A question for all artists.

[Syvarius]

From those drawing professionally to the guys drawing stick figures, I have a question for you.

I'll start by saying that, I'm absolutely horrible at drawing art. I make those pictures put up on the fridge by children look like Leonardo da Vinci compared to me, but that's not really what I want to talk about.

Because of my skill at drawing is...questionable at best, I realize that when I try to put something onto paper that I can see in my mind, it's as if my mind goes completely blank. I thought about it for a while, and realized that the picture in my mind is not quite as clear as it should be -- it goes blurry when I try to focus on it, and it only tends to become clearer when the image itself is in motion.
It's kind of a problem when I'm trying to draw, if everything has to move around in order to be seen.

So here are my questions for all of you, of all artists of any level.

1) If you close your eyes and try to visualize a picture, an image in your mind, how clear is it?

2) How are the colors?

3) Minute detail, textures, things like that?

4) Can you create a still image in your mind, and draw that to completion? Or is it that you might have an idea about what you want to draw, and let it evolve in the process?

5) How well can you recreate an image of something you've seen, purely from memory? If you were to look at a certain plant and the leaves, how well would you be able to go somewhere else and draw what you had just looked at?

6) How long have you been drawing? When did you get interested, and how often do you practice? Do you notice any other aspects of your life improved by what you can do artistically?

Anything else you may want to comment is welcome. This isn't a survey or anything I'm using to write anything, but purely for my own insight into the subject. I'd like to learn how to draw as it's something I'll need to do soon for something I'm working on...and my current artistic level just won't do.

Thanks in advance.

[Nixon]

Re: A question for all artists.

I draw crap...
but to answer your questions-

1) It's usually kinda fuzzy, unless it's something I have seen a lot and/or draw often.

2) Very basic, if it's a cartoon idea. If I'm thinking about a painting, I usually work around a single color that I like, and build up other colors in relation to that one.

3) Depends on the subject matter. Like I said, if it's something I draw all the time, I'll have a much clearer mental image.

4) Can you create a still image in your mind, and draw that to completion? Or is it that you might have an idea about what you want to draw, and let it evolve in the process?

The latter holds true for me, most of the time. Sometimes I won't think at all about what I want to draw, instead I just mess with lines and forms until I see something I like.

5) I can't recreate real stuff perfectly from memory, and I don't try. That's why I like cartooning - the point (at least most of the time) is to create a simplified version of an object/person/place/etc. Using actual reference isn't a bad thing. If I'm not exactly sure how a garbage can should look, I can reference images online for free.

6) I've been drawing since I was old enough to pick up a crayon. While my sister would draw everything from real life, I would draw stuff that didn't exist. I made several futile attempts to hock my other talents over the years, but I realized that I liked creating art more than anything else. I usually practice every day, even at work during meetings or breaks. If I hadn't re-discovered drawing, I'd be pretty miserable, I think.

I'd like to learn how to draw as it's something I'll need to do soon for something I'm working on...and my current artistic level just won't do

I think that will set you up for a fall. Nobody can improve overnight. If you expect that, you'll end up frustrated. You need to go at your own pace, and find something that you really enjoy drawing and working on. If you really feel passionate about the subject matter, you'll be that much more inclined to practice until you improve.

Practice, practice, practice.

[Alex]

Re: A question for all artists.

1) If you close your eyes and try to visualize a picture, an image in your mind, how clear is it?

The images in my mind are not clear at all. Vague shapes and ideas.

2) How are the colors?

I almost never pay attention to color when visualizing something. Unless it's a rainbow or something.

3) Minute detail, textures, things like that?

I can't imagine small details until the big picture is out of my head and onto a medium.

4) Can you create a still image in your mind, and draw that to completion? Or is it that you might have an idea about what you want to draw, and let it evolve in the process?

The second part. Definitely.

5) How well can you recreate an image of something you've seen, purely from memory? If you were to look at a certain plant and the leaves, how well would you be able to go somewhere else and draw what you had just looked at?

