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Ask HN: How do I learn drawing?

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Re: Ask HN: How do I learn drawing?

#51

Post by john-tells-all »

macromaniac wrote: post #37

After watching many youtube videos, the one that actually helped me was this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0ufz75UvHs&t=1185s Tldw: Do an extreme version of agile for getting better. E.g, do 1 minute sketches of a cup 12 times, trying different variations, and understand WHY some variations worked and some didn't. After experimenting, see how other people did it. And do it again. I used to hate drawing, but after…

Seconded. As developers, we're familiar with a "feedback loop" e.g. with Test Driven Development. Write a Test (high-level description of feature), write Code that makes the Test work, repeat. Same thing with drawing: do a bunch of them, compare them to what you were expecting, repeat.

Also: don't take it seriously. At all :) Just do a bunch of drawing and it's all good :)

my IG https://www.instagram.com/johnlmitchell/

Re: Ask HN: How do I learn drawing?

#52

Post by john-tells-all »

hourislate wrote: post #27

Although I consider myself a hack, my family and friends think I have some God Given drawing talent. Not true I tell them, anyone can draw well. You just need this book and practice. Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain: The Definitive, 4th Edition https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B005GSYXU4&preview=new... This is probably the best book I have come across and it took me from stick figures to what my family con…

wonderful book!

Re: Ask HN: How do I learn drawing?

#53

Post by [deleted] »

f311a wrote: post #32
alexashka wrote: post #24

Background: I've studied graphic design, illustration and fine art before becoming a software dev. The only right answer, unless you enjoy drawing for its own sake and don't mind learning for at least 6 months before you're any good, is to hire someone from fiverr or some other similar service. Creative work has plummeted in price and gone up 10x in quality over the past 15 years. You can find someone to do illustrat…

I want to express my ideas through sketches. I don't need very realistic art. People on Fiverr won't be able to express my ideas. I need to sketch them first. Also, drawing is a good way to understand my own ideas better. Same for writing.

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: How do I learn drawing?

#54

Post by systemvoltage »

roberthahn wrote: post #46

To learn to draw, you first need to learn to see. So copy things. Try this project: Take a sheet of paper and divide the space into 2 equal halves. In one half make a collage of black and white images. No color - this is important. Try to fill the space if you can. Once done, get a pencil, eraser and ruler. Your job is to copy the collage into the other half as accurately as possible. To do this, measure where every…

This is the worst way to learn how to draw. It is a short term satisfying thing to do and produces great result.

The litmus test for someone who knows truly how to draw is to ask them to redraw whatever object they drew but from a different angle or perspective. Most people to learned by measuring and training their eye won't be able to do it.

In order to draw, you need to internalize the 3d shape. Start from basic shapes and learn to draw them in different angles and perspective distortions - surprisingly difficult.

Then increase the complexity. As you draw, you need to not think in 2d, but in 3d and it needs to be more intrinsic than just "translation". You are so into it, you forget that you're drawing on a 2d plane.

When you learn it this way, it gets easier to do follow up tasks such as shading and coloring.

Syrcra is a great resource on YT and expands on what I just summarized: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpHAxHY8zvaMOCO6zeYxq...

Re: Ask HN: How do I learn drawing?

#55

Post by KineticLensman »

hourislate wrote: post #27

Although I consider myself a hack, my family and friends think I have some God Given drawing talent. Not true I tell them, anyone can draw well. You just need this book and practice. Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain: The Definitive, 4th Edition https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B005GSYXU4&preview=new... This is probably the best book I have come across and it took me from stick figures to what my family con…

Yes the most important principle being Draw what you see, not what you know. For example, don't draw an eye as an ellipse containing a circle, but look at the actual combination of of light and dark shapes, and draw those instead.

[Edit]. Also, drawing people is a really good test. If you draw a house or a tree, say, you can get the shapes / proportions wrong but the thing might still look plausible. Draw a head out of proportion, though, and it will immediately look wrong.

Re: Ask HN: How do I learn drawing?

#57

Post by bskrobisz »

systemvoltage wrote: post #54
roberthahn wrote: post #46

To learn to draw, you first need to learn to see. So copy things. Try this project: Take a sheet of paper and divide the space into 2 equal halves. In one half make a collage of black and white images. No color - this is important. Try to fill the space if you can. Once done, get a pencil, eraser and ruler. Your job is to copy the collage into the other half as accurately as possible. To do this, measure where every…

This is the worst way to learn how to draw. It is a short term satisfying thing to do and produces great result. The litmus test for someone who knows truly how to draw is to ask them to redraw whatever object they drew but from a different angle or perspective. Most people to learned by measuring and training their eye won't be able to do it. In order to draw, you need to internalize the 3d shape. Start from basic s…

I wouldn't call it the worst way to draw -- these studies are excellent at training the eye to understand things as they truly look (rather than the shorthand symbols we are accustomed to), but would agree that one will find their ability to draw from imagination extremely lacking if studies from reference are the only exercise used. An understanding of construction in 3D space is fundamental to the creative aspect of drawing.

Re: Ask HN: How do I learn drawing?

#58

Post by roberthahn »

systemvoltage wrote: post #54
roberthahn wrote: post #46

To learn to draw, you first need to learn to see. So copy things. Try this project: Take a sheet of paper and divide the space into 2 equal halves. In one half make a collage of black and white images. No color - this is important. Try to fill the space if you can. Once done, get a pencil, eraser and ruler. Your job is to copy the collage into the other half as accurately as possible. To do this, measure where every…

This is the worst way to learn how to draw. It is a short term satisfying thing to do and produces great result. The litmus test for someone who knows truly how to draw is to ask them to redraw whatever object they drew but from a different angle or perspective. Most people to learned by measuring and training their eye won't be able to do it. In order to draw, you need to internalize the 3d shape. Start from basic s…

Suit yourself. The method I described worked for me. I was terrible at drawing before, and I was awesome at it after. If it helps the OP great, if not, maybe your way would work.

I’m a bit surprised at the perceived hostility here. When it comes to making things, since when was there only one way to do anything?

Re: Ask HN: How do I learn drawing?

#59

Post by systemvoltage »

bskrobisz wrote: post #57
systemvoltage wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is the worst way to learn how to draw. It is a short term satisfying thing to do and produces great result. The litmus test for someone who knows truly how to draw is to ask them to redraw whatever object they drew but from a different angle or perspective. Most people to learned by measuring and training their eye won't be able to do it. In order to draw, you need to internalize the 3d shape. Start from basic s…

I wouldn't call it the worst way to draw -- these studies are excellent at training the eye to understand things as they truly look (rather than the shorthand symbols we are accustomed to), but would agree that one will find their ability to draw from imagination extremely lacking if studies from reference are the only exercise used. An understanding of construction in 3D space is fundamental to the creative aspect o…

No, it's actually detrimental to learn by "seeing" because it sticks with you forever and hard to break the habit.

There are similar things in learning instruments. Bad habits stick.

Re: Ask HN: How do I learn drawing?

#60

Post by random42_ »

There are a lot of great resources mentioned here so I won’t repeat them. I will add (although it might be obvious) that receiving feedback on your work is as important as following lessons and tutorials. So, finding a group of artists to exchange honest and constructive criticism will speed up your progress.
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