diff --git a/notebook/journals.learning-how-to-draw.org b/notebook/journals.learning-how-to-draw.org new file mode 100644 index 0000000..fd93380 --- /dev/null +++ b/notebook/journals.learning-how-to-draw.org @@ -0,0 +1,165 @@ +:PROPERTIES: +:ID: d34dafd7-9a85-42db-b72f-e3d9d4ceaeb1 +:END: +#+title: Journals: Learning how to draw +#+date: 2022-07-21 18:10:57 +08:00 +#+date_modified: 2022-07-28 22:56:40 +08:00 +#+language: en + + +This is my journey documenting my process of learning [[id:cd7e8120-6953-44a6-9004-111f86ac52dc][Illustration]] from the very beginning. +This is to practice my [[id:815b2beb-40a0-4e79-9097-5b688189ad5b][Writing]] and self-documenting to make an interesting future reference for any things that I will do at some point. + +But let's get the [[id:909b4830-72c8-4943-be47-efaf77e40253][Professional narcissism]] out of the way, shall we? + +To put things into perspective, I have no experience drawing things. +The most I've done is to doodle while in school waiting for the class to end. +I draw but not in the sense of actively pursuing it nor caring about it. +I don't have an eye for details so that's absolutely great for observational skills. :) + +I've attempted learning how to draw before but all of them quickly drawn out because time and study goes first. +All of my attempts are just one day attempts at a drawing and nothing else so I consider them not an attempt at all, more like a casual stroll. +Now with time, I could make some "real" uninterrupted attempt this time. +Being an ignorant casual means I should have an easy time learning from scratch, yes? +That's just one way to found out. + + +* Goals and expectations + +Out of this journey, I hope to reach the following solid goals: + +- First and foremost, draw things from imagination *accurately*. + At times, my imagination runs so actively but I cannot manifest those images in reality for those potentially cool (or bad, [[id:c886bc6d-e9dc-4f62-8841-59123236eda0][Failed ideas can be repurposed]] after all) ideas I want to tell. + Having those ideas out would be nice, yeah? + +- Draw some good pixel art. + It's one of my favorite form of digital art, after all. + After seeing games like [[https://www.bravefrontier.jp][Brave Frontier]] (RIP), [[https://www.finalfantasyexvius.com/][FF Brave Exvius]], [[https://www.wesnoth.org/][Battle for Wesnoth]], and [[https://thegamekitchen.com/blasphemous/][Blasphemous]] made with designs that felt like it was handcrafted, I want to craft some designs for it. + Or even create some mods for Wesnoth... + +- I want to draw animals, also accurately. + I'm an outsider interested in some roam:Zoology and it is interesting to sketch different animals. + Something like how scientific illustrators like [[https://www.ddufault.com/][Danielle Dufault]] from [[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwg6_F2hDHYrqbNSGjmar4w][Animalogic]] does it. + Or [[https://www.bahabadi.com/][Ali Bahabadi]] who is mastering animal portraits. + It is especially interesting to branch out into creating monster designs like in [[id:360f59a5-d18b-49d6-8213-062ba4bfea7e][Monster Hunter art style]]. + I CAN FINALLY DRAW THOSE ORIGINAL MONSTERS I HAVE IN MIND FOR YEARS! + +- I want to draw anything... accurately. + This is getting vague but what I mean is I want to draw nice things. + I'm open to drawing things in various styles whether a nice [[https://www.soeymilk.com/][life-like images]], [[http://www.cmkosemen.com/snaiad_web/snduterus.html][fictional biology of an alien planet]], [[https://thegamekitchen.com/blasphemous/][a dark medieval fantasy]], or cartoonish styles like in anime or Western cartoons. + +- I want to get paid drawing stuff. + Why not? + It's another skill I want to get good at so why not sell yourself out to get paid, yes? + It's a big bonus! + +I want to attain as much of those in 6-12 months starting 2022-07-21. +Yes, quite a goal. + +If I get paid for this, I can buy more powerful computers and branch out into [[id:022bc306-973d-4efe-ae76-d194a0ce1fca][3D modelling]] or roam:Animation. +At that point, it could be a nice opportunity to learn about [[roam:Game development]]. +Opportunities with money is a good thing! + +Hurrah! +Now what challenges would I expect from attaining those goals? +I've done some cursory research and here's what I would encounter. + +- Failures. + Lots of failures. + A lot of retries, a lot of ugly drawings, ugly designs, a lot of failed drawings, in general. + I'm pretty sure a lot of great artists I look up to sit on top of a mountain of failed attempts. + I'm not a progidy or anything so I won't expect some miracle that I will smoothly sail across the cruising. + +- Papers. + Lots of papers. + I want to get into digital art but I find paper to be easier to deal with so that's what I will be using for now. + As for digital tablets, I'll just look for an affordable one to get started with. + +- Drawing one illustration for hours. + Yeah, this is apparently [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t416p86xksI][how some illustration goes]]. + I thought digital art is a process of applying your brush and the image will