How do you get back into drawing... if you're not very good at it?

[Alice]

So, awhile ago when I was having trouble writing, I took up art. But I'm not terribly good at it. I got O.K., like my humans looked human, but I didn't draw well enough or fast enough to draw manga.

My problem is that I write much better than I draw, so when I want to tell a story, that's the way I tell it.

Anyway, my question is, how do I get back into drawing? I'm thinking it would be neat to start art again. Not seriously, not for hours a day (like I sometimes do with writing), but just for fun. It would be nice to be able to draw characters. It would be fun to be able to design characters for my stories!!

Anyone have any suggestions for me? Should I study books so I can draw people better? Should I just practice, and find a way to relax and stop thinking "that looks stooopid!"? Or something else??

Thanx!

[Joshua Christopher]

So, awhile ago when I was having trouble writing, I took up art. But I'm not terribly good at it. I got O.K., like my humans looked human, but I didn't draw well enough or fast enough to draw manga.

My problem is that I write much better than I draw, so when I want to tell a story, that's the way I tell it.

Anyway, my question is, how do I get back into drawing? I'm thinking it would be neat to start art again. Not seriously, not for hours a day (like I sometimes do with writing), but just for fun. It would be nice to be able to draw characters. It would be fun to be able to design characters for my stories!!

Anyone have any suggestions for me? Should I study books so I can draw people better? Should I just practice, and find a way to relax and stop thinking "that looks stooopid!"? Or something else??

Thanx!

Hm, art classes, art books, etc.. none of those ever helped me.

I've been drawing since I could hold a pencil. Really, just do it a lot. Draw all of the time, on napkins, on paper, on your clothes...

Another thing to do is look through different manga and comic books or whatever and observe the art. Just think about it, do it, even trace if it helps.

Go for it!

[PolarHeat]

i would like to read some of your stories, if that's alright, so i can see what type of charactors you have and give you hints on how to design them. . . . . .

[Alice]

On my clothes... eh... probably a bad idea for me. These have to last.

Thanks for answering!!!

As for what kind of characters I write, hm. I don't want to post a story I really like, because then I won't be able to try to get it published... and why would I post a story I hated, and show everyone my failures? So here's a guess at what characters I like to invent...

Generally males, because I find women boring. (Yes, I understand them better, but so what? I'd rather figure out men, or try.) To give you a clue, the one story I'm writing where a girl is the main character, she is kind of messed up. At the beginning of the story, she has to dress like a boy and hide on the desert so she isn't killed by the lawr.

It's hard to generalize about my male characters, except they're usually youngish. (And yes, good looking, generally.) I write more dark haired than light haired characters. (I don't really know anyone with light hair.) The oldest guy I'm writing about right now is 44. That sounds old to me, what can I say?

Anyway, the other thing is that they're usually nice guys. The 44-year-old is a swordsman who wants to be an ex-swordsman. Don't know if I can explain him any better than that....

I also occasionally write about children. I wrote a children's mystery/science fiction/adventure story where the main character looked slightly older than his age (12). There was also a girl in it, (11), who I can best describe as really pretty, part Chinese with sort of purple eyes.

Um... don't know if that helps, but I'm pretty sure that right now I couldn't draw any of them.

[Mave]

Should I just practice, and find a way to relax and stop thinking "that looks stooopid!"? Or something else??

I think you ought to do just keep practising and don't think too much. XD Works for me.

[Puguni]

Don't force yourself to draw, it doesn't work out that much. Usually I just draw whenever. Let go!

[EireWolf]

I took life drawing classes at the local community college. I don't draw manga, but it might help you anyway, to get a general understanding of the human form. Also, imitation is always a good start. I don't consider it cheating to copy, if you're only doing it to improve and not claiming it as original art.

[Alice]

For a while I copied my fave characters... could draw them really well, too... but couldn't draw my own very well. Now I'm not sure if I could even draw known chars...

On a side note, is there any drawing paper that isn't really really expensive, that doesn't snap off when you bend the pages back?

I always want to buy sketch pads, but I know I don't use them enough to warrant it. (I still have a lot of partial sketch pads at home, but they're falling apart from being bent back -- icky!)

