I have a question, where do you get art books? I mean like antonomy books? I went to Chapters and all they had that came close was porno.

Any actual bookstore comes to mind, dude.
Borders, Barnes and Noble, Waldenbooks, B. Dalton...
Look in the "ART" section if you're stumped.

For anatomy try Burne Hogarth. Use Amazon, he has the most excellent and complete series. You might even be able to find some of his books locally in an Art supply store, not a Hobby Lobby but Michaels.

Wyatt

if you really want to get good with anatomy, but you dont wanna spend money on a book, then you could just work out a whole bunch and then look at yourself in the mirror. or you could have your girlfriend do some poses for you. no im just kidding, buy a book. but those aren't guaranteed to make you a better artist, simply more anatomically correct. things like shading, perspective, and tone will help make your works more vivid and deaper.

I'm going to start with the sites that are in my favorites list, along with a new one I just found.

Learn to draw.com- The new one I just found. It looks good so far. You should check it out.

Sumaleth's link archive- It branches out into a variety of tutorials dealing with drawing, shading, coloring, Photoshop coloring, and others. It also has a forum to join. I don't know if it's EZboards though.

PolyKarbon tutorials- Some of you already know the deal here. Good tutorials on the female and male figure, and some tutorials with Photoshop.

There's more; I'll edit it in tomorrow...

now, does anyone have any material that i can get cheap on how to do outfits, costumes, clothing etc? i can do anatomy perfectly fine, male female, and alien. i just can never come up with, or can't draw what i do come up with, costumes, and outfits without extreme difficulty.. isn't that weird?---yeah, i can draw you, just take off your clothes first

I recommend searching the net for 'clothing design' or something similar. There seems to be a How to Draw Manga book on costumes, but I've never seen it in any of the bookstores from which my previous HTDM books came from, so I don't know what's in it. I guess it could be ordered from Amazon.

axeman61 Wrote: This thread will be for people to get help improving their art. I'm hoping that some of the most experienced people on this board help.

I was was just thinking about something like this :D. I'm compiling a big bunch of stuff right now. It's mostly vocab. and notes from my class on Principles of Design, and How to Evaluate Art, but I feel that's related with this topic. So I'll keep working on it and get it as soon as I can *probably won't be that soon because it's a lot of information*

Well so OK... I might as well... If you have any questions then I would recommend IM'ing me... I quit my job so I don't sit on the PC as much as I used to... About shading... My fav subject... I would recommend on drawing circles to begin with... Then... Try different light sources to make them look 3D... I.e. Shad from one end.... Then once you get done with that, do the shading without the outline... That is how you start with the shading... Eventually you'll learn...

Very correct... Look at yourself in the mirror... Learn you're figure, or if you're not happy with it, (over weight or too skinny) then look at what you want it to look like. Go to medical libraries on college campuses... TONES of material there... Also just look up the words anatomy, structure, physical... Arm... Leg... Pectoral... Look them up in any combination... GOOD STUFF!!!

OOOoooh I just remembered... Go to CROSSBOW.COM... Tones of pics there of people with good muscle structure...

So... Any Questions? IM me and I'll post your answers here... I'll discuss that stuff here...

-Spart

hey do any of you guys actually use kneeded erasers? because, as far as i can tell after using one for the past couple of days is that they are just a major pain in the ass.

I used to use one, but it got all hard and rigid. It got lost like right before I threw it away

When it was functional it was good. The idea is to just knead it until it'll form different shapes for you to use when erasing things. You could also use it to lighten up your drawings a little and not just erase.

Just like Axe said... Use them to lighten... Not erase... If you want to erase use a gum eraser... (Brown and rectangular) I think thats what they're called...

Kneed the kneeding eraser to make them softer... Good work out... Keeps the muscles in your hand strong... No more cramping while drawing... And warm eraser = better malleability

-Spart

Practice. I can't stress how important it is. You should draw anything and everything and you should most definitely draw everyday...

It won't be long before your perception, anatomy, and dynamicism reach a level in which it can be properly critiqued (again, another ignored lesson in perception.)

And last but certainly not least... grow some dragon-scale thick skin!!! It's okay to take offence to things like "you suck!" or "Did you draw that with your ass?" but if someone gives you a proper critique, take it for what it is - a critique.

You can only get better, not worse.

iffrit Wrote: hey do any of you guys actually use kneeded erasers? because, as far as i can tell after using one for the past couple of days is that they are just a major pain in the ass.

I personally prefer Magic Rub Erasers, or white erasers. They are less abrasive and as long as you have a decent point and a clean edge on it, they work good. They are also great for shading when they are covered in graphite (pencil lead). They make it so perfectly smooth and stuff. But you have to be very careful and take your time. If you press too hard you'll end up erasing. Tissues and shading stubs are also great for shading details.

i so i take it that you would not advise against rubbing, novastar? even though it destroys the paper and makes drawing over something you erased increasingly dificult and crummy looking with each successive erasing. i've used those white erasers you're talking about, and i do agree, they can be great if they have an edge. but i find that the edge very quickly disapears after a little use and you end up having to cut the eraser just to get an edge back, what a waste. im actually starting to get used to using the kneeded eraser a bit, and im starting to like that fact that you can warp it into any shape you want and erase anything in even the most hard to reach spot.

That's the spirit. Although I'm a lazy bastard, I will indeed get the rest of the worthy sites in my favorites list up.

In fact, here they are now.

