How did you guys get so good? Haha.

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Subeta Forums > Art Discussion

#1 :: July 7th, 2012 @ 7:39 PM

Is a Survivor

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I couldn't think of another title, so I went with that. Anyhow...

I love to draw, but I never know WHAT to draw and i'm not even half as talented as all of you. I know it's all about practice, but I was just wondering, any habits or pointers to someone who wants to improve?

If you want to know what i'm using, It's a Wacom art pad with Gimp. I don't use paper much anymore because whenever I try to draw, I end up with ugly doodles that end up filling the book, just throwing out some cash for an ok tablet was actually saving me money. xD

Anyhow, I just figured out how to actually draw with it. (I had to turn on smooth stroke because my hands shake too much.)

So, how about it, how did you 'get so good'?

#2 :: July 7th, 2012 @ 8:16 PM

Newbie

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Well, I'm not amazing or anything, but I got this way by... not giving up (Okay, I gave up for half a year). Yes, study anatomy and draw from life.. etc.. You definitely need the basics of life drawing, i.e. the structure of a face and muscle positioning to work off of. I'm sure someone else will come along with a technical explanation, but just remember while you're practicing to have fun : D It's never going to be perfect, but if you worry about it too much, you'll get art block and get down on yourself so much that you'll never improve.

While you're having fun, expand your boundaries. Don't limit yourself to pinups and plain poses (hi OTL). Do backgrounds, draw random people with no set designs. Get an idea, a theme, a lyric in your head and run with it. Oh, and reference. That's a real tip. Use lots of references. Don't copy directly, just look at the picture when you need to and take what you need to take to make your image look how you want it to look. Pose maniacs is a popular reference site : D you can turn the figures around too.

If you're going to get rid of your trad sketch books, at least replace your doodling on the computer. Doodles help! It's not a waste : D And if you don't like GIMP, there are a few other free programs out there. I use PS 7 along with MyPaint, which is free and great for watercolors, crisp lines, and sketching, but lacks a lot of useful things (mainly the selection tool). In combination with GIMP, it'd probably work nicely.

Last Edit by: Paestries 7/07/12 - 8:17:03 pm

~ Tumblr ~ Deviantart ~

#3 :: July 7th, 2012 @ 8:22 PM

is a Mirage

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I'm not saying I'm good, but it really is all about practise

I used to be really wobbly with a tablet too, and my traditional doodled used to be tiny and really dark/overly rubbed out. The shaking should stop eventually. I draw every day, literally every day, it's all I ever do, I need to really, I'm not someone who progresses really fast, so I need the daily practise to keep myself sharp.

References are always good, for colours, poses and backgrounds/items etc., there's nothing wrong with using references

A year ago I would never had said this, but life drawing classes are actually really helpful too, for both colours, shading, shape...everything really. I find that colour comes into it a lot too, I find my own work less of an eyesore now that I've learned a bit more on colour theory c: There are some amazing tutorials out there (mainly talking about dA) that explain everything I've mentioned in detail so people of all stages can understand, you should give them a look

Sorry for rambling, that was more jumbled thoughts than advice xD

Commissions | dA | tumblr. | #illuminART
Formerly SHIBA

#4 :: July 7th, 2012 @ 8:31 PM

Is a Survivor

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@Shiba
Nope, jumbled thoughts are great.
Thanks. Yeah, I just joined Deviant Art, though I probably won't post anything unless I love it.

@
I'll have to check that out.
It's more of a problem of me not knowing that to draw, if I knew, i'd be drawing from life all the time.

#5 :: July 7th, 2012 @ 9:24 PM

Is Lonely

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@Lauren
Even if you don't have the slightest clue what you're doing, it's always worth it to try anyway. Practice gets you far. I realized that far, far too late when it comes to drawing humans. If you don't know what to do, where to start etc., just pick something you like. If you like cats, draw cats. Struggling with part of it? Break them down into basic shapes and build up over it. Look at pictures of actual cats and how people draw. Personally I shade with small, repetitive lines with varying pressure.

What's your dA account? You can always post drawings to ask for critique or advice, I'd be destroying a fair amount of my account if I deleted all the pieces I don't like.

#6 :: July 7th, 2012 @ 9:37 PM

Is a Survivor

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I just made it tonight.
It's Pinkviolins, I'm thinking of making a year long project where I draw 1 bird a day and then compare day 1 to day 365.
I don't know if you're really supposed to use DA for practice pic though. xD

#7 :: July 7th, 2012 @ 9:43 PM

Is Lonely

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@Lauren
That's a great idea, you should definitely do it. I use dA for WIP photos, everything. It's not just for finished pictures. xD

#8 :: July 7th, 2012 @ 9:55 PM

Is a Survivor

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I always thought it was.
Though I don't go there much, to be honest. xD

Ok, there, my crappy cardinal is visible.
Now I will build on this.

#9 :: July 7th, 2012 @ 9:56 PM

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Well, when I say draw from life, it's pretty flexible. I usually mean from a photograph. So.. look up a photo and draw whatever you want to learn about. Don't worry... It'll pop into your mind at some point. If it doesn't, just browse some other peoples' galleries and see if you get 'inspired.' I hate using that word though... inspiration doesn't last long for me. You've got to have your own motivation to keep going.

Use DA however you want. My new account is just for my slightly more polished stuff, but my old account (pai-tan) was for sketches, full pictures, and everything in between. If you feel like you've just littered all over your gallery in a few months, you can always delete things or put them in storage.