The way I draw, (when I draw), is usually sitting up somewhere in an awkward position and pressing a tablet against my knees, folding each page back when I'm done with it. But when they start to fall off... well, it's either get a folder and stuff them in there like they're junk, or just ignore it and let them fall out when I get out the sketch pad.

Solution? (Probably expensive, right? But it would be nice to have any art that actually turns out together... in one book... where I can look back and say, "Hey, I actually did draw something... and look, this later one is better. Maybe I'm improving?")

[Kaori]

Why exactly is it that the pages of your tablets are falling out? Are they perforated pages that are breaking off at the perforations?

If you look at an art supply store, you might be able to find a decent sketchbook for $15 to $20. I have a hardback, thread-bound 8.5 X 11 sketchbook that has good quality, thick paper, and I believe it was in that price range. The brand is Pro Art. The only problem I have with it is that because of the way it is bound, it does not tend to stay open and has to be held.

As for your original question, the best I can do is to repeat what others have already said--just draw, and try not to be so critical of yourself that it prevents you from working.

[Kaligraphic]

I took a drawing class at my local community college, and discovered I wasn't too bad at it. I also learned a lot of techniques that I can use to improve my work.

What I do is I buy 100-sheet sketch pads with rings, not binding. I don't have to bend the pages at all. (I number them, too - yyyy-# - I bought one earlier this year, and labeled it 2005-1)

I use sketch pads for most dry materials (graphite, colored pencil, light pen-work) and drawing pads for some heavier/moister materials (heavier pen, some brushed ink, I usually don't put charcoal on anything lighter than drawing paper because I like the grain to show.). Basically, I like the yellow Strathmore 9"x12" pads with the rings on the top.

[Alice]

Okay thanks guys! :brows:

I got some great suggestions, and I'm experimenting with art again. I started learning to draw male anime eyes.

Found a nice cheap tablet with spirals at the top, so that shouldn't fall apart. ^-^

[Azier the Swordsman]

I can't draw to save my life, but I would like to learn when I get the free time. I have a couple of manga series' I would love to create. I even had an idea for a CAA manga.

Synopsis:
(Yes, this is a loose Resident Evil parody)
The database has been infected with a horrific virus. CAA's Bravo Team, led by Shatterheart, was dispatched into the system's Matrix Network to destroy the virus, but contact with them was lost. CAA's Alpha Team, led by Ashley, goes in to find out what happened. They must now face off against the Matrix's haywire security system, along with horrific monsters spawned by the virus. But something about the infection is fishy: Could one of their own be a troll?

[Alice]

Uh oh... who are you going to make into the troll??

[Godly Paladin]

What works for me is this: I find a time period or setting of the day that I find most appealing to draw in, and then I make sure when that time comes around I draw--even if just for a few minutes. Do that a few days in a row, and I usually can get back into the swing of it.

[Azier the Swordsman]

Uh oh... who are you going to make into the troll??

Ashley and Shatterheart enter the hall to the core. UC stands in front of the entrance:

UC: Welcome. You've done a fine job to make it this far. *pulls out blaster*

Ash: Just as I thought!

Shat: Just what is this all about, UC?

UC: Years of planning, and finally everything is falling into place. And to think you never suspected me all along.....

Ash: So, you are a slave of the Guild now, right? Along with these VIRUS MONSTERS!

UC: Yep. It didn't take much to deceive you..... I'm the best troll the Guild ever had. Because I have no real life, I was able to trick you with my absurdly large post count and uncreative psuedonym. Now, with the power in my hands.... I can CRUSH the CAA!

Shat: Why, you low life, Amish......

UC: DO NOT SPEAK ILL AGAINST THE AMISH!!!!!

Shat: Give it up, UC.

UC: I think not. For the final act is yet to happen..... now I will show you something wonderful..... I'm going to show you the Terminator X! *motioning with gun* WALK!

They move towards the core entrance, till their is a thud and UC falls over unconcious.

Ash: Azier!

Azier: Hmph. So it was him all along. I should of known..... at any rate, looks like I got here in time. Everyone okay?

Shat: We're fine. But we are running out of time. The core's up ahead. Azier, do you have it?

Azier: Yep. The Mith's antivirus is good to go. All we need to do is phase it directly with the core and the system will reboot.

