Where to start??

[Quanz]

Hey Im new to drawing but ive been lookin at CA's stuff for a while now and its awsome but every time i pick up a pencil it lasts for about 30 seconds and im done... lol. The fact is its so frustraiting, like I cant make ne thing with out knowing how to shade, and u cant shade without good lines, and i cant study anatomy and draw it cuzz i dont know how to shade and it makes me so mad... lol. Guess my question is where do I start? just practice lines and stuff? then move on to shapes like squares and practice shading on that? All I wanna do is draw so any help would be greatly apreciated... tyvm in advance.

[Mike Frank]

I would suggest taking a look at the Loomis books on http://www.fineart.sk . They are floating around in pdf form somewhere also. Start with either "Fun With a Pencil" or "Successful Drawing". Books, critiques, other artists, etc. can help point you to observations that you're missing out on.. try and see the things they are talking about through your own study. When you're feeling lost these are probably the best places to go to.. eventually your knowledge will be slightly ahead of your drawing game so you will be able to tell for yourself some of the things that need improvement, and possibly how to improve it. A lot of it is really about the "pencil mileage" so keep pushing that thing around, encourage yourself to see how things could be done better and then improve those things. I remember at one point when I was first starting, just looking at a blank sheet of paper was really intimidating (still can be.) Sometimes you gotta learn to just drop those fears, go for it and have fun in the PROCESS and dont get your head too hung up on hang ups :)

[Quanz]

Tks man, ive checked out loomis's stuff and I will again. I think ill start out with him and studying anatomy and just trying to shade it, even if it doesnt come out good i can look back on it and compare to ref's and see what needs to be improved. Tks a lot :).