Yea, there’s even times where I’m sick as fuck. But rather than getting rest, I’m up trying to draw while resisting throwing up.
Shit is tuff, but making those sacrifices man…
But I’m kinda in your position.
I recently landed me a real nice job, and threw it away cause I couldn’t see myself working there for 50+ years. My supervisor was an amazing artists, but didn’t pursue that goal cause our current job paid way more. Every time I’d ask him art type questions, it seem like the only time he looked so happy. Eventually, I asked if I could get this good. He said anyone can, but it isn’t worth it, and advise to live the way were right now. I just told him that I’ll take up drawing and show him that it’s better to pursue something you love. And with that said, I actually up and left the building.
Now I’m working shit labor jobs with way less pay, but I’m giving more time to work on my art.
So yeah, do what you love. But if you want to get really good… get ready to put in a lot of work.
Shit isn’t easy, but some people love the feeling of pain. I guess I’m one of those people.
9 hour session of inking (no pun intended) and burnishing with prismacolor pencils. Good thing I sketched out my idea Thursday, but I still need to stop procrastinating. Doing that in a single sitting was not good for my hand. Feels fine now so I’ll finish my Legend of Korra drawing tomorrow.
Next will be a portrait of Furiosa from Mad Max, then maybe a portrait of Kai from Heavenly Sword.
That’s some neat stuff.
I’ve never took a chance at tackling an art style I prefer. I’ve been strictly fundamentals, but maybe I should give it a shot. There’s a specific character I’d like to draw, but I’m too embarrass to share who it is, so I’m going to need to find some other character that I like to see drawn.
Though, recently, I took up a lot of over time for my job, causing me to work my ass off for the next 3-4 months. I’m going to have less time to draw (even sacrificing sleep, I’ll have less time), but I really want to afford Fall and Winter 2016 class sessions. I was referred to some dude who used to draw Magic The Gathering cards and he’d hook me up with a 1 on 1 session and teach me himself. Problem is, he’s charging me 3 grand, and apparently that’s the cheapest offer he’s ever given anyone (and that’s outside of the classes I’m trying to get ready for in winter next year).
So… fuck… yeah… shit…
Still, I love to see this topic more active.
I’ve decided to right out my story as a novel before adapting it into a comic.
I have maybe 30 pages of notes but it took me 3 hours to type up a third of the first chapter. I guess writing is a little tougher than I thought, but I’m making great progress.
Holy hell this thread has alot of good info! I have the same problem BB-Hoody, all my life i been trying to draw what i see in my mind, and transferring to paper…At first i thought it was a unique trait, but it has actually been hindering me. Lately i been trying to go back to the basics and learn from scratch. Im going to have to pick some of those books pozerwolf and joshkaz are recommending…
Another issue ive always had, is shading and defining a light source, My stuff always ends up looking flat and boring…
Here’s some of my recent works, I worked on a flash drawing completely in pen, then one of Zoom in pencil, i couldn’t capture it good in my phones camera. You can see the lack in shading in it. Then one of my younger years, when i was drawing mostly everyday…
I honestly want to improve, and get better. I follow alot of artists on instagram, and they motivate me to kick up my shit and reach their level of skill, i believe i could do that. If i can go back to the basics and learn proper line work, and fundamentals of shapes…
3 grand is a hell of a lot cheaper than a 40g student loan. Also who’s the character you want to draw? No need to be embarrassed about it, no judgment here.
Drawing comic super heroes helps a lot.
Since most characters are drawn naked, then painted a color of their suit, it gives you a strong feel for anatomy. Anatomy is a huge part in character design, so this will get you in kinda far.
As for shadow/shading, I’ll need to look up books that help on that subject.
I wouldn’t know any yet since I’m currently being taught shadows and lighting, but from what I’m told, these books are helpful (I haven’t looked into them yet):
*- Framed Ink: Drawing and Composition for Visual Storytellers
Picture This: How Pictures Work
Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter*
I’m told these are good books, but I’m not sure how much they cover said subject.
