Advice on enhancing my drawings/paintings?

Question

I'm an art lover I've always enjoyed going to museums and drawing... but lately I've been so occupied with work and school that I haven't found time to draw. I want to sketch and paint again in my spare time. I'm not a great artist, I do enjoy it very much but I would love to learn how to sketch and paint. Are there any specific pencils/charcoals you would recommend to me? Basically...I want to enhance my skills, and I wanna go art supply shopping soon, lol.

Thanks in advance

Answer 1

You don't need killer supplies to do art. Most of the "tools" I use I get a Wally World. Brushes, pencils and such. I use a .05 pentel that use usually get two in a pack for like 3 bucks. It's filled with standard HB lead. nothing fancy and I'll put it up against anything from an art supply store. It also says Zebra 301 on it. I've used them for the last 15 years.

For paint and stuff like that it depends what I'm doing. I always buy hard bound sketch books from Waldons or a book store and to do finals I use strathmore paper. But as I said you don't need killer stuff. Just get the basics that you think you might need and feel comfy using. Just like having a killer set of clubs won't help my slice, killer supplies won't help you become better unless you work at it.

The important thing isn't what you use but how you do it. You youself said you're not that good and right there I'm willing to bet you're better than you think. It just takes practice, patience and a sence of humor when you screw something up. I've been doing this for over 30 years and believe me a sense of humor when dealing with your own stuff will go a long way. There are still times that I sketch something out and it's the biggest turd on paper but I thought it was a good idea. You're only going to get out of this what you put into it. You may not want to become the next Rembrant and you don't have to. You may be happy just doing stick figures. It doesn't matter what level you are as long as you enjoy doing what you're doing. If you want to be killer than by all means get some books or videos and talk to people that are doing it and get as much info you can and practice your butt off working to get better. If you just want to do stuff for yourself and work at a slower pace you can do that too. This is art, there is no one way to do things. Be what you want to be, do what you want to do and be happy with it. As Bob Ross used to put it, "It's your world you can create what you want."

I know where you coming from about the time thing. I used to have a ton of it then my daughter came along and now I hardly have any. No complaints, just the way things are. Since you don't have the time set up a small work space that's comfy and has your stuff ready. That way you won't have to worry about pulling everything out and setting up everytime you want to work. It will just be waiting and calling to you, "Come and use me, make me feel cheap!".(LOL!)

You already have the desire to do it and that's a good start. As I said where you take it is up to you. Have fun with it and good luck!

Answer 2

Prisma colors pencils are nice. Haven't found a huge variation in charcoals, but be sure to buy a spray fixative for your charcoal drawings or one smear can ruin your mood. Get plenty of kneaded erasers, too and good, soft drawing pencils. (Ask for the recommendations on those at the store).
btw, They even have watercolor pencils now. Slim like a pencil and you touch a brush here and there, (barely wet), for effect.

Answer 3

You really don't need top quality materials just to build your skills. With some items though, the cheap ones do hinder your efforts--such as cheap brushes that wont produce a clean line or lose bristles in the paint. I would start out with moderate priced brushes, inexpensive paints--like liquitex, and inexpensive pencils, charcoal, conte crayons, and graphite sticks. good luck!

Answer 4

well for starting sketching, one of the things that can make alot of simple sketches look nicer is like buy a tinted paper its colored paper for chalks, an then you buy sketching pencils that come in colors there colored charcoal i think. an when you sketch it kinda has a background to it an looks interesting. when you sketch on plain white paper the white background can like scream at you (not literally lol) , an the toned pencils are calmer looking then pitch black an makes it look better until your ready for contrasts like black an white.

Answer 5

go to pearl paint. it has top notch art supplies, and the employees are very helpful.
set up some still lifes for yourself and try to notice light/shadow, proportion, and just keep your hand loose.

Answer 6

this site http://www.photo2all.com/Article/index.html has more
knowledge about painting. it can help you .

Answer 7

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