Help a begining artist out.

[ThorneMD]

I got bored a few days ago and decided that I want to learn how to draw better. This way I can have pictures of some major NPC in my world and not have to ask the artists on ENWorld for eveything.

So far I went through my collection of downloaded pictures and copied them free-hand. I think that they are no that bad, but they could be better. However, I have no idea how to start my own pictures.

So this brings me to my cry for help. Is there anyone out there who can give a beginning artist advice on how to get better. I specifically need the most help drawing hands, feet, and the entire head (eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and hair). Any thoughts are helpful. I don't expect this to be easy, but its something to do when I am bored and eventually I can give back to you guys in the form of character pics in the request thread.

Thanks to anyones input.

 

[Acquana]

Practice. Just draw, every day. If you want to do anything well, you have to do it consistently. Learning to draw is like a diet. You've got to do it every day, and you can't see it as a burden. Just make it part of your life. Make it so that, if you're not drawing, something's wrong.

Life drawing is key. Drawing from your head is fine, but you won't get better unless you stretch yourself. Find people and things to draw, expand your repetoire, practice on weird body parts with subtle curves, like the forearm (man, do I love forearms).

Of course, just because it's Jessie's advice doesn't mean that she herself doesn't need to be reminded of it every once in a while.

This is advice Rangerwickett gave in my thread, and he had it pretty much on the money. ^_^;; The one that a lot of teachers gave me while I was in art school ... one that's really hard to do ... is this: Draw every day, and for most of those days, sketch things you don't like to draw. Don't like drawing animals? Draw animals. Don't like feet? Draw feet. You get the idea. It's haaaaard, and I know it because I don't really take that advice as often as I should.

 

[ThorneMD]

Thanks for the replay Acquana. I will try doing that.

As for others. bump

 

[DMAC]

Andrew Loomis' books have been around for a while, but they're classics for a good reason. You can view them online here: http://www.saveloomis.org/. You can either choose a section in a book to jump to, or just click through page by page.

 

[RangerWickett]

DMAC, very cool site with very informative books. It pains me a little that I have to accept my role as writer, not artist. As a casual artist, I lack the drive to perfect my skills. But hey, maybe over the next 50 years I might take the time to do some of these lessons. *grin*

However, I now know where to point my artist friends.