=/ The woes of progression

[The Crawling Spleen]

I used to draw quite a lot, but I was never taught by teachers in college, and all they cared about was ideas. Simply put, I did not actually improve.

7 months ago, I seriously thought about getting better.

These what I did in the first months:


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y174/NykylaiHellray/sketchbook1.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y174/NykylaiHellray/sketchbook2.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y174/NykylaiHellray/sketch3.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y174/NykylaiHellray/sketchbook3.jpg


These what I have done in the last 3 months:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y174/NykylaiHellray/page12.jpg
self portrait using a grid

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y174/NykylaiHellray/page14.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y174/NykylaiHellray/page13.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y174/NykylaiHellray/page11.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y174/NykylaiHellray/page10.jpg
yeah I know the ears are wrong


What I did a couple of days ago:


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y174/NykylaiHellray/page15.jpg



Now I am my own worst critic, literally. I am paranoid, and I am depressive.
So I look at my work, and see hardly any progression. There might be some, but I dont consdiure that I am improving at all.

If I did not use that grid for the self portrait, or used a reference for the page 3, I would not have been able to draw it.

=/ I keep making mistakes I guess, since I was never taught properly how to draw. But I am unsure how to get better, as what I am doing at the mo. Does not seem to be doing much.

I do life drawing every monday as well, just to let people know.

[Seedling]

Hey, why don't you come join us in Concept Art 101? The link is in my sig for you.

[Puck]

It takes a long time to improve and requires constant concentrated practice. (From my experience at least, there may be some people who can go from stick figure to sistine chapel in a year, but I haven't met them). When I look back over my own work I can see slight improvements, but only when I look at work that is years old, not months old. So firstly I'd say you should give yourself more time, and practice daily if possible.

Secondly, drawings is about observing as much as it is about the mark making. You really need to look at your subject and visually register evey angle, curve and negative space before you can hope to accurately put that on paper. If you say "I know the ears are wrong" then the best thing you can do is spend a few hours drawing ears, from life or from photos, until you can draw them right. Easier said than done, but I personally don't know a better way to improve than that.

Also, start a CA sketchbook and post everything you do (lifedrawings etc) - it's a good motivator and the friendly people here will give you heaps of helpful feedback. Good luck.

[BANNED_For_POOPY_PANTS]

The Crawling Spleen,

First of all, you've got some nice stuff there. I especially like the self portrait and it looks like you're already improving.

It seems like there's an element or two in some of the sketches that could use some anatomical tweaking.

BTW, Puck pretty much nailed it on the head:

"You really need to look at your subject and visually register evey angle, curve and negative space before you can hope to accurately put that on paper. If you say "I know the ears are wrong" then the best thing you can do is spend a few hours drawing ears, from life or from photos, until you can draw them right. Easier said than done, but I personally don't know a better way to improve than that."

There are also many threads and tutorials in CA which will probably help you improve your technique (Seedling's Concept Art 101 thread has helped me immensly).

Just don't forget to enjoy the process itself, because when you're calm, relaxed, feeling good and enjoying the process itself (regardless of the results), it may come more naturally to you. You've already got talent, now it's time to go on the humbling journey of asking new questions, gathering information and honing technique. The more patient and understanding you are of yourself, the more you'll enoy the process and the quicker you'll improve.

Cheers,
JonathanS