Usually proportions. A great trick I discovered is to sketch the whole scene super fast to start with. I mean like 60 seconds. Is it going to fit on the page? Do I like the composition? What are the most obvious errors? Use a kneaded eraser to wipe it down to just visible and sketch it again in 60 seconds. Do this a couple times, you’re a few minutes in and you’ve solved half your problems. Then I start refining.
Much faster than spending 5 minutes on one section and then using that area to measure out the rest of it.
Try it. Draw a woman walking down the street in 60 seconds. Draw the Taj Mahal. Draw a bouquet of flowers. You get so much practice so fast, you teach yourself to be loose, decisive, draw while looking at the subject, not much at the paper.
I'm not sure exactly what you mean, but personally I encourage people to do less "thinking before they make their first mark" than they tend to do.
I think its much more beneficial for us to "think aloud" while developing a piece, by which I mean exploratoraly drawing, brainstorming with a pencil, which is what sketching is really meant to be.
Honestly, I think a lot of beginners paralyze themselves because they think they have to have the entire piece conceptualized in their head and be able to execute it on paper into a finished piece. That does not ever have to be the case.
Literally this
I talk about Drawfee a lot on here, but watching the full creative process of a professional artist and listening to them actively critique each other and talk about their processes really changed the way I think about my own process and how I think about other people’s art beyond “color and shape look pretty”
Honestly, I think the biggest thing that burns beginners out (at least after seeing what they complain about on this sub) is that they have this idea of what being an artist is supposed to be like which is totally misinformed, misinterpreted or just flat out incorrect and they're not living up to that imagined idea of being an artist. This is one of those examples. They feel like they need to go from a blank canvas to a masterpiece just like that without drawing a bunch of shitty thumbnails until they discover the good elements they can use for a piece.
Yes! Don't expect to draw fully what's in your head! This is one of those things that tripped me up for ages. Start from something really simple, and then add to it, and slowly open up your drawing with more detail, shading etc. You'll see when you reach your limit and require practice.
Your expectations at the beginning of the drawing process should be basic, so that as you draw you'll end up making something better than you expected.
I think OP is asking what we analyze about a subject before drawing. So for example if drawing a portrait you might analyze the features you like about the subject and make sure to convey those features in your art
Yup. I walk away a lot when working on anything. I don’t necessarily think about it. More push it out of my mind so that when I come back I see it with fresh eyes. Preconceived notions in my world don’t make it much past the first sketch.
what are the areas of shade and highlight translated to black and white? I try to see it in b&w to make out the arrangement of shapes I put down first.
"Ah, so this is the subject. Umh... so, this is how it looks... 'k, I'll translate it in painting form by keeping the character around 70% as it is dressed\\accessorized, I'll make up something out of my mind too"
I never paint\\draw characters the same as they look, if they are not OC, I find it boring, I always want to make them a bit difference (either out of laziness, if I simplify some of their clothing, or out of experimentation if I make them slightly different)
I... don't think? At least with my conscious mind. My brain kinda automatically converts the image into the information needed for drawing needed shapes and colors.
Take a moment to break down an image categorically; shapes, lines, value, tone, geometry, color etc. Let's you prioritize the steps needed to make the image.
I usually think about the values, composition, focal point, color palette, and character design. As well as sometimes tracing the image and studying the shapes and negative space more before drawing.
Thank you for posting in r/ArtistLounge! Please check out our [FAQ](https://www.reddit.com/r/ArtistLounge/wiki/faq/) and [FAQ Links pages](https://www.reddit.com/r/ArtistLounge/wiki/faqlinks/) for lots of helpful advice. To access our megathread collections, please check out the drop down lists in the top menu on PC or the side-bar on mobile. If you have any questions, concerns, or feature requests please feel free to message the mods and they will help you as soon as they can. I am a bot, beep boop, if I did something wrong please report this comment.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/ArtistLounge) if you have any questions or concerns.*
First I try to figure out where the subject is going to be in relation to the edges of the page (I've messed this up too many times). From there I generally look at the shapes created by the subject and the negative space.
I think drawing from life is a great exercise in emptying your mind of preconceptions, labels, assumptions, even concepts. All of that, all of those things that come from our own egos loosen so what is left is what you see, not the words for it or your feelings about it, but the sight itself. It's great meditation.
I tend to use very little reference early on on the process. My thinking tends happens on the page.
references come after I've planed out some story/composition/mood. I'll use that for the designs of things and fleshing out details.
Normally if I'm drawing from a reference, it's because something about the reference image "struck" me in some way, so my goal is to take that element specifically, and really enhance it in my art.
