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SectionsGeneral AdviceThe Figure Anthropomorphics Resource Materials General AdviceThe best advice that I can give you in improving your drawing is the same advice that one of my college professors gave me. You have to "learn to observe the visual nature of things." In other words, study the world around you and the way that things look. It is important to understand what you're trying to draw and truly look at it as if you've never seen it before. Take a look outside your window. What does it look like out there? How is the weather and the time of day affecting shadows and objects appearances? What does a tree look like at noon on a sunny day? On a cloudy day? In the winter? If you're trying to draw a chair, don't just draw what you think a chair looks like - look at a chair. Look at all of the various details about it - what angle is the seat at? What materials is it made out of? Look at its structure. Take a look at things around you. How about that pencil? Of course, you know what a pencil looks like, but are you really seeing it for what it is, or are you just looking at it and labeling it "pencil"? It's a good exercise for sharpening your powers of observation. The more that you observe, the better your powers of perception of are. The better your powers of perception are, the better you will draw.So, to sum it up - study, observe and practice.
The FigureIf you are serious about getting your figures to look right, studying anatomy is essential. I recommend taking a life drawing or anatomy class. I have taken three life drawing classes and studied anatomy. It's important to learn about proportion and the underlying structure of things. If an anatomy class is unavailable to you, you may want to study yourself in the mirror or use a friend for a model. Photographs can be helpful tools, but be aware of copyright considerations.AnthropomorphicsIf you want to draw anthropomorphic figures, I recommend studying the animal that you wish to anthropomorphise. Children's non-fiction books are great for this, with plenty of nice pictures to study. Another great resource is an encyclopedia of animals or mammals, if you can get your hands on one. Take a closer look at the animal you're working with. I did studies of ordinary squirrels, researched their subspecies, and their habits before I ever tried to draw Jody. This may sound tedious, but it really does help.Resource MaterialsI cannot overemphasize the importance of finding good reference materials. Finding a good resource to work from is essential in many cases. Planning on drawing a pic of some people dancing? Great. Check out a book on dancing from your local library or do an online image search for some. Imagination will only take you so far. If you leave a pic of people dancing to your imagination, the chances are pretty good that there are going to be some inaccuracies in the figures' positioning and in other details. People tend to notice these little things. Images that are technically accurate, as well as artistic, are what "good art" is all about. |
