methods in adding color.

Lastly i think your last image is coming pretty nicely as composition and idea goes. It just has a little perspective issues that needs to be worked out.

[SEVANS]

I voted for without colour. Colour doesn't hide drawing weaknesses. By all means play with colour etc, but always try to establish a good structure or base before you start rendering.

[BlightedArt]

Don't use gradients in photoshop as the only means of colouring on one surface. :) That was the first thing someone told me after doing my first pic that way. SEVANS is right: Try to draw from life more. In all honesty I don't draw from life that much (that's going to change though), but when I did draw from life references you'll immediately notice all the information you'll be taking in on the technicalities of light rays and the shape of anatomy etc etc... You'll start to develop a feel for perspectives and proportions which need a little work in your pictures here. :)

You have the potential to create amazing work if you work on the right areas. Start with drawing from life then you'll pick up on other things to improve on etc. ^^

[Dravloc25]

Changed Name to Dravloc25 (last name backwards) and began the Anatomy project. Look for you there.

[silvestri99]

Good luck. It looks like you've already gotten a lot of sound advice that I would echo. Anatomy is one of the most important things to study as an artist. And believe me, any artist can always spend more time doing it.

[dcproductions25]

Thank you guys alot for the feedback, and have been studying a bit more on painting in photoshop. Here is a project I was working. I just need to figure out how to sharpen the image and continue to add the detail.

[dcproductions25]

I'm finally posing the landscape