General

@KingKokoro: Try harder I guess? Turning off the anime influence wasn't really hard for me, just a different way of drawing.

Wow, you are so good! Somehow I am not too surprised with your age as I'm about the same level of technique as you are and I'm the same age. Here's a suggestion; you should work on your proportions a bit more. If you like drawing anime, please try to make your charscters natrual. Overly cute characters won't help you learn at all. You should look at your surroundings and life to figure out what to draw and how to color. Though even so, you should just practice until you are satisfied as everyone's art style is different.

If you drew that with mouse (or tablet, i don't know), for an 11 year old who's not all that confident in himself, that is pretty good for MS paint.

Probably, you should stick with traditional for now, since Paint's not a very good program in the first place if you really want to get better at drawing.

Like what most people said, use references and such. Go to popular art sites and find inspiration. Look at photos and poses (there are actually sites specifically for providing people with poses to draw. Anatomy and proportions are really important too, so just look around at the people in front of you, etc, etc. If you want to draw anime, draw anime. Just use real-life references anyway. No one wants to see a moe-moe anime girl with eyes half the size of her face, a mouth the size of a pixel, and a neck as thin as a ruler.

It's probably really annoying when you hear people say "practise makes perfect" and stuff like that, but it's really the truth. If you're serious about art, either as a hobby or a future career, practice is really the only way to go. Draw everyday from things you see, literally COPY references from the internet (of course with permission). Sooner or much, much later, you'll be drawing things from your memory and from your mind.

If you're worried about colouring and shading, draw, again, from references. You want to draw a sunset? Go outside and walk around a little, and watch the sunset. Notice the different colours and shapes. Draw what you think looks right and what you think looks good.

[quote=CoraKora]At 11? Dang kid, you're doing pretty well for yourself. Some people are just born with skills that us regular ppl have to work for. So don't look around, wasting time what other ppl have that you don't, but look at your hands and be proud what you have done so far and enjoy what you are doing right now. Hey, you're only 11 years old, you shouldn't be going 'round being depressed.

Being traditional or digital, I don't really care. I mean, they both are art at the bottom end. But still you shouldn't worry not having a tablet at your age. Just having paper and pens are good. I kinda advise you to get a sketchbook (doesn't need to be those pro looking books, just a regular old ones) and sketch on it (daily if possible lol) and your drawing doesn't need to be cool or something people want to stare at, it could be U-G-L-Y as hell. My sketchbook is pretty messy too look at and most are gestures xD If you really want a tablet, just get a small one, just to test your hands on one.

Ehhh, life drawing (nude drawing) at your age.... you're only 11! Some ppl might argue age doesn't matter, but I just feel queasy thinking about a kid going to one and... *shivers* all the poses the models do... I had my first age 15. So instead of rushing through things, what calming down and read some books? Books are great alternative if you never had classes (I know how you feel). Although they don't beat the real life teachers but books really help you improve. One book I might recommend is "Basic Figure Drawings techniques" by Greg Albert (please this isn't against any rules, right?). Actually Greg Albert is awesome. That book has stuffs about gesture drawing and different techniques. Even though it's a figure book, it also has stuffs about the head. (Warning this book does have some nudes). Just somewhere you can look for, if you're stuck.

As for colouring... Ummmmmmmm I hate colouring. But think your colourings as layers (in digital and in traditional). Colour in your basic colours, and build your way up. And also, think/plan ahead where/what you wanna colour before you dip your brush onto your paper, or pencil, markers, w/e's. It's better if you look for how to colour books or tutorials online than me trying to write how to.

Improvement come with understanding, and understanding comes with practice and study. So not only you should practice, you should also learn about the things you want to improve on, that's why I put in those books. Still, remember you're just 11, you shouldn't worry about this all. Just enjoy, it's art. Something you should enjoy, right?

Sames goes to other Tweens out there. Or anyone, really.

This is pretty long... sorry for wall of text! MUHAHAH[/quote]

Wow! Thanks, @CoraKora ! This might help a lot. And you're right, I have to enjoy art and be happy with what I have. All I can do is improve/understand/study/practive and get better. Many thanks

At 11? Dang kid, you're doing pretty well for yourself. Some people are just born with skills that us regular ppl have to work for. So don't look around, wasting time what other ppl have that you don't, but look at your hands and be proud what you have done so far and enjoy what you are doing right now. Hey, you're only 11 years old, you shouldn't be going 'round being depressed.

Being traditional or digital, I don't really care. I mean, they both are art at the bottom end. But still you shouldn't worry not having a tablet at your age. Just having paper and pens are good. I kinda advise you to get a sketchbook (doesn't need to be those pro looking books, just a regular old ones) and sketch on it (daily if possible lol) and your drawing doesn't need to be cool or something people want to stare at, it could be U-G-L-Y as hell. My sketchbook is pretty messy too look at and most are gestures xD If you really want a tablet, just get a small one, just to test your hands on one.

Ehhh, life drawing (nude drawing) at your age.... you're only 11! Some ppl might argue age doesn't matter, but I just feel queasy thinking about a kid going to one and... *shivers* all the poses the models do... I had my first age 15. So instead of rushing through things, what calming down and read some books? Books are great alternative if you never had classes (I know how you feel). Although they don't beat the real life teachers but books really help you improve. One book I might recommend is "Basic Figure Drawings techniques" by Greg Albert (please this isn't against any rules, right?). Actually Greg Albert is awesome. That book has stuffs about gesture drawing and different techniques. Even though it's a figure book, it also has stuffs about the head. (Warning this book does have some nudes). Just somewhere you can look for, if you're stuck.

