I'm a beginner.

[basic781]

Finished, requesting deletion.

[Star Eater]

You have pretty much answered a lot of your own questions. So I think
you actually know the way forward. You hear 'draw from life' and 'just draw'
a lot because it's true. You won't learn anything unless you do it.

Don't overthink it, just dive in feet first.
Browse the stickies here, check out the fine arts and crits section. Submit
your work for us to help you and start up a sketchbook thread to keep us
updated of your progress.

Be prepared for a lot of blood, sweat and tears.

AAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnd....welcome to the forums.

[Steamhat]

welcome padawan. draw your pencil... figuratively... then draw other stuff ... literally.

i'd advise to get used to the tablet as a simple input tool for PC but naturally don't pressure yourself with the hazzards of making work digitally just yet. I spent a lot of time owning a tablet yet never touching it due to discomfort with working with it... these days i haven't used a mouse in ages. and to understand it like i understand a pen or pencil comes naturally...

but there's little to add. .... JUST DRAW! practice the muscle till good comes of it

[arenhaus]

Yes, it's easier to practice with pencil on paper. Tablets add a challenging layer of indirection and aren't that good for sketching, so paper is best.

Yes, you draw by looking at an object, understanding its form and reconstructing that form on the page, as a projection or other representation of some sort.

Typically you'd mark down a few guidelines to place the drawing on the page - e.g. the centerline, the extent of the subject, and then add and refine detail until it resembles the subject closely enough. The general idea is starting with the general aspect and then gradually progressing to smaller details.

There are books that show useful techniques for constructing your drawing; most recommend Nikolaides or Loomis.

[basic781]

Finished, requesting deletion.

[Star Eater]

Whats the problem? Just draw something, -anything- and draw as much as
you can. Stuff schedules, just get to drawing!

[Thera Dratara]

Well, first and foremost. Try doing anything you'd like, and do a whole lot of different things. That way you can discover what your strengths and weaknesses are.

Also, when you show these to more experienced artists they can give you tips to improve.

Finally, HAVE FUN. If you're not having much fun, you might be doing something that is at that moment a little too challenging for you. So when you experience that, try finding another challenge that might be a little easier. If that one succeeds, go back to the difficult one, maybe you may have learned something in between?

(You see, the secret behind being dedicated to art is that artists generally really enjoy drawing)

[basic781]

Finished, requesting deletion.

[JeffX99]

Dude/Dudette...try to get your money back for your tablet. Spend it on books. Or taking a class.

Edit: It's really very simple, you'll either want to do it enough to do it or you won't. I'm not sure what kind of advice you're hoping for or would like to hear? One must take the first step to begin the journey.

[TinyBird]

So I've been sitting here for a couple days with this pen tablet, hardly using it because I'm drawing blanks whenever I open a drawing program

That's why I draw on the other side of papers that I've already drawn on and use a black wooden pencil that I can't really erase. The paper is already "gone" so there's less pressure to produce something "good" (and I save paper) and then I throw the paper away.

Gotta agree with Jeff, what do you want from us, a specific list of stuff you should draw from life or something? Draw your alarm clock or favorite mug or something.

[Elwell]

arenhaus, situatiuons like this are why DOTRSOTB isn't always such a bad thing.

[Star Eater]

Draw a Avco Lycoming T53-L-IIA turboshaft engine.

And don't come back to this thread without having done so
or I will ban you.

[arenhaus]

arenhaus, situatiuons like this are why DOTRSOTB isn't always such a bad thing.

Frankly, I'd rather have some other book that is good for breaking the ice but does not waste 90% of its volume on useless stuff. Can you recommend one? "Art and Fear" perhaps? Or is that one aimed too much at the pros?

[Qitsune]

Art and fear doesn't teach you how to draw. I think it's only useful once you have started drawing and have a body of work under your belt.
But seriously, some people really like the idea of being an artist much better than making art. No book can overcome that. If you don't enjoy drawing, why try to be an artist? Teaching yourself calculus or programming as a hobby has much more chance to pay off later in life, it's easy to find "for dummy" books about that and maybe you'd enjoy it just as much as art.

[Cider]

Frankly, I'd rather have some other book that is good for breaking the ice but does not waste 90% of its volume on useless stuff. Can you recommend one? "Art and Fear" perhaps? Or is that one aimed too much at the pros?

Dodson's Keys to Drawing isn't bad. As a rank beginner myself, I'm sympathetic to the desire for a prescriptive program, which the right brain book provides.

[Kweckduck]

Argh... common people, the kid is obviously clueless. Is it so hard to say:

"Get a sketchbook (both on CA.org and a real paper one) and go to the following site: (LINK REMOVED) and go through all the books
Once you are done with those, look for more books about topics you feel you need instruction in. If you browse the forums you will find lists of books. Alternatively you can ask what books people recommend about certain topics."

[Star Eater]

Argh... common people, the kid is obviously clueless. Is it so hard to say:

"Get a sketchbook (both on CA.org and a real paper one) and go to the following site: [removed] and go through all the books
Once you are done with those, look for more books about topics you feel you need instruction in. If you browse the forums you will find lists of books. Alternatively you can ask what books people recommend about certain topics."

We already gave him all the help he needed. Directing new artists
to read a Loomis book is not always the best solution. Besides
Arenhaus already mentioned Loomis as well as Nikolaides.

If you had read my post, you will see that I already suggested
opening up a sketchbook as well as browsing the forums. Please
read the thread again before you make out that we are not trying to
be helpful.

Also, links to Loomis PDFs are no longer supported on these forums.
Buy the books.

[JeffX99]

Argh... common people, the kid is obviously clueless. Is it so hard to say:

"Get a sketchbook (both on CA.org and a real paper one) and go to the following site: (LINK REMOVED) and go through all the books
Once you are done with those, look for more books about topics you feel you need instruction in. If you browse the forums you will find lists of books. Alternatively you can ask what books people recommend about certain topics."

Problem is if you have to say that wtf is the point? People have been drawing shit a helluva long time. It isn't that hard to figure out. You're not smashing atoms.

[Star Eater]

You actually went back and edited your posts out?

Have fun playing with your tablet.