drawing question.?

Question

why cant i draw somthing from my head?..like when i look at somthing i can draw it pretty good..but if i where to want to draw..i dunno a zombie or somthing i cant do it unless i see it..it it makes its almost impossible to do my own drawings because im always drawing other stuff.

Answer 1

Even the best artists hardly draw from their minds. There's always some sort of reference if you want it to turn out well.
If you want to draw a zombie, look at a photo of a regular person as a reference. Then change some of the features to "zombie" features, like no pupils, ripped skin, stringy hair, etc.
If you want to draw an alien, base it off of a small dog. Draw a third eye, make the skin slimy instead of furry, etc.

Using a reference photograph will help you keep the proportions and shading and things like that realistic. Even experienced comic book artists usually pose in the mirror or have their friend with a beer gut pose for a Superman drawing. You just don't draw the beer gut and add arm muscles.

For example, take Disney's "The Little Mermaid". Ariel was drawn with actress Alyssa Milano as a reference model. They didn't just draw a mermaid out of their heads because there's no such thing as a real mermaid.
See how it works?

In time, you may rely less and less on references, since using them will build a stable "construction" of objects in the world that will make it easier to draw from your mind. But if you want to be a success as an artist, you'll hardly ever abandon references completely.

Answer 2

Using photographs as reference is very helpful, as it can give you unexpected inspiration. For example if your zombie has sores and cuts how about finding some images of meat products and really study the flesh. Think of the texture of his skin, is it clammy and wet like a piece of rotten fruit or soft and dry like a mushroom? Then find a picture, or even better find that actual real object and make preparatory drawings. If you're making a monster with slimy tentacles, look for the closest thing in nature such as squid and octopus images. In fact insects under the microscope are fantastic little monsters, and can give you lots of ideas.

What I personally found liberating in drawing has been learning to use the rules of perspective. That can really help you to place an imaginary object or figure in space. You can break down the character in basic geometric shapes, say a sphere for the head, a cylinder for the neck and a rectangle for the torso. Once you draw the basic 3D shapes, you can transform them in the shape of your choice. Most importantly, that can help you with creating more dynamic poses. A man in three quarter view with his arms raised high sounds ambitious, but once you see him as a combo of a few basic shapes, you can start tackling it with some foundations. Good luck!

Answer 3

Sounds like you know how to draw. I have students who can make stuff up from their heads, but it doesn't look "real". They have trouble observing and copying from reality, where it sounds like you don't.

It's absolutely fine to look at real objects or photos when you draw. If you are trying to make something look imaginary, try combining different images into one. For example, the shape of one thing, the texture of another, color of another...etc. Or try some surrealistic subject matter. Odd dreamlike images the don't "normally" go together. Look at Magritte and Dali's work.


You ARE doing your own drawings. Looking at things for ideas and inspiration is all part of being an observant artist. The more you draw from reality, the more that memory will stick in your head and you will be able to draw from your head.

Answer 4

I design a lot of things and find that strong visualization and focus make it easy to turn thoughts and concepts into drawings. So you probably need to visualize and focus a little more. Try drawing some simple three dimensional shapes from memory - like a pair of dice or a star ship (enterprise) then move to more difficult shapes.

Answer 5

pft. all that stuff about practice doesn't mean a thing. there're some people who're just better at creating their own work, and some who're better at drawing what they see. you seem to be the latter, i myself am the former. i can't draw from real life for beans...and no matter how hard i practice that's not gonna change.

it's just a thing...probably nothing you can do to change it. at least, in my experience, that the way it's been. be happy you can draw at all...

plus real life drawing makes it easier to get into art school...they dont like zombies in your portoflio too much. ;D

Answer 6

i speak from experience when i say that this is one of the harder aspects of pecil and / or ink drawings to work out
it took me a long time to figure it out.
everyone is different though, some might find this immpossible, and there are some who find it a breeze.
the best artist to artist advice here is to practice practice practice!

Answer 7

Practice, practice, practice. Start with things you like to draw. Practice. Check out your favorite artist and mimic the style (that will give you the "skeleton"). Put your style to it (that will give it the "meat"). Practice!

Answer 8

It's all about practice. Just stop putting pressure on yourself.

If you imagine it really hard, you can draw it!

Stop tellling yourself that you CAN'T which is what you are doing, and you just did right now.

Answer 9

I've done 'character' drawings for years.
Drawing 'concocted' creatures is easy.
Only you know what they look like until you draw them - then those who look at your drawings know what those creatures look like because you introduced them to those creatures.

Answer 10

i truly don't know......... i can draw from my head, memory, and looking at objects. you just have to go into another dimension of your mind.