My journey into the world of art

[Cait]

I haven't posted a topic in quite awhile, only because I blended into the background. Yeah, well, I am introverted and quite happy in my own little thoughts. I have been expanding my art and getting quite good. My recent attempt is faces, which have always been bad. I have been doing them backwards. This is my latest with my first attempt.

My problem areas are eyes, noses and mouths, which I am still having a bit of trouble with. :cheers: But I hope to get some more feed back. Please do be honest and nice, is all I ask. I like the style, only if you have suggestions about the eyes, nose and mouth, please do give them. :blush: I still kind of suck at those. I am, also, uncertain if the img will go through or would I have to do this as a link. It would be a bit of a bother if you had to click on a link.

nicnubill.deviantart.com/art/Face-Progression-434959550

Well, neither works, so you'll have to copy and paste until I figure out a way to post pictures from my deviant art account. Anyone know how? On rpgmakervxace, it's rather easy, but well, I am a bit uncertain for this one. I would rather not have to upload it to photo bucket.

 

[noise shaman]

here';s the best advice you'll get from anybody: stop trying to draw anime and start learning how to draw real people.

anime is a style that bends the rules of conventional drawing. before you can bend those rules, you need to understand what they are.

aldo don't copyflip eyes. being lazy will slow down your improvement tremendously.

 

[Cait]

I am going for a cartoony look, and am not going change that. Plus, I still suck at eyes and still need to find a style or way of doing them I like. I am not really drawing anime, well, the eyes are...but that's the only part. Plus, realistic art doesn't sell. Peanuts is hardly a graphical master piece.

As for slowing down my improve, no, because I am always seeking to improve. I always think I can do better. You don't like my style, okay, but unless you have better feed back... I am not going to defend or attack other people choice of art.

Thank you for taking the time to give me your opinions about my art work, but I am sorry, I'm sticking with the animated look.

 

[noise shaman]

You're misunderstanding me. Don't use "it's a style" as an excuse.

Plus, realistic art doesn't sell.

Shitty art sells a whole lot less than realistic art, champ.

Peanuts is hardly a graphical master piece.

And guess what! Charles Schulz could draw a hell of a lot better than he did in peanuts. He developed the style after learning how to draw properly. The same could be said of most cartoonists, especially the classics.

My point isn't that I'm trying to get you to give up this style for whatever project you're working on—my point is that if you want to work in a style, you have to understand the basics first.

 

[Jason]

... I've got to agree with noise shaman, these are bad.

Honestly, you're telling yourself that they're quite good, when in all honestly they're terrible, the facial features are really ugly, and as it's been said already, you've just flipped the eye which seems really lazy. The shape and perspective of the heads all seem really off too, for example, with the one on the far right, the head looks like a 3/4 perspective (Like RPG Maker sprites), whereas the face is head on, so it looks really weird, whereas the one with brown hair looks like you've drawn it, then squished it vertically... not to mention her chin looks sharp enough to be classed as a weapon.

As for slowing down my improve, no, because I am always seeking to improve.

This makes no sense... he was telling you that being lazy will slow down your progress, you should be learning to draw eyes separately instead of copy/flipping them as he said.

I could go into this a lot more, but from your reply to noise shaman, I've got the feeling that you'll defend yourself as much as you can and assume we're attacking you and not trying to help you... it seems like you're wanting someone to say "Oh these are great! But I'd change the eyes slightly"... like you're hunting for compliments on bad work, it's just not going to happen.

Sorry, but if you really want to improve, you need to take in any harsh criticisms about your work... I know this because I was the same way, lol.

If you're wanting to start drawing heads and portraits first, I'd recommend finding some reference images and reading some drawing tutorials around the net, I'd post some but I'm too lazy to search at the moment...

 

[Cait]

I already know the basics, thank you and this is only the two faces that I have done in a short amount of time. I hope to improve over time. My second face still needs a bit of work, but already has improvement over the first one. The next face I hope to improve again. I improve in art, because I enjoy it and always think I can do better. I am me, I learn my own way and do not care if no one in the world likes my art.

Your personal opinion isn't feed back. Thank you and have a nice day! Thank you for the visit, but I have more important things to do, work, cleaning, and other things.

@Jason can't get a single eye to look right, but the photo is more of a visual presentation of what I am doing to show what I am doing right or wrong. I hate those eyes. Plus, I think my neck isn't right. I don't need any harsh critics. I have one always in the room with me, myself. I am always aware of what I could do better, but I'd like to hear good things, too. Someone told me that I didn't make a typical newby mistake on the bottom picture. That was feed back. Someone else, said the eyes could have been higher. Someone mentioned a good tip with hair, googling and shading tips.
:|: my eyes and noses suck at the moment, but the problem is in my head, so I'll have an eureka moment. When everything makes sense, even when I am not consciously thinking of something I am.

 

[Jason]

... And you've replied exactly as I said you would. If you don't care if no one in the world likes your art, then this thread is entirely pointless.

 

[Cait]

o.o I edited my reply. I decided that I wouldn't base why I did things based on if everyone loved it. I do want people to say how I can improve, but please leave personal opinion out of it. You don't always like someone's style, but me, I am still learning. I drew something in my sketch pad, yesterday, but still having trouble with hair shapes.

I improve because I think I can do better, but I, also, get better because I enjoy it. I don't need a harsh critic, sorry, but that job is filled. I have to look at a piece and look towards the good as I state in a matter of fact way, the things I can still improve on.

 

[noise shaman]

Nobody's attacking your style—your APPROACH is wrong.

Style is irrelevent if you don't have the basics down, scooter. And you don't.

Maybe show some other artwork of yours so we can help you in more detail. I'm willing to help. Maybe even draw over and edit some of your stuff. Show some sketches.

Someone told me that I didn't make a typical newby mistake on the bottom picture. That was feed back. Someone else, said the eyes could have been higher. Someone mentioned a good tip with hair, googling and shading tips.

This is a superficial level of feedback. It might help you with an individual drawing or two, and it might even help you going forward. But the kind of feedback that Jason and I were giving you was stronger—because it is directly aimed at the root of your problems. You'll improve more signficiantly (and a helluva lot faster) if you get your foundations straight.

You need an understanding of human proportions, the planes of the face, how light and surfaces work, etc—before you should be attempting to stylize.

 

[Ellie]

Hi cait

I think I agree with what's been said.

Going with a cartoony style is great - but the good cartoony art out there, including seemingly simple things such as Cyanide and Happiness, look good because they're based on a knowledge of actual anatomy. Charlie Brown and so on, they're quick and seemingly sloppy styles, but they're positioned based on proper anatomy, and so they look good.

That's not to say yours don't, but there are many simple ways they'd be improved, based on these principles. The heads being *slightly* differently shaped, the shading, etc.

I know you want to get stuck in, but I think it is true that before you can draw off-proportion you need an understanding of the proportions being skewed. And I'm sure the forum and those above would be happy to help with this.

 

[Cait]

Well, I draw with a mouse and still practicing. Sadly, I need a bit more practice. I hope to outdo it, and it is only a matter of time. I know anatomy, only drawing with a mouse isn't always easy. I'll practice a bit more, before I post anything else.

 

[Injury]

I would highly suggest getting a tablet to draw on, something anything, so you can expand your ability to draw digitally. I can't stand drawing with my mouse and I don't think I'm going to get much better with it haha

 

[Cait]

I have an idea to use an app on iPad with a stylus pen, when my roommate upgrades his iPad, or should I say if. So, it'll be awhile, not the best of situations.