Hi.

Im in need of a little advice regarding art classes. Im a programmer and Ive currently started a very long term personal project. A single player RPG. basicly my dream game and the reason ive started game development to begin with. Now. I do intend on eventualy recruitng artists/moddelers when the game reaches a certian point in developement but I would very much like to be able to create character concept art and character models myself.

While im busy programming this game using placeholder assets I would like to develop myself as an artist as well. Ive read in multiple forums and articles that live figure drawing classes is the best way to go. Unfortenetley the only place close to me offering such classes is the local library wich unfortenetley at present doesnt have any models. So ive started doing what seems to be the second best option, a general sketching and painting class. In the couple of classes ive had so far Im drawing static objects placed in from of me while receiving advice and pointers from the facilitator. Other more progressed people in the class are drawing people from photographs.

While this seems usefull im not 100% sure if its what i should be doing if my end goal is to be able to draw characters for my game. Ive also read somewhere that drawing from photographs is very inferior to drawing from actual models. Of course I can always ask my girlfrend to pose for me but I wont have a facilitator to guide me.

If I go out of my way I can probely attend figure drawing classes but it has to be realy worth it. So my question is. Should i stick to my current classes at the library untill the library provides figure drawing classes again (wich might be never) or should I go the extra mile and find figure drawing classes.

there might not be a defenitive answer to my question but any advice or information is appreciated!

Thnx in Advance!

Well, you are specializing in the drawing media, so you'll be able to visually express your ideas and get acquainted with a digitizing tablet more easily.

- Study color theory.

- If you're interested in 3D modelling you might also want to practice sculpting with clay or similar - I hear it's a good way to exercise your understanding of shapes and volumes - you don't need classes for this, you can buy some clay and simple tools so you can reproduce interesting subjects you imagine, such as your own game characters\props, for instance. It'll force you to see your creations in pure 3D form, and figure out issues you wouldn't otherwise. Always start with simple subjects, though.
This is optional of course; you can get plenty of 3D exercising just by modelling stuff in your favorite software.

While you practice these, don't forget to use the virtual medium as well, which is your goal. You can paint things with a tablet and learn about image editing. Model simple things for practice as well. In any instance, be it a simple subject or not, make sure to give it polish and presentability.

It will require time to get good. That's a given.

If you haven't already, get photo references for the human skeleton, both male and female. Drawing and modeling humans well is very much based on understanding how bones and muscles are hooked together, which determines how they can (and can't) move, and what the muscles look like under the skin. I assume you are aiming for a highly realistic style, since you haven't said anything about studying a particular style or an artist whose style you want to emulate.

Thnx for the advice. Yes for now im interested in high realism. Although my game will be "Anime" styled. I want to be able to draw realisticaly first.

Hmm. Well on the one hand, learning to draw realism first tends to result in the best anime art eventually. But on the other hand, the proportions of the body and conventions for representing the face are noticeably different between anime and realism. So you're adding the process of learning that style on top of the process of learning how to draw realistic people, which increases the length of time it will take you to be able to produce passable character concepts by at minimum a few months. Then you're going to study clothing design after that, I guess? In the long run it's always beneficial to learn these kind of skills, as long as you don't get tripped up by how long it takes.

Yes i understand that it will add time to the process but thats acceptable.

Thing is. I did start with learning to draw anime by studying some of the many "Learn to draw mango style" tutorials and books. I came to the point where i could copy a anime drawing. Maybe even make some changes to clothing and hairstyle or facial expression but thats it. I essentialy hit a brick wall. There was no way for me to draw that same character in a different pose. Nor could i even redraw that character without looking at the origanel picture. I realised that i was basicly just copying lines and i had no idea how the characters body actualy fits together.

Well, when you get back to anime again I'll recommend some of the better books on how to draw manga, which start with designing a pose out of a stick figure with some circles or triangles added. But certainly it does sound like you need to focus on basics. You got a sketchbook, I assume, and are doing about 2 drawings a day in it, especially of any person who will sit still for you?

I'm interested in manga-style drawing too, so if you could post those books for me, that'd be swell

Bye.

Well there is a big difference between drawing and 3D modeling. I can't draw worth crap. I can model extremely well. My suggestion is pick 1. It takes a while to learn both skills. 3D art is much much more fun and you don't have to study perspective because it is handled for you.

I suggest you get a page to post your art, such as deviant art. Look over other peoples art and post on art forums for critiques on your work. Just keep modeling things for your game. Lamps, tables, drawers. All these basic props even take a while to build up understanding unwrapping and texture scale.

Drawing takes so much time to learn. You have to study hands. You have to take your hand learn how it is shaped flat, fisted, giving thumbs up. Learn how to put lighting on surfaces. I wish I could do it but definitely 3D stuff is easier. If your game is 2D, you could still learn 3d and render it down.

I'm interested in manga-style drawing too, so if you could post those books for me, that'd be swell

Bye.

Hello, sorry it took until today before I had time to dig through my bookshelf. Here are the best of the books I have:
How To draw Anime And Game Characters, vol. 1 basics, 2 emotions, 5 bishoujo
How To Draw Manga: Male Characters
How To Draw Manga 3: A Comprehensive Guide to manga Techniques (panel layout, viewing angle, and more)
How To Draw Manga 5: Developing Shoujo Manga Techniques (ignore the ugly cover drawing, has shoujo-style anatomy for males and females, facial expressions/emotions, special effects, drawing clothing, etc.)
Drawing Cutting Edge Anatomy (this is a Christopher Hart book, there's a lot of negative sentiment against them, but personally I think it has the best guide to muscular anatomy ala superheroes. This is applicable to both western and anime styles.)

Now, my art is not up to the standards of any of that, however I do have several free anime/comic related tutorials and references in my DeviantArt gallery. Sunandshadow's DA Gallery
Specifically what is here: Bishounen Skeleton Silhouette, Male Anatomy - Skinny (animeization of Loomis), Male Anatomy - Broad Shoulders (animeization of Loomis), 8 Heads Anime Male Proportions, Shoujo Proportions Trace (Utena Males and Sailor Moon Females), Drawing Fat Men, and Clothing Design References 1-5 (sheaths, sleeves, necklines)

Bleh, now that I think about it I have more old references I probably should have uploaded to DA years ago. I've got example blueprints for male and female anime characters and an androgynous fashion plate blank, who knows what else...