Teaching yourself to draw

jp_bl_68

jp_bl_68

jp_bl_68

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Any artistic types here?

I'd like to be able to draw but have no natural ability. Got any tips on how I can learn to draw? A book/online guide, perhaps, as I don't have time to take lessons.
 
After some googling, a good place to start looks like 'The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain' by Betty Edwards.
 
I bought a book a while back called - The complete book of drawing.

I was interested in learning about different techniques that I never touched on at school but there's a fair bit in it for the beginner too.
 
A good way to learn is by copying pictures you like, for example i copied practically everything from 2000ad as i loved the art. Over time i gained confidence and developed my own style, went to college/university and now art is my career. It's all about practice, you cant just read a 'drawing for dummies' and a month later be awesome, if you really want to learn you will but it will take patience and dedication for those times when you just want to say "**** it" and give up.
Everyone says the same thing when they see my stuff, "i wish i could do that", i always tell them, anyone can do it if they make time, but it's way easier for those 'born' with it. The key is to not be discouraged when you draw something you think is crap, it's all a journey so enjoy everything you do and dont put yourself down.
 
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Don't put yourself down. You probably do have natural ability, it's just that it hasn't been unlocked yet. If you have the desire to be good at art then you probably do have talent.

I gave up playing the piano for about 7 years due to illness, but when I came back after recovering, I was far better than when I left off - without any practice - because I just felt better.
 
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Castor said:
A good way to learn is by copying pictures you like, for example i copied practically everything from 2000ad as i loved the art.
Click to expand...

On a recent visit to the parents I was mortified when they informed me that they'd "emptied the loft", this included my 2000ad collection progs 1-1000 inclusive, almost brought a grown man to tears, all that Brian Bolland magic thrown away.
 
Would love to learn to draw as well, having spoken to a few artist friends it does look like its all about practice, as you would have guessed, just pick things you love and have a go.

I find having an image I like and trying to replicate it has the best results so far, if I try to just draw it sucks, but if I redraw an existing image it goes much better (Still sucks mind).

Jcb33.
 
Castor said:
A good way to learn is by copying pictures you like, for example i copied practically everything from 2000ad as i loved the art. Over time i gained confidence and developed my own style, went to college/university and now art is my career. It's all about practice, you cant just read a 'drawing for dummies' and a month later be awesome, if you really want to learn you will but it will take patience and dedication for those times when you just want to say "**** it" and give up.
Everyone says the same thing when they see my stuff, "i wish i could do that", i always tell them, anyone can do it if they make time, but it's way easier for those 'born' with it. The key is to not be discouraged when you draw something you think is crap, it's all a journey so enjoy everything you do and dont put yourself down.
Click to expand...

Got to agree with this.

It really is just practice practice practice, it's a skill like any other. I don't really buy into the whole 'talent' thing.

As long as you enjoy doing it, and learn from the stuff that comes out badly, then you'll improve over time. How quickly/slowly that is really only depends on how dedicated and observant an artist is imo.
 
Arcane said:
On a recent visit to the parents I was mortified when they informed me that they'd "emptied the loft", this included my 2000ad collection progs 1-1000 inclusive, almost brought a grown man to tears, all that Brian Bolland magic thrown away.
Click to expand...

Oh god i feel your pain, exact same thing happened to me, my mother had 'somehow' thrown out progs 1-500 odd....i almost fainted, i saved the rest but those early ones are stupid hard to find now :(
 
I put myself down for years and it took me enrolling on the wrong course at Uni to make me realise what I wanted to do.

Practice practice practice and always give yourself credit for where you are at. I use to get frustrated with my first drawing and tell myself I just don't have 'it'.

I started out like above and copied mainly 2000AD and marvel comics, its now my career in the games industry.

There's no real tutorials that will make you draw, just draw everything you see. There is some rules you will need to learn to help though.

These are a very good set for the human figure

http://www.alienthink.com/
 
Practice but don't over analyse what you're doing. I find my creativity soars when I have a couple of beers, I relax and stop thinking about technique and what I'm actually doing, instead just let the pen/pencil work.

There's nothing worse than forcing yourself to draw and making endless mistakes. It'll stress you out and put you off it completely. Instead just relax and don't think about it too much.
 
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