AF Sketching and Drawing FAQ

The S&D forum finally has an FAQ!!!

Click the link to view a question!

I hope you like it!

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***Please help me, "How do I post my drawings here
and what do I do if they are too big for AF.com?"*** (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=1793095&goto=1793095)

Image Source, Pictures (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=460590): cars (racing, drifting, exotic, classic and etc),
transportation, objects, images to make backgrounds, inspiration and etc.

Are there any art Tutorials online? Where can I find them?
This is our main page for tutorials

Are books important? What do I need to read?


Should I go buy all the books I can on drawing?


What are some good books for artists?


What should i do about painting? Are there any books
on painting cars?


Why do I have to worry about in terms of copyright laws?

How do I sell my art? Learning the businesss of art
Great tips from our local professionals page 1, books listed on page 2


How do I color and shade my drawings?


What kind of markers should I use and how many should I have?


What kind and size of paper should i use?


What is gouache paint for? How do i use it?


What are stumps and Tortillions?


How do I draw realistic shadows?


Can I use colored pencils for color drawings?


How do I draw realistic Headlights?


How do I draw 5-Spoke wheels?


How do I draw realistic rims/tires?


How do I post pics onto AF?


Why do I see red Xs when I try to post pictures?

Are books important? What do I need to read?

If you are not a reader you need to become one. I never read books while I was in high school, but while in the Air Force I started to read. Read magazines that are interesting to you.
Reading really makes you a better person. I read all kinds of art technique books even ones about subjects I am not interested in because you never know what you can gain and apply to autos. I read books about many topics other than art too.

What I have found about art books in particular, car art books. Is that they are not complete (meaning you must read from many.)
Remember read with the goal of, “What can I take away from this book and apply to what I want to draw, render, paint, etc." Another thing, don’t get stuck in a certain medium. Always expand yourself and experiment. Try paint, markers, pastel, etc. Don’t stay with just pencil. That is just my opinion, but take it for what it is worth.

Should I go buy all the books I can on drawing?


Read reviews and try to check these out from you library first. Just don’t go out and buy them because you might not like them. Many can be found at Barnes & Nobles. Review them there and then purchase them from Amazon.com because they are cheaper. You can also get them from your Library. Remember if they do not have them ask the library to purchase them. Libraries can also get them from other non-local libraries called inter-library loans. You can also think about joining a book club.

What are some good books for artists?


The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards
A great book, very in depth but will improve your drawing ability.

How to Draw Life Like Portraits from Photographs by Lee Hammond
A good book about the grid technique and shading, shading is what gives your subject (cars) realism

Drawing Realistic Textures in Pencil by J.D. Hillberry.
A very good book, highly technical and the author assumes you can already draw

How to Draw Cars Like a Pro by Thom Taylor
A great book for using color application I do believe it could have gone into more detail.

Drawing and Painting Racing Cars by Michael Turner
This is a good book for inspiration. It has some demonstrations but I believe it to be a more advance source.

What should I do about painting? Are there any books on painting cars?


Painting will require much research and practice. You will have to read books about painting that don’t necessarily talk about cars. For instance:

Painting Spectacular Light Effects in Water Color by Paul Jackson
This book covers painting buildings, glass, and metallic objects etc. That could be applied to rendering cars. Look for ways to apply what you read.

Look for books that cover painting styles in realism.


Paint Radiant Realism in Water Color, Ink and Colored Pencil by Sueelleen Ross

Look for books that cover painting styles in realism.

What do I have to worry about in terms of copyright laws and selling my artwork?


Some things you might use to prevent violating copyright laws are:
Take your own pictures (don’t use photos out of magazines, books, ect…)
Ask the author of the book if it is okay to use the photographs.
For more information, these books and websites are helpful:

Legal Guide for the Visual Artist Fourth Edition By Tad Crawford
http://www.fplc.edu/tfield/CopyVis.htm
http://www.copyright.gov/
http://www.contactmylawyer.com/copyrighttrademark.html
http://www.southbaygallery.com/copyright.htm

More Links pls check them out too (copyrights)
http://artpapa.com/artforum/viewtopic.php?t=1284

The Artist's Complete Health and Safety Guide Third Edition by Monona Rossol


Links to online safety about art (scroll down)
http://www.khake.com/page42.html

Are there any art tutorials online? What are they?

