Author Topic: Tips for an absolute beginner? Never drawn much before lol  (Read 3041 times)

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Offline SynthTheFox

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Tips for an absolute beginner? Never drawn much before lol
« on: March 23, 2011, 09:20:30 am »
I don't draw very much... I know being an artist takes years and years to do, but do you have any tips for me? I'd love to start drawing anthro art :P

Offline Avan

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Re: Tips for an absolute beginner? Never drawn much before lol
« Reply #1 on: March 23, 2011, 10:01:59 am »
llok at some references; I really recommend the animals you are using as a base, and while some people would recommend looking at humans as well, I just found really good anthro art I liked and used that for the combination; some people would recommend looking at tutorias... but that never really helped me all that much.
Perspective & proportion are the two biggest issues that people tend to have. These are the things that if you dont master, your art will never turn out well, and can lead to some uncanny vallys and whatnot. For these... you could take a class, but I just practiced. A lot.
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Offline Alsek

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Re: Tips for an absolute beginner? Never drawn much before lol
« Reply #2 on: March 23, 2011, 03:49:56 pm »
Perspective & proportion are the two biggest issues that people tend to have.

This.

Start drawing simple objects you see around you in your house.  Focus on what you see rather than what is there.   For example,  You know that the top of a perfect square box is the same width and height as it's sides,  but what you see looking at it from a distance is a diamond shape that's very thin.

Go look for tutorials on 1 and 2 point perspective.  For the kind of art you want to do i wouldn't bother with 3 point.

Offline Yip

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Re: Tips for an absolute beginner? Never drawn much before lol
« Reply #3 on: March 24, 2011, 12:44:57 am »
If you are really an "absolute beginner", it might not be bad to practice drawing simple three dimensional shapes.  Cubes, spheres, cylinders, and so on. They are fairly simple, and yet take some skill to get them look convincingly 3D. And as you get better at that, you'll find it'll help drawing other things since pretty much anything can be visualized as a collection of these simple shapes. Plus, simple shapes are great for learning perspective and shading.

Beyond that, I'd say look at lots of references of whatever it is you want to draw. Myself, I find it helpful to simply look at things as if I was going to draw them. Even if I don't actually draw them. It's basically the process of really paying attention to the shapes and textures and so forth. By committing these things to memory, you'll have more to pull from as you draw more things.

And of course, actual practice is always a good thing.

Offline Onion

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Re: Tips for an absolute beginner? Never drawn much before lol
« Reply #4 on: March 24, 2011, 10:03:39 pm »
Dont choke the pencil. Too many artist grip the pencil too hard in an effort to create  perfect lines. Loosen your grip and make your wrist more flexable. And you will see you skills improve.

Also mix your art. The more skulls you know, the better. If you paint, also try sowing. If you draw try some pottery making or painting. Mixing you knowledge of diffrent art can really help.

Also an important lessen. Observe EVERYONES art. Even if thier skill set is less then yours. Chances are, they might have a skill you can learn. And never be judgemental of others art, specialy your own.

If you have any questions youd like to ask feel free to message me. ^_^
« Last Edit: March 24, 2011, 10:05:34 pm by Onion »

Offline Yip

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Re: Tips for an absolute beginner? Never drawn much before lol
« Reply #5 on: March 25, 2011, 12:09:28 am »
The more skulls you know, the better.
Yes, but don't neglect the rest of skeletal anatomy.    (:

Offline Onion

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Re: Tips for an absolute beginner? Never drawn much before lol
« Reply #6 on: March 25, 2011, 12:00:29 pm »
The more skulls you know, the better.
Yes, but don't neglect the rest of skeletal anatomy.    (:

Im not saying to neglect. Im saying its in an artists best intrist to learn more then just one thing. It helps out allot.

Offline Avan

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Re: Tips for an absolute beginner? Never drawn much before lol
« Reply #7 on: March 25, 2011, 12:40:46 pm »
Actually I found I learned a lot more through my obsessive interests in just a few areas & subjects, then broadening from there.
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Offline Yip

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Re: Tips for an absolute beginner? Never drawn much before lol
« Reply #8 on: March 25, 2011, 09:50:28 pm »
Im not saying to neglect. Im saying its in an artists best intrist to learn more then just one thing. It helps out allot.
Yes but.... Skulls!

Offline Avan

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Re: Tips for an absolute beginner? Never drawn much before lol
« Reply #9 on: March 25, 2011, 10:39:24 pm »
I just realized he meant to say skills.  :D
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Offline Onion

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Re: Tips for an absolute beginner? Never drawn much before lol
« Reply #10 on: March 25, 2011, 10:53:17 pm »
Im not saying to neglect. Im saying its in an artists best intrist to learn more then just one thing. It helps out allot.
Yes but.... Skulls!

Bear with me here im using a galaxy tab and its not that easy to type correctly on.

Offline Foxxhoria

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Re: Tips for an absolute beginner? Never drawn much before lol
« Reply #11 on: April 18, 2011, 07:31:51 pm »
Skulls are important for art as well as skills :)

One thing to keep in mind: shapes!
Understanding leads to empathy,
Empathy leads to admiration,
Admiration leads to love

Optimism leads to disappointment,
Pessimism leads to joy,
although, with optimism you are happy almost all the time,
and pessimism you are sad almost all the time.

Where's the line between being bored and generally too lazy to do anything? :p

Offline Rocket T. Coyote

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Re: Tips for an absolute beginner? Never drawn much before lol
« Reply #12 on: May 14, 2011, 03:23:47 pm »
Tape or clamp the paper down flat before drawing on it.

Keep a sketch diary or notebook.

An artist's manikin can be helpful in drawing figures in certain postures and poses.

Standard copier/printer paper is fine for drawing. You don't always need artist-type paper.

Professional cartoonists and animators sometimes had mirrors near their desks so they could model facial expressions.

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