First introduction: My name is Mladen and I'm from Croatia. I'm 18 years old, finishing High
School and planning to go to IT University. I'm also interested in web
development and 3D (VFX).
As a lot of people suggested me that for good 3D works you need to know how to draw I decided that I'll learn how to draw because I saw that you can learn it (not over night, but you can). Great person and artist pointed me to this forum and I'm here seeking your help. I'm curious if art is for me. I'm inspired and I have a lot of ideas but my arm sucks.
I don't know if I'm the right person for art, because I'm stuck like in stone age. Do you think that I can succeed? I thought about drawing everyday for few hours but as I said, I'm finnishing High School (5 weeks till the end) and I'm preparing for final exams so I don't have a lot of free time. But after that there is whole summer in front of me.
So I only want to get your beginner advices, no drawing for now. How should I prepare? What do I need to buy? Do I need to buy a tablet? Any books to download/order? Any help will be great. Also, when I start with drawing I'll post everyday my skectechs and everything that I draw so you can have a better look and help me.
I hope that I'll get a great amount of help here because you seem like a nice community (I tried on other forums but there are only few active members).
If you can afford it, you should buy a tablet and become comfortable with it early. Two major digital painting programs are Adobe Photoshop and Painter. You should either buy both or just get Photoshop, since you can probably live without Painter if you so choose but you will definitely need Photoshop in your life later even if you don't paint.
Wacom is the most popular brand of tablet so you should just go with it. If you cannot afford the latest product, Intuos 4, then see if anyone is selling a Intuos 3, which only has half of the sensitivity but it works just fine. Remember, The pens for these two different tablets cannot interchange - you cannot use a pen for Intuos 3 on Intuos 4, and vice versa.
You really need just one pen, which is the one that comes with the tablet when you purchase it. All brushes in Painters are configured to work with the tablet pen so you will be all set. In Photoshop, you will need to make a new brush that has pen pressure turned on.
About your drawings, you just need to draw a lot. everyday. Pay attention to proportions.
I'll go against what Yian just said, just to be confusing... Or maybe not just because of that. Anyway, since you're obviously just starting out drawing and don't even know you if it's something you'll get hooked on, I suggest you do NOT go out and by technical gear and expensive software. It's perfectly fine, perhaps even best, to start with pen and paper until you have the basics and know if you want to take it further than that.
Also, while it is good to get in at least an hour a day, it's like you say: sometimes it's hard to find the time. Since you have exams coming up, I suggest you keep pen and paper handy and every time you need a 5 or 10 minute break from studying, you do a quick sketch. It can be anatomy like the drawings you posted, or a flowerpot or anything. Just try to squeeze in quick sketches until you have time to make longer studies. And remember to sometimes just draw something 'cause you want to and not because you need the practice. You have to keep it fun, too!
I haven't used them myself, but a lot of people around here recommend the Loomis books on drawing that can be found online: http://www.alexhays.com/loomis/
And take all the advice you can get from your friend Alex because he knows what you need to do. He might not have started in the same position you are, but in the few months I've been in these forums he's already improved greatly.
As I'm still in High school, not working full time, I really cannot afford the tablet for this begginer status. But if I progress quickly, I'll sure buy one! :)
@voluspa
Yup, I'll buy a big blank sketch book and normal pen. But I really dunno what to draw. Should I start with lines or with a book of Loomis? I downloaded them, but they all seem very similiray and it's hard to decide which one to follow. Or should I start with different book like "Drawing on the right side of the brain" (some people say that "is not designed to help you think like an artist, to become a "pro", to
convey a sense of form via lineweight, to amaze people with your
compositional skill. It's to stop you drawing stickmen and symbolic noses and at least get on
the path to drawing or painting something that looks vaguely real." so I don't know).
I'm with the other comments on here, everyone can draw, there is no such thing as "can't draw" even if you lose both arms you can still use your feet XD
Draw and keep drawing and draw again! I'd add that a tablet is a great idea, but I'd certainly only invest when you've become certain drawing is something you love and want to take it on as a serious hobby! You can get trials of Photoshop from the Adobe website to try out, and while its daunting at first, its fantastic after you've had a play with it (I learned how to use it by just messing around on it;;) Theres loads of tutorials available on the IFX site (and Devart for example too) so you can learn with relatively no cost!
Though I do think before you buy any of the equipment, just grab a pencil and a pack of printer paper (I love printer paper to scribble on) and just draw whatever you feel like, listen to some music and draw for the duration of each track your thoughts and reactions to the piece! (Thats what I do when I need inspiration) and don't be disheartened! You might not like your work but its all a learning process, if you can recognise what you don't like about the piece and then work to correct it then you'll improve (its not constructive to just dismiss your work immediately!)
Post your work on the forums for advice, theres plenty of people willing to help on here!
Good luck! xx
Jane Eyre is manipulative, ugly, mannish and morally vain. I'm team Blanche and Bertha!
Cups and books are a good start but you should consider throwing yourself in and drawing things you love, that way its easier to keep up your enthusiasm! (of course if you are passionate about cups and books then thats fine too! xx) Good luck!
Jane Eyre is manipulative, ugly, mannish and morally vain. I'm team Blanche and Bertha!
Does it matter if I draw on normal table or on drawing one? I mean is it ok that I draw on normal one (like this). So my paper is down, but the item that I'm drawing is up - link (sorry for bad sketch, it is 5 sec with mouse in paint).
If you have access to a drawing table, feel free to use it. But most people learn to draw on an ordinary table (or sitting on the floor for that matter!) so don't worry too much about such things. If you've tried the drawing table and find it easier or more comfortable there are small er.. thingies... easels, I believe the term is, that you can place either on top of an ordinary table or in your lap (for the outdoor draughtsman). I dunno what they cost but they'd be cheaper than a real drawing table...
But really, to learn to draw you only need the basics and that's something to draw with (pen) and something to draw on (paper is preferable to walls, especially by parents and landlords)
Reading Loomis' book "Succesful drawing" and I like it. I'm on the perspective now. I also paid 1$ for trial www.drawing-online-tutorials.com and it's nice but I kinda don't like it, dunno why. Here's the work of the last two days:
P.S. Can you recommend me what to draw besides following Loomis' book? I really dunno, cup and mobile phone are "too" easy and I draw them fast.
Thanks!
