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DamaiMikaz — [Tutorial] Beginners mistakes, and how to fix them
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Published: 2014-03-01 20:18:22 +0000 UTC; Views: 63416; Favourites: 3798; Downloads: 613
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Description
I came up with the idea for this tutorial a while ago, when I was giving drawing workshops on another convention.I noticed that a lot of beginning artists that I met actually made the same type of mistakes.
The mistakes listed here are the ones that I used to make as well, when I was younger.
Things that took me quite the time to learn, because these are the things people often don't tell you.
I can still remember having an Eureka moment when I discovered these simple things. I hope you will have the same.
(PS: this tutorial is aimed towards beginners in art. If you're advanced, you might know this already)
Just to rule out a few things:
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Comments: 583
hmm... I have no cheeks. I look like your wrong red-lined photo. I wish I had some, though. I think I look kind of weird when I look at myself from a 3/4 view. But, I think anime stuff does have cheeks, just that they tend to be more straight than curved (perhaps partly a Japanese thing about low cheekbones, and part style for angles instead of curves). When I started drawing anime, I drew a face by putting two parallel vertical lines for the sides of the face and a v for the chin. kind of a pentagon shape. But I think I started drawing a little more realistically when I got interested in the Fullmetal Alchemist anime. That one's more realistic than the ones I saw before it.
I hadn't really thought much about the side nose shadow thing. That does kind of make sense, though. Since I hardly ever end up with only a shadow for the nose when I use reference. Then I end up with a triangular patch on the check from the shadows of the nose and the side of the face overlapping (but kind of shading's usually only used in anime for dramatic lighting type stuff). I guess it's partly done the way it is because of minimal shading and a need to show there's a nose without outlining the whole thing. (but, the anime I've watched tends to shade everything, while Disney stuff hardly ever has any shading, unless there's harsh light like light shining in the dark)
Your early shading is very subtle. I tend to do that, too. Now I often push the contrast using Replace Color in Photoshop because I have a tendency for low contrast. I think it's because I'm uncertain of where shadows should go, so I'm afraid of it looking wrong if the shadows stand out too much. Or of making a mistake and being unable to erase it when I'm drawing/coloring traditionally.
You mention about color theory and a book on it Oh. there's the book you'd mentioned. Didn't notice it in the description at first. I wonder if it'll mention some stuff I should know (though, I have several art books I haven't actually read yet). I'd like to figure out more about color, like creating differnet moods in pictures and about shading. I've seen tutorials that mention that you should use different colors when shading, but... Well, I've also seen some stuff about using more blue shades for shadows because of the sky reflecting (but I think it has more to do with the light hitting the person being orange, and that it would be the opposite if someone's standing in bluish light).
I tend to do the "awesome ironing" thing, but it's not about thinking of the outfit, but instead... well, maybe it is thinking about the outfit. But in a "I have no idea how these wrinkles/folds would look" way. So I tend to be subtle about it unless I have references to go by. It's the same as the shading issue I'd mentioned, being afraid of getting it wrong. ...I also tend to want to give characters plain tee shirts/long sleeve shirts unless I'm drawing an outfit already created. I don't picture details very clearly in my head.
They say "this is how it's done, copy it" in art schools? If so, it might've been a good thing I chickened out of going to one, since I tend to ignore stuff unless I understand it.
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I'm guilty! D:
This tutorial is really helpful ^_^ I should stop using anime as references lol.
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If i read this tut earlier, i would not have to spend 4 years trying to figure out what's wrong with my artworks, greatly recommended 
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Same here.
Except that I didn't have this tutorial at the time XD
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Well, but you did make an awesome change, in the other hand i am still 1/3 way but that will eventually change, ik ga ervoor
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I add and mix in colors of the background.
Background light influences the lighting conditions the most. So I guess that's most realistic ^^
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Ah, i see, never think about it, all i did this time was just dragging the colour picker downward diagonally, dank je wel, and i hope you are alright with the accident and the death threat, no need to think about it, trolls are actually coward people
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Oh... I'm working on getting better.
Don't worry
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woww, i made so many mistake (~.~'') .. thanks for the tips.. ^_^
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great tutorial and funny too. This will be useful, I still tend to make these mistakes.
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This is really awesome 
Defiantly something I will keep in mind
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I dont knowif I said this before, but I will say it again: IT MADE ME LAUGHT SOOO MUCH XDXD , and its very helpful for begginers and not so begginers, but.. SO FUN XD
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Very informative and helpful! Thank you very much for sharing!
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Oh man, it's so true! All of it!
Personally I need to do a lot of studying into cloth and clothing.
I'm alright at shading, and as I study color theory I'll probably get loads better there.
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this is a very INFORMATIVE tutorial, thx for sharing... Ang giving me a llama... U r so much better than me...
