Sunny
December 7th, 2004, 03:04 AM
Develop your own style and technique.
What I am about to describe is my opinion and lessons learned. I figured i might share my experience.
BEGINNING
As you begin to draw whether it be a few months ago, a year ago, or even years to come you are always building a library in your head. When I first started drawing I was in 3rd grade, I admired the art in comics, my brother chose to read them when i chose to redraw them, This does not mean copy. I admit i used tracing paper here and there but I gave up due to it wasnt a challenge. As soon as I got my hands on a Spawn comic my eyes opened and a smile grew on my face. The detail and coloring and 'awesome' depictions made my imagination run. I got my hands on some ink and nibs
http://www.bestofthebeast.com/dsg/nib.jpg
And began what is today, my style. As i studied the every detail and every line and drew it on paper I started a Library in my head. I didnt know it at the time but when i drew a hand, and eye, a hairdo or face I remembered a bit from each one. My own drawings started to improve.
DRAWERS BLOCK
Like writers block I consider drawers block a time to find inspiration. A few times in my life as an artist I have come into times where I "dont know what to draw" you can sit there for hours staring at the peice of paper and not knowing what to do with the pencil. My advice to get past this would be to simply start drawing, dont draw anything, make lines, practice shading. Find a movie that you like , maybe sci fi, horror, anything to get those creative juices flowing. National Geographic and Conceptart.org do it for me.
TECHNIQUE
This will come in time, try to take regular school drawing classes, have your teacher show you how to paint best. Studying and practice are problably the best ways to improve your drawing skills. Sometimes you arent sure what you want to draw, you come up with a concept, i want to draw a rabbit but im not so sure how or even where to start. Get a general idea of what you want and scribble lines (do this slowly and try to get the right shapes, details and other lines can come after.)
if you would like to try this out and have a peice of paper handy or a wacom tablet and photoshop then follow along.
scribble, shapes.
http://www.bestofthebeast.com/dsg/rabbit_1.jpg
After you start out with you're scribble go ahead and begin refining it. Look for lines in the scribbles, obviously you have made shapes but try to imagine on the paper where the eyes would go, where the nose would go and start erasing and drawing.
http://www.bestofthebeast.com/dsg/rabbit_2.jpg
In this drawing I clearly picked out the best lines and try to develop the idea. After this it gets easy, erase what you dont like and redo it, if needed draw it lighter (if with pencil) or on a new layer (if with photoshop).
Then start on detail. erase what lines you need to , redo what lines you need to as well. If your like me you have heard people say not to ever erase because its not being a true artist, and that you should do it the first time around . I consider this bullcrap for one reason. When I become a true artist and can actually do this the first time around without erasing then horray for me, but until then screw that, Its time to develop a skill.
http://www.bestofthebeast.com/dsg/rabbit_3.jpg
After you get a picture similar to this or as close to as you like try to think of a background. give the peice of art a story. For this I am working on it as I draw so I can make it up now, since I drew him in a joggers outfit I will naturally give the story that he is a jogging bunny wabbit trying to loose weight. The background should reflect such a society where rabbits jog, go to work, have regular lives. Beleive me I know I suck at backgrounds and I have no claim to be a pro just yet. This is it with a background.
http://www.bestofthebeast.com/dsg/rabbit_4.jpg
Follow this thread as you wish, it was meant purely as an insite into one mans way of working.
So these days I spend my time working as a webdesigner, ad designer, and illustrator for a company, I am still a young guy, 20 years old just out of high school so i have plenty of growing up to do. If this thread has helped you or inspired you at all please comment.
What I am about to describe is my opinion and lessons learned. I figured i might share my experience.
BEGINNING
As you begin to draw whether it be a few months ago, a year ago, or even years to come you are always building a library in your head. When I first started drawing I was in 3rd grade, I admired the art in comics, my brother chose to read them when i chose to redraw them, This does not mean copy. I admit i used tracing paper here and there but I gave up due to it wasnt a challenge. As soon as I got my hands on a Spawn comic my eyes opened and a smile grew on my face. The detail and coloring and 'awesome' depictions made my imagination run. I got my hands on some ink and nibs
http://www.bestofthebeast.com/dsg/nib.jpg
And began what is today, my style. As i studied the every detail and every line and drew it on paper I started a Library in my head. I didnt know it at the time but when i drew a hand, and eye, a hairdo or face I remembered a bit from each one. My own drawings started to improve.
DRAWERS BLOCK
Like writers block I consider drawers block a time to find inspiration. A few times in my life as an artist I have come into times where I "dont know what to draw" you can sit there for hours staring at the peice of paper and not knowing what to do with the pencil. My advice to get past this would be to simply start drawing, dont draw anything, make lines, practice shading. Find a movie that you like , maybe sci fi, horror, anything to get those creative juices flowing. National Geographic and Conceptart.org do it for me.
TECHNIQUE
This will come in time, try to take regular school drawing classes, have your teacher show you how to paint best. Studying and practice are problably the best ways to improve your drawing skills. Sometimes you arent sure what you want to draw, you come up with a concept, i want to draw a rabbit but im not so sure how or even where to start. Get a general idea of what you want and scribble lines (do this slowly and try to get the right shapes, details and other lines can come after.)
if you would like to try this out and have a peice of paper handy or a wacom tablet and photoshop then follow along.
scribble, shapes.
http://www.bestofthebeast.com/dsg/rabbit_1.jpg
After you start out with you're scribble go ahead and begin refining it. Look for lines in the scribbles, obviously you have made shapes but try to imagine on the paper where the eyes would go, where the nose would go and start erasing and drawing.
http://www.bestofthebeast.com/dsg/rabbit_2.jpg
In this drawing I clearly picked out the best lines and try to develop the idea. After this it gets easy, erase what you dont like and redo it, if needed draw it lighter (if with pencil) or on a new layer (if with photoshop).
Then start on detail. erase what lines you need to , redo what lines you need to as well. If your like me you have heard people say not to ever erase because its not being a true artist, and that you should do it the first time around . I consider this bullcrap for one reason. When I become a true artist and can actually do this the first time around without erasing then horray for me, but until then screw that, Its time to develop a skill.
http://www.bestofthebeast.com/dsg/rabbit_3.jpg
After you get a picture similar to this or as close to as you like try to think of a background. give the peice of art a story. For this I am working on it as I draw so I can make it up now, since I drew him in a joggers outfit I will naturally give the story that he is a jogging bunny wabbit trying to loose weight. The background should reflect such a society where rabbits jog, go to work, have regular lives. Beleive me I know I suck at backgrounds and I have no claim to be a pro just yet. This is it with a background.
http://www.bestofthebeast.com/dsg/rabbit_4.jpg
Follow this thread as you wish, it was meant purely as an insite into one mans way of working.
So these days I spend my time working as a webdesigner, ad designer, and illustrator for a company, I am still a young guy, 20 years old just out of high school so i have plenty of growing up to do. If this thread has helped you or inspired you at all please comment.