Need help getting started with art using digital tools

[afonseca]

Hi everyone, great forum community you have here. I wanted to ask for some help in getting started.

So I'm completely new to art, period. I probably can't draw a straight line or good looking circle (or at least haven't tried recently). With that out of the way, I really like art in general and particularly sci-fi, game art, anime mecha, etc.

My specific question on getting started is that I'd like to be able to learn on the computer, using a tablet and tools like Photoshop or other programs and wonder if that's doable or if it's necessary that I get started with pencil/paper?

I'm looking for a good book for a total beginner, I'm willing to put in the time and work to learn but don't know where to begin. Can I just take one of the beginning drawing books and start following using a tablet on the computer or are there specific beginner books for digital drawing/painting that you'd recommend?

I'd love some opinions on this approach (absolute beginner skipping paper drawing and starting with digital). Does this make sense or is this a crazy idea? My background is in software engineering so I work on the computer alot and I love digital art which is why I'd prefer this approach unless it's really not a good idea.

Thanks!

[Rabbi Satan]

Heya there afonseca :) Glad to see you joining our community in this corner of the innertubes.

I'm not an expert by any means, but the general consensus around is that it's better to start off in analogue/traditional, and then move onto tablets, photoshop and digital art (Trying to master the tablet takes a while, even though it's still shaped like a pencil, it takes practice to get used to using it). Try finding local life drawing classes, draw AT LEAST 3 hours a day, buy and do copies of Bridgman (http://www.amazon.com/George-Brant-Bridgman/e/B001IGLP90/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1281622443&sr=1-1), Andrew Loomis (His books are freely available online) and perhaps Burne Hogarth. I'd also recommend this (http://www.amazon.com/Figure-Drawing-Invention-Michael-Hampton/dp/0615272819) book by Michael Hampton. It's basically a good guide on how to start drawing figures from imagination - I wish I had it when I started. I was self taught, and eventually found/discovered/used the same methods these guys have been using for years.

Start a sketchbook thread in the sketchbook forum - Don't use excuses like, "Oh, I'm only a beginner", "It's my STYLE so don't criticize me!!" or have a bad attitude, but you probably know about this anyway :).

If you want some inspiration, take a look at MindCandyMan/Jonathan Hardesty's (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=870) journey from total noob to total pro (Hell, look at mine if you want to as well). There's two schools of thought regarding success in art. Some say it's all down to genetics, whilst the other stresses solid, hard work. In my opinion, it's a bit of both, but I lean heavily towards the latter. Sure, talent and genetics and predisposition towards art may give you an edge early on, but it could also be a liability. If you have talent, you'll rest on your laurels and never have to try hard - and then when a real challenge comes along that requires your utmost, talent won't help you.

Ok, enough lecturing. Welcome to CA.org. Start a sketchbook thread, post, and if you want, I can help in critiquing your work



Edit: Oh, btw, I just remembered, but forgot to put this in. About straight lines - I use Feng Zhu's technique that I learnt from his DVDs and from looking around the CA.org forums.

First, make a dot. Then a second dot. Move your hand and pen in between the two points, "ghosting" the path, and then put the pen down on the first dot, LOOK at the second dot with your eye (For hand eye co-ordination), and then WHOOSH, draw the line with one swift stroke. It has to be quick - otherwise you'll end up with a wavy line. It takes some practice. I did reams and reams of pages with nothing more than straight line exercises. If you do it right, your sketchbook should look like some Star Constellations.

Hope this helps.

Cheers, and don't get discouraged =)

[afonseca]

@Rabbi,

Thank you for the response with helpful resources and encouragement.

You mention it takes some practice to get used to the tablet as it's different from holding a pencil. Given that I'm not used to holding a pencil would it make a difference in my case if I have to get used to something new to me in the first place? Again, I'm not opposed to starting the "traditional" method but want to explore the reasons behind it if my goal is digital drawing/painting.

@Everyone
I'm also curious if anyone has taken this route, starting from scratch with digital and if it's something you'd recommend.

If the best way to get started is traditional, at what point do you switch over to tablet?

