[Mega Muffin]

Hey I'm a sophmore in high school and I want to get better in art over the summer. I'm pretty much a beginner, at least compared to all of you. I can impress my freinds but I still kinda suck. I couldn't find any good looking courses to take or anything, so I guess the best I've got is the library. What are some goods books that preferably have lessons or exercises to do? I need an art course that I can do on my own. Preferably one that doesn't require a whole bunch of fancy materials too. I know about that right side of the brain book, but what else is there? Also, do you have any tips to keep me motivated, because I'm having trouble with that too.

Thanks for your help!

[Gort]

One of the best books out there is a sketch book; you'll need a pencil too. Practice practice practice.
_________________
- Tom Carter

"You can't stop the waves but you can learn to surf" - Jack Kornfield

[Matt Elder]

Andrew Loomis books are available on the net in PDF format and a good start. Otherwise, a sketchbook and paper. A good life drawing class will also work wonders as you will encounter just about every aspect of drawing in this.
_________________
See ya on da flip side
Matt
http://www.mattelder.com

[Gort]

Don't rely too much on Loomis, as he tends to be somewhat "overstylized". That isn't to say you can't learn from him, because you most certainly can; just don't put all your eggs in one basket. Some others:

Figure Drawing: The Structure, Anatomy, and Expressive Design of Human Form (5th Edition)
by Nathan Goldstein

Another very good introduction to the practicals and fundamenatls of life drawing is George Bridgman

Robert Beverly Hale is a good resource.
_________________
- Tom Carter

"You can't stop the waves but you can learn to surf" - Jack Kornfield

[Mega Muffin]

Thanks. Quick question though.

Is there such a thing as quality practice? I'm sure that some practice is better than other practice, but is there a huge difference? I mean, if I sit down and draw for an hour, does it matter like, what I'm doing? I often sit at the computer and sketch into a blank image. I usually don't save it cuz its not good enough. It's like I'm just doing ideas, or quick practice. I don't really even know what question to ask, but can someone please address the issue of quality practice? What is the best and fastest way to improve?

[skullmonkeys]

Both Loomis and Brigman books are excellent, especially Brigman if you want to learn life drawing and want to leanr more about anatomy.
I don't know I agree with Loomis being too overstylized, if anything Brigman's drawing has more 'style' to it. The only book you should avoid for being too stylized is Hogarth anatomy books. Unless of course you are totally into his style.
If you are into doing landscape drawing, I'd recommend Landscape drawing by Jack Hamm. That book goes into all aspects of drawing landscapes. I found it to be very helpful.
Hope this helps.

[skullmonkeys]

Quality practice? Of course there is.
You have to try to make everything you draw a learning experience. You won't improve very much doing meaningless doodles.
Try to have a goal as you paint or sketch. Get some Art instruction books and try to use whatever technique that you learned about. One by one.
It's one thing to read about art techniques from a book and it's another to burn it into your sences and start using it to make your art better.

[Meaty Ogre]

draw from life. draw the things around you. translate the real world into drawing from. your own drawing language. you might not impress yourself right away, but you will be developing the skills you'll need in the future. oh, and have fun.

a book that I love is the helga series by andrew wyeth.

[Max]

Studying master copies helped me alot too. Especially old Michelangelo, Da Vinci etc anatomy studies.

As for the books: I would recommend a combination of Loomis and Bridgman. They are totally different. Find a style somewhere between them and you are fine (imo of course)

Drawing from life is what you really need if you wanna go for "quality practice". That's the best way, believe me.
By the way, I quess we are at the same age, so we've got alot of time to get better though, there's never enough time...

[Mega Muffin]

By "draw from life" do you mean draw things that exist in 3d where I am? Or can photos and illustrations (such as in an anatomy book) count too?

[Meaty Ogre]

It depends on what you want to learn. Drawing from life gives you the big complicated picture. It's challenging and holistic. Most figure drawing books like Loomis and Bridgeman are good for developing a concise and consistent method for making drawings that everyone will recognize as a person. Those books are usually vital to someone wanting to go into the fields of comics, concept art and other kinds of illustration. I say do both, because drawing a real person or thing is just more fun, and will in the long run provide you with the ability to create artwork that is more realistic and interesting. I think.

[Mega Muffin]

What about drawing action figures? Trying to render them on the page. Is that good practice?

[Chruser]

I have to agree with skullmonkeys. Try to make everything a learning experience. Whether you draw from life, from books or whatever, try not to just copy what you see, but try to learn "how things work". Don't sketch every single image from an anatomy book without thought. See if you can understand how the muscles or bone structures work while doing so. See if you can draw what you see from different angles. Understand what you draw.

I consider myself to be a beginner, but this is really what I've learnt. If anyone would like to correct me, go right ahead.

[Meaty Ogre]