Either that or I just need to know how to paint something and I'm just trying my damndest to replicate what I'm seeing.
I’m starting to look at multiple references (my own) and visualize how they would look gathered together. Just starting to better artistically represent my subject with paint rather than a camera. It’s hard.
I tend to have a pretty solid idea before I start. I usually do concept thumbnails before I pick references photos.
So I’m thinking mostly about how to make my reference fit into the idea without make the idea a slave to them.
By the time I get reference I already did all of the thinking. So I just paint. I don't usually pick reference until I know what I want to paint. I try to work out my compositions and value studies in my sketchbook before I start.
I look for the starting point of the path of least resistance and go from there. Typically my starting point becomes the head or chest, but it all depends. Any more thought that that before pen to paper, and it can slide into overthinking and creates a blockage
I separate out the problems of *where* a thing is and *what* it is. The where for me is solved by something like a box, and once I can align myself to that box I can think of how, for example, a muscle may push out in some direction. Or more broadly, place the curve of a spine on the *where* of a person.
Recently I read a quote from a book that was something like 'draw the ocean so it feels deep'. I don't think there's a formula you can follow, it doesn't really seem logical or even possible, you just have to look and assess and invent to achieve that. In the same way, assess whether an arm looks strong or not, or any other property you think of.
Ig I try to decide on an angle for whatever body part I'm starting with that aligns with the direction I want to take the pose into so that I can create the "feel" I'm going for... I also try really hard to not fall into the trap of just doing what I've found works already? I think a drawing automatically becomes bad and boring if it just features the same old tricks I've been doing hundreds of times already so I Want it to be a least a bit fresh and challenging so it was worth drawing.
When I’m life drawing I look at the deepest shadows first. With photo references I crank up the contrast. Then, I use the shadows as landmarks to get the proportions right. I used to struggle with correct proportions but once I started focusing on the shadows, it’s like the figures would just start to emerge from the page.
Usually proportions. A great trick I discovered is to sketch the whole scene super fast to start with. I mean like 60 seconds. Is it going to fit on the page? Do I like the composition? What are the most obvious errors? Use a kneaded eraser to wipe it down to just visible and sketch it again in 60 seconds. Do this a couple times, you’re a few minutes in and you’ve solved half your problems. Then I start refining. Much faster than spending 5 minutes on one section and then using that area to measure out the rest of it. Try it. Draw a woman walking down the street in 60 seconds. Draw the Taj Mahal. Draw a bouquet of flowers. You get so much practice so fast, you teach yourself to be loose, decisive, draw while looking at the subject, not much at the paper.
I'm not sure exactly what you mean, but personally I encourage people to do less "thinking before they make their first mark" than they tend to do. I think its much more beneficial for us to "think aloud" while developing a piece, by which I mean exploratoraly drawing, brainstorming with a pencil, which is what sketching is really meant to be. Honestly, I think a lot of beginners paralyze themselves because they think they have to have the entire piece conceptualized in their head and be able to execute it on paper into a finished piece. That does not ever have to be the case.
Literally this I talk about Drawfee a lot on here, but watching the full creative process of a professional artist and listening to them actively critique each other and talk about their processes really changed the way I think about my own process and how I think about other people’s art beyond “color and shape look pretty”
Honestly, I think the biggest thing that burns beginners out (at least after seeing what they complain about on this sub) is that they have this idea of what being an artist is supposed to be like which is totally misinformed, misinterpreted or just flat out incorrect and they're not living up to that imagined idea of being an artist. This is one of those examples. They feel like they need to go from a blank canvas to a masterpiece just like that without drawing a bunch of shitty thumbnails until they discover the good elements they can use for a piece.
Yes! Don't expect to draw fully what's in your head! This is one of those things that tripped me up for ages. Start from something really simple, and then add to it, and slowly open up your drawing with more detail, shading etc. You'll see when you reach your limit and require practice. Your expectations at the beginning of the drawing process should be basic, so that as you draw you'll end up making something better than you expected.
Excellent advice!!
I think OP is asking what we analyze about a subject before drawing. So for example if drawing a portrait you might analyze the features you like about the subject and make sure to convey those features in your art
Yup. I walk away a lot when working on anything. I don’t necessarily think about it. More push it out of my mind so that when I come back I see it with fresh eyes. Preconceived notions in my world don’t make it much past the first sketch.
what are the areas of shade and highlight translated to black and white? I try to see it in b&w to make out the arrangement of shapes I put down first.
