I want to start drawing but I'm awful at it?

Question

I recently have started getting in intrest in art. I decided I wanted to try and drawing/doodling some things. But here's the problem, I've been an awful artist my entire life. I have a hard time drawing a stick figure. I don't have time to take drawing lessons at the moment. So should I just start drawing anyway even if I'm awful at it?

Answer 1

If you want to bring these ideas to life, you have to know the basics. So my advice in start small with some shapes and small simple drawings.



You should start with some geometric shapes like cubes, cylinders, and spheres (those might be hard considering that they need some shading). If you are having trouble with those, then start with 2d shapes like squares and circles. You might think that this is ridiculous, but every piece of art has geometric shapes as their skeletons.



Once you have these shapes down pretty well, you can move onto simple drawings of everyday things such as pencils (composed of a cylinder and a cone) or something like a house (cube and pyramid). You will eventually notice that you will need shading and depth to your drawings. i suggest getting some blending stumps to help you blend. You can also use your finger, but you wont get the results you will with a blending stump. The one thing you must remember when you are blending though, is that sometimes more, is less. and especially when you are drawing realistically, you do not want to use too much shading. with cartoons, it is fine though.



Once you have done this, you will be able to start drawing more elaborate paintings/drawings. When drawing elaborate items, make sure to focus on details and always focus on a one dominant item unless you're drawing a design.



I hope this helped and keep drawing!

Answer 2

I'm an artist, but I'm not a professional and I'm only speaking from experience. First of all, what sort of art style and art medium are you aiming for? Traditional, abstract, manga, painting, drawing, etc? If you're talking about drawing, then start small. The very first thing I drew when I was just starting out in drawing manga was stick people. I drew lots of stick people, but instead of making them stand still, I would draw them in motion, or make it appear as if they were doing something. When I was confident in my stick-people-drawing abilities, I gradually added on to the syick people (I.e, I practiced making the head a little more realistic, then practiced drawing hair and a face, then torsos, then arms, legs, hands, and feet.). Mastering all of this, however, took years, and I still want to improve my drawing! When it comes to drawing objects (Which is my weakest front), practice drawing simple things first, such as pencils, and cups, then once you're confident in those abilities, gradually practice adding perspective (Making it look realistic). This is what I did and still do, so there's no guarantee that that these methods will work for you. I sugfest either taking an art class or buying a couple art books according to what kind of art you want to do. You won't become good at art in just a couple days; it takes a long time to master an artistic skill, and even then, a good artist is never satisfied with their skill! Good luck, and I hope you will enjoy art as much as I do! :)

Answer 3

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Answer 4

Yes. Yes just start drawing anyway X3



Now I'm sure you've got ideas and things that you WANT to draw, but you're best off starting small, and realistic. If you have anything round, a cube, a cylinder, the blander the better. Place the object under a light. Try to draw the outline first, but then shade it. Color it in and try to place the darks where it's dark and the lights where it's light. This with both help to train your hand to be more steady and get used to drawing, and help your brain to wrap around the idea of reproducing 3D objects as 2D. Once you kind of get a feel for shading (and this can take several, long, boring attempts before it begins to set in), then move on to something a little more complicated.



Try drawing (from memory) something like a lightbulb, a toaster, or even a human eye. It might be easier to start with something opaque so you don't have to worry about something being clear or reflective, but if you want to go straight for it, start here. You'll probably find that, no matter what you choose, when you try to draw one of those things even though you see it every day, you never really paid much attention and don't really know what it looks like. NOW draw it from example; notice all the little details you'd forgotten about or didn't realize were there in the first place. This will help train your mind to pay attention to details during every day life. How many toes does a cat have on it's feet? Where exactly do a horse's legs bend and in which direction? Are human eyes closer to the top of the head... or the middle?



I would suggest setting aside an hour a day, or perhaps just picking one object a day, to do this with. It will be boring, it will be tedious, but it should work. You'll probably notice that the doodles you do for fun, the stuff you ACTUALLY want to draw, gets slightly better after each one of these sessions. Keep ALL your drawings, but put them away. After a month of doing this, go back to your first pictures and compare them to what you've got now. You'll be astonished :3



Even as a seasoned artist, I find myself happily surprised at my progress when I actually take the time to teach myself instead of just doodling. (I don't do it nearly as often as I should any more...)



