Need help: Learning to draw/pencil

[justcrash]

Ok guys, because of the degree I am getting, I need to learn how to draw. I have ZERO skills in that department, but I am willing to learn/practice. I figured if I have to draw, I should learn how to draw my first love, comics.

However, it is all so overwhelming, ya know? I bought the "How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way" book and DVD, but they seem to skip a few steps.

1. Draw your skeleton. Check
2. Pipe it up. Check.
3. This is what your drawing should look like. *holds up picture of completed Iron Man*. Huh?

So does anyone have any advice, book suggestions.. etc? I did buy the Drawing for dummies book (cuz I'm a dummy! :p ) and a book called dynamic figure drawing, but its over my head. :(

[Breadfan]

Hey man,

You just need to keep practicing and practicing. Get some good Figure Drawing books and they should help. Keep at it and you'll get there.

BF

[Brandon Hanvey]

Books are fine and all, but some people benefit more by taking drawing classes. Maybe there is a community college in your area that offers drawing classess.

[justcrash]

Books are fine and all, but some people benefit more by taking drawing classes. Maybe there is a community college in your area that offers drawing classess.


Yeah, next quarter I have to take two dimensional design and after that, color composition. :)

[Jasper]

One of the great things about classes that there are people there with the same interest that can help critique your work and help you focus on what you need to practice on. A lot of that you can get here also, but there you have a specific focus of assignments and tasks the teacher has given you. My art teachers have always been my best advisors in this area also. I've been lucky enough to get teachers that won't say "Yeah that's good" when you have a few minor things. They'll say "You're doing good but you might want to... "

This is what helped me in art classes the most. Good luck to you.

[GeekDragon]

Get any of the Dynamic drawing books by Burne Hoogarth(SP?). He has several books on Dynamic anotomy, Dynamic Hands, etc. Learn how to draw the figure. Learn artistic anotomy(bones and muscle structure). Learn composition and perspective. Basically, learn illustration. Check your local park district and see if they offer any drawing classes. That's how I got started drawing.