Back to Basics

[Aytrial]

Yes, this is another one of those posts. You know the kind, where a beginner asks how to get started in the vast world of art. Anyway, feel free to move along.

But let's get to the main point shall we? Back when I was a kid, I loved drawing. Obviously, they were nothing more then sketchy doodles, but nonetheless I had fun. However, as time went on, my love for art faded and several years of passed since then and now I'm completely out of practice.

Now, at the good ol' age of 17, I've got a renewed spark for art and am keen to learn once more. However, I'm basically starting off from a clean slate. So, I thought I'd take this opportunity to learn proper techniques, anatomy and the like.

I'm interested in pursuing traditional drawing as simply a side hobby, not a career. I plan to buy a sketchbook tomorrow to begin the long journey of improving my art. However, I'd like advice from you guys on how to take the first few steps.

Basically, I'm asking what kind of objects or things should I first focus on drawing. I've heard basic shapes are one of the starting points, but where from there? Would focusing on perspective or moving onto anatomy be better? It might sound a little stupid of me, but a little nudge in the right direction is all I'm asking.

[Arcaos]

I am on the same boat as you. I would love to learn the basics as to where to start.

[Craig D]

You can both maybe start by reading this post by JeffX99
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/sho...d.php?t=178087

I would recommend for an absolute beginner to read the book by Bett Edwards
"Drawing on the right side of the Brain" and do the work in it.

[Aytrial]

Thanks for the heads up Craig D, I'll look into that thread. Not too sure if I'll be able to find that book in my town, though I'll take a look around.

Also, would anybody be able to give me a basic rundown of pencils I should use to get started? All I really have are some left over 2B and HB pencils from school. Would those suffice for now?

[Black Spot]

2B & HB are fine. Maybe a 4B would be nice, but you can learn to draw with anything. My preferred sketching weapon is a cheap ballpoint.

[Xeon_OND]

Just curious, but has anyone tried drawing and sketching with a very light and hard-grade pencil, such as a 9H pencil? I'm currently sketching with HB but because of my natural heavy-handedness, even HB becomes dark often. I'm thinking of getting 9H so that my lines will always be pale and light, then when everything's done, I use a 6B pencil as necessary.

Any views on a pencil grade like 9H?

[dose]

Drawing with a 9H pencil is like drawing with a shard of glass. You'll make very light lines, but it has the tendency to "cut" the paper- not literally cut, but create a groove in the paper that's more or less impossible to remove. It will also smooth out the grain of the paper in such a way that softer pencils won't take properly.

In general with graphite- harder over soft works fine, but softer over hard can be problematic. I recommend trying it out yourself to see what I mean. The larger the difference in hardness the more dramatic the problem is.

I have a very heavy hand as well. I've found a few things that help:

- really consciously try to be lighter. Takes a while, but gradually you'll get a lighter hand.
- Use a mahl stick at the easel and a bridge on the table. That way you can get the pressure against something for the control, but the pressure is on your hand or arm rather than the tip of the pencil.
- Draw with a sable brush for a while. Being heavy-handed here will make big, blobby lines. It'll be really frustrating for a while, but sticking with it will help.
- draw in layers- either with a lightbox, tracing paper, or different colored pencils.

[dose]

@Aytrial:

I'd recommend studying perspective before anatomy. A lot of people incorrectly identify problems they're having in drawing as lack of anatomy, but often it's a poor understanding of perspective. Even when you get to anatomy, it's important to learn how to put the anatomy in perspective.

As for what to draw, I'd draw anything that gets you drawing and keeps you drawing. It's important to just get in a lot of time drawing, particularly at the beginning. Drawing from life is especially useful, but copying contemporary and old masters is very useful as well.

There are numerous other threads like this- I'd recommend doing some research and seeing if there is any useful advice in them. My guess is there is.

Hope this helps

Tim

[ajvenema]

i say just draw. look very carefully and just draw. make sure you start drawing what you see instead of what you think you see. it would be nice to have someone a little more advanced, that can help you seeing better. you could improve your drawing enormously with that, and then after quite some time, maybe you can go into more specific things like learning anatomy and perspective. i doubt if you can understand those things very good now, and you will learn quite a bit about them by just drawing what you see.

besides, u are not looking for a careeer, so you better have fun, and imo just drawing from life is much more fun then studying...

