#beginner drawing

[mel-addams]

Get Started Drawing...

...even as a complete beginner!

In my efforts to help some friends who are only just starting to learn to draw (as adults! glorious!! <3), I kept digging around for resources that cover things I remember learning in the various art classes I've taken...but that does a better job than I can of laying it all out in a comprehensive, but not overwhelming, manner. (I am far too prone to rambling as you can see from this post, and bounce around topics as I remember them, rather than in a sensible order.) I've found a few guides here and there that cover one thing or another decently well...but I've finally found a free site I'm really keen on as an overall source if you're just starting out with learning to draw!

It's incredibly clear and concise, whereas many of the other sites and books I found could sometimes be overwhelmingly detailed. It's arranged in a way that reminds me of the flow of art classes, starting at the very first steps--how to approach art if you've never done it before, and the fact that you only need basic tools to begin with. If you go in approximate order, it then establishes that you should start sorting out a solid foundation by practicing simple lines and shapes--the same way you learned to write letters so you could ultimately make words, sentences, stories... This includes some neat little practice exercises with questions to consider while you do them, so you also learn to see and observe things like angles and proportions, which are critical for being able to accurately draw more complex things.

It evolves from there into how to take those basic shapes and turn them into simplified human bodies--and from there, how to consider more complex 3D versions of the shapes to give those bodies a sense of dimension and physicality. It even touches on things like composition, silhouette, negative space, and line of action--all in a quick, straightforward manner. It plants the seed of understanding for these more complex illustration concepts, which you can then research further, armed with relevant terminology to dig up more in-depth resources as they catch your interest!

The style itself is usually simple, but even if your aim is to draw with a more detailed style, this one can serve as a base sketch to add that detail to. (Combine learning this base with photo studies, plus more detailed style guides for wherever you want to take your art, and you could use this as a base for comics, cartoons, anime, realism...the core concepts and skills remain the same!) There's also examples of how to adjust for varied body shapes, so it provides more flexibility than some drawing guides do, which often only focus on one "ideal" body type. (This style can also be used for that, if it's what you want--you just adjust the proportions of the basic shapes as you need! But this provides examples of how to handle variety, which will give you a better foundation for drawing people and characters so they don't all look the same, instead of having to figure out how to adjust for it later on.) The Shape Dolls for reference are also incredibly delightful, and a great cheap way to have a little pose reference mannequin of sorts!

There's also links to sources if you want to dig into concepts more deeply--available both as a general source page, as well as some specific topics including relevant sources at the bottom of their respective pages. There's also a patreon with some extra thoughts that is fully accessible for free, but has a paid option if you want to support Tan for providing such a lovely resource! (Also they have a legit vegetable farm?? How cool is that.)

So yes! If you have any interest in learning to draw--whether you've ever tried before or not, and no matter your age--try looking through this site, and let it guide you through the process!

[shaibonbon]

Okay version 2 is finished-

From a simple sketch this slowly snowballed to me trying to add a bunch of my mutuals ocs into this

While doing this it came to mind I think I never actually celebrated or made anything thanking 150 followers (which I had hit months ago), so this can serve as that ❤️💜 ty y'all for support and love<3 and thanks for 150 followers

Oh yeah sorry if your oc didn't make the cut 😭 I will try marking everyone in the comments

[theelegantpotato]

Lookin good from behind too eh

Sticker Shop

[michiboy]

Experimenting with my art style and returning to inotan

[tumblingsneke]

"You can feel the presence of three other machines nearby"

Draedon - Terraria(Calamity Mod)

Axis-014 - Undertale Yellow

[enby--ghost]

if you ever feel unhappy with something you've made, whether it be a fic, a drawing, a song, a video, or anything

just remember that, as long as you took the time to make it and put it out there

it was worth it

it could be seen by 10 people or 10 thousand people

the only thing that matters is you made the thing you wanted to make

it doesn't have to be perfect or better than others or even very good to begin with

the more creative endevors that are put into the world, the better

it's good that you made it

[444m777]

So like… I bought this “how to draw” book and I’m at lesson 4. No way am I near the “now you can draw someone’s face” section of the book but aside from following the lessons and practicing I allow myself “play time” and I try to draw Michael. This is my 3rd time drawing him. And I feel comfortable sharing this one (I’ll make a video or collage of the first 2 attempts and maybe future ones as well)

Go easy on me. I just saw a pic and started drawing🤪

I kinda want to cry. But I’m more excited. Never in a MILLION years did I think I could do something like this. NEVER! I guess I should’ve never said never lol. It’s never too late to pick up a skill/hobby

[alexanders-art]

Froggy 🐸💚

[jellyfishteatea]

day nth of drawing!

WOW!! its been almost a year since I started this account, thats so crazy to me! normally with stuff like this, I have fun with it for a few weeks and then move onto the next thing, it means a lot that this is something I have actually stuck to and put the time and effort in. even if i have been less frequent now that i used to, i never stopped drawing and learning. At least I have been able to actually see myself improve over the past 11 months.

I actually took an art class this year! last time I took an art class I was like, 10, and I loved it, I learned so much. A lot of stuff has come at me this year, but I am so infinitely glad I had drawing there alongside me.

These are a few of the drawings I've done over the past 3 months, and I wanted to share them!

[stardroppoetry]

oops!! wrong building

(i hope you like the silly little guy i made!!)

[m1eri]

Armin is pretty much done. 🥹💖

I still struggle with clothes, but will be better in future.

[w0w-guy]

Batman x catwomen

[shaibonbon]

SPOOKY MONTH! WITCH BONBON IS BACK!!

[theelegantpotato]

When they did a cat scan of my brain

Sticker shop

[michiboy]

Sooooo….. I got obsessed with drawing giyuu again. Even drew a rengiyuu mini comic and everything. It was all in class ofc because brain rot knows no limits. Oops.

[z3phyr23]

Drawing day ??

Thought I might as well start doodling again! Top one is a little emblem for Killer Track, bottom is one for Black Friday! Thought they turned out well! (Though the little wigglys look a little like the Lorax)