Ponythread Learns to Draw II

[Maxtronaut]

Post what you like, dude.

Oh, okay.

Well, today I drew Gunter. I feel accomplished.

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[/IMG]

Sorry about the large image.

[the_druid_droid]

We're only allowed to post tablet-made drawing here, right?

Let me just emphasize from the OP:

What Can We Draw?

Draw anything that inspires you! Although my own work will probably focus on ponies and other cartoon art, the purpose of this thread is to draw, and it's easiest to draw things you like. Thus, feel free to post pictures of people, stick figures, dragons, landscapes, ponies, still life pieces, or anything that makes you want to draw.

Although a lot of us use tablets, there are zero restrictions on what sort of art you throw up here (within board-mandated guidelines, of course), so knock yourself out!

[Madcrafter]

Day 224:

To go with Gunter, have the Ice King.

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Time: 2 and a bit hours
Music: Pony

[Thanqol]

Day 224:

To go with Gunter, have the Ice King.

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Time: 2 and a bit hours
Music: Pony

Good heavens, you're putting that tablet to good use. Well done.

[Maxtronaut]

Well fudgewaffles. Creativity block. I need ideas. Somepony feed me ideas so that I may sustain my need to learn how to draw!

...Please?

[Tiki Snakes]

Draw ponies?
Draw my OC, Bleakmane the space vampire unicorn princess? (see avatar).

Uh, some more serious, or at least less selfish suggestions...
Draw someone with a dark and terrible secret.
Draw one of the 30 days of monstergirls challenge ideas.
Draw a 1920's jazz musician style android.
Ancient Egyptian themed scifi gang members.
A ridiculously overblown gothic styled airship.
an absurd hat.
Someone who is conflicted between loneliness/sadness and bitter anger.
a happy idiot.
The wise fool.
A spirit of joy, corrupted and hungry.
A doorway that should not have been opened.
A lost city
An eccentric explorer...through time!
pulp fiction style prehistoric panorama of peril!
A futuristic corporate logo.
Bohemian furniture
Clockwork creatures
A gunslinger fending off the shambling dead
a mysterious stranger

Ponified versions of the above.

[Maxtronaut]

*ideas*

You just sustained my mission for another 35 days. Thanks a bunch.

[Maxtronaut]

You know what? This is not going to work, ever. Explanation below.

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My drawing skills have been bull from the start, no amout of drawing willchange that. Whenever I have time to draw, I get mediocre sketcher's block. When I get an idea for something to draw, I get my hopes up and try, only for the end result to look like it was drawn by a foolhardy blind man.

The artists that inspired me to try to learn to draw are all complete experts with thousands of dollars worth of equipment, or both. Neither of which I have.

The final nail in the artistic coffin was actually hammered today. The very minute I pledge to myself that I will draw at least one drawing per day, I bust my wrist up so bad that I have to type this message with one hand. Even life itself wishes for my dream to be all for naught.

Well, that's all I have. I have an $80 piece of plastic that works half the time that I doubt I'll be using anymore. Who wants it?

[Thanqol]

You know what? This is not going to work, ever. Explanation below.

My drawing skills have been bull from the start, no amout of drawing willchange that. Whenever I have time to draw, I get mediocre sketcher's block. When I get an idea for something to draw, I get my hopes up and try, only for the end result to look like it was drawn by a foolhardy blind man.

The artists that inspired me to try to learn to draw are all complete experts with thousands of dollars worth of equipment, or both. Neither of which I have.

This is complete ridiculous asinine nonsense. This is a defeatist lie and completely wrong. This is a self-serving justification for regression and sloth and you should have no part in it.

The final nail in the artistic coffin was actually hammered today. The very minute I pledge to myself that I will draw at least one drawing per day, I bust my wrist up so bad that I have to type this message with one hand. Even life itself wishes for my dream to be all for naught.

Well, that's all I have. I have an $80 piece of plastic that works half the time that I doubt I'll be using anymore. Who wants it?

And this is an upsetting occurrence that, while I am sorry for you, you are allowing to completely rule you. If you allow your motivation and dreams to be destroyed over such a relatively minor thing then you are setting in motion a pattern that will haunt you for the rest of your life.

Do you want a world where that's true? Do you want a world where a hand injury is sufficient to send you into a downward spiral, abandoning everything you love and work towards?

Or do you want to learn how to draw left handed?

[Tiki Snakes]

If you don't want to do it, don't do it.
If you want to, do it. That's all there is to this.

