I'm Lost
 

How did all of you in your own way become as good at graphics as you are now? What methods did you follow? I'm stuck in my progression as an artist. :[

Check out the shading and detail of other, awesome graphics and try some new techniques. And practice :]

As far as learning to graphics goes... I based it on my ability to draw and learned new things from both abilities. I never had a mentor, I just messed in MS Paint until I was satisfied with my work.

Learn to draw if you don't know how to already - it's the quickest way to become good, because then it's a matter of technique.

I wondered the same thing

I started by drawing outlines in straight black. Once I had figured out how to make things look the way I wanted, I read that tutorial about shading (that everyone seems to recommend.)

Just practice a lot, and even if you think you aren't good enough to make something, try anyways.

I originally thought I could learn it all by myself by simply looking at other artists and copying them, but it eventually took some guidance by Vash to help me actually know why my art wasn't progressing beyond some improvement in my drawing.

i started with a head on atlantis
=)
and now im that what i am...some *** ***

Im not actually that great, compared to most on pixelation. Those people make me drool. Hopefully soon Elk will realise he isnt actually that great.

I dont actually remember how i started to get better, i just remember making fairy wings shield on maloria and it looked awesome. So i went from there and had fun.

If you dont enjoy it then theres not much chance of you wanting to get better. Like the dudes above, drawing practise and relating to pc and such, very true. I havent drawn by hand in years, so i think ive hit a artist block.

Some tutorials help, but figuring out your own way of doing things is so much better :D

Basically studying other people's work.

I started out making isometrics.

He is to Graals standards. Then again we have pretty pathetic standards. But since, as far as GFX is concerned, Graal is the only thing that is really a subject to us around here, who cares? We can still say that people are good, cause in all reality (for the general age group) Graals best GFXers are very good. I know that my friends, whenever they see my gfx, are amazed. I'm not even that great , but the point is THEY can't do that, so of course they are impressed.

So my message to Elk is this: So you're one of the best GFXers on Graal. Well, that's more of a personal opinion really, but as far as talent goes it's a pretty wide consensus. But even still, so what? I mean, you do have potential to do something with it in life, but most likely not unless you (like most everyone else on Graal) learn to use programs like Paint Shop Pro to make GFX that isn't pixel art. Just don't let this stuff get to your head.

Anyways, as far as expanding your GFX skills, I suggest studying the way light works on objects, among other things. A comprehensive artistic knowledge is key. I'd start out learning how to compose adequate art on paper first, then learn your own way to translate that to computer. Tablets make outlines easy at this point (unfortunately I do not have one =[), and just learn your own way. A good tutorial can play a good part in getting the idea. But like everyones already said, most of it you gotta do solo. If you can't do it, you can't do it.

NEVER EVER try to take shortcuts, or you end up like Sage with a hated history, even though 99% of the stuff he's made isn't stolen, everyone holds suspicions against him.

say to yourself that you sux and try to be better XD
i do this evry day ^^ and i know my graphics really sux :D
but my tip is to gfx other peoples work on your own
so you learn alot of other peoples styles and than you can
find your own style

1. practice

2. practice

3. practice

That's how you get better. Of course practice involves actually looking at other artwork and learning how to draw... and then drawing. a lot. Every little technique you learn makes you a little bit better. Oh and if you really want to make great artwork, your best bet is to always start with rough sketches. You need to learn the art of the rough sketch. Once you can rough sketch something out... it becomes easier and easier to "flesh" it out into something amazing.

If you're speaking mainly of pixelation.. then you need to be able to visualize the finished image in your head as best as you possibly can and then use it for reference. Then after you finish, you should go back over it and fix the coloring, shading, outline, etc... until it's just like you wanted.

Uhm, it's not my profession to draw but I have fun and I draw when needed. I plan ahead a lot like Konidias in anything I do, it's just easier in my opinion. I really started to get interested in it after I saw the login screen for Oasis and the canvas's what Bloo made. It open'd my eyes to the powers of photoshop (well, I think thats the program you used for it anyway)... But I haven't drawn anything in a while...

thats what I do every morning when I see myself in the mirror...

With a little help from me on RC Debug, of course. ^^

I continue to work on improving myself by looking at the artwork of other people and trying to work certain aspects of things into my own work. For example, I might be drawing a device of some sort, and then sift through some art of landscapes. I then try to put them together, and if it works, I run with it. Usually I start out with something basic, and then add more elements of detail to it, like lighting, glowing or reflective spots, small machinery details like bolts, screws, and so on, and details for the landscape as well.

The same goes for character art. A lot of the time, I will try making clothing for a character drawing from one or more cultures. If I can find a way to make them fit together, I can then go in and add details. And by details on characters, I mean that I usually look at patterning on things, or on unusual shapes in the human body. I'm sort of wierd when it comes to drawing bodies, though, because I like them better when they look imperfect. I like for things to look like they've been previously broken or like the person has weak muscles or whatever. It's just a preference of style. If I can recommend anything, it would be to observe everything you can when you look at anything in life, whether it be people, objects, landscapes, or whatever, and to practice, practice, practice. You will not get better if you don't practice. You get rusty, and you won't progress that way. Also, when you do practice, don't throw stuff away, and get critiques on your work. Pay attention to people who point out specific things, and either correct or take note of them. People who just say "I don't like it" are usually not worth your time to listen to, but if they take the time to show you what needs work, pay attention.

Also, it wouldn't hurt to do excercises in order to challenge yourself. Either make some up for yourself, or have someone else do so. (Art teachers are wonderful for this.) This will give you parameters to work in, and compel you to work more as well.

A good trick is to take 5 minutes a day to try and draw something. Which means each day try to think of something and draw it within 5 minutes. Doing these quick drawings/graphics will help to keep you sharp and creative.

In fact, some professional artists do this more than once per day. Except they usually sketch it out on paper and throw it away afterwards. You're not supposed to keep that artwork because it makes you stay in that same style and doesn't allow you to grow as an artist.

You should go out of your way to try and do different styles of art just to get experience in different things. If you're always drawing a certain way then all of your work will look the same. You want to be able to work in such a way that you could make two different graphics and nobody could tell they were by the same person. :)

Do you really think I can only pixel? ^^

Of the drawings I've seen, they're not very impressive.

I've never seen otherwise. But then I don't think I've ever shown off my artwork, such as my Oil paintings on these forums. And I don't intend to until I make something I truly like.

Who cares about Elk. Not me.

This thread is for my little buddy Killerogue. Love you man, keep up the good stuff. You'll get better at GFX when the time is right.

Why do you use oil rather than... acrylic, for example?

Cause acrylic blows.

I disagree entirely, although I also don't have any experience with oil paint and happen to hate painting in general.

Acrylics colors are too unrealistic. You can't get a good color thats more realistic, and good looking. Acrylic paints are also a ***** to..."remove." You'd have to spend forever using water to take out the paint if you messed up. Because lord knows it would take longer to do the layers of paint it would take to cover it up. Another downside to Acrylics! You have to layer many times! Once or twice will do it with oils. Sure you have to give oil paint a week to dry. The feel of them is more natural, resulting in better brush strokes. Oil paint is very versatile, you can use them for almost any style of painting. Oil Paints where the choice of the masters, and rightly so.

Anyways, back on topic. Although not entirely. I found that learning to paint helped me improve on my graphics skills, surprisingly enough.

You havent seen a drawing, you have seen sketches ;)

So would his godliness like to post a drawing?

xD

Hmm maybe I should post my Jimi Hendrix drawing. =)