Learning to Draw People Well

[Chipmunk]

I've been told recently that being a decent artist helps significantly towards learning 3d. I emailed Teesside University to see if exceptions could be made if I didn't either take Art as a subject or have art portfolio. I don't want to take an extra year at Uni just to qualify for the course, so could anyone give me a few links that could help me learn, (figure drawing specifically).

Also what are people's opinions on Teesside. They like it? What 3d program do they teach?

Thanks,
Ben

[tigger]

this page on cgtalk has loads of good beginners drawing tutorials

I also recommend following the 15 minute sketch thing: the more you practice, the better you will get. (plus, you could end up with some pieces that you could develop into portfolio pieces.

[benclark]

for figure drawing nothing beats art classes with a live model, I have taken a number of courses and they are hard as hell but very rewarding

check out riven pheonix's site...

Learn To Draw The Human Figure

his dvds are dirt cheap and take you through the whole process of drawing figures, the first set of videos are freely available on youtube too

[Talon]

Practice is the best way to go about it. Lots of practice.

It's best if you're drawing actual people who are there infront of you - but you can get away with copying photographs if you really need (copying by eye that is - no tracing).

It might be an idea to get a smallish sketchbook (A5 or something) and sit in a pub or train or other public space where people don't move around so much and sketch out people in quick-ish sketches.

Try doing sketches without looking at the paper, doing them in one line, doing them with really thick marker pen, really short timescales (5 or 10 seconds per sketch)... working out the best lines to show shape/form/mass and studying proportions and such.

A local school or college will probably do life drawing classes in the evenings and such, too. They'll probably be able to offer you more direct guidance as to what to look out for in your drawings and what you need to focus on skills/techique-wise. It may well be signing up to something like that.



I didn't have any sort of art portfolio when I applied at Teesside and I got in. I still can't draw too well (but I've got better - the art dept here has drop-in classes every week with lift models present at them for a few months at a time, you'll also be made to do some life drawing as part of the course in first and second year). The course has changed since I got here so that students do a concept art module in the first year, too.

Oh, and they teach Autodesk 3DS Max 9 and Adobe Photoshop CS2.

[Chipmunk]

I emailed them and they said you either need Art qualifications or an equivalent figure drawing portfolio. :S

Maybe it changed.

[retardedmonkey]

Originally Posted by Alchemist101

for figure drawing nothing beats art classes with a live model, I have taken a number of courses and they are hard as hell but very rewarding

check out riven pheonix's site...

Learn To Draw The Human Figure

his dvds are dirt cheap and take you through the whole process of drawing figures, the first set of videos are freely available on youtube too

So far of what I've seen of his videos it is really helpful. He is kind of boring to listen to...but you'll learn from it.

What James said is the main thing, just practice. You don't really need a how to on drawing people, just get an anatomy book or draw from portraits and stuff. Just draw from a mirror if need be!

[benclark]

you talk about an art portfolio like its something you have to climb a mountain and fight a dragon to obtain. All you need to do is start sketching and keep practicing

I would imagine that the university isnt looking for the finished article in its applicants, just someone that shows talent

[Chipmunk]

Thanks, I shall do.

Anyone got good experiences with Teesside University. I know Uni isn't what can make you good, but its a start .

[Talon]

Originally Posted by Chipmunk

I emailed them and they said you either need Art qualifications or an equivalent figure drawing portfolio. :S

Maybe it changed.

Eh, so long as you can prove you've used a 3D program before, chances are they'll let you in.

The course starts at dot - it takes a few weeks before you're even allowed onto a PC to create some primitives in Max, let alone work on a non-primitive mesh. If you can prove you're at that ability or later before you even join the course, I can't see them turning you away.

[esJ]

Originally Posted by Talon

Eh, so long as you can prove you've used a 3D program before, chances are they'll let you in.

The course starts at dot - it takes a few weeks before you're even allowed onto a PC to create some primitives in Max, let alone work on a non-primitive mesh. If you can prove you're at that ability or later before you even join the course, I can't see them turning you away.

They told me I had to do a foundation year to be granted access to the course - I laughed.