thetaClysm
[pixels] I'm finding my first big stumbling block in trying to do art
thetaClysm
and that's that I just don't have the mechanical motion of just drawing the kind of line I want down to an extent I can use?
thetaClysm
It's one thing when working at smaller resolutions, where I can just place individual pixels and I have at least something of a working instinct for where they ought to go
thetaClysm
But on a more macro level, larger than 32x32 pixels, where I have to do more complex planning of overall shapes? The instinct just isn't there. There's a skill that needs to be developed, and I'm not sure how to develop it
thetaClysm
This is likely the price I'm paying for skipping traditional art and going straight for pixel; I'm building without a foundation
thetaClysm
It probably doesn't help that what I'm trying to draw right now is a human, and how is human shaped. But lines, too, are hard.
Alterz
Literally practice drawing shapes. In a practice session, do like... draw a straight line, then an arc, a circle, a triangle, a square, just in one motion.
Alterz
It's going to look like wonky shit at first, that's fine.
Alterz
But literally just work up to crazy shapes and have fun with how silly they look.
Alterz
Draw a cat shape and then put a dumb face on it because it looks so dumb.
Alterz
I'm really good a drawing human faces, but animals and backgrounds and stuff? This is what I do.
Alterz
Since I've already got the basics down I start at "make square, make it into a building" but it's the same principle.
Alterz
Same for how is human shaped, make a square and put a circle on it and then squiggle some limbs onto it, and then give it a silly face and a speech bubble saying "I AM AN ABOMINATION UNTO GOD".
Alterz
Somewhere on my tumblr I've got a post about line practice, too, it's in my tutorial tag but trying to find it on mobile is bs so I'll try to remember to link it later.
Alterz
TL;DR draw basic shapes to teach your brain/hand how to make them, just experiment with shoving shapes together to practice making more complicated stuff.
Alterz
A circle with triangles attached can become a cat, a person, a star, etc depending on where you put the triangles, literally just mess about.
thetaClysm
you mentioning that post reminded me of a thing i liked on tumblr ages ago, i dug through my likes and i wonder if this is the post you mean??
thetaClysm
...struggling with the first goddamn exercise gfd
Alterz
I thought it was at first because that first one looks similar, but apparently not! Similar practice stuff, though.
Alterz
I'll try to find the one I saved.
Alterz
For what it's worth, though, like... you've seen my drawings? I'm not bad, I've been doing this shit for years, but like: some of these basic drawing exercises fuck me up too, so don't worry too much about struggling with it.
Alterz
The more important part is teaching your brain to connect to your hand in certain ways.
Alterz
APPARENTLY I DIDN'T PUT IT IN TUTORIAL, SO FUCK ME, STILL LOOKING
thetaClysm
if i put two points on the canvas and try to connect them, i miss like 95% of the time if i'm going fast enough for the line to turn out smooth
thetaClysm
so i wind up being afraid i'm gonna just absorb the muscle memory of doing it the wrong way
Alterz
Start out going slower then, honestly. Go just a liiiiiitle bit faster than you wish you could vis a vis making a smooth line and practice at that speed, and then speed up as you get better at aiming at that speed.
Alterz
Anyway I can't fucking find the one I was trying to find but it had things like draw two dots and then try to draw circles that go through both dots and god. damn it's fucking hard.
Alterz
Good practice, but crazy hard.
Danainai
Man watch a little est ream of amazing artists, like all of them ctrl z their longer or curved lines a bunch before getting one they like. Your brain actually gets better the more you do the line, regardless of if you hit your personal mark or not
Danainai
Live stream* not little est wtf