Painting Demnstration

Drawing/Painting of a pitbull I'm using as an excuse to answer a lot of common questions I get here on Youtube about how I came to obtain my so called "talent" with drawing animals.

It's not a talent, but a skill I've built up over the many years of my life with assistance from art classes (taken both in an out of school), other artists (who can critique my work, tell me what needs fixing and give me advice on how to do it) and, of course, Photo reference.

I know a lot of people like to use my work and videos as reference but I strongly discourage this practice. Not that it bothers me (though it does sometimes when people copy my work/characters without even asking me first or giving me credit). It's more that it's detrimental to your personal improvement. I'm certainly less than perfect. My canine anatomy, poses, and expressions all have flaws in them. By copying them, you are already starting from a flawed base. By definition, the resulting piece you create will only have twice as many flaws in it.

Save yourself that trouble and start with photographic reference, not artwork. Create your own image of your character, your own take, your own view on what your dog/wolf should look like. Don't let someone else dictate what you do or how you do it.

Work from photographs. It may be difficult/boring at first, but you get used to it over time and I promise you that, no matter what your current skill level, your work will improve.

Anyway, the vid explains most of what I'm saying. It goes a little fast and fades in some places (sorry about that) so you may have to pause it to read it all, but I do think it's worth it if you really want to improve your skills as an artist, even if you don't necessarily want to be a "realistic" artist. I'm not a realistic artist at all (in most cases, this was a bit of an exception) and I use photo ref all of the time... just not usually in my videos as I find using reference while drawing on the computer very awkward, for some reason. o.O But when I draw at my desk, there's always some reference on the computer screen.

It's a very good habit to get into.


Oh, btw. I do not under any circumstances support pitbulls for fighting or endorse situations that portray them as fighting/vicious dogs as the majority of them are not. I am an avid supporter of the breed and I would appreciate it if vulgar comments about how they should be "banned", "destroyed" or otherwise completely prejudiced and unjustly judged could remain off of my page.



Song is "Duck and Run" by Three Doors Down
and is not related to me or my work, in terms of ownership or any type of profit, benefit or legal terms/contracts. I lay no claim to its production or sale what so ever.

Category:

Howto & Style

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• how
• to
• paint
• digital
• painting
• pitbull
• american
• pit
• bull
• terrier
• dog
• apbt
• drawing
• technique
• photoshop
• tablet