(If you don’t know the art vocabulary I will mention, please study them! It makes communication easier with fellow artists!)
I have been drawing since I can remember–then again, so many people draw or paint or colour as toddlers. But, these past few years, I think, have improved drastically. Although I know I have more to learn, the change was really sudden and quick, looking back.
I remember being in 4th grade, and I was in a trio, drawing me and my friends as singers. I recall when one of my best friends and I started to draw together. Her art was cute and stylized, but mine looked like I didn’t know anything about the human body, and I didn’t have any line confidence.
Come summer of 2023, I had finished 5th grade, and one day I went on a bit of a rabbit hole. I searched up Teen Titans fanart, specifically of Raven, for some nostalgia. I found this book cover of Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven (Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo). I was immediately drawn (haha, get it?) to the art style. I searched up the artist on Instagram, and I chose to follow him. He loved Teen Titans, and I was so happy. I quickly chose to mimic his art style. But, at the time, I was awful at faces and anatomy. Nonetheless, I continued to study from his posts. That summer, I went to two art classes/camps in One River School (art school). I went to a portrait class, and a sketch series class, respectively. Later that year, I wasn’t using his references, since I started drawing fashion.
By April of the next year–2024–I was once again drawing Gabriel Picolo, meaning more Teen Titans. Once I first watched SamDoesArts, it got me into drawing people again. That summer, I went to three art classes (same art school). I went to an anatomy class, a comic panel class, and a resin class, respectively. Coincidentally, I saw my friend from school in the resin class, and her friend! It was a fun week!
This January, I took out my sketchbooks from 2024. Reviewing them, I noticed that I used to struggle on the cranium and the jawline. The cranium I still struggle with sometimes, but a simple reference always fixes that. I’ve also definitely just gotten better with my proportions. I was very proud of my progress.
The 5 tips I will give you now, might only help you if you are interested in the same “field” as me. I love storytelling, and art tells stories in many different ways, but these are definitely my favourites: Fashion, storyboard artistry, and comics/graphic novels. Even if you only like drawing as a hobby, and are not interested in a career, I still hope these recommendations help!
Remember, these are all tips, not rules. Don’t let anyone tell you what’s wrong and what’s right in your art!
- Learn the fundamentals!
Although a lot of people don’t understand the point, I recommend it. SamDoesArts always says, “You have to learn the rules before you bend or break them.”
Here are 5 topics to research on:
- Anatomy: Muscles, shape language, and simplified rendering forms.
- Composition: Elements of Composition Theory & schemes.
- Colour/Light: Colour Theory & light sources.
- Perspective/Depth: Principles of perspective & types of depth.
- Value/Form: Brightness, contrast, 3D forms, shapes and volume.
- Always use references!
References are very important to learn the fundamentals, if you use photos. If you don’t like using real photos, find an artist you like! References can help you develop a style you enjoy having!
- Find your style!
Now, this is very broad, and not necessarily the best term for explaining this. Your style will be constantly developing and changing, which is not a bad thing.
The important thing is to find artists you like and appreciate, and who inspire you.
Here are some things to look for:
– Genre: Do you like moody and dark environments? Light and bubbly?
– Colours: Do you like dark colours or vibrant ones? Low contrast or high contrast?
– Shapes: Do you use real life references or do you have a smooth, or a blocky art style that you’ve been experimenting with after seeing another artist?
– Lines: Do you like thick or thin line art/line quality? Consistent or inconsistent line quality?
- Try using different mediums!
Although it’s beneficial for you to find a medium you are most comfortable with, you also need to explore new and different things. You might be pleasantly surprised and have fun with something new!
For example, I love sketching; I literally never finish or colour my drawings. But, I think water colouring is super relaxing. I’ve also tried digital art, and it makes it easier for me to colour and finish pieces.
- Make friends and learn!
Being an artist is the perfect way to make friends–online or offline! In the creative field, you can learn so much from different people. And they might even give you more great tips!
