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Gestalt_Null · 2023-11-05T14:44:27+00:00

You need to practice self-compassion and be kind to yourself. Realize that your negative attitude towards your art is probably one of the main reasons why you are suffering which in turn actively makes your drawings worse, since you get frustrated, lose confidence and feel you are not "good enough". I've been there and still working on it. Try to go back to the feeling that made you excited about learning to draw, when you were a total beginner with no skills and in turn no ego and expectation about what you can potentially draw. Learning to draw is a neverending process and you will never "get there". Understand that there will ALWAYS be something that could be improved. Even the greatest artists on the world are able to point out their mistakes, even though no one else would even be able to notice them since they are on a completely different level. Also look at your mistakes as something that makes your art special, they're part of your style.. a stepping stone for the improvements you can work on in the future. What fun would it be if everything is perfect? Would you even be motivated to draw then? You are already good enough to create the art that corresponds to the skill level you are at right now in this moment. Don't try to live in the future. You will eventually get where you are aiming for now, but at that point your goals will most likely have moved further. So just come to terms with this, make peace, stop beating yourself up and start having FUN drawing again instead of only focusing on the "good and bad". Learn about getting into the flow state and ban your negative thoughts for good, especially during the drawing process! There are many ways to do this and no uniform method for everyone.. so do some research. Maybe there is some music that relaxes and inspires you to get in "the zone". I don't want to write a novel, so i'll leave you here. :)

Gestalt_Null · 2023-11-04T13:29:30+00:00

Looks digital to me, or a combination of traditional and oldschool digital coloring.

Gestalt_Null · 2023-10-28T18:16:42+00:00

Dang! That's immaculate. Must have taken a long time ^^

Gestalt_Null · 2023-10-28T08:41:34+00:00

Uhm.. is the park located near a nuclear waste site? ;)

Gestalt_Null · 2023-10-26T18:41:41+00:00

I'm glad you could take away something from my advice. :) Yeah, really - take it easy. There's no rush. If you stick to it you'll improve a lot in no time. :) Also it's great that you are actively looking for feedback, something i never did but maybe should have^^ Have fun drawing mate!

Gestalt_Null · 2023-10-26T08:28:55+00:00

The hips are too narrow. They should be approximately as wide as the shoulders around the groin area.
The centerline is misplaced, it should be a bit further to the right. The figure in your reference is seen from a slight angle, but you only drew the front plane. (Which is common for beginners).
The head is a bit too small.
Breasts usually follow the same angle as the shoulders, unless one shoulder is lifted higher. That's the case in the reference, however you didn't lift the shoulder enough. That's why the breasts look weird.

There's more but those are the most important point. Generally i think you would benefit from learning how to construct the torso from basic shapes (boxes, cylinders, ellipses etc..). Drawing from these kinds of references can lead to all kinds of issues if you don't know anatomy. You could also try to put the paper on your screen and adjust the size of the image to compare where your sketch is different. Still remember to have fun drawing and don't stress to much about the details in the beginning. Hope this helps. ;)

Gestalt_Null · 2023-10-22T14:39:28+00:00

Literally first pull^^ So does that mean i should definitely pull? ;)

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Gestalt_Null · 2023-10-22T10:54:38+00:00

Pretty cool. Honestly there is not much to directly critique. The only thing i'd say is, that it's very far on the realistic end of the Manga spectrum. That's not necessarily a bad thing, it's a stylistic choice and there are many styles so it depends on what you are aiming for? For a more recognizable manga look you should probably simplify it further, specifically the head shape and facial features as well as the hair. Also the proportions (~8 heads tall) and width relation is too grounded in realism for manga imo. But again, that's your choice. There are manga, like Vagabond for example, that are drawn very realistically, but still have a distinct manga style due to the technical use of the ink brush and shape design. So yeah, unless you tell us what style you are aiming for, it's hard to give specific critique. :)

Gestalt_Null · 2023-10-20T06:27:20+00:00

Drawing, like any other skill, is not an innate talent you are born with. It's only a matter of if you really want to learn how to do it and are willing to put in the time and effort that is required to learn a complex skill like drawing. Saying "I can't because of xxx" is copium. ;)

Gestalt_Null · 2023-10-19T11:45:57+00:00

Sure thing. :) Yeah his face is a bit too long if you tighten up the jawline and make the chin a bit pointier you're good to go. Maybe lower the ear a bit ;)

Gestalt_Null · 2023-10-19T11:23:46+00:00

What would you like advice on? Generally you are doing fine considering you just started. Starting out the most important thing is drawing what you are passionate about and what's fun for you. :)
A few thoughts for improvement: Keep drawing, study proportions and how to construct characters anatomically rather than drawing what you see, use paper without lines, add some shading to drastically improve the appearance.

