want to start illustrating... advice for a beginer?

positivenote

Hi guys,
i've decided to give myself the kick in the arse that ive always promised i would and start illustrating and becoming more creative. Im coming from a photography background but have never really got my head around Photoshop from a 'creative' approach. Ive gone out and got my self a wacom (bambo ?) and have got used to it after messing with it since christmas. So im looking at where to start? what approach should i take, should i get myself a copy of illustrator aswell?
any online weekly tutorials or step by step tutorials that would get me proficient enough to start 'messing' on my own?
One of the main problems i expect is that ive never been the best at drawing characters and the like but i supose i've never really tried.
Sorry begining to ramble on a bit, and hope i havent asked too many questions, but any advice would be very welcomed.
Thanks in advance

p

Check out this link - some of these course might still be open for beginners.
http://www.scamp.ie/index.php/category/courses/

I'd focus on the basics on paper first, since those skills are critical to develop.

subedei

I would aggree with the above statement but a good place to start if ur not going to do a course is a book like this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Design-Principles-Problems-Paul-Zelanski/dp/0155016156/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264816221&sr=1-1

Which teaches you the basics of art..

If your interested in the figure this series is very good, tho very long (over 40 hours), well worth the price:

http://the-structure-of-man.blogspot.com/

Or if you can get your hands on some of Glenn Vilppu's video tutorials you will also have a very good grounding on the figure:

http://www.vilppustudio.com/

Hope some of that helps

starlett

I'm sure you've already come across it, but the tutorials on lynda.com are great. you do have to pay a subscription, but believe me, its actually worth it.

parmele

I've recently done the same thing - for my blog. I bought an Wacom Intous 3 and just started drawing. I'm pure crap at the moment and not really trying to be pro.

I use Illustrator. If you can get that w/o spending money I would. If you can't get that, GIMP is a free alternative. Download that and give it a whirl.

Here's a link to one of my drawings. It's a space ship beaming a car down, however, it really looks more like a "car blender": http://www.jasonparmele.com/2-ton-killing-machines

One day I might be good, but not this lifetime.