Me when starting out in digital art: I NEED all of these four hundred brushes!!! Me now, a full time artist working in a studio: ah yes, my one and only brush, I'm picking you again
I trace art all the time, but never post on social media. I only trace to try and get an art style or get better at anatomy. It’s actually really helpful for me!
Definitely agree, while I don't trace things myself normally (I found out that keeping trying to draw a part with one or more references which I'm not good at helps me more than tracing) I can say for sure there is a huge difference between those people who trace to call someone else's work theirs and those who use tracing to teach themselves how to draw different things they aren't familiar with! Also a few tips for those who are just trying art : Don't be afraid to use anatomy references or trying something repeatedly till you get it right or experimenting with new ideas!
@@diepvrieskieke happens a lot! Especially tattoo artists that can’t draw. Then people who bring a photo of someone else’s tattoo and want the exact same thing. I refuse but I know others who don’t
@@vvskiitlesvv there are tattoo artist that can’t draw? Damn, then how did they became a tattoo artist in the first place. If i would have a tattoo shop there would be only one style, my style.
@@diepvrieskieke yeah a lot of them just trace things and then add a little bit you can pick out an artist who traces pretty fast when they have a book of tats to choose from.
as a beginner artist with NO art education or training, I just want to say I really appreciate these tips. it’s nice as a perfectionist who expects to be great at something right away to know that some “cheats” are “allowed”! :)
In cases like these, I'm always reminded of Steve Jobs' quote "Real artists ship( ship as in deliver a final product )" and that's it. Simple as that. Real artists get the job done instead of worrying about whether or not other people approve of their methods. Thanks Brad! These tips were super useful!
Wow! I've never heard this quote, but I love it! I 100% agree with it. I think this is why that, in my experience, it is mostly amateur artists (that aren't yet employed as an artist/illustrator) that are obsessed with things such as 'using photo references is cheeeaaating!!', etc. Those of us who work in the industry know that we just have to get'er done!
Dunno if this counts as an art tip but personally before i do any sketching i set some music up that matches the mood of what im about to sketch. It really help get the creative juices flow towards the right direction.
@@winterwolf930 I know Im 3 month late, but Im doing it too! Also I usually try to do poses in front of mirror(or camera) so I could know which positions are possible and which are not
The photo reference thing drives me bonkers. A live model standing in front of me is fine, but using a picture is a hack somehow? ‘Scuse me; I couldn’t book Gigi Hadid in time and had to improvise.
When was photo reference a crime? I had boxes of magazines and books specifically for reference in the 90s because dial up internet and bbs was just not what Google image search is these days. It’s a stupid comment. To this day I take 100s of photos and use for reference.
I made my own. It's a combo of a hard and soft brush. I chose it because I like to need to control my brush strokes. To not do unnecessary undos or take to long time drawing that one muscle at the leg. So to speak to be more sparing with my strokes and have a faster output. It really helps. And it's my favorite brush. But i also like silky like or pencil like brushes. For various reasons xD
The one about using 3D models applies a lot to me! I started my art journey from 3D art with Blender, but then got interested in doing 2D so I could draw my favorite characters from games and movies. Since I know how to use blender, all I've been doing is simply modelling simple low poly versions of the characters I want to draw, then I pose them and from there I draw the big shapes on top of them, then I search references to add details. And honestly I don't even feel ashamed about using 3D models to draw, I made them myself, with my own knowledge of 3d modelling, *it's art that I created to create MORE art*
Tracing art is actually how I got INTO drawing again. I've had my Intuos laying about as I had no idea how to actually draw anything. A friend recommended me to try tracing and that gave me a big confidence boost to try my own art. Granted, I'm no expert and didn't learn at some art school but I have fun creating stuff. I do use references (like, I take a picture of my hand in the pose I wanna draw) but a lot of people do and you gotta start somewhere.
Yeah I'm always surprised when using photo references is treated like a big secret. How would I just remember how leather textures looks, or various sorts of cloth, or how the light would be reflected on a body or how someone would hold a spear? I find my drawings always look better if I'm actually seeing something when I'm drawing it. I often use myself as photo reference but that can lead to the drawing looking like a big nerd holding a tennis racket instead of a warrior holding a sword! LOL Great video!
@@TheKevphil I agree.. especially with your last sentence. Almost all people that I've encountered screaming about the 'evils' of tracing have never actually worked as a professional artist or illustrator.
00:00 Intro 01:08 Tracing 01:58 Steal perspective 02:36 Use 3d models 03:08 Try Vector Art 04:17 Draw in Your Style Challenges 05:13 Taiwan Excellence Sponsor 06:50 Master Studies 07:43: Big Brushes 08:46 Draw More Junk 09:46 Lift Colors 10:48 Turn off the Colors
those color tips are FLAMES ! My portraits started really improving when I drew the values first and added color after. Also snagging color schemes from existing artwork is super helpful. Good coloring is a perfect balance of different tones, and that combination can add a whole spectrum of emotion to a composition. Great video, this sparks many ideas!
I find that tracing can actually be an excellent tool for self evaluating whether I have achieved the desired proportions in my drawing by comparing my drawing with the tracing, thus detecting any anomalies that are harder to spot out, and knowing what I need to correct. Great learning resource.
Tracing is such a catalyst to drawing skills. It calibrates your eye and hand to be able to achieve what you want to draw since the way you are looking at the paper when drawing and when from afar is very different. It helps those who struggle with “the other eye”, anatomy proportions and hands etc. That’s just my opinion. A lot of people really frown upon doing this.