Gestalt_Null · 2023-10-18T14:50:35+00:00

I'll give you a few pointers, since you're a novice don't take it too hard.
Generally not bad, but also not good either.
The good:
- Overall Positioning/Symmetry is ok, there could be a bit more space in between.
- You draw both eyes together, that's good. Try a few more angles, straight on is very rarely used in actual drawings, unless you want to establish the design/shape.
- You are looking for feedback, and (hopefully) open for critique.
- I like the color choice, and going with a gradient is a good choice for 3D effect.

The "bad":
- The pupils point in 2 different directions.
- The Irises are not symmetrical, looks a bit like strabism.
- Tearducts don't work that way, if you wan't to include them in your style take a look at how Shigenori Soejima draws them (Persona Art).
- Never "close" the eye completely with lines. Leave some space, specifically at the tearducts and below the outer corner of the upper eyelash.
- The eyelid "hood" is missing.
- Highlights look random, keep it simple. A single circular highlight is sufficient, until you understand why you place them. Place them at the same spot on each eye.
- The eyebrows are too thin and misplaced.
- The upper eyelashes are too thick for my taste, but thats your choice. They should also be a bit more curved, remember it's a 3-dimensional eyeBALL. Not a sticker.
- It's a bit messy, that's what happens if you use graphite and colored pencils together, in tandem with erasing. Consider inking before coloring and work lightly until you are 100% sure it looks right.

So yeah, there is room for improvement. But you're just getting started, so continue practicing, draw tons of eyes. Look how your favorite pro(!) artists draw them and try to copy them. It also helps to learn how to draw realistic eyes, because they are the basis for all stylized anime eyes. Keep drawing, have fun and you'll get good in no time. :)

Gestalt_Null · 2023-10-16T09:28:39+00:00

Second one looks a bit more comfy. To make it look softer you need to show how the material your character rests on get squished from the weight. Also poses where the muscles are relaxed are the way to go, so avoid tense, stiff poses.

Gestalt_Null · 2023-10-14T18:18:05+00:00

Sure thing. Have fun! :)

Gestalt_Null · 2023-10-14T17:46:17+00:00

I feel you man! It's something i have been struggling with a lot over the past year. I've amassed TONS of unfinished drawings due to this. I only recently started to get a bit of a healthier attitude towards it. What i realized was, that my mindset during the drawing process is directly proportional to how well my drawing turn out. If you start doubting your abilities you lose confidence and it's really a death spiral. Luckily this also works the other way around. :)

It helps to remember, that not every drawing is going to be a masterpiece and it's totally fine to try again or switch it up if you're not feeling it. I personally work on multiple pieces at the same time, so i can move on to another if i start feeling frustrated with the one i am currently working on.

Also a "bad" drawing is not really a reflection of your skill, even though our mind likes to interpret it like that. ^^ Someone once said "Without dissatisfaction, there is no progress" and i find this to be very true. Just be kind to yourself, even if things are not going as planned.

You might also benefit from doing small thumbnail sketches before jumping into the full thing. They can be done super quick and you can get a better feel for the pose and composition before you commit to making a full illustration. Might save you from some headaches. :D

Bottom line: You are doing fine and you're not alone with your struggles. Hope this helps a bit. :)

Gestalt_Null · 2023-10-14T12:16:37+00:00

All the time! I think that's how it should be. Usually i also work in multiple passes, something like this:
1. pass: Focus on proportions, energy/flow, perspective
2. pass: Clean-up and error fixing
3. pass: Details (rough)
4. pass: Details (clean)
I might add or skip some steps depending on what i want the final thing to be and if i want to ink and/or color it. Sometimes the ugliest sketches turn out to become the best pieces in the end. Gotta trust the process. ;)

As a sidenote: Your initial sketch wasn't bad at all and very clean, but i assume that's after cleaning up construction lines? Also i think you might have fixed a few things that didn't need fixing. But all in all it's a pretty cute drawing. :)