With regards to books, there seem to be quite a few recommendations. What would be a good first book to read? I'm looking at this one, the title seems less intimidating, Drawing for the Absolute Beginner: A Clear & Easy Guide to Successful Drawing (http://www.amazon.com/Drawing-Absolute-Beginner-Clear-Successful/dp/1581807899/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1281636023&sr=1-1). Anyone tried this one and would this be a good first book?

Thank you all for the help!

[goldilockz]

One of the best things about starting traditional while still learning the basics, is the portability. With a sketchbook and pencil that cost a total of like $5, you can take it anywhere, sketch anything anywhere, and practice at any given moment. If you restrict yourself to the digital medium and the computer, you are restricting the time you could be using to practice!

Also, You can do both simultaneously, really. I personally don't see anything wrong with doing both. Sketch in a moleskine or sketchbook, and then try to work on what you learned on the computer. JMO :)

[afonseca]

@goldilockz, thanks for the suggestion, learning both at the same time sounds like a good idea. The portability of traditional makes sense as I can spend more time practicing that way.

I'm thinking of using Photoshop with a tablet for the computer side of things, any recommendations on settings to mimic the same environment as the pencil/pad? I've used it before for other work (image editing) but have never tried drawing with it.

If there are any books that would help with that I'd appreciate any recommendations as well. Seems like I'd want to keep the settings very simple to start with and not get caught up with the advanced options as I'm learning to draw straight lines and circles. :)

[Zawameki]

I'm going to agree with goldilockz here, you shouldn't be losing any time in learning either medium if you do both. I sketch on whatever is at hand at work, during meetings, working on a project, etc. I think the real important thing to the learning process is just constant practice. No time like the present to start training those muscle memories.

As for the tablet, I'm still working on that myself, but that is also just practice I think. And a little retraining your eye to not look down at your hand as you draw but up on the screen. I'm pretty sure once I can achieve that, the tablet work should be easier.

And like goldilockz said, do both, sketch the old fashioned way, then scan it in and go over it on the tablet.

As for settings, I think you'll need to mess around with the options of the tablet to get the right feel for you personally. And you may want to look around on how to make your own brushes in Photoshop. I have not messed with it too much but from what I've read, it sounds like making your own or modifying existing brushes is the way to go to get the right feel.

[afonseca]

Thanks everyone for the great advice. This all makes, the more practice the better so I think I'll do both as suggested.

I just realized I actually have an older Tablet PC I can use instead of having to buy a drawing tablet to get started. I just have to get a new stylus for it since the battery is dying but works otherwise. It solves the problem of not being able to see what you're drawing. I tried it out and it seems pretty responsive.

In any case, what do you think of using a Tablet PC for the digital part?

[Medelo]

A tablet made for artists (like Wacom tablets) is going to be more pressure sensitive than a tablet pc. I would say if you really want to paint digitally then the added pressure sensitivity is very important eventually.

Also the reason everyone says traditional first then digital, is because good digital work comes from a solid grounding in traditional fundamentals that are most easily practised with traditional work. At their fundamental cores digital and traditional are one and the same, the only difference is a matter of material and technique, picking up an eraser and physically using it versus clicking the eraser tool.

But to get there one must practise the essential fundamentals of visual language. These are already hard to begin with, so for a newcomer it is best to not complicate things with the digital medium which is arguably more complicated than pencil and paper. Digital is also 'easier' in the sense that you can easily make mistakes and erase them and the canvas will look like nothing ever happened. You can cheat in a multitude of ways such as using Variations in Photoshop to alter color temperature and hues. In tradtional media you can make no such mistakes or you get to scrap the canvas and re-try again. It's all good practice because digital allows you to get away with yourself, where in traditional media you are FORCED to understand what you're doing.

No matter what your end goal, even if you only plan to paint digitally forever and ever, you will always benefit from training with traditional media.

[afonseca]

Thanks everyone for all your help and advice. @RedHawk, that makes complete sense with regards to the pressure sensitivity of a TabletPC vs an artist tablet. I will probably end up getting a Wacom tablet later but for now I'm going to dabble with the TabletPC until I have learned more.

I will take everyone's advice and start with traditional. I'm going to pick up a book on pencil drawing, "Drawing for the Absolute Beginner: A Clear & Easy Guide to Successful Drawing", as it starts from the beginning and has exercises that can help me get more comfortable.

I'll be sharing my progress on this site, I really appreciate the community here. Thanks!