AutomotiveForums Tutorial links page (art and drawing).
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=235850

I think this is the mother of all online sources for artists. Don’t forget to scroll down. This site covers art education, careers in visual arts, tutorials, and many other related topics.
http://www.khake.com/page42.html

http://www.sibleyfineart.com/index.htm?tipsndx.htm
This is the best one I have found. There are lots of tutorials so make sure to check them out.

http://homepages.tesco.net/~p.wilkinson/
UPDATE: http://monologues.co.uk/Portraits/Index.html
More nice tutorials

YellowDoor tutorials using Adobe Illustrator
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/t108575.html
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/t108576.html

How do I shade and color my drawings?


These do not have the best pictures put I tried to explain the best I could.
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/t104303.html
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/t103473.html

Finally on to materials!

What markers should I use and how many should I have?


I use Prisma Color markers (don't buy sets buy the colors you need)
if your local store does not have the colors you want order them online.
I used www.misterart.com try to order 30$ worth so you make good use of the shipping charges.
I have about 40 markers-Make sure you have a good range of grays, and a good range of body colors (Blue, Red, Green, Aquamarine, ect…)

What kind of paper should I use? How big should it be?


I use 14x17 Strathmore Bristol Vellum… this is good because it is smooth yet rough enough for pastels to grip onto.

The gouache is for accents right? If not how much do you use and in what manner?


Yes for accents only. The gouache really makes the work complete. Basically I follow Thom's suggestions but sometimes I just add where I think some highlights should go. It really does wonders for the chrome parts like the bumper brackets and rims. There is still improvement for chrome rim rendering. But I think they came out pretty good for my first chromes.
I used a 0 round brush for larger highlights on the body but I mostly use a 5/0 round brush for the rims. I only use white no other paint. One must be careful not to have too many highlights.

Tip for painting detail:


Hold the brush like a pencil but then roll your hand out and away from you so that your palm is facing towards your chest and your thumb is facing up (finger nail side). Start a stroke and move away from your body (out). You can get nice straight and curved lines that way. Have paper or tracing paper to rest your hand on (remember pastel had already been applied and even if you use workable fixative you can still smear it).

What are stumps and tortillions?

http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/364804ball_sup.jpg

How do I draw realistic shadows?


A shadow, when done correctly, should look natural in a drawing, not some big black blob the you just stuck in there to simulate ground…an example of a good shadow is this:
http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/622997Sphere_4.jpg
Now on to how to do this:
A shadow is just where your object (car) is blocking the light from the ground or other object…you can find where to put your shadow by drawing a diagram like so:
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/503/102068light_source.jpg

Can I use colored pencils for color drawings?



YES!!! In fact, I find colored pencils easier to use then pastels/markers because there are about ¼ of the steps.

How do I draw realistic headlights?


First draw all the detail in the head light, all the little reflections and what not. Then give a light shade on the entire head light (except parts that need to be white). Gradually work from light to dark in layers. Your final step can involve dabbing areas w/ a gum eraser for the highest highlights and or using this to get your very bright highlights cleaned up. Don't forget the stump and tortillion for blending if something becomes too blurry then create hard edges again w/ the 2b mech. pencil .5mm lead.

I love this eraser for drawing and cleaning up highlights
http://www.cleansweepsupply.com/pages/skugroup31851.html

You can create sharp edges by cutting the eraser flat (like a flat top )
Then use the edge for razor sharp highlighting. You may try gouache paint and a 5/0 paint brush. The Tuff Stuff eraser can be bought at many office and art supply stores.

