Rebooting my art journey

**Chronos** · November 25th, 2011, 07:18 PM

I want to restart drawing from scratch and build a solid foundation.

Thats why I want to get into life drawing, drawings objects and things from life. However, I'm not really sure how to go on about this.

Most of the confusion comes from me never having doing it much, and I'm confused in terms of capturing something at an angle in real life. It just seems hard to wrap my head around projecting a 3D area with no reference in my mind on a 2D paper. (I know that a viewfinder helps with that but I'm still new to this)

Are there any books that I could read to get me started in the right direction?
I have all the motivation there, I just need some guidance to set me straight and prevent me from making mistakes like before.

Thanks for any help

**JeffX99** · November 25th, 2011, 08:22 PM

Drawing Essentials

**Chronos** · November 26th, 2011, 01:08 AM

Thank you very much

Will check it out

**JeffX99** · November 26th, 2011, 01:18 AM

You bet - pretty much everything you need to "reboot"!

**Chronos** · November 26th, 2011, 08:19 AM

Also

When drawing from life, do you "imagine" a flat pane in front of you when you're putting down information from the 3d world to a piece of paper? By flat pane I mean a window perpendicular to your face. Something like this attachment:

Just trying to wrap my head around the whole perspective and angles in real life; havent done much of it

**JeffX99** · November 26th, 2011, 03:24 PM

Yep...only really that is just the "picture plane" and represents your 2D drawing or painting surface. Which is why it is very helpful to work at an easel with your 2D surface in the same basic plane as you're view. And if you're really clever you could rig up some head/shoulder support gear that kept a sheet of plexiglass with a grid on it positioned in front of your face when you draw.

JK on that - don't do it. But, people have rigged up glass sheets with a grid mounted near their easel to help draw more accurately.

Don't worry about questions too much yet, just get that book and get started...it will get you going.

**Chronos** · November 26th, 2011, 07:38 PM

I should do that. I ordered it so it'll be arriving soon
I just have a tendency to overwhelm myself with information. When I learn about something I want to know EVERYTHING about it. But I know its best to take small steps first

**Chronos** · November 26th, 2011, 08:51 PM

Ok this is just slightly bugging but its the last question for now.

When drawing 3d objects from life, is it better to draw the figure with your construct of perspective in mind, or is better to learn to "see" angles in relation to other angles.
Or both?