improve your art general

a collection of tips that I'll keep updating/info dump

Programs

Paid

• Paint Tool SAI - Windows
  5400 yen or about 51 dollars.
  *Widely used and easy to use painting program. There's a cracked version out there if you want to try.
  
  
• OpenCanvas
  50 dollars on Steam/website.
  
  
• Photoshop CC / older versions of Photoshop - Windows/Mac
  30 dollars/per month CC/ ~100-~1,000 dollars CS6 below
  *Highly useful and feature packed photo editing program. Can also be used for drawing/painting.
  
  
• Clip Studio Paint - Windows
  50 dollars
  
  
• Sketchbook Pro - Windows
  5 dollars/per month
  *I recommend looking for the non-subscription version of this program.
  

Free

• MyPaint - Windows/Linux
  *Unlimited canvas painting program.
  
  
• Krita - Windows/Linux/Mac
  *Painting/Animation program but laggy as fuck at times, I think it depends on your machine but one stroke has a 5 second lag for me.
  
  
• FireAlpaca/Medibang Pro - Windows
  *Paint Tool Sai Jr.
  
  
• Inkscape (Vector) Linux
  *Vector graphics editor
  
  
• GIMP (there's a version called GIMP Paint Studio (GPS) idk if thats good) - Windows/Linux
  *Photo editor program that can be compared to Photoshop.
  
  
• Photoshop CS2 / Creative Suite 2 - Windows
  *Old but still useful
  http://gizmodo.com/5973730/grab-photoshop-and-cs2-for-absolutely-free-right-here (go in the comments to find the download links)
  
  
• Sketchbook Copic Edition - Windows
  *Identical to the non-subscription version of the Sketchbook Pro program but you're only restricted to 72 colors.
  
  
• MS Paint
  *Great for pixel art.
  

Graphics Tablet?
It's recommended that you have a graphics tablet. Huion is a cheap alternative to Wacom tablets. Wacom is the most compatible if you're using Linux. Kirta doesn't support any other graphics tablet other than Huion and Wacom because of Qt.

Running Windows (drawing) Programs under Wine

One of two will happen

1. No Pen Pressure
   
2. Programs running slow as bitumen
   
   Wine isn't perfect but if you use Linux use Linux programs or dual boot. It's a pain trying to get these to work.
   

I can't draw and I feel like I'm getting nowhere.
Keep drawing and you'll get good. Just draw. (And practice correctly, just drawing won't get you there)

This is the progress you can make in one year: https://imgur.com/VA3Ne

If you need something to push you, you can grow a digital girl in your phone and will degenerate if you don't draw. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pimentoso.android.canvastutor

Where to start

• Draw from life.
  
• All artists don't draw from memory.
  
• Use a reference if you don't know how to draw something.
  
• Start drawing realistically and learn to do styles after you draw.
  
• Go outside.
  
• Take a break once in a while.
  
• Tracing is good for learning.
  
• Start with simple shapes -> 3d shapes. Use those shapes to make the base of your drawing.
  
• Learning how to digital art? Watch some speed paints or those tutorials to learn how people color/texture and implement those things into your own drawings.
  

How to practice


Books/Reading Material

Famous Cartoonist Course PDFs
http://randomnerds.com/learn-to-draw-cartoons-with-the-now-public-domain-famous-artist-cartoon-course-textbook/

Drawabox
http://drawabox.com

Other books (Loomis/Bridgeman/etc) and Infographics.zip
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B20I1aaFRYEXNzhCUGZiQ0Nqd2s&usp=sharing

Proko
https://www.youtube.com/user/ProkoTV

Ctrl+Paint (Digital Painting)
https://www.ctrlpaint.com/

I was pretty pissed that my browser crashed a few weeks ago, I wrote a whole 6 paragraphs and they're gone.

whoa where tf'd you come from

cool tutorial though

room wrote:whoa where tf'd you come from

cool tutorial though

i wanted a place to put all my knowledge so i can come back to it and also force myself to draw

These are top quality tips OP
I'll be a cartoonist in no time

cannot overstate the usefulness of references

thank you op

wacom is JAPANESE you shouldnt support THE COUNTRY THAT BOMBED PERL HARBOUR /sarcasm their shit is the apple of drawing tablets and works well

turtwig wrote:a collection of tips that I'll keep updating/posting weekly improvements

Programs

Paid

• Paint Tool SAI
  
• OpenCanvas
  
• Photoshop CS6/CC
  
• Clip Studio Paint
  

Free

• MyPaint
  
• Krita
  
• FireAlpaca/Medibang Pro
  
• Inkscape (Vector)
  
• GIMP (there's a version called GIMP Paint Studio (GPS) idk if thats good)
  

Graphics Tablet?
It's recommended that you have a graphics tablet. Huion is a cheap alternative to Wacom tablets. Wacom is the most compatible if you're using Linux. Qt(for Kirita) doesn't support any other graphics tablet other than Huion and Wacom.

I can't draw and I feel like I'm getting nowhere.
Keep drawing and you'll get good. Just draw.

If you need something to push you, you can grow a digital girl in your phone and will degenerate if you dont draw. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pimentoso.android.canvastutor

How to practice/where to start tips

• Draw from life.
  
• All artists don't draw from memory.
  
• Use a reference if you don't know how to draw something.
  
• Start drawing realistically and learn to do styles after you draw.
  
• Go outside.
  
• Take a break once in a while.
  
• Tracing is good for learning.
  
• Start with simple shapes -> 3d shapes. Use those shapes to make the base of your drawing.
  
• Learning how to digital art? Watch some speed paints or those tutorials to learn how people color/texture and implement those things into your own drawings.
  

Books/Reading Material

Famous Cartoonist Course PDFs
http://randomnerds.com/learn-to-draw-cartoons-with-the-now-public-domain-famous-artist-cartoon-course-textbook/

Drawabox
http://drawabox.com

Other books (Loomis/Bridgeman/etc)

Infographics
(will update with google drive link im still uploading it)

all i wanna know is if her clothes degenerate

keemstar wrote:wacom is JAPANESE you shouldnt support THE COUNTRY THAT BOMBED PERL HARBOUR /sarcasm their shit is the apple of drawing tablets and works well

apple = overpriced shit

spiny fuck yhou you love the japs more than you love this country

also mspaint is not on this list??????

MS Paint is some good shit but it just can't do it all anymore

i use ms paint for all of my project plans

gimp, pleborns

OP you may want to consider scouring this thread for extra shit to add

http://www.otthunderdome.com/t2320-so-you-want-to-x-art

ive got you all beat lads
i got a cartoonerist book from the 30s

oaky wrote:spiny fuck yhou you love the japs more than you love this country

I DO NOT CONSENT TO THIS VIOLATION OF MY FREEDOMS YOU COMMIE