[lavhoes]

I'm pretty good at drawing what I see. However, I oftentimes have trouble drawing strictly from my mind, with reference only being used for stuff like costumes, weapons, etc. I have somewhat of an image in my head of what I want to draw, but it's hard to get it down on paper.

I would like to know, what are some specific things that I can work on to improve my ability to transfer an image from my head onto the paper?
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"Lightsaber you...in the...god...fucking...eye..."

[JesperGB]

There is a book called "Figure drawing without a model". This book describes some ways to draw from memory. It's not golden words but there are still some good tips inside this book.

Check it out here: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0715306464/qid=1041619230/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/102-9095685-0788134?v=glance&s=books&n=507846
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/Jesper GB

Visit my gallery at: Click here to see it

[AndyT]

[lavhoes]

Maybe I should have been more specific, and for that I aplogize.

I'm relatively good with lighting, shading, reflect lighting, tones, highlights, etc. once I have something down. Same thing when I'm working in Photoshop or on canvas; I can establish color and hue. I can render. I just have a problem of taking what I have in mind and putting it down on the page, so I can get to the shading and coloring and whatnot.

Inanimate objects get pretty tricky, but usually I'm able to get a basic shape down, and a ref. picture to help "flesh" it out, so to speak. It's living things that I can't deal with. Specifically, people. It's the poses, you see. I have in mind all these dynamic poses, but the stick figures just can't adequately express the basic frame of the figure for me to go on, especially when I'm having trouble getting the pose in my mind to transfer to the image.

I've been working out of Loomis for almost two years now, and Bridgman's Complete Guide for half that. Not nearly as long as I'll end up working out of them, but my point is they've both given me an innate sense in how the body's structured and how it works. I can envision how I want the body to contort and where the weight would go. But, I simply cannot put this pose down on paper before I lose it. I tried sketching out the backbone first, and then the head, limbs, hands/feet. Then I tried other orders to try and get the basic expression of the pose down. But, every time, the pose fades once I start putting down lines on the paper.

Case in point:



The head and torso were fine. Real easy to do, literally no contortion. Once I got to the feet, however, what I had in mind was almost completely lost. I wanted his legs to be spread out and exaggerated, even thought he was just standing there. I managed to get the legs and feet down into a somewhat manageable position, but now I can't think of how I wanted it originally. This image comes up in my mind whenever I think about it, and whatever plans I had for the piece have been replaced.

So my basic question is: How do you, as an artist, first sketch out a pose? Stick figures, scribbly lines, shapes, blobs, etc. seem to be the most likely choices. Any examples you can provide to help me? This is something I've given a lot of thought lately, as I'm beginning to realize that the basic stick figure model isn't cutting it for some of these poses.

(Jesper: Heh, I ordered that book about two minutes before I came back to check on the thread. Is it really good, or did you only get a little out of it?)
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"Lightsaber you...in the...god...fucking...eye..."

[JesperGB]

My heart was beating when I started reading the book. But around the middle of the book I got a bit disappointed because in some way it wasn't that different from other books about drawing. But it has a good chapter on compostion and some good excersices you can for example when you're riding a train or so. And then the author is a great artist so it's also great fun to just look at the artwork in the book.
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/Jesper GB

Visit my gallery at: Click here to see it

[oDD]

ok in my opinion it looks like this.

Loomis FD is a greate book, yeah ive spend ALOT time with it as well. I spend MANY hours drawing from reference/coping pictures. And i don't regret any second of that time BUT after over two years of practicing ive still wasn't happy with my "drawing from imagination" skills. The big breakthrou was the lifedrawing classes. Three minutes quick poses is the best excerize. And always when we are doing it, our instructor says one sentence "Try to draw a whole figure with only 10 strokes". When i try to do it all my pictures look like crap, but after some time i've completely changed the way of drawing when i'm in home. I alway try to establish as soon as possible the pose with only few strokes of a pencil. And i got waay better results than half a year ago when i was starting from a stick figure and things like that . I wish my scanner wasn't broken. Well i hope it helps I don't know if someone didn't said it before because i didnt read the whole topic
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portfolio | art blog

[Drunken Monkey]

Man what would i do for another paint along with <some master> thread...

[Inspector Lee]

I think odd has given you a great tip. Most artists that I know, can't begin drawing at the head (rendering as they go) and finish at the feet. You need practice at blocking in the basic forms and capturing the gesture of a pose. That will help to get it down in the beginning. Instead of using a stick figure, try lightly penciling a head, torso, hips, legs and feet. Make sure you can see the direction and angle of these forms relative to the viewers eye. When this is worked out well, then add arms and hands (any costumes or props go on last). Again, work lightly until everything looks right before you jump in and render anything with a dark line. I'm pretty "old school", I use layers of tracing paper, refining the drawing on each new layer. You can also do this on a Wacom, just reduce the contrast on your sketch so far and go to a new layer. Hope this helps a little.
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Smokey, this is not 'Nam this is bowling. There are rules.

[Tinusch]

These guys beat me to it. The trick is to capture the GESTURE before you lose it. No detail, no going over the same line several times (i.e. your legs there). Sketch it fast and capture the movement.

[bearsclover]

To learn how to draw figures from your imagination I think you need intensive Life Drawing (and the gesture thing is essential). Lots of Life Drawing. I know there are probably artists out there that learn to make up figures without Life Drawing, but I think they probably are the exception, rather than the rule. Life Drawing is always a good idea so I have no problem recommending it.

Also�anatomy. Life Drawing and Anatomy go hand-in-hand. I took a few excellent anatomy classes in art school and they helped me immensely. I learned to draw the figure from the skeleton on out. Granted, I am not (nor ever have been) the best at making up figures from my imagination. So it was always a struggle for me and I guess it always will be (much to my frustration). But I can draw figures from my imagination, something I never was able to do before I took these classes and practiced A LOT.
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Madness takes its toll - please have exact change.

[Drawnblud26]

I have the same problem, but one of the best ways I have found to get the pose on paper before I lose it, is make a real small "thumbnail" of the pose. Then, make a slightly larger version, improving on it as you go along, then keep getting larger, constantly improving the pose until it is exactly how you want it. Of course you will want to use scrap paper to do this on, but I have found that if I cannot find a pic to use as reference, this method has been most effective.

I hope this helped.
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Staff artist for Realms of Evil games.

[Vhy]

usually best to worry about the head last because people position their head for balance.

And I agree with everyone about gesture. Here's one of mine if it helps:

http://home.cardwell.tk:8080/usr/bencardwell/drawings/gesture00.jpg