Another Newbie Enters the Fray...

[starrypawz]

Uh, hello everyone I'm knew to the forum. *waves*
I suppose before posting my art up for scrunity I should give you some backdrop on my 'artistic life'
I'm 17 and have been drawing since I could hold a pencil, but started to be a bit more serious about it from age 12 onwards. In about 08 I started to focus more on drawing people (before that I was drawing cruddy looking animals and anthros) and would say this is when my art really 'started' to improve, at least anatomy wise. I've had no real 'formal' instruction apart from badly done art lessons in school so I'd say I have mostly learned under my own power, from books and the like. I'm not sure if I am wanting to pursue art professionally yet but it's a nice thought for me, but it's my main hobby so I am seeking to improve. Most of my stuff will probabaly be sketches as I don't seem to get a lot of time to take a picture to 'completion' as it were.

So enough of me waffling, here's something to post up here. This is something I drew during a 'self directed study' period in my college's library, in the last month or so. Took me about an hour or just under to finish up. I will admit the thing that really bugs me is his hair, I don't think I got the flow of the ponytail right and the jaw went weird, I think that was due to me drawing some hair there, erasing it and then it went screwy.

[fatmancomics]

You need to take a life drawing class. When I took mine we only had 45 minutes to do a full pose (after about 20 minutes of warm up 2 minute sketches) and this forces you to do a complete drawing in about an hour. Not just that but you still have a long way to go when it comes to anatomy. When you said that you started drawing people I thought you meant that you started drawing them in a more analytical style and not so "cartoony".
You say you like manga and are mostly self taught (no such thing btw) through books but even "how to draw manga" books have an emphasis on anatomy. Hell, even the most "manga" type face is an extreme exaggeration of real life anatomy. Keep practicing and keep posting.

[starrypawz]

You need to take a life drawing class. When I took mine we only had 45 minutes to do a full pose (after about 20 minutes of warm up 2 minute sketches) and this forces you to do a complete drawing in about an hour. Not just that but you still have a long way to go when it comes to anatomy. When you said that you started drawing people I thought you meant that you started drawing them in a more analytical style and not so "cartoony".
You say you like manga and are mostly self taught (no such thing btw) through books but even "how to draw manga" books have an emphasis on anatomy. Hell, even the most "manga" type face is an extreme exaggeration of real life anatomy. Keep practicing and keep posting.

As bad as it seems I've never done that much 'realism' apart from say copying photos for old school work. By self taught I more meant that I've had little formal instruction and have mostly leanred 'on my own' outside of a school/tutored enviroment. I realise a lot of my antatomy needs work and I am hoping to get my hands on a few good antomy books I've found. I know that life drawing is the best thing but it's something I haven't been able to do as it appears there are no classes offered near me unfortuantley.
By 'focusing' I mean more I decided it'd be more interesting to try and draw people instead of anthros/animals as I had done so long before, maybe I should have worded that differently.

I do know what you mean about 'how to draw manga' books offering antaomy examples, as one of the ones I have does cover muscles. I think it's more of a case of me actually remembering to set time aside, sit down and actually do serious practice.

Thanks for your input!

[Symson]

Well Starrypawz now it's time to get some instruction. Check in you local area for life drawing classes.

Go to the library and check out books on anatomy, composition and perspective to start.

[starrypawz]

Any suggestions on good titles to look for?
One of the books I'm thinking of getting this this one: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nude-Figure-.../dp/0823032329 Someone who I used to watch on DeviantART (as in they jumped ship to another site) has this book and it seemed to get some pretty good results from using it as reference.

[Angry Pencil]

Also, don't hesitate to sit in front of a mirror and draw yourself. Your a model thats always there. Lot of people will say don't draw from comics. I say use it as reference. Plus there are plenty of nude images to use as reference to help you along as well.

[Symson]

Here is the cool thing about going to the library.
- You can test drive the book before you buy.
- You can stumble upon some things and artists that may interest you. The chain book stores (at least in America) seem to all carry the same stuff and have no depth.

Another good thing to do is to go to the mall or park and sit and sketch people.

[starrypawz]

Here is the cool thing about going to the library.
- You can test drive the book before you buy.
- You can stumble upon some things and artists that may interest you. The chain book stores (at least in America) seem to all carry the same stuff and have no depth.

Another good thing to do is to go to the mall or park and sit and sketch people.

I have tried my local library before but not really found anything that was actually of any real use to me. I seem to be stuck in a town that has zilch to offer. (don't even get me started on the local art/craft store which seems to be staffed with people who don't actually know what they're talking about)

[Wo-Nellie]

Welcome aboard starrypawz. I can sympathize with running into so-called professionals who don't know what they're talking about; in my town there's a comic shop staffed with teenaged boys, and I'm a woman in her 30s who's forgotten more than they'll ever know about comics.

[starrypawz]

Welcome aboard starrypawz. I can sympathize with running into so-called professionals who don't know what they're talking about; in my town there's a comic shop staffed with teenaged boys, and I'm a woman in her 30s who's forgotten more than they'll ever know about comics.

In my case I went in with a very simple question 'can you help me find these colours to create this skintone' and the dumb girl on the counter went 'the coloured pencils are over there'

My friend went in there for paintbrushes, asked for advice and got 'well, all paintbrushes are the same' as a reply.

[pigeonmilk]

Anatomy for the Artist ( contains nudity ) but gives up close shots of actual bodies.

sit down do a series of 7, 1 min drawings of say a nose in different angles, then do 5, 2.5 mins of the same body part but with more detail, then 5, 2 min drawings of that body part now only larger with more detail and different poses, then 1, 15 min sketch, large and full of detail.

Do this for every body part..

This is what I'm doing in my anatomy class atm and its a great way to develop.

[pigeonmilk]

One thing your going to have to make yourself do is stop subcoming to excuses with your art...I do this too and it only hinders us. If they dont offer anatomy classes in your area, then you make your own, find a friend, go out in town to a park or something and start drawing.

If all you can do is put up excuses for not being able to do something then you wont do it.

[starrypawz]

Anatomy for the Artist ( contains nudity ) but gives up close shots of actual bodies.

sit down do a series of 7, 1 min drawings of say a nose in different angles, then do 5, 2.5 mins of the same body part but with more detail, then 5, 2 min drawings of that body part now only larger with more detail and different poses, then 1, 15 min sketch, large and full of detail.

Do this for every body part..

This is what I'm doing in my anatomy class atm and its a great way to develop.

I'll have to try that out. I believe that that is one of the books I've had my eye on for a while. I'm just hoping that when I get a hold of some antaomy books and the like my parents don't flip out. Whilst I don't have a real problem with nudity my parents seem to. (my brother is a photography student, there were some tasteful, well shot nudes up at one of the college that he goes to show and they basiclaly went down a 'those are horrible!' route) so hopefully they don't freak out too much.
*crosses fingers*

During the summer I'll have to see if I can find any life drawing classes near me, and see if I can actually get into one.

[hadesillustrations]

Before you buy anything start with this downloadable pdf of 5 Loomis drawing books:

http://alexhays.com/loomis/

I remember using these books years ago and they are fantastic for understanding basic structure. They're really an excellent start for any aspiring artist and a good refresher for anyone. I still enjoy perusing them. Same goes for my copy of How To Draw Comics The Marvel Way.

I hope that helps. Get to work!

[starrypawz]

I've been linked to that, and I believe have the PDF's somewhere (and the marvel one) so hopefully I can get a decent look through them when I have some spare time.