For creative people: Resurrect the artist within you!

[elfhentaifan]

Sorry this is very offtopic but i just have to share my impression and new hope when i found this on deviantart

http://spacecoyote.deviantart.com/art/D ... 07-3983940

I sure should make a huge print and cover my grey walls with it. just brilliant
That really gives even the most negative wannabe-artists hope and also those, who have never even believed in their art.

Ive learned 2 things when i started off with drawing. Observation is the key, and your hands are not just for jerking off.
And im pretty confident that im on the right way now, everytime i watch this redesign chart.

[SockPuppetHyren]

Way ahead of you there. I'm studying anatomy and such A LOT more than I used to (Of course, I didn't study at all not too long ago). Most of the drawing I do nowadays are various poses and life sketches in my sketch book. I have a DevArt page, but I don't really use it that often, and when I do use it, it's mostly for silly fanart and animu.

I've already compared the work I used to do, with the work I do now (Using my sketch books, as that is where most of my stuff is), and it was like night and day. I couldn't believe the overall jump in skill level I made. It made me want to work that much harder to improve.

your hands are not just for jerking off.

My life is a lie!

And now I'm off to do some hand studies, I can't be the only one who finds hands absurdly difficult to draw correctly...

[Frederik]

And now I'm off to do some hand studies, I can't be the only one who finds hands absurdly difficult to draw correctly...

Hands are extremely complex. Thankfully doing hand studies is very easy to do all by yourself! I used to draw my own hands A LOT some years ago.

As for motivation, meet Bobby Chiu:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=935nSBMM ... 88&index=5
In almost all of his videos he talks a lot about the motivation to draw and he share the "talent is nothing, effort is everything" mindset Elf mentioned and that I believe in, too (illustration student here, btw). He also does subway sketching in Toronto every sunday IIRC, so if you live there it might be worth checking it out.

Another incredibly valuable tool is this book:
http://www.amazon.com/New-Drawing-Right ... 425&sr=8-2

Here is the german version:
http://www.amazon.com/Garantiert-zeichn ... 490&sr=1-1
Yeah, the german title is a bit stupid, sounding like this was some AS SEEN ON TV! book, but believe me, for livedrawing this is a MUST READ. It deals with a lot of how we see things, goes into great details about how children go through various stages in their drawing abilities, and how you gain the ability to really SEE what you´re drawing (one of the techniques being drawing while keeping your eyes on the subject and not looking at the paper. Try it, it´s fun!).

[elfhentaifan]

As for motivation, meet Bobby Chiu:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=935nSBMM ... 88&index=5
In almost all of his videos he talks a lot about the motivation to draw and he share the "talent is nothing, effort is everything" mindset Elf mentioned and that I believe in, too (illustration student here, btw). He also does subway sketching in Toronto every sunday IIRC, so if you live there it might be worth checking it out.
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Here is the german version:
http://www.amazon.com/Garantiert-zeichn ... 490&sr=1-1
Yeah, the german title is a bit stupid, sounding like this was some AS SEEN ON TV! book, but believe me, for livedrawing this is a MUST READ. It deals with a lot of how we see things, goes into great details about how children go through various stages in their drawing abilities, and how you gain the ability to really SEE what you´re drawing (one of the techniques being drawing while keeping your eyes on the subject and not looking at the paper. Try it, it´s fun!).

the bobby chiu video was very strange, affected me in the way it should, like, yeah i know im a lazy bastard i should draw more and stuff, but it still was too uh... psychological.

Now i really want to garantiert zeichnen lernen and im also very interested, if the title promises whats in the content and what you say.
Its just, that before i buy even a single pen or other merchandise, i have to really really get myself that graphic tablet (wacom) or i will end up using HP Pens for-fucking-ever.

And now I'm off to do some hand studies, I can't be the only one who finds hands absurdly difficult to draw correctly...

Hands are extremely complex. Thankfully doing hand studies is very easy to do all by yourself! I used to draw my own hands A LOT some years ago.