When I am working on a piece I will pretty frequently grab a photo and trace over it a few times just to get a feel for the rhythm of lines and curves before I move back over to my main piece and draw it out. I find it helps a lot when you are struggling with something complex and can really help you to find the simple shapes that make up a more complex construction like a hand or foot.
Really great advice! People don’t realise also how many ‘old masters’ tried their best to ‘cheat’ their way into getting more accuracy in their paintings. You just have to be careful on not crossing the line and doing plagiarism. Keep it up with these great videos Brad!
Yep, you are exactly right. Almost every one of them used cheats... including the use of a 'camera obscura', which is basically tracing.
Před 3 lety+9
Some that work as an artist may say; "Do not copy or use other people's work", then they can talk warm about Andy Warhol and what a genius Andy was when he copying other people's work in a creative way.
@@micahmajestic3683 i want to design cars so i practice drawing that more but i design characters here and there design anatomy first whether that be of a cat, car or human for designing anatomy you need to learn anatomy but to practice: for cars, draw in perspective and in side view for humans draw (nude) models for animals draw models with and without fur if they have any for aliens do whatever you fucking want draw in this order for humans: pose>bones>muscles>features>hair>clothes(if you want) for cars: perspective>wheels>shape>interior(if you want)>features>shadows
@@micahmajestic3683 anything you want or struggle with particularly. They cant really tell what to practice cause not everyone is the same. Have some self drive. Use google its your friend.
I always wanted to get better at drawing, but I could not motivate myself to spend hours and hours with drawing lines and circles, but also was frustrated that I was not even capable of drawing a stick figure that didn’t look like a mutant. On the Ipad I started tracing over photos, and thats still what I do very often, mostly when watching Streams or listening to Music, because It’s perfect to be just occupied enough that I don’t start eating Junkfood or fall asleep, without distracting me too much. 2 years later I can draw straight lines, curves and circles, and I can draw people in different poses from all common angles and proportions that are good enough to make the picture not giving that weird „something is wrong“ feeling. I’m sure regular practice would have been more efficient and I would have reached this Skilllevel way faster that way, but at the End of the day drawing ANYTHING will improve your hand-eye coordination, and tracing a hand everyday will create the musclememory of drawing hands too. So I would recommend tracing as much as you can to anyone like me, because now I start to enjoy drawing studies or practice shapes, because the result will not look like it’s made by a mentally challenged preschooler.
When it comes to art, my favorite thing to do when I was a kid was to trace over images in coloring books to make more copies, so I can have more images to color in different ways :D
Since I started my job(comics for a company) i've been relying on CSP's 3d models to help me do panels faster. Surprisingly it actually DID improve my poses/proportions, cause now when i'm drawing for fun, with no 3d models, i find doing poses I usually have a difficult time with to be easier.
I almost always use a soft round brush or hard round brush for 90% of my pieces. I have a big brush library but most of them are just used sparingly, oh and I love the perspective grids in Procreate. Serious life and time saver. What I love most about using 3d models is you can play with teh composition and get a good visual as to the direction you want to go including subject, camera and lighting.
the master studies and dtiys tips are amazing. I've used them to improve my art and it's honestly great. I can't express how helpful they've been in improving my art.
I was glad to see this video... tracing has been very helpful to me. I like to find a piece with great lines that my arm and hand just really want to draw! At some point I try to begin changing the piece and add my own creativity to it. It can be very helpful to get your creative mind moving as well.
I’ve always hated myself for tracing other drawings because I just can’t draw hands or stupid proportions but that repitition after tracing thing looks reaaalllyy good so hopefully that is the cure 🙂.
Practice makes perfect (or and least, improvement!) The important thing is to enjoy it and to not overly compare where you are with people who have spent years doing it. Get inspiration, but don't put yourself down because you're learning
As a beginner, my favourite thing to do (regardless of practice or real art) is get a reference, then trace it into its simple shapes with a soft airbrush, before sketching over it with a pencil and etc
Tracing actually helps you learn new stuff. I traced some Hands and body parts from 3D models and I got better at it and don't look so weird now. DAZ Studio really has some good models. And I use it for poses as well.
This is a great one! Should really help people to have a "proper" start with drawing and the whole social media shabang. And DTIYS challenges are the best. I've had a few people tracing my art (even tho I'm small on social media) and thinking that it was ok because they were NICE ENOUGH to redraw it instead of posting my original 😬 DTIYS fixed at least half the problem, more peeps need to know about them!
Value sketching is probably the best one and you got it in there right in time. I'd say play more, give yourself room to loosen up before work or a new project, and give your hand and mind a moment to make whatever they want on the canvas/screen. Some people dislike abstraction, but working with gesture and color can help pinpoint texture and utility with digital brushes.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!! I use the CSP 3D models so, so often and I always feel like a fraud or a cheater when I use them. They're honestly amazing for getting awkward anatomy / poses to look better.
You do not matter, your art matters. In the manufacturing world people prided themselves with insane skill levels and holding to minuscule tolerances while working very quickly on manual milling machines. All of them have been replaced by CNC programmers because it’s the product that matters, not the operator. Do whatever it takes to make incredible, original art. 🎉❤
When I was just learning how to draw and I didn't have a computer or digital art method, I would watch a cartoon on VHS or (later) on DVR, then pause it on a scene I really liked. I'd grab my sketch book and sit on the living room floor and draw the entire scene just like that! I didn't have money for a lot of art supplies, so I never did much coloring, but I learned how to shade/lighten things with just pencil simply from doing that. Danny Phantom and Courage the Cowardly Dog taught me so much.
