SpectreX's road to nirvana

[SpectreX]

As drawing is a soothing experience for me I thought that 'Road to nirvana' was a great title for my sketchbook.
Relatively new to drawing I can definitely use comments and critique, as long as it is helpful.

It's not the destination it's the journey.

[PaintMyBrain]

oh I get to say welcome I hope u will enjoy your experience on this forum with all wonderful people within it.

I see you've begun in the right direction, Loomis is great at what he does, teaching art. I cant say I have read it all, but I read some bits there and some there you know.

Cant really give any tips right now rather than draw alot! from Loomis, from photos and from life. If you upload more I will try to be at the help that I can. I am also pretty new to art so I know it really help to have another pair of eyes watching your progress.

I hope you upload more soon and Ill be around if u need me. Take care

/ Brain

[SpectreX]

Thank you! ^^
I'm trying to practice as much as I can
Can be difficult at times with my job (developer, lots of deadlines :p )

[PaintMyBrain]

no problem m8. work takes time, so as school for me. You just have to find time post more. cheers

[alamed]

Welcome to the SB section , please keep your arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times!
As PaintMyBrain said, just draw a lot. One thing I like to tell people just starting is that its a long process, with some frustration here and there, but man will you be happy in the end .
For tips, I say focus on the basics, which are proportions, form, learning how to see as an artist ... you might want to check out "Drawing on the right side of the brain"
http://www.amazon.com/New-Drawing-Ri.../dp/0874774241

and ... good luck!

[Lav]

Nice to see you've started a sketchbook here

The only tips i can give you is try to update it frequently and be a bit active in the community. Try to find a lot of masters to study, they'll help you understand forms, but you need to be aware that when you do those studies, you are already looking at a specific style of a person. So for every study you do, do as many life studies as well (i never did much of those in the past because i found them boring, but really try to make them fun and enjoyable for you, because you'll learn a lot from it.)

Good luck

[TacoMeat]

Loomis is a great starting place. You might want to look into bridgman too. Keep posting.

[SpectreX]

@alamed: Thank you I'll check out that book.

@Lav: Thank you for the tips! I was planning on practicing with photos as a ref.

@TacoMeat: I'll take a look at Bridgeman.

Update Time:
Little studies I did yesterday. A little problem with the last one (Sketchover appreciated!

[PaintMyBrain]

good and your really going the right way that last one got too short arms I believe. Otherwise just keep posting and dont forget to have fun!

[Justas]

Hi, try to do some basic figure (cube, cylinder, ball, etc.) studies and still lifes before you start figures, it will really help you to understand it more easily, jumping straight to anatomy ussualy doesn't help if you won't have the basic skills. life studies + anatomy studies paralel to em are really really powerfull way to improve

[SpectreX]

The first drawing is a study of the basics forms and shadows.
The second is a study of the body, slightly more advanced than the previous. I'm thinking of taking it a bit slower and drawing more of the basic body studies.

What do you guys think.

[JakehC]

The beginning of an art Journey! Im so excited for you. I started about 1 1/2 years ago and its been so thrilling, difficult, emotional, and exciting.

I wish you all the best in your journey and i hope that we here at CA can continue to give you feedback and support!

Go and make something amazing out of yourself! you can do it!

[PaintMyBrain]

you are really going in the right direction. Try to some time between all the studies that I believe most of us need to do, to do something totally different. Draw something that you dont think you need to but that will be fun for you. You learn from every line you do, believe me. Whatever you are drawing you will learn something.

You could also work a bit with rendering lightning/shadows, make a ball with as smooth values as you can do and some bricks maybe like youve done a bit up.

take care

[beany911]

Like everyone else said, you've started in the right direction. However you should try and avoid loomis when first starting out, he doesn't really teach you the real basics. Try and get glen vilppu's stuff. One of the best teachers ever. I'd even recommend "The Figure: The Classic Approach to Drawing & Construction" by Walt Reed, better than loomis in alot of ways actually. His techniques are more sound. But for some reason Loomis is more popular around here.

[SpectreX]

After losing track I'm back on this road Still got a long way to go though

[SpectreX]

Trying to do some drawing every day, Tips and suggestions are always welcome

[takashmen]

hi,
you need some still lives to practice drawing, bottles, boxes, chairs

it will help you

cheers and keep going

[SpectreX]

Followed your advice takashmen
In doing so I realized I didn't draw in shapes but in lines (stapler)
I tried to do so with the stamp.

Not much practice today but at least I kept to my own promise to draw at least a little each day.

Practice makes perfect.

[SpectreX]

Another study of the ear and mouth, together with 2 doodles.
Also one of the amazing spiderman, need to study anatomy more.

[SpectreX]

Some gestures to mix things up. Some were done in a min, some not.
Tips and crits are appreciated as always

[SpectreX]

Did a (crooked) horse :p
Aside from that some more nose and ear studies.

All this is done with a mechanical pencil, but for studies this does not really matter I think?

[cloudcan]

I like that you're exploring 3D form (the noses and the ear) but it might also serve you well to get some references (especially for the horse, but it will help with the other ones as well) You shouldn't be ashamed to use a reference. Just make sure to learn from the reference and not just copy what you see, and you'll be good

[SpectreX]

@cloudcan: Thank you The horse was actually the first part in a series of studies. Next up is to draw a 3D version of the horse, so depth study
Haven't gotten to that one yet

[SpectreX]

Got some Loomis books today. Started with "Fun with a pencil"
Aside from that I tried to do the basics for a stormtrooper and a little doodle for it.

[takashmen]

glad that you follow my advice, but life drawing is not just coping object on paper, letting him float.



PERSPECTIVE is something you are missing.

always start your drawing from setting horizon line
it's position depends on what you are going to show
for example while creating still life horizon is on your eye line

perspective grid is also very helpful, you can simply fill objects into grid

there are two basic types of perspective

to one vanishing point and

to two vanishings point

perspective is used in figures drawing as well

first start with easy exercise:

imagine 3-4 boxes and compose them on the sheet (use some A3 or A2 or even bigger ) then add more boxes, vary types of solids ( spheres, cylinders, and so on)

i hope it will help
if sth is unclear or you've got questions let me know

cheers

[SpectreX]

Wow takashmen,

That is a really handy explanation, will definitely work an that.
I know I still have a long way to go and because of that it can be difficult to see all the problem points. Thank you for reminding me of the perspective problem!