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Having a Hard Time Constructing Animals Lesson Five

2:08 AM, Saturday January 23rd 2021

Hello,

I've been really struggling with Lesson 5 for some reason constructing animals is just not clicking with me. I haven't had too much trouble constructing plants, and insects and my drawings can be close to those references, but when it comes to animals I'm having a tough time and they turn awful. Even more frustrating is when I look at the homework from current students they're animal drawings turn out really good, I feel like I'm missing something. I've revisited the tutorials multiple times for this lesson and I figured I could get some insight to the community if they could help me out. I'll start off first by asking a question, when constructing an animal is it better to draw the head, chest, and pelvis smaller than they are and build up to their proportions or just try and get the proportions right the first time? Any other tips would be great. Thanks guys :)

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8:16 PM, Sunday January 24th 2021

I am on lesson 5 and have taken a break to draw more realistic animals. I have a subscription to creatureartteacher.com and have been working my way through some, I have done wolves, foxes, coyotes, bears and some birds of prey so far.

I found that I had lost motivation when trying to draw the drawabox animals. There was just too much lacking so I needed something more lifelike to get my teeth into. At some point in the next few weeks I will get back to constructing animals. For the moment my photoshop rendering of animals is improving in leaps and bounds.

Long story short, perhaps find something similar to give you more insight into the how animals are put together. Might make the jump from insects to animals a bit easier.

9:07 PM, Sunday January 24th 2021
edited at 9:15 PM, Jan 24th 2021

Thank you it's good to know I am not the only one. When you say there was just too much lacking with the drawabox method what do you mean exactly? Do you mean there was too much lacking knowledge for yourself? Or do you mean that there was too much lacking in terms the lesson themselves i.e. details. Cause I find myself thinking there is too much in the lessons details. It's funny cause in one of Drawabox demos (I think the animal heads demo) you see Uncomfortable make a big transition from the construction to detailing the animal, and he jokes about the "draw the rest of the owl" meme, but I sort of actually feel like that when taking on the homework. I appreciate your advice, thank you :)

P.S. Uncomfortable if you are reading this, I'm no way insulting your method I just think I might be slightly slow at this lesson haha.

edited at 9:15 PM, Jan 24th 2021
11:25 PM, Sunday January 24th 2021

Not sure. Perhaps I was not doing enough of the other 50%. Maybe it is just that the constructed animals themselves are kind of lacking artistic merit. I know it's not about that, it is about construction but I found it hard to get into. I think the previous exercises were easier cause they were very geometric whereas animals are very fluid and complex. Could have just been my mood. Lockdown is making me very lethargic.

Anyway, this isn't about the whole drawabox method as I believe in it. Just can be tough sometimes.

0 users agree
11:10 PM, Saturday January 23rd 2021

Well first off I would say comparing your art to others is always a slipper slope when learning. I focused way too hard on it ages ago when I was first beginning and it defeated me/made me not want to do more.But as Ive grown as a human and an artist you find it easier to look and see new things in others art.

Instead of looking at the big picture and just being 'satisfied with their work' and 'not with mine' try looking at what they have done and pick out a few parts you really love and feel you lack skill at. Its way easier to learn from that than seeing everything as an overall failure. Plus in doing so Im sure you will find things you like better the way you do.

On top of that I think it also has to do with passion for things. I find I love drawing birds and reptiles, but fuzzy aniamls just dont do as much for me. I spend too long on the fur and like forms more. So if thats true for you I can get why bugs are easier, their legs and bodies are really made of 'portions'. While mammals are one large piece.

It may be an unpopular opinion not to follow the tutorials to a T but there isnt just one way to do things. What they have is a good starting point for many but may not be for you.

Id say maybe try and find tutorials offsite for animals you are super fond of. Or even going for cartoon before realism. If you enjoy something more than whats given its far easier to get a jumping off point.

I also find I am not a huge follower of drawing in the order they do for animals. Starting with the floating unattached balls is a little rough as I learned differently. So I stick to what I like which is body shape (including a backside, hip joint, shoulder) and then adding a neck, and then head. For humans I always begin with the head, but for animals I tend to make it way too small if I dont have a body to compare it to.