Not well at all. I lean towards a cartoonish style and everything I draw ends up exaggerated and completely wrong. I just have vague ideas that build up into something more.

6) How long have you been drawing? When did you get interested, and how often do you practice? Do you notice any other aspects of your life improved by what you can do artistically?

I've been drawing since I've been able to hold a pencil/crayon/whatever. My school work is littered with doodles. I drew during the entire duration of my school years, and outside of school, I would rarely draw.

Now that I've graduated, I never really draw anymore. I just mess around sometimes when I have an idea I need to get out. And it's usually on the computer.

I want to draw more often.

[Denmo]

Re: A question for all artists.

1) If you close your eyes and try to visualize a picture, an image in your mind, how clear is it? Usually it's not clear, but if the image is strong or extremely simple, I can almost see it clearly.

2) How are the colors? Basic colors I can remember, but I can't visualize in my head the hues and shades of colors exactly.

3) Minute detail, textures, things like that? Somewhat. It depends on if I commited those things to memory.

4) Can you create a still image in your mind, and draw that to completion? Or is it that you might have an idea about what you want to draw, and let it evolve in the process? Moreso the latter. When I draw it's more of a mechanical process than a visual memory copy/paste.

5) How well can you recreate an image of something you've seen, purely from memory? If you were to look at a certain plant and the leaves, how well would you be able to go somewhere else and draw what you had just looked at? Not very well at all. My mind would try to get the gist of it and recreate it based on what I know about plants or techniques to draw them my own way. Had I been told to do that as an assignment, I would try to absorb the major qualities of the plant- shape, size, etc., before attempting to draw from memory.

6) How long have you been drawing? About 7-8 years. When did you get interested, and how often do you practice? I got interested around 6th grade, and practiced whenever I felt like it (or was in art class). I should probably be more serious about practicing though as I'm about to commit my life to art... Do you notice any other aspects of your life improved by what you can do artistically? It helps me visually and asthetically. I'm able to organize objects on a 2D plane and make it look professional. I can more easily read into what people are trying to say in their works of art.

What Nix said. Find your niche and practice. My niche at first was anime, since it seemed so easy to draw and duplicate. Now I'm leaning towards portraiture and sculpture.

[Red Dragon]

Re: A question for all artists.

What's hard for me is that I visualise a picture, how to draw every line and every detail, and still my hands screw the picture to a horrible degree.

[Alex]

Re: A question for all artists.

I'm pretty sure you can't just blame your hands.

[Red Dragon]

Re: A question for all artists.

You haven't seen my hands.

[ErikaFuzzbottom]

Re: A question for all artists.

It seems crystal clear, even though it isn't. I can see what I want a picture to look like. The colors are vibrant, the detail is there. But the moment I try to put it onto paper, it disappears, and I have trouble getting it back. I'm forced to just draw the lines (lightly) and do plenty of erasing until I get it to where I think I want it, and sometimes I just have a basic idea of what I want and scribble until I think I'm on to something (in the case of not-planned pictures). Even then, I need a certain level of skill in order to get anything fancy to appear how I want. But I know better than to try to draw beyond my limits. Leaf-filled tree branches aside.

In order to draw something that I've seen, I have to be looking at it. If I'm not there looking at it, I won't even come close.

I've been drawing maybe 3 years. Though not very frequently. Until recently, my art has been very sporadic, so it hasn't had a whole lot of opportunities to improve. But it has improved some, and I'm actually satisfied with what I draw now (though it's fun pointing out flaws, anyway). I just haven't gotten as far as shading and proper perspective. Maybe years beforehand, I did do more drawing, but it was restricted to drawing trains (a fascination way back when) and video game maps.

