If you really want to gain knowledge and confidence in the fundamentals, spend some time watching (in real time, NOT sped up) an excellent artist. Good art is often very slow. I saw a huge improvement in my own (self-taught, hobby-level) art when I began to get comfortable spending 10 hours on a drawing instead of one. I enjoy drawing portraits and can recommend this guy's Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/stephenbaumanartwork
Ask HN: How do I learn drawing?
21–30 of 127 posts
Re: Ask HN: How do I learn drawing?
#22For some really great insights into drawing for business (esp. whiteboarding) see: The Back of the Napkin by Dan Roam.
There are other related books by the same author too. I especially enjoyed: Draw to Win
Re: Ask HN: How do I learn drawing?
#23good instructions for drawing an owl https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/166281411222188233/ not so sure about other animals
Re: Ask HN: How do I learn drawing?
#24Background: 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 illustrations for you for as low as 10-20$/piece. That's insane value. Good illustrators are like good pianists - it requires daily practice. Spend a little cash and focus on what you're already good at :)
Re: Ask HN: How do I learn drawing?
#25When I was a kid I watched Secret City on PBS and it turns out the guy is still around teaching drawing: https://www.youtube.com/user/MarkKistler/videos and someone has posted the episodes from the PBS show https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw8rIExNvhgV4vUDTbMdUXg/vid...
Oh man, this is the best news I've heard all week. I loved Secret City. Thanks for this.
Re: Ask HN: How do I learn drawing?
#26When I was a kid I watched Secret City on PBS and it turns out the guy is still around teaching drawing: https://www.youtube.com/user/MarkKistler/videos and someone has posted the episodes from the PBS show https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw8rIExNvhgV4vUDTbMdUXg/vid...
omg, I have been trying to remember what this was for decades.
Re: Ask HN: How do I learn drawing?
#27Although 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 considers awesome in about a year.
Re: Ask HN: How do I learn drawing?
#28"The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain: A Course in Enhancing Creativity and Artistic Confidence" by Betty Edwars. She taught drawing classes and discovered that one reason why people is bad at drawing is that they symbolize what they see before drawing it. For example, when we see a face, we tend to focus about the eyes and mouth and ignore other features like the front. That contributes to a distorted repr…
I recommend it too. Nice book.
Re: Ask HN: How do I learn drawing?
#29Although 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…
Could you post the name of the book, please?
I can't open that link.
Re: Ask HN: How do I learn drawing?
#30Although 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…
Could you post the name of the book, please? I can't open that link.
Sorry about that...
Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain: The Definitive, 4th Edition