Sir GreenSock
12-11-2004, 06:58 AM
more of a list of tips and suggestions(i.e. rant-tutorial ;) ) to help people avoid many common mistakes. Hopefully this will help "newbies" avoid repeating the same error as well as help with encouragement and a few tips.
Now I'm writing these things as they come up in my mind, so my apologies if this turns out a bit frantic. Most of these things are from my personal experience, but feel free to add ideas from your own experience. If it gets too messy, I'll edit it to make it more understandable. :)
I would also appreciate feedback on how helpful this was, and how I could improve it.
Maybe I'll add some visuals later on since this will be pretty long. Also, if this turns out too much like a lecture, I'll cut out the parts people don't like/care about, so your input is important! :)
Starting out
Everyone has to start somewhere. The beginning is an important time as it helps build your confidence, and is usually the time during which you learn a lot.
It is important to understand that you are not perfect, and you do not suck. Do not be afraid to post your work here, and when you do, be ready to take critiques. Most members at this forum will try to help you out without hurting your ego, but you should still be prepared to take a few blows against your work. If someone points a mistake out, don't be defensive; try to see where the mistake is, and why it happened. If you don't understand what the mistake is, or how to fix it, ask. Work on fixing the areas that need work individually, with practice and using references for help. In drawing, the same mistake can occur many times as you practice, and it usually takes time to see the improvement.
Also, as was pointed out by Triclone, its important to not take people's critiques to heart. If you get attached to your work you still need to be open about where you can improve. A critique is not a personal attack against you or your credibility!Those giving critiques are trying to help you, and getting upset or defensive about your work will only result in flames or lack of comments in the future.
On References
It is also important to learn the importance of references. Photographs, books real objects/people as well as the work of other artists could be used to help you figure out an area you are working on. As long as you don't trace, or copy the artist's work exactly, references are useful. If you are using an entire image or large section of someone else's stuff, please give credit to the person who did the original to avoid starting huge problems and flame wars. I've seen countless artists make the mistake of not giving credit to another artist, resulting in long arguments and loss of credibility on the artist's side.
It is also important that you don't become too reliant on references as this can lead to problems when you can't find what you need. You should also practice working from you imagination to help with creativity and working independently.
Working from life is a huge help to improving yourself, as it helps to improve your skill as well as help memorize the subject matter so you can work from imagination. Drawing people and animals helps with proportions, anatomy etc, drawing buildings is a huge help with understanding perspective, and drawing simple objects and such can help with defining light and shadow. Don't hesitate to draw from life, as the things around you are your best resource.
On Tutorials
Although tutorials are references designed to help you, you shouldn't rely on them. They usually deal with the technique the artist uses, and if they appeal to you, you should try them out. On the other hand, too many people become reliant on them, and start looking for tutorials on whatever subject they are stuck on. The truth is, tutorials are nothing more than shortcuts. By always following them, you never learn. You need to learn why something happens, or looks the way it does, rather than be told how to draw it happening. Relying on tutorials gets you stuck, you should research and experiment on your own, and then use tutorials and references if you are stuck or are interested in how someone else does it.
Traditional Media
It is a good idea to start out using traditional media (i.e. pencils, markers, paint...) before moving onto digital, as it gives you a more secure base and confidence for when you go into using computers.
Your pencil would probably be your main resource, so you should have lots of those. Pencils come in different grades of lightness-darkness and softness-hardness. They can range from 9H (very hard, very light) to 9B(very soft, very dark). Most artists I know use pencils somewhere between 4H-4B, but you should experiment with all of those until you find a combination that works for you. (I personally use 4H,2H,HB,2B and 8B pencils) It is important to note that the extremities of each type have different properties; For example, H's are hard, light and non-reflective. They are not as hard to erase and see, but they also don’t need a lot of sharpening, so they can last a while. B's are soft, dark, and usually very reflective. They are harder to erase, as they leave a stain on the page, but also leave a softer quality of line, and are good for smooth (i.e. with smudging) shading. B pencils are softer, so they lose their tip faster, and need more sharpening. Experiment with different combinations to achieve different effects. Personally, I would not recommend using a darker step of pencil everytime you want a darker shade, since it can make the pencil mark look 'muddy', it is usually better to built up value slightly through hatching and cross-hatching and use softer pencils for extremities.
Pen is another useful medium, both for inking and drawing. Different types and qualities of pen give different results. Dip/Crow Quill/Fountain pens give variety of line depending on how hard you press down. They are hard to control at first, but can be invaluable for varying line widths and expressive work. However, left-handed people generally shouldn't use them, as these pens are used on a pull stroke, and will break their tips if they are pushed across the page. The other kind of pens are technical and ballpoint pens, which give you a set line width and continuous flow. They are very good for thin lines and detailing work. You can get them in different widths and qualities, so experiment with what you like. A good exercise it to draw using pen, since you cannot erase it, so it teaches you to get your line down correctly on the very first stroke, resulting in more confident work.
