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How does one deal with GREEN in nature?

How does one deal with GREEN in nature?

Question from JayC.

I think this is my biggest problem. Greens in nature are so varied, but I rarely stumble upon good combinations for getting the warm greens, the cool greens, the very bright greens of spring, the grey greens, etc.. Any tips would be appreciated! …

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How to protect the underpainting from smudging?

How to protect the underpainting from smudging?

Question from Susan

How do you protect the underpainting from being absorbed or altered when rubbing off the brush strokes?

I am starting to paint again after many years, and remembering what I learned in school is tough. Thank you for being here to assist! I may eventually take some classes to help develop my technique and create interesting paintings that last. I do not always do classic prep, but when I do I refer to Web Art Academy

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Training Artistic Memory

Training Artistic Memory

Questions from Gina Rodas

How can I train my artistic memory to create visual pieces on my own?

Could you suggest special exercises to help me draw better?
Can you give me any advice on how to paint using the alla prima technique?…

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How to Start Drawing

How to Start Drawing

From David Gospodinovski:

Hello Vladimir, I would like to know one thing. Maybe I need to answer this question myself, but I can’t really. Ever since I was a kid, I have hated drawing. I have no idea how or why. I have always been fascinated by drawings of people or animals, so why don’t I actually like drawing? I know it will help me with my digital art, and I am very committed to that. I have always wanted to know how the characters from my favorite games and movies are created.

I have never drawn in my life, but now I really want to start. But there is a problem: how do I start? I have books and videos, but all I see in the books are completed drawings of people accompanied by a lot of text, while the videos are time-lapse. I walk away more frustrated than before.

How long are your videos about human drawing and anatomy? Do you have any plans to make more? For example, drawing the skeleton and muscles, different body types, an explanation of the differences between female and male bodies, human versus animal / creature anatomy?…

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Drawing Skills for 3D Artists

Drawing Skills for 3D Artists

From David Gospodinovski:

I recently found your site while I was searching some online tutorials for drawing. I have never drawn in my life, but I am interested in 3D modeling. I want to become a character artist, meaning I want to create 3D models and creatures, like in Avatar, Avengers, Harry Potter, etc.

Many people have told me to learn drawing, because it will help me.

How will these videos help me to become decent at drawing? Are these videos in real time, without time-lapse?…

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Drawing Position

Drawing Position

From David Vercueil

Hi Vladimir, Sorry to bother you. I only have one leg and find sitting and drawing on a tilted ( +/- 20 degrees) board more comfortable than standing. I am very happy holding the pencil as you have demonstrated as the first “position”. I do however find it extremely uncomfortable using the pencil in the “standing position”.

Is it necessary to practice using the pencil in a standing position?..

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Hatching in Graphite Pencil

Hatching in Graphite Pencil

Question from Yuri Magalhaes, Drawing Academy student

I’ve acquired the course and already I have doubts about the hatching. When doing the hatching for creating the values, do we intentionally leave a bit of space between each stroke? Or can they be so close together that no space is left between them? I ask this because from the video it seems that the cross hatching leaves quite a bit of texture in the drawing. Is that intentional, or if I want as smooth a texture as possible, do I simply apply new layers until no white from the paper can be seen behind the hatching?…

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How to approach photo reference for drawing in perspective?

How to approach photo reference for drawing in perspective?

Question from Collayne Mills

The new release tutorial on perspective is a great overview. I have been working on this skill. I made an Albertian perspective box, using a photo-frame with a wide flat wooden frame that can sit on my desk. I inserted a ten inch grid on a piece of acetate behind the glass. I looked through that, sighting with a vision marker and drawing on another matching grid with a piece of tracing paper overlay, marking off what I saw – slowly but surely. And I’m referring to some of my reference photos and attempting to put them into construction drawing….

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