I am having a really problem getting my sketches to look lively, and I need help on creating characters :mad:
I recommend that you go outside and sketch people. These are typically known as gesture drawings and will force you to get in as much information as you can as quickly as possible. You shouldn't focus on getting a finished drawing, just the pose of the body and enough information to suggest the person's actions. This will help you to put more life and energy into your drawings. You can also use the sketches as action poses for your characters.
I think this quote by the artist Delacroix says it best: "If you are not skillful enough to sketch a man jumping out of a window in the time it takes him to fall from the 4th story to the ground, you will never be able to produce great works." ;)
I'd suggest getting into the characters you draw. "Know" what they know and "forget" what they don't know. In drawings, you show their outside which has to reflect what's going on inside of them. If you don't know what's going on inside of them, you can't express it through drawing their exterior.
(Did that make any sense?)
Just to add, I was told it always helps when doing quick gestures from real life (or even extended figure drawings actually) to make up a story, a context to go around it...that'll help the punch...it really works...
All right, thank you
life drawing classes.
Dunno. Don't think it's really possible to teach art. To me, it's just really expensive practice.
Or an excuse to look at naked people, your pick. ;)
-sam
Badgers? We don' need no stinking badgers.
;) ok then.....
u'll find life drawings the first thing the interviewer will look for in your portfolio.
and yeh,duh it is practice.
u can't teach art? goddamn how are these art schools,colleges and forum keeping alive....
welcome the forums btw,and there so much u can learn from life drawings,and i mean allot.
Everything we know is somehow "acquired", or "learned" if one wishes to put it that way. As I see it, however, there's an artistic and a crafty aspect to "art", and even though I think it possible to teach the "craft" aspect, the "art" aspect as such is developed and acquired through long experience on many levels, and is much harder to "teach".
eh maybe i shudda said life drawing *sessions* instead of life drawing *classes*
the ones where u just drop in and draw basically.
i'm not just talking about figure drawin either,i mean goin outside and draw people gestures,animals all!!
not no 75,000 buck ones...phew.waste!
p.s. sadj,ur listening to john k about how to succeed in the industry? bwuhaha.
It would be a good idea for you to get a copy of "Animation Survial Kit". There are pages and pages of working up different character movements.
I'm a complete newbie to animation and my skills as a draftsmen are limited (I'm a writer and graphic designer by profession), but I love animation and wanted to explore it a bit more, attempt some short films, etc. Richard Williams' Animation Survival Kit is the best, most comprehensive book on animation that I've come across. Actually, The Illusion of Life is probably more comprehensive, but it's so huge it can be a bit daunting (and expensive).
Art classes are crap and a waste of money. Being only 14yrs old there were only a limited # of art classes were avalibe for me to take. I really wanted to take a portfolio prep class but it said you had to be at least 16, so I ended up taking this intro to drawing class. On the paper it sounded good, we get to go to musemus and draw all sorts of stuff, the class was 3 hrs long and on a Saterday. I was like welll it sounds king of basic doesn't it? but my mom really wanted me to take it and I was like ok its your 250 dollars not mine. SO I go to the class and on the form it said that it was for 14-18 yr olds and it turns out there were Like 2 kids that were in 4th grade in my class, which made me pretty mad because I probably could have taken portfolio prep then. Well any way we didn;t go anywere we spent most of the classes learning perspective, which I have known how to do from the 5th grade up. The teacher told every one else stuff about there projects and pretty much didn't say anything to me, except that that line is too thick.(go check out my gallery) so in short I agree art classes are a rip off. I am Interested in getting the book though, Know any book stores were I could find it???
the first proper chapter of that book (animators surivial kit) is about life drawing.
When drawing "lively" characters never underestimate the power of the arc.
And the main benefit of an art education is that you are surrounded by like minded individuals, and open discussion can take place. You are learning not only the concepts but the jargon and culture of the practice. Don't underestimate that importance.
When drawing "lively" characters never underestimate the power of the arc.
And the main benefit of an art education is that you are surrounded by like minded individuals, and open discussion can take place. You are learning not only the concepts but the jargon and culture of the practice. Don't underestimate that importance.
agreed,what u mean by arc though? u mean like the line of action? or sumthin else?
the first proper chapter of that book (animators surivial kit) is about life drawing.
go figure..*no pun intended*
Yes, I was going to mention that. And also that I suck at life drawing, but I need to practice more. A lot more.
were could I get one of those???
"Animation Survial Kit" is a book that will or can cost you thirty dollars ($30).
Just go to a major book store or just order it from a small one. Animation books are usually keep in the cinema section with a few in the art section. Good Luck.
I am having a really problem getting my sketches to look lively, and I need help on creating characters :mad:
How do I canstruct characters in 2d animation?
Its hard to me to maintain volume and proportion.
How do I canstruct characters in 2d animation?
Its hard to me to maintain volume and proportion.
Read down all the post on this thread, there is a lot of great advice.
This may give you some basic ideas on simple construction:
I recommend that you go outside and sketch people. These are typically known as gesture drawings and will force you to get in as much information as you can as quickly as possible. You shouldn't focus on getting a finished drawing, just the pose of the body and enough information to suggest the person's actions. This will help you to put more life and energy into your drawings. You can also use the sketches as action poses for your characters.