~ Tumblr ~ Deviantart ~

#10 :: July 7th, 2012 @ 9:58 PM

Is Lonely

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@Lauren
Awww, it's adorable. Can't wait to see what else you do.

#11 :: July 7th, 2012 @ 9:58 PM

Is a Survivor

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Maybe I will do that.
I was looking around the tutorial section and there was some interesting things there.
I lack a lot of technique, so that may prove to be a big help.

#12 :: July 8th, 2012 @ 4:13 AM

is Darksided!

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When I first started getting serious about wanting to do art I tried to practice drawing things and I actually thought they weren't too bad. But now I look at the pieces I did and I'm just like "wow I want to burn these". Like I can't really pinpoint a time where I thought I improved or 'moved on to a higher level of art', but it must have happened sometime because I'm still not where I want to be but I'm sure as hell better than I was lmao. Just keep drawing and you'll do great. You'll have good days and you'll have bad days where you think it's not worth it to try improving anymore but on the bad days you just have to remember that it's not the success of the drawing that matters but what you learned from the failure of your drawing.

art

Last Edit by: Follywood 7/08/12 - 4:16:35 am

#13 :: July 9th, 2012 @ 1:46 AM

is a big bully

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@Lauren
Aside from practice, practice, and still more practice (like has been mentioned above)?
I find I improve most when I copy artists' work that I admire. Is it appropriate to reuse this artwork? No, absolutely not, but it is a great learning tool. I have actually taken portraits others have painted before and simply drawn over them in photoshop to replicate the drawing. Granted, browsing through dA can be discouraging because there are so many incredible artists there, but remember, they all started somewhere. (:

resrey@turntable.fm fan me brah

#14 :: July 10th, 2012 @ 8:15 PM

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It's cool to hear that you're doodling at least. I'm sure that's how everyone started out.. I'm not the best. Heck I'm not even that good really. I just started with skeletal anatomy but.. I've been getting compliments that I am really good. Practice helps a lot like any one else would say. I hope you don't give up drawing. A good way to study or practice like SLICK has said is just look at a picture or painting and try to redraw it.
As for programs.. I'm the opposite of you.. I am really good with drawing in sketch pads, probably because I've always drawn on paper. Drawing on my tablet, I'm not great with it but like everyone says it takes practice and I'll eventually get to it once i prefect my drawing abilities. Artistic abilities runs in my family thankfully so that's a bonus for me hahaa. You should post your doodles. I'd like to see them ^__^

Ping me please so I can respond to your messages~! <3

#15 :: July 14th, 2012 @ 5:32 AM

Is Lonely

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This is my deviantArt, go stalk it

@Lauren
Keep doodling, that's a good thing!

I have no bloody clue, it's just keeps happening.

Ask a Witty Beldam

#16 :: July 14th, 2012 @ 11:23 AM

is a Skilled Hooker

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I'm not sure how helpful this is, but I use a inspiration tumblr to keep like a scrapbook of what I styles I like and possibly want to emulate (mostly what would be a mixture of then styles)

when practicing, I keep several rules for myself:

1) no tracing from references. When using a reference, it's obviously handy to have it very close nearby, but keep in mind that the reference is for (at least to me) primarily checking if your anatomy looks alright, or brainstorming ideas for a pose. (or obviously, the character in question)

(the idea is that you don't want to be eventually dependent on references and/or gain a reputation as a tracer. That's its own... controversial conversation)

2) if I'm practicing, I like to focus on one thing, like either the sketching process or colors and lighting. Stuff like that. So don't rush yourself into suddenly getting good at all techniques c:

3) if something or somebody's character suddenly inspires you, don't hesitate to draw it! I lose inspiration/motivation somewhat easily (or I just get lazy), so don't caught up in that!

art tumblr

Last Edit by: Chen 7/14/12 - 11:30:06 am

#17 :: July 16th, 2012 @ 2:35 AM

Made a Living

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@Lauren
I started drawing a few months ago, so I'm still learning, but I try to practice every day, and finish as many drawings as I can, even if they turn out crappy. I figure if I just draw a TON of stuff, eventually I'll find my style or get better or whatever. c: My biggest problem is it's hard for me to get ideas for what to draw...but I like to look at other people's characters, or at adoptables on deviantart, and sometimes one will inspire me to draw, even if I don't draw that character itself, maybe like the hair or the shoes or something random will inspire me. I also keep an inspiration tumblr of fashion I'd like to draw people wearing, or artwork that inspires me, etc.

deviantart | tumblr

#18 :: July 21st, 2012 @ 4:04 PM

is a Mirage

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One thing each artist I've spoken with has ever told me, practice.

Practice, practice and some practice for good measure. I'd add curiosity to that, wanting to know what things actually look like and how they work has helped me greatly.

I've had my moments where I have been too frustrated because I see beautiful art and have a burning passion to do the same, but my skill just isn't enough.
That line there is what stops most budding artists.
When you see and recognize bad art from good art from great art, but you yourself feel you're forever stuck at the level between bad and good art.

#19 :: July 22nd, 2012 @ 8:26 PM

Silly Spamming Sausage

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//: - - - - - - - - - - DA @ V-EIH | :: chibi by Pocky

Draw at least half an hour a day of random objects around your house.

Get an anatomy book and draw body parts over and over, if you draw animals a lot, then something on animals.

You can improve very quickly with art if you spend a good amount of time drawing each day. Personally, I'm lazy, so I have to strive extra hard to keep focused and draw x(