Terrible at Art

[i don't know]

I'm still fairly young, and I was hoping to learn how to draw before I get 20 and have to find a job which will take up all my free time (parents will kick me out since brother took advantage of house until 28). So either way, I was hoping someone here could teach me a few basic drawing techniques for free. I don't have a job yet since I don't have my working papers yet. I'll be able to have a job during the summer hopefully which is when most people will be looking for a young worker who works for real cheap. As of now I have no money. So is there anyone here who would be willing to teach me a few techniques over Skype maybe?

PS: Yes I know that this skill is one of those you have to be born with (the creative part at least) and I don't have it. I'm just looking for someone who will help me get a basic understanding of how to draw, and maybe after that a few more advanced techniques. I'm online almost every hour of everyday so time is not that big of an issue.

 

[Lucem712]

Don't let those discourage you with 'it's just a natural talent'.

I can assure you that drawing is a very hard skill, regardless of natural inclination or not. Natural inclination makes it easier but the most important part is being patient.

I have fairly decent art skills, no master or anything, but I'd be willing to show you around the ropes. (Around 10 years of being self-taught)

Spoiler: proof of talent

Spoiler: proof of talent #2

 

[aba1]

Honestly the thing about art is there really isn't all that many techniques. A lot of the skill comes from practice and observation. When drawing something try to break it down into simple shapes till you get the basic outlines and start filling out the details from there.

The two main things I can recommend to you is: Observation and Practise.

Also art doesn't necessarily mean you have to be creative I would say around 50% of artists just replicate other peoples work or pictures and almost never come up with there own original concepts themselves.

You can check out my stills (pictures) if you like.
http://www.aba1design.com

 

[Scarim Coral]

Well I heard that one of the ways to get better at drawing art is trace the objects/ characters etc and keep doing it. You pretty much have to do this as a repetition as it will home in your skill. Well that what I've heard so I not 100% sure if it's true or now (well it probably work for some).

 

[i don't know]

Well I heard that one of the ways to get better at drawing art is trace the objects/ characters etc and keep doing it. You pretty much have to do this as a repetition as it will home in your skill. Well that what I've heard so I not 100% sure if it's true or now (well it probably work for some).

That doesn't exactly work when you're trying to draw something that doesn't exist yet anywhere except your mind, but I appreciate your help either way.
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Lucem, do you know how to make the most out of drawing by using photoshop as well to create super detailed backgrounds? If you dont, that's ok. I'll PM you my Skype.
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Aba1, I see that you are good at painting, but I'm looking for more pencil like drawings because they seem much easier than painting. Your art is impressive as well.

 

[Lucem712]

Lucem, do you know how to make the most out of drawing by using photoshop as well to create super detailed backgrounds? If you dont, that's ok. I'll PM you my Skype.
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My particular talent is hand-drawn/reference art. Though, I do dabble in a bit of digital/tablet art. (Though, I don't use photoshop or any photo-manipulation software)

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

I found it's best to start by learning proportions and concepts. I was able to start by taking several images and tracing them, then by drawing them with the reference image in sight, then doing it all from memory and learning proportions. But this can have issues depending on your 'art style', such as eye size or arm lengths, since no two artists use the exact same style, and yours will doubtfully match the picture you are using.

I (mostly) draw people and organics. I found this video was magnificent in teaching me the outlines. But remember, different people have more luck with different ways of drawing, and there is no way to found out which suits you best besides practicing and experimenting. Yes, your first drawings will suck doosh, but keep working at it.

General rule I use: Man/machine made objects (buildings, machines) are all very symmetrical sharp corners, organic objects (people, animals, plants) are usually smoothed and flawed symmetrical.

And here's something I drew a while back.

 

[HardkorSB]

I'm still fairly young, and I was hoping to learn how to draw before I get 20 and have to find a job which will take up all my free time (parents will kick me out since brother took advantage of house until 28). So either way, I was hoping someone here could teach me a few basic drawing techniques for free. I don't have a job yet since I don't have my working papers yet. I'll be able to have a job during the summer hopefully which is when most people will be looking for a young worker who works for real cheap. As of now I have no money. So is there anyone here who would be willing to teach me a few techniques over Skype maybe?

I'm going to give you the most important advice ever:
The more you do it, the better you become at it.
Repetition is the key to mastering something. You do something once - it's hard. You do it a 1000 times - it's easy.

Yes I know that this skill is one of those you have to be born with

Bull shit.

 

[Chemical Alia]

I don't know how old you are right now, but age doesn't really matter when it comes to art. Time, however, does. You can't expect to learn the fundamentals of drawing, much less master them, without doing a LOT of drawing.

