> > It looks like you are referencing other artist's work.
> > Not that there's anything really wrong with that.
>
That is a good way to get the feel for doing detail and
basing structures; learning how to exaggerate basic shapes
to make things look correct and sit in the right positions.
> > But why not reference actual animal pictures?
>
You have to be fairly well developed in your skill set to
reference from photographs (and know what you are drawing
if working from your head!), otherwise the background
knowledge and skills are not present and the result will be
poor. You have to know how to interpret what you see;
which you learn to do via referencing a simplified version
of a picture - that is, one someone else has drawn!
Artists like Show Howell's (King Cheeta) older works are
good for this and for a loose drawing style. JMH's work is
very detailed and very tight - not good for a beginner
artist to learn from for the same reasons photos are no
good- too much detail for a beginner!
> > Try and draw the animal exactly as you see them. Once
> > you can draw something as you see it,
> > you can begin to make art on your own without
> > referencing other works.
>
This is good advice, but you need many, many years of
practise to get to this level. As mentioned, if you don't
know what to look for, then you will get 'strange' results
and won't now why or how to fix it. Practise basic faces,
different feature types (all the different ways to draw
eyes for example) is time well spent. It teaches you to
look for differences.
> > Then you won't have to worry about elements of you
> > style looking the same.
>
It is how you put down a line that affects much of your
style. If you are referencing someone else's work for just
the structure (basic placement and shapes of parts), then
it is very unlikely to have a result that is similar other
than having the flow correct if the original was done
properly. Structuring is not tracing - you may go over an
outline of a reference to show where something goes, but
you still draw your own detail line over the top (eg, put
your own fur ruffs in).
> > just want my muzzles to look right...
>
"right" is a stylistic thing. Realistic versus manga are
quite different, so it depends on what you are wanting.
> ....im new at
> this so im not sure if im seeign al my replays.
>
New members are put in moderated mode until they prove they
are sensible and not spam bots, hence the initial delay.
> how i post new art here
> so your guys can see waht m up too!?
>
The files section of the group (access via the Yahoo Groups
Skunkworks page) is for Jim and Des' characters and
associated fan art and fan fiction. That is, the picture
or story has to feature on of their characters.
Scrapper, Black Dragon, developing artist.
Received on Sun May 18 2008 - 21:53:10 CDT