Hey, just a question

[eugi+]

I'm a 15 year old who has began to seriously draw in grade 8 (grade 9 now) meaning I have been drawing for what...a year? more?
I officially started drawing when I was 5 years old, but hell, that wasn't even drawing.
I just have a question seeing as how I know how to get my sketches down, but don't know howt finalize them...

I have a pretty good feel on how to do a sketch with guidelines and all, but some things come out too smudged or, too crowded with lines or, too messy when I sketch with inlines, but I can't get a good figure without guidelines.
Does anyone have a tip?

When im lucky, and lets say i finish up a great picture, I wish to know what kind of tools i might need to make it look like a comic or something, you know, what kind of felted pens, papers etc.
I know asking this question to all of you out there (that are basically professionals) is a joke but...its hard to get ANY help from just about anyone.

So if you decide to, I'd like to know those two very basic things (basic for you guys) and I posted this here because I just sketch, and my finalized drawings look (or i want them to look like) graphic novels, in black and white.
And, I'm also new to the forums :P.

Thanks in advanced.



EDIT: I noticed there was a help area...sorry for this UBER wrong thread. Please move this to the correct area.:eek:

[thek0n]

For sketching you can use the Sanford pencils, you can use them to sketch around with, they are erasable and they don't smudge as much as pencil does (believe me, I'm a mega-smudger). Maybee use a color like a lite blue, it tends to desapear easily, weather you keep drawing on the same paper or scan it and print it out. Some of these are a little dry and others are a little bit more wet, but as long as you sketch without adding too much presure you're set.

Hey, it's serious.......no mater if you are starting or a pro, everybody here keeps learning from others. (novices from pros and pros from novices)

The biggest suggestion I give you, when it comes to finnishing your sketches is, do it! Don't think about how it's going to turn out and don't get to attached to your initial sketches because the next sketch is only going to get better.

Good luck!:chug:

[eugi+]

Thanks dude, thats awesome. I usually cant finish my sketches because I'm afraid of how they are going to turn out, and If my sketch looks worser than my last sketch I cant take it...i dont finish it.
Sandford pencils? i'll start saving for those, but first, I have to see how pricey they are.
Thanks again, and I'm learning from people here just by looking at threads, thanks to you and thanks to the people here.

Novice from pros and pros from Novice, I'll keep that motto :D
Cya.

[xHUNTERx]

the way to prevent smudges is real easy. Just get a piece of tissue paper, fold it, and pad it under your palm when you draw. The reason why pencil smudges because of the oil on your hands. If you use the tissue it will prevent your hands directly contacting the paper.

IF you want to draw comics. traditionally style would be getting a blue pencil for sketches and then ink.

Digital is alot faster, just do it on layers, but usually people scan the sketches to save time. Then render it.

[Michael_H]

Sanford pencils won't make much of a dent in your wallet. They cost around 7 to 15 bucks depending on what set you get and where you get them. They have pretty sturdy wood and leads, so they're worth it... and boy, do they last. (My current set has lasted me 2 years now.)

If you want to go for comic styling, you should get pens with liquid ink or marker ink. Bic pens have a very gooey ink to them that smudges and doesn't usually become starkly black. If you want inexpensive ones buy a set of uniball onyx or sharpies. A pack of 12 will run you around 10 dollars. Sakura Microns are good too, but they can get a bit more pricey.

Just follow the lines you want to keep by going over the sketch in pen. Leave it to dry for a while, then erase it with a white eraser. (Pink erasers can leave pink on the page <_<)
Just keep watching the proffessionals, and try different methods. The best peices are generally what you feel comfortable doing.

Good luck.

[thek0n]

if it's one thing I have learn in life is - failure is the real key to succes - to fail now will only make you stronger later. Life is about trial and error........ we are not that different from scientist.....we all want to experiment and come up with our own ideas.

if this stuff sounds too weird check this out: imagine you started walking on a rocky path for days. At first you'll get alot of bruises and cuts on the bottom of your feet. But, as the time pases the skin gets alot stronger and walking barefoot on rocks will seem as if you were walking on solid ground.

poetic crap that i just came up with! Oh, well, it's easier to give advise everybody but yourself. :D

[EarthClimber]

Awsome advice:D I have been drawing all my life, but in high school i didnt take art..partyl because when i was a freshman my schedule was filled up. Then before i knew it i was a junior, and I realized I would only get to art2 by my senior year:( Sigh, now i regret not taking art, even if it would have only been beginner lvl art, it still would have helped me..well I guess its trial and error, like you said. I still draw a lot during class and at home though:D
I want to do art in college, but where can i get a job doing art work, could you give me some occupations please. thank you

[Voltmeter]

Hi! Here are a couple artish professions to look in to:

Illustration which can be further broken down into entertainment (film, tv, and video games) and editorial (book covers, childrens book illustration, magazine illustration, corporate report illustrations, etc) and which ties into showing in galleries for many, such as the Clayton brothers (www.brothersclayton.com www.claytonbrothers.com) and Mark Ryden (www.markryden.com).

Industrial Design or product design or transportation design are also creative and involve a lot of drawing.

Im not sure if comic books are part of editorial illustration or not. They require a lot of the same skills as a good editorial illustrator (good composition and life drawing skills) but with the additional problem of needing to make sure the image of a frame doesn't compete with the overall flow of the story.

That's all I can think of right now, but there are surely more. As for your original question, I personally have found paper to be more important to the quality of a drawing than the pencil. The wrong tooth on the paper will cause your graphite to wander around a lot. Those sketchbooks full of ecologically responsible recycled paper are the worst. Stay away from them. My 2cents!