03-31-2014, 09:27 AM
You have a really great start here, don't even think of giving up because of hands! They're one of the hardest things to get right so don't lose confidence because of them. It's been said already, but if you work hard towards what you want to get better at, you will over time.
Also if you're interested in perspective at all I'd suggest picking up Scott Robertson's newest book "How To Draw". I can't emphasize how great it is, really a goldmine for perspective and its even helped me improve drawing in general. Also I've heard a lot of good things about his DVDs and such, havent seen them all but Im sure their great. If you decide to check his stuff out, don't think that it only applies to "perspective" type things (boxes, vehicles, houses etc), its actually very very useful when you apply it to figures, portraits, hands etc.
Don't give up on those gestures, they're a love/hate relationship, and frankly they probably wont look decent for a LONG time but they still help. I would recommend complimenting them with longer more involved studies as well. And if ever you feel they look wrong well thats ok, because gestures aren't supposed to precise to the millimeter, theyre supposed to be loose and gestural, getting in the motion and feeling rather than the likeness.
And lastly, theres nothing wrong with having a favorite pencil, but I highly suggest experimenting with lots of different ones to get different line quality and value ranges.
Keep on learning you're doing great!
Also if you're interested in perspective at all I'd suggest picking up Scott Robertson's newest book "How To Draw". I can't emphasize how great it is, really a goldmine for perspective and its even helped me improve drawing in general. Also I've heard a lot of good things about his DVDs and such, havent seen them all but Im sure their great. If you decide to check his stuff out, don't think that it only applies to "perspective" type things (boxes, vehicles, houses etc), its actually very very useful when you apply it to figures, portraits, hands etc.
Don't give up on those gestures, they're a love/hate relationship, and frankly they probably wont look decent for a LONG time but they still help. I would recommend complimenting them with longer more involved studies as well. And if ever you feel they look wrong well thats ok, because gestures aren't supposed to precise to the millimeter, theyre supposed to be loose and gestural, getting in the motion and feeling rather than the likeness.
And lastly, theres nothing wrong with having a favorite pencil, but I highly suggest experimenting with lots of different ones to get different line quality and value ranges.
Keep on learning you're doing great!