http://photos-c.ak.instagram.com/hphotos-ak-xfa1/10644041_1529289633954330_604509655_n.jpg
one shaded using the mechanical pencil, the other with an actual set of shading pencils. I need to learn how to draw lines and color in color with the pencils.
Has http://www.posemaniacs.com/ been mentioned already? It isnât advanced, but itâs a great place to practice drawing anatomy from different angles.
EDIT: It was already mentioned. abkallday, Iâd definitely recommend copying the figures on Posemaniacs site for practice.
Iâm thinking about introducing sculpturing to this thread. Its such a easy way to learn human anatomy.
ComicCon Panel 2014 Disneyâs Master Teachers: Life Drawing Skills for Animation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2Os2pMc-yU&index=169&list=WL
Yes, thatâs the Vanderpoel book I have. Use it for doing studies of individual parts i.e., eyes, nose, lips, etc.; just read and re-draw the images straight outta the book. As long as your eyes are able to break down and process the visual informationâpaying close attention to edge work and valueâthe simple concept of copying pictures can be really effective.
Oh âGeorge Bridgman for anatomyâ wasnât a title, sry bout that. I didnât list any specific titles as I donât actually own any of his books. His works in anatomy can be perplexing so Iâve always preferred to absorb in small doses(choice scans/handouts). I think I own some books by Burne Hogarth; you can try looking him up for anatomy. Iâve always found his style too âroundedâ and âbumpyâ but his work may be easier to digest. Though, for new students of figure drawing I wouldnât focus too much on anatomyâitâs too much information and is a series of courses in and of itself, a basic understanding can get you through the earlier stages of figure drawingâI would rather recommend first focusing on gestures(defining motion/flow of the figure including length/width of the major masses i.e., head, torso, pelvis, arms, legs); anatomy will come into play later as a means to further build and define simplified forms.
For gesture I recommend studying the âReilly Methodâ of drawing. A method preserved and passed down through generations of students, developed by Frank J. Reilly who studied anatomy under Bridgman himself at the Art Students League of New York some 80yrs ago. The Reilly method is a way to simplify and abstract the figure, to construct using rhythmic shapes and lines which act as a sort of âroad mapâ to help connect and relate the various parts and proportions of the body. This is the abstraction method practiced and taught by traditional illustrators like Glen Orbik and Jeff Wattsâboth were students at the California Art Institute under Fred Fixler who studied with Reillyâand the way I was taught to approach figure drawing during my few classes at Watts Atelier. Nowadays you can catch glimpses of the abstraction in the works of Jeffâs own students who have been groomed within the atelier to become his instructors currently teaching the new generation of students; check out Stan Prokopenko on Youtube âProkoTVâ, or look up the blogs of illustrators Erik Gist and Lucas Graciano. Keep in mind the abstraction is simply a way of thinking and may vary from artist to artist, pose to pose. Sometimes you may start from the head while other times the torso. As you become more proficient you may not need to draw as many rhythm lines and are able to fill in anatomy as you go. Ultimately it is adapted to suite oneâs knowledge of the human figure and pose at hand. Try watching a demo if you can, otherwise below are some booksâI donât own any of âem so research if youâre deciding to purchaseâand various online resources which may help you gain an understanding of Reillyâs abstraction method.
Books:
Online Resources:
I posted this earlier but I know most of you didnât read it so Iâll post it again:
**The benefits of life drawing for Artists, Fashion Designers, Concept-Artists, Illustrators (especially comic book artists) and Animators who work in both 2D and 3D are immense. The following statement explains why life drawing is extremely important if you have an interest in these fields: **
Basically, it boils down to understanding how things behave in the real world in order to emulate them successfully. Everything from lighting to perspective to anatomy is learned best through life drawing.
