07-28-2013, 08:49 AM
Hey there, just looked through your sketchbook (incoming wall of text)
You're not as bad as you think you are at drawing, and from the first post until the most recent one here I think you've improved a good bit. Day to day, you probably won't feel like you're improving at all. You might even feel like you're stepping backwards. But You really only notice how much has changed when you look back at something from way way back when you started. Just keep at it, you'll get better without realizing it :D
I can also vouch for what Toxicpanda said. I sometimes like to draw a full page of circles and ellipses of different sizes and then strike lines through them. I sucked SO MUCH when I first did them, probably for a good few months of doing them, but now I can do straight lines pretty well and my circles and curves still suck but they are way better than they used to be. Those skills will carry over to your drawings as well. Try to make nice fluid lines in as few strokes as you can. It really makes drawing a lot more enjoyable. I know its tricky on a tablet, but trust me, just try it out, it will work out if you keep on training your hand and your arm to do it.
Do you do any traditional art? Maybe doing some charcoal studies or pencil studies might complement your digital skills as well
Don't be discouraged if you can't draw people from imagination, its really, really tricky. Not something you just magically acquire. It takes a long, long time and lots of studying to be able to do it. I can only recommend you to read some anatomy books on faces and bodies and stuff (I'm so original!). Maybe try some Loomis or even Hogarthe if you're feeling brave :P Also keep drawing from reference too, but don't half-ass it. I find it way more beneficial to stick with a drawing for a long time trying to solve as many issues with it as I can than to abandon it a quarter of the way through. What do you learn by abandoning your work? Not much.
On that note, I see you're a bit frustrated with drawing from photos and stuff. Have you ever read "Drawing on the Right side of the brain"? If you haven't, I HIGHLY recommend it! Apparently theres also a video of it on youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctkRwRDdajo
I haven't watched it all so I cant say if its as good as the book, but check it out regardless. Essentially, its all about drawing what you SEE rather than what you know. It helped me out a ton, and many many other artists as well. I think you will like it too :)
Anyways I hope some of that was helpful. If anything be proud that you're pushing hard to get better. That's worth way more than "talent" :)
PS. Your profile pic is too cute :3
You're not as bad as you think you are at drawing, and from the first post until the most recent one here I think you've improved a good bit. Day to day, you probably won't feel like you're improving at all. You might even feel like you're stepping backwards. But You really only notice how much has changed when you look back at something from way way back when you started. Just keep at it, you'll get better without realizing it :D
I can also vouch for what Toxicpanda said. I sometimes like to draw a full page of circles and ellipses of different sizes and then strike lines through them. I sucked SO MUCH when I first did them, probably for a good few months of doing them, but now I can do straight lines pretty well and my circles and curves still suck but they are way better than they used to be. Those skills will carry over to your drawings as well. Try to make nice fluid lines in as few strokes as you can. It really makes drawing a lot more enjoyable. I know its tricky on a tablet, but trust me, just try it out, it will work out if you keep on training your hand and your arm to do it.
Do you do any traditional art? Maybe doing some charcoal studies or pencil studies might complement your digital skills as well
Don't be discouraged if you can't draw people from imagination, its really, really tricky. Not something you just magically acquire. It takes a long, long time and lots of studying to be able to do it. I can only recommend you to read some anatomy books on faces and bodies and stuff (I'm so original!). Maybe try some Loomis or even Hogarthe if you're feeling brave :P Also keep drawing from reference too, but don't half-ass it. I find it way more beneficial to stick with a drawing for a long time trying to solve as many issues with it as I can than to abandon it a quarter of the way through. What do you learn by abandoning your work? Not much.
On that note, I see you're a bit frustrated with drawing from photos and stuff. Have you ever read "Drawing on the Right side of the brain"? If you haven't, I HIGHLY recommend it! Apparently theres also a video of it on youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctkRwRDdajo
I haven't watched it all so I cant say if its as good as the book, but check it out regardless. Essentially, its all about drawing what you SEE rather than what you know. It helped me out a ton, and many many other artists as well. I think you will like it too :)
Anyways I hope some of that was helpful. If anything be proud that you're pushing hard to get better. That's worth way more than "talent" :)
PS. Your profile pic is too cute :3