Artloader - Sketchbook

[Fedodika]

"Is it better to put in an accurate line drawing and stay as faithful to that as possible"

Well that'd be stupid if the drawing was flawed, you'd be staying faithful for the sake of being faithful.

Even Jeff watts will tell you that painting is still part of drawing because you're making marks that show form, you have to be able fix stuff on the fly, specially if you get late in a piece and client wants a big change in the drawing.

A good way to practice that is very draining and difficult, but its to take a reference study and build it up completely with tone; using the lasso tool or whatever means possible to make it look right. Don't sweat the end product, it will probably look rough, but you will see how many things could go wrong without a line drawing and will test your fundamentals of just seeing and sculpting form in its purest nature of tone and structure.

"Or is it better to go with a loose line drawing and just never switch off your measuring brain?"

Loose enough is what i'd say, don't over commit to anything early on. Never switch off the measuring brain, even after you've "finished" a painting.