02-24-2014, 02:21 PM
@samszym- No problem, and hey, thanks for popping in man!
That's fine man, art is too subjective to announce or denounce any methods of creating; I don't expect anybody to agree or understand my thought process about this subject. The reasons why I think my methods are best for helping me improve as an artist won't vibe with you, EduardoGaray, Psychotime, my mother or anybody for that matter.
But I WILL try to explain my train of thought more clearly, because I never meant to give the impression that I won't ever use reference:
First of all, before I begin, I just wanted to say that I brought up my opinions on reference because I drew a few good figures without using any external type of reference material on human anatomy and it was very contrasting to the work I was putting out 7 days before that post. I was very proud of my achievement, thus my reasoning for exclaiming that I haven't used reference. After realizing that my effort of simply trying to UNDERSTAND what I was drawing instead of jumping straight to guides and art books sparked my epiphany.
After a point in one's art journey, in my honest opinion, an individual must put away the studies, and limit reference so he/she can focus on PERFECTING *THEMSELVES*. Perfect whatever it is he/she is DOING or WANTS to do. In my opinion, studies should supplement one's growth. In my opinion, reference should be aids, not crutches. I believe that if one would take the time and use their brain to THINK about whatever it is they are working on (whether it is anatomy, light, color, form...etc) instead of jumping right to an external source for the answers, he/she will benefit greater and the learned information is retained. However one interprets and learns will ultimately chisel out the artist into who they will become A LOT SOONER than LATER. This course is inevitable, but I believe a submersion in the fundamentals of art bogs the artist down with walls and doubt in one's natural abilities and inclinations.
That being said, once you finish a painting or sketch or drawing, pull out an anatomy book, pull out some references of landscapes and animals, observe life and find out what needs to be fixed so that in the future, the same mistakes won't be as present. This is what I do at least...and I feel that it works well.
Ever since I started creating art in this fashion, I liked art a whole lot more than I did a few weeks ago. I liked MY art a whole lot more than I did a few weeks ago.
All of this, of course pertains to work outside of most client jobs. I understand that this won't necessarily operate well when working under most art directors.
All I have been doing the past year and a half was studying from observation and applying from my imagination. I've only been working in this mindset for barely 3 weeks now. Clearly, I agree with your recommendation: if you were to reread the initial, generalized post, (post #218) you will find that I had specifically said I needed to study design. In the post above yours, (post #226) I had to use reference; I wrote a list of design elements on a piece of paper from a steak n shake server notepad and studied each article of clothing on the figures above but needed reference specifically for the vest.
Thanks for the perspective man, it's refreshing hearing how others approach their work. Conversations like these are what's going to help us grow...and help us prevent brain tumors, hahaha!
That's fine man, art is too subjective to announce or denounce any methods of creating; I don't expect anybody to agree or understand my thought process about this subject. The reasons why I think my methods are best for helping me improve as an artist won't vibe with you, EduardoGaray, Psychotime, my mother or anybody for that matter.
But I WILL try to explain my train of thought more clearly, because I never meant to give the impression that I won't ever use reference:
First of all, before I begin, I just wanted to say that I brought up my opinions on reference because I drew a few good figures without using any external type of reference material on human anatomy and it was very contrasting to the work I was putting out 7 days before that post. I was very proud of my achievement, thus my reasoning for exclaiming that I haven't used reference. After realizing that my effort of simply trying to UNDERSTAND what I was drawing instead of jumping straight to guides and art books sparked my epiphany.
After a point in one's art journey, in my honest opinion, an individual must put away the studies, and limit reference so he/she can focus on PERFECTING *THEMSELVES*. Perfect whatever it is he/she is DOING or WANTS to do. In my opinion, studies should supplement one's growth. In my opinion, reference should be aids, not crutches. I believe that if one would take the time and use their brain to THINK about whatever it is they are working on (whether it is anatomy, light, color, form...etc) instead of jumping right to an external source for the answers, he/she will benefit greater and the learned information is retained. However one interprets and learns will ultimately chisel out the artist into who they will become A LOT SOONER than LATER. This course is inevitable, but I believe a submersion in the fundamentals of art bogs the artist down with walls and doubt in one's natural abilities and inclinations.
That being said, once you finish a painting or sketch or drawing, pull out an anatomy book, pull out some references of landscapes and animals, observe life and find out what needs to be fixed so that in the future, the same mistakes won't be as present. This is what I do at least...and I feel that it works well.
Ever since I started creating art in this fashion, I liked art a whole lot more than I did a few weeks ago. I liked MY art a whole lot more than I did a few weeks ago.
All of this, of course pertains to work outside of most client jobs. I understand that this won't necessarily operate well when working under most art directors.
All I have been doing the past year and a half was studying from observation and applying from my imagination. I've only been working in this mindset for barely 3 weeks now. Clearly, I agree with your recommendation: if you were to reread the initial, generalized post, (post #218) you will find that I had specifically said I needed to study design. In the post above yours, (post #226) I had to use reference; I wrote a list of design elements on a piece of paper from a steak n shake server notepad and studied each article of clothing on the figures above but needed reference specifically for the vest.
Thanks for the perspective man, it's refreshing hearing how others approach their work. Conversations like these are what's going to help us grow...and help us prevent brain tumors, hahaha!