sketching

[ginasketch]

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Ade filmed me drawing this morning. You might wanna turn the sound down, as I had System of a Down playing in the background and forgot...sorry.

Comments

[leenacia.livejournal.com]

See, that's really interesting to me (as a non-drawer).

I know I have very little talent when it comes to the visual arts, but I also firmly believe that they can be taught. It's not like I'll ever be in a museum, but I like to try anyway. It stretches my brain out. :)

Do you always draw top to bottom? Is it to avoid smudging? Or do you just see it that way?

[ginasketch.livejournal.com]

I agree with you that they can be taught and people can learn them! You have no idea how many artists I've come across that swear to all that is holy that you can only be born with talent, so don't bother trying blah blah blah.

I think they are just afraid people will catch up with them.

I draw top to bottom mainly out of habit, but I'm so used to it now that if I try it the other way things tend to get out of proportion.

[leenacia.livejournal.com]

I used to view it that way too. Then it clicked one day that art people take classes. They study the masters. Hey! They learn stuff and need practice just like everyone else in the world! :)

Unfortunately, a lot of teachers need to embrace this idea. In every art or graphics class I've ever taken, I just feel stupid and unimaginative. Eventually the teacher would come "help" by doing it for me. I was never taught how I could possibly do it myself. Maybe I just had crap teachers. I dunno.

I'm looking for a book to explain it all to me. :)

[ginasketch.livejournal.com]

Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards is a good book to start off with. I noticed after reading and doing the excercises in it that I improved by a big leap.

After that its pretty invaluable to take some life drawing classes and learn anatomy.

As for style, the best advice I can give is to look at and copy as many different artist's styles as possible and keep drawing then eventually your own style will emerge. (I'm still working on mine!)

P.S. I have crap teachers too. Mainly because they never teach anything. I get so pissed off with them.

[leenacia.livejournal.com]

Cool! Lucky me, there was a copy available on paperbackswap. :D

[ginasketch.livejournal.com]

excellent!