The major key to headlights is to have very dark near black tones and very light perhaps even white areas. I like to use by 2b mechanical pencil for drawing headlights.

How do I draw 5-spoke wheels?

lightly draw a star, then draw lines to all of the points from the center, then make them wider and your off!

WARNING ABOUT PASTELS


Pastels do not mix. You cannot take red and orange to make the color red-orange for example. If you notice when you go to an art store and look at pastels they come in a ton of colors because of that reason. Pastels will layer on top of each other for nice effects but they no not blend together to form new colors. If you notice on my Ferrari I have some weird murky colors going in the hood and just pass the side window. I was trying to mix pastel-chalk to create new colors.

AF in General.

How do I post pics onto AF?


First, you have to get your photos on your PC, whether it be by way of scanning, pictures, magic :lol2: , ect…
Then, go to the “gallery” section of AF and login.
Go to “Upload photos” and click browse.
Click on your image
Upload it!
Copy and paste the url of your picture when it asks you to after you've clicked the http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/images/wysiwyg/vB_InsertImage.gifbutton!

ORHow to post pictures here on AF:

Click the gallery link (http://files.automotiveforums.com/) at the top of every page.


Then click Upload Photos (http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/uploadphoto.php)

When the page loads, click the browse button in the middle of the right side. Now search for your picture.
Requirements for uploading a picture:
-JPEG picture file [.jpg (i.e.: mypicture.jpg)]
-The file must be smaller than 80k

Select the file and click OK.

Now click the Upload/Submit button.

After that you will be taken to an Image List. Click Process Files. Once the files have been processed they are put into your gallery.

Now up at the top left of the page there will be a link to My Gallery, click that.

Once you have found the thumbnail of the image you wish to post into a thread or reply, click it.

Now you will be taken to the picture in a larger view with a short script to put in your thread or post.

That short script will be right below the large version of your picture. Highlight the text/script. The Script will look something like [img]http://files.automotiveforums.com/mypicture.jpg[img]
Once that text, in the textbox, is highlighted copy it (Ctrl+C)

Now go to your thread or post and paste that short script directly into your thread or post (Ctrl+V).

_______________________________

It isnt exactly the best tutorial but it gets the point across to those that dont know how. As soon as I get back home after vacations I will edit this tut with some print screens to make it a little more clear.__________________
Let me know if you need anything.

-Mike (GTMike500)

Why do I see red xs when I try to post a picture?


This can be because one of many reasons.

1.) Your URL is incorrect (look at previous Question)

2.) When you copied and pasted your URL you somehow got a “…” mixed in with it… Example: files.automotiveforums/gallery/uploadphotos…500.

3.) The server you hosted it to is down

4.) You incorrectly use img. tags.

Well I hope this gets you started.

Take care,


Zach Alexander (Zcaithaca) and Alfred Saenz (Asaenz)

remember you will mess-up but keep pressing on and practicing. Also save your works, even the miss haps, so you can learn and see how far you have progressed!

NOTE: Additional answers will be posted below.

How do I draw those darn tires and rims (ellipses)?

http://www.drawthrough.com/tutorials/index.html Artist removed page, trying to find it again
http://www.sibleyfineart.com/index.htm?tutorial--draw-ellipses.htm

wow...that sure boosts ur post count eh?

good job zach and al

you are really great and thanks for your help

hey mates,

I just bought a airbrush kit... do you know if there are tutorials for it?? First I gonna read a book that I bought with it, but thats not about cars and stuff...so maybe you know more... Thanks in advance!!

Greetz Venom

here are my efforts. how can i improve my headlights?

these are sum of my efforts. how can i improve my headlights?

3 things

1. Welcome to AF

2. This isnt a place to post this question but since im a nice guy ill answer

3. You need to add detail to your headlights...right now (as far as i can see) you only have shadows...a headlight reflects light so it has shadows, midtones and highlights...try to add contrast by making some parts very light and some very dark and make the transition between the two sharp