My meager attempts at drawing

**Amethyst Star** · 03-28-2006 04:49 AM

Okay. I'm not good at drawing, but I've always had this dream that someday I could be. So, I've been trying to practice by duplicating what other people have already drawn, but this is what happens when I try to do my own thing. None of them turned out as I had origonally planned, actually, but still. This is why I'm a language major.

Also, my scanner's not very good so it didn't get the finer lines. I'll have to play around with it.

Taifa

Kusei

Akhashlia

**♥Mark** · 03-28-2006 09:31 AM

How often do you draw? It's not great, to be sure, but I see potential. I bet with a bit of effort towards improvement you could have a pretty cool style on your hands.

Things I would focus on would be proportion and the shape of the face and body. The clothes on the first one look fairly good, and the hair isn't too shabby either. Also, some decent pencils really help. Get some good ones if you don't have some already.

**Burns** · 03-28-2006 09:01 PM

Nice drawings! I find people are the hardest to draw. Keep at it!

**Gwendolyn** · 03-28-2006 09:11 PM

I think you have a lot of artistic talent and potential. Perhaps you should keep drawing. I admire anyone who can even draw a little bit...I can't even draw a stick figure.

**dudesuperior** · 03-28-2006 11:06 PM

Those drawings are good! A sense of depth is the only thing that is needed, and that's just accompished by a little shading here n' there.

**Amethyst Star** · 03-28-2006 11:32 PM

Thanks guys! I really appreciate the constructive critisism and it makes me want to try and draw more. I wish I had time to...

*decides to make the most of spring break*

**Amethyst Star** · 05-08-2006 06:03 PM

This isn't anything special, but it incorporates a script (style of writing) that I designed. I've included a couple of DV members names in there, but I think I'll let myself enjoy the secret

I liked how it looked copied from the book:

Here's a closer version:

**PhowaBoy** · 05-08-2006 06:59 PM

That script is fabulous! My brother-in-law is Japanese, and his mom is quite a good script artist. The Japanese and Chinese alphabet (so I'm told) is pictorial in origin, and the script can be made into beautiful paintings with literal translations. Don't underestimate the value of such a skill. It's a very unique artform. Very nice!

**Merlock** · 05-08-2006 07:46 PM

Looks good. I'm no expert or even specialist in the matter of drawing and illustration but I liked what you've shown here since you seem to really be able to express what you want to in drawing. Different other aspects of drawing skills will come with experience just as with all other skills, I'm sure.
One question I'm curious of though: why're the signs on the first drawings in Russian? Heh.

Edit: Ah, language major, missed that rather important part of your post, hahah.

**♥Mark** · 05-09-2006 09:01 AM

That's pretty cool.

**Amethyst Star** · 05-09-2006 07:31 PM

Hey, I was thinking about buying some good pencils in the near future as Mark said. However, I wouldn't have the first idea where to begin. Any advice on what I should buy?

**Oneironaut Zero** · 05-11-2006 02:42 AM

Good stuff, Ame! Keep it up. Like Burns said, people can be the hardest thing in the world to draw, especially when you get into natural, motion poses and whatnot, but you've definitely got a good base.

As far as pencils, you can go in two directions:

You can get multi-grade pencils, which range from light to dark in increments (sp), or you can get a single pencil with a charcoal point, that you can adjust the range of by using the pressure of your hand.

I learned how to draw, mainly, by using a single charcoal pencil called an "Ebony" pencil. They are some of the best drawing pencils you can by, if you ask me. And since it has a charcoal point, the edge flakes off easily, which is both good and bad. It's good because you can take your finger, a napkin, or a shading stick (which you will want to pick up when you go to the art store) and run it across the area where you shaded, giving it a smooth shade that looks more like natural shading than the lined shading of just your pencil point, bad because the pictures are easily smudged, so if you don't take care not to brush anything against them and don't perserve the picture with either a holding spray or a frame, it's easier to get your work ruined. But, It will help you learn to adjust your shading manually, and will teach you how to draw with damn near anything. It will even help with shading in pen, once you get better.

Right now, I also have a set of Staedtler Mars Lumograph pencils. They range from 4H, which is reeeeaaaly light, to 6B which is dark as all hell. There are 12 pencils in the set, while the Ebony pencil will go through all of these ranges on its own, but these give you the luxury of working on a particular shade before accidentally (by applying just a little too much pressure) ruining your smooth shade.

