Don’t pick up that pencil! Are you actually THINKING before drawing?

Part 1 of 9

So, you want to start creating some amazing artwork? Good. 

The concept of turning an idea in your head into a physical image or tangible object is an amazing feeling. I’m sure you’ve seen or liked something enough to translate that to paper yourself, maybe putting your own spin on it (if you haven’t yet, I suggest starting with grass and then working your way up). Those aspirations are all well and good…

But leave your tools alone for now. If you’re a beginner, I’m telling you the main way not to act like one. There’s work before the artwork.

This guy wrote this.

Now, I specialize in digital art, but this goes for every other technique with paint, clay, charcoal, or whatever else you buy (or steal; no judgment). Also, I can’t teach you step-by-step how to create your individual drawing because the technique for each idea is different every-single-time. Why is that, you ask? Because objects in the real world, which will typically be your subject matter or muse, will suddenly give a new perspective the moment you move. You take photos at particular angles for a reason, usually subconsciously.

Then again, you might be really weird. If so, you can leave your probably moist pics out of this.

Regardless, you’ll see online tutorials showing how artists created their particular works. When somebody puts out a series of them, they usually follow a familiar formula: sketch, lineart, flat color, shadows, etc.; but also they did something subtly different each time. You will, too, as you take on new challenges. 

What you’re doing is creating 2D representations for the real world, and they all have unique shapes, textures, and colors, and light reflects differently from each of them (yeah, even that really shiny thing you couldn’t afford from yesterday doesn’t shine like that other thing). These little considerations don’t “make or break” your artwork since it’s all ultimately about how you want others to see it, but the more convincing your subjects look and/or the feeling they resonate, the more attention they’ll most likely get. 

A still life from college. The “straight-on” view was criticized—they were right.

But for those just getting started, I’m going to focus on rough sketches and smooth lineart using human characters for this series of posts.

Hey, I didn’t say get pencils and paper yet! Put those back until I tell you. Also, stop sitting on the armrest!

Adapted from DeForrest: Volume One, 2015