A drawing group for artists who need motivation

Inspired by a discussion in the "I just changed into my jammies" thread on the day of this post. Post what you've drawn recently, and we can see how you've gotten better from day to day. This thread can be used for anyone who needs motivation to keep drawing and get better at it while receiving friendly support from fellows who, by themselves, might be just as insecure and/or unmotivated, but who can accomplish a lot together.

Including myself. Here's a sample that I will start the thread off with, of mai waifu,◊ Shino Amakusa. I drew this in about five minutes, with an extra minute to shade the hair in further. I hope to improve. A lot. At least, to the point where I can draw people in styles other than chibi.

edited 8th Mar '11 9:30:23 AM by Everest

My problem is really more that I have no idea where to start and very little time on my hands.

How is this different from "Hello, Artists?"

Anyway, I guess this thread will be smaller and easier to keep track of, at least. It should be a good place to post all my random/practice work and WI Ps.

In fact, maybe we should re-work this thread as a "production diary" for our artists, where they can post their sketch dumps, WI Ps, and generally blog about the drawing process.

edited 7th Mar '11 6:28:15 PM by Wheezy

^^ The time on your hands part could be a problem. But as for where to start, just think of what you'd want to try to draw, I guess. It could be something done on a whim. Or you could find a picture and set it up, if that's your sort of thing. When you have time, of course.

^ This one, rather than simply showcasing art, will allow people who normally might not be proud of their art, due to inexperience, to show what they've done and work with others to stick at it. Or does "Hello, artists." do that already? If it does, my apologies.

edited 7th Mar '11 6:29:12 PM by Everest

I'm just getting started. I'm trying to do just a little bit copying cartoon stuff, but for the most part I'm doing the hard work of drawing from anatomy books.

Well, I'll start with this thing.

edited 7th Mar '11 6:29:04 PM by Wheezy

^ Whoa. That's really good, man. :D

Thank you. I'm in the process of shading it with a pencil.

Now, to get down to business: in order for anyone who thinks they can participate to stay motivated, try to post with new art as often as possible. Also, be sure to compare against things you've drawn previously (as if that isn't obvious). Basically, just keep at it.

Can't think of much better to say without rambling on in a preachy sort of way.

edited 7th Mar '11 6:36:12 PM by Everest

Right. I'll try to get some sort of sketch on paper tomorrow if I have time.

I drew this yesterday. Any advice is appreciated.

What exactly is that on the side of her legs?

I think her hips need to be a little bit more curvaceous. I would also draw her hair a little less clumpy; right now the tips of her hair look gelled together and less flowy than it should be.

Also, I can't tell what it is coming off her arms and legs either. I'm pretty curious now...

It's a patagium. In less jargon, she has elastic skin stretched between her arms and legs so she can glide like a Sugar Glider.

Advice on hair and hips duly noted. I'm still not very good at drawing the female form.

edited 7th Mar '11 10:25:10 PM by LoniJay

I thought it was a patagium, but it's going to need to be a lot thicker than what it looks like in that drawing to actually keep anything in the air.

This one took me about twenty minutes.◊

Dear lord, her chest is enormous.

. . . I know. And I was going for that.

For the record, I like stuff like To Love Ru and am in the process of writing an eroge, so . . . yeah.

edited 8th Mar '11 4:46:29 PM by Everest

Okay, so . . . inspired by Mr AHR's comment, here's a more tasteful version of what I posted above.◊ Comments/criticisms, anyone (and yes, I know the eyes are weird; I haven't gotten good at eyes yet. What would be especially helpful is pointing out anything that I didn't notice, which would be anything else)?

edited 8th Mar '11 5:42:50 PM by Everest

Well, I can go all crit on your ass, or I can just say "you need to watch porn so you can learn how to draw boobs."

I watch both 2D and 3D porn, although the influence of the former is quite obviously what is at work in the first version of my drawing. And I was trying to see how well I could do with the oversized-anime-boobs style, considering that I have only re-picked up drawing yesterday and am quite bad at it.

So, additional criticisms (including of the new version's chest, if you think it's still that bad), now that I have a different version?

edited 8th Mar '11 5:45:41 PM by Everest

@Everest

I am by no means an expert. I consider myself bad. But I will give you the advice I wished someone gave me when I started.

1. Don't draw anime
2. Don't draw from memory

As I explained on this essay "Be Original".all art comes from real life if you want to really learn you will need two things

1. theory (leraning proportions and information) Anime tutorials can help, if you want to understand a complex thing simplified. But otherwise focus on Realism tutorials.
2. practice (drawing from life or photos) Use a mirror. Never practice from memory.. ever.

After you learn with those two you will be able to draw from memory not before.

I really recomend you the book "drawing from the right side of the brain by betty edwards (there are pdf version on the internetr). Trust me, that book will teach how to see. that's fundamental in drawing. If it wasn't for that book I would have given up drawing a long ago.. yes it is that good.

Finally focus I can't stress that enough. You wont learn to draw everything in a day. Focus on just one thing to improve. practice one subjet at a time. heads, mouths etc.Also don't fbe afraid to get back to things you have already practiced.

I recomend you to start with the head. as the head is used to measure most of the other parts of the body. Do one thing at a time. Don't feel bad you can do it. Just never give up!

edited 8th Mar '11 6:04:51 PM by FallenLegend

Arms are too noodly/meaty, needs actual bone. In fact, the entire thing reaks of a lack of skeleton.Also, boobs do not work that way. See here for reference and here. (NSFW)

If you're gonna make them big, make them drawn right.

Also it's not animé Everest should look out for. What it is, is you can't blindly imitate what you see. You have to understand how each component and part should work. Many people don't, and as a result, draw things like side mouths, which have no place in the paper world. Drawing animé is fine, just make sure you know what you are drawing.

edited 8th Mar '11 5:53:14 PM by MrAHR

I'll look into that book you mentioned, but I plan to draw anime primarily, and I was actually looking at a real-life picture the entire time and trying to anime-ify it, because, again, that's what I want to get good at drawing.

I figured the proportions were fine at first, but upon closer inspection, the arms probably are too thin. And I couldn't quite get the hang of the breasts, though I felt like I was on the right track. Looking again, I realize I was wrong. Thanks for the links. And I should probably point out that I spent probably a half hour working towards the final version, so if I had had more time, I might have made something better. Only problem is, I have yet to learn such a fine level of nitpicking.

I'm still a beginning artist (although I took a drawing class freshman year, a lot of what I learned hasn't stuck). And I do understand the importance of individual components, believe me; that's why I made it a point not to draw anything more than a dress for the lower body, or a mouth, or realistic eyes, or hands. Because I'm not good at those yet, and I have to work towards getting better because those are the hardest parts to draw (except for the lower body and maybe the eyes, once I get the hang of those). I'm learning, still, and self-teaching, at that, with the exception of advice I get here.

Thank you both, though. Your comments are appreciated.

edited 8th Mar '11 6:07:40 PM by Everest

Argh, I wanted to try to start drawing today, but didn't find the time. Maybe tomorrow.