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Ask HN: Anyone here have good material for learning how to sketch from scratch?

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Re: Ask HN: Anyone here have good material for learning how to sketch from scratch?

#21
If you're OK with an offline option, check with your nearest community college, or local equivalent. They often have cheap or free art classes, including sketching, available to the public.

Maybe also check with art schools. Years ago, my mother wanted to learn oil painting and one of the big schools in Manhattan hooked her up with a woman in her neighborhood that offered one-on-one and small group classes.

Re: Ask HN: Anyone here have good material for learning how to sketch from scratch?

#22
post #14

For me, it was really stumbling onto Feng Zhu's channel that changed things: https://www.youtube.com/user/FZDSCHOOL/videos The big change is more at a metacognitive level, which was to understand that you could view 'art' purely as a technical field, not something that involved artistic sense or talent. So he goes other detail density distribution, color theory, perspective, etc. The video content also helps getting…

I would legit save up enough money to attend FZD if it was in the United States. I work as a Site Reliability Engineer and can afford the cost, ha.

Because of the added cost of living in Singapore? With a European salary it is unfortunately impossible to afford the cost, so it is nice to have it as a possibility.

Re: Ask HN: Anyone here have good material for learning how to sketch from scratch?

#23
I read and drew alongside Harold Speed's The Practice & Science of Drawing. It was a decent enough start, but, as with any art, resources pale in comparison to dedicated practice. Also, a community of likeminded creatives that are organized, dedicated, productive, and hopefully talented, stands much closer to dedicated practice than it does to resources.

Re: Ask HN: Anyone here have good material for learning how to sketch from scratch?

#24
post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would legit save up enough money to attend FZD if it was in the United States. I work as a Site Reliability Engineer and can afford the cost, ha.

Because of the added cost of living in Singapore? With a European salary it is unfortunately impossible to afford the cost, so it is nice to have it as a possibility.

Because I am not sure I can just up and move to Singapore due to tax reasons with working for a U.S. based company, unfortunately.

Re: Ask HN: Anyone here have good material for learning how to sketch from scratch?

#27
You may not be into comics but I still recommend Lynda Berry’s Making Comics for the aspiring draftsman. Depending on how you best learn, it may be a good fit. Playful, yet structured. So much in the early stages is about overcoming inhibitions and “just do it”, and this book helps with that. Also recommend Gary Panter’s 10 “rules” for keeping a sketchbook. Have fun! Oh, and look up the urban sketchers community, might have some good hints.

Re: Ask HN: Anyone here have good material for learning how to sketch from scratch?

#28
I'm a self-taught artist and count drawing as a skill of mine. I wouldn't say I'm a "natural" at it and would have definitely benefited from some structured learning.

Here are some of my recommendations/thoughts:

1. Bring a sketchbook with you everywhere and draw and observe what you see. There are shortcuts and techniques but like anything else it takes practice and time.

2. Humans are the most difficult because they are what we're experts at. We see and react to human faces from the day we are born so it's tricky to get right. Don't be discouraged.

3. Writing your name is drawing a picture. You've probably practiced it along with the alphabet numerous times. This is drawing in it's essence.

4. Learn what a core and cast shadow are if you don't already know. This will quickly improve your rendering.

5. Youtube. There is a higher level of skill in art then at any point in history and you have access to it. Just like any other field the knowledge passed down improves year after year.

6. Don't worry about the outcome. Drawing is intimate and doesn't need to be shown to anyone ever.

7. Drawing is a beautiful skill. You're creating something out of nothing.

Re: Ask HN: Anyone here have good material for learning how to sketch from scratch?

#30
Draw a Box [0] comes highly recommended. All lessons are free and are taught from scratch. Everything from absolute basics is thoroughly explained and demonstrated.

Paid courses by Proko [1] are also said to be of very high quality. I have never bought one, though.

I would also suggest that you look into digital art. Sketching/painting/drawing paraphernalia is expensive with time-consuming upkeep and hard to carry if you travel. OTOH, drawing on Krita, Photoshop with drawing tablets & stylus (even $60 ones) or an iPad with pen is low-maintenance and you can find other uses for them even if you don't continue drawing.

Digital art and conventional art have many overlappings, but they are different media with neither being higher or lower.

[0]: https://drawabox.com/

[1]: https://proko.com

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