Art Discussion

[bread]

okay does anybody have any advice for drawing landscapes and stuff because i'm playing game and im gettin the urge to draw but all of the things i want are landscape'y and stuff because i like suffering

I don't have that many tips or tutorials on drawing backgrounds, but I'll try.
I heard that it is good when doing backgrounds or still life to concentrate on values, so you would have values that would be almost black or almost white. I don't have many tips, I mostly just have tutorials. 

Here's some tutorials:
http://ncrossanimation.tumblr.com/post/108123550352/heres-a-background-tutorial-that-was-intended-to
http://introducingemy.deviantart.com/art/Background-Tutorial-163347865
http://grypwolf.deviantart.com/art/Stone-Tutorial-209083572 Drawing stones
http://www.minnasundberg.fi/tutorials.php Minna's tutorials seem to have quite a few tutorials for backgrounds such as stars, grass and rocks.
http://cgcookie.deviantart.com/art/Cloud-Tutorial-Reference-472638831 Drawing clouds

Here's some step by step drawings of backgrounds:
http://sandara.deviantart.com/art/Abandoned-Station-steps-485883788
http://sandara.deviantart.com/art/enemy-at-the-gates-stepbystep-134674463

[Sc0ut]

okay does anybody have any advice for drawing landscapes and stuff because i'm playing game and im gettin the urge to draw but all of the things i want are landscape'y and stuff because i like suffering

Look at landscape photos and draw what you see. Do this many with many types of landscapes, and spend a limited amount of time on each: 15, 30 minutes or whatever makes you hurry, but still gives you time to do *something*. You'll teach yourself all you need to know with some practice. For starters, remember to focus more on the big picture rather than on details.

Also, it really helps to know your drawing program well and use its tools (and keyboard shortcuts) to make your drawing faster and easier.

[Trinka]

HEY YOU!

YES, YOU!

DO YOU GET TIRED OF ALWAYS SMUDGING YOUR SKETCHES WHEN YOU WIPE OFF THE ERASER DUST?!?

I KNOW I SURE DO!

WELL SAY GOODBYE TOO GRAPHITE STAINED HANDS!

INTRODUCING... THE MOP BRUSH!!!

USE IT TO WIPE OFF YOUR PICTURES, NO MORE MESS, NO MORE HASSLE! GET YOUR MOP BRUSH TODAAAAAYYYYY



*but seriously tho, they will make your life so much easier, really helps to keep your sketches clean*

[misea]

HEY YOU!

YES, YOU!

DO YOU GET TIRED OF ALWAYS SMUDGING YOUR SKETCHES WHEN YOU WIPE OFF THE ERASER DUST?!?

I KNOW I SURE DO!

WELL SAY GOODBYE TOO GRAPHITE STAINED HANDS!

INTRODUCING... THE MOP BRUSH!!!

USE IT TO WIPE OFF YOUR PICTURES, NO MORE MESS, NO MORE HASSLE! GET YOUR MOP BRUSH TODAAAAAYYYYY



*but seriously tho, they will make your life so much easier, really helps to keep your sketches clean*

I NEED TO BUY ONE

[mithrysc]

HEY YOU!

YES, YOU!

DO YOU GET TIRED OF ALWAYS SMUDGING YOUR SKETCHES WHEN YOU WIPE OFF THE ERASER DUST?!?

I KNOW I SURE DO!

WELL SAY GOODBYE TOO GRAPHITE STAINED HANDS!

INTRODUCING... THE MOP BRUSH!!!

USE IT TO WIPE OFF YOUR PICTURES, NO MORE MESS, NO MORE HASSLE! GET YOUR MOP BRUSH TODAAAAAYYYYY

*but seriously tho, they will make your life so much easier, really helps to keep your sketches clean*

I have one of the Official Artist Tool Versions of this. Brushes will seriously make your life so much easier when drawing with smudge-y things, though.

[Guardian G.I.]

The following videos aren't actually tutorials, but they are very useful anyway. Success in art often depends on your mindset - Matt Kohr, the awesome guy from Ctrl-Paint.com made several videos dealing with the psychological side of learning to draw/paint, such as being motivated, making progress, etc.

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The first video "Getting Better At Painting" is very important - breaking a complex task into manageable little tasks is the only way to take on something really difficult. Otherwise, you'll be overwhelmed.

[Ana Nymus]

The following videos aren't actually tutorials, but they are very useful anyway. Success in art often depends on your mindset - Matt Kohr, the awesome guy from Ctrl-Paint.com made several videos dealing with the psychological side of learning to draw/paint, such as being motivated, making progress, etc.

* Ana Nymus did not know she needed this

* Ana Nymus definitely needs this

Thank you!

[JoB]

DO YOU GET TIRED OF ALWAYS SMUDGING YOUR SKETCHES WHEN YOU WIPE OFF THE ERASER DUST?!?
INTRODUCING... THE MOP BRUSH!!!

... wouldn't you actually want to (blow or) vacuum anything that's prone to smudgeing off the paper, rather than finding something different to (still) wipe with?

[Curry]

I'm committing necromancy on this thread here to give some advice regarding tablet pen nibs :0

My wacom bamboo default nibs were wearing down waaayyyy too fast on me and weren't soft/natural enough for me, so I ordered some hard felt nibs instead, and they're fantastic. So smooth that it feels like real pencil, actually! I'm not sure about the durability, but these ones are lovely so far

[Trinka]

It's that time of year again: where I pour all my hard earned moneyz into art supplies I might or might not ever need again (yay). You guessed it, it's time for COLLEGE!