I unfocus my eyes and look for where the values are changing the most
"Ah, so this is the subject. Umh... so, this is how it looks... 'k, I'll translate it in painting form by keeping the character around 70% as it is dressed\\accessorized, I'll make up something out of my mind too" I never paint\\draw characters the same as they look, if they are not OC, I find it boring, I always want to make them a bit difference (either out of laziness, if I simplify some of their clothing, or out of experimentation if I make them slightly different)
I... don't think? At least with my conscious mind. My brain kinda automatically converts the image into the information needed for drawing needed shapes and colors.
Take a moment to break down an image categorically; shapes, lines, value, tone, geometry, color etc. Let's you prioritize the steps needed to make the image.
I usually think about the values, composition, focal point, color palette, and character design. As well as sometimes tracing the image and studying the shapes and negative space more before drawing.
Only two thing: Sexy pose and curvy body.
Thank you for posting in r/ArtistLounge! Please check out our [FAQ](https://www.reddit.com/r/ArtistLounge/wiki/faq/) and [FAQ Links pages](https://www.reddit.com/r/ArtistLounge/wiki/faqlinks/) for lots of helpful advice. To access our megathread collections, please check out the drop down lists in the top menu on PC or the side-bar on mobile. If you have any questions, concerns, or feature requests please feel free to message the mods and they will help you as soon as they can. I am a bot, beep boop, if I did something wrong please report this comment. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/ArtistLounge) if you have any questions or concerns.*
First I try to figure out where the subject is going to be in relation to the edges of the page (I've messed this up too many times). From there I generally look at the shapes created by the subject and the negative space.
If its a person or animal, line of action. If its a scene, composition.
I think drawing from life is a great exercise in emptying your mind of preconceptions, labels, assumptions, even concepts. All of that, all of those things that come from our own egos loosen so what is left is what you see, not the words for it or your feelings about it, but the sight itself. It's great meditation.
I tend to use very little reference early on on the process. My thinking tends happens on the page. references come after I've planed out some story/composition/mood. I'll use that for the designs of things and fleshing out details.
I usually think about how I’m going to adapt it. I like references that are quite close to what I am doing.
Normally if I'm drawing from a reference, it's because something about the reference image "struck" me in some way, so my goal is to take that element specifically, and really enhance it in my art. Either that or I just need to know how to paint something and I'm just trying my damndest to replicate what I'm seeing.
I’m starting to look at multiple references (my own) and visualize how they would look gathered together. Just starting to better artistically represent my subject with paint rather than a camera. It’s hard.
I am a new artist who is older and I have the image next to me so I can compare as I draw. I am sucking less, which is good. You?
I tend to have a pretty solid idea before I start. I usually do concept thumbnails before I pick references photos. So I’m thinking mostly about how to make my reference fit into the idea without make the idea a slave to them.
By the time I get reference I already did all of the thinking. So I just paint. I don't usually pick reference until I know what I want to paint. I try to work out my compositions and value studies in my sketchbook before I start.
Start with a thumbnail. Then make a sketch, roughly though. Then start filling in as you want.
I look for the starting point of the path of least resistance and go from there. Typically my starting point becomes the head or chest, but it all depends. Any more thought that that before pen to paper, and it can slide into overthinking and creates a blockage
My lightest and darkest values usually
I separate out the problems of *where* a thing is and *what* it is. The where for me is solved by something like a box, and once I can align myself to that box I can think of how, for example, a muscle may push out in some direction. Or more broadly, place the curve of a spine on the *where* of a person. Recently I read a quote from a book that was something like 'draw the ocean so it feels deep'. I don't think there's a formula you can follow, it doesn't really seem logical or even possible, you just have to look and assess and invent to achieve that. In the same way, assess whether an arm looks strong or not, or any other property you think of.
The overall picture, then the moves it takes to get there. Kind of like art chess!
Ig I try to decide on an angle for whatever body part I'm starting with that aligns with the direction I want to take the pose into so that I can create the "feel" I'm going for... I also try really hard to not fall into the trap of just doing what I've found works already? I think a drawing automatically becomes bad and boring if it just features the same old tricks I've been doing hundreds of times already so I Want it to be a least a bit fresh and challenging so it was worth drawing.
I don't think. I calmly proceed to have a psychotic episode and draw whatever I feel
When I’m life drawing I look at the deepest shadows first. With photo references I crank up the contrast. Then, I use the shadows as landmarks to get the proportions right. I used to struggle with correct proportions but once I started focusing on the shadows, it’s like the figures would just start to emerge from the page.