Sasha's Learning Sketchbook

[SashaDevi]

Hi, my name's Sasha.

I'm 22 and I've decided to pick up drawing. I've no formal education, and yes, I'm an absolute noob. So, I beg your patience and indulgence.
I really want to begin learning the basics, but I don't know where to start so I will be grateful any book recommendations and references.
As I'm only learning, I'll be posting all my progress, good and bad. Hopefully, this thread will help me with my self-discipline... which I obviously lack.
Any constructive criticism is welcome.


Here are some old sketches I found. I think I did them when I was 16-18 years old. Of course there were much more, but I'm very self-critical and usually throw away everything I draw.






an unfinished self-portrait:


and some pencil drawings of my hands:

[SashaDevi]

And these I did this year...

A young Christopher Hitchens. He died this winter, so, I guess I did this in his memory.


And some Shirley Manson portraits:

[Neyut]

Yo, welcome to Ca
yeah good sketches for the start, so you need book recommendations, i think the best choices were:
Andrew Loomis- "drawing for all it's worth" and "drawing the head and hands"
George B. Bridgeman- all of his books were great just start with "constructive anatomy"
Burne Hogarth- the same as Bridgeman, I bought "Dynamic Anatomy" (his and Bridgemans books are a little bit harder to understand than loomis')
and the most expensive (but they worth the money) Gottfried Bammes (most of his books were on german but still interpretable, only a little were translated)

*edit: some of them can be found as scan in the internet

i hope i could help you ^^'

[SashaDevi]

Neyut, hey, thank you)

Yes, you've helped me a lot. I'm going to the book store tomorrow, now at least I'll know some good authors to look for. I'm living in this Russian speaking country, so, I hope they're popular enough to be translated.

Also, I understand anatomy is important, but it's probably too hardcore for me yet. I meant to start with something like, you know... shading? tone scales? that stuff. I really don't know it and whatever shading i do is absolutely intuitive.

So, which of the books is the simplistic like that? Well, I'm sure I'll find something myself anyway.

Thanks for the names again I'll need them later.

[SashaDevi]

A quick self-portrait I just did while watching some comedy show. (Need i say it doesn't really look like me? )

[SashaDevi]

geeked out on making tone charts with the new pencils today


also, messed up a beautiful friend's face:

mildly frustrated with my inability to capture likeness of the people I like. but it just takes practice, right?

[SashaDevi]

Watched an awesomely creepy documentary on human anatomy today, felt inspired to draw some skulls. (well, actually I wanted to draw muscles, but realized I'm not that good yet) :

[syrella]

Hi, welcome! I think you're off to a good start.

One recommendation I have is to just carefully measure out angles and things. Proportions are really important (and something I've typically struggled with) and absolutely essential if you want to do any sort of portraiture. The human face is really intricate, with lots of subtle planes and angles... small mistakes get amplified. It's one thing to produce a nice eye, but it's another to make sure it's in the correct spot and fits in with the rest of the face. Studying skulls, like you're doing, and also measuring out the head, is a great way to get more familiar with proportions.

Anyhow, just keep up the good work. You're already a step ahead of some people-- you seem to be good at really observing what you're seeing. It'll take time for you to see progress, but I'm sure you'll improve if you keep at it.

[SashaDevi]

syrella, yes, thank you for the feedback

You guessed right, I'm interested in portraits and human body generally, but the face has proven to be quite difficult to capture. I haven't done a decent one yet. But, I'll work on it.

[nichsweetd19]

Hey! Great start!

All of your drawings show a ton of potential! I'm the same age of when u made those drawings you posted and I'm way behind you! I'm jealous.
But I noticed you said you throw out a lot of drawings; I do the same thing and I've been trying to stop, because when you throw drawings out you can't look back on them and learn how to improve. Try to post everything. It can help you study what you need to work on. I'm by no means an expert in ANY way, but its just a suggestion that I think will help

[SashaDevi]

nichsweetd19, hey, thanks for the feedback
yeah, I'll try to throw away less stuff. It's just that some is.. well, cringe-worthy

But you're right, posting everything is like a visual log that helps to trace mistakes.