I admit i have a little foot fetish so im rather interested in that galaxy (referring to all that anatomy stuff)
Hands can be considered as a complete life-form, not just a body part, so studying them is a long way, i havnt paid much attention yet.
I rather include them in my sketches and drawings, and just try not to be too detailed at them, but.. lets not expand that topic any further unless you want to write novels. (I have to hold myself back, too)

[PC Engine Fan X!]

For elfhentaifan,

Have you tried attending some nude figure drawing sessions? They are invaluable for whatever media you like to work with. As the ol' saying goes: Practice makes perfect.

To draw what you actually see on a sketchbook without making any mistakes, especially with techincal art pens using India ink (like the expensive Rapidograph pens)...that is quite a challenge indeed. ^_~

Doesn't hurt if the female nude is amply porportioned either in the T&A department. ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[elfhentaifan]

unfortunately ive done only one nude drawing lesson before, because it was at school.
It definetly was a nice experience even if the project wasnt that.. well nice to look at, but oh well

Ive always been thinking to make this lessons as i need so many details when i draw ladies or just nude bodies (anatomy)
And i just learn this stuff best at right that practise lessons.
Thanks for the advice there


btw: ive always wanted but never bought a sketchbook. I really should get one very quick by any chance !

[Herr Schatten]

It definetly was a nice experience even if the project wasnt that.. well nice to look at, but oh well

That's what you actually learn the most from: drawing fat and skinny people.

I'm sure Frederik has his fair share of sketches depicting a certain Mr. Kluge.

[Andi]

I've been drawing comics almost every week for about 5 years.

7/25/2004: Here's the first one...

http://www.spacebabes.org/drusucks/drusucks1.html

1/23/2009: Here's the most recent...

http://spacebabes.org/son/son75.html

As you can see, just practicing isn't everything. You have to study too. Which, of course, I have not.

[SockPuppetHyren]

http://news.deviantart.com/article/69301/

...Well THIS just made my day...[/sarcasm]

[Sly Cherry Chunks]

http://news.deviantart.com/article/69301/

...Well THIS just made my day...[/sarcasm]

I can imagine someone copying some decent reference art to get a feel for their subject - nothing against that.

Why this dumb bitch chose to use my godawful distorted Vic Viper doodle as a reference, and reproduced it perfectly, shitty proportions and wobbly lines and all - is beyond me.

My godawful peice of crap: http://slycherrychunks.deviantart.com/a ... r-32038349

Hers: http://ms182.deviantart.com/art/vic-vip ... i-61041086 (notice how the image is mirrored in a lame attempt to hide that its traced)

[elfhentaifan]

http://news.deviantart.com/article/69301/

...Well THIS just made my day...[/sarcasm]

lol@this

[Frederik]

Its just, that before i buy even a single pen or other merchandise, i have to really really get myself that graphic tablet (wacom) or i will end up using HP Pens for-fucking-ever.

http://www.wacom-europe.com/index2.asp? ... ng=de&gm=3

I recommend the Bamboo Fun, which I bought a few weeks ago to replace my Graphire (basically a similarly sized model but with less resolution and a bit clunkier design). But I guess even the cheaper Bamboo models will suffice. We have a whole bunch of these hulking Cintiq screens at our school, I find them highly overrated to be honest. I don´t like having to move my arm around as much like that And that you cover half your screen with your hand and arm when drawing is annoying, too. Newbies are impressed because it´s "almost like REAL drawing!", but I find being able to rest you hand on the desk while looking straight forward at the screen much more efficient, even if it requires more practice.

Because these models cost so much a lot of people think Wacoms are expensive in general - but honesty, I find the entry models are very highy value, and are very sturdy. Even the replacement tips are reasonable with five tips going for only 10€, and one tip will last about half a year easily (if you don´t abuse it).

Also, I´d recommend ditching your mouse completely if you get a Wacom, because you will improve MUCH quicker. After a couple of weeks I don´t miss having a mouse at all. Wacoms are beautiful products

It definetly was a nice experience even if the project wasnt that.. well nice to look at, but oh well

That's what you actually learn the most from: drawing fat and skinny people.

