A little help with art please.
by Travis Bolek · in Technical Issues · 02/20/2001 (8:45 pm) · 6 replies
I am a 16 year old high school student whose art skills are becoming stagnent. My skills over all are well done for my age, and I have been complement several times, but I am unhappy with my current state. I can draw human figures (male mostly, but female as well), and my shading and coloring is either average or below average. What I really need help in is persepective, action, and object drawing i.e. vehicles, original, plants, and weapons, etc. I am planning on taking a life drawing class, and I was wondering if there is anyting else I could take, class, website, book, etc. And as always I should continue drawing, oh if you want to sample my work just email me at skedar_grey@yahoo.com
Put in the subject refering to this post please, and I will hook you up with one of drawings. :)
Put in the subject refering to this post please, and I will hook you up with one of drawings. :)
#2
04/21/2001 (10:49 pm)
There are a few books you could get, one that specifically comes to mind is drawing on the right side of the brain. Basic art is rather important in the graphical part of game making i believe, it gives you a good understanding of space shape color and value. Art classes wont hurt you and dont think you're too good to take them. Just keep practicing.
#3
The other main problem can be not pushing youself enough - you say you are average to bellow average... but stagnant - it sounds like its time for you to start finding a personal direction with your art - a style.
If niether of these are the problem then try doing something else for a few months - sculpture - 3D - photography - anything loosely related to drawing but that ISNT drawing - something you dont already know is best - learn some new visual skill and you'll find that when you come back to drawing your approach will have improved.
05/13/2001 (7:00 pm)
Ideas - the reason you are getting stagnant or bored with your drawings is probably to do with ideas.When you are still trying to wrestle with the technical aspects of drawing it can be difficult to give yourself time to have ideas - drawings with no idea behind them do become stagnent.The other main problem can be not pushing youself enough - you say you are average to bellow average... but stagnant - it sounds like its time for you to start finding a personal direction with your art - a style.
If niether of these are the problem then try doing something else for a few months - sculpture - 3D - photography - anything loosely related to drawing but that ISNT drawing - something you dont already know is best - learn some new visual skill and you'll find that when you come back to drawing your approach will have improved.
#4
I started out with drawing "tippy" (you're too young to remember that one). then I went to ink, then I needed more- so I started stippling
A friend of mine that drew alot of super hero type figures, both male and female, told me to do a study in biology. The class. I learned alot about the skeletal structures and the bones and the muscles. once you know what the muscles do and where they are attached it makes drawing real life models far more easy. They also tend to look ALOT better. They look better in a way that people generally don't see... It's like the know its right but they don't know why its right.
Lastly, I would say to work on foreshortening, this can make or break a great drawing. Remember the importance of lighting and shadows and this too will come to you. Most of all: Relax, one does not force art. Art flows.
-Shooter
"An Artist's wife will never understand, that while the artist is looking out the window he is at work." -Someone famous said this
06/21/2001 (11:19 pm)
One thing that I have found in my few years on this rock- Its hard to motivate yourself if you don't have a project. Like the previous post here, he (assumed male) says to do something else related to art. I agree, this should give you some perspective (no pun intended) for your routine medium.I started out with drawing "tippy" (you're too young to remember that one). then I went to ink, then I needed more- so I started stippling
A friend of mine that drew alot of super hero type figures, both male and female, told me to do a study in biology. The class. I learned alot about the skeletal structures and the bones and the muscles. once you know what the muscles do and where they are attached it makes drawing real life models far more easy. They also tend to look ALOT better. They look better in a way that people generally don't see... It's like the know its right but they don't know why its right.
Lastly, I would say to work on foreshortening, this can make or break a great drawing. Remember the importance of lighting and shadows and this too will come to you. Most of all: Relax, one does not force art. Art flows.
-Shooter
"An Artist's wife will never understand, that while the artist is looking out the window he is at work." -Someone famous said this
#5
As for improving other areas of art, it is a lot like music. Just look around you and try and draw what you actually see. The key is to not draw what you think you see, but to draw what is actually there. Break that mountian down into a series of shapes. Take the shading and realize that it is a circle of black, not some weird dimensional puzzle. Remember, regardless of what you are doing, you are taking a 3D object and making it 2D, and that is hard. Just keep practicing, and you can get it. Oh, and take a bunch of classes too. That helps...
07/18/2001 (1:37 pm)
I think one thing that is rather hard to do, but worth it, is to just keep drawing. I have one pose that I do rather well with people, so I keep drawing it, but then I try and change one aspect. As I go along, then pretty soon, I try and change a couple aspects at once. Then I try and make a character that is all different aspects, even if it is impossible. That helps me to improve on my figures. As for improving other areas of art, it is a lot like music. Just look around you and try and draw what you actually see. The key is to not draw what you think you see, but to draw what is actually there. Break that mountian down into a series of shapes. Take the shading and realize that it is a circle of black, not some weird dimensional puzzle. Remember, regardless of what you are doing, you are taking a 3D object and making it 2D, and that is hard. Just keep practicing, and you can get it. Oh, and take a bunch of classes too. That helps...
