How do I not draw flat?

Question

I recently started drawing, and a friend of mine (who is an artist) keeps telling me that I'm "drawing flat" and that its bad. I'm fine with that, but he doesn't give me any feedback on how to avoid it. He just says things like "just draw lots" or "draw through everything" and "I cant really say what's wrong, it's just flat"
So my question is, how do I not draw flat? I've tried adding curves to everything, and drawing through everything, but its still flat.
Does anyone know any books/websites/anything that address how to draw things that aren't flat?

By the way, this problem is occuring during the construction phase mostly, since I'm not drawing characters that have dimensions and are doomed to be flat.

Oh, also, I have photoshop CS3, but I was wondering if anyone had any tips on tablets that are reasonably cheap/work reasonably well. Nothing professional, just something that works.

Thanks in advance

Answer 1

They don't seem to be much of a friend if they don't help you. I don't know exactly what they mean but maybe if you turn your subjects slightly to the side,(i.e., not head on) it would not look so flat. Also, if you add shadows ,it will give the art a 3 dimensional affect. Hope this helps!

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Drawing, even when is a fantastic activity and a good way to pay the full time, could be a really hard job and this really is way you need this manual from here https://tr.im/cKeUl , Realistic Pencil Portrait Mastery so that you can begin with the right foot.

This Realistic Pencil Portrait Mastery eBook is created by Christopher Sia, a Pencil Face Drawer and an coach in this art through the entire past 5 decades

Mr. Sia is quite detailed and you are able to completely follow along his entire drawing process.  If you want to see each step in how his drawings are deposit, you will find them.  There are many good recommendations and tricks on shading and pulling off tricky pieces like hair.  The method map offer you a birds-eye view of the drawing process and the workouts possess some extra valuable information.

Answer 4

There are lots of tecniques to add "depth" to drawings. Among them, you can try to apply whatever you can, such as:



Perspective: Background objects will be smaller than foreground objects. The farther away an object is, the smaller it will be in the image. The reverse is also true. Some ojects can be place in FRONT of your main subject.



Make the objects in the back ground less sharp, less defined than the main subject. You can actually make "blurred" lines for those background objects, like they are out of focus.



Use shading to give each object more "depth" or roundness.



Foreshortening also can be used. Not all subjects need to be seen straight on or in profile. A figure walking toward the viewer will have one leg slightly in front, and covering up part of the back leg. Same with the arms. A person running foreward need not run directly to the front. He could be running towards you at an angle. A leafy bush will have leaves in front of others, some overlapping other leaves. Trees are NOT just "lollipop" shapes with leaves. Trees tend to be made up of clusters of branches with more distinct clusters of leaves running off of these branches.



Use color or value contrast. Dark against light, light against dark. Vivid colors against dull or muted colors.



Not all of these techniques apply to every drawing, but, only by practicing these techniques on LOTS and lots of drawings can you get good at it. Practice. Don't expect your NEXT drawing to be miraculously better than the previous drawing. But, a week's worth of drawing should demonstrate that the last piece will be better than the first piece.

Answer 5

Ummm let me see...

Make it less monotone with varying strokes and shades...

Adding dark shading to part of the drawing makes it appear closer, adding pale shading makes it look further away..

Adding shadows and/or reflections of light (in water, eyes, hair, etc.) can help...

Try drawing the subject/image upside down, then you are drawing exactly what you see rather than trying to make it look like an object..

You can always change your subject a bit, use 3D shapes and/or put smaller objects in the background..

Practise by drawing from really obscure angles, using the same subject repeatedly so that you really get to know it..



Ask your friend exactly what he means. Get him to sketch you a quick diagram of a 'flat' drawing and then the same image again but not flat. Then pick out the differences.



Hope that helps...

Answer 6

drawing on the right side of the brain by betty edwards is probably the most helpful drawing book you could read. when i first started drawing i used heavy outlines which my teacher said flattened the drawing. using strokes very lightly and of varying tone helps and dont draw over and over to reinforce bits of the drawing which you think are good. hope this helps.