Has anyone here read the Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain book? My sisters just started taking a course in this and recommended it to me, so I'm starting to dig into it a bit. Apparently it's helped them improve a lot already.
I seriously need to get back into this - my Intuos 4 is getting dusty.
I usually prefer charcoal as a medium. Unfortunately, despite spraying my pieces with hairspray, I have neglected them for 13 years and waited way too long to digitize them. So they are a bit faded =(
And now I can't find them... gah!
Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain is a pivotal book. It is the foundation of my art training along with Bridgman's Constructive Anatomy.
From Ghostship's link,
I think this is an awesome image. The colors are super vibrant. The abstracted nature and lack of fine details emphasizes those colors to me. I'm not a huge art history guy, but I think this nails what modern art (impressionist specifically) is all about. You capture an element and really emphasize that element by toning down the non relevant bits.
Wow, you guys are totally flattering.
You know, it is actually me struggling to paint exactly what I see, instead of what I think I know? The bottom is the original still life photograph and the top is me trying to paint it. It's as rough as it is, because it's done sitting on the couch while watching TV after the kids go to bed, in the little window of time before my eyes close on their own for the day.
I can't draw hair like that.
Hair is an absolute pain in the backside 'cause it takes me freaking ages.
I was going to try to describe the way I do it here in case that helps, but it's difficult to describe. I think the next sketch I do I'll try to remember to take some photos at various stages of completion.
This thread inspired me to get back to drawing again this week, so if I can locate a scanner I'll upload the results in a bit.
***
ok, I added the image to the "Post a Picture - Something you Created thread". Thought it maybe made more sense to post finished pics there and keep this thread free for the advice side of things.
Has anyone here read the Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain book? My sisters just started taking a course in this and recommended it to me, so I'm starting to dig into it a bit. Apparently it's helped them improve a lot already.
Have it and read it, never applied it. If I can find my copy I will lend to a Goodjer if they are interested.
(off to search through boxes)
Edit: Found it, if anyone is interested PM me.
Pawz wrote:Has anyone here read the Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain book? My sisters just started taking a course in this and recommended it to me, so I'm starting to dig into it a bit. Apparently it's helped them improve a lot already.
Have it and read it, never applied it. If I can find my copy I will lend to a Goodjer if they are interested.
(off to search through boxes)
Edit: Found it, if anyone is interested PM me.
Same here. A coworker has it, but if anyone wants it, let me know.
Has anyone here read the Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain book? My sisters just started taking a course in this and recommended it to me, so I'm starting to dig into it a bit. Apparently it's helped them improve a lot already.
I seriously need to get back into this - my Intuos 4 is getting dusty.
RE Intuos:
The mental leap of drawing "here" and looking "there" was too much for me to get over. I got a motion computing LE1600 on Kijjiji (a local used Craig's List type thing, not sure how global it is) for $150. That gives me a protable digital sketchbook for what I paid for my first Wacom Graphire.
*edit* of course a pencil and paper will cost you less than $1.
Do all of the exercises in Drawing On The Right Side of the Brain. I plan to re-do them here soon. She also sheds a lot of light on why drawing is so frustrating and the "mistakes" you are making; or more appropriately the mental leaps you are not making (symbol system, seeing what is there, ignoring your left brain's tendency to group, classify and skim over detail).
The direction I seem to be taking is more toward digital artwork. I stumbled on digital painting in my drawing studies, and have really taken to it. I upgraded my drawing tablet from a Wacom Bamboo, to the Wacom Intuos 4 (medium). I got the Intuos today from an ebay seller for a really good price, and it's brand new. I'm already in love with it.
I have sketched so much today that I lost track of time and my hand was hurting. I am reading many books on drawing & painting, and have been watching lots of videos on youtube, and learning a ton.
In my travels, I came across this really cool freeform sketching utility, called Alchemy. It's open-source, and thus completely free. The description from the site:
Alchemy is an open drawing project aimed at exploring how we can sketch, draw, and create on computers in new ways. Alchemy isn’t software for creating finished artwork, but rather a sketching environment that focuses on the absolute initial stage of the creation process. Experimental in nature, Alchemy lets you brainstorm visually to explore an expanded range of ideas and possibilities in a serendipitous way.
Also, I was wondering if anyone has experience with Sketchbook Pro? I have some questions if anyone knows about it.
Also, I was wondering if anyone has experience with Sketchbook Pro? I have some questions if anyone knows about it.
I've played with it a bit over the years with my old Wacom Intuos 2. Ask away.
Jeff-66 wrote:Also, I was wondering if anyone has experience with Sketchbook Pro? I have some questions if anyone knows about it.
I've played with it a bit over the years with my old Wacom Intuos 2. Ask away.
Thanks. My main question has to do with pencils. When I use a pencil, regardless of thickness (2H, 4B, etc), the drawn lines are almost always thin. I was wondering how people go about getting shading out of the pencil. Is it always a matter of setting up custom brushes, or am I missing something? It seems to me that the pencil tool should have more controls, like tilt, angle, etc.
Bonus_Eruptus wrote:Jeff-66 wrote:Also, I was wondering if anyone has experience with Sketchbook Pro? I have some questions if anyone knows about it.
I've played with it a bit over the years with my old Wacom Intuos 2. Ask away.
Thanks. My main question has to do with pencils. When I use a pencil, regardless of thickness (2H, 4B, etc), the drawn lines are almost always thin. I was wondering how people go about getting shading out of the pencil. Is it always a matter of setting up custom brushes, or am I missing something? It seems to me that the pencil tool should have more controls, like tilt, angle, etc.
I haven't used it in awhile, but I seem to remember it being fairly responsive to the tilt/angle/pressure of the pen out of the box. I'll check when I get home.
