I'm Lost

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by Galdor

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

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

[Draenin]

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.

[konidias]

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.

[Elk]

Originally Posted by coreys

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.

Do you really think I can only pixel?

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by Elk

Do you really think I can only pixel?

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

[coreys]

Originally Posted by Elk

Do you really think I can only pixel?

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.

[Demisis_P2P]

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.

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by coreys

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.

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

[coreys]

Originally Posted by Stephen

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

Cause acrylic blows.

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by coreys

Cause acrylic blows.

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

[coreys]

Originally Posted by Stephen

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.

[Elk]

Originally Posted by Stephen

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

You havent seen a drawing, you have seen sketches

[Zideruic]

So would his godliness like to post a drawing?

[coreys]

Originally Posted by Zideruic

So would his godliness like to post a drawing?

xD

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