[Aytrial]

Thanks for the advice dose, I'll keep that in mind. I have been looking through previous threads, but I thought I'd make one of my own just to have some advice specifically targeted at me.

[PxelSlayer]

There are numerous other threads like this- I'd recommend doing some research and seeing if there is any useful advice in them. My guess is there is.

Lookie here

[kaktuzlime]

-Have fun.
-Be patient.
-Don´t fear making mistakes, instead, learn to love them, and to learn from them.
-Learn basic tools of form description. ( I recommend reading "The drawing manual" by Glenn Vilppu.)
-Learn to act. (You won´t catch any fish by acting like an anatomychart )
-Be critical of advice, it can be wrong.
-Listen.
-Open your eyes and observe!
-Take life drawing classes.
-Stay humble.
-Don´t draw pretty pictures.
-Build up a library of inspirational images.

[Bowlin]

-Don´t draw pretty pictures.

Heh, what?

[Elwell]

Heh, what?

Don't be overly concerned with drawing "pretty" pictures. Being able to push through the initial frustration when one's results fall short of one's expectations is the key to eventual success.

[Xeon_OND]

One of the biggest problems I encountered in learning drawing is that your hand doesn't always draw what your eye sees. I mean, sure, you can see that line curving this way and it's approx 20% larger than that shape over there and slighting slanting to the left, but when your hand starts to draw it, wow......the output doesn't look much like what you saw.

[George Abraham]

Robots might be a good way to whack perspective and anatomical ideas at the same time. And you can make pretty simple shapes look good with robot's.

Acting and Drama yah!!! Brooms come to life.

[Zazerzs]

Check out the dvds available at http://barnstonestudios.com/

Good for beginner and anyone else looking to improve their drawing and understanding.

alot of talk goes into just draw and you will get better, which is only partly true.

You need to spend a great deal of time doing it but knowing what you are doing helps.

If some one sits you in from of the piano and you play it all day long sure you will get "better " at it but not nearly as good if you were taught a few scales and some other principals on music theory ect.

There is alot of good info here in the forums and the tuts section.

GL

[kaktuzlime]

Don't be overly concerned with drawing "pretty" pictures. Being able to push through the initial frustration when one's results fall short of one's expectations is the key to eventual success.

Exactly. Wonderfully explained.

[Xeon_OND]

Check out the dvds available at http://barnstonestudios.com/

Good for beginner and anyone else looking to improve their drawing and understanding.

alot of talk goes into just draw and you will get better, which is only partly true.

You need to spend a great deal of time doing it but knowing what you are doing helps.

If some one sits you in from of the piano and you play it all day long sure you will get "better " at it but not nearly as good if you were taught a few scales and some other principals on music theory ect.

There is alot of good info here in the forums and the tuts section.

First of all, thanks for the Barnstone Studios URL, but it's freaking expensive! US$350! That's the cost of more than 10 Vilppu's DVDs! Has anyone tried these DVDs? If they're really that good, I may consider up saving for a few months and get those. What I fear is that the DVDs repeat the info already found in books like Keys to Drawing, Drawing with the right side of your brain etc.

[Zazerzs]

First of all, thanks for the Barnstone Studios URL, but it's freaking expensive! US$350! That's the cost of more than 10 Vilppu's DVDs! Has anyone tried these DVDs? If they're really that good, I may consider up saving for a few months and get those. What I fear is that the DVDs repeat the info already found in books like Keys to Drawing, Drawing with the right side of your brain etc.

thanks yeah they are a little pricey but compared to any 9 week drawing class its pretty affordable. I picked them up and think they are worth every penny.

He offers up a ton of information in the program that's not taught much these days, and the way he presents it just makes sense to me.

If you check out the little vid clips on the sight they are taken directly from the Dvds so its a good representation of what you will get. From taking the classes personally many years ago I can say that it feels just like being there

I've watched them through once and will start them again soon.

[Xeon_OND]

Damn! I'm sold.