With practise and patience anybody can draw about anything if there is an image or similar images to look at, but what about those images in your head?

I often have beautiful images of everything from fantasy landscapes to funny creatures in my head, but whenever I try to put those images onto paper, it's not even possible to recognize it. I envy those who manage to create amazing artwork out of the blue, but is there a secret to it, or a special teqnique? I find that basic drawing skills helps a bit, but only takes me one quarter of the way...

Sorry,can't help here.That is a talent-gift-DNA-secret or what ever it is that I like to have but don't.I guess I killed too many right brain cells back in the 60's!

I think you'll find that there isn't a talent or gift, but a knowledge based in fact. Yes people can create great images out of their imagination, but it is all based on some form of starting point reference to make it look real to the viewer.

My suggestion would be to start with something like a dramatic landscape, mountains perhaps then start to build from there. Create clouds, dragons, fairies, whatever appeals to you. Use colours out of your imagination but make sure that they follow the same techniques of application that are used for any form of drawing or painting. Twist and turn the reference into what you want.

I have yet to meet someone who can create a masterpiece fully out of their imagination without any form of reference to go by for at least some part of the drawing.

I'm glad to see someone ask this question. I've pondered the very same question myself. I have concluded that before I will be able to draw imaginary things, I will have to draw a few hundred, perhaps a few thousand, real things.

The key is drawing a LOT from life, and remembering the little things. So, when you're drawing what you see, you're also remembering what you see, so you'll know how to draw it again if you want to draw something similar from your mind.

I use a similar technique on anything I want to draw, whether it be something of complete fantasy, or something based on life. (though, I do always try to use some form of reference when drawing something with a base in reality, for accuracy). For example, If I want to draw a dragon, I've seen so many animals and other fantasy creatures to have a basic knowledge of the anatomy, so I can get it looking believeable. I already know about light and shade, so it can look solid. I have a decent knowledge of perspective and colour, and so on. If you know all these, then there should be no reason why you can't draw what you can come up with in your imagination

In my experience I have to pratice drawing from the imagination. However, most of my work is working with photos and drawing what I see. This seems to be the oposite of drawing from the imagination. And it weakens my ability to draw from my imagination.

Just as others have said here, you practice drawing what you see and then combine what you've learned in an imginative way. You can also abstract things you see. The cubists and some of the impressionists did this.

I used to be able to draw from photos just find, but couldn't do anything from my imagination. I found out drawing from life and abstracting to 2d what is 3d /really/ helped. I'm still having to work at it, but I can get more things out of my head.