For instance, letâs say you want to draw a character in a specific pose from memory. Youâre going to run into a series of problems if you havenât consistently drawn from life:
** 1. You probably have a very limited amount of poses in your mind, and most of them were acquired through looking at photographs or other peopleâs stylized drawings, because of this you wont have an understanding of how human anatomy functions. Youâre reduced to finding references, but you wonât be able to look at a photo and envision it in 3-dimensional form to make it fit with the exact composition that you had in mind. So youâre reduced to either searching online for hours until you find a photo that fits or giving up entirely and changing your composition. Youâll also have problems creating new poses that look believable without references, and even more trouble if you decide to slightly change the angle of that pose. Things that should come to you naturally such as the position of the legs and arms will be extremely difficult to draw**.
You donât understand how perspective works in the real world and foreshortening is most likely lost on you.** You may have looked up tutorials but still struggle. This is because video tutorials (albeit moving ones) are still 2D images viewed on a flat monitor. The 3D to 2D translation has already been done for you so you learn a technique but you donât have the âvisual bankâ in your mind to actually apply it successfully.**
You donât understand how materials behaves in the real world. Why and how wrinkles in clothing or reflections in glass and metal are formed. This results in either excessive shading all in the wrong places or none at all.
You probably donât understand how light behaves in the real world or its relationship with color, so when you aply color and shade you over render or put in unnecessary detail to compensate."
**Life drawing will help if you experience these problems. Through life drawing, you pick up a lot of subtleties in gesture, weight and balance. So when you draw a character you instinctively know how to position the arms and legs because youâve observed and drawn the human figure many times and youâve picked up this visual information. **
Studying methods is good but it can only get you so far. Finding a method for life drawing that youâre comfortable with shouldnât take longer than a month. The only things you really need to study are composition, colour theory, camera angles/lenses, how to set-up and create storyboards etc.
Why do you think youâre some sort of authority on this subject? You canât draw either.
His/her post was quoted from someone else on the internet, as previously stated; all Sexperienced did was relay that specific information.
Seriously, are you really that bitter over a thread having rules which you donât like, that you would attack someone who is trying to help others better their craft in specific ways? Is it honestly that absurd to some of you that this thread was started with a particular goal in mind?
There are so many threads where whatever art you want can be posted, but only one where it has these specific rules. I am genuinely baffled as to why this is hurting some of you so deeply and personally.
Chad, why are you still posting in my thread? If you donât like it either start your own thread or post in one of the other art threads⊠Do you want links to these threads?
The trolls canât keep away from my threads. I have trolls telling me theyâre done with my threads but they try to sneak back in a few days a later, lol.
My rules were set almost a month ago (on the day I started this thread) but idiots join the discussions weeks later telling people to draw whatever they want. Is it so hard for these people to draw whatever they want in their own threads or in one of the many art threads out there. People are getting emotionally hurt over sketching, lol.
I spoke to a Marvel artist by the name of Sara Pichelli a few months ago. When I asked her what I should do to improve my artwork she said, âDraw from lifeâ⊠when I asked what specifically I should be drawing from life, she said, âDraw ANYTHING from lifeâ⊠when I asked if I needed to study any particular artistâs/techniques she said that itâs a âwaste of timeâ. I had 2 other Marvel artists tell me the exact same thing last month. Iâll tell you who they are later. When I talk about the importance of life drawing Iâm not implying that its the only thing you need to do. You can study but spend the majority of your time actually drawing, even if its not from life.
Sry for the long post. Itâll probably be my last one for a while so I wanted to include a wealth of information. Hopefully it will serve to motivate and get some of you started!
For those looking to become better artists
Below is an orientation by Jeff Watts for his school âWatts Atelierâ. Please watch the entire thing, I absolutely cannot recommend it enough!
