CrossStitch Posted February 4, 2012 Report Share Posted February 4, 2012 So, as the title implies; I have no prior art experience be it professional or as a hobby. But that hasn't stopped me from trying to learn. Here I will be posting images as I gradually learn more and more about drawing. I ask, nay, BEG that you brilliant artists out there give me some tips. I can take harsh criticism, so please tell me your honest opinions.Well... Without further adieu: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrossStitch Posted February 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2012 Here; I'm trying to get used to drawing a circle, as that seems to be what all ponies are made of. I've done multiple circles trying to get my hand and mind used to the shape. I even decided to map out the direction on one or two of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrossStitch Posted February 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2012 This is me trying to rotate a face in 3D. Oh, and if you're wondering why it looks funny, I accidentally had my scanner to scan black and white. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrossStitch Posted February 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2012 Trying to draw eyes. Maybe you could recognize a few? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrossStitch Posted February 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2012 A quick drawing of Rainbow Dash. Here I'm trying to bring it all together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitehawke Posted February 4, 2012 Report Share Posted February 4, 2012 Some tips my teachers basically hammered into my head.1. Draw spheres, not circles. You want to have a sense of depth. 2. Draw through. The eyes, the mouth, the mane, the body - everything. It allows you to understand how everything goes together. This applies for basically all the things in a drawing. 3. Draw from the shoulder as often as possible, and draw smooth single (or as little as possible) lines - not just for the clean feel, but because it shows the strength of your pose easier. "Feathering" multiple lines on the same areas creates an "illusion" of what your intent was, which comes back to bite you if you try to make a clean version afterwards, since you won't be able to tell how it's supposed to go perfectly. 4. Check your reference to make sure you're getting proportions right - assuming you're going for the show's style. But even then, checking the reference of the original model build of the characters you're drawing is important. 5. Do NOT try to recreate poses from the show/professional fanart - you're undoubtedly going to make a weaker pose and drawing overall, and at best, you'll just have a drawing that's already been done. This isn't because of skill or experience, it's just something that happens. 6. Keep It Simple and know your limits. Drawing is all about practice, practice, practice. Despite all I've said, JUST GET IT DONE, it's all a learning experience, and it takes a lot of time to be able to apply all the rules. At your current level, your drawings show some decent understanding, especially from someone who has never drawn before. There's a lot more to know, but I'd have to start pulling out some of my animation books for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrossStitch Posted February 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2012 2. Draw through. The eyes, the mouth, the mane, the body - everything. It allows you to understand how everything goes together. This applies for basically all the things in a drawing. Sorry, but I don't exactly follow.Could you elaborate a bit more on this point? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitehawke Posted February 4, 2012 Report Share Posted February 4, 2012 Sorry, but I don't exactly follow.Could you elaborate a bit more on this point?Take a look at your Rainbow Dash drawing. See the mane ("hair"), and how it passes behind the ear? You drew the crest (hair behind the neck) and the forelock (the "head's hair") as 2 different pieces, but they are actually supposed to be connected as one. When drawing the mane up to the ear, continue to the other section with a smooth, pale (but visible) line that connects the two together, and you'll draw and see the mane as a single connected piece that is merely partially obstructed by the ear as opposed to 2 different parts that are not connected at all.Now you should apply this to everything that gets obstructed.The nose obstructs the eye? Draw through to make sure it is the right shape.Those legs on the other side? Draw through to make sure they're actually connected to the body properly.Heck, that second ear we usually can't see on the ponies? Draw it. It's important to know where every part of the character is, even the parts that are completely obstructed. The more guesses you do, the weaker your drawing becomes.Remember that these rules are only for making your drawings better. They should not obstruct you from actually finishing them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrossStitch Posted February 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2012 Thank you SO very much!You've been a great help Whitehawke, I'll keep all your tips in mind when I draw from now on. : ] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conor Colton Posted February 4, 2012 Report Share Posted February 4, 2012 Oh there they are Very nicely done buddy I look forward to see how you progress and improve over the course of....however long you keep drawing...Keep it coming man Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginger Mint Posted February 6, 2012 Report Share Posted February 6, 2012 hi hiI'm not sure what advice I can give, but keep practicing never hurts, and it doesn't have to be anything in particular. Sometimes it helps to just practice making lines, curves and simple shapes. Get used to the feeling of making one solid line instead of a bunch of little marks that turn into a line eventually. Loosen up those joints and experiment with different kinds of marks on the paper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrossStitch Posted February 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 hi hiI'm not sure what advice I can give, but keep practicing never hurts, and it doesn't have to be anything in particular. Sometimes it helps to just practice making lines, curves and simple shapes. Get used to the feeling of making one solid line instead of a bunch of little marks that turn into a line eventually. Loosen up those joints and experiment with different kinds of marks on the paper.Thanks, Mint. I tried to do that on this next drawing I just did. I still feathered a bit in places though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginger Mint Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 hi hiNo worries, just take it one step at a time. For what its worth, I like your new drawing. He's got a solid expression and his little cape, thing, whatever it is... well I don't know what it is, but it looks dashing. Folds are always tricky, but it has a nice flow to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrossStitch Posted February 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 It's more of a scarf. I love scarfs X3Thanks for the compliments, it really means a lot to me to hear them. It also pushes me to do better and keep drawing. Thanks everypony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrossStitch Posted February 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 Decided to mess around in Sai. I never use it, but I'm happy with the results. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrossStitch Posted February 9, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2012 Another sketch. That angle of the head... That was murder.I seriously got a headache just trying to fathom how it would look, and I'm still not very happy with how it turned out.Figured I'd post it anyways for feedback. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrossStitch Posted February 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2012 My first request X3It was from Conor, and he wanted a sketch of Conor and Colton side mby side.Obviously, it's not done yet. But here's Conor sketched out. I rather like it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginger Mint Posted February 18, 2012 Report Share Posted February 18, 2012 hi hiOh my, I know what you mean by the angle of the head... Stallions are clearly not meant to be drawn in the 3/4ths perspective. I'm not sure if there's a way to make it work without cutting out their far eye entirely, but fudging it seems to work just fine in a lot of cases. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrossStitch Posted February 19, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 Yeah... Never doing that again.I AM going to start drawing full body ponies instead of just the head now though. Let's see how this goes... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToxicPenguin Posted February 23, 2012 Report Share Posted February 23, 2012 Hey ^^ Nice drawingsI can't draw anything in a different pose for the life of me, but I guess I can give some small advice. In terms of proportions, try to compare the sizes of certain parts of the body with other parts. For example, the eye is 2/3 the size of the ear (or anything similar to that).Then again, I usually draw poses from the show, so this may or may not apply to you free handing your own ponies.5. Do NOT try to recreate poses from the show/professional fanart - you're undoubtedly going to make a weaker pose and drawing overall, and at best, you'll just have a drawing that's already been done. This isn't because of skill or experience, it's just something that happens. you're entirely right Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginger Mint Posted February 26, 2012 Report Share Posted February 26, 2012 hi hiI dunno. I don't think there's anything wrong with doing master studies, still-lifes and things like that when you're just trying to practice and get better. If you're making an original piece of your own for an audience, then yeah, you probably shouldn't be trying to recreate something that already exists. But having reference material can be a bit help when studying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrossStitch Posted February 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2012 I accidentally saved over the original drawing while I was coloring it, but you can still get the gist of it.\And the colored version. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginger Mint Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 hi hiOh man, I hate it when I accidentally save an image after flattening it. Oh well, it looks like you managed to get the final out alright. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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