Anyway, if you want any specific help or tips, have any smaller precise questions, I'd be more than willing to help ^^; You can get ahold of me VIA my deviantART page. My username is Dreamscape195

Answer 5

Yes, I think you should try to draw. Drawing is one of those things that you aren't actually born with the ability to draw perfectly ever. You practice at it and become better at it the more you practice. Some people can have a natural talent for it that makes it easier. However anyone can draw. In art school they had us draw a lot of still life's. Apples, Jalapenos, people, plants, so I would suggest setting something up and trying to draw it. I used to be really good at drawing, I could literally draw anything. 10 years later I don't draw much because I work a lot and I have lost my touch. You have to practice to get it back. Practice, practice, practice. Going through my art journals it's very obvious that you get better the more that you draw.

Answer 6

I would recommend following the drawing techniques outlined by Betty Edwards in her book, Drawing on the Right Side of your Brain. One of her techniques is turning the reference photo upside down. This way you focus your eye on the lines and shapes and not so much the finished form. This might help you break down the image better.



Book: http://goo.gl/TJXmhl

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctkRwRDdajo



Also before photographs, the great artists practiced drawing from real life. Look at some of these practice sketches done by Michelangelo.

http://www.everypainterpaintshimself.com/galleries/michelangelo_drawings/



The more you practice drawing from visual reference (from real life or photography) you will imprint these images into your mind. Over time you will be able to see and draw these images from memory and not rely on visual reference as much.



If you would like a book with visual reference, check out my ebook which has 100+ photographs of things to draw. Drawing people, animals, objects, and still life's will help you draw more realistically and become familiar drawing different things. Give it a try.

http://drawingideas.net/

Answer 7

take lessons

a adult education course once a week will not take up that much time



sure you are awful

drawing is a acquired skill

a skill anybody can learn



think of it as being like riding a bicycle



its just a matter of putting in the time



also you might want to read / study



Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain

by

Betty Edwards



its a very good book on learning to draw

Answer 8

There are free drawing courses where they teach you step by step i literally was horribly at drawing and at the fourth grade i saw a picture of one of my artwork it looks awful and it was burning my eyes every second i looked at it but during that time i thought i was the best drawer in there even with my horrible killing picture but then i kept drawing i picked a specialty (people) and by the 5th and 6th grade everyone wanted me to draw them everything so i tried and experienced more types of art like still lifes and sculptures and landscapes i didnt drew people for a while but the moment i started drewing people i got even more better and it just got better and better.



You should draw and draw even if it is that bad and soon you will draw like this google image i looked and i believe you could draw like this if you keep on practicing i know people always say practice and just the word practice hurted my ear but then i said if you guys are going to keep saying practice ill practice and when i did it became a habit that remind me get supporters and friends and family to support your work it will help.



Anyway here is the picture you could be drawing if you pick up a pencil and draw



http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fs581.photobucket.com%2Fuser%2FGodKingPtah%2Fmedia%2Fstar.jpg.html&h=0&w=0&sz=1&tbnid=8_VmCkcghZZWSM&tbnh=259&tbnw=194&zoom=1&docid=Mn3exA1gPOLcOM&ei=8CM6Ury_L4akyAHxkoGwDQ&ved=0CAEQsCU



You notice its only a spark because that picture is all my hope poured on you when you looked at it.

Answer 9

Yes! You should practice, practice, practice! You can become great by copying great pictures and seeing what makes them great and trying to incorporate what makes them great into your own work. Also, read that book "Drawing on The Right Side Of The Brain". Good luck! :)

Answer 10

http://www.drawsum.com - one enormous canvas anyone can draw on.



great for inspiration, motivation, to show off your work, and if you're bored. as there are a few thousand drawings.



If you do drop by you'll get hooked, also you drawings are fairly safe, as the mod's do a good job of saving them.



enjoy!

Answer 11

You a have to start somewhere.



Just start with doodling and don't get discourage by your first attempts.

Answer 12

All you need to do is keep drawing. EVERYBODY improves, lessons or not.