So I thought I would take an inventory of what I already have, and have come to the conclusion that WOW I HAVE A LOT OF ART STUFF, what the actual heck? The sad thing is, I know I'm gonna need even more this semester (ノಠ益ಠ)ノ彡┻━┻  Every teacher has different specifications on what they prefer, and every different art form requires specialized supplies. This is why we are called, "starving artists". But on the bright side, I do have lots of shiny art supplies that I am free to experiment with, so there's that, which is nice.



Paint brushes ( I need to get some more for a watercolor class I'm going to be taking orz )







Pens, both brush tip and fine point for inking. Also some metallic Sharpies in there, which are super cool!







Markers, and my swanky art bag for holding them.







Oil pastels and conte sticks.







Watercolor paints and pencils (which I might or might not be too afraid to try out, any suggestions from someone who has used the pencils before?)







Colored pencils (my sadly depleted Castell-Pollychrome collection and some cruddy Crayolas and Rosearts)
Plus the traveling case that comes with a whole variety of different supplies.







The contents of my art box: Blending stumps, vine charcoal, compressed charcoal, conte sticks, charcoal pencils, chalk pencils, conte pencils, PhotoBlue pencils, graphite pencils, eraser sticks, bamboo brushes, ink, sculpting tools, pencil sharpeners, and pencil covers.



Yes, I do indeed need to shove all that stuff in there and tote it with me to classes.







My supply of acrylic paints, which I REFUSE TO BUY MORE OF, CURRENT CLASS SUPPLY LIST BE DAMNED!







Oil paints, thinner, linseed oil, Liquin, turpenoid, brush cleaner, palette knives, and a stereotypical rag I use while painting.






And my adorable Japanese supplies I use for classwork. (*^3^)/~☆


(The pencil covers are SUPER USEFUL by the way. They are great for making sure your sharpened art pencils don;t get their leads broken, and ensure the container you are keeping them in doesn't get all dirty from them rubbing all over it. Plus they are KAWAII AS ALL HECK)

[Curry]

Huuuu, so many beautiful art supplies :_____3c I'm jealous, Trinka I might end up going to art school, though, so perhaps that will be me in 2-3 years??

[Trinka]

Huuuu, so many beautiful art supplies :_____3c I'm jealous, Trinka I might end up going to art school, though, so perhaps that will be me in 2-3 years??

Yes, they are indeed lovely to look upon, what is not so lovely to look at is the bill you will wrack up. And the addiction that comes with going into any art store: you enter needing a new eraser, and leave with 2 bags of new stuff you don't even really need



Sooo, yeah,
If anyone needs some answers about art supplies or being an art major in general, I've probably got you covered:
(I didn't even include the boxes of glass I have from last semester ah hah hah)

[KauniitaUnia]

I'm committing necromancy on this thread here to give some advice regarding tablet pen nibs :0

My wacom bamboo default nibs were wearing down waaayyyy too fast on me and weren't soft/natural enough for me, so I ordered some hard felt nibs instead, and they're fantastic. So smooth that it feels like real pencil, actually! I'm not sure about the durability, but these ones are lovely so far

Can I just butt in and say - ooooo I might have to invest in some of these. I have considered it before, but I wasn't sure if they made a difference/what difference they did make. They sound really good! I have found the feeling of the default nibs kinda annoying at times, they're not as smooth as I would like them to be.

[Lenny]

*looks at Trinka's art supplies*

*looks at own art supplies*

...yeah, I'll just stick to my two ink pens and four types of inks, small collection of brushes, plus 5 acrylic paints (primary colours + black and white). I wouldn't even use a third of those. (In fact I only even use 3 of the brushes I do have. And only two of the inks...) But ooooh those Japanese supplies are adorable~ Very envious of those, must see if I can get something similar

With watercolour pencils, just don't get them wet. Always wait until the canvas is dry before applying more pencil (well, this rule can be broken if you want a specific effect, but still, be careful - the lead dissolves and gets ruined if it gets too wet). Layering colours is fun. You can get some cool textures with watercolour pencil, too, that you can't with normal watercolour. And experiment. Do weird things. Don't be scared. If you don't, they'll just sit there and nothing will happen except dust. (This is why I don't have many supplies, really - I don't find the time to use it all properly, and there are so many options already with just the basics, so I don't buy it unless I find a crying need for it.)

Also they are remarkably good for little children - draw something cool, colour it in for them if they're a bit too little to have the patience or skill to colour anything but lines, then put a paintbrush and water in their hands, and fun happens. *has a Faber Castell pack that is used only for little visitors* It also involves no mess except water, which is perfect.

With the watercolours, tip! Don't keep it clean You get cool colours that way. (Of course, throw this tip out the window if you like predictable colours... I'm flexible in that way, but not everyone is.) And again, layers are fun.

That reminds me I need to get a good watercolour pack... I left mine on the other side of the world, and watercolour + inks isn't something that can be replicated with watercolour pencils...

And off topic, but I just switched my plastic nib for one of the felt ones that were included with my Intuos Pro, and it draws so nicely. I understand why they included three of them, now.

[Unlos]

I'm committing necromancy on this thread here to give some advice regarding tablet pen nibs :0

My wacom bamboo default nibs were wearing down waaayyyy too fast on me and weren't soft/natural enough for me, so I ordered some hard felt nibs instead, and they're fantastic. So smooth that it feels like real pencil, actually! I'm not sure about the durability, but these ones are lovely so far

I'll try that, then since my first and only default nib is now about 2-3 mm long and you said they could get stuck in the pen.. Also, the pressure sensitivity of my tablet sometimes acts weird, throwing in thick, long dark lines when I'm happily sketching along. Anyone else had that problem?

Also wow Trinka, that's a whole impressive load of art supplies!