Hello, artists.

Yep, a top-down. Also, I'd prefer if she were lying on her stomach.

Here's what I got after a quick search:

• 1◊
• 2◊
• 3◊
• 4◊

Hopefully one of those helps. You have to slog through all the artsy crap to get something useful sometimes.

Edit: Markup fail.

edited 4th Jun '09 10:52:27 PM by Zetaseal

I need advice. I want to draw really warped, twisted bodies, because I feel that's what my characters really look like. It feels rigid and unnatural to adhere to the laws of anatomy and physics. I feel like people will just think I make a bunch of anatomy errors, though.

If you understand how to present volume and perspective on a flat surface (i.e. the paper) folks tend to be fairly forgiving in how far you can stretch anatomy.

(Also, warped anatomy with a basis in reality (stretched & twisted muscle, veins, bone) tends to have a much nicer "Whoa that's freaky" effect)

To properly twist anatomy without looking awkward, you have to master it first. Get a basic understanding of how muscles and bones and everything work first, then experiment. It's important that the picture possesses a sort of inner consistency. And it's important to learn the eye's reference points. Look at anime eyes. They're absurdly big, but they usually don't seem like it at first glance because they achieve that size by stretching the eye vertically instead of horizontally. Anything else would look horrible. You have to experiment to find out what works and what doesn't. Like I did with this girl◊ whom you might know already. The anatomy is absolutely impossible, but for the most part it seems coherent and solid.

Fawww~! Post some new Fawriel art!

Dearest Meaty Minion: I cannot offer you much more than what my fellow artistic tropers have already said. To break you must first mold, to destroy you must first understand.

A fundamental knowledge of the roots of creation is the basis to the ultimate annihilation of everything!!

edited 5th Jun '09 10:38:57 PM by [AOD]

Sometimes I don't know why people buy my paintings, you know? I'm so mediocre.

As the others have said, the trick is not to throw anatomy out the window, but take it, and bend it to your will. You take the rigid structure of anatomy, then start distorting it, popping things out of their joints, screwing with proportions, adding joints where they really shouldn't be, and so on.

Edit: Also, Meaty, try to stay away from such thinking, lest you wind up like me and lose half the progress you've made due to frustration.

Unless you're a magical art fairy, art is all about practice. The more you work at it, an the more you come to understand the tricks, the better you'll become.

edited 5th Jun '09 11:31:11 PM by Miijhal

I can draw realistic anatomy, but I don't like it. And I feel like people have really bad taste. Why buy my art when there are other people in the same building who paint/draw a million times better than me? Is it because they feel sorry for me?

Because sometimes what appeals to people isn't technical skill, perhaps?

Maybe. I asked my friend, who thinks that in a few years I'll be a good artist, and she said that maybe they want something imperfect that doesn't make them feel good. After all, True Art Is Offensive. On the other hand, my art teacher/agent thinks I'm pretty impressive. He says that my work is good without being realistic or professional.

edited 6th Jun '09 12:02:19 AM by Made of Meat

My deviantart page I don't update it often as most of what I do is doodles on the back/in the margins of useful papers. but maybe now that it's summer I'll start drawing more.

edited 5th Jun '09 11:58:10 PM by Jinxed Blackcat

@Meaty: I think it has a lot to do with the fact that you have a lot of creativity and vision. You're not drawing daffodils or 'John Smith: Professional Mannequin', you're drawing something that's incredibly unique and interesting.

Just did this◊ as part of my submission for the June A round of MAX — the Multi Artist Exchange.

hey guys i drawed something

@[AOD]: love it!

I just want to say as a forewarning: the moment I first post artwork here will mark me mostly leaving these forums. Not permanently I'd say, but I'll be more active on another site from then, and only be here for the Anime & Manga and Video Games subforums. And maybe Webcomics.

(Of course, I will for a short time monitor this topic to see if there were any responses, but that's beside the point)

OK, but... is there any particular.. reason why?

Yeah. I needed to get this picture done for someone, and I decided that taking a hiatus from the website I spent most of my time at would be a great way to give me motivation.

Cue me reading a bunch of manga and becoming more involved here. >_<

@Faw: Steel chain stockings ftwinnings.

NWS◊

Two arguing soldier dudes.◊

Another random character sketch.◊

And the sketch my avatar comes from.◊

Ooooh. I love what you've got going on stylistically, Fedora Pirate.

I especially like the random character sketch. He really looks like something that came out of Suda51's mind, for some reason.

Fedora Pirate, you are an amazingly talented artist.

-drools-

I bloody love the soldiers.