Scratching The Surface

Q: Any small tips you think are helpful to know in figure drawing? Like noticing the difference between the male and female torso, consistent curves etc?




Yeah, I have a tip. Not a technical one, mind you (although in essence it is quite technical)

Tips To Get Better at Scratching The Surface.
by Alberto Ruiz

During the hottest summer month of the year, draw 17 hours a day non-stop for 7 straight days and then go out to a busy corner of the city, if you live in a small town, go to the nearest mall and observe real women for 4 or 5 hours.

Now go back to review the drawings you've just made and come to the sad realization that you don't know squat and that your life is so insignificant against what god and nature had created; understand that you will never be able to capture the female form at its glorious best and accept with sincere humility the fact that you are only a meager tool, a clumsy instrument of the universe; a tool being manipulated by forces bigger than you and as such, all you can ever hope to accomplish is to scratch the surface. Realize wholeheartedly that only by drawing ferociously fast for ungodly amounts of hours a day you can make any progress at all and that progress is the closest you will get to greatness.

Anything I can possibly say to you has already been said and written by better men than I could ever hope to become. The information is out there, I believe it's useless, silly and downright arrogant for me to even attempt to come up with 'new' tips on how to get better at depicting the human form. There's nothing you can't find in anatomy books regarding figure drawing, NOTHING; no one has the secret pill or the magic bullet or that photoshop filter which can make your drawings shine like the morning sun. In the end, the responsibility for achieving some level of success in educating yourself in this or any other artistic subject rests entirely upon you, yourself, upon your ability (or lack of such) to observe life with an bias, discerning and critical eye and in your discipline (or lack of such) for consistently applying what you discover in the form of practicing until your arm falls off.

Anyone can teach you how to draw, no one but yourself can teach you how to see. Stop asking for tips, start having a life and observing life, I mean OBSERVING as in PERCEIVING, CAREFULLY ANALYZING AND REGISTERING, not just looking and drooling at it like a fool, so that you can make those discoveries and find those 'tips' you are so desperately looking for, on your own, which in turn can give you the necessary confidence to move forward. Get spiritually groomed, get mentally fit, acquire some good taste and good manners so you can attract the opposite sex, listen to and make love to a real woman and find out what that experience is really like, what flesh and bones (other than your own) truly feel like not just on the surface, don't just have sex with her, make love to her, watch her sleep, cook her a meal and once you've done all that, pick up a pencil and draw.


Sincerely,
Alberto Ruiz






© 2010 Alberto Ruiz all rights reserved

Thought of The Day Jan 28, 2010

Five-Step-Solution for those who find it intimidating to fill a 100-page sketchbook: 

Step 5- If after following steps 1 through 4 you don't succeed at keeping a visual journal, it's not the end of the world but it does speak loudly of your (lack of) commitment to the craft. 

Sketch compulsively and observe keenly if you wish to capture the figure with authority, anything less is a waste of your gift.

Thought of The Day Jan 27, 2010

Five-Step-Solution for those who find it intimidating to fill a 100-page sketchbook: 

Step 4- If you're just starting to draw the figure this may be your first sketchbook. It would be wise to NOT show it to working professionals at conventions. 

I understand you want feedback, the thing is most professional comic book artists HATE looking at beginner's work and they're not honest. 

A nasty or disingenuous reply from your hero can crush your dreams and your spirit.

Thought of The Day Jan 26, 2010

Five-Step-Solution for those who find it intimidating to fill a 100-page sketchbook: 

Step 3- Sketches are NOT finished illustrations; there's more pressure to perform if you're convinced each drawing must be a masterpiece. 

Jot downs ideas as well as quick live gestures. The main goal is to gain confidence and discipline but don't forget, you're not drawing for the mere sake of filling pages. Have fun!

Thought of The Day Jan 25, 2010

Five-Step-Solution for those who find it intimidating to fill a 100-page sketchbook: 

Step 2- Go to the last page of the blank spiral sketchbook and open it wide. Pry the wire loops open carefully, one at a time. 

Remove 80 sheets and close the gaps. Now you only have 20 sheets to draw in and the book is not so intimidating. 

Once you fill those, add another 10 or 20 sheets until your fear is gone forever!

F.U.  True story: (no donkeys this time)

Throughout my adolescence, friends and family members who knew I liked to draw, gave me all kinds of sketchbooks as gifts.

Generally, I couldn't wait to break them in but inevitably I ended up drawing in just a few pages and putting them away. So I have all these sketchbooks with one or two drawings and not much else. 

Fear of failure, fear of success, fear of anatomy, fear of ruining the book. Fear is a powerful thing. Remember: "Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering, suffering leads to ugly drawings"

Back then I used to envy those compulsive sketchers. Me? I used to draw once a week and sometimes (when I got funky) I wouldn't pick up a pencil in months, so I know how that feels. Fear can paralyze you unless you take action and beat it.

Once I destroyed my fear of failure, the sky was the limit. I fear nothing and no one now, not even myself :)

Thought of The Day Jan 24, 2010

Five-Step-Solution for those who find it intimidating to fill a 100-page sketchbook: 

Step 1-Buy a cheap spiral bound, all-media sketchbook. Stay away from fancy books such as moleskins or leather bound books. If the sketchbook is luxurious or expensive, you'll be even more reluctant to draw in it and—god forbid— ruin its pristine pages. 

Leave the moleskins to professionals (and to the trendy fools)

Thought of The Day Jan 23, 2010

Today's Thought of the Day is being brought to you by the letter "H"

Thought of The Day Jan 22, 2010

Pornography is Erotic Art without the pretense. 

When my mother in law saw my books for the first time, she said: "Oh, I didn't know Alberto drew pornography!" my sister in law 'corrected' her: "No, it's not Pornography, it's Erotica" 

Personally, I don't know which one is worst. Ever since that day I quit explaining to people what I do, whenever I'm asked I just say "I Draw Naked Women"

Thought of The Day Jan 21, 2010

Most artists draw tiny comprehensive sketches (thumbnails) before they draw a final. This is so helpful in so many ways, I highly recommend it. 

But for those students who want to simplify the form I suggest doing thumbnails AFTER the final. Trust me, you'll learn lots from deconstructing your own drawing. 

I Often end up scrapping the final and keeping the thumb. 

F.U.  Usually a 'finished' piece is a dead piece, this is why Anthony Ryder and people like him do more harm than good to students of the form. So by re-drawing it the size of a thumbnail you'll get some of that energy back and a totally different drawing will emerge.

Thought of The Day Jan 20, 2009

Motivation works in mysterious ways. Mr. Tandazo, my life drawing teacher, whom I adored, back in the 10th grade told me: "You're all over the place, you lack discipline, you'll never become a successful artist" He was right, of course, but I hated him for saying it and vowed to one day prove him wrong.

I was so hurt that it never dawn on me (until fairly recently, anyway) that this was precisely what he wanted me to do.