Question about drawing from imagination.

[Dan1989]

Lately I've been very frustrated in my ability to draw from my imagination or create anything that could be considered "concept art." I mean, I can envision ideas in my head about things, but when I try to put them on paper it's just a load of crap... So my question is this: Should I focus only on drawing from life until I can put ideas from my head on paper, or should I continue drawing from life AND drawing from my head? Sorry I'm just very confused and frustrated over it all and any suggestions or advice would be appreciated :S

[Prehistoric]

draw from life AND from your mind. it takes time, of course. and you're bound to experience your share of frustrations, we all do. but keep on it and you'll get better. the more life drawing experience you have, the easier it can sometimes be to create from your mind.

concept art seems to be a really good mixture of both worlds. i often times get hung up on the art side and it makes the concept side a little weak. i sometimes have to force myself to make drawings that i don't really care about, just to get the idea out of my head. the better you get, the better you get at finding the balance.

another thing that really helps me is critiques. post up some drawings, listen to what people think about them, and take or don't take their advice. it's always good to get another pair of eyes on things.

[Sinix]

The most important thing about drawing from imagination is thumbnails. Do lots of thumbnails when you're trying to figure out how to express an idea you might have.

[Skulldog]

There's nothing wrong with doing anything from the mind. If you don't feel that comfortable with your skills, there's no reason you can't work from the mind, but use refrence photos of real people, places and things to help make it more real.

Then once you get a better handle of drawing without refence you can begin to work only from your head.

[armando]

Drawing from imagination is like drawing from memory, the important difference is you can check on what you've missed in a memory drawing. Drawing from your mind is also like when you've got a word on the tip of your tongue and can't say it until tommorow.
Here are two exercises:

1. Get a picture you like, it could be a photo or a drawing or whatever. Stare at this picture from 1 to 5 minutes, but you can choose anytime you like depending on your skill, it could even be just a glance. Then for at least 15 minutes draw what you can remember from this picture, and if you run out of memory continue refining what you've drawn, darkening shadows and whatever else. After you've finished compare your picture and the original, what's different between the too, answer for yourself what makes something imposing, what makes it cute, what makes it ugly, tall or any other things you see. I think what happens with this exercise is you build up your visual vocabulary, improve your concentration, and understand the way you respond to certain images. So next time if you've got a picture of something scary in your head even if you can't make out the details you'll have the basic picture of something scary and will be able to work from a clear outline.

2. This one I've only recently thought of. You'll need a video capture device for your computer. The one I've got is Adstech DVD Express, not that I endorse the thing I'm just giving an example. Say you're studying faces, then you would take captures of video of faces. Good places for video are soap operas, and news reporters, but any video with closeups is good. Once you've captured some video, you edit it down to about 10 seconds of the face you want, then play it back on repeat. You are not to use slow mo or pause. This exercise forces you to understand structure, how now matter how the thing moves and changes it's mass always stays the same the bones always stay the same.

[masterpug]

I think the principles of drawing from the mind and reality are really the same. Even things in the imagination seem richer when they mimic those in real life. So, if you are trying to draw a giant critter, try analyzing it; what is it's bone structure? Where are it's muscles? Skin is skin, it just covers what is underneath and nothing else. I would draw from real-life and also draw from the imagination.

I agree with the others, it is a lot like drawing from memory. Another thing you might do is take two animals that you know pretty well, like a cat and a monkey, and then draw something that is part of both. This will help your brain sort of wrap around synthesizing memory and imagination.

[Dan1989]

Why on earth did you guys bring up this ancient thread? I guess the advice is still as good as always though, thanks.

[the_allejo05]

hmm when i draw from imagination..i think of the idea ...what you said..get it down as quick as posibble even with a gesture..and develop from that..sometimes i start doodling and the sketch takes its own direction..sometimes i have the image in my mind and i put it exactly as i want..without preliminary work..obviously your images will have more life to them if you know more..meaning..experience drawing from life..perspective, anatomy ,gestures,light and shade,etc etc....a good way for improving your imaginative drawings is an structural approach..which means basing your drawings on geometric primaries..sphere,cone,and such..simple big shapes..the simplest you convey the idea the better it looks..details are later added on...but anyways i go back to drawing i suck..hehe

[armando]

.a good way for improving your imaginative drawings is an structural approach..which means basing your drawings on geometric primaries..sphere,cone,and such..simple big shapes..the simplest you convey the idea the better it looks..details are later added on...but anyways i go back to drawing i suck..hehe

I hear this idea of drawing with geometric shapes a lot. I get the basic idea, but is there a book I can get or something that will explain the concept in detail, with specific types of exercises to get experience seeing things as such geometric shapes and forms.

[the_allejo05]

armando the loomis books www.saveloomis.org (free online ) are recommended by most members here..i read those..but im yet to swallow all the content..it explains on that..the way to properly draw..then as you progress it will become more natural and you will throw those guidelines.....
Also,I have a book called creative perspective for illustrators... it is very tough..old school..and cheap..got it used from amazon..it explains a lot on perspective (which is a skill every artist should posses) and being creative with it.. ..and there is a chapter on structural approach to drawing..it is drawing mostly like industrial designers..drawing through..hmm is hard to explain..but he empasizes drawing a lot from just cubes..and a bunch of flat models..which consists of circles within a square, and other models , this are for getting better at perpective overall..i think loomis are a great start, but if you want to go deeper..check the way bridgman draws ,hogarth, even the methods of beverly hale are great for more advanced figure drawings..there is a book i have which im studying..The art of animal drawing by ken hultgren , here he draws constructively, and he uses action (he was a disney animator) and caricature to give more life to his animals..i think is an excellent example of this way of drawing..check it out..it is very cheap and lots of info on improving those animals
construction or structure means like when you want to build a house you start with the foundation , skeleton, measurements , guidelines ,then you put the finish..is tough but it helps you to really draw in 3d not just the surface..