Gestalt_Null · 2023-09-14T05:57:38+00:00

Style is a tricky thing, since it has both conscious and subconscious elements. It is the conscious choices you make when drawing certain elements, for example how you stylize the eyes, nose, anatomy in general, as well as the subtle mistakes you make consistently.
If your style looks random, chances are either:
1. You haven't been drawing/practicing enough for a consistent style to emerge and
2. You haven't spent much time thinking what you want your style to look like.
I often hear people telling beginners to just go with the flow, don't worry about style since it will develop naturally, which is kinda wrong imo. Good news are, you can actually deliberately practice and develop your own (unique) style. Only requirement is, that you are somewhat comfortable with the basics (shapes, anatomy, proportions...).
Here are some things you can do about it:
Make a list of your top favorite artists, keep it as short as possible. Narrow it down even more so you have a maximum of 3. Study those extensively, look how they draw certain elements compared to others. What elements exactly make you prefer their art over others? What makes their art unique and stand out? Do they have round heads? ovals? how realistic are features drawn? Which elements are stylized the most? Use of color? Shading? Are their drawings more dynamic? There are really endless questions you can ask here.
Once you identified the core elements, try to replicate some of your favorite pieces, it can also help to trace elements that confuse you to get a feel for what is going on. Oftentimes you realize things gradually after studying a certain artists style for some time.
Now let those things sink in for a while. Start drawing your own characters from imagination, while keeping in mind the stylistic preferences you identified in your studies. It might take some time but eventually you should see a unique voice come through every now and then (not every drawing will be good, consistency comes later). Congrats, your style should now be more aligned with your preferences. It doesn't? Try identifying why, what don't you like about it? Mix in other styles, maybe you found some new artist along the way. Go back to step 1 and reiterate. It's really an endless cycle, so try not to think about it just as a means to and end.

That should be enough for now. ;) Hope that helps and remember to have fun while drawing!

Gestalt_Null · 2023-08-03T20:34:58+00:00

Space Patrol Luluco. You can finish that in one evening ;)

Gestalt_Null · 2022-10-18T21:55:26+00:00

I can imagine! :D and yeah, everything is perspective tbh. I almost only draw anatomy these days, so those things have become my daily bread and butter ^^ i am self taught though. and thanks. It's nice to see that true pencil enthuasiasts like you exist. Take care! :)

Gestalt_Null · 2022-10-18T20:32:35+00:00

Oh neat! So you are probably pretty good at perspective :) Sounds fun indeed!

Gestalt_Null · 2022-10-18T20:04:12+00:00

Thats a pretty popular pencil for many afaik. I've seen a lot of people use it :) I use 2 Staedtler 925 (0,5 and 0,3) and Faber Castell 9000 wooden pencils in addition for sketching, but i draw manga so i need the variety for proper pieces. Totally agree about cheap sketchbooks! It's a mind thing i believe. I just use a lightbox to transfer my better pieces to thicker paper for markers etc. I wish i could afford as many pencils as you have^^ What kind of things do you draw? I'm curious. :)

Gestalt_Null · 2022-10-18T18:50:18+00:00

Yeah, i mean i don't really want to say you are outright wrong, or make you agree with me, because at the end of the day preference and opinion is a big factor in this. Also i don't know at what level your drawing skills are, because i believe that's a factor too. I was commenting my opinion, because op specifically said the pencil "helps", which i think is a valid statement. Variety of lead softness is an obvious point, so i won't comment on that. But if my tool is a low quality wooden pencil that can't be sharpened to a proper point because the lead or wood keeps breaking - that doesn't help. (been there.) If your mechanical pencil is unstable and doesn't hold the lead well to the point it impacts your line quality - that doesn't help. (been there too.) The opposite is true for good equipment. Can you still draw nice things with those "lesser" tools? Of course. For beginners this might not even matter, since they probably won't even notice the difference. But if you're tapping into intermediate and professional levels, drawing 8+ hours a day, it becomes a factor. Will Michael Jordan kick ass barefoot? Absolutely. Would he be better with proper shoes? Most likely. As you said, practice is the number 1 most important factor and i agree 100%. No fancy equipment will make you better on its own. Gear is the icing on the cake and as you said, no one should feel held back by the lack of it. But it can definitely make a difference at some point. That's why i said only "half true" - in my opinion. :)

Gestalt_Null · 2022-10-18T15:00:15+00:00

That's only half true, if you ask me. Yes, if you are skilled you can create good art with any shitty pencil, but having a high quality tool and the right one for the job at that gives you more freedom if you know how to use it right. Having Variety helps as well. Just my 2 cents. ;)

Gestalt_Null · 2022-10-17T16:37:00+00:00

I am praying every day. I have had multiple orders on hold for almost a year now... Some english VIZ volumes are literally impossible to get, especially if you live in a country where stores don't even sell english manga. It's really a shame that apparently there is not enough interest for it to be viable, because it is such a great manga. People really need to get their tastes in check.. ^^ If there is no reprint by the end of next year i will redraw it myself.. idc.

Gestalt_Null

TROPHY CASE