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June 13, 2012
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Help with skills...

Forums > Art Related > General
:iconmegasean3000:
*megasean3000 Jun 13, 2012  Student Digital Artist
Have you ever had the feeling where you come up with the most brilliant idea to a drawing, but you lack the skills needed to execute that idea? That's kinda what I feel just now. My head is swimming with good ideas, but my skills don't do them justice. On many occasions, I had to scrap awesome ideas because of this. Now it's the case that I don't draw anything, unless it's worth the risk...which generally means they're crappy ideas.

I want to get better. Not just better than what I normally produce, but I wanna shoot so high, that you'd never believe it was me who did it. But the big problem is, I don't know how to pull off such a deed; I don't know how to start. I read countless tutorials, vids, books, DVDs and step-by-steps, but they all have their own flavor, where I want to add my own. I guess the proper word for it is:

I'm in one HELL of an artistic block.

Kind words of support are really appreciated, but I would prefer stories of how you awesome artists rose to the level you're on now; give me an insight to how awesome guys can go through human trials.
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Devious Comments

:iconluminers:
~Luminers Jul 31, 2012  Student
Not acting on a good idea because you're afraid you'll fuck it up is the best way to never get anywhere.

It's really easy to fool yourself into thinking you're doing something when you spend all your time looking at tutorials or resources, but if you don't put them into practice then it's worthless. It's like people who read self-help books, but don't apply the principles they learn. I'm not saying learning things isn't a good way to spend your time, but if you stop there then what's the point? I'm guilty of doing this, and so are a lot of beginners of any craft. You've got fantastic ideas, but at some point you need to step back and realize that you need to actually take that first step. Everyone starts somewhere and that start is invariably terrible, I promise. You're not alone.

You've just got to bite the bullet and do it. Do everything to the best of your ability, even if you think it's awful, and keep working hard until it gets better. Sketch one of your characters every day; finish one piece every week at least. Write a new scene while you're eating lunch. Make time if that's a problem. If you're practicing in earnest, you will improve every single time you make something. It's impossible to go backwards.

I wouldn't call myself accomplished by any means, but I did get a good kick in the ass from Deviant Academy when it was in its heyday and that attitude has helped me immeasurably. The quote on the front page sums up my advice to you, basically (better than this post, really). The summer it went live, I spent every single day painting. It was all horrible, and I'd be mortified to share any of it today, but if I hadn't made those hideous things I wouldn't be at the level I'm at now. And I'm sure I'll hate what I've got now in a month or so. If that's happening it's a good sign, it means you're getting better.

It's a slow, unpleasant process. If it was easy everyone would do it. Just keep moving, if you want it bad enough you can get there. But you won't if you don't fight through this stage.
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:iconmegasean3000:
*megasean3000 Aug 1, 2012  Student Digital Artist
Wow o.o That speech has got me fired up :)

So as a whole, just draw, draw, draw and when your hand starts falling off, draw some more?
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:iconluminers:
~Luminers Aug 1, 2012  Student
Yup yup. That's the only way you can ever hope to catch up to your big expectations.
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:iconmegasean3000:
*megasean3000 Aug 1, 2012  Student Digital Artist
I'll do my best! :) Should I do stylized or do realistic till I get good? :)
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:iconluminers:
~Luminers Aug 1, 2012  Student
I won't say stop doing stylized art completely, but a firm understanding of how realism works, especially anatomy, is extremely valuable to making good stylized work and you should practice it often. You have to learn how a real body works before you can stretch it into a convincing cartoon.

It seems like the slower path, and I know it's boring as hell painting still-life stuff when you just want to make cartoons, but in the longrun it accelerates your learning process so you can get to the fun stuff faster. Copying someone else's cartoon face would limit you to that one face, but learning how real faces work would allow you to create your own at any time. It's like the difference between being given a kit with pre-cut pieces to build a model, or being handed a bunch of clay to make your own exactly as you please. Does that make sense?
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:iconmegasean3000:
*megasean3000 Aug 3, 2012  Student Digital Artist
I guess that's true :) Thanks for all the tips :hug:
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:iconcatzilladk:
~CatzillaDK Jul 31, 2012
I quickly skipped through you gallery, and I think I've got some tips for ya. (I'm not the best artist myself but this has worked out for me)

Start out with the boring shit. Draw circles. Not one or two. Fucking billions. Make ten circles that look exactly alike. Then make 10 new ones.
When you've done that, then connect some of them. See how the overlapping lines can make the circles appear like they are connected in a certain way:

It's a great way to lean overlap, and dynamic thingie-thing-thing (wonderful word) as well as a good practice in "controlling your pen".
This one was done using that technique:


Then you could learn anatomy on the most frustrating way ever: Croquis.
30 sek. drawing of a FULLBODY nude pose.
Fucking horrible but it still makes your drawings more dynamic and the poses feel more genuine done that fast, 'cus you don't have time to think about anatomy.
It's all about the dynamic, the weight down the body, and composition. Then the anatomy will slowly start to be more incorporated in your drawings.
Example of croquis:


Bonus tip: Draw miles. Everybody has thousands of ugly drawings inside them. It's all about drawing all of the ugly ones as fast as you can so that you can get started with the real art ;D
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:iconmegasean3000:
*megasean3000 Jul 31, 2012  Student Digital Artist
Wow! That's a lot of writing, I'll be sure to follow your advice closely, and thank you very much :D

The overlapping technique looks interesting. I was trying to draw a woman sitting facing the viewer today, and it didn't work, but I'll be sure to try again with this technique.

I'm not sure I have Croquis pinpointed yet, is that where you quickly draw a pose in 30 secs - 1 min? I tried it once, but it turned out so-so xD If I keep doing it, it'll eventually get better, yeah?

Heh! You're telling me! If I could draw all of my great ideas in great detail, I'd be pretty popular ^^; Alas, I can only dream for that day to come ^^;
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:iconcatzilladk:
~CatzillaDK Jul 31, 2012
You're very welcome! :love:
I'm just so glad I could help! :D

Yes you a right about the croquis! :D
Every sketch you draw count as an inch in that mile tip, so you better get started! ;D

Draw them anyway and then revisit them!

Look! Even shit like that can become somewhat decent! xD
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:iconmegasean3000:
*megasean3000 Jul 31, 2012  Student Digital Artist
:glomp: No prob :D

I see! I forgot the term I use, but I get it anyway xD

I'll start off using overlapping circles, that seems like a worthy challenge :D

AWESOME!!! :D :D :D
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