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GoblinQueeen — Bringing Drawings to Life
Published: 2005-09-04 01:28:15 +0000 UTC; Views: 104095; Favourites: 2775; Downloads: 20883
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Description
A tutorial focusing on bringing more life to still works such as character designs, illustrations, and sculptures.Fullview/download to view
For a while now I've been wanting to put together another tutorial I thought might be able to help some people. Unfortunately, almost that whole time, I wasn't sure what I could really offer that hadn't been done a hundred times already by people far more qualified than me. Then, in my animation class the other day we were talking about the 12 Principles of Animation and keeping them in mind with our current projects. I was working on some concept development art, not animation, but that's when it hit me, I use those same principles all the time, with illustrations as well as animation.
Well, I figured since I used them all the time, it might be helpful to other people as well who might not have been exposed to the 12 principles, or who just never thought of applying them into their still illustrations. I am by no means a master of these ideas and have never claimed to be. I'm sure someone could go through my gallery and pull up a hundred pieces where I've failed to follow my own advice here. So no, my art is by no means the perfect example, I'm just an artist who wants to share what she can. If you find this useful or informative in any way, then I'll be happy my time was well spent.
As always, if you have questions on something I talked about or want some clarification, by all means, ask and I'll try to answer. Along those same lines, if you want some advice (along the lines of what I've done with the drawings in here) on a specific piece, you can post it in my forum here: [link] but be forewarned, it is for serious critique only.
One last thing, if you are looking for help with any art medium, check out It's a relatively new club bringing together artists of all mediums and skill levels to help each other and give support to those that would like it. Whether you want to give help or get it, everyone is welcome
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Comments: 314
If you can, I reccomend strongly checking out an artist by the name of Glen Vilppu [link] . It's through his books that I was able to really learn more about it. He has a way of following the motion in gestures that centers on fluidity. I had been working a different way, but once I put the time in to learn his method, I've never regretted it
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ah I see. Lol, you're the 3rd person I've talked with who recommended Glen Vilppu's books/dvds. Thanks. I've seen (at least some of) his 2 dvds on gesture and building with blocks and cylinders. Would those 2 dvds help?
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Definately, but I prefer his boos overall. His dvds are good, but the books I feel like I can sit and study it longer and really get into the mechanics of it. But that's just me, everyone works their own way
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ah I see. BTW, how do you hold your pencil? I know it's a strange question, but it does make a world of difference in developing a sweeping line (Mr. Vilppu holds it overhead..like a bow on a violin). Also, do you draw with a graphics tablet? How do you hold the pen when you do? Thanks.
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not a strange question at all, rather an astute one, really. I usually hold it overhand for the gesture, then change back to more of a traditional grip to lay in more of the solid form. Where actual life drawing is concerned I like using charcoal, (blocks, not vine), or Carbothello pencils.
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ah I see...
Have you ever drawn with a tablet? If you have..how would you go about doing gestures for that? Thanks for answering all my questions, you're a big help! Sorry if I'm flooding your inbox, lol.
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I have, but only once or twice. Usually, I will work in pencil and scan those lines in to paint. In some cases, I really feel it gives better control.
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YES more artist need to go by the 12 principles! great job!!
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awesome tutorial
its helpful to alot of art i see pop up around here!
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Yay! This makes me happy, Gobs!
Taking familiar principles and applying them to an entirely different aspect! I really needed this right now, too. Thanks Gobs!
I've never really thought about the principles that way. Thanks for opening up my mind to some new thinking!
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lol, I know, came as a shock to me when I realized what I was doing. I always thought about things like motion arcs and weight, but it never dawned on me why till now
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That's awesome. So funny, we never think of it that way....then it just clicks!
Thinking about it more consciously, though, will definitely help me.
