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CaptainGeech Joined: 24 Apr 2007 Total posts: 23 Age: 28 Gender: Male |
 Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 11:10 am Post subject: Drawing from imagination |
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| Hello, I normally draw from life or pictures. I have some examples in the girls forum: http://www.drawingboard.org/viewtopic.php?t=55089 and one in the sketchbook forum. I'm pretty happy with these for now even though I still haven't establish much of a personal style, but I know that comes in time. The thing is that whenever I just want to draw off the top of my head, I can't. Nothing seems to be even close to my regular drawings. This is a skill that I'd definitely like to develop. What can I do to develop this skill?
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benjaminfaulkner
Joined: 21 Dec 2005 Total posts: 421 Gender: Unknown |
| Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 12:04 pm Post subject: |
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im in the same boat myself im afraid so i cant offer any expert advice.
all i woul say is that when you are working from referance try to study what you are drawing and learn from it. the way different body parts are shaped and the way that they connect to each other. rather than just drawing what you see.
i think if you keep on doing that then your non reference work should get closer to your referance work. or at least i hope so anyway! 
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munkymu
Joined: 28 Apr 2006 Total posts: 1197 Location: Alberta, Canada Gender: Female |
| Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 12:27 pm Post subject: |
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Try using construction. The human body is a complex shape, and you need to remember a LOT of stuff to be able to draw it in a convincing manner -- everything from how far apart eyes are to how a foot looks from every angle. Trying to just memorize all that stuff would be insane -- so you have to simplify it. That's why all those drawing books have you turn the body into a bunch of simple 3D shapes like spheres and cylinders.
Try taking a photo of a person and turning it into spheres and cylinders. Find the centre lines of the torso and head, figure out the proportions and angles. Try to remember all those things. Then try to recreate that pose without actually looking at the photo or your simplified diagram. Once you feel comfortable with that, start adding details.
It will take you a while to accumulate a library of proportions, poses and whatnot in your head, so don't be afraid to go back to photo (or live) reference every once in a while to make sure you're on the right track and to expand your inner library.
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| Attezarf Moderator Joined: 30 May 2001 Total posts: 1290 |
| Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 12:31 pm Post subject: |
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Hello "CaptainGeech"!
Drawing from imagination, requires a foundational understanding of Drawing fundamentals..
In my experience, the artists that have the most difficulty creating Images directly from their imagination.. Are most often, artists that struggle with drawing Volumes/Forms.. how to Construct using Volumes/Forms.. how to draw things using different Perspective schemes, etc..
Based on what I've seen in your samples.. You're doing a good job of nailing down Silhouettes and Shapes. But the drawings themselves are essentially "bent wire" constructions. With Figures, existing on snow white BGs.. No context to a greater space or environment of setting, etc..
If you can train yourself to effectively draw a Sphere, rather than just a pure Circle. Or a Cube, rather than a pure Square. And if you can understand how to draw those 3D forms in a viable Perspective scheme?
Then chances are, you can begin to "build" or "make" the Images that exist in your head!
Occasionally, you will still need to follow reference to draw the more-difficult things. But once you have a solid understanding on how to break down the Construction "pieces".. Then you'll have a much easier time, drawing the Stuff you can "make" with those pieces..
More Life Drawing from either posed Figures or Still Lifes, will speed the training of your Eye/Hand/Imagination.. Photos are good, too. But they exist already as 2D objects.. And sometimes younger artists, fool themselves into thinking that they're making progress in their Drawing skills, when they really aren't..
Hope that helps, somewhat.. Good Luck!
-- Rich
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| CaptainGeech Joined: 24 Apr 2007 Total posts: 23 Age: 28 Gender: Male |
| Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 1:10 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks everyone. I'll try to break things down to shapes a bit more.
I like that exercise you described, munkymu. good idea.
I took a figure drawing course before. Now I only draw from pictures. My old stuff flows better but my new stuff allows me to pay more attention to the little things (since I have all the time I want when working from pictures). It almost seems like I have two different styles when I draw from life versus pictures. I guess I should do both and maybe mix the styles.
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sketchyman
Joined: 20 Jun 2007 Total posts: 595 Gender: Unknown |
| Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 10:43 am Post subject: |
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I agree with the comments stressing the question of space : it is important to think in volume the things you draw. I add that it is also necessary when drawing from reference, but the difference is that when drawing from reference without "spatial thinking", you may obtain something, like if you were tracing something, whereas you obtain nothing if it is a drawing from imagination.
My experience is very different from yours, so it may be interesting for you : from five years old till thirty years old, I have NEVER drawn from reference. My impression is that you understand better the things that you see (notice important details, structures and so on) when you have drawn it by imagination hundreds of times before : watching real things or photographs is for me more a way to correct or precise my way of drawing them than a way of learning how to draw them.
So my advice would be : draw something by imagination several times, trying to improve it by yourself alone during a while. Then when you will look at a real example of that, you will notice interesting things. Then try again and again to draw it by imagination. And so on... As a child, I drew hundred and hundred of horses always by imagination : I think I improved from that and from the fact that I saw occasionally real horses, but I never told to myself : "Oh, that is the way it is ! I must reproduce it.". It was not really conscious.
So, from my experience, I would say that it is when you aren't satisfied with the way you draw something by imagination that you really notice important details when you see a real example of that thing.
I hope this will help you !...
_________________
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