How do I get myself out of this slum?

Question

I just started drawing at the end of July I think. I'm really interested in anime and manga. I've tried to practice drawing, but I get really discouraged when I can't do something right or I can't find a way to teach me how to draw the things I want to draw. For example, I've been trying to find a way to draw hands better, but every book I look at has a very minimal section for hands...and they're already finished and look good. I also want to take an anatomy class, but I don't think any of the (very rural) schools out here give an anatomy class.
Another of my problems is that I have one really awesome drawing and I want to ink it and finish it completely, but I don't want to mess up the hair and make it look different. It looks awesome in pencil, but it's smearing all over the place. Does anyone have any advice for either of my questions?
I've tried to start drawing again, but I think I intimidate myself...HELP! I want to get out of this drawingless slum...but how?

Answer 1

Here's a few steps to help make things go smoother for you:

1. Relax. One sure way to wreck a work of art is with a perfectionist attitude. If you're in the ball park with what you wanted to get on paper, sometimes that's good enough.

2. Go to your local library or bookstore, and check out these titles: "Dynamic Figure Drawing" by Burne Hogarth, and "Dynamic Anatomy" by Burne Hogarth. These books are literally the bible for cartoonists when it comes to learning how to draw all parts of the human body.

3. For the hair, try inking it in with a #2 watercolor brush, preferably a good quality one such as a Windsor and Newton Series 7 watercolor round. Brushes allow you to apply ink that follows the natural strands and highlights of the hair, and you can stroke in lines (hairs) as thickly or finely as you need.

4. Remember that even the pros have bad days, and that the only way over these humps is to practice. Every drawing you do will teach you how to do the next one, and that process holds true for the rest of your life.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Course we're grateful. To have someone like yourself amongst us is an experience never to be forgotten. Though I thought bringing your own personal builder to make sure your head got through the door was perhaps slightly over the top.

Answer 3

Maybe these will help:

http://artwiki.wikidot.com/anatomy-people-links

If you've only been drawing since July, and you describe one of your drawings as awesome, you've obviously found a craft you enjoy, and that's cause for celebration! I'd say, get lots of blank paper, and practice practice practice. Don't agonize over each page, but number each one starting at 0. If you draw 100 pages of hands, take numbers 0, 10, 20, ... , 100 out of the pile and you'll see your progress.

By the way, I can't draw.

Answer 4

As to drawing hands, I'd suggest a medical anatomy book, one that shows the bones and joints in hands. Thinking of them as connected lengths of bone rather than a whole is one thing that helped me with hands.
Now with your pencil drawings, two ideas. First, to keep them from smearing I'd suggest getting some non-sticky fixative spray. Second, if you can scan your pencil drawings, then you can have a digital copy, so you can ink the original.
Drawing can be scary, for the very reasons you've talked about, but it also fun and rewarding. Just keep practicing and remember that not every drawing has to be great. Enjoy the act and the results for what they are.

Answer 5

Ignore the first two bad comments. I live with an extremely talented artist. He can draw just about anything but i hear the same things from him you are saying. There are certain things he can draw well without much thought. Other things he has to study every time he begins to draw them. Use the internet to look up books about drawing anatomy. It helps. Keep practicing. Also try drawing things from another perspective. Like upside down. Don't give up! Good luck to you and keep trying!

Answer 6

You're pretty frustrated out there. Try get a crash course in drawing.

Answer 7

As far as the learning to draw, it takes time. I've been at it for years and hands still take some time to get them how I like them. They're hard. You aren't going to get them down overnight. Take some basic design and drawing courses. You need to get the basics down before you attack cartoon and illustration. Knowing the basics allows you to distort in illustrative ways.
If you want to ink your drawing, but are worried about ruining to original, buy a workable fixativ to spray the first one with, that was the pencil won't smudge. Then take some tracing paper and trace your original. Then you can work with it in any style you want. Ink, paint, whatever. You can also add to it, or make changes as you may see fit the more you work with it. Then you'll have your original and your inked, etc.

Answer 8

You need a jolt. Try a physical boost. Pick a day and drink two cups of coffee in a row and watch a cheesy inspirational movie. Stay up late, take a lunesta sleeping pill, sleep very late the next day. I guarantee you will have a revived sense of things.

Answer 9

Anatomy goes with everything! You should work on one thing when working with art, it seems your like Monet, working with Impressionalistic drawings.

Answer 10

To keep your pencil drawings safe.....they sell fixative at most art stores....you'll spray this ontop of the drawing....it keeps it from smudging.


To work on your inking skills without messing up the "one good piece"......invest in some tracing paper.....this will allow you to mess up as much as you want on the inking but always retain that original drawing....