Hello Everyone

I want to learn how to draw from my imagination,

I have done a few from my imagination but if I wanted to create something of my own I find it really hard.

I have amazing ideas in my head but I can't seem to get it on paper.

I was wondering if you guys can give me some tips or help so that I can learn how to.

Because I want to become an architect and if I can't do that I won't be able to peruse my dream

Thanks in advance

I have a wonderful book by the author of the "Dinotopia" series, James Gurney, called "Imaginative Realism: How to paint what doesn't exist." The book is a wealth of useful information, and is filled with gorgeous reproductions and photos, but I can summarize it in one sentence: Create a reference, and draw that. He uses reference photos of real animals, models of various sorts, found objects, clay, paper, tape, etc. He creates something as close as possible to what exists in his imagination, and then he draws the reference, embellishing as needed.

Drawings done purely from imagination usually look it.

Ernest's right, that is a great book for people wanting to draw extraordinary scenes or creatures.

People often think that drawing from your imagination is simple, but it takes a lot of work and you need to know all the traditional technical drawing and painting skills first before you can move into changing reality.

So do your research, practice your skills then unleash your imagination. All imaginary images are based on reality, not fantasy. The reality comes first, the fantasy is simply an extension of the reality.

thanks guys
I am going to check my local library has a copy...
Hopefully I will be able to get a step closer to learning how too.

miniartist,

My suggestion is to start with working out a composition or a creature in your head and then find references of the textures and objects in your comp. If you can imagine a winged creature with a lion's hind quarters and a human torso and head that can fly you can find what you need to draw it. If you can imagine a woman in a yellow rain coat at a bus stop in the rain covering her head with a crumpled newspaper you can find references for all of the textures and objects...just a matter of research and patience and practice. These are just suggetions...remember we are "painting a picture" whether with words or paint or pencil. There are no limits to what you can do.

Laura

Question: So then it would be considered you own work after?
Not that you are looking at a picture and drawing that?

This is really good advice

i have been wondering the same thing

thanks

You could also have a look for a book by Bert Dodson called "Keys to Drawing with Imagination" it is from North Light Books. It has some exercises to try and things that can help free you up as well ways that you can extrapolate from life by drawing [no pun intended] on your imagination. See if your library has that too.

Aslo I troll through Amazon at times and use the "Look Inside" capability to have a quick look and see if that book is along the lines that would help me. We all learn in different ways and I hope you find a way that helps you to unlock your imagination.

Thank you sooo much guys!!!
I will look if this book is available

Well what you really want to do is feed your imagination with reference photos, or whatever. I heard a quote once by an artist who said, you can't draw something if you don't know what it looks like. If I wanted to draw a winged horse, I have a few problems to think about. I've never studied horses, so I don't how to draw one, I've got an idea about the wings, but I'd kind of like to have some choses. Now those are the things that jump to my mind which would be easy to fix with an image serch on google. If I learned what a horse really looked like, and got a few sample of wings to study, then I could draw my winged horse and it would be mine. That's what people mean about useing stuff for refernece.

That makes complete sense
Thank you so much

To draw from your imagination you must first have the raw materials stored in your mind. Drawing from life helps you build up that store, as does using reference photos. While it's true that photos are a 2D representation, they can be invaluable if used in the correct way. I try to use them as 2D reminders of the 3D world I know. Or they should at least be viewed and understood in three-dimensions and not slavishly copied.

For example, if I'm drawing bricks or trees, I surround my drawing with photos of those subjects. My drawing won't include copies of any of them but they serve to fire my imagination, and any time I run out of inspiration, I glance around the photos, pick up one or two interesting features, and I'm back into drawing again.

I've always maintained that you cannot successfully draw what you do not fully understand, so any references (live or photo) will help with that understanding. You really cannot be expected to know the form and details of EVERYTHING, so use whatever sources you can find to fill in the blanks. Treat them as three-dimensional "memory aids" and, over time, they will serve to increase you retained mental knowledge.

woww that is a really good explanation.. thank you i appreciate it greatly, i thank that is fantastic the way you explained it in a great way and now i understand better

I think I'll stop drawing women than...

So sad, he he he.

I use the 'lego' method. Remember being a kid and playing with legos? The base legos were always the same pieces - but you'd put them together to create all sorts of unique subjects. It's the same in art. Take things that you know. Someone already mentioned 'raw materials'. That's the right idea. Take ideas from real life and meld them together. Like, Let's say I wanted to draw a dragon. Well, I need a head, body, textures, wings i guess, and some appendages. I'll take the head from an eagle, body from a cheetah, wings from a bat or something, and cover it in a bug like texture. That was a pretty broad example. You'll notice that you can't discern specific animals or elements in a 'really creative' person's work. They blend smaller portions of things. For instance, the jaws might be from a cat, but the teeth might be from a dinosaur they saw at the museum, and the nose might be from an elephant. But an elephant trunk is pretty distinctive. So maybe it's shorter and there's a mouth on the end of the trunk. Keep going like that and what you come up with seems extremely unique. For architecture, apply the same principals, but use architectural elements. For instance, why not use greek columns, and maybe a egyptian style archway? That'd give something a classical feel. Or borrow a 'ruins' feel, and use half walls and lots of tile?