I haven't used it in awhile, but I seem to remember it being fairly responsive to the tilt/angle/pressure of the pen out of the box. I'll check when I get home.
That's why I feel like I'm missing something. Using the default pencil tool, and regardless of the lead style chosen, I get variation in pressure (darker/lighter lines), but not in tilt or angle -- which should result in wider lines. Thanks for checking on it.
Bonus_Eruptus wrote:I haven't used it in awhile, but I seem to remember it being fairly responsive to the tilt/angle/pressure of the pen out of the box. I'll check when I get home.
That's why I feel like I'm missing something. Using the default pencil tool, and regardless of the lead style chosen, I get variation in pressure (darker/lighter lines), but not in tilt or angle -- which should result in wider lines. Thanks for checking on it.
I may be confusing it with Painter 8, which I also haven't used for awhile and should probably put up for sale/trade.
Despite steady improvement with line art, I can't seem to get a start on shading. If it's just one or two levels of shade I do fine, but I'd like to try doing a more natural type where everything just sort of blend into each other. Aside from knowledge of the technique, I also wrestle with the software. Corel Painter 11 is feature-packed, but I'm having a tough time navigating through all the tools when what I want to do feels like it can be accomplished more easily. Must be that I don't know the software well.
Despite steady improvement with line art, I can't seem to get a start on shading. If it's just one or two levels of shade I do fine, but I'd like to try doing a more natural type where everything just sort of blend into each other. Aside from knowledge of the technique, I also wrestle with the software. Corel Painter 11 is feature-packed, but I'm having a tough time navigating through all the tools when what I want to do feels like it can be accomplished more easily. Must be that I don't know the software well.
As for tool navigation in CP11, you can create a custom tool palette. From the brush bar (default in top right corner), drag a brush variant onto an empty region, like so:
Upon dropping it, it will automatically create a new brush set palette, such as:
Then you can drag any other brush variant to this palette, or create new brush sets by dragging to an empty area again.
As for shading, I'm right there with ya. I'm trying to learn how the great ones use layers to achieve shading values to great effect, and so far not having much luck.
Thanks for the tips. For the technique, I've been looking for a detailed tutorial online but so far just people from deviant offering broad advice. 
For what it's worth ...
Amazon has Anime Studio Debut 7 and Manga Studio Debut 4, both reg. $50, on sale for $14.99 (each) today only.
Tagging for later. Thanks in advance for the tips.
This seems like an awesome tool for artists. I can't wait to try it at home to brush up on my gesture drawing. Obviously live models are better than photos or jpegs on a computer but this is so much more convenient.
You can select from nudes or clothed males or females and there is even an animal gesture section. I'm at work so my experience with it is limited. But what I've seen is very promising!
http://www.pixelovely.com/tools/gest...
Oh btw this is not spam. I know I haven't been active in a while. I'm in a play (as a juror in "The Last Days of Judas Iscariot") and taking a drama class at a local community college. I would kill for a moment or two of free time. (despite the fact that I am having a blast!)
This seems like an awesome tool for artists. I can't wait to try it at home to brush up on my gesture drawing. Obviously live models are better than photos or jpegs on a computer but this is so much more convenient.
You can select from nudes or clothed males or females and there is even an animal gesture section. I'm at work so my experience with it is limited. But what I've seen is very promising!
Hey, just checked that out, that is pretty cool. Bookmarked. Thanks!
Btw, I ordered Manga Studio Debut 4. I figure it can't hurt to add an interesting looking art program to the repertoire, esp at 70% off.
Amazon had a deal this morning on a Wacom tablet but it was sold out before I could even resolve my should-I-or-shouldn't-I dilemma.
the link where he got some of the images are from another good site which I've had bookmarked for a while : http://www.characterdesigns.com/. lots of good source model images there as well, under photosets.
NSFW
This seems like an awesome tool for artists.
http://www.pixelovely.com/tools/gest...
neato - that's getting bookmarked, ta.
the link where he got some of the images are from another good site which I've had bookmarked for a while : http://www.characterdesigns.com/. lots of good source model images there as well, under photosets (many NSFW).
woops, yes - should probably have mentioned that 
Does that character designs site have the animal reference too?
Does that character designs site have the animal reference too?
no, just people I think.
looking at the gesture site it looks like at least some of the animal references are from Irie Stock and thiselectricheart via deviantart. I don't think those are likely to be NSFW but approach with caution just in case
Posemaniacs.com
Timed display of anatomical models (CG) from every camera angle in many poses.
This seems to be another staple of the sketchbooks threads at conceptart.org.
Posemaniacs.com
Timed display of anatomical models (CG) from every camera angle in many poses.
This seems to be another staple of the sketchbooks threads at conceptart.org.
That site is excellent! You can spin the model around, turn a grid on & off, and make it full screen. Another one added to the bookmarks.
For those wondering about 30 second gesture drawing, here is a youtube video on the exercise
You can correct yourself by realizing that one tiny detail change can spiral inaccuracies throught your whole drawing.
That's one thing I've noticed as I've learned ... that a small change can make a big difference, good or bad.
There are a few different types of contour drawing, blind and semi blind. Blind means you cannot look at your paper when drawing. You must focus on your subject/reference.
Semi blind means that you can periodically look at you paper to check placement but must look at your subject/reference when drawing. Usually this means that you draw in tiny little lines, alternating between looking at your source while drawing and checking your drawing for placement.
Blind contour teaches you to get the impression of the shapes of your subject.
Semi blind contour really trains your eye to focus and to understand slight nuances that will help with proportions. Semi blind contour makes drawing more like a puzzle. You can correct yourself by realizing that one tiny detail change can spiral inaccuracies throughout your whole drawing.
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