nouge's sketchbook. Learning to draw - hopefully

[nouge]

I've been meaning to learn to draw for a long time, without doing much about it. I've been looking at sketchbooks here for a while, though, and seeing how much people are improving, I thought I'd try it for myself.

I think my only goal is to draw and post regularly.

Below are some faces from photos, a few from mind, and a few still-lifes. At least I'm posting!

(And, yeah, no scanner, so just photos. :/ )

E: Um, is it just me who can't see attachments anywhere in the forums at the moment?

[TinyBird]

I think my only goal is to draw and post regularly.

What's this here? And only one post? I'm sure you can do better than just one post. Keep it coming.

[nouge]

Thanks for the nudge, TinyBird. I really, really appreciate it!

Here are a few sketches from the last few days. Very varying quality.

[nouge]

[Dahlium]

Hey you got some nice studies!
Don't forget to have fun and keep drawing ! ^^

[Jonathan L.]

I agree, these are solid. Keep drawing, man.

[nouge]

Dahlium: Thanks! Yeah, I'll have fun with it.

Jonathan: Thanks, I will!

[Smapel]

Man, I love the owl!

[Lost Shock]

Agreed, that owl is pretty nicely done. I don't see much shading from you otherwise, however. You're doing great so far so keep going!

[nouge]

Lost Shock, Smapel: Thanks

Crocodiles, comodo dragons and owls from photos, and a couple pages from life.

[DvrJeroen]

neat studies man! keep 'm coming (:

[black-swan]

the owl studies are very nice, keep going with the studies from life too, it's the best kind of practice

[nouge]

Jarkuzy: Thanks, I will!

black-swan: Thank you, and I've taken your advice. More stuff from life this time

Dragons from imagination, skulls from life and a few from imagination, and a bunch of random stuff from life. (The stuff with the blue marker looks awfully extra sloppy because I tried to do them very quickly.)

[Smapel]

Did you draw anything prior to your first post? I don't feel certified to critique anything, but I like the 4th pic of the dragon head!

[nouge]

Yeah, some. But it's mostly been like between my first and second post: "NOW I'm gonna learn how to draw!", then wait 1-2 years, then do it again. Haven't carried too much over between each time. Too little drawing, too long pauses. But not this time!(?)

No beauties here, exactly. But, I'm drawing. Trying to do quick sketches of things from life, just to keep an eye on different things without investing too much time. Some turn out okay, some don't.

[ChisLu]

Your lines are improving, keep up the good work !

[Heyriel]

I like the animal drawinsg you did a lot (especially the owles) but the various objects in the last post are really good as well! c:

[black-swan]

nice lines on those objects, I also like the skull studies in post 13. One thing I would say is to draw pictures not just objects floating in space, draw a frame ie. rectangle on your sketchbook page and have a go at drawing an interior or an object with a backdrop. Don't be afraid to invest time into just one or two drawings, just make sure you make a good start, if you're not satisfied with it, start over.

Your marker work does have charm and a nice look to it. I hope you keep going

[Lost Shock]

Great improvement since the still lifes in your first post. You're getting a lot more confident in your strokes it seems. Shifts in media can really help as well and I really like those ink & marker studies. To echo black-swan; try drawing some scenes or surroundings, at least the objects' shadow, it can really help.

Longer studies of simple objects can help you think a bit more about values. Don't worry about screwing stuff up and don't get discouraged about it. Just draw and have fun . I'll be watching!

[Psychobuddy]

Nice work on those animals, and good improvement. Keep it up!

[nouge]

ChisLu: That's so good to hear, thank you!

Heyriel: Thanks, Hey!

black-swan: That sounds like a good idea, I will make sure to do that! I think I'm afraid to commit a lot to something that I might not end up liking, but I see that thinking like that might hold me back. Thank you for the compliment on the lines and that the objects have some charm to them - that's something I'm hoping I will achieve regularly and easily; a style of sketching where the flaws add to the charm rather than make the sketches look bad.

Lost Shock: Yeah, I notice that shifts in media can at the very least be encouraging and fun. I will try to draw more scenes, I haven't been very bold about that yet. If you'll be watching I better make sure to update my sketchbook, then! Thank you very much for cheering me on!

Psychobuddy: Thank you, I will! Maybe it'll have as many pages as yours one day

Today's update is very .. loose. Posemaniacs and loose marker sketches. I've been a bit busy the past few days, so drawings have been quick and sloppy.

[kevin_]

nice work, would like to see more frequent post! keep it up!

[amaranthxx]

Wow...I really like your animal drawings too, especially the owls. and I like the snake heads...

Also, I like spoons and different things around the house...what did you use to get the blue color...was it a wash or a marker?

I am looking forward to seeing what you do next.

I am just starting out myself, as well, so can't give much advice. Like you I have wanted to draw for a long time but hadn't really done anything about it...So just getting back into it.

Thanks for sharing!

[Chompi'n]

Already in page 1 seeing improvement!
you have a great understanding of animal forms
I want to say that u need to work on u'r line-confident, but I already see that in ink
u r doing one confident line, instead of plenty - good!
keep it up

[nouge]

Chompi: Yeah, I agree I need to work on my line quality. Thank you for the kind words!

amaranthxx: Thank you for the encouragement! Yes, the blue parts are marker, Letraset Promarkers. I like them quite well. If you're going to buy some, make sure they're not too deep a color so you can put it on in multiple layers!


Today's update is actually a few weeks old, but couldn't really post it until now. I have a lot more to post, but I'll portion it out - maybe it'll feel like I'm drawing more than I am!

Some digital doodles, a couple ones on paper and some bears from refs.

(Too bad about the smudge in the middle one. Won't be doing pencil on two opposing sketchbook-pages again.)

[nouge]

Lizard and enviros from ref, owl and head from mind.

[black-swan]

I like the second landscape thumb a lot, nice colours. The head also has a good sense of solidity about it, keep up the good work

[nouge]

Thanks, black-swan!

Owl from photo, fruit and skull from life, head from mind.



E: Oh, and I'm gonna try giving myself assignments for improving particular things, beyond working on my lines, values and other basics. First, to get better at drawing male heads, I'll do 20 heads based on Loomis basics.

[nouge]

People and owl from ref, rest from life.

[nouge]

Got better quickly. Doing 20 more of these and 10 guys from ref next.

E:
Operation Draw Male Heads will more specifically continue with, in no particular order:
20 Loomis heads from mind
10 guys from ref
10 skull studies
5 planes of male head studies