I first heard about Jeff Watts in one of my university art classes. My professor overheard me talking about comics so she jotted the name down on a small slip of paper and told me he ran a small school up north. Several classes later I became unsatisfied by how the art curriculum seemed to favor self expression and experimentation over improving technical skill. I was left without any clear direction and hundreds of dollars worth of materials I bought for art class projectsâmost I ever only used once! So I sought Jeff out, attended his panels at conventions, and finally enrolled at Watts Atelier in 2007. I was stunned by how much more effective the instruction was! Students of various ages, skill, and experience (some already working illustrators and concept artists) learned side by side helping each other get better! I went back in 2012 and was completely floored by how much some of the old students improved! I remember how they struggled yrs ago but are now absolutely killing it! Itâs truly a testament to the atelier teaching style and expertise of the instructors! It kills me to know how much I couldâve improved had I stayed. Currently going through major changes but absolutely aim to continue my education there once I save up!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NIvZZ7x3dc
Frequently Asked Questions
Just my two cents regarding the potential questions plaguing every new artists mind. My answers are based purely on my personal experience and my education in art. I donât claim to be an authority on the subject⊠just another point of view to be considered.
How do I go about becoming a great representational artist?
Seek articulate instruction conducive to a firm understanding of fundamentals! Many of us need help in correcting some of the bad habits picked up from attempts at blindly emulating exaggerated simplified styles. Realize that within the realm of representational art there are indeed rules you must learn. Thereâs little you can refute with when learning fundamental concepts like edge and value. For example, hard edges are used to express a sharp abrupt change in angle while soft edges are for smooth forms which gradually bend away from light. A firm understanding is crucial in developing a strong foundation of knowledge and skill. By skipping the fundamentals you risk compromising characteristics like depth and dimension in your work.
How do I know if I have what it takes to be great?
Well, youâre gonna need a well trained eye and the hand of a surgeon⊠achievable with patience and determination of course! The eye needs to be trained to analyze visual information while the hand needs to be dexterous enough to accurately translate that information onto paper using precise strokes varying in length, thickness, curvature, pressure, etc. Itâs comparable to performing combos in a fighting game! Your eyes need to be trained to react off visual cues (i.e., certain atks connecting) while your hands need to be able to keep up and execute complex button sequences and motions. Both demand a certain caliber of hand eye coordination which can be cultivated with articulate instruction, diligent practice, and repetition.
Are animated cartoons, comics, manga style etc. great styles for me to learn from?
Every visual style is a derivation of the human figure from life⊠just different in the way one chooses to simplify and exaggerate it. Itâs okay to be inspired by these stylesâthey certainly can be appealingâbut they also give less visual information to study from. Understand that these styles have to be dumbed down and simplified. I canât imagine a traditional animator or comic book artist wanting to spend hrs upon hrs rendering every muscle on every figure on every frame/panel. Relying on a dumbed down style to teach you will yield a dumbed down understanding of the fundamentals. It is the reason you see most amateur artwork focus heavily on contour with little to no sense of underlying structure and minimal tone ultimately causing the image to look completely flat. Most successful artists and illustrators recommend first drawing from life. Once you have a firm understanding and are proficient in drawing you can bend and distort your style in any way you please and still be able to produce solid work!
What style should I be studying?
You should aim to draw accurately from life. Drawing from life is a practice proven tried and true by the old masters. Centuries ago exaggerated visual styles did not exist, techniques and styles were developed by studying and portraying subject matter referenced from reality. The knowledge was then passed down from teacher to student for generations. Art was approached in a scientific way. Fundamental concepts (i.e., edge, value, structure, anatomy, etc.) were meticulously studied leading to a solid foundation in knowledge and skill.
Whatâs with all the name dropping and technical jargon, am I suppose to know them?
Sure, look âem up! I mention artists to give an idea of the history and legacy behind certain styles and methods. The âReilly methodâ (which I talked about in a previous post and encourage you to learn) has been passed down for almost an entire century. From Reilly to Fixler to artists like Orbik and Watts who still teach today, itâs all very fascinating stuff! Every time you come across jargon or an artist you donât know, look âem up. It will help you better understand whatâs being talked about and may even lead to inspiration!
Iâve got a mechanical pencil, pens for inking, copic markers, oil paints, and a Fredrix 24âx30â titanium primed canvas! Am I ready to get started?
