I need technical skills?

Question

I absolutely have to learn how to paint properly. I've been painting for a year, but none of my paintings have any depth whatsoever. I'm 15 and none of the art classes in school have provided me with the knowledge I need. I can't draw or paint anything that looks realistic. So far, it's all been cartoony nonsense and scribbley nothings. Anyway, I need some tips and maybe a site that would give me what I'm looking for. Thanks a lot in advance.

Answer 1

well, One thing you need to do, whatever you do in your life is practice, practice, practice. The more you practise, the better it is.
Now, let me give you some tips I use for teaching my students. tip 1: try not tu judge your drawing as good or bad. Do not focus on result, as it can paralize you and take away the energy for learning.
tip 2: Try to get the book: Drawing on The Right Side Of the Brain" by Betty Edwards. Her whole life work is devoted, how to help students draw and paint after a model, as fast as possibl.e She uses the knowledge about brain functioning, to help people draw.
tip 3: make as many croquies (spelling?) in as little time. Croquie is a fast, small drawing. I usually give my students 2 minutes for one drawing and shorten the time till half a minute. The fatser they need to draw the less they think, and the results are better. Drawing enimals, and things in motion is also a great exercise, to help your hand and eye develope fast.
tip 4: try to get a teacherm or to get enroled to some drawing course
tip: work after a model (draw what you see) as much as you can. It does not matter what you draw, as long as the object and the the person are ineteresting for you. For the begining avoid coping from photographs and other drawings, or if you do so, do it paralel to drawing 3D objects too.
well, this much is for a beggining. i wish you all the best. I also hope you will enjoy your learning of drawing! :-)

Answer 2

First try practicing with a simple still life
begin by lightly sketching out the shapes of the objects in front of you with a very light or watered down shade of paint that you will be able to paint over later. you can increase the depth by including a background. After you've added the the base colors to the objects your're painting remember to include highlights and shading and cast shadows. HIghlights and shadows can create and illusion of depth or weight within the painting.
If your still struggling it might help to look at other realistic paintings.
last but not least: Atmoshperic Perspective. Look it up.

Answer 3

Have you ever painted with real life refrences? that is the best way. Also there are great books on color theory and anatomy, etc. take one of your "cartoons", and amd change the proportions so that it is more realistic. its all in the proportions. for example, make the eyes smaller, or stretch out the head a bit more.