Let out the ARTIST in you!!!!

[stlukesguild]

A good artist can make much out of little.

True... but I've always subscribed to the belief in using the best materials you can afford. It gives you a feel for the proper professional grade media, you don't end up struggling or fighting the medium... and if you actually do achieve something of real merit you don't need to worry that it will crack, fade, or fall apart in a few years.

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

I will second all that StLukes stated above and provide some examples of supplies and manufacturers that I use:

Suggested paper:
Arches "Movlin a Papier l'Arches" a French made paper.
There are various weights, ,textures and comes in either hot or cold pressed.
You can purchase them in blocks of 20 sheets.
Due to the cost, I would suggest starting out with the 140lb 7" x 10" block.

Brushes:
I would highly recommend using natural Sable hair brushes.

Paint Brands:
Winsor & Newton, Grumbacher, Sennelier

As StLukes mentioned, developing a foundation in drawing/ sketching is important, plus you have the added benefit of graphite/ charcoal being much more forgiving.
While you develope drawing skills, there is no harm with jumpnig into basic "wash" excercises.
Well, I could go on and on, so first you must look into purchasing a book(s) on beginning watercolor techniques.

And by the way, StLukes is the dude I was referring to in my first post.

Gilliatt

[lalalauren]

Thank you all for the advice/suggestions/recommendations. I'm getting the feeling that I should maybe learn to draw/sketch before attempting watercoloring...but I really don't know where to start with that either. Is that something that could easily be learned out of a book or would I be better off trying to find a class/private lessons? Also, I'm worried that I won't be able to effectively learn how to draw as I've always been pretty terrible at it :/ Do you think it is a skill that can be learned or more of something that is a gift?

[loe]

I would suggest reading some basic stuff on anatomy, proportions, perspectives etc. (it depends on what you would like to learn to draw first) and then it's practising, practising, practising...
A natural talent might ease the progress, but without practising even a talent can't improve.
I made this experience myself (I'm not really talented myself but practising can help a lot, when I have the time for it).

Best regards

[Pierre k31]

Read first,... books on perspective, basic illustrating, pencil, charcoal and wash techniques. Take a night class if you can manage it.
I've been an illustrator all of my working life, now retired, but I still work for my son in the family graphics studio.
I'm a portrait illustrator and mural carver by trade, but worked more in the commecial end of things simply because it pays.
www.stmariegraphics.com

Even if dabbling in it or just playing with it is your intent, itwill be more rewarding if you gain a foothold in the basics.

P

[stlukesguild]

I would highly recommend using natural Sable hair brushes.


Oooh! Sable. You have to say that like Homer Simpson drooling over donuts. Unfortunately I am so abusive of my brushes... and I paint in oil and acrylic... I could never think to use sable unless I were to become fabulously wealthy. But yes... highly recommended for watercolors!

Thank you all for the advice/suggestions/recommendations. I'm getting the feeling that I should maybe learn to draw/sketch before attempting watercoloring...but I really don't know where to start with that either. Is that something that could easily be learned out of a book or would I be better off trying to find a class/private lessons? Also, I'm worried that I won't be able to effectively learn how to draw as I've always been pretty terrible at it :/ Do you think it is a skill that can be learned or more of something that is a gift?

I would suggest reading some basic stuff on anatomy, proportions, perspectives etc. (it depends on what you would like to learn to draw first) and then it's practising, practising, practising...
A natural talent might ease the progress, but without practising even a talent can't improve.
I made this experience myself (I'm not really talented myself but practising can help a lot, when I have the time for it).

Unless your intention is working figuratively (drawing painting the human figure) I would hold off on anatomy and life drawing. I personally believe that life drawing or figure drawing remains a central element of an artist's education for the very fact that it is so demanding and leads the artist to deal with form, shape, planes, values, textures... pretty much anything you will confront in drawing... and unlike drawing trees or apples figure drawing demands a degree of accuracy for the very fact that we as human beings are so accustomed to looking at other human beings that even those without training in art can inherently recognize flaws.

I would suggest that taking an inexpensive drawing course (or perhaps sitting in on local life drawing sessions where you can get feedback from other artists is the best way to learn. Also remember that you get out of such experiences what you put into them: ask a lot of questions... bring in independent work you've done on your own and ask for feedback. On your own I'd suggest starting with drawing simple still life objects... maybe with the assistance of a book. Draw such objects again and again and again. Draw them utilizing a variety of media. What you are doing is training your eye to look and training yourself the techniques by which you may convey what you see... you are learning about using line, planes, values, etc...

I would also suggest that of the greatest value is a design course (either in real life... or through a book). Design deals with the issues of composition. Just as a well-written work of literature has a structure, so does a painting. There are reasons that artists make the decision to employ certain colors... to place objects in a certain way upon the paper or canvas. Design teaches you to think about the underlying abstract structure of an image... even the most realistic.

[Kyriakos]

From time to time i create some 3d graphics for the game Civilization 3.

Here are some i am working on currently:



If you draw, or create in 3d, you can post your works here

And these are some older works, a collection of Byzantine churches

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

Kyriakos,

I was just about to mention that your “do you draw” thread may not ne necessary given the “artist” thread.

Are you able to post the images a little larger?
Regardless, I am impressed both with your talent and the advancement of the 3D capabilities in the “gaming” software as it compares to architectural 3D CAD software for example.
In the architectural field, we have been using 3D modeling software for quite a few years now. Your 3D drawings are comparable to 3D CAD images.

I see variations on a theme, Byzantine perhaps? Hagia Sophia, “martyria”, etc.
Oops, never mind…I see you mentioned Byzantine

My son is active in “Civilization”, though he has not created buildings and certainly nothing to the level of your pieces.

Are you able to create interior “cut away” views? Perhaps re create some of the wonderful paintings and mosaic images.

Very nice.

Gilliatt

[Kyriakos]

Hi Gilliatt Glad you liked them.

These were made with Bryce 6, but i also work with 3dsmax, which is used by architects i believe. Bryce is just the simpler, easier program.

I do not model the interiors, since they would not be shown in the game, and i probably would not be able to create them or it would take too much work.

The Hagia Sophia has around 100.000 polygons i think, it is my most detailed and complicated building up to now, and i doubt i will create anything more complex that it. It was natural for me to make, along with the rest of the churches which are of Thessalonike, unlike some alien models which i cannot begin to understand the architecture, or i simply cannot create it.

The top graphics are for a fantasy set, but again they are mostly Byzantine

[Beautifull]

Really awesome pictures! I, myself am a learning artist, and just seeing these pictures inspire me

[Kyriakos]

This is a screenshot of Civ3, with the buildings i have created for it, along with the city set:

[Maximilianus]

That's so good Kyriakos. You have a talent for grasping details, and for 3D art

[Kyriakos]

Thank you Maximilianus

3d art is my secondary art, or rather my hobby, since my profession (i like to think of it that way, although up to now i made few material gains through it) is literature creation. But in both i am mindfull of details.

[Maximilianus]

Thank you Maximilianus

3d art is my secondary art, or rather my hobby, since my profession (i like to think of it that way, although up to now i made few material gains through it) is literature creation. But in both i am mindfull of details.

That's so good. Material gains will eventually show up. You just keep up the mindfulness, as you seem to be walking on good steps

[Kyriakos]

Here is what i am currently working on, gfx-wise:



The first row, which still only has half the buildings, is part of an african set. The second row is the completed Norwegian set, and then there is the Byzantine one, which i have already posted before.