If you want to make a start on doing regular art but your wrist is bust, learn to vector. Problem solved.
If you don't, then put the tab in a drawer and come back to it when you are better. It's not going to stop working anytime soon. Mine is like, I don't know. Old. Twelve years plus, I think. It'll keep.

There's no need for drama.

[Thanqol]

I just want to go a step further to clarify the whole 'thousands of dollars of professional equipment' thing.

This was done by a guy with the exact same program and tablet I use.

That's good enough for me.

[Tiki Snakes]

Also, I think its worth putting this in perspective.
http://francis001.deviantart.com/
Click the link. Explore the gallery.

Read the latest blog post concerning the artist himself.
You're going to be fine, Max.

[Madcrafter]

Drawthread, Always good for a boot in rear to get you going. I was going to suggest using your other hand too, if you really consider yourself to be so terrible anyways. But really, how do you think the experts you think you will never achieve the level of got there? Every journey has a first step, and those people didn't get to skip that. Give your hand a chance to heal, but don't immediately throw everything away just because of one setback.

Good heavens, you're putting that tablet to good use. Well done.

Why thank you. I'm a little concerned that I've already worn down the nib halfway; is that how they make their money?

I also seem to be using up basically all of my free time, which is somewhat concerning. I meant to learn the basics of Python tonight, but its a little late now. I haven't even played a video game in a while, let alone all the serious stuff I have to do.

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Day 225:

I got a bunch of minuscule glass fibre bits stuck in my hands today, so they feel like they have ants biting under the skin. Gave up on the tablet, and just did an ponytar request for that thread using my mouse.

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Time: Few hours, but watching tv at the same time.
Music: None

[Thanqol]

Why thank you. I'm a little concerned that I've already worn down the nib halfway; is that how they make their money?

I've only had to replace my nib twice, so I'm not sure what that is.

I also seem to be using up basically all of my free time, which is somewhat concerning. I meant to learn the basics of Python tonight, but its a little late now. I haven't even played a video game in a while, let alone all the serious stuff I have to do.

This is a huge feature and not a bug.

Drawing is fun, and it's an extremely high level of fun. Over the course of learning to draw I've played less and less video games to the point of almost dropping them from my life entirely. You'll automatically shake the low-value entertainment media out of your schedule to make time for the awesome ones.

[Dispozition]

You guys have killed nibs? I was using my wacom quite seriously for over a year and I press hard and my nib is still well and truly still good to go with over 3/4s of the nib left...

What are you guys doing D:

[Thanqol]

You guys have killed nibs? I was using my wacom quite seriously for over a year and I press hard and my nib is still well and truly still good to go with over 3/4s of the nib left...

What are you guys doing D:

Maybe it's because I keep grinding my stylus against my skull throne while contemplating judgement of the unworthy.

Krrrkrkrkrkrrk

[Maxtronaut]

Look, I think its apparent by now that I rant before everything has a chance to figure itself out. The wrist will be working again in a few days, and I'm sorry for subjecting you guys to my venting. It's not healthy, I know.

Thanqol, the whole "thousands of dollars" thing is because some of those higher up artists have crazy good computer programs and such to help 'em out. Then again, a lot of them have also been drawing their entire lives.

Finally, while my tablet is a bit glitchy, it works fine after a couple of restarts, and I just need to get the hang of it before I can really get to draw on it.

TL;DR: I'm sorry about what I said earlier, and I should be back to drawing in a few days. *hugs thread*

[Thanqol]

Thanqol, the whole "thousands of dollars" thing is because some of those higher up artists have crazy good computer programs and such to help 'em out. Then again, a lot of them have also been drawing their entire lives.

Yeah, but the high levels of Photoshop have user manuals that resemble instructions for launching a commercial jetliner and people work in teams of 15 to 30 to get stuff done. More expensive kit doesn't make stuff easier, it lets you do more things.

Which is useless if you don't know the basics.

Finally, while my tablet is a bit glitchy, it works fine after a couple of restarts, and I just need to get the hang of it before I can really get to draw on it.

TL;DR: I'm sorry about what I said earlier, and I should be back to drawing in a few days. *hugs thread*

S'cool man. The good comes with the bad and the trick is always seeing both at once.

[Bayar]

What programs do you guys use for drawing ? I find Inkscape to be tedious with a tablet.

[Thanqol]

What programs do you guys use for drawing ? I find Inkscape to be tedious with a tablet.

I like Paint Tool SAI; it does everything I need it to do. There's a 40 day free trial if you look 'em up.