Thanks, Brad! I'd say this was a really good video and - well, hopefully encouraging for those who are, like I was some years ago, afraid of doing certain "cheats" you had mentioned. Like I was always ashamed of using reference human figures and tried to draw them on my own...and that's why, regardless of how good, in general, work could be, people always said "but your proportions are way off/learn anatomy" etc. And then I had started using 3d models - like from the app Easy Poser (there are other apps too, most certainly) -and most of the complaints went away and I also could concentrate more on "my style", things important for me in the drawing, the idea and so on. Once again - nice video!
Basing characters off your favorite songs! 1, its fun 2, makes my characters all wacky and maybe even inspo for a story 3, you get to listen to your favorite song
Thanks Brad. I will add. Make a copy of a panting or photo using large flat shapes with 2 or 3 flat values only. Study art by Mead Schaeffer to get an idea of what that might look like. Hell, maybe start by copying Mead Schaeffer art. IMHO focus on top 3, or just start with #1, the rest will develop w time if you actually learn from the top 3. #1 "Tracing and copy". - Master Copy is a more advanced version of this #2 "Steal Perspective.." -Excellent way to learn how perspective is actually used in art the inspires you. #3 "Use 3D models" - Can be lots of help, but can be a time sink. IMHO this is a digital art hack, doing life drawing might help more.
Great common sense video! I taught myself how to draw when I was a kid by TRACING EVERYTHING. (And pilfering my dad's Prismacolor color pencils that he brought home from his work).
"Real artists own 12 ferrets" - worth the like alone! Real artists learn the rules, so that they can later bend and break them to their own desires. There's joy in repetition :-)
THE TRACING ONE!!!!! I want to punch a wall every time some snub know it all artist says "If YoU tRaCe AnYtHiNg YoU aRe NoT aN ArTiSt" NOOOOOOOO, conscious tracing is great practice, and we should all trace more!!
Side note related to cheating: These are 2 best pieces of art advice that I've been given concerning “rules” in art: “Everything I tell you is a lie … or at least the opposite is also true.” - Tom Holste (Artist and Painting Instructor at CSUF) “The only rule in art is that if you break the rules, break them successfully.” - Eric Bengston (Illustrator, Sculptor) I found these to be creatively challenging and freeing - they added a lot to making art assignments more invigorating.
As an starter artist I start to copy, adopt and be inspire my favorite artist like in comics and manga. Then practice a bit more and more. As i get good i make my own style drawing. Right now the only best cheat is using AI without practice or getting serious into art just by typing what you like in a art viola you have your own art.
Quick tip: if you are working with an art software that has a layer setting called colour, put a layer filled in solid white at the very top of the layers list with that setting. This will then only show you the contrast of your artwork. This is much easier than flicking back and forth from the windows display settings to change it each time. Note: I found this from another video studying the way the colour pickers in digital art software works. I do not remember which person it was though, so if anyone knows fell free to let me know.
Great video Brad! I think it's great to trace etc...maybe you just want to get the feel for some nice lines and learn some muscle memory. I think as long as you have a bigger picture in mind...you can only learn! One of my favorite projects started out as a pure trace...as I said, I just wanted to enjoy feeling some lines that I liked the looks of. But in the end it took many different directions and they were all inspired by that original piece; but all my own ideas and work! Had I not allowed myself to trace over someone lines...I would not have discovered all the other original art that resulted. I certainly would never post something like this as these types of projects should be for yourself, your muscle memory and learning; to build on. I'm really glad you brought up the subject!!!
Love the art and the tips but GPU’s get way too hot in laptops. It might handle some complex tasks in isolation but your fan will be running like a jet engine. I would always recommend a desktop for things like 4k rendering. Looks cool though.
My man! Thanks for this video. I've been watching your other videos about tablets, just bought a tab s7. Thank you for you full review with drawing on tablets
Agree, play with the brushes you have because they're super simple and great to use. But also, in programs like Clip Studio paint where it's easy to revert or duplicate your brushes? PLAY, WITH, THE, SETTINGS. Play with pressure, tilt, velocity! Go nuts! Don't be afraid of "breaking something' you can revert it to default easily with a right click. If you're REALLY unsure, duplicate the brush, play with that one and now you have two options!
nice tips. if i could give an opinion, i'd change the "draw more junk" part into "compose with foreground, midground, and background". by thinking and grouping the stuff we draw into forground, midground and backgrounds, it's easier to compose a better final piece. and know where to put emphasis on. anyhow, this is a good tutorial. thank you.
True ..Any profession is like a journey .. and from which you learn in your life to meet the good and the bad .. Art is like martial arts .. and success requires patience and hope that one day you will come to progress every day you train in it .. The artist is influenced by others, but he puts his own touches and his own way like Mulf Books take information but put their own opinion and independent research
I like working with black and white, it helps me with shading... also by the time I go to add my color, the pre work I do in b&w adds lighting to the flat colors almost instantly.
Great tips and demonstration, especially about the gray tones before color. I love the visual tips as well: Notice how Brad copies his colors from a layer with painted blobs (like in real life), instead of bothering with the more cumbersome ps swatch system. I also enjoy how he uses a big fat brush in different color layers, instead of the fill tool.
I need to add; You can't own a colour pallet, you can't own a human pose or expression and you can't own a perspective grid. If you want to do studies you can post look for public domain references such as photos from pexels or pixabay, etc. You also own the copyright on all photos you take. I say study from modern masters too not just the long dead kind. Also consider making reusable colour pallets for later such as gold and bronze for those metals and sky, forest, fire, summer field, etc. Study the composition shapes and perspective from art AND movie stills! There is great reference in movies! Pause and do studies of the composition, lighting and perspective! Take your own photo reference as needed retake a pose as needed or use a 3d model. Gather and use things like VizRef to create reference boards. Combine and add things. The reference is to serve you not the other way around! Anything humans create with the intention of create art is art ignore haters. Also ONLY study art you like/inspires you. Don't waste time studying art you dislike and don't want to make art similar too. No matter how much of a 'master' everyone says that artist is/was! Your learning what you want, your style. Don't do masters studies or reference art you dislike!
