So, Where do i start.

[-Fayte-]

Hello,

My name is Tyler, i am 17 years old and i reside In Bradenton, Florida. Growing up, i have always had a passion for art. It started while on the internet back when i was 13, when i discovered "Forum signatures" (google it?). Yes, it may not be Considered REAL art, but it was my first Taste at getting to LEARN how to use photoshop, the only medium I am actually Decent with.

I Entered highschool and didnt bother with any Art courses untill my Sophomore year. I thought "Drawing?, How easy, ill pass with flying colors". Sure, i passed with an A or B, but its because i DID the work, not how GOOD i did it. I knew there were talented artists in the class...and i wasnt one of them. I just copied basic drawings i got from the internet.

Going thought my sophomore year, into my junior year, i became Facinated with art. I love Concept art, Just looking at all the ideas You guys and girls put down onto paper amazes me. Ive always wanted to be that type of person. Ive always wanted to actually LEARN to draw. and i mean actually LEARN.

My Current teacher, a Graduate from Ringling Art School here in sarasota, florida doesnt really give me the Basic 1 on 1. He tells the class "Draw this, use shapes, blah blah blah" and im like "huh?"..and to make matters worse, he has ADD so he can never stick to one thing.

I Want, to one day, maybe be a concept artist for a company, for movies, or games..but i have a long ways to go. Where do i start? I want to start from the beginning, so i came to this site to look for guidance. You look like a very Good community and i see myself staying here for a long time. :D

[CatConvention]

you start now!
try learning as much as you can learn any way you can.
I'm only 15 and The internet is full of things that helped me learn and got me where i am.
Eventually when your skills get better and you know the career you really want it'll eventually fall in place step by step if you want to seek it.

[Digital_Blacksmith]

Well man, just keep doing what you do, and dont be afraid to try new things. Also, just wander around here and watch the artists, get some critiques on how to improve instead of just "draw this.....good job"

I know how you feel, I had the exact same thing with most of my teachers. Hell, I use to have one teacher who had us do pep rally shit for the school team, and still gave me an F for failing to do her assignments (such as make 50 pin buttons for the school) But I never gave up. Just gotta push yourself, and dont rely on others to help you to much. Good luck on your arts.

[b1_]

Just teach yourself, you'll learn so much quicker. You've just got to be curious and a little bit obsessive about getting good. I think we've all been to classes that did not make you believe you could do it, but the truth is - and it's always been this way - anyone can do anything! Ask any master of anything and you'll find they once sucked at what they now excel at.

A good start is to get some books or instructional DVDs on the subjects you want to get good at. What type of concept design do you want to pursue? Do you want to create characters, creatures, design cars, paint landscapes, make animated 3D movies, draw comics etc? It's not a good idea to just fumble around. Know what you want to learn and go find the right learning material. I don't think there's ever been so much helpful no bullshit stuff out there for budding artists than there is right now! Getting yourself a good solid foundation in the basics will help a lot in the long run.

Try Painter X and Photoshop CS3 and a wacom intuos 3 tablet and dig into some of the millions of free digital painting tutorials on the net. Buy yourself the D'Artiste Concept Art book, the Gnomonn DVDs Scott Robertson - How to Render Matte Surfaces, Jeremy Vickery - Practical Light and Color, buy Andy Smith's - Drawing Dynamic Comics for some basic figure drawing learning, then practice practice practice and you'll be on your way.

[deliciouspeter]

Education is about doing things you may not want to do, such as "Draw this, use shapes, blah blah blah" and if you're serious about learning you won't waste an opportunity.

Completing an assignment rather than "just copying" images from the internet is completely missing the point. You learn by completing tasks on your own. Also you should maybe take a bit of a break from photoshop and learn some basic drawing and painting using real media.

[Digital_Blacksmith]

Actually Peter, I had a class that did exactly that, They told us to go online and find pictures that we must do exactly, or close to exactly. No screwing around with it, no fun, just copying. So yeah, some classes wont allow you to do tasks on your own.

[J Wilson]

Well, to start, your teacher is right, you need to start with basic shapes, and learn to recognize them in every day objects. The foundation of decent drawing is breaking down complex objects into simpler ones, and then refining them until you end up with that complex object. This allows you to quickly block in everything, make sure the perspective, proportions, composition etc work before you get bogged down in those details. It takes practice, but when you get that down you've jumped your first hurdle.

[-Fayte-]

Well, to start, your teacher is right, you need to start with basic shapes, and learn to recognize them in every day objects. The foundation of decent drawing is breaking down complex objects into simpler ones, and then refining them until you end up with that complex object. This allows you to quickly block in everything, make sure the perspective, proportions, composition etc work before you get bogged down in those details. It takes practice, but when you get that down you've jumped your first hurdle.

See This is what i want help with..Blocking in simple shapes to form more complex images. I want to learn from step one. Is there any tutorial or anyone who is willing to mentor me on this?

[rapxic]

here's a link man http://inventiontocompletehumanbeing.blogspot.com/


i also thought drawing shapes to build organic forms was crap but i find it helps a ton alot , it really opens your mind, and 4 point perspective is the bomb.

but anyway i think you should try to keep up with your mentors , try to beat them so you can one day look at your work and say '' ah yes damn i'm really good now''

try to get the mediums you need and follow and refollow tuts and no matter how tired you might feel while drawing or painting stuff its best to complete it

its only after you complete it , you ask friends to crit

knowledge is power

[TheComicFilmBoy]

Fayte, I highly recommend Ten Minute Drawing Techniques (http://www.youtube.com/user/moatddtutorials). You'll learn about constructing the forms properly, basics to perspective, sculpting with forms, constructing in 3D space, and more. Focus on essential techniques before, say, learning about anatomy. Also, learn additional techniques from Keys To Drawing (http://www.amazon.com/Keys-Drawing-Bert-Dodson/dp/0891343377/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1206171632&sr=8-1).

These things will open you up to drawing at its core and once you're familiar with these things, going through an anatomy book and life drawing will come along nicely.