Art/cartoon drawings help

[Redratson]

Hi there, interesting story I was watching "Das Boot" a couple days back and I really liked the symbol on the tower of the U-boat. I would like to make one of my own. Problem is I am not so good at art and I dont really know any good sites to start at. If you could help me that, that would be cool. What I mean by my post is the artwork you would see on military equipment (like nose art.)
EX: http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/Gal6/5601-5700/gal5678_U-boat_Schlosser/02.jpg

 

[Redratson]

*edit* sorry forgot there was edit button, noob move */edit*

 

[StBishop]

Are you asking me what my favourite cartoon nose is?

I don't think I quite understand.

If you're looking for advice on how to learn to draw I'm sorry, I can't help, I'm no good at it. Mostly because my shading is horrific and blocky, and I have no patience.

 

[Lilani]

Hi there, interesting story I was watching "Das Boot" a couple days back and I really liked the symbol on the tower of the U-boat
http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/Gal6/5601-5700/gal5678_U-boat_Schlosser/02.jpg
I would like to make one of my own. Problem is I am not so good at art and I dont really know any good sites to start at. If you could help me that, that would be cool. Also whats your favorite nose/cartoonish art?

What is nose art? I have never in my life heard that term. And I'm an art student.

As for art web sites...my advice is to just use Google and Youtube, and find a few books. Search for "cartoon tutorial" or whatever and see what you can dig up. Or go to a bookstore and get a book on how to draw cartoons. It's not that hard. There's a million of them around and they don't cost much.

 

[Redratson]

Whaqt Im askin for is help to create a cartoon art that usually see on the sides of planes or vehicles that are used by military (for planes it was considered nose art, being a cartoon or artwork on the nose or fuselage of the palne)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nose_art

^ this, but it wasnt just for planes they had them on the side of vehicles, and as demonstrated by my earlier pic, on U-boats.

 

[Scarim Coral]

Maybe you could start at tracing that image from the side until you gradually draw it from your own thought (repetition)? However I not exactly an art expert (I used to do art but not anymore)

 

[intheweeds]

You should just look at a lot of pictures you like to get a feel for the style. Then just draw any ideas you have. If the result doesn't quite match the picture in your head, adjust the spots that don't. Drawing is all about practice. You will get better, but you have to keep doing it.

 

[aba1]

Whaqt Im askin for is help to create a cartoon art that usually see on the sides of planes or vehicles that are used by military (for planes it was considered nose art, being a cartoon or artwork on the nose or fuselage of the palne)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nose_art

^ this, but it wasnt just for planes they had them on the side of vehicles, and as demonstrated by my earlier pic, on U-boats.

Look for spray painting tutorials I think that would be the type of tools they would use to deocrate a plane. Alot of the tecnique in that comes from knowing how to layer your colours.

 

[Erana]

On a model boat or a real vehicle?

If you're looking for just a cartoony image, then I suggest drawing a rough draft, scanning it in, then using a vector art program to trace and color it.
Inkscape's a free one, and here's what to expect:

 

[AdamRBi]

Take it from an artist, it's not as easy as it looks even for an image like that.

The best advice I can give is to start off by drawing shapes, then adding and subtracting from that shape until it looks right. Then trace your work with paint, ink, or with a digital art program. I guarantee if you're not already some kind of artist your first thousand pieces won't come out right, it takes time and practice.

The best tools for plane decals would be digital vector, so it's scalable without loosing quality.

Hope that answers your question.

 

[Kpt._Rob]

Hate to break it to you, but there is no one way to do this. That said, I think it's the kind of project that a lot of people, especially other artists like myself, tend to overcomplicate. Art in this style tends to use very simple shapes, so the best suggestion I could give is this. Think of something that you'd like to use as a symbol for yourself, and then study how you could break it down into simple shapes. Once you've done that just play around with them, you'll probably find something that you like the look of as you play around, you'll build on it, and before you know it you'll have a symbol you like.

Trust me when I say this, one of the hardest things about art is jumping in. Once you actually get to work, you'll find it gets a lot easier.