MY DRAWINGS

Tips on how to be a better artist.

I will most likely be making a book for all these tips as well.

These are just a few things that I want to show people who are trying to become better artists, because I feel that EVERYONE FREAKS OUT ABOUT THINGS THAT ARENT A BIG DEAL.

1) YOU DONT HAVE TO DRAW LIGHTLY!!!-- One common thing that many artists tell people on how to get better is drawing lightly. Now while I agree with this, it's not a big deal if you don't. People constantly freak out about drawing lightly, and it's just not worth it. If your hands like mine, you can't really draw lightly. I don't draw lightly. I just draw normally, usually pretty dark. And if you've seen my drawings They work out fine.
You DONT have to draw lightly.
If you're going to freak out about drawing lightly, buy a pencil that has a harder graphite/led WHATEVER IDK. Because the harder the lead/graphite the less thick and heavy your lines will be. But yeah, you don't have to draw lightly. Now I don't mean you should draw like, octopus ink black, but just don't take drawing lightly super seriously. Personally I use the rule that as hard as I write will be as hard as I draw with my pencil.

2) Pencils-- Now there are different types of pencils, a normal #2 will work fine but I've noticed that people use a lot of mechanical pencils. I don't use mechanical pencils because I'm dirt poor and don't have enough money to buy any... So I just use normal pencils.
Mechanical pencils have a smoother line I've found and I like the way they feel, but I also don't like how the tip will break off a lot and I have to but refills.
Now there are different thicknesses of lead/graphite (whatever's in pencils) you can buy. Like, you can go to michals, and they have some really good pencils and stuff there.
The thicknesses vary, but I recommend going to HB if you got one of those sets of pencils, because HB is the bomb. Along with #2. HB allows you to press down hard, an not have a little under normal line, it's good for sketching.

3) Be confident.-- I know, Deviantart and Instagram are Confidence killers when it comes to art. Be confident with your work and try not to Fret over everything. But still. Don't be lazy, and be confident with your style. I don't want you to fret, but I don't want you to just draw this crappy piece of sh** when I've seen you do much better.

4) GO OVER YOUR DRAWINGS TWICE WITH PEN!!!!-- So what I mean is, so you go over your pencil sketch once with pen, let it dry (usually takes like 30 sec to a min.) erase the pencil lines (COMEPLETELY. Or as much as you can.) and then GO OVER YOUR DRAWING IN PEN ONCE AGAIN.
Now if you use the micron pens like I do you might have notice that the pen fades a little bit after you erase the pencil lines, which is why It's important to go over your lines once again!

5) STUDY ANATOMY!!!!-- THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR ARTISTS.
I'm going to crush all of your expectations right now.
NO ONE, AND I MEAN NO ONE. CAN DRAW PERFECTLY WITHOUT TIME, PRACTICE, AND STUDYING.
No, drawing isn't some quiz you have in class, but you have to STUDY.
Doesn't matter what your drawing.
I am STILL studying anatomy. I've been practicing Pokemon and clothing a lot lately.
Now I don't mean take out your textbook! But if you like anime or manga, and you want to learn how to draw people, that's a great place to start. Look at fanart and guides, research. Even if you have to trace to get started. When I started drawing, I traced the steps in a drawing book. If that helps you then good for you!
But yeah, STUDY ANATOMY. Even watching other people draw, or looking at other's work helps.
And if staring at the kids at school an being that one creep who's studying their body anatomy helps then you do that lol.
I am that kid XD
For animals if you have a dog or cat then follow them around for a while, see how their bodies move.
React to certain areas and situations.
Study their anatomy as well.
Your dog or cat will be your best friend for studying basic mammal anatomy, since many mammals and other animals share a lot of the same body structure as dogs and cats.
If you don't then go look up pics of dogs or cats on the internet, you now have an excuse to watch cat videos 24/7 congratulations XD

For video game characters/creatures like Pokemon, play the games. Study how the monsters/creatures move and what they look like.

6) references-- There is nothing wrong with needing a reference for drawing something, hell, I even carry around a Pokemon handbook with all the Pokemon from gen 1-5 JUST for references when drawing them.
I don't really mean to be rude or anything but the one thing that I hate seeing is when people draw a scene from some show or something. Look, I don't mind it, but seriously, I'm sick of seeing people draw something In the same position, or draw the same scene OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
GET CREATIVE.
Don't just copy a pose from any fanart your see, don't copy off of a scene.
Just don't copy down all the poses you see from the references.
I'm prob being really confusing right now.
So basically if you have a Pokemon handbook, and you only draw that one pokemon in the SAME POSE FROM
THAT HANDBOOK IN THE PIC EVERY TIME!!! You WONT get better.
TRY DIFFERENT POSES.
Don't just draw the SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN THE SAME POSITIONS.

GET OUT OF YOUT COMFORT ZONE A LITTLE BIT!!! Geez...

Now I'm not going to do anymore, since I'll be writing a book for all of these tips but I hope these will help you when drawing!