I’ve always have had a problem not using colors and just using black and white. So I’ve been trying to color everything I do or use different outline colors. Thanks for the tips!
hey can you do a Video on the concept d7 vs the galaxy book flex (2?)?. Im considering saving up for one of them, but I dont know what I should choose. Thanks.
as for the last tip, it also work for 3D/level design, i saw an video of someone prototyping an level like this: first he take care of the light of the scene (you called it constrast) then he put the colors on it , and objects.
3D MODELS ARE WHAT I USE TO DO ALL OF MY POSING BECAUSE I SUCK AT ANATOMY Also I use the same brush for coloring, lineart, and shading. Aside from the small airbrush parts in my shading.
vas a beginner illustrator I tend to focus to much on detail and forget the entire scene. Now I focus more on the scene to get in more detail where need it
I am a "spoof artist" and a photobasher. Some of my work is"cloned", and altered, which, "creates it's own, new copyright". You take a risk, depending on your target, or target audience. I'm an old-school skateboarder from the mid 80s the late 90s. Spoof art in that community has always been a big thing. I follow in the footsteps of BLIND skateboards. I have done 5 graphics for Pro brand STEDMZ, owned by Steve Steadham and I launched my own brand, ICONOCLAST skateboards in July, 2020. This is where I launched my most iconic spoof graphic, ever. The name of my brand says everything that I I am about.
(9:45) There are many artists whose art styles I love, but the one that's right at the top of that list for me, is Joey Ellis, with what I refer to as his comic art style (he has 2 distinctive art styles he uses for different clients), and besides his character and object designs, one of the things I love about his art style are the colour palettes he uses.
There are a lot of art tip video out on youtube. I did watch a lot that i turned off my watch history. But this video...This Glove dance master telling the right stuff.. the right way
Me when starting out in digital art: I NEED all of these four hundred brushes!!!
Me now, a full time artist working in a studio: ah yes, my one and only brush, I'm picking you again
Meee
I use only one synthetic brush, too.
Right? I went on a HUMONGOUS spending spree when I was dipping my toes in. Now I have a folder called “Mine” that has the literal 4 brushes I use.
I still new but i always use one brush 🤣 even though i had download soo many i still don't know how to use them 🤷🏻♀️
I have a set of MIIIIINE brushes and some sets in other folders as “ extras”, In case I need to do some heavy texture work
I trace art all the time, but never post on social media. I only trace to try and get an art style or get better at anatomy. It’s actually really helpful for me!
Try brads tutorial channel
It teaches you how to draw heads and construction just to name a few
Very good
This. This is it. I trace other art but only for things like armor for example to get the shape right and breaking it down further.
@@sk1ttlnko link please?
Sorry I ruin the 69th like
The only rule is don't trace and pass it off as your own. You can trace for educational purposes but as he said, don't pass it off as your own
Definitely agree, while I don't trace things myself normally (I found out that keeping trying to draw a part with one or more references which I'm not good at helps me more than tracing) I can say for sure there is a huge difference between those people who trace to call someone else's work theirs and those who use tracing to teach themselves how to draw different things they aren't familiar with!
Also a few tips for those who are just trying art : Don't be afraid to use anatomy references or trying something repeatedly till you get it right or experimenting with new ideas!
Damn, that's cold. Who would do that? I even feel like cheating when i'm using a reference photo :|
@@diepvrieskieke happens a lot! Especially tattoo artists that can’t draw. Then people who bring a photo of someone else’s tattoo and want the exact same thing. I refuse but I know others who don’t
@@vvskiitlesvv there are tattoo artist that can’t draw? Damn, then how did they became a tattoo artist in the first place. If i would have a tattoo shop there would be only one style, my style.
@@diepvrieskieke yeah a lot of them just trace things and then add a little bit you can pick out an artist who traces pretty fast when they have a book of tats to choose from.
as a beginner artist with NO art education or training, I just want to say I really appreciate these tips. it’s nice as a perfectionist who expects to be great at something right away to know that some “cheats” are “allowed”! :)
Thank you for using "NO art education or training", instead of SELF TAUGHT, which is an abstract concept and impossible.
In cases like these, I'm always reminded of Steve Jobs' quote "Real artists ship( ship as in deliver a final product )" and that's it. Simple as that. Real artists get the job done instead of worrying about whether or not other people approve of their methods.
Thanks Brad! These tips were super useful!
Wow! I've never heard this quote, but I love it! I 100% agree with it. I think this is why that, in my experience, it is mostly amateur artists (that aren't yet employed as an artist/illustrator) that are obsessed with things such as 'using photo references is cheeeaaating!!', etc. Those of us who work in the industry know that we just have to get'er done!
Dunno if this counts as an art tip but personally before i do any sketching i set some music up that matches the mood of what im about to sketch. It really help get the creative juices flow towards the right direction.
I think that is a good idea, too.
Same, the music vibe somehow helps me get into what mood my drawing will be.
Sometimes I make the same faces my drawings are making, Not sure why but I do.
@@winterwolf930 I know Im 3 month late, but Im doing it too! Also I usually try to do poses in front of mirror(or camera) so I could know which positions are possible and which are not
@@winterwolf930 : Animators acting out what they're going to draw.