So for sure if you can find some good step by steps (love me some pinterest for this) you can see the other methods and maybe will find something clicks.

To me if something tutorial wise isnt working I think of it like seeing a doctor. Not everyone learns the same, so a second opinion for a specific subject can change your whole outlook.

5:54 AM, Sunday January 24th 2021

I think the first half is very good advice, but

It may be an unpopular opinion not to follow the tutorials to a T but there isnt just one way to do things. What they have is a good starting point for many but may not be for you.

...

To me if something tutorial wise isnt working I think of it like seeing a doctor. Not everyone learns the same, so a second opinion for a specific subject can change your whole outlook.

In terms of making the best drawing you can right now, that might be useful, but for learning what Drawabox has to teach, it is not. These are exercises and changing them to get a better drawing may sidestep the intended goal. It will also limit the usefulness of the feedback received.

6:46 PM, Sunday January 24th 2021

I always want to follow any course I do to a T without having to use outside references soley for the reason that it may end up confusing me. On the other hand when it comes to a specific body part like the snout for example, I was able to get a better grasp of it without feeling that it sidesteps the Uncomfortable's lesson. All in all I just realize that the more I work on it the more I will better understand how to construct and the better I will grasp the lessons.

8:29 PM, Sunday January 24th 2021

Totally what I was trying to say but in a much simpler form ;)

8:28 PM, Sunday January 24th 2021

Im not saying dont do them, but if you get stuck why stay in that and not give yourself opprotunity to learn how you need?

Kids all learn math in their own way, so teachers cant rely on a textbook to teach 100% of students. Its why tutors exist for 1x1 learning.

Im just stating dont get upset if you are stuck/feel like you are no capable. When for many it may just take googling images or finding a video with other methods.

Then once past the hurdle hop back in to drawbox and you can move forward. As an artist we are our own worst critic, so if you do hit a wall its hard on its own, but to hit one in a lesson shouldnt make you feel like there is no way past.

9:13 PM, Sunday January 24th 2021

You are absolutely right! I think I need to work on my patience I have a desire to just start creating great works of art but that's not the point right now, the point is to learn and understand what is being taught. I gotta just enjoy the process and enjoy the journey of learning art.

6:42 PM, Sunday January 24th 2021

Thank you for this, I do realize that comparing myself to other students is just asking for unneeded frustration. We definitely do all learn at a different pace and somethings will be easier for people to comprehend. Honestly I came to the conclusion that I just want to try and do basic construction of the animals instead of adding in the texture or details to them. This is probably deviating away from Uncomfortable's method but I just think adding everything, especially to a complex figure like an animal, is just too much for me at the moment. I plan to stick with this lesson a little bit longer than I did with the other lessons. I will also try your method in constructing the animals. Again, I appreciate your response :)

8:35 PM, Sunday January 24th 2021

Of course! I know how frustrating getting art block or even just stuck in a tutorial can be. For me I have to keep myself doing things I like, and if I find myself avoiding I need to step back and see what is causing that.

I can only do so many comissions a month for that reason. I need the freedom to take my time as well as not stick to one thing too long. It may not be everyones thing (I have friends who HAVE to finish a piece before moving on) but Im the opposite. If I dont have at least two things to work on and move between when I hit that block I never finish anything xD

If I can Ill link to my favorite tutorial I used when stuck, I just dont know if I have the link anymore.

6:48 PM, Sunday January 24th 2021

Thank you for this, I do realize that comparing myself to other students is just asking for unneeded frustration. We definitely do all learn at a different pace and somethings will be easier for people to comprehend. Honestly I came to the conclusion that I just want to try and do basic construction of the animals instead of adding in the texture or details to them. This is probably deviating away from Uncomfortable's method but I just think adding everything, especially to a complex figure like an animal, is just too much for me at the moment. I plan to stick with this lesson a little bit longer than I did with the other lessons. I will also try your method in constructing the animals. Again, I appreciate your response :)

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