[Madcrafter]

I might come back and edit this to make it more coherent once I get back to my computer.

This is a huge feature and not a bug.

Drawing is fun, and it's an extremely high level of fun. Over the course of learning to draw I've played less and less video games to the point of almost dropping them from my life entirely. You'll automatically shake the low-value entertainment media out of your schedule to make time for the awesome ones.

I don't do the drawing for fun though. Sometimes it is, but it's usually just mechanical blankness, the same kind as I would get playing a mindless video game, which is not usually the kind of game I'll play. In my opinion, you are comparing apples to oranges. I draw mostly out of a sense of duty and the chance to develop a mildly useful skill that is somewhat interesting; when I play games (of any kind) it is for the thrill of competition, to listen to a story, or to exercise the mind, as well as to socialize over sometimes with friends. To me, art and games fall into different categories, which makes one taking over time from the other a small cause for concern. It's not a huge deal though.

As for programs, I use Photoshop exclusively, though that is mostly because I've never really tried anything else.

[flyingchicken]

but it's usually just mechanical blankness

this is why I don't think you'll ever improve

[Madcrafter]

this is why I don't think you'll ever improve

I know I don't spend the time to think about these things as I should. Composition, colour, all that stuff, I plan, but I don't really ever think about them, and they suffer for it. While I'm drawing I go into this very zen disengagement, where time passes and stuff happens, but I don't really notice it.

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Day 226:

Sandwhiched between events, I get a chance to draw.

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Time: 1h
Music: None

[Maxtronaut]

Sandwhiched between events, I get a chance to draw.

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Time: 1h
Music: None

I believe the following is appropriate.

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[the_druid_droid]

Maybe it's because I keep grinding my stylus against my skull throne while contemplating judgement of the unworthy.

Krrrkrkrkrkrrk

Now that you bring it up, this is really the only way I can imagine you sitting in front of a tablet.

[Thanqol]

I know I don't spend the time to think about these things as I should. Composition, colour, all that stuff, I plan, but I don't really ever think about them, and they suffer for it. While I'm drawing I go into this very zen disengagement, where time passes and stuff happens, but I don't really notice it.

You're missing an incredibly important step in not doing this. Me, personally, the most amazing way to get engaged is to imitate interesting new styles. Mix it up! Make deconstruction a challenge for your brain! Work out what brushes, colours and effects you're going to need to pull something off!

Just staring at pictures and thinking about how to do that is invaluable.

[Maxtronaut]

Wrist is almost fixed up, should be back in working order by tomorrow. Anywho, I have a question.

I sometimes find art styles that I try to redo in order to just get better at stuff and maybe find out how my personal style looks. Unfortunately, every time I try, the recreation ends up looking like a twisted version that even Tim Burton would cringe at. Is there a reason for this?

[Djinn_in_Tonic]

I sometimes find art styles that I try to redo in order to just get better at stuff and maybe find out how my personal style looks. Unfortunately, every time I try, the recreation ends up looking like a twisted version that even Tim Burton would cringe at. Is there a reason for this?

The main reason that most art instructors would tell you is that usually an exaggerated style comes from an artist who knows how to draw realistically, and has chosen to emphasize certain elements for certain reasons.

This isn't true across the board, but learning to draw realistically can indeed really help you when you try to duplicate an artists style, or when you try to figure out your own style.

[Tiki Snakes]

Wrist is almost fixed up, should be back in working order by tomorrow. Anywho, I have a question.

I sometimes find art styles that I try to redo in order to just get better at stuff and maybe find out how my personal style looks. Unfortunately, every time I try, the recreation ends up looking like a twisted version that even Tim Burton would cringe at. Is there a reason for this?

perhaps it's as simple as the distinction between creation and recreation?

[Thanqol]

Wrist is almost fixed up, should be back in working order by tomorrow. Anywho, I have a question.

I sometimes find art styles that I try to redo in order to just get better at stuff and maybe find out how my personal style looks. Unfortunately, every time I try, the recreation ends up looking like a twisted version that even Tim Burton would cringe at. Is there a reason for this?

"My personal style" is an excuse and you should not attempt nor enable any development of one. Experiment on as broad a selection of styles and mediums as possible and your own style will become emergent from that naturally; and even then must be repeatedly cut down if it's just lazy behaviour.

Also there are so many foundational principles of linework, proportion and composition that'll take months to get your head around. Try to pick up some basic tutorials and art books, learn the really simple stuff like how to draw consistent circles, lines, and shapes. Break it down.