Nusku | Currently Studying: Hands | Updated (2/18/13)

[Nusku]

Hello! I've been drawing for as long as I remember! Now, that doesn't mean I'm good. Because I'm not! I'm self taught and have no real art education. I posted some pictures in the Critique section and someone told me to draw an apple! So,

Here is my apple! Tell me what you think and if there is anything to improve my techniques, feel free to spit it out!

I'll post here regularly with all my new drawings. I figure drawing from life should be the first thing I learn, then draw from imagination. . . Here we go!

I would say this took a little over an hour. I didn't really time myself!
Attachment 1697754

[vineris]

This is a pretty good start. There's some nice variation in the values. Next time you might want to soften up the edges just a bit so it doesn't stand out from its environment quite so much. Still, good going. Keep at it!

[Linzwinz]

Definitely a good start. Aside from what the first replier just said, I'd add that while black -is- a way to darken up what you're doing, you should try not to use it exclusively (or even that much) in getting your value ranges. Still, I like this. I keep looking at it and thinking I smell apple.

[Nusku]

Drew a red cup!

Thank you both for your advice! Im trying.

This took 2 hours to make!

[eroquii]

Hey Nusku and welcome! Good start with the apple and cup! As for suggestions, you might want to be careful of your mind playing tricks on you in terms of perspective.The bottom of the cup is off. Ellipses are tricky to me too haha. Maybe try some perspective exercises? You should also pay attention to the cast shadow and place it in the picture so the cup doesn't look like it's floating.

I hope to see you around here more!

[Nusku]

Hey Nuskus and welcome! Good start with the apple and cup! As for suggestions, you might want to be careful of your mind playing tricks on you in terms of perspective.The bottom of the cup is off. Ellipses are tricky to me too haha. Maybe try some perspective exercises? You should also pay attention to the cast shadow and place it in the picture so the cup doesn't look like it's floating.

I hope to see you around here more!

OH MY GOODNESS HOW COULD I FORGET THE CAST SHADOW!

i knew something was missing! hah, wow.. *facepalms self*

And i see what you're talking about, im looking at the sketch and back at the cup and the bottom is WAY more round and i actually over drew the top.. . it should be slimmer!


Thanks for responding! I'll work on perspective while I smoke some hookah!

[Nusku]

getting my Andre Loomis on!

Heres a couple:

[Nusku]

More Blook Balls

[Nusku]

Drew my speakers. Took ~ 2 hours


I'm not to happy with the knob.

[Nusku]

The doctor! (w.i.p)

[Nusku]

i'm having trouble coloring this... would anybody happen to have any tips? do i color it a solid color then add different color shades?

[Nusku]

played with the shadows while I wait for a response :p

[SophieW]

Although I’m struggling with digital painting as well, the advice I’d give is to just try different methods. Try it with the solid colour base and see how that works for you. There isn’t a ‘right’ method so just go for it and see how you find it. I’ll check back to see how it went.

[Nusku]

still a little nervous about coloring, just playing with shadows for now!

[clockodile]

There are a lot of approaches to digital colouring - most of them seem to fall into one of two broad categories. One is getting a monotone base to establish values, and then adding colour with layers above it, with different blending modes like overlay. The other is getting solid colours roughly blocked in, then painting detail into them and checking values as you go. It is entirely possible to combine techniques from both methods too, just go with what is comfortable for you and don't be afraid to experiment.

Looking at where you are now, I'd like to suggest using a bigger brush for blending your value tones - think big first and then work down to smaller details. For example, rather than starting with strands of hair, put down big shapes to indicate groups of shadows and lights. It is good to be thinking about light and shade from the beginning though, you are definitely getting off on the right foot with his face.

[Nusku]

pain. in. my. BUTT!

I'm never shading black and white again. I feel like I wasted 2 hours

here we go now:

[Aether Technician]

Nice start to your sketchbook!
I would recommend doing some perspective studies before you get into much else. whatever though.

[Nusku]

So, i've decided that I AM going to stop drawing using digital images as references and imagination drawing. I'm going to strictly draw from life! I'm off to smoke some hookah and draw! thank you guys for the advice!

[blazingdimensions]

being self taught doesnt mean you can't become a great artist, im self taught,never had an art class and im still learning everyday- look up marko djurjevic or Cryptcrawler(brad rigney)'s work they're amazing and both self taught.You have to have a lot of willpower to push yourself outside of a classroom setting. keep it up, some things i recommend. download ALL of andrew loomis free pdf books(type it into google) figure drawing,successful drawing ,etc. study those along with other books like bridgman's guide to drawing from life and dynamic anatomy from burne hogarth. do a lot of life drawing,draw chairs your hand etc. and always after you study do a few drawings from imagination to utilize what your learning.when you draw something from life seriously study it, where the light is coming from,the color, the perspective,shadows etc because it will help all of your imagination work, drawing different kinds of materials can help a lot because you will learn how those materials react with light and stuff for imagination drawing. heres a good link:http://androidarts.com/art_tut.htm

-if you have more money another possibility is a to buy some gnomon workshop dvds, just foundation ones like animal anatomy and light&color, or get a year subscription there.and maybe take a few life drawing classes at a local community college.draw everyday,keep pushing yourself and you can do it.

[Nusku]

@blazingdimensions You're right! Thank you for the wonderful advice, I will continue to draw every single day until I become a master! I've been drawing for around 1 week straight since I started taking art seriously and im learning lots!

Update: Here are some new sketches (started with an eye and escalated to imagination)

[blazingdimensions]

nice eye, i was just thinking you need to do some study of eyes when i saw that last picture of the guy, but i see you saw that for yourself before i did, great work, its good to recognize your weaknesses and work to fix them.i like that tiny fin on the side for some reason,lookin good.oh a good rule of thumb the front of the eye aligns with the end of the nostril, just something to remember to keep it aligned.

[Nusku]

nice eye, i was just thinking you need to do some study of eyes when i saw that last picture of the guy, but i see you saw that for yourself before i did, great work, its good to recognize your weaknesses and work to fix them.i like that tiny fin on the side for some reason,lookin good.oh a good rule of thumb the front of the eye aligns with the end of the nostril, just something to remember to keep it aligned.

I can draw 1 eye, i can't draw eyes on a face with a nose and full features hah. im bad with proportions and all that science stuff.

[clockodile]

A lot of people turn to Loomis' books to learn how to construct heads. Proko on youtube here has made a bunch of videos that cover all the basics of head construction (using Loomis' method), just start from the bottom and work up.

[Nusku]

Thank you clockodile! I'll be sure to check it out!

Update: Drew my pen holder!

[Nusku]

Gestures and Figure studies :o

[Nusku]

More gestures. More Figures..

Pixellovely!

[Nusku]

More Gestures!!!!

[Nusku]

not to happy with the legs.

[Nusku]

[Umbravita]

OK, some crit!

- When drawing, avoid chicken scratching. It looks messy. When you draw a line, draw it from the shoulder, and try to nail it in one, confident line. An incorrect, unbreaking line looks much better than a correct chicken scratching. It'll also teach you accuracy.

- Your colouring could use work. I'll be frank: even your longer stuff looks sloppy because you're colouring it in like a child colours. Block colours in with bigger brushes, don't scrawl them in with smaller ones, and use opacity and brush hardness/softness to render.

Keep it up! Looking forward to more, let's get some pages in this sketchbook.