In the beginning - Advices

[Tasp]

Hey XDreamer, I'm pretty much a newb at digital art 2-d myself but I've been sketching freehand for a while now.

Getting critical/unmotivated is a big creative block that you basically have to force yourself through. Drawing is like anything else and requires practice and lots of it in order to get good at it. I personally learn best by doing so I'd suggest you find a subject matter you enjoy and just start drawing whether it's free-hand or on the computer (I live in NYC and the statues/fountains located all around the city where how I started).

If you are truly a beginner at drawing I can't stress enough how important it is to try and draw from life/real images even if they are just photos. I personally prefer to draw from my imagination but my lack of familiarity with simple things such as light and anatomy create serious frustration and cause me to want to scrap entire projects. This in turn leads me to go back and look at images from the real world and practice drawing them to gain a greater familiarity with these basic building blocks of good art. Getting good at drawing images from life will teach you how to draw images from your own imagination, and once you get to that point the possibilities are endless.

Lastly-
Try not to be critical of your work at all and just draw what you see. It will take patience and lots of erasing but eventually you will start to develop the skill to become a great artist.

Hope that helps!

[Xdreamer79]

Thanks a lot tasp for your posting. I am amazed that no more members are replying :/ I think I need to work on my self-discipline to get a better start. What do you think are 10 minutes of daily drawing a good start? So you guess I should just start painting objects I enjoy? Well mostly cats but that is already to difficult to start with I think...

[Tasp]

Depending on your time situation I'd recommend more than just 10 minutes, say around an hour or so if you can spare it each day possibly more (I try to get in 90-120 mins each day usually spread out into 30minute chunks). Don't focus that entire time on one thing though, if you are just starting out pouring all your effort into one detailed piece will make it easy for you to become frustrated and want to continually start over. Instead try to do a few sketches in that time and just get the basics of form down without going into much detail. Another important part of learning to draw is learning how to break things down into shapes, you sort have to train your eyes to do this and a good way to get started is to just sketch without getting too involved in the details. Basic form first, then detailing, then coloring (at least this is what works for me).

Pick up some anatomy books or some books on drawing the human form, they will show you how to do basic blocking of characters. I'll try to dig up some useful links for you when I get back from work also check out any/all of the tutorial postings on this site, they are all extremely helpful!

[Xdreamer79]

Oh I can't afford that much time everyday. I think I stick to 15 -20 minutes daily - every day or I get frustrated again. Mainly just brushing the dots tutorial for some better hand with my wacom :)

I got that much blocked from my brain. Not sure to use painter instead of photoshop. But since I used painter I felt the better handling with brushes than photoshop - They are so smooth :)



So everybody who got some more hints/tips on the beginning I am thankful.

[Rebeccak]

Oh I can't afford that much time everyday. I think I stick to 15 -20 minutes daily - every day or I get frustrated again. Mainly just brushing the dots tutorial for some better hand with my wacom :)

I got that much blocked from my brain. Not sure to use painter instead of photoshop. But since I used painter I felt the better handling with brushes than photoshop - They are so smooth :)



So everybody who got some more hints/tips on the beginning I am thankful.
Xdreamer79,

You might want to try this thread:

I5 Minute Sketchathon - Thread 2: Sketches (http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?t=295498)
http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?t=295498

I5 Minute Sketchathon - Thread 1: Reference (http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?t=298699)
http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?t=298699

The way it works is that you use Reference from the Reference thread, and post your timed 15 minute sketches to the Sketches thread.

Cheers,

-Rebeccak

[Xdreamer79]

Thanks a lot Rebeccak. So this exercises are for beginners as people who are still really new to painting? See I am stumbled again with which of those I should start *gg*. I don't have any basic drawing knowledge so I have to start from scratch - and that is the thing always in my mind and blocks me from drawing.

I will take part today in this, again many thanks.

[Rebeccak]

Thanks a lot Rebeccak. So this exercises are for beginners as people who are still really new to painting? See I am stumbled again with which of those I should start *gg*. I don't have any basic drawing knowledge so I have to start from scratch - and that is the thing always in my mind and blocks me from drawing.

I will take part today in this, again many thanks.
No problem. :) There are many resources for beginners:

FREE digital painting video tutorial - (1700 style nudity) (http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?t=381097&highlight=architectus)
http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?t=381097&highlight=architectus

Digital Painting: Tips and Techniques for Beginners With David René, Matellis, LotekK (http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?t=369421)
http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?t=369421

Beginners' Lounge (http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?t=297229)
http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?t=297229

BEGINNERS' Drawing Workshop - Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain (http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?t=269026)
http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?t=269026

I recommend viewing the video tutorial and taking a look at the tips and techniques threads first.

Once you feel comfortable with a tablet, you might want to try this exercise:

TUTORIAL SUMMARY - Anatomy Review 003 Shading Tutorial - Tutorial Material Only (http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?t=351832)
http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?t=351832

Cheers, :)

-Rebeccak

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