Author Topic: New and need help (Read 30108 times)

Nicholas · « **on:** August 14, 2003, 03:22:01 am »

Hello everyone. I'm Squirrely/Raty whichever hehe have to describe myself some other time. Anyway um I'm new to drawing and looking for helpful tips and hints and stuff like that. New to using forums so i just clicked new topic. I like to draw mostly rodents (rats, bats, squirrels, maybe some mice) but like all others as well if i can. I kinda have been doodling for a week or so using blocks to position my char and stuff but only from the side. What to learn how to go about with different angles and such. I try but it doesn't look right really. Want to learn more of than as well as everything else really. Heard you guys are SUPER nice hehe so thought i'd come for some help. So anything is good right now

Patrick Rangerwolf · « **Reply #1 on:** August 14, 2003, 09:11:50 am »

Hello.

I would love to be able to help you out with your work. It's good to meet a new artist. If you like, I can make up some little head and body poses in a profile, 3/4, front, and back, if you like. Also, visit your local library and pick up Preston Blair's Animation. This book will give you some really good pointers on drawing characters. You can email me or PM if you like to. I look forward to hearing from you.

Your furend,
Patrick

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Mousira · « **Reply #2 on:** August 14, 2003, 12:51:06 pm »

Rodentien are my specialty (being a mouse myself O^-^O) and if you look at the forum 'Furry Tutorial' by myself, the main focus of the tutorial is a mouse. But I explain the others as well.

'>

Cesarin · « **Reply #3 on:** August 14, 2003, 03:28:05 pm »

i like mouses/ rabbits, i draw them myself too, unfortunately most of them are not suitable for children

'>

-= Cesarin's Cave =-

Nicholas · « **Reply #4 on:** August 14, 2003, 03:59:34 pm »

Thanks you guys for responding, lets me know i'm heard ^_^ My char is either a plump rat or a rainbow squirrel. Yes i did look thru the tutorial and it helped out lots. *goes back doodles some*

Kattywampus · « **Reply #5 on:** August 16, 2003, 11:39:06 am »

I can scan in some of my avian stuff, too, if it'd be helpful.

Kada-Ru · « **Reply #6 on:** August 16, 2003, 02:25:05 pm »

Welcome to our forums, SquirrelyRat!

Yes, there are a lot of furolks here that can help you with your quest. As Midnight Dragon suggested, post a pic on the forums, I think here would be fine, for others to look at it and give you feed back. He is also right that others do learn here from comments on other artists works. I know I do.

'>

There are a lot of books out there for helping artists learn their trade and to find out which ones would be best for your particular style, post a pic here and see what others can suggest. Books are a basic starting place but good tips from other artists can go a long way to helping one improve, as MD mentioned.

Look forward to seeing what you have and if you are interested, check out the rest of Furtopia as we have many artists that you can look at their works and get ideas that way too. I do that a lot myself!

'>

Artwork, Stories and Poetry, and of course our Music webpages!

Nicholas · « **Reply #7 on:** August 20, 2003, 07:51:28 pm »

Like here is my first char i've really come to like. I not very good at paws or footpaws yet. Still trying profile and 3/4 profile views. But like body detail and things to add more character (more clothing tips or accessories) is what i would like help on. Thanks (i've never attached on a forum before so i hope it attaches, if not then i need help)

Mousira · « **Reply #8 on:** August 21, 2003, 11:11:57 am »

It's very good if you're aiming to be a cartoonist. But still needs some work if you're going for realistic. *shrugs and smiles* But I'm sure you already knew that, right?
*studies it for a few moments, then nods, mostly to herself.* As I've said to many before, my style is too much on the borderline. So, I would never be able to draw something to look perfectly cartoonish, or realistic (unless I'm painting over a stretch of a week or longer). But this is really good, and practice makes perfect. O^-^O

Kada-Ru · « **Reply #9 on:** August 21, 2003, 01:10:31 pm »

He's cute!

'>

As for paws it depends on what you are aiming for like Mousira stated, cartoony or realistic or something in between.

For me, I haven't really been able to do cartoony stuff. I some times go for more realistic. I look at our dogs a lot and try to imprint how their paws look in different positions or their head view etc. I also take TONS of photos since it is easier for me to use a photo for reference than what I just see in my mind.

This is a pic I did of WhiteShepherd. I sketched it last year but didn't like the sketch. I have improved trememdously since I did that sketch and after several months of practice with other pieces I was ready to redo the sketch. I was satisfied with the end result and this is what I ended up with:

"WhiteShepherd"

Now, for the paws I looked at a lot of photos of our white shepherds paws and tried to get the image from my eyes to my fingers for the paper. I also looked at a nick-nack of a german shepherd we have and put it in the position I wanted to draw the head and sketched from that. For the hands I kept looking at my own hands, if posible or in one of the books I have that shows how to draw hands.

For cartoony stuff, I do have books on how to draw cartoony but I don't draw cartoony stuff like I said. Figure out where you want to go with your abilities and then pic up reference books, take lots of photos etc. that will help you achieve your goals.

Creating is never easy. It takes a lot of time and patience and most of all practice.

I also do my creations in sections. I will do the whole sketch and then work on the head for instance till I get it the way, or most of the way that I am pleased with. Then I move onto another part of the body. I find, for me, it is much easier that way because I don't bog down my mind trying to work on too many parts at one time.

