*sigh* I'll never get it!

[jadedchron]

Welp, I've been drawing since I was about 5, and started figure drawing when I was about 12-15; I'm 21 now, and I've been on and off with it but I swear I'm NEVER going to get figure drawing down (let alone anything else)! I've read the vilppu drawing manual (couple times), dynamic figure drawing-hogarthe, drawing human anatomy-civardi, figure drawing for all it's worth-loomis (reading it again now), and even the marvel comics book, but apparently none of it is sticking as you can see below:

http://www.thenewfoodlabel.com/p4s/pictures/uploads/drawing1.jpg http://www.thenewfoodlabel.com/p4s/pictures/uploads/drawing2.jpg

I have a life drawing course and an advanced life drawing course coming up here in the next handful of months or so, so let's hope they clarify somethings. Anyone have any thoughts/ideas? *sigh*.

[AnarchyAo2]

Books are good and all. Though they don't make miricles. Many people say that life drawing is the best thing. I haven't had the pleasure of having one yet so I really can't say. Maybe post some of your life drawings pictures?

[jadedchron]

Hmm, I don't even know if I have any life drawing pictures around. Maybe that's my problem...

[F3nix]

Have you taken Figure Drawing classes? And i don't mean a clsss or two, or a semester or two, but really devote time to takin as much REAL life drawing as you can. Thats your best bet, it's called LIFE drawing for a a reason. Don't realy on photos and whatnot, go out there and draw. And if you are going out there and drawing... DRAW MORE.

[jadedchron]

Well, the only problem is there's not really a place around here where someone is in a fixed position for a long while. I guess I could draw from some nude photo references, but to me that just seems like I'm copying it instead of drawing from the head - which is what I aim to do.

You think maybe I should start w/references and then maybe try drawing the same pose from my head after?

Maybe Mr. Lemen can give some incite?

Thanks for the responses,

nick

[F3nix]

get some anatomy books, Loomis or Gray's should do. Study up on your anatomy. A good practice would be to get clay and mold new bone/muscle structures you learn. So you get an idea of size relation and what relies on what and what's what.

I still think you should take on figur drawing, even when you cant have a steady or constant subject, try your best to cpature their pose as fast as you can (a la gesture drawing).

as for nude refs, i tihnk what would bea better practice for you is during or after your anatomy studies, look at nude refs or whatever, and draw their bone structures or muscle structures, bcuase if you're just drawing these refs liek you siad, it'd only be copying and you wouldnt be learning much.

So dissect what you study. As for firgure drawing classes, there should be af acility somewhere that offers classes or studio time. Look around. If not hire a model or get your girlfriend to do it for you. Or any willign friend doesnt have to be a female. Good luck.

[killing.people]

these sketches arent that bad. nice study, i have seen waaay worse, muuhhcchh worse, much much much fucking worse acts of offensive, vile, piss poor excuses of artwork that this!

seriously, you are doing great, you have it in you. remember that free advice is worth what you pay for, eh? but still, my 2 cents is just keep-on-keeping-on haus.

drawing from photos is great study. just stay honorable.

[GCastro]

I agree with F3nix, study up on anatomy. I like you had been drawing from a very early age, i've read the books you've read, and at times feel like you feel. And I too want to draw from my head not copy stuff, but if i can't draw what i see, how can i draw something i don't see. So it takes a lot of practice drawing the same thing over and over and over. i couldn't draw arms to save myself, i had done many copies from the books you mentioned but when i tried on my own or tried to come up with my own pose, they'd fail miserably. So i decided to really learn anatomy, drawing the muscles of the arm and how they connect. It's been a big help, and now doing the rest of the body, i can see improvements in my concept drawings. Keep at it, and also check out Ron Lemen's notes, they're very helpful.

George

[jadedchron]

Thanks for everyone's positive encouragement and advice!

[dzu]

If you cant afford life drawing classes or you can't find any good classes, I'd suggest drawing from nude photos. Even though you are copying, you can still practice constructing the figure in simple shapes as well as learning to see rhythm lines and gesture. With a good reference you can also practice your edges and values and learn how to see proportion. Life drawing is better, but copying a reference is the next best thing. All of this is to train your eye so that when you do finally draw something from the imagination, you recognize what is wrong when you see it and also how to fix it. I'd stick with gesture and construction first, and worry about anatomy later.

[jadedchron]

Yeah, I plan on doing the nude model drawings for now. I'll be taking life drawing / advanced life drawing in school here in the next couple of months so I'm excited for that. As for gestures and what not, the problem is I'm not sure whether my gesture is successful or not (?) I mean to me, it may portray visually what emotion the object is envoking but I don't know if someone else would understand the same gesture.

All I know is I love the style of Vilppu~ =)

-nick