I'm a newbie, contrary to the fact I registered here in december. The thing is simple - tell me if what I've drawn is acceptable. The first time I received ruthless blow in critics on a certain forum, I almost quit drawing... but I figured I won't do much progress without knowing what should I practice, so I'm asking on an english speaking forum, for a change.
So here it is... I actually attempted to design a character for my story, and here's what came out. To be honest this is... my 5th character drawing so far
sketch (uncropped lol)
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images...ture001kr.jpg/
colored version
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/7/picture01a.jpg/
Hi there Sekator,
There are a lot of things that you need to work on. You art is at an early stage and you require a lot of knowledge before you can design a proper character. First thing is first, Anatomy, probably the biggest pain in art. Look it up, and look for tutorials online, we even have some here on MT. Focus on one thing at a time, that way you won't get overwhelm with practice.
Check it out and keep practicing mate ;D
As DHB already said, there's a lot to work on, but it looks good for only your 5th attempt at designing a character. Your prior experience with posting is unfortunate, but it's important to distance yourself from your art emotionally. Being able to step back and take an unbiased and emotionally detached view of what you've done will only help you in the long run. The most important thing you can do right now is to just draw a lot and preferably draw from real life. I know it may sound boring but you will learn much more trying to recreate a 3 dimensional object on paper.
If you really want to improve, attempt to spend 1-2 hours a day minimum drawing various things. After three months you'll notice a huge improvement. I know that I did once I started to put the time in to drawing on a daily basis. Good luck!
You also need a stronger drawing hand, all of your lines are going in one direction. Even in a static pose like that, lines still change direction. You have no line changing direction it either just continues, or breaks off into another line.
Another thing a tip on anatomy, there aren't really any parallels in the human body, or body works as such; curve to straight, for every curve line there is a straight.
Composition tips, remember everything in a composition, even if it is just a simple character follows the rule of large, medium, and small. Its a feel of balance in how we see thing
I agree with doghateburger, but I really recommend that you, next to practising, look at how other people draw. Just search drawing video's or something on youtube. Looking how a good drawing is made from scratch can do wonders ;D
That might be a little over the top; as long as you can criticize your own work your fine, but you can be completely happy or unhappy with what you've drawn. I'm just saying so you don't exaggerate ^^it's important to distance yourself from your art emotionally.
Note from me: Be sure, and this is important, to always keep your head focused on what the hell you're doing. Do not just draw because you have to draw because you have to improve. Draw while knowing what you want to make. Imagine on beforehand what you want to make before you even touch the paper. If you start drawing unplanned, not knowing what to draw and see if something pops out, then that can be very depressing and extremely counter effective. If you start drawing and the only thing you have in mind is that you'll have tons of cool art by the end of the week, you'll probably end up disappointed. If you plan to make one drawing and take time to see what you did right and wrong, that will help you.
This can happen when drawing tends to get really boring and/or frustrating. If so, just take a break from drawing and get your head straight first ^^ Now, as long as you just keep these things in the back of your mind then I'm happyAlso, don't rely of these comments as if everything said here are rules you have to follow. If you do what you think is best, then it's probably gonna work out fine. Everyone can be wrong at some point...
I apologize for hijacking your thread Sekator but I would like to just say a couple more things in response to others in this thread. This is one reason why it's difficult to come to a forum looking for help. You get many conflicting theories and methods for improving. One reason why taking art courses in school is so great is that you have one teacher that gives you instruction. The learning method is uniform and there isn't contradiction and therefore less confusion. Almost everything that has been said has validity depending on the person and at what stage their art is currently sitting.
I must humbly disagree and stand by what I said earlier. While you can be unhappy or happy with your result, if you don't distance yourself from your work you won't be able to accept criticism properly. If you do so then you shouldn't ever feel like a failure as an artist just because one piece doesn't work.Originally Posted by Mr_D
I also disagree with the thought that you don't need to force yourself to draw. If you want to get better, the only way to do so is to practice drawing a lot. You don't have to be in the "right mood" to do studies or draw from life. Doing studies doesn't require you to be inspired, you just need to do it. In my opinion these are just excuses for not wanting to do something. If you want to get better, you have to draw. Plain and simple. But this, of course, assumes that you want to improve.
Once again sorry for hijacking your thread, but I couldn't hold myself back. :X
There's nothing wrong with straight long lines, as long as you're comfortable with it, its fine. And I do not understand what you mean by "all of your lines are going in one direction", care to justify that? Constantly breaking off your lines lead to an unclean looking sketch, that will probably end up smugging all over the page.
I disagree with this 'tip', if you are referring to real human anatomy, than yes, but if you're referring to drawing styles, I STRONGLY disagree. Cartoon art shouldn't be too detailed on the anatomy, and yet there should be limits in which how distant the realms of reality and art style should be. Only an artist can decide for himself/herself.Another thing a tip on anatomy, there aren't really any parallels in the human body, or body works as such; curve to straight, for every curve line there is a straight.
Anyways, Sekator, you shouldn't worry to much about these yet, as a beginner, just focus on what you think is the best approach to improve yourself. Just be open to criticism
It seems like nisaren and Mr_D are on way different ends of the spectrum.