Good Photoshop Tutorials- This is quite simply, very plainly, the BEST site when it comes to Photoshop tutorials. Any photoshop owner who skips this by without putting it in their favorites/bookmarks is only hurting him/herself. It also has links to other sites if it itself doesn't pacify you.

Wynd- It has nice Photoshop and drawing tutorials. Worth a peek.

Online Manga University- It hasn't really had an update since JFK was assassinated, but the drawing tutorials it has can't be passed up.

TIEMachine- has tutorials for a lot of art programs. I don't think Paint shop pro is included though

Total Tutorials- Just like TIEMachine, only it branches into things like Microsoft Word

Jasc software learing center- The 'official' Paint Shop Pro site with some tutorials for it.
Paint Shop Pro downloads & Paint Shop Pro tutorials- Both links are on the same site and one page can easily be accessed from another, yet still I thought that these were the best and should be singled out.

GFX Artist tutorials- Just like Sumaleth, it is a link to tutorials. It is more for 'intermediate' artists in my opinion. You'll have to go to it to understand what I'm saying.

Figma- The drawing board.- Just go and look, as I don't have an exact description for it.

Now, just for the hell of it, I'm going to recommend a Pop-up blocker for you to download. It may or may not work out for you, but it's free, so it's entitled to a shot. Just know that if you use it, you must hold the Ctrl button for pop-ups that you want to go through.

Pop-Up stopper

That's it for now. See 'ya later.

tell me, suit, when you draw your concepts, do you just start drawin? or do you go through steps? do you just start with basic things like the outline and basic features, and then add deatail? or do you start even farther back with plannin steps like i do, with basic shapes used to get the general proportions and positions down before you start adding details?

Okay, I have to say that something is just not right. I accidentally made a double post editing my previous thread, and changed that thread into my personal suggestion on what Suit should do to make his drawing better than it already is. Now it's nowhere to be found.

Ah, screw it. I basically suggested that Suit look at different faces and draw them, exaggerating the facial features like a caricature. I then assumed that he would come back with a renewed recognition for the difference in human faces and produce even better art. The original post that I swear I sent through was much longer. Although I have no problem with The_Suit's art, I think that the faces could use a little bit more uniqueness.

Well...I've some good art books...but I got my best improvements observing things around me...looking a person that is runnig for example...you can see how the muscles work with the movement...watching a simple sunset and see how shadows and colors are refrected all around...it's a good practice, believe me.

so i take it that you would not advise against rubbing, novastarr? even though it destroys the paper and makes drawing over something you erased increasingly dificult and crummy looking with each successive erasing.

I don't advise against it, but I didn't say I was for it either. You have to chose a style that is best for you. I personally use white erasers and tissues (and sometimes stubs), because that's what feels right to me. What it sounds like to me is that you are rubbing too hard. Learn to be more gentle with your artwork. Every art piece is an expression of yourself, liek a signature, a representation of yourself in some new form. You have to r\treat it like it's something of worth to you. Do you bath with sand paper? Well don't treat your paper like sandpaper is the only thing that can help it . If something doesn't erase 100%, that's fine, you have to learn to use your mistakes to your advantage. Sometimes I run into the problem too, but I always find someway to incorporate it into the drawing, such as a strand of hair, or a scar. Also, don't draw so hard. Never draw hard until you are positive that you want to keep that line

i've used those white erasers you're talking about, and i do agree, they can be great if they have an edge. but i find that the edge very quickly disapears after a little use and you end up having to cut the eraser just to get an edge back, what a waste.

Well, I think you are probably using the wrong shape of white eraser if the is the problem. Try usuing a rectangular one, or any shape. I once had one shaped like a skeleton (I named him Skeletor, can you believe it, someone stole him! *cries* :P). Lol, anyway the point is, you can get those erasers for very cheap, and they're good. Also, only use the point as a last resort, or for finishing touches. Using the flat side of the eraser will keep your points and edges sharp for when you need them the most.

im actually starting to get used to using the kneeded eraser a bit, and im starting to like that fact that you can warp it into any shape you want and erase anything in even the most hard to reach spot.

Yeah, I guess, they're alright. I'm not really into them myself. But too abrasive. Those are what make holes in your paper if you are actually trying to erase. I personally feel they are made more for erasing on a canvas, cardboard, or other durable surfaces. I think they are great for lightening images (or just part preferrably), but I'm learning to lighten with a white eraser, and other tools like tissues and chalk/white charcoal, so I'm losing my use for them. I only have one and I don't use it much.

Does anyone have character design tutorial links?

If not, then I'll look for some.

If you have the $20, invest in How to Draw Manga books. They have girl char. design, male char. design, general char. design... clothing, poses...

It doesn't teach you how to draw Anime style if that's what you're afraid of. If you already have your own style, all these books do is give you guidelines to go by. I hate the way they draw proportions, but they do show how to draw muscle structure and angles and things, so it works for everyone.

No one has tutorials? It's not like I can turn this into one of those threads that stick to the top of the page. I'm sure some one has something that hasn't been mentioned already.

In the meantime, here's some more that I found, regarding shading and inking (4 total)

a good tutorial on drawing and shading hair.

Another tutorial from the same site about shading in general.

A fair tutorial on inking; it offers a different procedure from the one I normally use.

A whole site on doing portraits.

The hair tutorial and the site are great. Thanks

Helmet or haystack
Priceless
Wyatt