New to Concept Design

[Eclipsen]

I really don't know much about sketching and creating characters. I'm very familiar with Photoshop 7, but with more of the 'techy' things you'd see at deviantart.com.
(exp. Electric (http://eclipsenex.besocecho.com/electric.jpg) and Fire.Dweller (http://eclipsenex.besocecho.com/firedweller.jpg) )
But now I have found myself more interested in what goes on around here. I loved the Thunderdome entries, they simply amazed me. One thing for me though is I'm not big into real painting on a canvas, I'd much rather do Photoshop work on the computer, is that where most of the images I see here come from? I'm ready to start learning and practicing to someday be like most people here.

After saying that, I have a question I'm sure you've heard many times, where do you suggest I start? I'd want to take a class, but right now I'm still in highschool so are there any good books on Photshop'ing characters? Coloring tutorials? How to sketch people? Any advice would help. I'm sure I'm going to have some fun.

-Eclipsen

[jezelf]

Drawing from life is the best way to start.

to Draw characters you first have to understand the general principals in human anatomy. a Life drawing class is always the best place to start for that, but if you can't do that buy yourself a sketchbook and just draw people, animals etc. that are around you in your enivironment. El Coro has got some excellent sketch (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=389) work going on - check out this own section here, The Importance of Sketchbooks (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=26)

Reading and checking out books is great to learn stuff too, but Ive always kinda just observed that stuff than copy it. I'll rather learn first hand than second - its the only way it sinks into the old grey matter. So I'll check out how other people do stuff then go off and use their techniques and think about what they have to say then work on my own original stuff - bung it in the melting pot of my mind and draw. This way you create your OWN style and not someone elses - I see a lot of work where artists are a carbon copy of some other artist - it looks like there's no indivdualality there - but perhaps that's just me.

anyway Ive recently complied a collection (http://www.jezelf.co.uk/links_tutorials.htm) of tutorials and resources on my web site. step-by step turorials about drawing /painting in Photoshop. I'll add more when I find some, but these should shed some light on stuff for you. check out www.fineart.sk (http://www.fineart.sk/index.html) too - theres some great online anotomy books scaned in there.

good luck
jez

[Oblio]

jezelf is right - life drawing baby!
Bascaly there are several newbies on this forum (including me) that have started this adventure no more then few months.
Stand by - new lesson from Jason is commin up.
Meanwhile, join the Guest Self Portrait forum and get advice from Andrew and Foster and... a lot of damn good artists and some poor ones (there is a stupid Oblio there too always mumbleing about sp's) ;)
So, buy a mirror, pencils, wacom, a spotlight, a sketchbook a scaner and some pills :D and draw baby.. DRAW!

so.. see you at the self portrait (snacks and coffe free evey evening there - worth every click)!

Oblio

[Eclipsen]

Thanks a lot, I really appreciate it. I'll do my best to take in all the advice given here. Hopefully I'll see some improvement soon.