Questions for the professionals

[rabb14]

I'm having a really hard time trying to get my feet wet in Concept Art. I've read hundreds of people saying "just start drawing, it will happen" or "look at other concept artists, and it will start making sense" but it isn't working. I've been drawing and trying to sketch out ideas for a good month now, and I can honestly say I haven't seen much, if any, improvement.

There has to be a more direct way of starting into the world of Concept Art than just "looking at what others have done". I am desperate for some advice on how I can get started, and I can't seem to find any idea of how the wonderful concept artists on this forum did so themselves. It is literally driving me a tad bit insane, but I refuse to back down from it.

Although I really wanted to refrain from posting another "how do I start!" topic and looking like an annoying rat, it seems to be the only thing for me left to do to get first hand answers to my questions. So please, if anyone has some useful advice, I would be extremely grateful for any you can send my way.

1. How did you start?

2. Once you realized you wanted to do concept art, what assisted you (short of classes and art school)? Books? Tutorials? If so, could you name them?

3. Any other information that would help me get started on the right track, short of "just start doodling", please post it. I am extremely willing to learn, I just need some place to begin.

Again, thanks in advance for any advice given, I really appreciate it.

[Hyver]

1-think about what to draw
2-draw it
3-check to see if what you drew is actually what you wanted to draw
4-figure out why it failed
= lesson learned

5- goto 1

[D.C.]

Did you check this thread? :http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=81332

Also you can't expect to make much progress in one month. I mean, could you get a medical degree or anything like that in a month. Of course not. You can only get better by basically doing what Hyver says. Drawing requires a lot of perserverance and patience. Don't stress yourself, but think about what you're doing and try to learn as much as you can.

[otis]

Keep creating art, and don't waste so much time asking questions.You will figure it out by improving and creating your art. Not asking questions in a forum.

[dcorc]

You don't make it clear (IMO) whether the issue is that you want advice specifically about how to produce concept art (like "draw me 3 different characters who use flamethrowers to fight dragons, by tomorrow") or if the issue is drawing and painting in general - or what standard or stage of artistic development you are currently at. Easiest thing is to start a sketchbook, and post some work in it, so that others can see where you are, right now. That would make it much easier to offer advice on what you need to do next.

Dave

[Flake]

I've been drawing and trying to sketch out ideas for a good month now, and I can honestly say I haven't seen much, if any, improvement.


A whole month

Woah, that's dedication.

[Toxdel]

yeah I'm not a professional but I can tell you, you aren't going to see a whole log of improvement in a month no matter who you are :P...well... (thinking of some names that falsify that statement) meh, rare cases.

[cmalidore]

I've been drawing and trying to sketch out ideas for a good month now

Your problem seems to stem more from a lack of patience than it does methodologies. You're not likely to find much of what you're looking for in just 30 days.

Keep drawing. Keep getting feedback. Apply feedback to said drawings. Draw some more.

[J Wilson]

Reading books alone won't help. Imagine reading a medical journal, or even a stack of medical books, over a month, and I doubt you'd take away enough to be any good either.

Also, looking at art books and concept artists is only of limited value. MUCH more important is A) DRAWING, B) researching EVERYTHING else. Don't get books on concept art, get books on architecture, landscapes, animals, different cultures, machinery... EVERYTHING you can think of. You need both drawing chops, and a vast mental visual library to draw from. Then spend a few years letting it all simmer in your brain (while drawing even more) before something good will start coming out.