Pencil crayons and markers are good mediums to experiment with, but you shouldn't worry if you don't get along with them. With pencil crayons, it is important to get a good quality brand (I find Prismacolour, Prang and I think Koh-I-Noor make good ones) so that blending and colour mixing doesn't turn messy. With both pencil crayons and markers (and every other medium for that matter) experimentation and practice are essential. I find that with pencil crayon, best results are achieved when you use blends of 2-3 colours, instead of just one, or too many. This way you achieve the richest tones without it turning out muddy. As for markers, two very important factors are paper and speed. Different papers take in marker differently, either absorbing it like watercolour, or sitting on top, allowing for blending. The former is achieved with regular papers, and the latter with specialized marker papers. Speed is important with markers in order to avoid streaks, as is the way you use move them. Moving them in regular one-direction strokes can increase streaks, while rounded strokes helps reduce them, but increase bleeding if regular paper is used.
The painting mediums are probably the most versatile and difficult to use. The best way to improve your skill with them is to practice and read some books on the techniques of other artists. Personally, I don't have too much experience with painting mediums other than acrylic and gouache, but I will add in what I do know.
Watercolour and gouache are fairly similar mediums. They are both mainly used with water, but their main difference is that watercolour is translucent (you can see the colours, pencils etc underneath the paint), while gouache is opaque (you can't see beneath the paint, unless you use a lot of water). The trickiest part with both mediums is controlling the brush to get the results you want. Both mediums are mostly applied with soft brushes.
Acrylic paint is opaque, fairly thick paint that can be used with water. Imho, it is the most versatile medium for this reason. It can be applied to any non-smooth surface (so no glass) as long as it is prepared properly. When used without too much water, it is sticky and blends easily. Acrylic can be applied with any kind of brush.
Oil is the trickiest medium to use. It is thick, repels water and takes forever to dry. However, once you get the hang of it, it can be used to create blends and colours superior to the other mediums. The fact that it takes longer to dry also means you can work on individual areas for longer. Oil isn't too good for your health, so it's best to be used in well-ventilated areas. It is applied with bristle brushes, mostly on canvas.
On SurfacesWhen it comes to the traditional mediums, there are a variety of surfaces that you can explore. These range from different kinds of paper (manilla or other stained/coloured surfaces, rough paper, smooth paper, rice paper etc) to other surfaces (canvas, plywood, glass, etc). Depending on your medium, experiment with different techniques and papers to see all the different effects you can achieve, and use them to your advantage. (thanks to Triclone for the suggestions)
Now I'm writing these things as they come up in my mind, so my apologies if this turns out a bit frantic. Most of these things are from my personal experience, but feel free to add ideas from your own experience. If it gets too messy, I'll edit it to make it more understandable. :)
I would also appreciate feedback on how helpful this was, and how I could improve it.
Maybe I'll add some visuals later on since this will be pretty long. Also, if this turns out too much like a lecture, I'll cut out the parts people don't like/care about, so your input is important! :)
Starting out
Everyone has to start somewhere. The beginning is an important time as it helps build your confidence, and is usually the time during which you learn a lot.
It is important to understand that you are not perfect, and you do not suck. Do not be afraid to post your work here, and when you do, be ready to take critiques. Most members at this forum will try to help you out without hurting your ego, but you should still be prepared to take a few blows against your work. If someone points a mistake out, don't be defensive; try to see where the mistake is, and why it happened. If you don't understand what the mistake is, or how to fix it, ask. Work on fixing the areas that need work individually, with practice and using references for help. In drawing, the same mistake can occur many times as you practice, and it usually takes time to see the improvement.
Also, as was pointed out by Triclone, its important to not take people's critiques to heart. If you get attached to your work you still need to be open about where you can improve. A critique is not a personal attack against you or your credibility!Those giving critiques are trying to help you, and getting upset or defensive about your work will only result in flames or lack of comments in the future.
On References
It is also important to learn the importance of references. Photographs, books real objects/people as well as the work of other artists could be used to help you figure out an area you are working on. As long as you don't trace, or copy the artist's work exactly, references are useful. If you are using an entire image or large section of someone else's stuff, please give credit to the person who did the original to avoid starting huge problems and flame wars. I've seen countless artists make the mistake of not giving credit to another artist, resulting in long arguments and loss of credibility on the artist's side.
It is also important that you don't become too reliant on references as this can lead to problems when you can't find what you need. You should also practice working from you imagination to help with creativity and working independently.
Working from life is a huge help to improving yourself, as it helps to improve your skill as well as help memorize the subject matter so you can work from imagination. Drawing people and animals helps with proportions, anatomy etc, drawing buildings is a huge help with understanding perspective, and drawing simple objects and such can help with defining light and shadow. Don't hesitate to draw from life, as the things around you are your best resource.