Either is a good choice, both would be even better if you'd like to seriously get into drawing. I'd suggest you do, because you've got potential, and drawing is just one of those skills that never gets old.

**Amethyst Star** · 05-28-2006 07:41 AM

I meant to thank you for that advice, O. I haven't had the chance to buy the pencils yet, but hopefully soon... after I get rollerskates, a couple of DVDs and pay for my eye appointment, though not necessarily in that order.

Anyway, I was sitting on the couch tonight and was looking at myself in our sliding glass door and pulled out my pencil again. Trusty #2.

I know I still need to work on proportion. It just doesn't seem to work out how I envision. I thought about doing my legs, too, but I couldn't see them in the window, especially after I wrapped them in a blanket.... why is it so cold here? At least I'm not in Montana where it's snowing

**♥Mark** · 05-29-2006 12:59 AM

As far as pencils go, you shouldn't need anything too fancy. I got a set of ten or so sketching pencils from Wal Mart (I think) several months ago and they're still serving me quite well, even after a few have been broken and lost (and in one case, bitten in half). You don't need anything particularly deluxe, just as long as it's better than the regular writing pencils. And as Oneironaut mentions, it's nice to have a variety of shades to chose from.

In conclusion, Reeves brand pencils taste terrible.

**Beef Jerky** · 05-29-2006 08:37 AM

Your a better drawer than me! I haven't ever really had a shot at drawing. I want to though. Ever seen concept art of Morrowind? That's the type I would like to draw.

**Amethyst Star** · 05-29-2006 08:18 PM

Originally posted by Beef Jerky
Your a better drawer than me!

*snicker*

drawer..... he he.

No, serously, thanks

What I would really like to do is to draw characters or scenes from some of the stories I'm writing.

**Howie** · 05-30-2006 12:34 AM

Originally posted by Burns
Nice drawings! I find people are the hardest to draw. Keep at it! *

Boy that is true.

Great to see your work!!!!!!!!!!!!1

It is a common misconception that "I can't draw" AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH! That irritates me. Everyone can learn to draw. Just as I can learn to play the guitar.
The difference. I am not going to be Jimi Hendrix. Some people have a God given talent but there are fundamentals that everyone can learn!
Ame' You should establish a light source which will give you light and shadow. In return you will get depth.
You may like playing with prisma color pencils.

Thanks for showing us your work. I hope more to come.

**Amethyst Star** · 07-08-2006 05:16 AM

And I was going through some old stuff. I found some maps that I've made just for fun and had scanned so why not throw those onto the pile?

Ausa'Kelas-dit (I also have a political map

)

Britska (When I was into my contour map phase)

Currently unnamed

**Beef Jerky** · 07-08-2006 08:50 AM

^ They're some good geographical drawings you got there. Keep it up!

**Amethyst Star** · 10-03-2006 11:14 PM

Here's another one I've been working on for the past couple of days. It's not finished yet, but I'm kind of pleased with the progress so far. I don't have a name for this one, yet...

I'd be obliged to know what you think I'm doing right/wrong... still just trying to "teach" myself. I've been working on more copies of other images that I've found and some of them aren't half bad considering I'm only using a pencil, but I don't have time to scan those... yah, I'm at work again.

**Burns** · 10-03-2006 11:23 PM

Cool, Ame

You did a really good job on the hair - very nice shading that gives it depth and texture. The only critique I can think of is the eye - maybe it needs more of the depth-shading to make it look more 3 dimentional like a eyeball. Does that make any sense?

Great work! You keep getting better and better!

**Man of Shred** · 10-03-2006 11:27 PM

I like. if you already haven't sent me those DV cards be sure to include a printed out drawing or too. my room needs re-decorating!

**NeAvO** · 10-03-2006 11:32 PM

Haven't seen this thread before, you have some really nice drawings :bravo:, I also think that the eye needs more tone to it to get that 3D effect. Apart from that well done.

**Amethyst Star** · 10-04-2006 12:25 AM

And since I had a scanner handy (and am technically done with work for the day), I decided to scan three more drawings, two of which are copies, and another one involving my phonetic script.

You might recognize this...

Sakura

Script Style 2 - not finished, but I guess I just play with it when I feel inspired