Beginner needs advice

[morgothaod]

I'm new to drawing and I am overwhelmed by all the information out on the web. I typed "learn to draw" and I got 159,000,000 links. Are there any good sites out that for a noob that discusses all of the fundamentals? I would also like to get good at:

-environments
-character design
-poses
-facial expressions
-shadowing
-realism and cartoons
-anything else thats important...

So, when you started out, what sources of information did you use if any? What advice have people given you when you started drawing? Lastly, how can I go about finding drawing classes?

Your pal,
morgothaod

:lounge:

[Jem'ennuie]

Just start somewhere small, lol. I think you're overwhelming yourself.

You're asking for waaay too much at the same time. You can't learn how to draw all those things with a few sites. Looking at advanced pieces is fun but just take it one step at the time.

Try drawing what's on your desk, can you even draw those correctly yet? Is the perspective and form correct? If that doesn't work, try with basic drawing tutorials.

[Smarty]

walk before you run. one step at a time.

[Kiera]

This (http://www.eatpoo.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=27) helped me back then when I was just starting
Drawing at least one hour a day is the most important one I think

Maybe you could open a sketchbook here and get used to post here from time to time. Helps you stay motivated and you can see what other people do to improve their art.

[rpace]

Start small; take an evening drawing class for beginners, buy a basic book on drawing and buy a sketchbook and just draw for at least a half-hour every day to start.

There's no magic formula, no real trick that makes every stroke of your pencil golden, it's hard, steady work.

~R

[J Wilson]

I think in a way, those of us who grew up without the internet may have had an odd advantage. Sure, the net has TONS of information out there, but it's all dependant on finding it, and somehow knowing which bits of advice are bullshit and which are helpful. I think growing up I was lucky if I had half a dozen decent books on art, and the advice of an art teacher or two. Also, without the internet there weren't nearly as many distractions to keep me from drawing regularly.

To answer your question though, really I'd say just start digging into the various threads found here. There's a ton of solid information, and the few bits that are more questionable will probably get called out by the other artists that know better. When you read the same thing over and over here you can probably trust it.

Do a search for "getting started in art" in these forums because the question has been answered pretty fully over and over again. Also look at the critique forum. Post your work to get some feedback, and also read other people's threads because there is a lot of great advice being given out that can help anyone.

[OmenSpirits]

Age?

Location?

Will help greatly in us obtaining the right direction to help point you towards.

[neverblue]

practice. practice more.

draw stuff around you. start with simple still life then move on to things that move, people, pets, etc.

there really isn't a specific direction you should be taking. just keep practicing.

for classes, you can check your local museums, many are partnered with art schools in the area and such.

[morgothaod]

What kind of pencils/pens do I need? I know they have different # ones.

Age?

Location?

Will help greatly in us obtaining the right direction to help point you towards.

22, Florida

[Farvus]

Try every possible type and use the one you're the most comfortable with.

For example try.
- Graphite pencils (better softer than harder ones)
- Pastel pencils
- Charcoal
- Brush + ink
- Steel nib + ink
- Charcoal
- Markers
- Fine point pens
- Ballpoint pens

[pitabread]

I'd look up the book, "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" by Better Edwards. It teaches drawing by teaching the single most important skill: how to see. Drawing is really about observation and being able to develop an "unfiltered" view of the world, so that you can transfer what you see onto paper.

Once you begin to learn how to see properly and draw from life, everything else will come that much easier.

[morgothaod]

I checked out the "studio" thread and I noticed a lot of you have Wacom tablets. Maybe it would be a good idea if I bought one since I don't have a scanner. I was wondering what program you all do your drawings on? My computer just comes with paint. I don't know if thats good enough...

[Nam]

Everybody here uses paint. Get practicing with that speckly airbrush.

[Flake]

I checked out the "studio" thread and I noticed a lot of you have Wacom tablets. Maybe it would be a good idea if I bought one since I don't have a scanner. I was wondering what program you all do your drawings on? My computer just comes with paint. I don't know if thats good enough...