You donât need any of those materials when drawing from life! Heck, some of âem will even limit your capabilities! You can only make thin sharp strokes with a mechanical pencil and your values are reduced to either black or white with a pen! Color is completely unnecessary for the moment! If your drawing sucks no amount of color can save it and if you cannot draw you are going to suck at painting, I guarantee it! Drawing is the backbone of art leading to other disciplines like painting and sculpting. If you are skilled in drawing you will already posses the dexterity to make painterly strokes and you will already posses a decent knowledge of anatomy for sculpting. So focus on drawing first! Youâll need little more than good olâ pencil and paper.
Materials List:
Below is a video of Ron Lemen (was formerly involved at Watts Atelier) demonstrating the correct way to sharpen and hold your pencil when drawing. Sharpening this way will yield a long smooth tip which tapers to a sharp point on the end used to make calligraphic strokes varying in thickness and weight and will allow you to cover large areas with tone quickly and evenly. At the end you can see the proper way to hold your pencil and how to manipulate it to get a variety of strokes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBINkOYYw8k
Okay, Iâve got the materials! Now what?
Start drawing from life! You can draw anything you want but I strongly recommend focusing on the human figure. Itâs certainly more challenging than clouds and flowers but youâll get more mileage from studying the movement and flow of various poses and the complex shapes of the muscles. Plus thereâs a shit ton more resources which tackle the figure! Teaching you everything from simplifying the body into shapes and rhythms to filling in complex anatomy!
You can start off by doing simple gestures. Iâve already talked about the âReilly Methodâ of drawing in a previous post. I quoted it below. Read it and look at the resources I listed to get an idea of the Reilly Abstraction and the process of drawing the Human figure from start to finish (Erikâs Figure Drawing Fundamentals PDF). I also quoted Sexperienced for the Croquis CafĂ© which is an excellent source for pose reference if you canât get into a life drawing class!
Reposting to remind everyone that Croquis CafĂ© is awesome, itâs basically uninstructed life drawing class! You can use it to practice figure drawing! Try finding the abstractions in various poses!
Any other helpful resources?
Yeah, go back through the pages of this thread to find books and helpful links! Other than thatâŠ
Great channels to check out:
Iâll post links to all the book weâve uploaded so far on the first page. Iâll also add Wyzâs post to the first page.
I need ideas for something to draw. I want to copy something in biro or in B8 grade pencils.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ln057QYRtmQ&list=LLgugG7N__81wDulC-Ha0XTg&index=4
Some interesting advice.
Just some hand study references.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNkCxLdAocE&list=UUKtu_JtQCY0yryIy6zK4ZCg
Man this is some good material. Foreshortening the hand has always been one of the biggest problems for me. Then again, foreshortening in general is uggggh.
1st edition of Design and Invention by MICHAEL HAMPTON https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CCcQFjAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fd1e0u2actw4eb3.cloudfront.net%2Fedu%2Fsrc%2FMichael%20Hampton-%20Figure%20Drawing%20-%20Design%20and%20Invention.pdf&ei=X6UTVPamFcTD7Aad8IGoBA&usg=AFQjCNFXdW0oOLy7TQAPvmaOARB1Eo3x7Q
The version you really need is the 2nd edition but I cant find it anywhere on the net.
Lol I just did a small hand drawing assignment just recently. Iâll see if I can post it tomorrow.
I got recently got into drawing. Wish me luck!
EDIT: Actually, since I just started, I donât know what step 1 is so Iâm just trying to draw a bunch of random things.
I wanna go for a Retro-Style look, and Iâm willing to learn up on anything to help improve myself. Any good/basic How To Draw books to look up? Or tuts possibly?
Leonardo DaVinci drew dick doodles
http://dangerousminds.net/comments/an_x-rated_doodle_from_the_notebooks_of_leonardo_da_vinci :lol:
Yeh that was pretty gay. DaVinci did 3somes, not sure what that triangle thing is meant to be
Reading up on a book called âDrawing on the Right Side of the Brainâ
Yo, the book is legit!