It seems to me that considering this is your 5th drawing, you've made progress (as far as I know). the only things that seem to catch my eye are the folds and those straight lines. its ok to do so, just keep in mind, Organic objects and pretty much anything living will have mostly curves; you will almost never see straight lines on a creature unless absolutely necessary. and for the folds, don't worry to much on them just yet, just concentrate on anatomy for now, until you feel you've got the hang of it.
As for the two MT brethren, you can't MAKE yourself draw, but you also can't slack off on it and wait for the "feeling" to hit you. Instead, look for Ideas, think of stuff that you would want to draw, just "for the heck of it". But don't feel bad if you can't find anything you want to draw, you could try drawing other people's characters or scenes to practice. For Criticism, don't distance yourself emotionally from your art; after all, it's your art and you should be proud. BUT! also don't overreact if somebody points out something that's off; They just want to say what you need to work on. How they say it to you is another story. Just accept what they told you and improve yourself on that.
Other than that, you seem to be off to a good start.
Hey, Sekator!! Welcome to MT.I see you've already had a taste of how we work in the artist alley--no one really agrees, haha. But we're not arguing all over your thread just to butt heads; we're all friend here and are just trying to give you the best possible advice. <3 So don't feel bad about this one drawing of yours sparking such big discussion. It'll flatten out later. Oh, and the more art you post, the more we can specifically help you on things, so these large, umbrella-term arguments don't happen, haha.
Anyway! My little idea to suggest to you in the middle of this mild disagreement is to do what works best for you. Some artists only operate well under "good moods" and "inspiration," while others have to treat it like a job in order to improve. And trust me, if there was one perfect and inarguable "psychology of an artist," trust me: we'd all know about it and would adopt it. But like other things in life, there are many ways to go about it for different people to get the same results.
And actually, you're off to what looks like a really good start. You've got a lot of elements here that many beginners would avoid. For instance, you've got a full-body shot, you drew clothes, didn't forget folds, put good texture into the skirt, scanned the work, and even colored and shaded it. Most people would neglect to do all that, myself included, haha.
Please don't give up art because you've gotten a few bad, and perhaps too-harsh critiques. Sometimes the wrong person comes along and tries to stomp out your excitement, but never let that happen! Throwing away what you enjoy for the sake of a handful of poor-spirited people isn't fair to you, the artist. Always remember that practice makes perfect, and the more you draw, the better you get!
I'm afraid you may have miss understood me just a bit my friend, or the concept of changing the direction of the line. There is a big difference between changing a lines direction and breaking a line. Breaking the line is more or less bot completing a “Design shape” in the drawing, changing the direction does not. First things first, where the artist is breaking the line is at the joints of the leg in the thigh. As far as all lines are heading in the same direction, just follow the form of the figure, the lines doesn’t change direction IF you were to put on a cut similar at the least to the figure, try to make the same pose, and stand in a mirror, you can see what I mean I do believe.
I agree and disagree here, yes I refer to real anatomy because at the basis, stylization or (cartoon, anime, w/e) is all built off of an understanding of real anatomy. Which is why I mentioned it, but you are correct it is ultimately up to thus artist what and how they wish to create. I simply singled out a little more in the anatomy than just saying “study/practice anatomy.” This comes from a philosophy I have begun to adopt; “of course practicing makes you better, but if you are practicing doing something wrong, than you will only improve at doing it wrong.” Again this is a philosophy I have adapted, I am in no way trying to push this on thus or any other artist, all I can do is offer what I know and capable of doing and it I up to whoever wants to gain from it to gain from it. Just like I also support the philosophy don’t fall in love with your work, and continue to draw, even when you can’t anymore, even when you eat or rest. Is it stressful, yes it is, but it can also be rewarding.
I hope this isn’t in reference to me because I assure you my critique was nothing less than a simple critique. I didn’t print out his work, ball it up and throw it on the ground, I didn’t take his work erase it, redraw it a little than handed it back and told him to finish it. (yes I have had the first one happen to me, Donivan can be cold blooded some times, but that’s what you get when you work with a master. The second one I only heard of an instructor who does this, lol.) My critiques are the way they are because I mean to give more than just a generic “You’re doing good”, or “practice anatomy yadda yadda yadda”. That was stuff I felt was more harmful than helpful as an artist, it was stuff that was given to me and I didn’t progress off of it. I just trying to help develop a way of seeing or understanding that it took who knows how long it took me to start (and still am) developing. So if I’m seen as harsh, poor-spirited, or vicious for it, than I will just have to be that way.Please don't give up art because you've gotten [b}a few bad, and perhaps too-harsh critiques. Sometimes the wrong person comes along and tries to stomp out your excitement[/b], but never let that happen! Throwing away what you enjoy for the sake of a handful of poor-spirited people isn't fair to you, the artist. Always remember that practice makes perfect, and the more you draw, the better you get!
Shamans note @ Sekator; this falls back to CF comment about how a lot of us really can’t agree on philosophes, and don’t really like each other either. Like I know CF and dhb really hates me with a passion and I hate them too! Lol, j/k! Unless you two really don’t like me since I haven’t spoken with either one of you in forever *EVIL STARE*
The best example of this would be Gunz and my philosophy about “how to go about getting and applying references,” but I respect gunz stand on the discussion even if I don’t agree with it.
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