From the pic you posted you do have some talent that you can improve on if you wish too. The most important thing you can do to improve is PRACTICE, PRACTICE and did I mention, PRACTICE?

'>

Good luck and I would love seeing more work from you.

Patrick Rangerwolf · « **Reply #10 on:** August 22, 2003, 02:53:06 pm »

I've been talking to Squirrely for about a week now, and he is making incredible progress in a very short time. He needs mostly encouragement. He's very eager.

But I do agree with Kada-Ru, keep practising. Keep practising. And keep practising.

Nicholas · « **Reply #11 on:** August 22, 2003, 05:12:37 pm »

This is a more recent version of him that i did today. Thought i would post my progress up. I still have to go and look at other picture to do paws better as you all said but here is is anyway. He is suppose to be a mechanic

Nicholas · « **Reply #12 on:** September 04, 2003, 08:05:18 pm »

Well i thought i would post up my first try at digital coloring and cleaning up also of Rodney. Attempts at shading too.

Chaz_wolf · « **Reply #13 on:** September 05, 2003, 09:21:02 am »

Looks great, You are making great progress.

I am afrade that I can not help much on the drawing side, you already have the best artitest I know helping you.. but if you need help on the digital coloring frount.. just ask, I am doing alot of that myself..

I would post a link but most of my work is x-rated *blush*

Your folfy
Chaz

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Nicholas · « **Reply #14 on:** September 17, 2003, 10:28:52 pm »

Well here are my latest two pics i finished. Trying my best on the highlights. i think they are turning out better after a month or so of drawing

Nicholas · « **Reply #15 on:** September 17, 2003, 10:29:33 pm »

And here is the other cause i didn't see how to attach two pictures hehe

Kada-Ru · « **Reply #16 on:** September 17, 2003, 11:38:23 pm »

Snuggems!!!

He so cute! you should ask him about Auntie BlackSpots some time!

Of course these are from when he was a koala.

I can see a definite improvement of your newest works! Great going. Your shading and poses are getting more relaxed it seems. I would add more shading to the characters to give a more 'rounded' body feel to them. And as the others have stated above, you are in good hands with Son Of Earth.

I think you are doing very well with the computer coloring as well. I can't help you in that department since I don't use the computer to color my works but I'm sure Chaz can give you some really good hints as he has done some of SOE's sketches.

Look forward to seeing more work from you and love seeing the improvements!

Firestorm Six · « **Reply #17 on:** September 18, 2003, 04:29:07 pm »

Hi Squirrelyrat ! I definitely see progress in your work in a very short time ! ...Like the others said, ..." Practice " ...is the key, it's best to do some art in a particular style untill you "comfortable" with that before attempting other techniques, and it shouldn't be long for you. good work ! just keep practicing. I havent' done many rodent caracters, only a couple, their features sort of relate to rabbits, which i don't recall doing recently. ':cool:'

Nicholas · « **Reply #18 on:** September 22, 2003, 05:14:51 pm »

So this is one i did this morning. Rethion Raxuith. I finally got around to doing a char that i thought about alot even before drawing. I'm going to college for Video Game Art and Design and I were to make a char for a game this would be my first choice. Hope you all enjoy. Worked on it all morning and afternoon.

Benjamin · « **Reply #19 on:** September 22, 2003, 08:23:26 pm »

*chuckles*
Is that the same Snuggems as from Tapestries and another MUCK or two?

Benjamin

Kada-Ru · « **Reply #20 on:** September 22, 2003, 11:08:10 pm »

That's the Snuggems I know. A really nice guy.

Kada-Ru · « **Reply #21 on:** September 22, 2003, 11:19:36 pm »

@ Benjamin: That's the Snuggems I know. A really nice guy.

@ Squirrelyrat: I can see a definite improvement. I would suggest working some more on making your characters a little more 'rounded'. Like with the Snuggems bear you did. Perhaps not that rounded since he is a cuddly bear but a little more than what your characters are showing. I also love the improvement in your coloring. At first I couldn't tell that you had shading but then I looked closer and could see that you also added shading. I'm not sure how to describe what I mean for the 'rounded' though. They just look 'flat' to me I guess, except for the bear.

Keep up the good work and I'm glad you are sharing!

Nicholas · « **Reply #22 on:** September 23, 2003, 12:01:36 am »

I do know what you mean sorta. But i'm not the best at shading yet so maybe that has something to do with it? I do try hard to make it more 'standing out' or round i suppose than 'flat' i'm not too sure what to do about it other than just work on shading

Kada-Ru · « **Reply #23 on:** September 23, 2003, 12:05:31 am »

hmmms, (goes back and looks at last pic posted) Ok, I think I may have figured something out.

On your shading, you may need even darker shads to the outside of the body. Also, have an idea where your light source is coming from so that, for instance, if the light is coming from the right of the character, the left side of the body, arms, legs etc., are all going to be even darker than the shaded areas. Does that make sense?

Nicholas · « **Reply #24 on:** September 23, 2003, 02:26:41 am »

So I went and worked on the shading more. Just now and i think it looks a whole lot better now. I think i have the light coming from different directions though but right now i'm happy with this one.