PS: Yes I know that this skill is one of those you have to be born with (the creative part at least) and I don't have it. I'm just looking for someone who will help me get a basic understanding of how to draw, and maybe after that a few more advanced techniques. I'm online almost every hour of everyday so time is not that big of an issue.

I don't really believe in natural talent, or believe that it's all that important. I believe that what people often mistake for talent is actually the desire to do something all the time. Natural curiosity and the willingness to learn and spend all of one's time on something is what leads to skill. Now, you can't just spend a lot of time drawing and expect to get better. You have to constantly be looking at what needs practice, and tackle the difficult things until you understand them. Self-critique is a very powerful tool for improvement. I drew my whole life, and it wasn't until I was 21 or 22 (before I went to college for fine art) that I really took drawing very seriously and started to make big improvements. If you are having trouble drawing hands, don't avoid them. Draw 300 of them in one day. But don't just draw them and make the same mistakes, focus on what you're doing wrong and try to correct it. Then you'll be a hand master!

As for actual technique, it depends on what you want to do. Luckily, the internet can help you with the theory behind everything, and drawing from observation is free. If you want to draw figures, there are plenty of sites that will break down human body proportions, facial structure and anatomy, poses and gesture, etc. There are tutorials for one, two, three point perspective and beyond out there. When you're ready, there are tutorials for value, contrast and color theory. These are all important concepts, but if you take things slowly and make a real concentrated effort to understand what it is you are drawing when you practice, they will slowly come to you and become more natural. Once you understand the basics, it becomes less a matter of the medium and more about how you want to express yourself.

And don't give up! If drawing was easy, everybody would be doing it c:

Here's some examples of my 2d art in a few different styles. I'm a professional artist now (3d modeling actually, lol), but there's still a lot I want to get better at and learn.

Spoiler

Spoiler

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And here's something I drew in 2003 at 21, lol.

Spoiler

Good luck!

 

[i don't know]

Thanks guys. I'm going to bookmark this thread so I could watch the videos you've sent me. But, is there anyone here who would be willing to teach me this over skype? I have eastern time, with day light savings on. Lucen seems to have time zone difficulties or something, and I haven't heard back from him about this yet. So is there anyone else here who does pencil drawings, and is willing to teach me this over skype (for free)?

 

[DugMachine]

Some people just have the talent, most are trained to do it though. Lots and lots of training. Then you have people like me who took thousands of art classes as a kid/teen and still can't grasp art and putting my thoughts onto paper in the form of a picture. But I really am just unartistic and i'm okay with that.

For you? Keep at it

 

[neonsword13-ops]

Just practice, bro.

I was never very good at art growing up, but then I decided to dabble at about age 6 and 7 and got pretty good. But then I stopped for a long time for a reason I can't recall.

I'm still not as good as a girl I know at school, though. She does some crazy stuff for her age. She has a pretty neat style of art.

Spoiler

Here's some of my art. warning: I'm not amazing.

Spoiler

Hand drawn (I'd say last year when I had another drawing phase) Sorry for the low quality, taken with my phone.

Microsoft paint I did a couple weeks ago. All mouse, I'm still kind of confused how I did so well considering my low standards. ._.

My late inspiration for my art came from this guy, he does a lot of Team fortress 2 commentary. He has some pretty neat pieces.

I hope I provided some good information and I hope you succeed in your long run. When you do start your art career, do you think you could upload some of your pieces? I'm interested in seeing what you do. :3

 

[triggrhappy94]

I've never actually taken an art class, but I'm still the illustationist for my school news paper--I got the position because I'm the only person who could remotely draw--but now my drawings are published in the paper and it keeps my grade up.

My suggestion is to practice all the time. Try drawing things you see. Look at other drawings and art to see how other people portray things. Take your time, and don't go into a drawing expecting it to be the Mona Lisa.

 

[Esotera]

Try your hand out at image manipulation on the computer...personally I find this way easier than drawing something, and more fun. A lot of artists sketch something out roughly, scan it, then edit it digitally these days. The GIMP (bad name, but brilliant program) is free software that has loads of tutorials on youtube etc.

 

[Dethenger]

Spoiler: This is not the best proof of talent I have, but I don't have a scanner, so this is something I drew a while ago using a shitty tablet and Microsoft paint.

