10-28-2018, 06:52 AM
Nice sketches, Artloader. Personally, I think drawing from imagination takes one of two things, and the latter is the approach for most people if they want to do it well. First, you either have an innate ability to retain shapes and values and proportions from what you have observed throughout your life. You are mentally recording everything and can summon those mental images whenever needed. This is, at least to me, more a gift than a skill. Then there are the rest of us who have to do tons of studies for years on end to build our visual library. I think that is the key. Just keep drawing what you are most interested in. If you like comic style art, then you should be doing lots of studies from references of that particular style of art. I think drawing from imagination is mostly calling up those images in your mind from all the studies you have complete over time. It also helps to view a lot of art that inspires you (the kind of art you want to draw).
Here's a method I'm sure others have employed, that I use sometimes to build my visual library. Let's say I'm really bad at drawing jackets. I might then do a bunch of studies of characters wearing jackets from all angles. I employ a three-phase approach: (1) draw first image from reference (2) draw second image from another angle, also from reference (3) draw image from imagination - either angle you drew earlier, as best as you can recall. You can then leave it at that, or refer back to your reference and see how close you got. If you identify problems with your study, redraw your image and correct the problem. Eventually from repetition this stuff sticks in your brain and you can invent more easily.
Mostly I think it comes down to a lot of practice from reference and doing a lot of studies. Inventing and drawing from imagination is nothing more than being able to draw what you see in your mind. And the more you do varied studies, the more of a visual library you will have to draw from.
Hope this helps.
Here's a method I'm sure others have employed, that I use sometimes to build my visual library. Let's say I'm really bad at drawing jackets. I might then do a bunch of studies of characters wearing jackets from all angles. I employ a three-phase approach: (1) draw first image from reference (2) draw second image from another angle, also from reference (3) draw image from imagination - either angle you drew earlier, as best as you can recall. You can then leave it at that, or refer back to your reference and see how close you got. If you identify problems with your study, redraw your image and correct the problem. Eventually from repetition this stuff sticks in your brain and you can invent more easily.
Mostly I think it comes down to a lot of practice from reference and doing a lot of studies. Inventing and drawing from imagination is nothing more than being able to draw what you see in your mind. And the more you do varied studies, the more of a visual library you will have to draw from.
Hope this helps.