As for colouring... Ummmmmmmm I hate colouring. But think your colourings as layers (in digital and in traditional). Colour in your basic colours, and build your way up. And also, think/plan ahead where/what you wanna colour before you dip your brush onto your paper, or pencil, markers, w/e's. It's better if you look for how to colour books or tutorials online than me trying to write how to.

Improvement come with understanding, and understanding comes with practice and study. So not only you should practice, you should also learn about the things you want to improve on, that's why I put in those books. Still, remember you're just 11, you shouldn't worry about this all. Just enjoy, it's art. Something you should enjoy, right?

Sames goes to other Tweens out there. Or anyone, really.

This is pretty long... sorry for wall of text! MUHAHAH

[quote=BassChan]If you want to improve, the best thing to do is step away from anime and work on the fundamentals. Draw from life, draw "realistic" figures, gesture drawings, draw still lifes to learn how to replicate different surfaces and whatnot... and working traditionally before digital is probably the best way to go, digital is a bit jarring and forces bad habits like drawing with your "fingers/wrist"(as opposed to moving your whole arm to draw) and shortcuts/sloppy rendering. I find traditional art more fun as well.[/quote]

You're right, I should step away from digital art...but when I try to draw people it ends up all anime-y and when I try drawing objects it ends up all cartoony! </3
I really wish I could show you my collection of traditionals but no scanner...-sigh-

I'm jealous....I wish I could draw that good on the computer.

I'm great off the computer but I suck in photoshop..... and I'm 13.

[quote=justabuyer]MSPaint and mouse are prooo. At least yer in the Hall of Fame for such dedication. ^^[/quote]

Not to sound rude but... how is that "pro" at all? Pro is short for professional, and both of those things are... far and distant from professionalism.

Haha, and you say your terrible...
I am even worst. I just never give up
Here's an example of one of my drawings
[url=http://www.basilmarket.com/show/screen/206034/0/Mushroom_in_the_forest.html]It sucks right?[/url]
The main thing is to not give up. Practice
I like your work o.o

[quote=Krill]Practice, practice, practice. It's boring, unfun, and unfortunately the best way to improve.
Look at what you like, try to incorporate it into your own drawings (style, not just tracing others' work.)
Work on real-life proportions and female physique. Trust when I say the sooner you do that the better.[/quote]

Pfft, what? Practicing is so much fun.

If you want to improve, the best thing to do is step away from anime and work on the fundamentals. Draw from life, draw "realistic" figures, gesture drawings, draw still lifes to learn how to replicate different surfaces and whatnot... and working traditionally before digital is probably the best way to go, digital is a bit jarring and forces bad habits like drawing with your "fingers/wrist"(as opposed to moving your whole arm to draw) and shortcuts/sloppy rendering. I find traditional art more fun as well.

[quote=KingKokoro]At the last sentence, I don't have a tablet, I use a laptop mouse pad. [/quote]

well im more comfortable on paper...but you seem pretty good at the mouse. i think for practice you should use paper though

[quote=MissMaylie]imo, artistic people have their strengths in different areas.
i personally think i am terrible with colors and landscapes, but am good with hard lines.
i've met people who can paint really well and beautifully, but when i comes to drawing quickly, it doesn't look accurate enough.
if you want to improve your character drawing technique then i'd suggest you get the basics down for drawing by learning to draw construction lines.

also people like me usually don't like spilling every secret out there -_-. i'm highly against relying on tutorials and such but i guess i depends on the person.
if you're serious, (and you have great potential thar shonen) then you have to work hard and figure out the answers yourself. people are going to shoot advice from you from all directions, so you have to try them out and see what works best for [b]you[/b]. my best improvements happened because i practiced and tried all kinds of things myself and felt with my hands for the answer. keep drawing. i'd suggest taking a break from drawing people, too.

lastly, force yourself to color and use up those color pencils
oh and please...don't get a tablet until you're at least in high school[/quote]

At the last sentence, I don't have a tablet, I use a laptop mouse pad.

Practice, practice, practice. It's boring, unfun, and unfortunately the best way to improve.
Look at what you like, try to incorporate it into your own drawings (style, not just tracing others' work.)
Work on real-life proportions and female physique. Trust when I say the sooner you do that the better.

imo, artistic people have their strengths in different areas.
i personally think i am terrible with colors and landscapes, but am good with hard lines.
i've met people who can paint really well and beautifully, but when i comes to drawing quickly, it doesn't look accurate enough.
if you want to improve your character drawing technique then i'd suggest you get the basics down for drawing by learning to draw construction lines.

also people like me usually don't like spilling every secret out there -_-. i'm highly against relying on tutorials and such but i guess i depends on the person.
if you're serious, (and you have great potential thar shonen) then you have to work hard and figure out the answers yourself. people are going to shoot advice from you from all directions, so you have to try them out and see what works best for [b]you[/b]. my best improvements happened because i practiced and tried all kinds of things myself and felt with my hands for the answer. keep drawing. i'd suggest taking a break from drawing people, too.

lastly, force yourself to color and use up those color pencils
oh and please...don't get a tablet until you're at least in high school

Lol I can honestly say you are alot better than me when I was your age you are actually really good
There really isn't a "quick" way or short cut to get better if you ask me. You just have to practice practice practice. Try looking into references. Plus NEVER compare yourself with someone else. Of course you can a favorite artist and say "Gee one day I wish I can be good as him/her." but when you start doubting yourself and start saying your not good enough because it's not as good as the said artist that's the worst thing you can do . Everyone has their own pace and I think you can be great with a little more practice

That's pretty gewd try watching youtube vid and stuff :o

You're actually not bad. All you need to do is keep drawing, evolve your style. Looking at other people's drawings, even copying them, really helps. Look for these kind of influences, and don't forget to master realistic human anatomy. (I still need to do this D: ) It makes stylizing (for example, anime style) much easier!