How did you learn to draw?

[Lobo]

I used reference pictures, and now I draw everything I see; like Ex said I carry a pad now, and I know a few people who are artists for a living, or they were at one point and they've all given me pointers. As for tracing thats fine when you're starting out, kinda like training wheels on a bike

 

[imagine12]

gee whiz......

Well, yeah you know if, for instance you were learning to draw in the 1950's or maybe you've been raised in a box made of superglued kittens, youre response might go something like that.

 

[Hades]

Let's see. I think I probably started drawing in pre-school to cope with the boredom of school, and the lonliness at I felt home. So..all I did was pretty much draw, even during school when I was supposed to working.
I also used my art to get attention, it was usually the only thing I was given attention for or praised for. Unfortunatly I later developed some OCD tendencies, and now drawing is almost mentally painfull for me just because I focus so much on the details of everything, that it drives me insane. It also makes me extremely frustrated when I can't put what's in my head on to the paper. Kind of bothers me I never stuck with it, alot of people told me even in highschool I was probably one of the best artists in the school, but meh. It's a shame I don't have a scanner otherwise I'd post some of my stuff.

 

[Vartha]

Ok, So I've decided that I will teach myself to draw. Whenever I get to a scanner I'll show you what I've done.

Anyway, How did you learn? Me, I copy. NOT TRACE, but copy, like refence it. Did you guys learn that way? Did you go to school for it?
Tell me what I'm doing is not the wrong way! please!!!... and tell me, of course, how you do it today. Laterz.

Actually that is a good way to start to learn how to draw.
I went to an art school in Chicago called the Academy of Art, and found it wasn't for me because it was an uphill battle with SOME of the teachers about Superheroes, so I went to the Kubert School, and had a learned from the pro's.
You need to pick up an anatomy book by Burne Hogarth called Dynamic Drawing. It has great foreshortening techniques in it. Any anatomy book will help to learn where the muscles lie. It's knowledge of anatomy that helps with all creatures because it's basically set up the same way in most creatures.


Basically it's practice practice practice. get a pad of paper and take it with you if you go out somewhere, and draw people around you. the more you do this the faster you become because they don't sit still for you.
Perspective is something else you may want to find a basic book on. MANY people have problems with it.


By the way I do more than draw, I carve wood, tool leather(making drawings on leather) paint, all sorts of art, so if you feel you want to try something different go for it, you never know what you're capible of until you try.

 

[Gotendbz-2]

When I was a baby, I picked up a crayon and started to draw on paper.

 

[VOGLER]

practicing for hours and hours and reading lots of comics

 

[CBGB]

I didnt really start. I basically went from stickmen to the cartoons I draw today

My parents say I was born with drawing skills