Art School

[FrankieDoodle]

I see some graphite reflections in the hand, which makes me wonder if you maybe draw hard? That or used a wood pencil. You always want to "draw light until you get it right".

Yeah, I use wood pencils. I also had to do the hand 5+ times.

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

Yeah, I use wood pencils. I also had to do the hand 5+ times.

Hands are tough for everyone. ^_^
Can you see the differences?

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

What do ya think Fanci?View attachment 1299092

I'll quit now. :3

Oh, yes. Quite good ol chap. Very tasteful, wot wot?

 

[FrankieDoodle]

Hands are tough for everyone. ^_^
Can you see the differences?
View attachment 1299093
View attachment 1299097

Something like this?

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

Something like this?
View attachment 1299099

Kinda. Hang on.

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

Try moving it inward like dis.

From this

To this. Notice the ear is bigger, too.

 

[FrankieDoodle]

Try moving it inward like dis.

From this
View attachment 1299101
To this. Notice the ear is bigger, too.
View attachment 1299100

 

[RiverStorm]

Okay, so first off you're gonna need a reference picture. 'character inspiration' is a safe wordchoice to Google or Pinterest. I used this one, along with about half a dozen that I didn't even download because I was lazy and it seemed pointless.
I never copy the reference photo exactly, more just use the position of the character/person to rough in my drawing.
View attachment 1298977

A lot of people use this trick, and let me tell you: USE IT. It prevents a world of problems for you. I just can't seem to use it because I erase so much, and it gets destroyed.
I use mechanical pencils, so I don't have to sharpen all the time. Sometimes, when I want it extra sharp, I'll break off the tip to get a brand new one, which is usually better.
View attachment 1298996

Rough in the face next. I found it a little derpy to be using this, but it shortened my usual draw time by about 1/2 an hour. This is just the rough draft. Change things. Fix things. Tweak.
To see mistakes, turn your page upside-down or take a photo. It will help you see your problems. Looking at it through a mirror works, too.
View attachment 1299008
Develop your style.
I wanted a more manga-like look, so I looked at some other photos at this point. You can also use a how-to-draw book for this. They're full of free reference pics.
Okay, so see how the circle disappeared? I wanted to quit, so I erased everything. Even Fanci's get frustrated.
For guys eyebrows, I like to split up the leading edge like this: \////
Don't know why, just do.
Also notice that I made some major changes, especially to the nose and mouth. This is your little human. You draw what makes you happy.
View attachment 1298988
Hair! Everybody's arch nemesis. Really it's not that bad, once you figure out the flow of things. It usually helps to make 'bigger' hair, too. You know, to hide boo-boos. :3
Spikey hair is pretty easy. Just try to avoid parallel lines by using triangles.
View attachment 1298992
Ears! Hmm... Wonder who this is for?
I start fox ears at the exact same spot that people ears go, then take it on up the head quite a ways. You can use doggo reference photos for that.
View attachment 1298978
I like to shade things in when I can since, you know, it makes me feel professional and stuff. Use a sharp edge for this, but don't smudge or blend in. That's not the look we're going for right now.
View attachment 1298980
Clothes! Yuck! No fun to do. More reference pics! I find that, with drawing in general, if you can use straight edges rather than round, do it. I dunno why, it just looks better. A straight edge makes you kind of look like you know what you're doing, I guess.
I'm not going to go into detail about clothes. Some other time, maybe. ^_^
View attachment 1298983
TAKE A BETTER PICTURE.
You deserve justice for the art you have just created. Find the brightest room in your house, (or go outside if it's sunny) and take the picture there. I also like to take it into my phone's editor fiddle with the Exposure, Contrast, and Black colors. I made this one slightly blue to give a chilly or sad feeling, though it may just look like a crappy photo, I don't know. I like it.
View attachment 1298984
QUESTIONS ANYONE?!

Fanci what ya think?
Very bad lighting BTW

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

View attachment 1299104

Closer. See that curved line that isn't attached to the chin? Erase that and draw it pointing towards the ear.
And the ear needs be bigger still, too. ^_^

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

Fanci what ya think?
Very bad lighting BTW
View attachment 1299109

The vertical relation between the nose, eyes and mouth look good. I think you may draw too hard, also, so if you wanted to change it you would have to get a new sheet of paper.. I usually draw eyebrows and eyelashes as geometric shapes, and avoid drawing individual hairs.
Her eyes are a little big for the style you are using. Manga eyes can get huge, but they are a totally different shape. I think the realistic style is very difficult, and you might want to just stick to simplistic versions.
It looks like you spent a lot of time on it, so you have the patience. It just takes practice.