Here are some more skulls:

[SashaDevi]

a young Richard Dawkins. very unhappy with it. and drawing generally. i'm working and don't have enough time to study the books i want
and not sure starting to draw at 22 is a good idea.

[SashaDevi]

sorry i'm posting photos... can't get my scanner working.






also I was considering buying a tablet what's a good one for beginners?

[NasserC]

I'd just like to say you seem to have great control over your lines, I think that's particularly evident in your most recent studies.

Keep it up, and good luck!

[SashaDevi]

NasserC, hey, thank you!

Here's an upload for today... I'm lazy, I know:

[triggerpigking]

Hey thanks again for the comment I have to agree with nasser your have great control over your lines I also think you are very good at shading as well especially on the hand drawings.
btw in your last couple of drawings what kind of paper are you using I remember using it before and it being very good.

[Cider]

a young Richard Dawkins. very unhappy with it. and drawing generally. i'm working and don't have enough time to study the books i want
and not sure starting to draw at 22 is a good idea.

Nice stuff here; in fact, you're making the rest of us noobs look bad. Learning to draw well is a marathon, not a sprint, so in my opinion consistency is far more important than a head start.

[SashaDevi]

triggerpigking, thanks.
I'm not sure about the brand of the paper. It just says "paper for sketching", I found it in the attic, it's kinda yellowish (maybe with age?) I'm not sure, I just like it for the texture. I'm sure you can buy that sort of paper in any shop, though.

Cider, yeah, you're right I'll try to stick to it. Thank you for the kind words.

Last few days weren't very productive, though I try to draw regularly. Here's some stuff:

skeleton from behind, with mistakes




and something from Loomis's book

[triggerpigking]

Yeah the texture of the papers great for sketching can't really find sketchbook paper around my area although now ive got something to look for next time i'm in an artshop.
btw did you do them figures from imagination? either way theyre really good.
Also youve probably been told this a million times already but have you got the other loomis books and bridgemans stuff yet?
Don't bother buying them though like I stupidly did and download them (in retrospect I can't remember why) the books are giant and just get in the way.

[L.A. KARKERA]

It's never too late to start anything even if you're 22 years old. There is no age limit in learning, right?

So far, you've progressed well with your drawings and it seems like you've got a hold of your anatomy properly. At the beginning, your sketches of people were proportionally off but now, your latest sketches showed that you understood the rule of proportions. More sketches, more better! Why not do the full figure anatomically as your next step? Take your challenges to the next level.

As for the tablet, Wacom is generally the best brand for tablets so if you're looking to start off, Bamboo is good to start off because they're cheap, smaller, and made specifically for beginners so go for it.

Keep it up with good work!

- LKA.

[Leonor]

and not sure starting to draw at 22 is a good idea.

Is this because at 22 many artists are professionals or quasi-professional? Or you think there's an age limit to learning?

I know I felt it was too late at 17. Time was running out (my then hero, Bilal, was published in a major magazine at 21) and at the time there weren't the infinite resources people have at their disposal to learn. I didn't like the art faculty I entered, it was all modern art. I gave up.

Your work is normal beginner work and you've seemed to have avoided some of the classic beginner mistakes, even.

If you show me the refs for that Dawkins picture I'll try to show you your mistakes so you can learn from them, OK?

I wouldn't worry with a tablet. Pencil and paper is fine.

[tueko]

Imho age doesn’t mean shit, unless we’re talking about the first years, the software you can imprint here is without equal.
It’s my firm belief motivation and determination are the biggest factors involved in any learning process, from playing guitar, to skiing or drawing w/e, your brain is the best tool you were ever given (Hard work beats talent!)
If I can recommend some background noise “Bruce Lipton – The new Biology” is a great listen, it’s nothing about drawing, but more about potential (you can prolly youtube it)

I love the heads you did from Loomies book, understanding that is like greek to me

[SashaDevi]

triggerpigking hey I'm sure you'll find the paper and probably even better than this one. The one I use is probably over 10 years old, and the format is too big, it's roughly like two A4 sheets (is it called A3?). Anyhow, when you're buying something, I'd recommend to buy A4 for the start, A3 is too clumsy and I really don't know what to do with the space. Idk, though, maybe you prefer it that way? It probably doesn't matter too much anyway.