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lol, and when you put it that way, it reminds me of something my highschool anthropology teacher said. She warned us on the first day that she was going to keep throwing all this information at us and it wouldn't really make sense entirely untill one day it would just click and we would see the big picture. Thing like this are very personal. We can tell ourselves we get it and we understand, but untill we can put it into context in our own way, it's still just theory. Listen to me, getting all philosophical. I should learn not to type after midnight
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OH oh oh... do me a favor. Post this under the tutorials over at the tavern... this is EXACTLY what I try to stress upon when giving crits. Excellent work!
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lol, sure thing, that'll give me a good excuse to finally get over there, too
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Thanks! Thats an awsome turoial, it really helped me alot.
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ok, my english is terrible!
The final figure is out of balance! It's the most important thing!
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Well, definately I want to go in and give more of an indication of the left knee really pressing against the ground, but other than that, it balances ok for me. Of course, that could be my personal taste, but I did crouch down and try out the pose myself to make sure and with the legs in that position, I had full range of upper body movement with no trouble at all.
As I said in the description: "I am by no means a master of these ideas and have never claimed to be. I'm sure someone could go through my gallery and pull up a hundred pieces where I've failed to follow my own advice here. So no, my art is by no means the perfect example, I'm just an artist who wants to share what she can."
I'm not perfect myself, just trying to help other people by giving them something to think about that they might not have before.
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Ok, please forgive me, I you badly interpreted.
Now I understand that your intention is noble. 
Mine also, so if it she serves you I advise you:
1) To move the left foot, or...
2) To move the arm of support to bit towards the left side, or...
3) To extract of the back the straight foot, and to affirm it to the soil it she dwells towards the right.
Please forgive my terrible english
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Wooooooow, that's really really helpful. And very well-explained, clear, and thorough. Veeeeeeeery good tutorial
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hey, this is pretty useful! thanks for posting it
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oh my god, thank you! I have alot of problems with my drawings looking stiff and posed, and i'm pretty sure this will help me. So i'm going to fav and use it as a sort of referce/guide line when i'm drawing. I never even heard of these things before reading this, i feel dumb lol. Thank you so much for taking the time to make this, and also for suggestion the DVD/movie idea. ^_^
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This has helped me enormously - too many tutorials tell you to follow it step-by-step, which is difficult for expressing personal style. This is different
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I"ll try to keep this in mind. Thanks for sharing!
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I think with this tutorial you've pointed out my biggest flaw, and it's something I will keep in mind from now on. You're tip on drawing from movies is a very good idea which I wish I had thought of myself! XD
I'd say I draw most like the first example... o.o; embarrassing, but it's true. I tilt my paper a lot and I rarely plot out the concept of my drawings, which I think really does effect them negatively. I've been wishing I could draw more like I imagine it in my mind, but it's been hard, and now I see why...
And now that I've read this I realize I must "twin" a lot. You refer to this a lot in the tutorial and I was wondering what exactly it is?
Thank you for reading, I'm sorry if you already explained "twinning" in the tut and I skipped it!
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thank you for the tutorial, i have never heard something about the 12 principials so
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wow, this is fantastic.
very helpful and detailed indeed
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very very cool tutorial 
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How exciting!! This makes me want to draw like crazy... A lot of this was stuff I already knew, but could use some MAJOR brush up on, and also that I had no idea there was a name or cause for... I'm looking forward to keeping this lesson in mind and using it on future works. Thanks SO much, GQ - This is time VERY well spent and appreciated!!
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Very nice! Wonderfully presented and alot of great ideas. Thanks!
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whee!~ good for amateurs like me. thanks.
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I was given a link to here, and I'm glad I looked!! It's so well done! I love how you explained some different elements in the drawing that I hadn't learned of before!
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Yes! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I could so use this for my art.
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This is a great tutorial! I can see myself checking it out often for hints and helps when I'm stumped.
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I need to take some time on this coming labor day and try this out! It looks like an awesome tut.
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WOW!! This is a great tutorial in both that it was clear and in depth as well as well done 
Thanks, and best wishes!!
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Awsome tutorial! I loved all the explanations and details. Deffinately a helpful tool to anyone.
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Boss. You just got yourself linked in art_skill_trade.
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