Soooo I'm going to hijack this thread a bit. I have a bit of free time in the coming week(s), and decided that I want to try drawing (on the computer/photoshop.) This is just something I may dabble in when I have nothing else to do.

So I guess what I saying is, I want to go from not being able to draw -> being able to draw somewhat terribly. Having no prior experience, is there anything I should focus on first? Should I just watch all the videos Zko linked? I think my brain would get too overloaded if I do that at once.

I wikihow'd 'how to draw an anime character' and this is result.
puu.sh/epusx.jpg

Probably best for you to look at some reference images when drawing and try to match them as closely as you can. I looked up the wiki how, and it did not seem like it was much help. "Here, draw some basic shapes. Now draw a couple more shapes. Now draw a detailed sketch over top of those shapes"

I'd say watching the videos is a much better option though than any step by step tutorial. You can actually see what the artist is doing, rather than merely seeing what each step looks like after it has already been completed.

> 'how to draw an anime character'
NOOoooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooo

Sorry to jump in but that is a big mistake, I know that most people coming into drawing just want to draw cute anime girls, I get that I've been there, it's actually why I started drawing a ways back but if I had known what I know now I would have approached it so differently, and I didn't have much people to ask online back then either.

Draw realistic human people first, yes they will look reaaalllllly bad, bare with it. You need to know the proportions, muscles and what not first before you start stylizing them into anime stuff.

"But Zko, I don't really care about that, I just want to make cute girls and develop my own style, drawing normal people is boring"

Well you are free to do what you want but rest assured that youre quality of work will be really low for a really long time. And yes, it can be boring drawing figures and stuff but it reaally important. Just think about it this way, every human figure you draw brings you closer to drawing the perfect anime girl, its the difference between <<i.imgur.com/wKmReKI.png|deviantart>> tier anime girls and <<i.imgur.com/SZ2YUAS.png|pixiv>> anime girls.

So Cradily, as for watching those videos, don't watch them all at once, maybe have them running to the side while you play some games or cook/eat. But if youre serious about it set aside like 10 or 20 minutes a day to just watch them, you dont need to follow along and draw but get yourself familiar with whats going on. When youre man enough and think you can handle it, start drawing with them, or find some figures online and do your own art. But don't stop yourself from drawing some anime or mimicking your fav manga art style every now and then. It can be handy knowing how it drawn realistically and also seeing how the artists stylize it.

Seconding zko's sentiments. Also, as always, <<docs.google.com/file/d/0B8VO-JQCy3HgVzBhZGtiN3hZWHc|this>> is a great resource. If you're just wanting to try drawing out, it's a great guide you can sorta follow along with in your own way.

As for anime stuff, anime people look the way they do because artists follow a few specific formulas for different body parts. Learn to draw from life/reference, THEN learn those formulas. Spend a while just drawing from life without trying to make your people 2D anime waifus; once you're starting to get better at defining shapes and stuff, that's when it's a better idea to pull up some of your favorite pixiv pics and figure out how they draw certain things (eyes, hair, etc.) You can get the "anime toolkit" by copying shit, that's how most Japanese artists learn it, but that's not necessarily how they start learning - you learn shapes and bodies, then you learn how to make it aesthetically pleasing to the anime/manga-consuming demographic. The difference between zko's art and the art of, uh, other unnamed deviantart users is that zko understands the anatomy beneath the style better. The more you practice anatomy, the better you'll be able to apply the style.

Also, for inspo: <<www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JK9uQNBDxQ|4 artists paint 1 tree>>

Aye, I guess I'm stuck attempting to draw real people then, and slowly watch the videos. At least I'm in no hurry, but that may just mean it takes forever to progress xD Thanks for the advice!



Thaaat is a huge guide. I'll bookmark it for now, will look at it after the videos. Way too intimidating right now =P

Not as much as you'd think. Only the first few pages of each chapter have words - the rest of the pages are mostly showing the progression from gesture to a more finished sketch, and that's what I say is good to follow along with. Great practice.

I'm not very experienced, but I can tell you how I learned. I was good at drawing (or just replicating) since I was a child, but it was in university when I started drawing constantly (boring classes can be helpful!). I started practicing, faces, then the structure of the human body and hands (this is one of the most difficult parts, and should have practiced drawing feet). Then, I learned making details by watching anime and manga.

Fortunately, I got a pen tablet but I couldn't get used to it until... I discovered hypnohub. My first digital drawing was just a trace of another image I uploaded. Then I searched in google images different parts of the body to join them like a frankenstein, get the pose I wanted and trace over them. Eventually, I stopped using this method as I got experience drawing different angles and poses. And now, I'm satisfied with my drawings, but I know I can get much better.



I agree with this, observing realistic human bodies lets you learn about details that are hardly seen when just observing typical anime or manga styles.

Seeing at this post, I noticed that each one of us learned in a different way, I don't think there is a best way for this, it depends on the person. My recommendation: Try any advice you are given, then keep the one that you are more confortable with. If you get unmotivated while learning, it will be harder for you to continue.

I think the key thing is motivation and willingness to work. I'd figure out why you wanted to draw first. If your doing this for yourself all this advice on anatomy is moot. It can be as good as you please. So that's what, a hundred bucks a year in sketch books and pencils and you can return half of those manga books to the store because you honestly won't need them.

Okay, second tier is doing it for other enthusiasts. This is stressful. But you still could probably return half your books. There was an artist called 'Faustus' who put up her stuff using a digital camera, it was done on notepad paper early on I think. Lets just say that you didn't read it for the quality of the anatomy. Still: a lot of people were sad when she took all her stuff down; pissed too because she had outstanding commissions. At the end of the day she made me happy, so I think it was worth it.

Then there is commercial work. When I did this, I worked for a small business that had very specific product. I lasted about two years, when I left it was on my terms and my work could potentially outlive me, though it won't really be recognized by anyone in particular; it's etched in stone. And thanks to a few etchers who wanted computer quality type, that is in no way an exaggeration. It is probably going to be years before I draw something really good again, because as of right I'm looking in other directions for work that fulfills me. I got too burned out and it's for the best if I only pursue the first tier of illustration.

Cost is a hell of a factor in this too. From a commercial standpoint, ten grand isn't much, my fantasy setup costs about eight. Unfortunately when I looked at the production quality and tolerances that would satisfy me I realized that I needed an education that costs about a quarter of a million dollars, to realize it within a reasonable amount of time (up to a decade, about five years if all goes as planned). And I was ready to do that, but frankly not for illustration. So I'm doing something else right now.

I love to talk about art, so I might post some stuff (ideas, not art) from back when I was looking at doing comic artwork. It will take me a moment to remember it and write it down. Also, my tastes are not manga-centric, so you'll be getting a slightly different flavor of opinion that might not be immediately relevant but good for comparison.