Another Newbie Enters the Fray...

[oqnet]

I found what I was looking for. This is the site that had all the different poses that you try to draw a new one every 30 seconds. I would recommend using some scrap paper and just going to it. The goal is to get as much done in the time given to increase your accuracy with the outlining of the body(I believe someone can correct me).

[oqnet]

I've been there my annatomy isn't the greatest either unless I'm looking strictly at a refrence. So far I've been able to goto places like google image search and pick out a couple of poses and combine them into a unique figure for myself. Where I am there arn't alot of art classes and rarly do I see one for drawing. The best thing you could is keep looking around for ways to improve your art.

I checked out this video series http://www.alienthink.com/ the structure of man. It's very good as far as teaching you how to develop your own technique in drawing.

There are some other things you can do. I seen one suggestion in the tips and tricks(also where I found out about the stucture of man) section about a site where you basically sit down and draw what it puts up on the screen when it changes you draw the next thing. This is suppose to help you as well, but I can't speak to it because I neither have tried it or can find the link at the moment.

Hang in there, you don't need to be a professional you just need to keep trying to learn more and more. Keep reaching out to new sources of informtion. Check out the Tips and Tricks forum it's a great place to find information on technique and tools.

Welcome to penciljack

[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.

[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]

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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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]

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)

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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]

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!