Please help me with my drawings

[Hopekami Strife]

I know I am not the best artist around, I rather use my words than my pencils (and other media) to draw and describe my characters/fursona I was wondering if anyone could take me under their wing, tail, tentacle, arm and so on and give me a helping hand with improving my drawing style.
I work with copying outlines of previously made designs (never tracing) to help me try and get an idea of what body shapes are and so on but truly it hasn't been helping I haven't improved much over six years of trying really hard with my drawing.

The linked image is my latest attempt of drawing, it is my fursona it is also my first attempt at drawing him and I know it looks bad, sure it is unique but I want some more detail in it for it to look nice and so on, I really want to make a living out of art and at this rate it won't be happening. Yes I know links are annoying but I couldn't shink the size of the image down enough without it looking like crud!

Also if you want to try and draw my fursona please do! I would love to see how Nathaniel Strife turns out!

Link to DevientArt
http://naothesillyduffer.deviantart.com/art/Nathaniel-my-Fursona-Coloured-In-500942894

[Ventus Fall]

Hello Hopekani Strife

So, I read that you have difficulty drawing, and you also say you don't seem to have improved over the last 6 years, correct?

Tell me, in steps, how you go about drawing a finishing product. Maybe I can help you at which step in more detail.

Though I already have a point of advice for you, if you care to take it to heart
Anatomy practice. Try to see if you can find a nice practise anatomy book, or images online (I got a couple of books I could suggest if you're interested). Perhaps better yet: YouTube videos of drawing a human body (or anything else you might be interested  in, such as a feral wolf/cat, etc.), try to follow the video as best you can. Keep practising that specific species/character you chose. Try various angles. Do it on paper, or if you have a tablet, try to do it on that
My advise also: Don't try and draw too small or too big. For me, practising (especially in the beginning) A4  paper is a good size. You can draw one person/character on the paper, or try to draw two or three poses/angles of the same character next to each other.

Try to sketch at first, don't make the lines too dark/hard. That way, you can always erase or edit parts more easily. Practise this for as long as you think you might need.

If anything, I can try and stream one day and show you how I handle things?
Maybe you just need some more (visual) guidance. I believe everyone has the potential to create something nice. I know for sure everyone has their own style. You just need to find it and refine it.

Hope this helps

[Hopekami Strife]

Oh thank you very must Ventus, that has given me some ideas on what to do, I normally draw on A4 or cram a few drawings into an A3 sheet of paper,
The books would be great, I am a little short on money since I don't have a job at the moment however I would like to know what they are so I can keep an eye out for them. I have to look out for some good videos as well, that should be easier because it is free (apart from internet costs of course)

 I would love to see you draw when we both get some free time of course, it would be very interesting to see others draw in fact I like to watch other people draw. I really do thank you for giving some of your time to reply to this it makes me really happy, which is hard to do with my depression and such, so thank you again for helping and giving me a smile.

[Ventus Fall]

No problems

Allright, I have a couple I could mention now. I have more, but they might not me so important/interesting as these:
Anatomy For Fantasy Artists, Glenn Fabry (I think this is a good one, and an interesting one )
And I also have many manga books from Christopher Hart. Now, manga actually got me into practising poses more, especially dynamic poses. Even though they usually vary somewhat from actual human proportions, manga characters can give you a good base to start with.


Oh, and there are also loads of tutorials on deviantArt. Just type in for example: human pose tutorial, or: rock tutorial.
You can see then you get many results showing various tutorials. My suggestion: Don't look at just one tutorial. Take the tips and tricks from the various tutorials, deciding for yourself what works best.

PS: maybe with the stream I can show you some of my books, maybe even show you the Anatomy For Fantasy Artists book, so you get an idea how it looks like


And yes, when we both have free time indeed x3
Is it allright if we perhaps see if we can arrange something somewhere in January?


Ah, it's allright. Don't worry about your depression. As long as you can accept you have it, it's fine. It's a part of you. Perhaps not the most nicest part, but it is a part that makes you you. Use it to change for the better. It perhaps sounds very vague and weird what I'm saying, but know that you can always message me if you need someone to talk to. I'll reply as soon as I can

[Hopekami Strife]

Oh they sound very good, I will keep my eyes out for them in Second Hand stores and regular shops as well! (Streaming and showing me the books would be really great as well! If you can of course!)

I have looked at a few tutorials on dA in the past though I only focused on one, I think your idea is much much better so I can use all the ideas together!

January should be fine I don't really do ANYTHING so really I am free all round apart from a few days before and after Christmas where I go and spend time with my family.

Also that is the nicest thing someone has said about my depression! I understand what you are saying and I will work to making myself better and using my "flaw" to become unique and fun, which is what I aim for.

[Ventus Fall]

Oh yeah, second hand stores! I forgot about that, that's where I bought some of them as well
Also, Christohper Hart should also have a dA account. not sure if he posts tutorials up online (for free xD), but it might give you an idea what style he is into
(here ya go: http://christopher-hart.deviantart.com/ )

Of course I can ^^ Well, that is, if my livestream and my webcam can get along ;D But I'm sure they will x3

Yeah, I noticed with myself and with others (which I also gave the advice to look into more than just one tutorial) that learning went suddenly a lot faster and easier too Of course, this kind of makes sense, because then you can see the similarities and dissimilarities between each technique practised by other people, and form a sort of logical from such what works best and easiest for yourself.