If you can't draw with a pencil a tablet will be no use to you, it might seem like an advantage but really it'll just be another level of interface to fight with.

Buy some pencils and paper.
Good scanners can be had for $70, wacoms are 3x that.

And no, Paint is rubbish. Basics first though, digital later.

[pitabread]

If you can't draw with a pencil a tablet will be no use to you, it might seem like an advantage but really it'll just be another level of interface to fight with.

Buy some pencils and paper.
Good scanners can be had for $70, wacoms are 3x that.

And no, Paint is rubbish. Basics first though, digital later.

I agree. Learn how to drive before buying a Porche. :)

[Jem'ennuie]

I checked out the "studio" thread and I noticed a lot of you have Wacom tablets. Maybe it would be a good idea if I bought one since I don't have a scanner. I was wondering what program you all do your drawings on? My computer just comes with paint. I don't know if thats good enough...

It's only a good idea if there's an actual need to go digital. If your penciling is off, your digital is going to be way off.

There's a feeling you need to get, where lines are flowing from your shoulder instead of from your wrist. A certain confidence when putting down lines.

You can't get that from just using a tablet, you get it from touching paper and putting down values.

Also, I would just ignore finished works as a beginner. All the finished paintings and pieces, just completely ignore them for a month. Get a basic drawing book and try drawing basic stuff.

I don't know how advanced you are though, but the most common mistake of beginners is trying to copy finished pieces, it doesn't really help because you can't see from a finished piece how they got to that stage unless you already know how to do it.

Start small, and I mean this in every possible way. Start with small drawings, basic stuff, cubes, cylinders, mannequins. And choose 1 medium, either graphite or charcoal. Digital isn't good if you start out.

[Line]

Everyone responded to your question beautifully, I think you will have more than enough to start, but just because I have some boredom spells m'self and drawing a still life or a cast might not be the number one thing for me at times, if you are bored I'd suggest spicing things up with either one of the following three ways

1)draw a live model, it's always more interesting, challenging and constructive (for me at least) to draw a live model, drawing the cast you kinda slow down, think too much, but with a live model that takes breaks every 30-40 minutes it's different, you just flow. Find someone to pose for you or go somewhere and try sketching people passing or standing by.

2)Draw from imagination. Spending some time drawing something from imagination during a boredom spell can help you. You gain some and you are also keeping at it, but don't overdo it yet. You'll have more time for this later.

3)Trace. Before someone tells me off :tihi: let me say that this is how I started off when I was a kid. It can help alot if you try to do it fast and precisely. It helps getting you in the mood for more practice so after tracing a small drawing or two, you'll be relaxed and ready for some good training in the ways dictated by the rest of the people who answered.

Mind you, these suggestions are from personal experience, no huge guru art god told me these things nor did I read about them. I am just suggesting these for the one or two times a week (less in the future) when you will not feel up to it. Learning needs a certain mood, you have to be relaxed, open and have nothing else on your mind. These methods help, so when you don't feel like sitting in front of that Homer bust, take 10-15 minutes to trace a Conan drawing, you'll wanna do 3 drawings of Homer the same day!

[Dadi]

I found out the best way to draw anything is learning the shapes(Triangle, cone, cyrcle, cylinder and so on) cuz everything in life can be put together out of those objects.. Im a newbie myself and it helped me alot.

[OmenSpirits]

What kind of pencils/pens do I need? I know they have different # ones.



22, Florida
http://www.byregion.net/cgibin/users/profiles.pl?username=charlespeck

I looked him up. He runs drawing groups in FL, maybe you could contact and see what there's to see?

Some people that draw are more likely to do better in a group (in person) setting than learning alone.

[CesarNostradamus]

I started Drawing Tanks and warfare in Grade 5, When actual school was no intrest or value to me-- only ART'

perhaps if I had such devotion to art as I would have for higher education' I could have been a lawyer or doctor! One of them guys in a flashy suit' haha. who knows'

If you are going to persuit art- Then you damn well better be good at it, Look at us' were all competeting in our Capitalist society'

anyway, you know how its done. Just drawz drawz drawz