[docfunkalot]

Hey, I'm a 15 year old trying to get on my feet. When you draw do you first think in primitives like cubes/spheres/etc.? Am I approaching this the right way. Right now, most of what I draw is cubes from different angles, cylinders, and lines. What else should I draw?

[renren]

Are you taking art lessons? I've never heard of a fifteen year old artist drawing in cubes, cylinders, and spheres - it goes against youthful instinct! Think, dream and imagine what it is you'd love to see and try whatever it takes to bring it forth in the medium you choose. If you are taking art lessons be careful of what they're teaching you, it sounds a bit sterile. How about posting some work so we can see what you're doing?

[c]

figure drawing. find the local community college and bribe your way in a life drawing class.

i dont care if you're 15.

^_^

[aquamire]

Good to hear your learning the basics at a young age! A lot of people start off trying to draw from their imaginations purely, thinking life drawing has nothing to do with actual drawing. Craig Mullins is so good at what he does because he worshiped cubes, spheres, pyramids, etc.. he has an absolute confidence in how shadows and light are cast on primitives.

Continue drawing basic primatives from life. Light them in different ways. Once you understand basic forms, everything else comes easier. Also draw from life a lot, drawing everything else. Shelves, your computer, cars.. whatever. Break it all down into simple shapes and forms. Then go to life drawing of people. I suggest people last because they are very complex combinations of the shapes. Become confident in simple stuff first.

Hope this helps.

[earthwrm]

Drawing is a bit of a paradox. We draw in line what we concieve in volume. So to answer your question, yes, no and yes.

Yes, it is important to be able to render all the primitives realistically in all sorts of lighting and atmospheres.

No, when you actually draw, paint or sketch, you don't actually draw out all the voloume. Most of the time you draw in pure line or paint in colour. The volumetric forms sort of float on the paper or canvas or whatever drawing surface you are using and all we do is fill it in.

Yes, keep working on those primitives, but you will have to bring yourself to a point where it becomes second nature to you, and instead you can focus more on the thing you are drawing than simply its construction.

[Ahcri]

Learning the basics is a good thing. But I always felt that the most important thing to practice is the lines. Most people who doesn't draw much draws weak lines, but when they practice more, the line has became more confident. My art teacher used to tell me that when you draw with a pencil, just draw, don't erase.
Just some of my suggestions.

[jr]

ahcri- i draw with a parker fine point pen in my sketchbook, there's no erasing, it's a great way to do quick doodles.
joining art classes with models is a great way to learn, i started doing that at 15 as well, if you're in a big city there's usually something around. just act mature. when i draw i always compare, i don't really think of circles and cylinder shapes, i think of points in the body lining up. try to copy off a photograph exactly, and when your technical skills are up to par, you can draw anything you want out of your head.
btw- i find that drawing strangers in the park and in the subways is the best teacher. experience is a great teacher.

[docfunkalot]

thanks for the opinions, i'll see what i can do about life drawing, although I don't know if i'm quite at that skill level. I'm not really one of those child prodigies, but i'm learning I posted some more recent drawing to show you my skill level and what i draw. so here it is:my pictures

[docfunkalot]

oops, click on this:my directory and click on picture1. tripod doesn't allow remote loading

[Ahcri]

It says your site doesn't exist.
I agree on drawing people would be a good practice, unfortunally there aren't any subway in my city, so for me, I often drive to the top of a parkage and draw the close city scape from there. It's a good practice of lines and lets you make variations from cubes.