The photo reference thing drives me bonkers. A live model standing in front of me is fine, but using a picture is a hack somehow? ‘Scuse me; I couldn’t book Gigi Hadid in time and had to improvise.
Ikr!
When was photo reference a crime? I had boxes of magazines and books specifically for reference in the 90s because dial up internet and bbs was just not what Google image search is these days.
It’s a stupid comment. To this day I take 100s of photos and use for reference.
🤣
That hurts my brain. Sometimes you just can't get that angle or perspective...or, you just want to draw it correctly.
@@sloppynyuszi the point is that people make a big deal about using reference, not that he actually believes it.
Great video, Brad. These are wonderful tips for people who want to improve their skills 👍🏻
Hi Flo! big fan, yes I'm subbed to your t-chest. 😅
Hi flo like your vids
Hi Flo!! Love your vids
@@JMulvy thanks! That’s great to hear 😃
@@ahmedhameedkamel5065 thank you 😊
N.11: Flip the canvas! Mirror your drawing to figure out why it looks so weird or unbalanced
You flip it to see IF it looks weird, and you fix
@@Dino-yu4nj and THAT'S SCARY hahahahhaa
When I flip it it it looks so weird and I keep trying to fix it but it keeps becoming weirder and weirder 😭😭😭😂😂😂
@@tita-mita9314 same HAHHAHAHAHA
“If I could ever find that amazing brush on procreate my work would just shine” I FEEL CALLED OUT 😭
Nice one 😳
I made my own. It's a combo of a hard and soft brush. I chose it because I like to need to control my brush strokes. To not do unnecessary undos or take to long time drawing that one muscle at the leg. So to speak to be more sparing with my strokes and have a faster output. It really helps. And it's my favorite brush. But i also like silky like or pencil like brushes. For various reasons xD
The one about using 3D models applies a lot to me!
I started my art journey from 3D art with Blender, but then got interested in doing 2D so I could draw my favorite characters from games and movies. Since I know how to use blender, all I've been doing is simply modelling simple low poly versions of the characters I want to draw, then I pose them and from there I draw the big shapes on top of them, then I search references to add details.
And honestly I don't even feel ashamed about using 3D models to draw, I made them myself, with my own knowledge of 3d modelling, *it's art that I created to create MORE art*
Real artist paint on cave walls with the blood of a dire wolf slain by that very same artist. Anything less is cheating at art!
LMAO!
my brain cant really process the background.. i wish someone would share some of their knowledge and critique my art work
Posting art on instagram? Real artists draw in caves
Excuse me WTF
so real
Tracing art is actually how I got INTO drawing again. I've had my Intuos laying about as I had no idea how to actually draw anything. A friend recommended me to try tracing and that gave me a big confidence boost to try my own art. Granted, I'm no expert and didn't learn at some art school but I have fun creating stuff. I do use references (like, I take a picture of my hand in the pose I wanna draw) but a lot of people do and you gotta start somewhere.
Really happy you made this video!
Thanks Charley. Just checked out your channel, great stuff!
Yeah I'm always surprised when using photo references is treated like a big secret. How would I just remember how leather textures looks, or various sorts of cloth, or how the light would be reflected on a body or how someone would hold a spear? I find my drawings always look better if I'm actually seeing something when I'm drawing it. I often use myself as photo reference but that can lead to the drawing looking like a big nerd holding a tennis racket instead of a warrior holding a sword! LOL Great video!
At least it is going to look original... hahaha...
Thank you for dispelling the stigma of tracing. It is a learning/reference tool. Artists need to stop with the judgement.
They also need to grow up and move into the 20th century. Never mind the 21st. They are also unlikely to be professionals in the first place.
@@TheKevphil I agree.. especially with your last sentence. Almost all people that I've encountered screaming about the 'evils' of tracing have never actually worked as a professional artist or illustrator.
00:00 Intro
01:08 Tracing
01:58 Steal perspective
02:36 Use 3d models
03:08 Try Vector Art
04:17 Draw in Your Style Challenges
05:13 Taiwan Excellence Sponsor
06:50 Master Studies
07:43: Big Brushes
08:46 Draw More Junk
09:46 Lift Colors
10:48 Turn off the Colors
Thank you!
Big up 💪
those color tips are FLAMES ! My portraits started really improving when I drew the values first and added color after. Also snagging color schemes from existing artwork is super helpful. Good coloring is a perfect balance of different tones, and that combination can add a whole spectrum of emotion to a composition. Great video, this sparks many ideas!
I find that tracing can actually be an excellent tool for self evaluating whether I have achieved the desired proportions in my drawing by comparing my drawing with the tracing, thus detecting any anomalies that are harder to spot out, and knowing what I need to correct. Great learning resource.
Tracing is such a catalyst to drawing skills. It calibrates your eye and hand to be able to achieve what you want to draw since the way you are looking at the paper when drawing and when from afar is very different. It helps those who struggle with “the other eye”, anatomy proportions and hands etc. That’s just my opinion. A lot of people really frown upon doing this.
When I am working on a piece I will pretty frequently grab a photo and trace over it a few times just to get a feel for the rhythm of lines and curves before I move back over to my main piece and draw it out. I find it helps a lot when you are struggling with something complex and can really help you to find the simple shapes that make up a more complex construction like a hand or foot.
Really great advice! People don’t realise also how many ‘old masters’ tried their best to ‘cheat’ their way into getting more accuracy in their paintings. You just have to be careful on not crossing the line and doing plagiarism. Keep it up with these great videos Brad!
Yep, you are exactly right. Almost every one of them used cheats... including the use of a 'camera obscura', which is basically tracing.
Some that work as an artist may say; "Do not copy or use other people's work", then they can talk warm about Andy Warhol and what a genius Andy was when he copying other people's work in a creative way.
