My Ode to Artists

I don't know how you do it, but I love to look at art. My favorites are, of course, animals and fantasy based artwork. I also like portraits, landscapes, and many others.

I'm just so curious. How does a person begin to learn how to paint or draw? I've always "doodled," but none of the things I have drawn have looked much more than what a 4 year old could do. Actually, I have seen 4 year old children with a better mastery of drawing than I could ever have. I always think of amazing creatures and landscapes in my head but cannot even begin to understand how to get them onto canvas, paper, or even the computer.

In any case, artists don't get enough props, imho. So, I would just like to say thank you for the beauty and wonder you share with the world.

:patriot:

:hi: I needed to read that right now :hug: Thank you.
I'll make a long story short. Started as a kid with just the desire to draw what I saw, so I use to copy everything, especially from magazines. Little did I know this was the beginning of practice, practice, practice, even other paintings/drawings that I liked.
Of course, taking a class or 2 would really help especially being with other students. I suggest Drawing I to begin. Besides drawing classes, I think taking art history classes further deepened my love and exposure to tons of styles.
It's rare for me to translate exactly what's in my head or heart, so we can often be our own worst critics, just like you thinking a 4-year old is better than. Please don't be so hard on yourself because it's so much fun trying. And I guess that's the point - it's just fun.
Hey, start here and post what you've done!
Well, I guess I should take my own advice and post more of my stuff for critiques instead of enjoying what others are doing.

I'm not that different than Kind of Blue (just with less talent) in how I started. I just started copying pictures from comic books, book covers, hockey cards, anything that caught my attention. It just became a daily thing (ask my school teachers). Everywhere I went I had a sketch pad and pencil with me. By my mid teens I was hanging out with other people who also drew all the time, and it became almost a competition in a way. We all were inspired by, and tried to top, each other. And seeing other people's work always stirs that competitive edge in me.

I took art classes, but for me I didn't get a lot out of them. I won't say it was a waste of time at all. I did learn something, but by the time I got to art school I knew exactly the type of art I wanted to do (I'm a sucker for hyper detailed line work in pencil or pen and ink). I got a lot out my Art History class. Like Kind of Blue says, it really gives you an appreciation for all types of art, and that's been awesome. Everyone said I'd be bored silly in the class and instead I aced it with 4.0 and loved it.

The mistake you're making is one that we all make at first. We worry too much about comparing our work to those who have already been doing it for awhile. No one picks up a pencil and immediately knows all the things a simple #2 pencil can do. I just had someone send me a PM on Myspace asking about my art, and he wanted to draw awesome right away, and got down on himself for not being able to do so. I told him the only picture you should ever compare your work to is your last one.

One lesson I was shown real early is a simple one. Draw ten empty squares. Color the last one totally black and leave the first one totally white. Now fill in the eight squares in between, slowly going from white to black. You start to see just how many shades one can get from a pencil, and that was a fun feeling. There's really no secret to drawing. It's just practice all the time. Even doodling isn't hurting.

If you're into fantasy art here's a couple very cool sites to check out.

http://digitalart.org/

http://www.deviantart.com/

I just got my latest desktop at that last one the other day. :wow:

:hi: My teacher did the same thing starting with a 2B pencil - finding the gradations between the lightest to the pitch darkest. I'm sure that above all taught me most about color. Sounds :crazy: but when I could see all the different shades in pencil, painting with colors became much easier.

I really appreciate the compliment, Forkboy, but I truly admire your execution and skill and think now it's less about talent but being able to put down what you're feeling. So I may not know exactly what you were thinking or feeling in your work I've seen so far, but I know that I'm moved to keep looking and liking them. Your stuff always seems free of restrictions and fluid, something I always struggle with.

Here are some of my favorite fantasy blogs and sites.
http://www.arantza.info/
http://www.linesandcolors.com/
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com
http://www.conceptart.org
http://www.sublimatrix.com/index.html
http://www.theworldofmichaelparkes.com/html/home.asp/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewAlbums&friendID=18396270
http://www.mariawilliam.net/index.html
http://www.copronason.com/
http://www.johnjohnjesse.net/
http://www.loriearley.com/
http://www.laurielipton.com/ (fantastic pencil work)
http://www.cabinodd.com/?page=artists&type=5
http://www.vladimirkush.com/home.php
http://www.themysticalvisions.com/index.php
http://www.tamaramuller.nl/
http://www.hifructose.com/
http://www.sylviaji.com/
http://michaelwhelan.com

I'm losing my mind...what's left of it.

I wanted to thank you for all the links. I'm a huge Luarie Lipton fan already. I used this pic to make a shirt...



My friend wanted to use some of her art on his band's Myspace page and she was totally cool with it. She seemed very cool in the emails.

I'm familiar with a couple others, but most of that is new to me, so that's awesome. My art bookmarks folder is already stuffed, but I'll squeeze in a few more if I have to. ;)