[Kuharido]

Hey guys ,

I really have 2 things in question here . I preferred not posting two seperate topics .

#1

Whats a good Art academy in the US that has decent programs and excellent instructors , i am hoping to do a shot art program after i finish my BS in Computer Science .

#2

Practise practise practise , thats what i always hear will make my drawing better . How can i practise efficiently ? Like sometimes i copy images and they trn out bad . I get an anatomy book and copy from it , also , doesnt look good , and i dont get an understand of structure . And not just for figures , how do i practise to draw in general . I am learning on my own . Because i didnt know what to do the past couple of years were a total waste . So please help .

Thanks

[Drew]

[aphelionart]

ever try to just draw from life? don't try to just merely copy what you see... see it on the page first and imagine what the values are doing on the forms in the light before you actually draw them.

i'm going to school, and my teachers are great - but i feel i'm improving the most when i'm standing in class drawing still lifes and figures for 7 hours each week! the best a teacher can do is guide you in the right direction by giving suggestions about what you might be missing, but it's confidence in oneself and the desire to learn and improve that really counts.

-matt

[ultrahsu]

Figure out what it is you want your drawings to look like... who's drawings make you tick. Figure drawing is more than just copying what you see... Its about rhythm and gesture, line quality, line vs planes, proportions... Hard to describe it over words, but try to see the figure as compose with a lot of S curves and lines that comes from the bones... Anatomy is crucial, knowing where to exaggerate and what details to emphasize is a matter of personal taste. Drawing from photos is not the best at all. Find someone to pose for you. Be surprised at what people will do if you ask... or at least draw yourself in the mirrow. Posing on your own will also let you feel what the body is doing. Which leg is the weight on, which hip is higher, which should is higher...

first 10~30seconds of your drawing you should have the following figured out and sketched in, either in your head or lightly on paper.

what is the spine doing, where's the center line, angle of the head, shoulder, hip, and the basic rhythm/gesture. Then add your icing on the cake, that is, your rendering, lighting, value...
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