Giving concrete ways to practice is SO HELPFUL! usually what we hear is, "just practice more." 🙄🙄🙄
Seriously, everyone always says “just draw more bro” like bitch draw more what thoug
@@micahmajestic3683 i want to design cars so i practice drawing that more
but i design characters here and there
design anatomy first whether that be of a cat, car or human
for designing anatomy you need to learn anatomy
but to practice:
for cars, draw in perspective and in side view
for humans draw (nude) models
for animals draw models with and without fur if they have any
for aliens do whatever you fucking want
draw in this order for humans: pose>bones>muscles>features>hair>clothes(if you want)
for cars: perspective>wheels>shape>interior(if you want)>features>shadows
@@micahmajestic3683 anything you want or struggle with particularly. They cant really tell what to practice cause not everyone is the same. Have some self drive. Use google its your friend.
"If I'm trying to make things look pretty, I'm not making good decisions"
hello, new mantra!
I always wanted to get better at drawing, but I could not motivate myself to spend hours and hours with drawing lines and circles, but also was frustrated that I was not even capable of drawing a stick figure that didn’t look like a mutant. On the Ipad I started tracing over photos, and thats still what I do very often, mostly when watching Streams or listening to Music, because It’s perfect to be just occupied enough that I don’t start eating Junkfood or fall asleep, without distracting me too much. 2 years later I can draw straight lines, curves and circles, and I can draw people in different poses from all common angles and proportions that are good enough to make the picture not giving that weird „something is wrong“ feeling. I’m sure regular practice would have been more efficient and I would have reached this Skilllevel way faster that way, but at the End of the day drawing ANYTHING will improve your hand-eye coordination, and tracing a hand everyday will create the musclememory of drawing hands too. So I would recommend tracing as much as you can to anyone like me, because now I start to enjoy drawing studies or practice shapes, because the result will not look like it’s made by a mentally challenged preschooler.
When it comes to art, my favorite thing to do when I was a kid was to trace over images in coloring books to make more copies, so I can have more images to color in different ways :D
Brad: Use 3D Models
Me who's weak at anatomy: I do that most of the time. It's kind of thing that makes my art not suck, lol.
Since I started my job(comics for a company) i've been relying on CSP's 3d models to help me do panels faster. Surprisingly it actually DID improve my poses/proportions, cause now when i'm drawing for fun, with no 3d models, i find doing poses I usually have a difficult time with to be easier.
You just made me feel 1000% better.
I almost always use a soft round brush or hard round brush for 90% of my pieces. I have a big brush library but most of them are just used sparingly, oh and I love the perspective grids in Procreate. Serious life and time saver. What I love most about using 3d models is you can play with teh composition and get a good visual as to the direction you want to go including subject, camera and lighting.
the master studies and dtiys tips are amazing. I've used them to improve my art and it's honestly great. I can't express how helpful they've been in improving my art.
I was glad to see this video... tracing has been very helpful to me. I like to find a piece with great lines that my arm and hand just really want to draw! At some point I try to begin changing the piece and add my own creativity to it. It can be very helpful to get your creative mind moving as well.
I’ve always hated myself for tracing other drawings because I just can’t draw hands or stupid proportions but that repitition after tracing thing looks reaaalllyy good so hopefully that is the cure 🙂.
this is literally the very thing i need rn- i just started drawing and am gonna start on digital drawing soon, and im ngl im not very good 💀
neither but everyone starts somewhere x
Your taste is better than you think.
Do yall have insta? Wanna be friends? I'm sorry I'm just very lonely
Practice makes perfect (or and least, improvement!) The important thing is to enjoy it and to not overly compare where you are with people who have spent years doing it. Get inspiration, but don't put yourself down because you're learning
@@lightblurb9299 @aetherxdust add me :)
As a beginner, my favourite thing to do (regardless of practice or real art) is get a reference, then trace it into its simple shapes with a soft airbrush, before sketching over it with a pencil and etc
Tracing actually helps you learn new stuff. I traced some Hands and body parts from 3D models and I got better at it and don't look so weird now. DAZ Studio really has some good models. And I use it for poses as well.
DAZ Studio is amazing for poses, especially poses in a difficult perspective.
This is a great one! Should really help people to have a "proper" start with drawing and the whole social media shabang.
And DTIYS challenges are the best. I've had a few people tracing my art (even tho I'm small on social media) and thinking that it was ok because they were NICE ENOUGH to redraw it instead of posting my original 😬 DTIYS fixed at least half the problem, more peeps need to know about them!
Real Artists haven’t rules.
The Art is Art and in the art you can copy and you can cheat!
In Art you can do everything, for this Reason Art is awsome!
Value sketching is probably the best one and you got it in there right in time. I'd say play more, give yourself room to loosen up before work or a new project, and give your hand and mind a moment to make whatever they want on the canvas/screen. Some people dislike abstraction, but working with gesture and color can help pinpoint texture and utility with digital brushes.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!! I use the CSP 3D models so, so often and I always feel like a fraud or a cheater when I use them. They're honestly amazing for getting awkward anatomy / poses to look better.
Cheat your way... love it. If done elegantly it is the quickest way to learn.
A good way to build good muscle memory is to trace. Never post of course. Also, trace over nude photo and practice anatomy.
Thanks for making content brad it’s been super helpful and super informative with my journey with art we love you!
I love that you mentioned tracing and turning off the colors. I don’t find enough tip videos talk about those.