I'm sure Frederik has his fair share of sketches depicting a certain Mr. Kluge.

Both my nose and I remember him indeed

http://news.deviantart.com/article/69301/

...Well THIS just made my day...[/sarcasm]

I can imagine someone copying some decent reference art to get a feel for their subject - nothing against that.

Why this dumb bitch chose to use my godawful distorted Vic Viper doodle as a reference, and reproduced it perfectly, shitty proportions and wobbly lines and all - is beyond me.

My godawful peice of crap: http://slycherrychunks.deviantart.com/a ... r-32038349

Hers: http://ms182.deviantart.com/art/vic-vip ... i-61041086 (notice how the image is mirrored in a lame attempt to hide that its traced)

That´s one of the things you´ll have to learn to deal with when you´re starting to be even reasonably good (and the Vic is awesome, btw): There are people who just rip off your work. It happens all the time, and yes, it sucks, and it happens a lot more often than you´d think:

http://youthoughtwewouldntnotice.com/blog3/

I had that happen to a (pretty shitty) logo I did back in school for a t-shirt, only to find out that four years later some dudes offered that as a design in their own catalogue. It sucks big time and people earning money with something you did is horrible.

[elfhentaifan]

hey good news there.
this is the sweatheart thats just on the way to me, hopefully arriving next week

http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.ph ... cid=PE.227

im hell looking forward and prolly THE investment of the year.
since i usual doodle only im excited aswell how it feels digital

Also, I´d recommend ditching your mouse completely if you get a Wacom, because you will improve MUCH quicker. After a couple of weeks I don´t miss having a mouse at all. Wacoms are beautiful products

what do you mean by ditching?

[Frederik]

Ditching = Stop using it. For scrolling and right-click you can program the buttons on the Wacom. Again, it feels weird at first but will soon become second nature. In the end it´s much more comfortable to use over extended periods of time - mice are not good for your hands.

Two things you might not know already: 1) You are able to use the cursor not only by making the pen touch the surface, but also by hovering over it, which means you don´t use a special button for "clicking" - you just tap or hold - and the rest of the cursor movement is done by just hovering the pen over the Wacom. Has a pretty nice, weightless feeling! 2) The position of the pen is absolute, in contrast to a mouse that does relative movement, meaning when you go in the upper left corner of the Wacoms surface, it will be on the upper left corner of the screen as well. So if you let go and put the pen on the opposite side it will "jump" there. (It´s a bit hard to explain, but it´s bascially very similar to actually touching your screen.)

Nice choice on the Wacom. You´ll enjoy it!

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Back in 1984, Atari Corp. brought out it's innovative "light pen" tool for the Atari 400/800 series of computers. You actually use a regular NTSC CRT-based TV monitor and draw directly on the TV screen itself. I have one and am amazed that they had the know-how & technology to make such things back in the early 1980's. The Atari Light Pen almost seems to work like black magic or voodoo if you will, but it works indeed. ^_~

Back in the mid-1980's, some companies were starting to get concerned about a new ailment that afflicted office workers whom spent too much time at a CRT-based computer monitor...and came up with a name for it: VTD -- or Video Terminal Disease.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[elfhentaifan]

i never tried drawing with a mouse anyway.
firstly because i use mice with my right hand and i draw (and wirte) with the left.
Also im using a laptop with touchpad, even if it came with a mouse, i never use it so whatever

[Ex-Cyber]

Back in 1984, Atari Corp. brought out it's innovative "light pen" tool for the Atari 400/800 series of computers. You actually use a regular NTSC CRT-based TV monitor and draw directly on the TV screen itself. I have one and am amazed that they had the know-how & technology to make such things back in the early 1980's. The Atari Light Pen almost seems to work like black magic or voodoo if you will, but it works indeed. ^_~

The funny thing is, it's actually more of a clever hack than a complex technology. It's almost trivial compared to the task of putting an image on the screen in the first place.

Anyway, I think I've seen one being used in the SICP lecture videos...