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Tutorial really well done and easy to read, I loved the little humorous touches. I hope to see more of the tutorial as is done they are often scarce.
Good job
PS: Sorry for the mistakes i'm not very good in english
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A-W-E-S-O-M-E TUTORIAL!!
I don't draw Anime, but this is great for those who want to, or have trouble doing it, to possess the artistic ability of everyone in the world. Ciao!
-iAmUnique21
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Very good tut.
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This tutorial touches on some nice points, I wish I read it 6 years ago, lol. I always like to keep in mind how important it is to put anatomy and proportions first then style and aesthetics second. I really like your style of shading too, definitely some reference-worthy pieces, to say the least. You're positive inspiration, kudos~
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Thanks so much!!! OMG it was so helpful!!! You're so awesome!!!
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Very well written and helpful (unless one is in a hurry to get things drawn immediately...).
One topic would be very worthy to be treated: highlights, the elements to be seen naturally on the differing shinyness of the the skin...
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Thank you very much for sharing this, I'm starting to get more of a grasp on shading thanks to this!
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Thank you for sharing this! Keep up the awesome work!
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This is a really good guide, especially for those who want to improve their art and move away from the mistakes made before. I've made and still make these mistakes at times but I'm slowly moving away from them. Again, this is a good guide and I'll be sure to show it to anyone who needs a little help! ^ ^
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I had a bad case of super ironing mum myself, before I learned that not all clothes have THAT much starch in them (normally just shirt collars).
I have definitely made ALL these mistakes, and I still made a few... when how to draw books failed me, I turned to cheap anime... side nose, no cheeks. The problem with animation is that the producers are on a tight budget. The stuff takes hours to draw frame by frame (something like 28 per second 0_o). They cut corners where then can (and cheekbones). Which is understandable, but not a good influence for student artists... the actual manga books are far more beneficial. Better yet; experienced people like you to so kindly explain it all, having made the same mistakes when you first started too. I really like the fact that you used your own art as examples; personal experience is an essential tool for a teacher, and you're very right about how the schools teach art, and these are the things that you are not told and expected to know. I discovered a few of these myself "eureka!" and some you pointed out. This is possibly one of the best tutorials I've ever seen. Thanks for sharing what you've learned.
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Those were good advises for beginers, but sometimes rules and reality are made to be crushed and melted and transformed x) Anyway, this was really fun to read, you made it entertaining and useful!
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Well, these are a lot of piques that I have noticed!
It should be noted some of those mistakes actually add to the artist's art style, and they purposely make those "mistakes!"
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Point four in the description reminds me of Bill Cosby's experience with the medics: "This is the body. *thlock!* Learn it!" I've been to an art program like that--it nearly killed my art.
Ah, James Gurney--love him.
Love the tutorial, by the way--I think some of this I applied over the years just from "huh, that doesn't look right--but this does!" You might have forgotten the most important point though: keep drawing.
Love the humor, too--I could use Super-Ironing-Mom. XD
Excellent work!
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thanks !!!! for the tutorial
this really helped me very much
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I knew my sketches looked weird i just couldn't put my finger on it, Mostly the lack of cheeks, Great tutorial!
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This is an outstanding tutorial. I volunteer with kids and a lot of them love drawing anime style- something like this would be so helpful for them to see! Heck, it's helpful for me to see! The cheekiness makes it great- far superior to most tutorials I see kicking around here. Well done!
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nice work,
really like the point about skin colors
and thanks for the favs c;
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Nice quick tips. Ironing mom is a funny joke. I do love shading creases~ They're easy to shade. I have problems shading skin. I'll take your advice on taking reference from movie screen shots.
Thanks for the tips
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I have SERIOUS trouble drawing people, but I'm getting better almost daily! Sure, I am creeping alone, stepping tentatively, but I'm getting the hang of it! This tutorial kind of... reaffirmed the stuff I knew about shading and wrinkles and designs, but gave me a little more insight to help. So thank you very much for posting this~!!
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This is insanely helpful! Thank you so much!!!
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thaaanks , it helped me a lot ;_;
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interesting tutorial, There are many things that people forget, sometimes a simple observation around you can change your perspective to draw something!
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I also learned the wrong way, and I didn't like "realistic" drawings in that time. Now I see that we need this "realism" because our drawings seems a lot more concise with the world we live, and to what we know.
Very good tutorial, I suggest everyone that's learning to use this tutorial (I am doing it myself too).
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Hm.. this is something to think about.. Very good points here.. I knew pretty much everything in this tutorial except for the model..I didn't know they smoothed it out. I used screen shots from movies before but I guess I should use them for references more. Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you for making this! it was so very helpful!
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That was helpful, thanks. Especially the Awesome ironing
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Thanks for this tutorial! ^-^ It's very helpful! I am used to line drawing, and recently started getting into digital drawings (with colour!!! 
~!Shini!~
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