magically appear. + +- Various fights against [[id:dbb8cbc2-5821-44aa-b4b8-0014d00a6dd4][Perfectionism]]. + I know perfection is a fruitless task so I probably would have an easier attempt to fight it back but I wouldn't count myself doing that. + From what I can tell, as you progress being more attentive, you can have more tendencies of being one. + Though, I would have to have an eye for detail in order to do that. + + +* Resources, preparations, and planning for the execution + +Some more cursory research over what's to come. +Not all plans will go smoothly but it's better to have one than nothing. +Preparation is key, [[id:92a10fe2-f4d1-4e5e-b5f4-3779db13a2e5][Create roadmaps to stay on track]], so I've created [[file:~/library/writings/wiki/inbox/roadmap-illustration.org][just that]] alongside the following list of resources to keep in touch. + +- Various logs from artists. + Whether it is a YouTube video of a speedpaint, live streams from [[https://picarto.tv/][Picarto.TV]], or simply posting to Deviantart. + In other words, just simply [[id:7f73f745-8ce0-4a02-b454-1b7c57b1e202][Follow the experts in the field]]. + +- [[id:f7d03d2e-53b5-4b1c-8b97-2cc07c4272fe][Drawabox course]]. + It's a course that emphasizes on practicing certain skills to make your illustrations feel solid and reasonable. + This is done by repeatedly smacking you with exercises that emphasizes spatial reasoning, a perfect resource for a spatial-reasonably challenged person like me. + This is to first thing I've encountered and I've looked into and got the impression that it is great. + It's a community of learning artists so it is a nice starting point to meet your peers so that's nice! + +- [[https://www.ctrlpaint.com/][Ctrl+Paint]] is a nice entryway for sketching and digital art which I will do at some point. + It has a nice navigation in nice structure. + +Take note, this is not exhaustive. +I could just refer to some random YouTube video on more detailed aspects of it. + +The plan? +Pretty simple. + +- Progress through Drawabox course. + It is said that Drawabox is not the end-all-be-all point for learning to draw, the point is to be a nice starting point for you to eventually learn the other resources without getting lost too much in the process. + +- Fill 1-2 pages in a sketchbook every night from this point. + This is a non-exhaustive list of things I want to sketch a lot: + - Figure drawing. + - Monsters. + - Items and things. + - Random logos. + +- Get some other things from following other artists. + +In other words, we're going to follow the first few advice from the course (which I skimmed a little bit before writing this journal). +It is a simple (and a surprisingly difficult) one to take but it is the most effective in my opinion. + + +* 2022-07-28 +:PROPERTIES: +:ID: a5452efd-4e01-495a-8962-415495b08e2d +:END: +I've started learning with consistency a week later because I want to be consistent at this point and it's a slightly busy week. +Anyways, I've started the [[id:f7d03d2e-53b5-4b1c-8b97-2cc07c4272fe][Drawabox course]]. +I initially skimmed Lesson 0 beforehand and reviewed it since it is important to get into the intended purpose of the course which is basically a complimentary starting point for learning [[id:cd7e8120-6953-44a6-9004-111f86ac52dc][Illustration]]. + +I've finished the Lines part of the course in 4 pomodoro sessions so that's at least 2 hours. +Note that I did finished the course before until the Boxes part of Lesson 1 but it is done hastily, in disconnected sessions, and without practice so it is way less effective in retaining what I've learned. +While it feels daunting to restart, it is nice for me to [[id:788f57d1-86de-4ddd-81f5-f4680b04b0ea][Learn how to forget]] sometimes. +Otherwise, I might find myself too entrenched in my previous experiences and that could be problematic throughout the course. + +As for the exercises, I could comment on it: + +# TODO: Get the pictures of the exercises. +- The "Superimposed lines" is surprisingly hard with the intent of accuracy. + However, being an introductory exercise and it is highly encouraged to not grind, it is not too bad. + This is the point that I don't get the rhythm yet. + The only obstacle so far is my own anxiety. + +- "Ghosted lines" is surprisingly easy once I got the rhythm. + The approach of confident strokes but without the rushing is getting into my mind. + Some mistakes are made but it is not too bad either relative to my experience (which is absolute zero). + This is where I discovered I can draw straight lines even with a shaky hand. :) + +- "Ghosted planes", same comment. + Once you got the rhythm, it is easy. + It is a matter of patience with the amount of things to do. + Get used to this as it is will be the norm for later exercises even in Lesson 1. + +I'll apply the 50% rule cited from this course. +For this, I'll be drawing a parrot both with a single and multiple references. +Both are done with a purpose which will be explained tomorrow. + +Unfortunately, I did not fulfilled my 2 pages of sketchbook for this day since I started this in the evening. +It should be done at roam:2022-07-30.