[Etict]

I've done 3d for years, but recently I've become more interested in drawing and painting. I can draw some simple stuff, nothing spectacular, and I can't go to artschool or anything right now, but the point is that I'm trying to teach myself how to draw better.

So, the question is: if I want to learn to draw generally better (anything, from machines to humans to cokebottles), what kind of practices should I do? I mean, are there any specific subjects I should try to draw, or what? I know about many tutorials and Loomis too, but I'd like to get some general advice for pencil.

(feels weird to ask this... )

Since I'm in games industry I'd really like to sketch my ideas for anything, like machines and creatures and sh*t.

(and yes, I do understand there's no "ping! -now you can draw superb!" -methods, but anyway... )

Thanks.

[Myself]

simple: draw everything you see, dream or just hear about it. Best practice is life. Uff

[Svanur]

Just draw and draw. Sooner or later you will feel the improvement and if you don't see it for yourself, others will.

[Etict]

Damn, this was the answer I was hoping not to get, but thanks still.
I'll draw and draw then.

[Myself]

and dont forget to draw a lot

[Hippie]

Like everyone said, Draw anything and everything.

But also to help with that, try setting up some still life material at home. Use Old coffee cans, cereal boxes, whatever. Keep the same set up for about a week and try to draw it from all different angles.

Where drawing all the time helps with general forms and learning how to use the penicl to get the line or shading that you want. Use the controlled still life to really try to think about perspective, spacial relationships, and lighting. This is great exercise since it is controlled and you have time to really study everything. Where drawing from life, can sometimes be very quick sketching.

But again, the main thing is to draw everyday as much as you possibly can.

So go buy a sketchbook, and show us what you start with, there are a lot of great artists here willing to help.

Good luck, can't wait to see what you do, especially since you are from a 3D background.

[smothered]

sup etict,
I'm from 3d as well, but I got into 3d from drawing. There are a lot of overlapping concepts. I think 3d teaches a lot about how the image should look in the end.
What I'd say is this. Figure study helps in so many way's. It's a good thing to start into. infinate pose library, incredible form variations, etc.
other than that, pencil techniques? I'd say work on a confindant stroke. For the longest time, I would sketch soo loosely, just "feeling the shape" but ultimatley, you'll need to do the lines in one go. It gives such a solid feel to the pictures.

hope to help, can't wait to see any worx.


-k

[aquamire]

Do blind contour drawings routinely. If you dont know what that is, start drawing things around you.. NEVER look at the paper. Follow the outside contours of the object, and let them flow inward. Imagine it as tracing, only using your eyes. Move your hand in coordination with your eye movement. Start at one end, and keep tracing with your eyes.. dont jump all around. Dont get discouraged when what you've drawn bears absolutely NO resemblance to what you were looking at. It's not suppose to. Infact, if it does, it probably means you were looking at the paper. (You might do this unconsciously, so have a friend bitch you out everytime they catch you looking at your paper.)

The purpose of this excersize is to get you to start seeing objects for what they are.. shapes. Often times you'll encounter an objects shape thats very difficult to draw.. instead, draw the negative space, or background.

Another excersize is to do what are called cross-contour drawings. Rather than simply draw an objects outline or sillohuete, draw where you can see no contours. Imagine your pencil is physicaly touching the object you are drawing.. feel its grooves, its lumps and bumps. Draw what you feel. Sometimes actually physically getting up and feeling that object will bring revelation to what im trying to describe.

These two excersizes are very good for teaching you how to 'see' objects correctly, as well as understand their form. There is much more to learn in the line of basics! So I advise you get the following book.

I've recommend it to many other people on Sijun, but may as well say it again. Get Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards. It's only like 15 bucks, and can be found nearly everywheres. It will truly open your eyes, as if you've never used them before.

[Etict]

Hippie: thanks for the tips, that's the kind of stuff I wanted to know, what's the direction I should take. Alrighty, I'll set up some stuff in my apartment and see what comes out of it.
Yeah, 3d background helps a bit. Perspective and stuff.
Umm... don't wait too eagerly for my pics I might have done 3d for ages but in drawing I'm a novice.

smothered: thanks for the pencil tip, that's one thing i've always wondered, how to draw the lines (fast, slow, gently, strongly, messy, clean, been switching between those for ages).

Alright, perhaps I'll actually get something done, thanks for your replys.

[IEatLitleBabies]

I find drawing the same object over and over in different postions very helpful. also dont start off with huge pictures, start small... do little things like a pen, mouse, then work your way up to buildings, and human figures, dont put yourself in a skill level that your not. If you go with the realization that, "I Suck!" you wont really be expection a lot, then go with "I'm getting better!" then "Im Good!" and so fourth, just so you wont get fustrated at your self, which is one thing that you dont really want to do! your not going to start off as a spooge, you have to work to get to that skill level! I hope i havent repeated anyone, and that what ive said will help you...

[Etict]

Aquamire: wow, haven't heard of those kind of exercises ever before, I DEFINITELY have to try those out. Big thanks, I will check that book out from amazon.

[Briareos]

Aquamire is dead on. Blind contour drawings are extremly important for eye-hand coordination.

Cross-contour drawings are also extremly useful. You will excel in this because of your 3d background, think of the object as a wireframe mesh.

Also sketch things purly on the shapes you see in and around it and their relation ships to one another, so often we are tempted to outline everything we see, it is quite a challenge to draw an object without outlining it.

With 3d background you will know some basics in lighting. I suggest setting up some still lifes with interesting and boring things you find around the house, get a clamp on light of some sort and set up some dynamic lighting on your small group of objects.

Its very hard to get one's self to draw this sort of thing, boring at it is. But if you truly want to sharpen your skills, do it.

After this, I would start studing anatomy.

Then finally, I would jump into some fun things, like creatures and characters.

Draw, draw, and draw some more.

[Etict]

Hello again. I'm still alive. Drawing.
I bought Drawing On The Right Side Of The Brain a while ago, halfway through now.

Must say, great book. I've looked at some other artbooks, this is different. Gives different perspective to drawing.

Although at some points I've thought "Umm I learned that 10 years ago", but most of it is really good. Upside-down drawing was funny.

Yeah, I'm still trying to draw. I'll finish this book, then I'll do some stuff, then I'll do some more stuff, then I'll post some stuff here. I'm kinda trying to draw imaginery concepts for the game I'm working on, of course they won't ever be used (or seen) by anybody, but for my personal clickclack.

Cheers, and again, thanks for the help earlier. Just wanted to inform you guys that I'm still doing it.

[timur]

I could not disagree more with the "contour"
method. Sure, it can help the way u see stuff but here is what u really need to do...
Learn to "model" everything you draw. For example, when drawing a human, draw an oval for the chest and build up on that, quickly sketch the placement of the ribs, next, build up the muscle with primitive shapes. Then when u outline the figure, it will have the correct proportions. If u look at any decent artists pencil drawings, u will see the quick skeleton outline. Same goes for all objects u draw, just a matter of breaking up things into primitive shapes.
But thats just my take on things, i could be wrong...

[ July 15, 2001: Message edited by: timur ]