Advice for you: Practice, practice, practice. One of the first things I did was attempt to draw a dragon. Okay, I wouldn't recommend starting there, but that's not the point. My first attempt at a dragon was this little banana-shaped thing with one of those tower-kites on its back. But I went and redid it a bunch, and that drastically improved my skill with it. 6 or 7 attempts later, I came up with this. I still needed improvement, and it is a little tiring drawing the same thing over and over again, and I wound up going a few steps back when I tried something other than a dragon, but it still helped in the long run. Although I wouldn't recommend drawing the same thing over and over again. It helps you get better at the one thing, but you'll still lack experience with drawing other stuff.

[Caciss]

Re: A question for all artists.

1) If you close your eyes and try to visualize a picture, an image in your mind, how clear is it?

Very.

2) How are the colors?

I don't think in colors

3) Minute detail, textures, things like that?

Yes.

4) Can you create a still image in your mind, and draw that to completion? Or is it that you might have an idea about what you want to draw, and let it evolve in the process?

I wish, transfering the image from my head onto paper never comes out right. I'm not saying it comes out like crap, I usually like the outcome -- they're like related ideas the mental and physical.

5) How well can you recreate an image of something you've seen, purely from memory? If you were to look at a certain plant and the leaves, how well would you be able to go somewhere else and draw what you had just looked at?

Not very well.

6) How long have you been drawing? When did you get interested, and how often do you practice? Do you notice any other aspects of your life improved by what you can do artistically?

Seven years. Around 5th grade. I don't practice anymore, I don't draw anymore. I've never thought about the final question before -- I'll get back to you.

[Syvarius]

Re: A question for all artists.

Wow, thanks for the replies everyone.
I picked up some materials downtown to help me get started (they were listed in a book).

What I picked up was:

2 charcoal pencils (one soft, other hard)
3 graphite pencils (varying from the softest, hardest, and whatever was in the middle)
Graphite sticks
Charcoal sticks
Blending tortillons
Some eraser called "Design Artgum"
And lastly some kneaded rubber.

I've been messing around with what I've got now, and it's pretty fun.
It's very nice to see learning how to draw is enjoyable.

I don't suppose any of you draw locations or architecture well?

I think that will set you up for a fall. Nobody can improve overnight. If you expect that, you'll end up frustrated. You need to go at your own pace, and find something that you really enjoy drawing and working on. If you really feel passionate about the subject matter, you'll be that much more inclined to practice until you improve.

Well...I'm certainly not expecting to make unrealistic progress, but I hope I enjoy this. It certainly hadn't even been considered before by myself as something I would need to do later on, but it's something that's going to help me out greatly.

Trying to accomplish a goal has certainly brought me to learn some things I hadn't even considered doing before.
Maybe those 120 Prismacolor pencils that I've had for years will get some use now.
Strange how that works.

[Nixon]

Re: A question for all artists.

I forgot to say "welcome back."

<------- Jerkass

The supplies you purchased are fine, but a pencil (or pen) and a regular old sketch pad should be your constant companions. You can take them anywhere.

I've been messing around with what I've got now, and it's pretty fun.
It's very nice to see learning how to draw is enjoyable.

Good luck on your journey.

I don't suppose any of you draw locations or architecture well?

Now without reference and tons of practice layouts/roughs. And even then, I think it looks wonky.

[ErikaFuzzbottom]

Re: A question for all artists.

I don't suppose any of you draw locations or architecture well?

None specifically (just a forest or a hill so far), and not by theirselves.

[hitogoroshi]

Re: A question for all artists.

What I've tended to notice is that the more time you can make yourself work on one drawing, the better of an artist you are. I'm not saying this is always true, and I'm not saying that a drawings quality is in how much time you put in to it.
It's like this. Lets say a kid can never put more then five minutes into a drawing, no matter how slow he goes. It's just done in five minutes. All of his drawings tend to be...well, bad. Now, conversly, lets say we have an artist who can place ten hours into a drawing when he/she goes their slowest. All of their art, NOT just the pieces he/she spends ten hours on, tends to be better.

I dunno, just an observation on my part.