I would say just start drawing man! Just start drawing things from your desk or books or go outside and draw whatever strikes you. It doesn't matter how much time you put into it as long as you're drawing IMO.
I think some classes would help but we have plenty of critical eyes here with great advice for ya in that regards also!
My advice? Just do it! 
well if you draw yellow jack its a good idea to start drawing
if you dont draw yellow jack its not a good idea
that was the meanest thing i have said in a long time
[ QUOTE ]
well if you draw yellow jack its a good idea to start drawing
if you dont draw yellow jack its not a good idea
that was the meanest thing i have said in a long time
[/ QUOTE ]
*smacks Ralok*
ya i deserved that
I guess I'd better get my pencil sharpened then.
I really would like to be able to do character drawings, but I'm not sure if I'm really ready for that. While I am above the level of Stick Figure Drawings, I'm not quite at the Getting Anatomy In the Right Places stage.
Perhaps on my way home, I should treat myself to a new sketchbook. 
CosmicFlux
[ QUOTE ]
I guess I'd better get my pencil sharpened then.
I really would like to be able to do character drawings, but I'm not sure if I'm really ready for that. While I am above the level of Stick Figure Drawings, I'm not quite at the Getting Anatomy In the Right Places stage.
Perhaps on my way home, I should treat myself to a new sketchbook.
CosmicFlux
[/ QUOTE ]
Thats the spirit!
hey man, if u want i can tell u a few things i did. i also decided to get back into it. and i tell ya after not doin it for a while i am far more rustier than i thought. but i have taken a couple requests on here as of recently and when i find my self getting bored doin one i move to the other...so right now i am steadily working on 4 pieces but it works for me and they are coming along.
as for a class, i went to my local Barnes & Nobles and picked up about 4 books for about $10 a piece. just be able to look at sumthing and go " oh yeh, i remember how to do that"
u put ur mind to it brother and u will be surprised at exactly how far from stick figures u are
[ QUOTE ]
hey man, if u want i can tell u a few things i did. i also decided to get back into it. and i tell ya after not doin it for a while i am far more rustier than i thought. but i have taken a couple requests on here as of recently and when i find my self getting bored doin one i move to the other...so right now i am steadily working on 4 pieces but it works for me and they are coming along.
as for a class, i went to my local Barnes & Nobles and picked up about 4 books for about $10 a piece. just be able to look at sumthing and go " oh yeh, i remember how to do that"
u put ur mind to it brother and u will be surprised at exactly how far from stick figures u are
[/ QUOTE ]
Great advice!
I like my "How To Draw Comics The Marvel Way" book. It's more old school, but that's one of the styles I like.
Get art books. I'm a manga/anime style artist, so I can pick up one of those and look at anatomy without actually looking at naked people... 
Dunno about you, but I'd get some art books, and post some of your art.
The secrets of art:
Practice, practice, practice.
Critiques, critiques, critiques. And, um..
Keep trying, trying, trying..?
I dunno. But just keep at it, lol
[ QUOTE ]
Get art books. I'm a manga/anime style artist, so I can pick up one of those and look at anatomy without actually looking at naked people...
Dunno about you, but I'd get some art books, and post some of your art.
The secrets of art:
Practice, practice, practice.
Critiques, critiques, critiques. And, um..
Keep trying, trying, trying..?
I dunno. But just keep at it, lol
[/ QUOTE ]
Sounds about right lil brother!
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
hey man, if u want i can tell u a few things i did. i also decided to get back into it. and i tell ya after not doin it for a while i am far more rustier than i thought. but i have taken a couple requests on here as of recently and when i find my self getting bored doin one i move to the other...so right now i am steadily working on 4 pieces but it works for me and they are coming along.
as for a class, i went to my local Barnes & Nobles and picked up about 4 books for about $10 a piece. just be able to look at sumthing and go " oh yeh, i remember how to do that"
u put ur mind to it brother and u will be surprised at exactly how far from stick figures u are
[/ QUOTE ]
Great advice!
[/ QUOTE ]
lol...thanks....and yes....TA's is one of the 4 pieces...lol
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
hey man, if u want i can tell u a few things i did. i also decided to get back into it. and i tell ya after not doin it for a while i am far more rustier than i thought. but i have taken a couple requests on here as of recently and when i find my self getting bored doin one i move to the other...so right now i am steadily working on 4 pieces but it works for me and they are coming along.
as for a class, i went to my local Barnes & Nobles and picked up about 4 books for about $10 a piece. just be able to look at sumthing and go " oh yeh, i remember how to do that"
u put ur mind to it brother and u will be surprised at exactly how far from stick figures u are
[/ QUOTE ]
Great advice!
[/ QUOTE ]
lol...thanks....and yes....TA's is one of the 4 pieces...lol
[/ QUOTE ]
*manhug*
Thanks for the advice all! I did get myself a new sketch pad and a drawing board since I don't have a table I can dedicate to drawing. Because of double XP weekend, I didn't have a chance to do any drawing, but tonight I'm putting my new sketchpad to the test!
Thanks again!
CosmicFlux
Well, rule of thumb regardless of what style you intend to aim toward...is simply to try to draw realism first. Draw what you see. If you're just starting out, your primary concern is going to be anatomy and composition.
After you start getting down the anatomy, things will progress alot easier as you start to ease into a certain style. When you're drawing, you won't really notice it at first but you start to lean toward a specific style...so don't obsess over trying to copy other people's styles...it tends to be alot better to develop your own.
UPDATE: While I had intended to do some drawing last night, I didn't have a chance. However, I ordered an instructional DVD on figure drawing from this online website. I watched the first part of that instead. I think I'm actually picking up some of it, though I must hate him for making it look so easy. :P
Between stuff at work, I have been working on a sketch of TA. This sketch probably won't see the light of day, but it's mainly to help me get into the groove, and to try to get what I'm seeing onto the paper. Eventually, I will have one that I'll be posting.
As I started working on the sketch, I do think it feels more comfortable now than it did the last time I was working at drawing. Now I just need to get a bunch more drawing in.
CosmicFlux
I'm glad you're drawing again, CosmicFlux.
I used to draw a bit while I was in school -- mostly anime :P
<3s,
Shinobu
Every so often, I get bitten by a creative bug and want to do something creative. I'm feeling it again, and I want to start drawing.
In the past, my problem is always keeping myself motivated and working to get better and to where I can actually see improvement. This actually applies to more than just drawing, but I mainly want to focus on my drawing skills right now.
Several months ago, I got energized to start drawing and get good at it. I had really high hopes, but fell down in the follow through and nothing came of it.
But, I want to end the cycle of getting myself all charged up, trying my hand at improving my artwork, and failing to see any change...or at least change that isn't significant enough. Dr. Perfectionism and Impatience-man are my dual nemeses.
So, how do I keep myself motivated even when I don't see the improvement I want to see?
I work an 8:30 to 4:30 job with an hour travel time on either side of that. While at times I can do some sketching in the office, it's probably better if I focus on my work.
So, I will have to figure out how to juggle my MMO game playing with drawing time. As much as I want to be the artist I want to be right now, I will have to get used to the fact that it will take time.
When starting out is it better to begin drawing one thing versus another? Such as, drawing something interesting on my desk or a person, etc.
Is it a good idea to set aside time each day for drawing? I'm sure more time is better, but is a half hour to an hour every day enough while in the formative stages?
Would taking a figure drawing class help? Or if I am diligent in my own efforts with enough critical eyes observing and critiquing my work, can I get through this formative stage without taking classes?
Thanks in advance for any advice, encouragement and help you can give.
CosmicFlux