Artistically challenged, assemble!
By
Aqua_Femina,
Posted on: 2006-08-29 24:32 in Multi-Media Fan Creations
I'm so up for this! This is great timing, I've just decided to really get into drawing. I used to be good at it when I was younger, but then due to a poor education system wasn't taught (in my opinion) the proper ways to go about drawing... instead we were just told to draw something without being told how to draw it. Really crappy and having to present your work to the whole class was even worse. As a result I gave up on Art.
Long story short, I'm back, and quite rubbish unless copying... so sign me up for the Artistically Challenged group, I'm in! :P
And as I havent seen any constructive critiscism for Overfiend_87's stuff:
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Here is my horrific drawing for all to see:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v704/o...24-23-52-10.jpg
Prison uniform screen shot
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...cosyrough1.jpg
Prison uniform drawn
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v704/o...24-23-54-03.jpg
2nd Cossy screen shot
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...ossy2rough.jpg
2nd cossy drawn
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v704/o...24-23-54-48.jpg
Brain washed cossy that is connected to fan fic. Screen shot.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...Cossyrough.jpg
Brain washed. Drawn.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v704/o...24-23-56-21.jpg
Origonal cossy screen shot
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...cossyrough.jpg
Origonal cosssy. Drawn.
As you can see it's all ghastly and horrible...but I did seem to improve as I went.
Edit: Stupid images wouldn't show up. Sorry but I could only make links.
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I'll chime in and say that you need to grab a sense of proportions.
I actually love the slender style you've pulled off (I assume unknowingly?) on the first 2 pictures, it could be very original and interesting if you kept it your style.
And also, I'd suggest that you pencil in lightly the character you're drawing with a rubber at hand. Keep building it up gradually and edit anything that looks wrong.
Check this site out also as it's what I'm working from until I get some how to draw books: http://ratcreature.livejournal.com/175099.html
^
That's in general to any wannabe artists out there like me.
This is my best creation so far from using that guide:
http://img431.imageshack.us/img431/3...orgzerogn2.jpg
It only vaguely looks like my main char:
http://img336.imageshack.us/img336/9...orgzerorh8.jpg
and that's because I didn't have this pic on hand to remind me of his finer details.
It takes Chaos to move the world to Action.
I love the sketch of the wolf. Maybes because im a traditional media kinda person. But the digital stuff is good, if only you can learn to add shadows and so on. Well, Then i'd be impressed.
Catz
Hmm you might persuade me to add some of my artwork in, and trust me it makes everyone else look like da vinci, so it could be a good thing everybody elses drawings would look amazing in comparison
Hawk
/me casts ressurect on thread
Lo and behold!
My first attempt to draw anything in the last ... 12 years or so...
Not that I was ever any good or produced anything
Sketch
Done at a pub in Brighton, while Z was doing some too...
@ShadowGhost & @Ghostie
The Grav Mistress, Mistress of Gravity
If you have nothing useful to say, you have two choices: Say something useless or stay quiet.
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/me casts ressurect on thread
Lo and behold!
My first attempt to draw anything in the last ... 12 years or so...
Not that I was ever any good or produced anything
Sketch
Done at a pub in Brighton, while Z was doing some too...
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it's uhm.... intresting 
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OK I managed to scan these just before coming home but Deviant art appears to be playing up a bit so couldn't see these in my gallery.
Anyway, they are just some studies. I'm following a few things in 'How to draw Anything' by Mark Linley and I also picked up a book called 'How to Draw Comic Book Heroes and Villains' by Christopher Hart. It was an old dog-eared copy from a car boot sale but it has been good. Anyway, here they are:
The River
The Bridge
A Study of Heads
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I also suggest "How to draw Marvel Way" by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Kinda old stuff but giving some good tips about heroes and their stuff.
And thanks Zortel. This is a brilliant idea. I'll put somethings here asap.
EDIT================
Okay i found some old work of mine, but it has nothing to do with comics. It's actually one of the leading stars of my fantasy novel. Here's the Amamir Lionspath of Nobanion.
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Mini thread necromancy and hyjacking 
I'd love to try my hand at adding digital colour to some of my horrible scribbles, does anyone know any good, easy to use and preferably cheap software to do with (I don't think MSPaint will quite cut it ) and is doing so an exercise in futility without at least a basic tablet?
Oh, I've seen an A4 trust scroll table for about £50, is this work getting as a practice piece before moving up to the much more expensive wavcom ones?
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I've been away, so forgive my late response, but someone might find it useful.
