To get this neat little board started, something I've reacently learned is that it is totally worth it to take a really long time and work for your art. I'm a pencil guy myself and that is priceless. Like the scales of a dragon, I know it's easy to get caught up in speed that you just scribble to give shading. What you need to do is slow down and think about each scale. Sorry, but I like dragons So, i guess thats just something to get this started.

Well you do have to take your time.. I have to admit its a hard thing to do sometimes because you wants to get the idea out and your hand gets possesed (happens to me) but I leanrt to take my time because of watercolors, its long painful and hard but when you do it, it looks good, but there is other drawings that when they are made fast they are good.. like quicky cartoons.

no?

Most drawings or paintings that work well take a chunk of time to complete. I'm all for sketching which is quick simple lines to get an idea down or create a concept.

The actual task of shading and fine detail take a lot of time. An average high realism drawing can take me, on average 25-30 hours to complete.

Yes, speed is useful, but use it for sketching, not your final drawing.

yeah, for sure on both counts... also it takes a really long time to do anything with final marker stuff...

This has been (and still is) the hardest thing for me. Each picture I do takes a little longer and a little longer to do, so I know that I am learning this. Yet I can tell that I am still trying to go too fast. I guess the more I do, the more this will get knocked into my head.
Paulette

I have to agree with ya'll...Time is the key!!! I've slowed down so much that I have a hard time working fast!!! In order to draw from life you do have to be fast...it's not fair to your poor model to make them stand motionless for hours just to draw their ear...they would never sit for you again!!! It's a good idea to practice both ways...do gesture drawings for speed....work from life and from references....DRAW DRAW... DRAW!!!! Practice!!!! Practice!!!! Practice!!!

Laura

alright. anyone with a problem or a suggestion now? I'd like to know what kind of markers some of you guys use. I use the pico brush and chisled markers. They have a huge selection of colors too. but they can be kind of hard to use to make fine details. any one have an idea about that?

Sketch Fiend...I don't use markers alot for drawing but have you tried the sharpie fine point markers? They seem like they would be great for fine line details. They are also fairly cheap for a full set of colors. I am not sure how many the highest set has but I purchased a set recently with 12 and it was under 10 dollars. Just a suggestion.

oop, first of all I got the brand wrong. It's Copic. and I have tried to do stuff with a fine tip sharpie but it's still not fine enough sometimes... I guess I might just have to look around an art store and see what I can find in the pen/marker section.

I don't know anything about markers either except that I was told NOT to use the Sharpies. I can't remember why though. Maybe Jeanette will be able to suggest something. Markers are outside of my experience except for play time with the grandchildren then it's washable Crayola all the way! lol

J

hmm, yes indeed. Well I'm looking for something that can get that official comic or graphic novel look. Any one use anything like that or know of something like it? In the mean time. any one having problems? My little sister is having problem with drawing a cloak,blowing in the wind behind the character... Are there any helpful lessons on something like that? The drawing is from the front. I would only know something using for-shortening that makes it look like the cloak is wrapping itself about the guy. But I dunno. help if you can forget it if not.

Sketch Fiend...I knew there was something someone put in one of the older threads on drawing clothing and looked it up for you to help your sister with...http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/21994317/
Hopefully it came out right. I used the tutorial for help when I was drawing my figure drawings clothed for my online art class I am taking and thought the 2 tutorials were great with what I needed. Let me know it it works or not.

wow! That is excellent. Thank you. I will show this to her... Heck I'll probably read it too. thanks.

Sketch Fiend, I don't have much experience with markers so I can't really advise you much on that. I know some illustrators use Copic others Lectraset? It depends on the look you want. A lot of illustration work for cartooning is done electronically too. Most outlining I believe is done in pen and ink, that may be another option to explore.

yeah thank you. I'll look into lectraset and probably some easy flow pens

Alright, another question... I have a problem with drawing animals and what not and having them coming out looking like cartoons... I would like to do something more that looks like a general outline and some eyes. do you think more shading and whatnot would help... Mebbe not just dragging it out of my head and looking at a picture and drawing that? replys would help

Sketch Fiend...Do you use reference photos at all or are you just drawing them how you think they would originally look? Do you have any "How To" books? I got a great tutorial from Cyn About Drawing animals saved on my computer but I don't know how to send it through email or how long it would even take or where she got it from...LOL. Actually its not even a tutorial its and Internet Book. But I was looking at it earlier and thought it was great for learning the basic forms and stuff of animals. Let me know and PM me and maybe I can work something out for you. Maybe send you a copy of the ones she sent me.

well, I don't have many problems with bone structure or any thing, I'm talking more about heads. I don't know how to get that polished animal look for a lions face or a horses. But thanks for the advice.