One major thing: Basic. Shapes. I used to draw without them because fuck that. Do not do that. Seriously, it's a pain in the ass. Learning to draw will come naturally the more you do it, even if you're just redrawing what others have already drawn, because you'll get an understanding of what techniques are used.
As far as style is concerned, if you're just starting and don't really have a style to call your own, take inspiration liberally. Anything and everything can influence you and dramatically change how you draw.
Let [http://plaza.fi/s/f/editor/images/legendofzelda_skywardsword_arv_01.jpg] me [http://img359.imageshack.us/img359/488/linke.jpg] show [http://img1.mlstatic.com/s_MLB_v_V_f_187780132_4961.jpg] you [http://www.puissance-zelda.com/jeux/img/mm/presentation.jpg] something [http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l815xuEJ5B1qd9fimo1_400.jpg] cool. [http://gallery.zeldalegends.net/categories/Oracle_Series/Official_Art/Oracle_Series/Link/media/normal_link3.jpg]
Those are all Link, clearly. And yet they're all vastly different. Different styles and different techniques were used to create different aesthetics, making different Links. If you want to learn how to draw, or experiment with your style, draw Link. You can't go wrong, you can really draw him however you want, and you have a whole roster of him to compare it to, to see what exactly happens when you change this or that. I found it to be a really good way to understand what effect colouring, shading, even bordering, et cetera has on a piece.

Captcha wanted me to type "LITTLE CAESARS." I typed in "LITTLE BRUTUS." Didn't accept it. :'(

 

[Charli]

Sticking your pencil to the paper is the hardest part. Can't think of anything to draw? Draw the shit next to you. If something hits you mid way, go draw that instead, just don't take discouragement from yourself or anyone, keep doing it, every day, as much as possible. Repeatition will garner results.

Do not allow yourself to look at someone else and say 'well shit they're better than me at aged I'll never be any good.' No. Stop that, you get off your ass and draw more.

Discouragement is your enemy. Overcoming fear is the journey, and Drawing is the swing of your blade. Fight on!

 

[Erana]

Thanks guys. I'm going to bookmark this thread so I could watch the videos you've sent me. But, is there anyone here who would be willing to teach me this over skype? I have eastern time, with day light savings on. Lucen seems to have time zone difficulties or something, and I haven't heard back from him about this yet. So is there anyone else here who does pencil drawings, and is willing to teach me this over skype (for free)?

Well.... What are you really expecting from a drawing tutor? If you're expecting someone to say "Draw this like this, with this pencil," or something like that, that doesn't really happen much any more other than in the most traditional of educational settings. And then, the only reasons to do that are to either handle a large class or focus on classical training.

What you need to figure out first is:
1. What do you want to draw?
2. Do you really want to draw? You can get a set of sumi brushes and basic watercolors, ink and decent paper for under $30 or so, Monoprice [http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=108&cp_id=10841] has some decent and dirt cheap tablets (and there's lots of good cheap and free software out there) and the likes.
3. Why do you want to learn to draw?

While I will disagree with a lot of people on this thread and say that I do feel like natural talent is a very real thing, I have to point out that this is art. Innate aptitude only changes your perspective on art, and different perspectives are what make peoples' art unique. Honestly, "lack of natural talent" just feels kind of like an excuse. If you want to make art, then by God, go do it, and damn anyone who dislikes your work.

Also, having a project will help you practice and get more confident with your work, especially if it involves others. Start a modest webcomic if you have an idea, or play with art memes if you're fond of a fandom, or start an MSPAFA [http://mspaforums.com/forumdisplay.php?85-Forum-Adventures]-sort of thing. Just whatever would motivate you to practice if you feel like you need a bit of a push.

 

[SD-Fiend]

this is very useful information, but what about things that don't exist like an original character?

 

[Quaidis]

[I'm snipping this part because it just makes me sound like an old bastard with a grudge]

Draw. Draw whatever you want. If you don't like it, erase and redraw a part or all of it. Use whatever tools you want. Use references when needed. Practice body shapes and smooth lines. Now do it over and over again until you come up with your own style and path you want to take. Whatever you do, don't get stagnant on what you draw; always attempt something new or something you always end up drawing differently.

Then, after that, go to your library or local book store and stock up on materials to teach you stuff you may not know. You can also go to conventions and show your art to (more or less) professional artists to get tips from them, however don't go around demanding help as that'll just rub people the wrong way.



There, that's where you start.

 

[MrHide-Patten]

Here is a healthy piece of advice from somebody who can draw (I'll let you personally judge > http://mrhide-patten.deviantart.com/ ). Unless you are exceptional, do not try to do it as a job. Hobby? okay fine. If you want to be say a paid concept artist, you are fishing in a very shallow pool... and the fish are dead.

Learn math, become an accountant. Your roof will be much sturdier than mine.

If you want to learn study life first (life drawing, etc), because the better you can create realistic deatils the better your fantasy/original ideas will be. Frankly there is not such thing as too many references (Ive got a grand total of over 27,244 images on my hard drive).