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...