[Cleoric]

What would you learn first? What would you start with? Now that you have all the knowledge of a pro (or even just practiced and are good ), how would you go about doing it all over again?

What would your progression look like? Would you learn line drawing first? Shading? Colours? Perspective? Shapes & Forms? | Pencils? Oils? Water Colours? Digital?

Basically I'm looking for a good starting place. Building up. Would shading help my forms more than perspective? Or would forms help me shade better so I should learn that first? I hope you get the idea...

[Gort]

Hmmm...

I wouldn't have dropped out of college in 85 but rather stayed in and finished it out (eventually went back in 91). If I could go back in time I would stay in school and get my MFA in painting and graphic design. Overall just be more focused and make better use of my time by sharpening my skills more.

[Lunatique]

I would've painted from life a lot more, and copied master's works one after another.

[prismacolor935]

I'd be a plastic surgeon,More money and glamour with far less work.

[Cleoric]

"What would your progression look like? Would you learn line drawing first? Shading? Colours? Perspective? Shapes & Forms? | Pencils? Oils? Water Colours? Digital?

Basically I'm looking for a good starting place. Building up. Would shading help my forms more than perspective? Or would forms help me shade better so I should learn that first? I hope you get the idea..."

That was more of what I wanted to know But keep em coming Lunatique gave some good stuff....

[Vhy]

Use a variety of tools.

Take knowledge from other artists.

Draw from life.

[Cleoric]

Ok one more question. There are a couple of art classes being offered over the next few months around here... I was wondering which I should take? Choices:

1) Mixed Media: These classes feature a format that begins with the basics of drawing, before exploring the other media styles that include acrylic, paste, watercolour and colours pencil. You will be show how to successfully merge the mediums together. Still life projects will be set up during some of the sessions. Participants will be required to bring their own suplies blah blah blah. Fee: $43 (Canadian)

2) Pencil Me In (errr...): This clas teaches an individual the basic skills of drawing. It will cover areas such as composition, foreshortening, perspective and values. Whether you're into drawing people, buildings or landscapes, there's something for everyone. A variety of Drawing Tips are handed out during each class and the instructions will include balance between step-by-step to one-on-one. Some materials will be supplied... etc. Fee: $37.65 (Canadian)

3) Exploring Watercolour.
The emphasis on these sessions will include the various types of water-media, such as Acrylics, Watercolour, and the proper usage of water-soluable coloured pencils. Some of the Chinese Brush painting techniques will be included during these classes. Bring own supplise etc. Fee: $43 (Canadian)

So? The kind of art I'm wanting to get to be able to do in the end is really using colours blending together etc to make the image. Not lines, pencil, eraser, smudge, blur, etc. More like Spooge. Like real painting

PS: Sorry if there are any spelling errors, I wasn't looking while typing from the book.

[Jesta78]

I'm just a student right now, but I'll give you the same advice my multimedia professor gave me. First and for most, learn to draw, do alot of life drawing so you're able to master observation. After that learn to paint to understand color. After that or during this process, try to figure out exactly what you want to do. Do you want to be an illustrator, painter, animator, graphic designer, web developer, etc. The sooner you figure this out, the more time you'll spend mastering that particular field. Along the way try different forms of art to broaden your palette, but don't stray too far away from your goal. That's what he told me, hope that helps.

[Cleoric]

That does help Thanks.

[edraket]

I'd go to a real artschool instead of that lousy technical "multimedia" degree I got.

At the same time I am very happy I kind of kept things low key because now I can do it after all. And having worked for a few years and being older and all I think I will get WAY more out of artschool then I would have at age 18.

[BloodStone]

I have a lot of time before I can answer that question. I'm going for a BFA in Computer animation and minoring in Photography. ;D
Such a waste of money, lol.

[Vhy]

Cleoric: since you bring up spooge I will point out that his subject matter follows the rules of perspective. That pencil class looks like a good starting point to me.

The fact that you know you want to use color eventually is good; even if you aren't focusing on color you can pick up knowledge when you see it used sucessfully.

[MadSamoan]

If I could do start over, I would have gotten my overall draftsmanship nailed tight before I got into the game industry. I would have focused on my construction, shapes, values, edges and finally color. Basically, I would have enrolled in one of the Fred Fixler schools/offshoots. (Brandes, California Art Institute, Associates in Art, Watts Atelier, etc...) I didn't know these schools even existed until a couple of years ago, so I don't give myself too bad of a guilt trip and I'm making up for lost time.

[Cleoric]

Ok great! Thanks so much for the advice guys. As it is, I'll probably end up taking both the pencil and the mixed course

[Gimbal8]

I would have applied myself more. That about sums up everything.

And I think I would have taken the green pill this time.

[colonel kurtz]

Cleoric,
As fars as the classes go, if you are a complete and total newbie I would go with the pencils class. But if you feel that you have some kind of grasp on the basics of drwing definitly go for the mixed media. Messing around with other mediums is great practice and can only help the skills you already have.

In answer to your first question. I would personally devote a lot of time to perspective, and shading. In that order. After you get the fundamentals down those are two factors that can make or break a painting. You could have a great picture that has a small perspective discrepancy that draws the focus away from the entire thing.

This is all just me rambling about my own shortcommings so pay no attention.

[ken]

damn edraket, can't give a straight answer can you? i'm in the middle of a multimedia degree, but illustration is so tempting.

seems to be a general consensus that classes and life drawing are good. will do...

-Ken