You do not matter, your art matters. In the manufacturing world people prided themselves with insane skill levels and holding to minuscule tolerances while working very quickly on manual milling machines. All of them have been replaced by CNC programmers because it’s the product that matters, not the operator. Do whatever it takes to make incredible, original art. 🎉❤
When I was just learning how to draw and I didn't have a computer or digital art method, I would watch a cartoon on VHS or (later) on DVR, then pause it on a scene I really liked. I'd grab my sketch book and sit on the living room floor and draw the entire scene just like that! I didn't have money for a lot of art supplies, so I never did much coloring, but I learned how to shade/lighten things with just pencil simply from doing that. Danny Phantom and Courage the Cowardly Dog taught me so much.
Number 11: Take pictures of your own body and room as reference when you need specific shot and angle.
Or do like me and make your kids pose for you! 😊
That's actually a really good idea!!
@@kabookiearts6199 I knew a pro storyboard artist who did just that! It's the main reason to HAVE kids! ;)
@@TheKevphil "Oh, I see you have children!" "What? No, those are just some of my art tools." LOL!!
I sometimes do that for animation as well
Thanks, Brad! I'd say this was a really good video and - well, hopefully encouraging for those who are, like I was some years ago, afraid of doing certain "cheats" you had mentioned. Like I was always ashamed of using reference human figures and tried to draw them on my own...and that's why, regardless of how good, in general, work could be, people always said "but your proportions are way off/learn anatomy" etc. And then I had started using 3d models - like from the app Easy Poser (there are other apps too, most certainly) -and most of the complaints went away and I also could concentrate more on "my style", things important for me in the drawing, the idea and so on. Once again - nice video!
Basing characters off your favorite songs!
1, its fun 2, makes my characters all wacky and maybe even inspo for a story 3, you get to listen to your favorite song
12 Ferrets!! a hand full of cheeky fun filled rascals lol good 😌 Info thanks.
Thanks Brad.
I will add. Make a copy of a panting or photo using large flat shapes with 2 or 3 flat values only. Study art by Mead Schaeffer to get an idea of what that might look like. Hell, maybe start by copying Mead Schaeffer art.
IMHO focus on top 3, or just start with #1, the rest will develop w time if you actually learn from the top 3.
#1 "Tracing and copy". - Master Copy is a more advanced version of this
#2 "Steal Perspective.." -Excellent way to learn how perspective is actually used in art the inspires you.
#3 "Use 3D models" - Can be lots of help, but can be a time sink. IMHO this is a digital art hack, doing life drawing might help more.
Great common sense video! I taught myself how to draw when I was a kid by TRACING EVERYTHING. (And pilfering my dad's Prismacolor color pencils that he brought home from his work).
"Real artists own 12 ferrets" - worth the like alone!
Real artists learn the rules, so that they can later bend and break them to their own desires.
There's joy in repetition :-)
THE TRACING ONE!!!!! I want to punch a wall every time some snub know it all artist says "If YoU tRaCe AnYtHiNg YoU aRe NoT aN ArTiSt" NOOOOOOOO, conscious tracing is great practice, and we should all trace more!!
It's an incredibly ignorant *_AND_* stupid thing for anyone to say, much less an artist.
Cheat and Art! My fav words 😂🇬🇷🇬🇷
Lol same 😂
So many good tips. I love the idea of breaking apart the artwork to figure out how the artist created it.
Side note related to cheating: These are 2 best pieces of art advice that I've been given concerning “rules” in art:
“Everything I tell you is a lie … or at least the opposite is also true.”
- Tom Holste (Artist and Painting Instructor at CSUF)
“The only rule in art is that if you break the rules, break them successfully.”
- Eric Bengston (Illustrator, Sculptor)
I found these to be creatively challenging and freeing - they added a lot to making art assignments more invigorating.
Those are some great quotes! Thanks for sharing!
One of my favorite channel here on youtube … thank you Brad for your work I really like watching your videos
Great tips. I always start in B&W too for the exact reason you stated. Easier to check the values first before moving onto the colors.
As an starter artist I start to copy, adopt and be inspire my favorite artist like in comics and manga. Then practice a bit more and more. As i get good i make my own style drawing. Right now the only best cheat is using AI without practice or getting serious into art just by typing what you like in a art viola you have your own art.
Quick tip: if you are working with an art software that has a layer setting called colour, put a layer filled in solid white at the very top of the layers list with that setting. This will then only show you the contrast of your artwork. This is much easier than flicking back and forth from the windows display settings to change it each time.
Note: I found this from another video studying the way the colour pickers in digital art software works. I do not remember which person it was though, so if anyone knows fell free to let me know.
Great video Brad! I think it's great to trace etc...maybe you just want to get the feel for some nice lines and learn some muscle memory. I think as long as you have a bigger picture in mind...you can only learn! One of my favorite projects started out as a pure trace...as I said, I just wanted to enjoy feeling some lines that I liked the looks of. But in the end it took many different directions and they were all inspired by that original piece; but all my own ideas and work! Had I not allowed myself to trace over someone lines...I would not have discovered all the other original art that resulted. I certainly would never post something like this as these types of projects should be for yourself, your muscle memory and learning; to build on. I'm really glad you brought up the subject!!!
Love the art and the tips but GPU’s get way too hot in laptops. It might handle some complex tasks in isolation but your fan will be running like a jet engine. I would always recommend a desktop for things like 4k rendering. Looks cool though.
ridiculously underrated video. thanks for inspiring me Brad!
My man! Thanks for this video. I've been watching your other videos about tablets, just bought a tab s7. Thank you for you full review with drawing on tablets
Love your videos, Brad. Keep up the good work.
As a pianist I love the musician example at the start.
Agree, play with the brushes you have because they're super simple and great to use.
