complete novice

[Ri Ri]

~~~~~~~~ i hope im in the write thread~~~~~~~~~~~~


anywho!

JUST TO LET YOU ALL KNOW I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT DRAWING REAL LIFE AND ALL THAT!!!!!!!!!!

i want to be a video game artist when im older, but i have no idea where to begin. (and i mean with everything)
just to let you all know im 15 and have lots of time for practice, so as many tips and tutorials you could offer would be greatly welcomed!

mainly i want to start on drawing people, and then i want to work on backgrounds!!!!!!
i know a little about drawing people, since i draw manga/anime, but the bodies and what nots are very exaggerated in that.... (so i really i don't know much about drawing realistic people)
and i know ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT DRAWING BACKGROUNDS!!! PERSPECTIVE AND ALL! I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT!!!!

so please can anyone help a complete novice at drawing such as myself?
oh! books really help me if you know any good ones (or e-mail a tutotrial or something)
THANKS~~~
love ya ~~~~ ri ri

[B-Plant]

Ummm, Look around. There are plenty of good treads for beginners in these forums, for example Seedlings Concept art 101 thread
http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=81332
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=64711 <-this is a good one too.
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3358 <- Books

And another point, I've noticed that professionals really do not like manga/anime. I have nothing against it personally, but you need to draw from life.
Also, don't expect people to just go out of their way to send you tutorials and give you advice, I found all of these threads by just searching around for a few minutes, there no reason you couldn't have done that either.

[Mirana]

And another point, I've noticed that professionals really do not like manga/anime.

Uh. Professionals do not like BADLY DRAWN manga/anime. It's the fad amongst the young and so there is a lot of unskilled/uninformed work out there...it has nothing to do with the style.

[Storyboard Dave]

Uh. Professionals do not like BADLY DRAWN manga/anime. It's the fad amongst the young and so there is a lot of unskilled/uninformed work out there...it has nothing to do with the style.

Quite frankly I wouldn't even want to see well drawn Anime at this level!

I'd much rather see that a person knows the basic fundamentals of drawing. Draw from real life! Learn how to draw light, shadow, form, texture, volume, etc.. Whenever I see Anime in students' portfolios I know they can COPY someone else's style well but that's about it. At best, they can mimic someone's stuff but that's it. I'm not saying that studying Anime isn't valuable but then use it as just that- an inspiration. But then look deeper, what did the Anime people study? Get some depth as to what made these people tick and then adapt them to what you've learned.

Ultimately you'd like to get hired to have an innovative style- your own.

[nilaffle]

Adding on to what's already been said and referenced, are you taking art classes at your school?

I'd also suggest investigating in some classes or workshops with live models. You may want to save this step for once you're comfortable with the human form; whether from a class or some of the anatomy books that have already been suggested (or both!). Some areas have open drawing sessions; you pay a small fee (usually $5-$10) and you can sit and draw for as long as the session goes.

[Mirana]

Whenever I see Anime in students' portfolios I know they can COPY someone else's style well but that's about it.

Everyone's style is influenced by the artwork they enjoy. When you're learning, art is ABOUT copying. That is how the old masters learned; it is how we are taught in school. I see no reason to tell this student that their love of eastern comic/animation style is not as valid as another student who loves Rembrandt or Picasso.

Anyway, cut the kid some slack on "real life studies vs manga," since s/he has already said that they want to learn realistic figures and perspective. :P

[Storyboard Dave]

Everyone's style is influenced by the artwork they enjoy. When you're learning, art is ABOUT copying. That is how the old masters learned; it is how we are taught in school. I see no reason to tell this student that their love of eastern comic/animation style is not as valid as another student who loves Rembrandt or Picasso.

Anyway, cut the kid some slack on "real life studies vs manga," since s/he has already said that they want to learn realistic figures and perspective. :P

I have no problem with being influenced by it all. Study whatever floats your boat and be thrilled by it. Draw it, copy it, eat it for breakfast but realize where it comes from. My point was to take that stuff in and study it in depth... find out where it came from and learn where those innovators got their inspiration. See the history and depth beyond just copying it.

But show a portfolio of this stuff to any admissions counselor at a college and it's done for. Like you said, "Professionals do not like BADLY DRAWN manga/anime". I'd much rather see this student elevate his skill set and expand upon it as opposed to focusing in on this one style. At NO point would I ever condemn their influences nor did I ever say one style is better than another. Sooner or later, all of us need to find our own voices as well.

[Mirana]

However, this poster is here ASKING for help with realisim and perspective already, so I think it's unfair to single out his/her interest in manga as a problem.

I included animation and manga styled pieces in my portfolio (15 of the 20 in it) and got a large scholarship. Of course, I was applying for sequential art, so perhaps it depends on the type of school you apply for. If you had that ratio, but wanted to do Graphic Design, I'm sure the outcome would not be as favorable.

[Seedling]

Thanks B-Plant! :-)

Ri Ri, in addition to the Concept Art 101 thread, in my sig there is a link to information about the games industry. Happy reading!

[Storyboard Dave]

However, this poster is here ASKING for help with realisim and perspective already, so I think it's unfair to single out his/her interest in manga as a problem.

I don't recall calling his interest in Manga a "problem". I think you grossly misunderstood me. I said to use it as an inspiration to further his studies.

As a person in high school I strongly endorse what b-plant was espousing- learn to draw from real life first & foremost. Without that foundation, any drawings that they'll do will be mimicked at best.

[Mirana]

I don't recall calling his interest in Manga a "problem".

Quite frankly I wouldn't even want to see well drawn Anime at this level!

Sorry, some of the comments made sounded like you had a problem with manga influence (as referenced above). Beyond that, it's splitting hairs. We agree that foundations are best, influences build on that and that's really what matters, right?

[Icelandic Norm]

Shouldn't you be posting with sketches in the Sketchbook section?

For your stage of development, you should post there and I'm sure the people there will be much more helpful and offer feedback.