I did the figure sketches from some reference picture I found in the internet, you can google "reference pictures for drawing" or something like that and you'll find a lot of good stuff. I'm sure you've probably figured it out on your own, though

And yes, I've downloaded two Loomis books. And some stuff by Vilppu. I like Vilppu a bit better so far, he's just a very endearing person and a good teacher, I think.

And I don't think it was a bad idea to buy the books, you won't have to strain your eyes as much as you would were you reading off the screen. And it's just cool to own a book.

L.A. KARKERA Thanks for the feedback Yeah, I've been thinking about the Wacom Bamboo, too. I've read some good reviews on it. Will probably buy it towards the end of the month.

Leonor
hey. yes, you nailed it. these were my thoughts exactly. Pretty depressing, isn't it?

And I think I understand what you meant when you said you didn't care too much for the art faculty, oftentimes people want to learn something but as they start to study it they understand the educational establishment isn't what they expected it to be at all.
I didn't study art, obviously, but I studied languages, and I was sure I'd be happy doind it, but I was pretty much bored after the year two.

Also, Enki Bilal is brilliant, yes.

And if you can point out the mistakes in the Dawkins's picture I'll be very grateful Here, let me juxtapose them:

[SashaDevi]

tueko hey, thanks for the encouraging words
I kind of knew of Bruce Lipton, and i think he has a generally goos message, "think positive", but I guess he's a bit too new-agey for me, (and I think he's being a bit too frivolous with the genetics, but, anyway, I'm not a scientist, so, idk). I'm really a down to earth person, not spiritual at all.

And, I agree, hard work beats talent. I've seen it many times. I'm just afraid I won't have the diligence to stick to everyday studies, I have some problems with self-discipline. But, I figured drawing is a better hobby than playing video games and wasting times in other non-productive ways.

Also, Loomis isn't very difficult if you just copy things from a book try it.

here's the stuff I did in the last few days, I apologize for the quality:


I was watching Vilppu's lesson on gesture, it was really interesting, he's a good teacher and simply endearing as a person I think:

[Splazmo]

Hey thanks for stopping by my thread, I am glad you enjoy my curiosities! Well, just a thought on something you said in here... it is never too late to start drawing! Just study and learn what you like, and when it seems rough, remind yourself why you are doing it... ultimately it is because you enjoy it, right? I definitely enjoy what I make, and I do what I like! Maybe if you want to make money drawing you will have to study some things that are not always fun, but it is important to always try and be unique...
Also, I know of some people who started when they were in their 20's, and are now pros!

[SashaDevi]

things I did these last few days:













I know a lot of it is bad, but I just wanted to be honest and post all. )

[triggerpigking]

I think one of the problems with the 7th one down the quarter view one is probably that the body isnt wide enough I used to have that problem as well
Loomis didnt really leave anything on how wide some of the body angles should be so I think its best to just mess around with it until it feels right.
Very much like the terydactyl (i think its a terydactyl) drawings and the last 3 figure sketches I should probably try drawing some dinosaurs as well I don't draw many fantasy creatures so it might give me some ideas.
btw them cat people they based on the navi from avatar they look pretty similair.

[SashaDevi]

Wow haven't been here in 20 days...
To my defence, I did draw almost every day, but since I've no scanner that would work with my laptop and the drawings looked no better than the once I poster the last time, I saw no reason in uploading them.

But, I've got a tablet, and here are some things I did (just to give it a try):


Cenk from TyT (a web news show):


and something like a sp with goat ears (??), I've no idea what I was thinking about:


the first 2 are done in PS, the last one in Sai. I think I like Sai more, still don't know a lot about it. Do you guys know any good tutorials for painting in Sai or PS?

[SashaDevi]

triggerpigking, you're right, these were terydactyls ) I was watching some documentary about them and paused and copied. You're right, drawing dinosaurs can give a lot of ideas of imaginary creatures.

And yeah, I drew dem cat people before the Avatar made 'em cool. :p

[IntoTheVoid]

Nice start on your tablet. I'm in the same position as you - tablet and no scanner.
http://www.ctrlpaint.com/ might be a good place to start for PS tutorials. It has a lot of well explained, relevant, bite-sized tutorials.