But also, in programs like Clip Studio paint where it's easy to revert or duplicate your brushes?
PLAY, WITH, THE, SETTINGS. Play with pressure, tilt, velocity! Go nuts! Don't be afraid of "breaking something' you can revert it to default easily with a right click. If you're REALLY unsure, duplicate the brush, play with that one and now you have two options!
Love your videos. Informative, clear, funny, approachable. Thanks!
nice tips. if i could give an opinion, i'd change the "draw more junk" part into "compose with foreground, midground, and background". by thinking and grouping the stuff we draw into forground, midground and backgrounds, it's easier to compose a better final piece. and know where to put emphasis on. anyhow, this is a good tutorial. thank you.
True ..Any profession is like a journey .. and from which you learn in your life to meet the good and the bad .. Art is like martial arts .. and success requires patience and hope that one day you will come to progress every day you train in it .. The artist is influenced by others, but he puts his own touches and his own way like Mulf Books take information but put their own opinion and independent research
Me minding my business and watching this on full volume:
Brad: Cheat, lie and steal
My dad: Are my rules a joke to you???
I like working with black and white, it helps me with shading... also by the time I go to add my color, the pre work I do in b&w adds lighting to the flat colors almost instantly.
Great tips and demonstration, especially about the gray tones before color. I love the visual tips as well: Notice how Brad copies his colors from a layer with painted blobs (like in real life), instead of bothering with the more cumbersome ps swatch system. I also enjoy how he uses a big fat brush in different color layers, instead of the fill tool.
Very inspirational, Brad. I found a good book for tracing, The Simpsons Handbook. It even has turn-arounds for the main characters.
I need to add; You can't own a colour pallet, you can't own a human pose or expression and you can't own a perspective grid.
If you want to do studies you can post look for public domain references such as photos from pexels or pixabay, etc.
You also own the copyright on all photos you take.
I say study from modern masters too not just the long dead kind.
Also consider making reusable colour pallets for later such as gold and bronze for those metals and sky, forest, fire, summer field, etc.
Study the composition shapes and perspective from art AND movie stills! There is great reference in movies! Pause and do studies of the composition, lighting and perspective!
Take your own photo reference as needed retake a pose as needed or use a 3d model.
Gather and use things like VizRef to create reference boards. Combine and add things. The reference is to serve you not the other way around!
Anything humans create with the intention of create art is art ignore haters.
Also ONLY study art you like/inspires you. Don't waste time studying art you dislike and don't want to make art similar too. No matter how much of a 'master' everyone says that artist is/was!
Your learning what you want, your style. Don't do masters studies or reference art you dislike!
I love you Brad! I had been looking for ways to become better at drawing and getting frustrated every time! This does it for me.
Thank you!
The Font name is Akhand extrabold :)
I started off tracing my drawing in the 1st grade, everyone has to start somewhere.
#3 tip is awesome, thanks!
I’ve always have had a problem not using colors and just using black and white. So I’ve been trying to color everything I do or use different outline colors. Thanks for the tips!
That actually amazing, copying someone work would be a good way to get the confidence and skill at the same time , keep the content, I love it
3d model one helped me a lot😀
hey can you do a Video on the concept d7 vs the galaxy book flex (2?)?. Im considering saving up for one of them, but I dont know what I should choose.
Thanks.
I like to use JustSketchMe to make poses it works amazing!
when he said why does my lines look like a 6 year old i felt that so much - this is literally exactly what i needed down to the wire thank you
I feel you! I have the same issue.
as for the last tip, it also work for 3D/level design, i saw an video of someone prototyping an level like this:
first he take care of the light of the scene (you called it constrast) then he put the colors on it , and objects.
I have never tried the black and white technique! Guess I'm going to be trying that with future illustrations 👀✨✨
Good to see David Ayer went from directing movies to directing good art tips
Love your videos Brad. So clear, accessible, helpful and funny. Keep them coming.
Thanks for this video! (Ngl, got scared cuhs I thought his eyebrows disappeared for a sec at 00:16)
3D MODELS ARE WHAT I USE TO DO ALL OF MY POSING BECAUSE I SUCK AT ANATOMY
Also I use the same brush for coloring, lineart, and shading. Aside from the small airbrush parts in my shading.
Damn that desk illustration just reminds me of the games I used to play on miniclip as a kid 🥺 I love it
Wow, great video Brad, this really inspires me to start drawing.
vas a beginner illustrator I tend to focus to much on detail and forget the entire scene. Now I focus more on the scene to get in more detail where need it
Thank you for this video. I never thought about looking at old masters and study from them.
I am a "spoof artist" and a photobasher. Some of my work is"cloned", and altered, which, "creates it's own, new copyright". You take a risk, depending on your target, or target audience. I'm an old-school skateboarder from the mid 80s the late 90s. Spoof art in that community has always been a big thing. I follow in the footsteps of BLIND skateboards. I have done 5 graphics for Pro brand STEDMZ, owned by Steve Steadham and I launched my own brand, ICONOCLAST skateboards in July, 2020. This is where I launched my most iconic spoof graphic, ever. The name of my brand says everything that I I am about.
I LOVE photobashing. Sounds like you've been quite successful... congrats! I like your username, by the way.. lol
(9:45) There are many artists whose art styles I love, but the one that's right at the top of that list for me, is Joey Ellis, with what I refer to as his comic art style (he has 2 distinctive art styles he uses for different clients), and besides his character and object designs, one of the things I love about his art style are the colour palettes he uses.
Dope video for 2021. Thanks for the refresher.
There are a lot of art tip video out on youtube. I did watch a lot that i turned off my watch history. But this video...This Glove dance master telling the right stuff.. the right way