AARRGGHH! Desperate artits needs advice..

[americanheadcharge]

There is something wrong in the way how I draw sketches. I think it should be blamed by the pencil I use. For example here's a recent concept sketch for a Dark Elf (i'm working on an own made MMORPG :lens: ). But its a really pain in the ass, cuze i cant go further like this, something need to be changed! lol. Pls give some advice, what kind of pencils are you folks using?

Digital camera pic. :S

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/9548/img1820ue1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

P.s. Lol! "artits" XD It should be artist, guys..

[Pawkfox]

you cant blame your pen for your drawings...
It has nothing to do with the pen unless it has invisible ink and you cant see what you're doing.

Go to the criticism section if you want help on improving your art.

To make your own MMORPG you need to spend years developing it and that's with a staff of atleast 40-50 people.
Of course an MMO can also be those flash based things we see ads about all over but they're no fun. imo. :p

[americanheadcharge]

Maybe is is because I'm using soft pencils? Cuz all of the sketches that I see here are mostly sharp of contrast. My sketches are always blurry like this, not sharp at all. So what pencils do you recommend?

That MMORPG is just a hobby thing, only in concept. :)

[CCThrom]

Its not the pencils... it's practice and confidence in your hand that makes a sketch "sharp".

What you're showing isn't bad at all, but seriously - how many of these kinds of studies have you done? Hint: if your answer to that is anything less than "buttloads" you need to do more.

[alffla]

keep practicing..

and did you use a scanner for this pic? looks like a photo.. haha

[americanheadcharge]

keep practicing..

and did you use a scanner for this pic? looks like a photo.. haha

It is.. Soon, I will purchase a scanner and drawing tablet. :steph:


Thnx all for the tips, I shall practise even more now. :yum:

[feifeicreate]

My advise is, before you start drawing dark elves and other AD&D creatures, draw human...a looooot of human from life. It's not about pencil (like many had saide above), it's about you're confidence in shape, form and lines.

[cmalidore]

Unless your pencil is falling apart on you while you draw - don't blame it. The tools are what we use to apply our skill to an object. By blaming it we're closing the door to see the real faults. It's like claiming to be researching inspiration for 3 hours by looking at other art, instead of calling it good after 1 and actually drawing.....

I mean, I've seen great illustrations done in friggin crayon! So lets face it, you gotta push.

Perhaps a different feeling pencil will give you a different way of approaching an image, but in the end that change won't give you a stronger foundation to build off of. Just a different tone or something. Focus on anatomy and lighting, focus on dynamics and composition, etc - just draw and draw some more. Maybe try some life drawing (it sure as hell opened my eyes).

So yeah, blame the pencil when it breaks. Blame yourself for patience ;). Best of luck though, and I hope you break whatever limit is holding you back!

[Duq]

I use this one
http://www.srichinmoybio.co.uk/images/pencil.jpg

[Virg]

draw with something that doesnt scare you,, for instance dont draw with a mechanical pencil if your always scared of breaking the lead or drawing too lightly or too dark... or dont draw with charcoal if your concern about being messy even when the paper is still untouched ( you should not be scared to be messy tho.. thats how you learn ) i like to use a 2B or HB because they got a big range of dark, and they slide well on the paper.

[Cepro]

Always keep your pencil sharp (yes, also when renderig), don't smuge around with your fingers. Don't use a pencil that is too soft. Use strong paper.
Then perhaps your drawing will be sharper.
And then practise, practise...

[americanheadcharge]

I use 2B pencils (thats the only type of pencils that i got at home) and very cheap paper >_>. I smug also with my fingers for the shadows, why is that not correct? Tonight I will do some human anatomy.

[cmalidore]

I use 2B pencils (thats the only type of pencils that i got at home) and very cheap paper >_>. I smug also with my fingers for the shadows, why is that not correct? Tonight I will do some human anatomy.

Rubbing with your fingers will embed skin oils into your paper that the graphite will not bond with on the same level as everything else - so it creates inconsistencies. It doesn't take much to do it.

[americanheadcharge]

Ok, I get it. :P

[feifeicreate]

I use 2B pencils (thats the only type of pencils that i got at home) and very cheap paper >_>. I smug also with my fingers for the shadows, why is that not correct? Tonight I will do some human anatomy.

The first thing I learn about sketch is "DON'T SMUG". Learn to do shadow with cross hatching. With different direction of cross hatching, your dark area will have "form", instead of just a big spot of darker gray.

Buy some good drawing pencil and paper, probably not the whole set from 2H to 6B, but at least 2H, HB, 2B and a darker one (4B or 6B, depend on how you like your darker area). If you don't want to spend money on expensive sketch books, simple copy paper would do just fine.

Check out some beginner drawing class, try local community college, or high school. Sometimes they offer weekend and night drawing classes.

[Boolean]

You need to learn the proportions of the face a bit better. At the moment her skull looks like this:

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/4476/fixedny6.jpg

[Mattinian]

boolean, it is clear you don`t understand mmorpg character anatomy :]