[Blade]

I hear from every single artist I talk to or read about on the internet that Drawing from life is the most important thing to do to become better at what you do.
Well my question is,...
Do they mean just going out somewhere and doing as many figure studies as they can and drawing places from where they live and such or do they mean more like taking a figure drawing class with models to draw from?
Also with drawing from life would drawing from photos taken from real life be just as good practice as drawing from life?
Please excuse me if these questions sound dumb but I don't want to be drawing my heart out and getting nowhere and progressing very little.

[Krazy]

Any and every drawings painting studies observing thinking about help...some even meditate about drawing...do what ever it takes just dont stop ...even if it looks like shit dont stop keep drawing..take drawing classes every bit of drawing helps you become a better artist. hope that clearifys that good luck

[waylon]

Yes, you got it pretty much right, draw in every situation you possibly can. Taking a figure drawing class will help you get better at figure drawing. Going out and drawing landscapes will help you with landscapes. <gasp!> You may want to set up a bunch of still lifes and draw from them.

Drawing from photos is good practice too, but it's no substitute for the real thing. When you draw from a photo, you're essentially copying shapes and colors, which doesn't help you very much when it comes to drawing something original later on. But if you study real life, you'll come to understand form and lighting much better than if you're just copying a photo.

One other thing... it's ok if a lot of your pictures are ugly. Don't try to make a masterpiece with every picture. But DO commit yourself to LEARNING something.

[absinthe]

if you keep drawing, and you're drawing your heart out, i don't think it's possible for it to get you nowhere. any sort of practice is helpful.

but yeah, classes are good, try still-lifes, draw people you see on the street...

hell, draw everything you see on the street.

=)