On Tutorials
Although tutorials are references designed to help you, you shouldn't rely on them. They usually deal with the technique the artist uses, and if they appeal to you, you should try them out. On the other hand, too many people become reliant on them, and start looking for tutorials on whatever subject they are stuck on. The truth is, tutorials are nothing more than shortcuts. By always following them, you never learn. You need to learn why something happens, or looks the way it does, rather than be told how to draw it happening. Relying on tutorials gets you stuck, you should research and experiment on your own, and then use tutorials and references if you are stuck or are interested in how someone else does it.
Traditional Media
It is a good idea to start out using traditional media (i.e. pencils, markers, paint...) before moving onto digital, as it gives you a more secure base and confidence for when you go into using computers.
Your pencil would probably be your main resource, so you should have lots of those. Pencils come in different grades of lightness-darkness and softness-hardness. They can range from 9H (very hard, very light) to 9B(very soft, very dark). Most artists I know use pencils somewhere between 4H-4B, but you should experiment with all of those until you find a combination that works for you. (I personally use 4H,2H,HB,2B and 8B pencils) It is important to note that the extremities of each type have different properties; For example, H's are hard, light and non-reflective. They are not as hard to erase and see, but they also don’t need a lot of sharpening, so they can last a while. B's are soft, dark, and usually very reflective. They are harder to erase, as they leave a stain on the page, but also leave a softer quality of line, and are good for smooth (i.e. with smudging) shading. B pencils are softer, so they lose their tip faster, and need more sharpening. Experiment with different combinations to achieve different effects. Personally, I would not recommend using a darker step of pencil everytime you want a darker shade, since it can make the pencil mark look 'muddy', it is usually better to built up value slightly through hatching and cross-hatching and use softer pencils for extremities.
Pen is another useful medium, both for inking and drawing. Different types and qualities of pen give different results. Dip/Crow Quill/Fountain pens give variety of line depending on how hard you press down. They are hard to control at first, but can be invaluable for varying line widths and expressive work. However, left-handed people generally shouldn't use them, as these pens are used on a pull stroke, and will break their tips if they are pushed across the page. The other kind of pens are technical and ballpoint pens, which give you a set line width and continuous flow. They are very good for thin lines and detailing work. You can get them in different widths and qualities, so experiment with what you like. A good exercise it to draw using pen, since you cannot erase it, so it teaches you to get your line down correctly on the very first stroke, resulting in more confident work.
Pencil crayons and markers are good mediums to experiment with, but you shouldn't worry if you don't get along with them. With pencil crayons, it is important to get a good quality brand (I find Prismacolour, Prang and I think Koh-I-Noor make good ones) so that blending and colour mixing doesn't turn messy. With both pencil crayons and markers (and every other medium for that matter) experimentation and practice are essential. I find that with pencil crayon, best results are achieved when you use blends of 2-3 colours, instead of just one, or too many. This way you achieve the richest tones without it turning out muddy. As for markers, two very important factors are paper and speed. Different papers take in marker differently, either absorbing it like watercolour, or sitting on top, allowing for blending. The former is achieved with regular papers, and the latter with specialized marker papers. Speed is important with markers in order to avoid streaks, as is the way you use move them. Moving them in regular one-direction strokes can increase streaks, while rounded strokes helps reduce them, but increase bleeding if regular paper is used.
The painting mediums are probably the most versatile and difficult to use. The best way to improve your skill with them is to practice and read some books on the techniques of other artists. Personally, I don't have too much experience with painting mediums other than acrylic and gouache, but I will add in what I do know.
Watercolour and gouache are fairly similar mediums. They are both mainly used with water, but their main difference is that watercolour is translucent (you can see the colours, pencils etc underneath the paint), while gouache is opaque (you can't see beneath the paint, unless you use a lot of water). The trickiest part with both mediums is controlling the brush to get the results you want. Both mediums are mostly applied with soft brushes.
Acrylic paint is opaque, fairly thick paint that can be used with water. Imho, it is the most versatile medium for this reason. It can be applied to any non-smooth surface (so no glass) as long as it is prepared properly. When used without too much water, it is sticky and blends easily. Acrylic can be applied with any kind of brush.
Oil is the trickiest medium to use. It is thick, repels water and takes forever to dry. However, once you get the hang of it, it can be used to create blends and colours superior to the other mediums. The fact that it takes longer to dry also means you can work on individual areas for longer. Oil isn't too good for your health, so it's best to be used in well-ventilated areas. It is applied with bristle brushes, mostly on canvas.
On SurfacesWhen it comes to the traditional mediums, there are a variety of surfaces that you can explore. These range from different kinds of paper (manilla or other stained/coloured surfaces, rough paper, smooth paper, rice paper etc) to other surfaces (canvas, plywood, glass, etc). Depending on your medium, experiment with different techniques and papers to see all the different effects you can achieve, and use them to your advantage. (thanks to Triclone for the suggestions)