#6
1:When you are in bed going to sleep, envision an object (human, car, etc) in 3d in your mind and rotate it slowly in different directions. This will help you with perpective and also help you to think in 3d. Even if you are a 2d artist you will need to be well-versed with how an object looks in 3d space. Also, the fact that you are in alpha state (right before sleep) will allow you to learn faster and think more clearly when you are trying to visualize this. I do this frequently, and I must say sometimes it carries over into my dreams from which I draw ideas.
2:As far as books go, you will definately want to check out the "dynamic" series by Burne Hogarth. This is one of the most helpful series of books when it come to anatomy etc. as well as being filled with awesome Hogarth art. These books have just about everything you will ever need to know to be able to draw.
3:Another thing I will mention is your art materials. Do some research into what materials professionals use. Strathmore 2-ply cold press artboard is very superior to drawing on typing paper. The "right" materials can make all the difference.
4: Carry a sketchbook and a pencil ALWAYS. Draw everything, all the time. Being able to draw takes years and years of practice. It also takes practice to not lose what you have learned, so keep drawing!
5: Find a guru. Find somebody who does good art professionally (an art teacher, etc.) Show them your work and ask them to criticize it. Always be open to criticizm. When somebody looks at your work and tells you what they think you did wrong, they arent doing it to hurt you (usually). Even non-artists are worth listening to, they will usually see something that you missed. Everybody knows what a cat looks like but not everybody can pu that on paper.
6:Sometimes when you have spent a few hours working on something you will not be able to look at the work objectively. A few days or weeks later you can look at it again and it will look a bit different. Always keep your old sketchbooks and art and review them from time to time. You will see what you need to work on from a more objective point of view, as well as being able to see your strong points.
7: Try new things. Dont be afraid to try new techniques. I know it sounds funny, but you dont need to lock yourself into one way of drawing. Always keep in mind that there is always another blank sheet of paper ready to be drawn on. Not every sketch you do has to be good. Experiment and then move on. Don't rush yourself. Try to ignore the pencil and concentrate on the image you have in your mind. Let your hand draw for you. Its all in the mind, not the hand or pencil. When you ignore the rest of the world and its just you and the lines on the paper, you will establish a "flow" of creativity, directly from your mind. Like I said everybody knows what a cat looks like. Drawing is simply being able to access that part of your mind that knows what a cat looks like.
Well, I hope this help :)
--Entr0py
10/23/2001 (8:31 am)
Here's a few things that will help you with your art:1:When you are in bed going to sleep, envision an object (human, car, etc) in 3d in your mind and rotate it slowly in different directions. This will help you with perpective and also help you to think in 3d. Even if you are a 2d artist you will need to be well-versed with how an object looks in 3d space. Also, the fact that you are in alpha state (right before sleep) will allow you to learn faster and think more clearly when you are trying to visualize this. I do this frequently, and I must say sometimes it carries over into my dreams from which I draw ideas.
2:As far as books go, you will definately want to check out the "dynamic" series by Burne Hogarth. This is one of the most helpful series of books when it come to anatomy etc. as well as being filled with awesome Hogarth art. These books have just about everything you will ever need to know to be able to draw.
3:Another thing I will mention is your art materials. Do some research into what materials professionals use. Strathmore 2-ply cold press artboard is very superior to drawing on typing paper. The "right" materials can make all the difference.
4: Carry a sketchbook and a pencil ALWAYS. Draw everything, all the time. Being able to draw takes years and years of practice. It also takes practice to not lose what you have learned, so keep drawing!
5: Find a guru. Find somebody who does good art professionally (an art teacher, etc.) Show them your work and ask them to criticize it. Always be open to criticizm. When somebody looks at your work and tells you what they think you did wrong, they arent doing it to hurt you (usually). Even non-artists are worth listening to, they will usually see something that you missed. Everybody knows what a cat looks like but not everybody can pu that on paper.
6:Sometimes when you have spent a few hours working on something you will not be able to look at the work objectively. A few days or weeks later you can look at it again and it will look a bit different. Always keep your old sketchbooks and art and review them from time to time. You will see what you need to work on from a more objective point of view, as well as being able to see your strong points.
7: Try new things. Dont be afraid to try new techniques. I know it sounds funny, but you dont need to lock yourself into one way of drawing. Always keep in mind that there is always another blank sheet of paper ready to be drawn on. Not every sketch you do has to be good. Experiment and then move on. Don't rush yourself. Try to ignore the pencil and concentrate on the image you have in your mind. Let your hand draw for you. Its all in the mind, not the hand or pencil. When you ignore the rest of the world and its just you and the lines on the paper, you will establish a "flow" of creativity, directly from your mind. Like I said everybody knows what a cat looks like. Drawing is simply being able to access that part of your mind that knows what a cat looks like.
Well, I hope this help :)
--Entr0py
MPM
and go from there,
remember inspiration is the fuel for vision and than learning the skills will come naturally