Same here, busy with studying and Xmas stuff x3

It's allright ^^ Everyone can feel a little (or even more than just a little) down, no matter how bad it is -or can be-, as long as you know and can look forward to that there are better times, accept the difficult times, and accept other people into your life who might be able to help you, or at least ease the pain somewhat.
I'm glad to hear you have the motivation to make yourself a better person and more unique too. That is actually the biggest drives you need, the best motivation. As long as you accept your faults, and learn in some shape or form to deal with them in a more efficient and appropriate way, you can change and feel better ^^
And trust me when I say: Just because you might have so many similarities with other people, there are no two single people exactly the same. You experience different situations, you have different genes. You have your own life and motivations. This is what makes you you

[Hopekami Strife]

*watches them almost instantly after looking at the work* Oh my it is lovely and I flicked through a few pictures they have posted and they are very lovely.

I struggle to even get my livesteams to work so if I could get both of mine to work I would be impressed, though yours most likely are different so I bet you can do it!

Interesting, interesting, I do like the sound of learning faster and easier, I believe it does make sense and I really like the sound of what you are putting forward. Finding the easiest bits for you to work with your strengths and weaknesses will make you a better artist and so on.

I think everyone should be getting busy with Christmas (or their version of the holiday *saying that to be polite to others*) and I should be doing some homework but I am a little lazy so I will do it later. So we are both in the same boat truly.

That is so true, you are very good to talk to, very bright and accepting and so on. So thank you very much for all you have been doing for me it is really kind of you So thank you, thank you so, so much!

[Ventus Fall]

Glad to hear you like some of the pictures ^^

Aaah, maybe I can also help you with that some time, if you're interested
It can take some time getting it to work, and I'm not sure that my help will make it work, but I want to try at least if you would of course like that as well ^^
You could look into Procaster from livestream (not new.livestream, just the standard/old/regular livestream) and see if you can already mess around with that. That's the streamer I mostly use anyways, and I like how simple it is (for me at least ).

Aaahhh, no problems, really ^^
I love to help
*offers hugs*

[Hopekami Strife]

I just like how art works and it is amazing and stuff! I am impressed very easily with art long as it looks good of course!

I would enjoy help, I really want my Nathaniel look amazing (and other characters I made), with his fur and feather details and making him look human. Also to get my art accepted into art groups and sites, they actually say it doesn't meet the quality that they want, all of my works! That makes me sad...around three sites have said my art isn't good enough which sucks... *frowns and quickly grabbed onto Ventus for a cuddle to cheer himself up*

That sounds interesting I will take a look at that, I really like the idea of this stuff I am excited to learn, thank you very very much!

[Ventus Fall]

Hello again Hopekami Strife ^^  and Happy New Year, hope you're doing well

Ah yes, and to each their own likings of art. I mean, sure, when I see art of some people, I might be impressed, but sometimes I just don't like the style, doesn't mean I am not impressed still though   (If that makes sense?)

And I'm sure not only Nathaniel will look amazing, but indeed other creatures you will draw too ^-^
I do find it a shame to hear of your experiences so far of art sites. Tell me, do you look to get your art accepted into groups on deviantArt?
If so, there are a lot of sites out there that aren't in that aspect 'judgemental', those might be indeed better for you to look at first   Even myself am still very 'suspicious'  in a way when see I see groups doing such things. Of course, it is understandable, but as said: There are many others out there, maybe if you want, I can look some up for you?

*huggles in return*  ^^
It's allright.

Does some time mid-January seems good to you to see if we can start the stream and such?

In the meantime, have you btw been self-studying drawing as of yet?   And if yes, how has it been going?
Should I see if I can some day find some links to some tutorials I think might help or are you getting the hang of finding tutorials?

[Hopekami Strife]

Hello (sorry for the lateness, haven't been too well in the head so to speak) I wish you a very late Happy New Year too, I'm doing better now besides from a tummy bug!

I understand what you are meaning when you say that, art styles can be impressive but also at the same time wanting to remove your eyes with an ice cream scoop! It's not too lovely when that happens.

Aww thanks you are really really nice! I have got my deviantArt account ( http://naothesillyduffer.deviantart.com/ ) I'm not too proud of my works so I haven't linked it to this site yet, maybe I should. I also don't really know what kind of groups to join up with and show my art too, I've got a lot for my Pokémon Sprites I do, but not many for actual drawings and things.

Also that sounds perfect since I am replying IN mid-January! It's perfect! Maybe we can screenshare and like do a bit of team drawing (if that is possible) or taking turns to watch the other person draw and helping each other out and stuff! Well we should talk in messages about that, I don't want to get in trouble for not staying on topic on my first forum topic.

I haven't had much creative muse, the last drawing with pencils and paper was my Nathaniel, but I've been spriting (fusing stuff together mostly) and taking screenshots from the games I've been playing, truthfully I haven't even thought about drawing, well I have, like "Damn I want to draw my Dragon Age Inquisition character" and stuff like that, but I haven't done anything. It's stuff that I don't really want to be out public if that makes sense, just not in a good mental way at the moment so I struggle to be creative even to write (which is one of my favourite things to do) is hard..

[Ventus Fall]

Hey ^^
Is ok   And thanks for the New Year wishes.

How about we'll take a look at if there are any art groups out there together some time? If I happen to see any, I could suggest them too ^^

I'll be streaming tonight some gaming, so you can always drop by ^^ ( http://www.livestream.com/shinysolus ). Some time after 17:00 GMT.
You can then get used to my voice and such.

There are only a few dates I cannot stream. how about upcoming Monday perhaps?

[Hopekami Strife]

No problem at all also sorry for the late reply maybe you can talk to me on Devientart because I am more frequent on that? I would like that a lot send me a note to the account NaoTheSillyDuffer so that we can start talking there and I will reply a lot more, like daily!

Oh I am so sorry that I didn't get around to seeing you, perhaps we will find another time I am sorry! Like really sorry we will think of a time. Hmm anything is fine for me apart from a weekday really the weekend is much easier for me because I got a lot of study to do.