Hey! I'm Tim the beginner....

email68 · 13 Feb 2016, 23:43

Hey!-

I'm Tim. I'm quite sure that I don't draw well enough to even be here! But I'm having fun with the SVS courses even though I'm sure I'm too old to learn it well now (48 y/o).

I recently picked up an iPad Pro and Apple Pencil and I'm using Procreate. I'm also tying to work on filling up a traditional sketchbook because of Jake.

If you can believe, I self published a kids book a couple of years ago. It's about my kids traveling to an alien museum in Roswell NM. where they meet an alien at the museum. I actually got the museum to sell it in their gift shop... The art is very very bad... but it sells well there....

Please give me some pointers, or tell me where my next studies should go! I already know not to quit my day job!

Thanks!

shinjifujioka · 14 Feb 2016, 00:53

@email68 Welcome Tim Hope you enjoy it here!

mag · 14 Feb 2016, 00:56

Hi It's great You learn something new!
I always find useful to try focus more on shapes, not so much on details. For example I would skip the lines representing feathers, and the ones on legs.
The sketchbook is the right step forward, maybe You could try to doodle whenever You have the opportunity. One friend of mine is now in her forties and she started drawing - every single day she draws a picture, and every picture is better and better!

lmrush · 14 Feb 2016, 01:16

Welcome Tim!

Rebecca Hirsch · 14 Feb 2016, 05:27

I'm not new to SVS but rather new to the forum, and as someone also in my 40's I say it's never too late to learn something new. Cheers!

MOO · 14 Feb 2016, 05:51

Welcome! I think we all feel like beginners sometimes. I illustrated a book a couple of ears ago for a friend who kind of self-published it. That was before i knew what I don't know now If you know what I mean. I'm pushing 60 and I still have a lot to learn. I am trying to learn by making a book so I can make more now-the right way. I find it very challenging to find the time needed to redo so much but, slowly but surely. I'm not too confident that I could do well digitally so I stick to what I know. I see lots of potential in your drawing and I think you've come to the right place! Keep up teh good work and I look forward to seeing what else you have What's the name of your book?

Lee Holland · 14 Feb 2016, 13:01

Hi Tim this is a great place to post your work.

Camomilla · 14 Feb 2016, 14:06

Hi Tim, I'm new as well I do NOT think we ever get to old to create or have progress. At least that's what I tell myself, being four-five years younger than you No, honestly, I can see progress in my own work now that I've intensified my efforts, and there's nothing really special about me. I like the expression on your owl

Lynn Larson · 14 Feb 2016, 16:00

Hiya Tim! You better not be too old, I'm only 2 years behind you! Welcome to the art party

14 Feb 2016, 17:13

Hi Tim,

Good to have you here! We get told all the time how difficult it is to learn new things once you're past a certain age, but I don't think that takes into account the wisdom that age can bring with regards to having a smarter approach to learning. I didn't start in my teens or twenties either (about to turn 33), but I feel like I'm making solid progress. The best advice I can give is to focus on the fundamentals and never turn down a chance to deepen your knowledge of them even if you feel you already have a solid grasp. Beyond that, just get lots of mileage (that is to say....draw). These two things make a world of difference.

sergio · 14 Feb 2016, 18:16

@email68

There are no age to learn to illustrate. So, wellcome

email68 · 14 Feb 2016, 22:26

Thanks for the welcome everyone!

I just need to put in my 'mileage' The problem with me is that I get impatient and want to be done. Well before its done I know.

I was thinking of one of those sketch-a-day things to give me ideas on what to draw an keep me motivated. Are there any good ones out there?

Like I said, my book's artwork is really bad, but it was fun to do with the kids. Here's the link to the amazon page. http://amzn.to/1Thxy8C

Steff · 14 Feb 2016, 23:18

Welcome Tim!

Leontine · 15 Feb 2016, 08:16

Hi Tim, Welcome!

amberwingart · 15 Feb 2016, 09:48

1st of all, welcome Tim! You're going to love it here - everyone is incredibly supportive and helpful of each other.

2nd of all, we're all at different stages of development and we're all here to learn - from the teachers and from each other. Don't ever feel intimidated about posting here - you'll get so much helpful feedback and information, along with a good dose of encouragement from everyone.

3rd, I just started drawing 5 years ago and I'm 44. You're never too old to learn or to follow what you're passionate about! Assuming we're not hit by a bus, you and I probably have a good 40 years left here on earth, so I'd say that we're still young enough to find & enjoy our creativity! And as an aside, I believe Van Gogh was almost 30 when he started teaching himself to paint (and he was self taught).

You said you're looking for a sketch group - there are a couple that I'm a member of that are really helpful. One is Illustration Friday and the other is 52-week Illustration Challenge on Facebook. Each of them has a weekly prompt and then everyone posts their resulting drawings. Nothing is going to help you more than practice and these groups definitely help with that. Here are the links:

52-Week Illustration Challenge group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/illo52weeks/

Illustration Friday: http://illustrationfriday.com/

Have fun here!

email68 · 16 Feb 2016, 17:50

Thanks amberwingart- I joined the 52 week group! Looks like fun.

bernadetta · 17 Feb 2016, 11:47

Hello Tim! Nice to see you here! It's never to late to learn.