Another update from me. Criticism is always welcome
Also, does anyone know any good books on how to color?
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MustangArbiter of Unpopular OpinionsRegistered Userregular
edited June 2009
Good progress, I can see this thread becoming a "go to" thread for showing people how much progress you can make when you work at it.
I honestly think you just need to keep doing what you're doing right now.
Unfortunately I don't know of any great books on colour, I've learnt what i know from studying others art and just picking up bits and pieces here and there. That being said, I'm not all that great with colour either.
Mustang: Thanks, but how long should I keep drawing from reference? Should I just keep doing it while working on random doodles on the side, and then slowly make my own style?
Latest update from me:
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MustangArbiter of Unpopular OpinionsRegistered Userregular
edited June 2009
You should never stop drawing from reference. Of course you can draw without it, but don't treat references like training wheels, they are just a tool to help you achieve your goals. I don't know a single artist who doesn't advocate the use of a model or a picture or drawing from life. At the end of the day they're all references and far superior to what your imagination is capable of.
Also don't worry about style, the style is in your technique for solving problems and that will develop with experience and infused with your own personal eccentricities. It's something that will come completely naturally, so don't ever force it. That's not to say you shouldn't have fun with your art, you should always try to have fun and try new things, even if they don't work out you usually learn something.
You're doing really well, so keep it up.
Wow, thanks everybody! , I looked back at some of my old comics (one's not posted in this thread) and couldn't believe I used to draw like that. Thanks all around to this forum for kickin my ass and making me work towards improving .
treat the hair as a big shape initially. squint at it and identify roughly the edges of the shape and block that in with angular type lines. then identify the big dark masses of the a hair and toss a tone in. Then it is a matter of breaking the shapes down more and more. Generally with hair the more you suggest rather then show will make it easier on yourself.
Remember when you're using a reference to constantly be checking how things are lining up as a whole instead of just drawing piece by piece and only focusing on one part at a time. For example, the girl's right hand in the photo- her wrist is higher above the bottom of the bread and her hand is farther toward the left side of her head. In your drawing she looks a little like she's picking her nose
treat the hair as a big shape initially. squint at it and identify roughly the edges of the shape and block that in with angular type lines. then identify the big dark masses of the a hair and toss a tone in. Then it is a matter of breaking the shapes down more and more. Generally with hair the more you suggest rather then show will make it easier on yourself.
This is really good advise, it took me years to figure this out on my own.
EDIT: Also you might want to fill out some pages of body parts, one page of hands, one of eyes, one of lips, ears etc.
The repetition will give you a better understanding, I still do these all the time, in fact I'm doing a page of noses right now.
treat the hair as a big shape initially. squint at it and identify roughly the edges of the shape and block that in with angular type lines. then identify the big dark masses of the a hair and toss a tone in. Then it is a matter of breaking the shapes down more and more. Generally with hair the more you suggest rather then show will make it easier on yourself.
This is really good advise, it took me years to figure this out on my own.
EDIT: Also you might want to fill out some pages of body parts, one page of hands, one of eyes, one of lips, ears etc.
The repetition will give you a better understanding, I still do these all the time, in fact I'm doing a page of noses right now.
We should have a weekly or monthly body part thread. I'm doing noses too!
And I agree, while your drawings feel solid, there's an awful lot of anatomy guesswork. Case in point, the guy with the knife there. What is that bulging out the side of his right knee? How does his left thigh transition into his knee and onwards?
I did a lot of that sharp angle somewhere to convey a bone or a convergence of bones and it will work for a while, but you really wanna take a look at specific parts that are troubling you - even if you think they end up looking alright. Eliminating the guesswork will make stuff like right all the time instead of surprising you when it does look kinda good.
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Messed up on the hand, but other than that I'm happy with it.
Also, does anyone know any good books on how to color?
I honestly think you just need to keep doing what you're doing right now.
Unfortunately I don't know of any great books on colour, I've learnt what i know from studying others art and just picking up bits and pieces here and there. That being said, I'm not all that great with colour either.
Latest update from me:
Also don't worry about style, the style is in your technique for solving problems and that will develop with experience and infused with your own personal eccentricities. It's something that will come completely naturally, so don't ever force it. That's not to say you shouldn't have fun with your art, you should always try to have fun and try new things, even if they don't work out you usually learn something.
You're doing really well, so keep it up.
Keep it up and I might just be inspired to get back into drawing :P
who need signiyures anyways o_O
Just a quick sketch today.
How I love July.
Thanks! But I think I might try to start using actual photo's as a reference.
My first drawing using a photo as a reference:
Does anyone know any good tutorials for drawing hair? It's giving me a lot of problems
(The Reference I used)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/maciejdakowicz/139139364/
facebook.com/LauraCatherwoodArt
This is really good advise, it took me years to figure this out on my own.
EDIT: Also you might want to fill out some pages of body parts, one page of hands, one of eyes, one of lips, ears etc.
The repetition will give you a better understanding, I still do these all the time, in fact I'm doing a page of noses right now.
We should have a weekly or monthly body part thread. I'm doing noses too!
And I agree, while your drawings feel solid, there's an awful lot of anatomy guesswork. Case in point, the guy with the knife there. What is that bulging out the side of his right knee? How does his left thigh transition into his knee and onwards?
I did a lot of that sharp angle somewhere to convey a bone or a convergence of bones and it will work for a while, but you really wanna take a look at specific parts that are troubling you - even if you think they end up looking alright. Eliminating the guesswork will make stuff like right all the time instead of surprising you when it does look kinda good.
Keep practicing!
facebook.com/LauraCatherwoodArt