An introduction and a pleas for help from a confused little girl

[silverishkitten]

Hello everyone, I humbly enter this forum, desperately in need for help.
I've kept an eye on this site from time to time, since a long time ago, but have always been too scared to join. In comparison to most artists here, I just fade into.. nothingness.

My biggest dream is to create concept art for games and such, but at age 20 I'm starting to doubt I will ever achieve that with the skill level I am at now, knowing that even really great artists have trouble getting employed for such a job. But that is my dream, and no matter if I achieve it or not, it's something I'm going to strive for.

Well as you already know, I'm 20 years old. I'm a girl, currently studying as a Multimedia Designer, where we learn things such as design, programming marketing and more. Although it's fine for now, it doesn't complete me. It's ok to create designs for websites and whatnot, but what I truly desire is to get all of these images in my head out on paper.

I have alot of things I wanna put on paper, so many things I wish to illustrate, but I find myself at a level that's barely mediocre.

The thing is, that to be a truly great artist, there's so much to learn. But I've never been good with organization, an I have never had a structural basis in real life or in my art.
My little brain just doesn't work that way. Too many things at once stresses me out and makes it extremely difficult for me to make choices. Which is probably why I'm not improving much in art, although I really want to. There's so much I need to improve but simply do not know where to start. It's got to do with the feeling that if I start at one place, i feel guilty for not working on the other too, and feels like cheating.

That's why I finally got the courage to join this place. i feel it's inhabited by enough serious people that they could actually help me(if they want to of course)...

So, here's a few things that I know I need to improve/learn:

- Anatomy(sometimes I get it kinda right, but I simply don't know the underlying meaning behind it).
I'd like to improve this, but how? Do I just get a book on biology? Do I have to start learning how to draw bones?

- Perspective. Yea... Maybe it's my patience, maybe not. But I don't seem to be able to master this very well.

- History. As I've read on this site, it's advised to study history, but there's so many artists and art styles that I don't know where to start(sounds familiar huh).

- A structural foundation. I simply have... none...


well.. I don't know I don't feel like expanding on this list, as I'm probably making myself sound like a complete retard.
Anyway I'm really sorry for the 'TL: DR' entry here.
But what I'm asking is... For you guys to help me. I want someone to tell me what to start with. I want to have my progress seen and have it torn apart with criticism and whatnot. It's the only way I can improve. When I'm alone, this journey seems so huge that I get discouraged, but if I had people to tell me that as long as I work hard I can in fact improve, I would definitely improve.

Anyway I'm extremely sorry if I made myself sound stupid or something. I'm really nervous and intimidated.
I really hope I didn't waste you people's times.

Anyway just some trivial information about me. I'm Romanian and live in Denmark, so excuse me if my English is poor :)

[Jem'ennuie]

So, here's a few things that I know I need to improve/learn:

- Anatomy(sometimes I get it kinda right, but I simply don't know the underlying meaning behind it).
I'd like to improve this, but how? Do I just get a book on biology? Do I have to start learning how to draw bones?

- Perspective. Yea... Maybe it's my patience, maybe not. But I don't seem to be able to master this very well.

- History. As I've read on this site, it's advised to study history, but there's so many artists and art styles that I don't know where to start(sounds familiar huh).

- A structural foundation. I simply have... none...

Both, you need both surface anatomy and skeleton knowledge.
You either:

-Go to a school.
-Get everything from books yourself.

There's a difference between surface anatomy and internal anatomy too. Most artists learn surface anatomy and just a little internal anatomy. If you get an anatomy book, please make sure it's anatomy for artists and not a medical book. Although you can use them too, they mainly focus on internal+surface and overall anatomy.

Everything helps, old masters used to go to hospitals and help centers to study bones and muscles. You could go to a therapy clinic for recovering patients and ask if you can sit there. You can go to look at athletes, sports, RL or movies. Look at pictures, study them..whatever you like to do.

Books people use are Burne Hogarth and Bridgman. Hogarth is much more advanced, so if you're just starting I really recommend reading Brdigman first.


Perspective isn't hard to learn really, just takes some time. Look at building, look at table tops, try to find the vanishing points and the focus point. Remember that the focus point is always on the horizon and that's the first point that should be on your paper. Also, people tend to put their vanishing points much too close together, or just choose them at random, make sure your vanishing points are in the right spot or it will look really weird.


History, you can learn history and it will improve your understanding of art imo, but it's not needed to be a good artist, it will help you though.

What do you mean with structural foundation, you mean for architecture? There's some really good starter books out for that. I'm just beginning architecture though, so I can't help you with that too much.

[silverishkitten]

Thank you so much for your reply.

I really wanna focus on Anatomy... If I just have that in mind till i can do it properly, maybe all the other stuff wont stress me so much.

Only problem is I don't have much money, and specially not for a nice good book(this month at least). Books here are sorta expensive.

It would be great if there was an online place for stuff like that until i can get my hands on a book(you wouldn't happen to know one??).

[Jem'ennuie]

Thank you so much for your reply.

I really wanna focus on Anatomy... If I just have that in mind till i can do it properly, maybe all the other stuff wont stress me so much.

Only problem is I don't have much money, and specially not for a nice good book(this month at least). Books here are sorta expensive.

It would be great if there was an online place for stuff like that until i can get my hands on a book(you wouldn't happen to know one??).

There's a free book from Andrew Loomis.

Here you go:

http://fineart.sk/index.php?cat=12

He's right up there with Bridgeman and Burne Hogarth. You can even find a PDF file of it, but I forgot the link. He also has a book about hands and the head.


This one: http://fineart.sk/index.php?cat=14

[silverishkitten]

Ohh that's great! Thank you so much for the links.

Now.. I just have to see what I can make of this :)

[Flake]

CA member Acid has all the Loomis books hosted here as pdf files, much easier than getting a page at a time.
http://acid.noobgrinder.com/Loomis/

[Munin Raven]

Shit, your only 20. Cut yourself some slack. I'm 33 and possibly in a far worse predicament! :[

You've landed on your feet here and be assured that you walk among saints (a few assholes, but mostly saints). If you really want to progress then you will find plenty of general advice by just browsing. As far as anatomy goes, you've been given some prize links, but links are no good without dedication and plans.

Trying to reach the heights that you wish to will require some hard graft on your part (of course), but if I can give you only one piece of advice it's to forget about the wall and concentrate on a single brick at a time. The foundation bricks - such as anatomy, colour theory, composition, perspective etc... - are immovable and you'll probably spend your life wrangling with them in one form or another. The rest of the wall can be broken down into realistic goals that can be breached step by step. Be realistic at every turn and ask yourself questions about every piece you do.

If in doubt, post and ask for critique. :)

Oh, and delve into the vaults of these forums. Most of the fruit are not stickied! ;)