Regardless, hope this works.
Nope, secret forever.
But yeah, the path I’m taking is no doubt saving me lots of money.
Here’s an interesting article you may find helpful (actually, a lot of people here will find useful)
I have 2 of those books. I pick them up to read once in a while but I hardly apply what I learn from them, just because im concentrating in another area. But they are really good material, especially painting by light. I have framed ink - it’s more about composition and framing(surprise!).
anyway, I started drawing again (i used to draw a lot in high school, but stopped for graphic design school) not too long before this thread started. Didn’t think this thread would develop like this when I first saw it.
This is just a sample of what practicing everyday can do:
I draw about 2-3 hours a night ~5 days/week for about 2 years now. I don’t think I’m excellent at drawing, but the improvement is obvious.
If you guys are on instagram, I’m really active there and I post daily sketches/drawings. It’s really been encouraging to have this habit of sharing my progress. I really recommend doing it, even if you don’t get a huge response. It’s nice to scroll back and see your progress and evaluate your work. https://instagram.com/danvang/. I have a couple timelapse videos of my coloring if you look for it (I don’t know how to embed them here).
It’s nice to see the differences.
Though, education comes a long way as well. It looks as though, previous, you tried drawing the features on the face. Were as the after, you were more focus on shading than actual drawing said features.
Outside of my class teachings, I’m currently self studying with Vilppu’s Figure Drawing videos and still working on Scott Robertson’s book. I’m currently on Vilppu’s Chapter 2 till I draw 150 figures with that method, while practicing drawing a bunch of cubes in perspective, seeing as how Chapter 3 seems to go over that subject quiet heavily.
Sadly, my self studies on slowing down, seeing as how I want my current studies for class to look impressive to my teacher. My current job isn’t letting me enough free time to practice, but luckily I recently got called into a new job (that pays less) that’s going to put in part time.
That’s the issue I’m having. Just not enough time to devote a lot to drawing. I have a full time job in which I work 8hrs a day. Now that wouldn’t be bad except I have no car. So I take bus and train to work which in total is 3hrs! The money I make at this job is decent at 12.50pr hr. I’m thinking maybe after I’ve saved up enough for a car I’ll have more time thanks to my travel time being less. Or maybe I’ll look into a job close to home or something. For now 2-3hrs a night will have to do.
It’s unfortunate, since, later in your drawing path, you can use the bus to your advantage.
Lucky for me, I have personal transportation, but my new job has me working 60 hours(+). Shit is too much, man…
The pay is great, but fuck… I dunno… I lose sleep even doing my studies for 3 hours some days.
Moving onto part time soon, so I’m lucky.
LUCKY ME!!!
I’ve been so busy I nearly forgot about this thread, thanks for keeping it alive Pozer. I’m thinking about trying out new biro’s (ball point pens). Can anyone recommend a really comfortable and flexible biro?
Around high school, I actually stopped drawing due to confidence issues (don’t indulge in manga-drawing books and carry on with it, it’ll ruin you), and didn’t resume and improve until college. I told myself lately that I would make an attempt to at least draw something, but it’s hard to get motivated with self-doubt and perfectionism lingering within. However, I do thank @Neesa 's Color Theory for giving me some incentive to resume my work. I kinda want to do something with a monochromatic color scheme.
I’m transferring to UMBC for Animation and Interactive Media, but starting around sophomore year of high school, I kinda dropped drawing/sketching and went into video editing. I made AMV’s and mock Adult Swim bumps and promos before getting back into sketching in high school. I do have a portfolio set up with my college work and “best videos”, but I do have to set up a new portfolio and an artist statement, which I don’t feel like doing. I want to improve my art to bring my gaming ideas to life (though I’d have to study coding and find a team), but I’m also not looking forward to all of the artwork (I blame writing). Here’s a promo of I’ve made. It’s a playlist of several AS bumps, but everything up to the Romeo Must Die are mine.