I think this quote by the artist Delacroix says it best: "If you are not skillful enough to sketch a man jumping out of a window in the time it takes him to fall from the 4th story to the ground, you will never be able to produce great works." ;)
Sharvonique Studios
www.sharvonique.com
Animated By Sharvonique Blog
http://sharvonique.animationblogspot.com
AWN Showcase Gallery
Draw draw draw, nice and loose.
Also get inside your characters head, how would they move how would they react to the situation you are putting them in.
Check out for my latest http://fuggyfuggy.com/ for the last 3 weeks I have been a Ninja and several monsters - you got to get inside their heads.
The Brothers McLeod
[SIZE=2]brothersmcleod.co.uk[/SIZE]
life drawing classes.
ANIMATION FORUM
Production Blog
I'd suggest getting into the characters you draw. "Know" what they know and "forget" what they don't know. In drawings, you show their outside which has to reflect what's going on inside of them. If you don't know what's going on inside of them, you can't express it through drawing their exterior.
(Did that make any sense?)
Just to add, I was told it always helps when doing quick gestures from real life (or even extended figure drawings actually) to make up a story, a context to go around it...that'll help the punch...it really works...
All right, thank you
Dunno. Don't think it's really possible to teach art. To me, it's just really expensive practice.
Or an excuse to look at naked people, your pick. ;)
-sam
Badgers? We don' need no stinking badgers.
;) ok then.....
u'll find life drawings the first thing the interviewer will look for in your portfolio.
and yeh,duh it is practice.
u can't teach art? goddamn how are these art schools,colleges and forum keeping alive....
welcome the forums btw,and there so much u can learn from life drawings,and i mean allot.
ANIMATION FORUM
Production Blog
It would be a good idea for you to get a copy of "Animation Survial Kit". There are pages and pages of working up different character movements.
were could I get one of those???
.
.
Everything we know is somehow "acquired", or "learned" if one wishes to put it that way. As I see it, however, there's an artistic and a crafty aspect to "art", and even though I think it possible to teach the "craft" aspect, the "art" aspect as such is developed and acquired through long experience on many levels, and is much harder to "teach".
eh maybe i shudda said life drawing *sessions* instead of life drawing *classes*
the ones where u just drop in and draw basically.
i'm not just talking about figure drawin either,i mean goin outside and draw people gestures,animals all!!
not no 75,000 buck ones...phew.waste!
p.s. sadj,ur listening to john k about how to succeed in the industry? bwuhaha.
ANIMATION FORUM
Production Blog
I'm a complete newbie to animation and my skills as a draftsmen are limited (I'm a writer and graphic designer by profession), but I love animation and wanted to explore it a bit more, attempt some short films, etc. Richard Williams' Animation Survival Kit is the best, most comprehensive book on animation that I've come across. Actually, The Illusion of Life is probably more comprehensive, but it's so huge it can be a bit daunting (and expensive).
Art classes are crap and a waste of money. Being only 14yrs old there were only a limited # of art classes were avalibe for me to take. I really wanted to take a portfolio prep class but it said you had to be at least 16, so I ended up taking this intro to drawing class. On the paper it sounded good, we get to go to musemus and draw all sorts of stuff, the class was 3 hrs long and on a Saterday. I was like welll it sounds king of basic doesn't it? but my mom really wanted me to take it and I was like ok its your 250 dollars not mine. SO I go to the class and on the form it said that it was for 14-18 yr olds and it turns out there were Like 2 kids that were in 4th grade in my class, which made me pretty mad because I probably could have taken portfolio prep then. Well any way we didn;t go anywere we spent most of the classes learning perspective, which I have known how to do from the 5th grade up. The teacher told every one else stuff about there projects and pretty much didn't say anything to me, except that that line is too thick.(go check out my gallery) so in short I agree art classes are a rip off. I am Interested in getting the book though, Know any book stores were I could find it???
the first proper chapter of that book (animators surivial kit) is about life drawing.
go figure..*no pun intended*
ANIMATION FORUM
Production Blog
When drawing "lively" characters never underestimate the power of the arc.
And the main benefit of an art education is that you are surrounded by like minded individuals, and open discussion can take place. You are learning not only the concepts but the jargon and culture of the practice. Don't underestimate that importance.
Pat Hacker, Visit Scooter's World.
agreed,what u mean by arc though? u mean like the line of action? or sumthin else?
ANIMATION FORUM
Production Blog
Yes, I was going to mention that. And also that I suck at life drawing, but I need to practice more. A lot more.
"Animation Survial Kit" is a book that will or can cost you thirty dollars ($30).
Just go to a major book store or just order it from a small one. Animation books are usually keep in the cinema section with a few in the art section. Good Luck.
How do I canstruct characters in 2d animation?
Its hard to me to maintain volume and proportion.
Read down all the post on this thread, there is a lot of great advice.
This may give you some basic ideas on simple construction:
http://tooninstitute.awn.com/lessonplan/charconst.htm
Pat Hacker, Visit Scooter's World.