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Getting better at drawing?
- Thread starter Sats
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I recently found out I'm bored with my software engineering course so I decided to take a bit of time off studying to rediscover my passion. Growing up I've always been artistically driven, so I'm trying to bring that part back into my life.
I've recently started writing again (poems, songs, short stories) and have reinvigorated my desire to learn the guitar, but I've never really tackled drawing outside of art class at school. I've always wanted to, but the learning curve just seemed so big. I have a lot of empty exercise books lying around, so maybe I'll grab a pen (don't have any pencils!) and begin to just sketch whatever comes to mind.
As mentioned already,I guess the key early on is not to focus on what you've drawn poorly, but to focus on what you've done well so far.
I've recently started writing again (poems, songs, short stories) and have reinvigorated my desire to learn the guitar, but I've never really tackled drawing outside of art class at school. I've always wanted to, but the learning curve just seemed so big. I have a lot of empty exercise books lying around, so maybe I'll grab a pen (don't have any pencils!) and begin to just sketch whatever comes to mind.
As mentioned already,I guess the key early on is not to focus on what you've drawn poorly, but to focus on what you've done well so far.
sixteen-bit
Member
i know that feel
GodParticle
Member
One thing I've always had trouble with is drawing from imagination. It's like I can see an image in my head, but it's as if I'm looking at it through peripheral vision and a foggy window. I couldn't even draw my parents' faces if I tried because of this. Pretty much anything I visualize is like that. Is that unusual and how can it be improved?
Kai Dracon
Writing a dinosaur space opera symphony
In addition to what was said about starting simple and drawing still lifes, boxes, etc, try to learn to see everything as its underlying shape. Just break everything down into primitives.
Practice taking stuff from around you, be it a car, couch, tree, and think about what kind of volume it has and the basic shapes there. Also, try to avoid spending too much time and over-detailing any one spot of a drawing as you work. IMO this is a common beginner's mistake. Try to bounce around the entire sketch.
The constant practice is in a real way re-wiring your brain. Learning to translate shapes into a flat surface and see shapes intentionally, being fully conscious of them. It's a slow process but the funny part is that every so often you'll realize you're doing something automatically that was previously frustrating.
I don't think we see things clearly inside our heads. It's a shifting image. The trick is learning how to break things down into a few iconic details. Like if it's a specific person's face, learning how to break down common facial features so you can reconstruct a specific combination. Think of it as learning to draw a variety of basic parts and over time you get better at combining those parts into anything you want. Slowly you can refine what you draw so it becomes more what you're aiming for.
Practice taking stuff from around you, be it a car, couch, tree, and think about what kind of volume it has and the basic shapes there. Also, try to avoid spending too much time and over-detailing any one spot of a drawing as you work. IMO this is a common beginner's mistake. Try to bounce around the entire sketch.
The constant practice is in a real way re-wiring your brain. Learning to translate shapes into a flat surface and see shapes intentionally, being fully conscious of them. It's a slow process but the funny part is that every so often you'll realize you're doing something automatically that was previously frustrating.
I don't think we see things clearly inside our heads. It's a shifting image. The trick is learning how to break things down into a few iconic details. Like if it's a specific person's face, learning how to break down common facial features so you can reconstruct a specific combination. Think of it as learning to draw a variety of basic parts and over time you get better at combining those parts into anything you want. Slowly you can refine what you draw so it becomes more what you're aiming for.
RurouniZel
Asks questions so Ezalc doesn't have to
Yes, anyone can learn to draw/paint better.. I'm not a "great" artist yet, but I can see my own improvement as the years have gone by.
If you want to put in the time, you can definitely improve!
If you want to put in the time, you can definitely improve!
Read and practice tons of theory: Vilppu videos and Loomis books are my favourites, Proko on Youtube makes produce some good guides too.
The former can get extremely slow but he tries hard to convey a very important thing while drawing: You have to feel the form and think in shapes.
4chan's /ic/ is quite good if you can stand the over-critical and soul crushing comments.
The former can get extremely slow but he tries hard to convey a very important thing while drawing: You have to feel the form and think in shapes.
4chan's /ic/ is quite good if you can stand the over-critical and soul crushing comments.
Drawing on the right side of the brain...
I SAID DAMN! this book was made for me, im an L mode person like 100% of the time and never got any hold on how to "switch sides".
Right now im going thru excercise #2.
I can totally recommend it.
im already getting better :/
learn how to draw people, it changes your way of viewing life. #fact
I SAID DAMN! this book was made for me, im an L mode person like 100% of the time and never got any hold on how to "switch sides".
Right now im going thru excercise #2.
I can totally recommend it.
im already getting better :/
learn how to draw people, it changes your way of viewing life. #fact
Adam_Roman
Member
I think all that left brain/right brain stuff is complete BS. You're getting better because you're drawing more. That's the only real way to hone a skill is to keep working at it.
I think there must be something true in that theory, my GF is just the opposite, the definition of an "r mode" thinker.
and trying to see stuff that way is what I want to discover.
Maybe its placebo, but hey, its working.
No. Some other forum. It's one of the most inspiring things I have ever seen. His skill at first was really bad. Time passed by and he got really good and he ended up teaching art.
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/cr...urney-absolute-rookie-paintings-sketches.html
Most inspiring art related thing I have ever saw.
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