I'm stuck, where do I go from here?

[AshiJ]

Hello everyone! This is my very first time posting here and it's something that I should have done long ago!

I've been going up and down with my art for the past year or so and I've finally come to the point, "I want to get better. But how do I do it?" I'm positively not sure where I should start my focus or what I should be studying.

Here is some of my art work posted on a DA gallery: http://ashij.deviantart.com/gallery/

It's your general shiny, cartoony, even "anime" styles... These are all things I need to stop doing. I'm stuck in my comfort zone and finding it extremely hard to draw out of the box. I really can't afford to go to art schools or classes, not to mention there really isn't a lot available in North Dakota where I live. So I come here to all of you.

I'm not really sure what exact type of artist I want to be. If anything a general illustrator? I'm not quite sure what's out there yet, so I have a lot to learn. But I've been doodling my entire life, everything I know is just things I built up and practiced on my own without much help through the years. I don't have any of my standard art skills or knowledge down and now that I do want them I'm just not sure where to look.

The only things I have to work with are sketch books, my mechanical pencils, Micron pens, Graphire 4 Tablet, Paint Tool SAI, and Photoshop CS2. I would also like to practice with different tools and programs, to help round out my artistic skill if anything.

I'm happy to accept any critique, tips, and help you have to offer! Is there web sites that will help? Books I could brush up on reading? Techniques I should be practicing daily? Videos I should be watching? Absolutely anything at all!

Thank you everyone in advance, I appreciate any time you take to post and help me out.

[DAMJAN]

Start posting your work in progress in work in progress section so that others can help you out. My blog might be able to help you out: http://conceptartmasters.blogspot.com/ Anyways, books that are really good are anything from Burne Hogarth: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0823015777/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_i2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-3&pf_rd_r=1F8DCXPBE4JPGDVKHY7A&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938811&pf_rd_i=507846
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0823015521/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_i4?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-3&pf_rd_r=1F8DCXPBE4JPGDVKHY7A&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938811&pf_rd_i=507846

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1581809549/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_i2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1F8DCXPBE4JPGDVKHY7A&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

Dvds from Massive Black are inexpensive and really good.

[AshiJ]

Thank you very much DAMJAM! I think these books will really be helpful since I'm having a lot of trouble grasping standard anatomy.

And the progress board is really good idea, I'll have to try making a board there for others input on pictures I'll be working on in the future.

[DAMJAN]

No problem, see u in the progress section.

[Christine Lim]

There are tons to learn from forums like ConceptArts.
You may also like to check out Drawing Tutorials Online.
Here are some sampling tutorials, including anatomy.
http://www.drawing-tutorials-online.com/public/department27.cfm
Best,
Christine

Hello everyone! This is my very first time posting here and it's something that I should have done long ago!

I've been going up and down with my art for the past year or so and I've finally come to the point, "I want to get better. But how do I do it?" I'm positively not sure where I should start my focus or what I should be studying.

Here is some of my art work posted on a DA gallery: http://ashij.deviantart.com/gallery/

It's your general shiny, cartoony, even "anime" styles... These are all things I need to stop doing. I'm stuck in my comfort zone and finding it extremely hard to draw out of the box. I really can't afford to go to art schools or classes, not to mention there really isn't a lot available in North Dakota where I live. So I come here to all of you.

I'm not really sure what exact type of artist I want to be. If anything a general illustrator? I'm not quite sure what's out there yet, so I have a lot to learn. But I've been doodling my entire life, everything I know is just things I built up and practiced on my own without much help through the years. I don't have any of my standard art skills or knowledge down and now that I do want them I'm just not sure where to look.

The only things I have to work with are sketch books, my mechanical pencils, Micron pens, Graphire 4 Tablet, Paint Tool SAI, and Photoshop CS2. I would also like to practice with different tools and programs, to help round out my artistic skill if anything.

I'm happy to accept any critique, tips, and help you have to offer! Is there web sites that will help? Books I could brush up on reading? Techniques I should be practicing daily? Videos I should be watching? Absolutely anything at all!

Thank you everyone in advance, I appreciate any time you take to post and help me out.

[the ANGRY filipino]

start a sketchbbok here..post your art..listen to advice and critiques...
put in the effort to learn the basics well..

watch the magic happen