Ash: Then lets do it.

Azier: One problem. Due to there being an errors in the database, there is no telling what may happen to those inside the database when the system reboots. So, Mith warned that it would be in our best interests to get the heck out ASAP after inserting the anti-virus. We will have 15 minutes.

Shat: What about the others?

Azier: Already headed to the surface. It's just us three now.

Shat: All right. It's time to finish this.

The group enters the core.... to see the most horrific creature ever assimilated with the core.

Shat: My God.....

Ash: What IS that.

Azier: Another mutant? No..... I think that one must be..... the virus itself!

To be continued......

*note* This is not really an intended part of the unwritten script. It's a joke. Dialogue above is intentially corny.

[Kisa]

Just remember what you liked most about it and draw! You may not be great at first, but the more you practice the better you get! I know I couldn't always draw just like I wanted, and still can't, but many erasings and paper crumples later, you'll get it! ^^

[Fsiphskilm]

By tr

[Alice]

By trying different styles.
Also try scribbling vague shapes and slowly turning them into something.
Let your subconsoius mind do the drawing. You already know exactly what you're trying to draw, looks like. You just need to get that on paper. Don't try too hard.

Wow... that's a great idea.

I'm O.K. at very casual writing attempts, but never really learned how to do casual drawing like you described. Sounds like it would be worth learning.

[Kaligraphic]

Or drawing without the slightest clue what the picture will look like. Just make a couple of random marks and turn them into something.

[the_lizardqueen]

It can be frustrating at times, but I can't stress how helpful drawing from life can be. My personal style is a strange combo of anime and western comics and I usually draw crazy things from my imagination, but whenever I'm stuck, I always try to find a real world reference. Realism can be a good foundation for other styles. For example: whenever I'm drawing hands and feet, I use my own as a reference. Or I use a photographic reference, oo, or any family member who is unfortunate enough to be walking by.

Also try scribbling vague shapes and slowly turning them into something. Let your subconsoius mind do the drawing. You already know exactly what you're trying to draw, looks like. You just need to get that on paper. Don't try too hard.

I've never really thought of doing that before, and I've been drawing for about 15 years now. I usually follow a mental image or a reference. I'm definitely going to try it out, I think it'd be an excellent way to get through an artist's block. Ei, I actually think I'm in one at the moment

[Alice]

I want to thank you all for the excellent suggestions.

If I had not gotten such good advice, I would probably still be thinking about it, instead of
1) owning a sketch tablet I find comfortable, and
2) trying to draw in it every day.

Thanks.

[Joshua Christopher]

I want to thank you all for the excellent suggestions.

If I had not gotten such good advice, I would probably still be thinking about it, instead of
1) owning a sketch tablet I find comfortable, and
2) trying to draw in it every day.

Thanks.

Good jorb! Jeeeaaaaoooooorrrrb.

[Alice]

My first art thread....

http://www.christiananime.net/showthread.php?p=452420

Suggestions are fine. I'm just glad I was able to post something!

[shooraijin]

A note: you can use http://www.christiananime.net now, not the 66.* address. Otherwise, people have to login twice if you use the URL they're not logged into.

[girlninja]

heh alice completely know how you feel ^^ i can't add anymore then what has been said but well i guess just keep on doing what your doing ^_^ that and have fun with it ^^

[Alice]

A note: you can use http://www.christiananime.net now, not the 66.* address. Otherwise, people have to login twice if you use the URL they're not logged into.

So how would I move it, or is this just a suggestion for next time? Thanks.

[shooraijin]

You don't need to move it. Instead of 66.*, just substitute http://www.christiananime.net in your links. It's the same server, but using the canonical name will ensure that things move properly if we ever have to pull up stumps again (and yes, your threads will follow).

[Alice]

Hm. I typed it in but now the link doesn't work.

http://www.christiananime.net.92.1.159/showthread.php?p=452420

Guess I just don't get it.

[shooraijin]

No, no -- when I wrote 66.* , I meant all four parts of the IP address. So that makes your URL into

http://www.christiananime.net/showthread.php?p=452420

Sorry -- I should have clarified.

[Alice]

Link to the two page comic I drew.

http://www.christiananime.net/showthread.php?p=468712#post468712