Can anyone help me streamline the learning process?

[POPUPSart]

Hello everyone. Another newbie to join the ranks and I would like to first off say a big thank you to all those who dedicate their time to assist others. I have never known such a friendly online community.

I have recently decided to nurture my creative side and return to the world of art.

I have always had a keep interest in art, i spend hours surfing the web drooling at artwork and really appreciate the effort and skill and time that goes into each piece.

Now I have what I would call a 'good eye' for art.

I can draw great from reference getting a lot of the fundamentals down, but what seems to happen is that I am just making shapes and value and colour trying to match my reference... But not really grasping why the shapes look the way they do... Why the light shines the way it does off that surface and why. This really hinders my ability to 'draw from my minds eye'

So I have decided to start from basics.

I have a Wacom tablet and access to Photoshop but have decided to put that down and return to Pencil and paper for the time being until I grasp the fundementals.

The problem I have is there is just SO much to learn. I understand the learning process never stops. But there is just so much to take in I am struggling to find a good starting point.

I do intend on starting a sketch book and just posting as much work on there as possible. Then hopefully through crits and advise I will know where I should be heading.

Can anyone help me steamline my learning process?

Should I be studying from reference? Life? People? Places? Light? Value? shapes, shadows anatomy etc...

Thanks for reading. I hope it all makes sense, Any advice is more than welcome.

Thank you

POPUP

[JSG1138]

I think the problem is that everyone learns differently. Im no master or anything like that so i dont want to come off like a know it all but dude really its all about how hard you work. like right now I should be studying the anatomy of hands and feet insead of surfing the net lol. also I dont think starting with photoshop is a bad idea at all I dont care what anyone says its the future, even now the majority of art is done in digital.

[7oz]

I am pretty much in the same of boat as you, returning to drawing and such. I guess I would suggest to just try various techniques such as blind contour, semi-blind contour, and then moving on to negative space studies, gesture drawings etc. Now I think continuing to practice these along side other studies is essential, but you could also start looking at studying anatomy which is what I'm doing right now. Mapping out each part of the body and seeing how muscles and bones interact with each other, how the skin stretches and creases etc.

I hope that made sense lol, kinda just barfed some ideas onto a page there

Yay for my first post!

[Milou]

Well, what do you like to draw?

Find something you like, and learn how to do that well. It's all about what you're aiming for. A comic artist will have more use for extensive anatomy practice than a landscaper will, and ETC.

Draw something you like. Then find out what you can do to do it better.

[POPUPSart]

Well I really want to get into concept and love the idea of character design.

Problem is my anatomy sucks, So really working on that at the moment. I have a basic how to draw book. but does not go into quite enough detail so have purchased the Andrew Loomis -Figure drawing for all its worth, to get me started.

- POPUP

[Cyberman]

Loomis; head and hands is great too, If you just post your loomis stuff in your Sketchbook you will get more feed back than you will know what to do with lol. Try posting some stuff in the Critique section as well, loads of great advice.