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 Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2005 2:34 am
I have a friend who draws stuff. He's into comics, but has problems with inking stuff. He's waved a bunch of pencil sketches at me and asked if I'll scan them and ink them digitally, and I tentatively said OK.
But looking at the sketches... dude. I can't ink these. They suck. gonk
I mean, they don't suck as in being totally inept, like. He's obviously used references, and the shading and stuff is nice. It's just that the anatomy and proportions are all over the goddamn place. What makes it even more sad is that he's spent the last couple of years at art college.
[As an aside, I have to query what kind of art college doesn't teach elementary anatomy, proportion and stuff even as a tiny part of the actual course. That s**t's vital. gonk ]
Anyway. From looking at his drawings, as far as I can tell he's using references, but he's not looking at them as a whole - it's like "OK, drawing the face now... and now the torso... and the legs... and the arms and hands..." and so on, without having the underlying framework that keeps things in proportion. So when you step back and look at it, all the different body parts look kind of disjointed and out-of-proportion and stuff. confused What he really needs is to sit down with an anatomy textbook and learn where the various muscles and bones go and how they interact.
That's what I need to tell him. But the matter of how to broach this in a tactful and friendly way that won't make him cry is proving tricky. "Uh, you really need to work on your anatomy, dude." is pretty blunt. I'm tempted to sit with him and run through "OK, show me how you draw a figure. Right, now nere is how I draw a figure." stuff, but I'm wary of coming across as an arrogant know-it-all a** with too high an opinion of my own abilities. sweatdrop
So, how do you go about critiquing a friend's work in a constructive manner when you still want to stay friends with them? xp
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Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2005 2:49 am
i guess it depends on what you want to say...like do you want to tell them they suck using other words? or critiquing your friend in order for them to get better?
my friends and i have gotten into a habit of critiquing each others stuffs, and being open minded in receiving them. i guess one way would be to tell him, "hey, i was checking out the sketches you gave me, and some areas feel like they would be more like this." and show an example. or asking him if he draws his figures going from general to specific, because doing it that way keeps all the different body parts unified. y'know, you can always say, "i've had trouble with areas like this before, and one of the things that i do is this..."
and i think that should work both ways. like for you to also be a little open minded if he doesn't want to do it your way or has a different opinion in doing things. i think the best anyone can do in terms of helping is to give out suggestions...and that beating them over the head with a set of rules or boundaries that work for you will only make them feel less inclined to do it.
*shrugs* if he doesn't want to get better, then i think you're entitled to not have to ink it if you don't want to.
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Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2005 3:39 am
Mostly I'd like to point out bits where he can do better, rather than trashing him for the sake of it - I'm just kind of wary of saying "this bit could be done better" when it might get interpreted as "this bit sucks".
I am deeply conflict-averse. sweatdrop
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Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2005 9:17 am
Sure, one might expect him to better understand anatomy better after taking a few courses, or he could still be on a learning curve. I sometimes wonder if some people see images differently from others [since apparently studies have prooven people see, such as colours, and hear differently from person to person].
Nevertheless, if you absolutely feel the need to inform him on this [granted that he isn't already aware of this issue], then I'd just simply mention which areas seem off on proportion, and if he would allow it, teach him different techniques. However try not to come off as antagonistic or superior [more so arrogant], but rather as a friend that's concerned about him progressing in his work. You'll only end up with that "sibling-superiority complex" if you just come in and say, "this is crap, you should do it this way, this way and this way!" This way they're more inclined to listen to you and take it seriously rather than defend themselves at every turn.
I miss tutoring. [;_;]
Also, a tip for whomever plans to ink his work--and I sometimes do this myself--if you see an error along the way, simply fix it, but be sure to inform the artist what you fixed and that it's alright with them. Most find the adjusted version better, so long as you're not re-creating the character but just the proportions and creating a consistant perspective.
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Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2005 5:11 pm
1. Ink the picture.
2. Fix the sucky parts as you go.
3. Circle these parts in red.
4. Hand it back and walk away.
twisted Ok, maybe that's a little mean.
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Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2005 10:20 pm
ficklefiend 1. Ink the picture. 2. Fix the sucky parts as you go. 3. Circle these parts in red. 4. Hand it back and walk away. twisted Ok, maybe that's a little mean.
It wouldn't be all that constructive anyway.
People point out to me sometimes whut I have done wrong when drawing, but I will disregard it if they don't give advice on how to fix it or how I can improve for next time. Or it's just irrelevant. It's not helpful for me to be told 'THATS WAY OFF' if they don't tell me why it is and how its meant to be.
Like pointing out someone is drowning and not offering them a life jacket.
Just for referance I know you were joking : )
Hehe ^_^
P.S To Zahir : I think what Crimson said is very good advice. I don't have anything to elaborate on that.
And besides, if he is a serious artist I am sure he will appreciate it and take it in his stride.
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Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 12:48 am
Zahir I am deeply conflict-averse. sweatdrop that is so funny. i'm the same. how ironic, considering. gonk uh. pose a hypothetical question. "if you could fix anything about your art, what would it be? mine is my anatomy and perspective. i feel it could use improvement. what about you?" : D
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Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 2:18 am
Managed to sort it out at t'pub last night. Beer cures all ills. xd
Sat down with some paper and a pencil and asked how he draws figures (start at the head and work down, apparently), offered a few tips about stuff like how I draw hands (pointing out the "knuckle-joints follow a curved line" thing), and worked from there. Nice and amiable.
There's even talk of organising some kind of semi-regular drunk-art sessions for the local people-who-like-drawing, so that's cool. whee
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Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 10:33 am
Your friend reminds me of my drawings.
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Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 2:00 pm
I'm teaching a couple of people to draw, and I'm brutally blunt.
If you can't take crits, you shouldn't be showing people your work.
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Dr. Valentine Vice Captain
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Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 4:56 am
Doctor MEAN! Zahir I am deeply conflict-averse. sweatdrop that is so funny. i'm the same. how ironic, considering. gonk gah, ME TOO. ; ; which is why i have no money right now. lets be in a club.
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Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 11:16 am
Zahir Managed to sort it out at t'pub last night. Beer cures all ills. xd Sat down with some paper and a pencil and asked how he draws figures (start at the head and work down, apparently), offered a few tips about stuff like how I draw hands (pointing out the "knuckle-joints follow a curved line" thing), and worked from there. Nice and amiable. There's even talk of organising some kind of semi-regular drunk-art sessions for the local people-who-like-drawing, so that's cool. whee
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Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2005 6:38 pm
If it were me, I would ink it and casually bring up that certain parts are awesome, but they would look even better if they were a bit more in tune with the rest of the image.
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