Tablets.. I've used a few and I'd have to say save for the £60 A6 Wacom (amazon price) rather than pay less for another brand (even if it's bigger), nothing matches a wacom. (Especailly avoid the type with a battery in the pen - urgh)
Cheap software - again, dunno if this has been posted, but this is a really nice program for those with very little budget: Art Rage 2 ... there's a free cut-down version for those with NO budget.
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nothing matches a wacom.
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Quoted for truth.
As far as programs go: Painter>Photoshop>Gimp>MSpaint. (Gimp is free btw)
Oh and,Tablet topic.
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As far as programs go: Painter>Photoshop>Gimp>MSpaint
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I haven't tried Gimp being lucky enough to have access to the other two, but Art Rage really should be in that list - it's a very small program, it's not trying to be Painter or Photoshop, but has some nice features (the devs are ex- painter devs) and a cute UI. The only thing I really dislike about it is it forces a light source on the canvas (which looks fine on the paints, but annoying on plain pencil work).
I got it as a budget alternative to Alias Sketchbook, which has the best digital pencil bar none, but is annoyingly expensive for what it offers.
Never used Alias Sketchbook. Must give it a try some time
But since we're on the subject, again, let me point out these babies:
OpenCanvas
Pixia
Pixia is free and in French
OpenCanvas is made for tablets. The later versions are purchasable but the v.1 is free and allows live session over the net with up to 4 people with 3 layers each. If anyone want the earlier version of OC drop me a pm and I can send it over msn or mail, it's less than a megb and does not require any install process.
The alternative is to use 3D software and make renders.
The drawing skills can go from none to those of Doug Shuler.
Here are a couple of examples from my own pictures, with minimal drawing on them.
Keltra.
The trap.
Oooh look, lets have a bit of threadromancy!!
As this old thread is about people of small artistic talent having a go, and having recently picked up a pencil for the first time in over 10 years, and aquired a scanner; I thought I'd share my meagre attempts at drawing something...
Image 1 was copied from the coverart of a soon to be released DS game, and only took me a few minutes to do. This is the FIRST drawing I've done in over 10 years, and I wasn't very good to start with either! I always had trouble with original works so tend to try to copy when I can...
Image 2 is an attempt at a chibi, and is based off a chibi tutorial I found on the web, so is partly original. I'm fairly pleased with the head I think, but the body went kinda wrong when I added clothes... I think I need to simplify a bit more.
Image 3 is a wholly original attempt at a chibi. Having been disappointed by my attempt at the body in Image 2, I decided to just do the head this time. I'm fairly pleased with the face, but the hair needs a bit of work I think.
I seem to have caught the art bug with these chibi's; they're a lot easier to draw that proper people! So I'll keep trying and see how I go!
Anyway, criticism and advice welcome!
@FloatingFatMan
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Mighty fine attempts Sir. I wouldn't know what advice to give though, as I too, much like yourself, have picked up the pencil for the first time in a long, long while. I wasn't very good but I got all these ideas buzzing around and I'd love to be able to draw proper like, so I've picked it up.
Just now, earlier this evening, I checked out the Art Requests thread and saw my Militia chum Mr. Crimson Archer had requested he be drawn, yet hadn't received anything (as far as the thread shows anyway) so I drew this relatively quickly:
Crimson Archer Portrait
I'm too scared to show it to him incase he see's it as an abomination, so I'll post it here, hiding it away like an unwanted child, birthed from a moment of primal scribbling pleasure.
I think I just need more practise.
I also scribbled a quick picture of Hatesman in his new look.
Hatesman Portrait
I'm actually pleased with these. But yeah, Critcism and Advice welcomed.
Keep up the good work FFM, and anyone else who's reading this, and falls into the category of Artistically Challenged. I wanna see your stuff.
It takes Chaos to move the world to Action.
Artistically Challenged? That's my middle name! 
I just happened to doodle up some pictures of GoodGuy a week ago.
Alas I don't have a scanner (planning to get one though) so you all have to (mercifully) wait to see them.
I have a A4 tablet... but I've found my hand-eye coordination better while using a mouse, although I think my lines were better with the pen...
As for software... I use a cheap program I recieved with my scanner... ok, so I don't actually DO any colouring, but... I think I could do it with that fairly well
Just my view, trust some one who comes across as knowing what they talk about sooner
@ShadowGhost & @Ghostie
The Grav Mistress, Mistress of Gravity
If you have nothing useful to say, you have two choices: Say something useless or stay quiet.