Quoting Post Archived Topic: It will not be bumped to the top of the forum. Topic The Artist Membername   Not a member? Sign Up Free (takes 20 seconds) Password   Forgotten your password? Post Font: Verdana Arial Black Georgia Comic Sans Impact   Size: Tiny Normal Big Huge   Color: Default Dark Red Red Orange Brown Green Olive Cyan Blue Dark Blue Indigo Black [ Check Spelling ] [ Post Preview ] [ LiveTags ] Quote: from [m]fedoragirl[/m] at 7:56 pm on Nov. 12, 2008[quote]Realism + charcoal/graphite/etc = Not a happy ending.  I think it would be more productive to do sketches with those tools and then choose another product to make your creation come to life.  Paint is amazing.  [/quote] FAQ Keyword Search: Post Options Favorites Manager Notify me of new replies to this topic by email Notify me of new replies to this topic by private message Original Post MR UNKNOWN Posted at 7:53 pm on Nov. 12, 2008 I strive for realism when it comes to natural medians like graphite or colored pencil and because of that, I've never compete an actual piece, My sketch book is filled with little things of this and that, an apple, my hand... but I just get so over whelmed that my stuff doesn't look like a photograph that I get discouraged and not finish anything :( someone halp

Replies dreamerofoz Posted at 10:03 pm on Nov. 14, 2008 You just have to push yourself to actually finish. You need to make yourself think, "Oh I can perfect this once I get the main details in and so forth" or "No worried, I can fix that later." It's like you get anxious in the middle of your project and you just want it done- but the only way to finish it, is to keep going. Sometimes, if I just get too flustered over it... I set aside and start on something else. I don't even look at it for like a week or two. After so long, I return to it. It's like it's a whole new painting again, but only partially done as it is. It also helps me get back into the rhythm of things. ElephantStone Posted at 1:46 pm on Nov. 14, 2008 Ok. You can achieve a huge amount of realism with graphite. Assuming you have bought yourself a proper tin of artists pencils. Start with the lighter grades and work to the softer ones. Hard pencils do the outline and the light areas and soft ones do the dark areas. Secondly, like starrynight401 said. You adopt a style that fits. If you want you can look in my IB at my apples. Although the photo isnt great, I achieved the image and got it realistic looking and I used bold streaks of paint, which is my style. I remember my art teacher used to be amazed by how I painted so boldly. Its a style and you have to settle into it. But I find a lot of art is in your head, you just know how to do it, without really thinking. starrynight401 Posted at 9:47 pm on Nov. 13, 2008 Well you want to be a photorealist if that's what you are striving for then you could always try working out a grid method. Although think of it this way the strokes and marks that fit your style is your trademark as an artisk and it's what makes you you. Although a grid method is very very good for photorealism. Mifan Posted at 7:59 pm on Nov. 12, 2008 Just try to observe the world around you and search some help on the internet. Things won't look as you want in the beginning, but you must be able of making mistakes just so you learn little by little. fedoragirl Posted at 7:56 pm on Nov. 12, 2008 Realism + charcoal/graphite/etc = Not a happy ending.  I think it would be more productive to do sketches with those tools and then choose another product to make your creation come to life.  Paint is amazing.   RossTheHoss69 Posted at 7:55 pm on Nov. 12, 2008 Well, you'll have to get over that, and just come to terms with the fact that your stuff looks, to you, like a cartoon. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so someone else's perception may like it better than you see it. carracer Posted at 7:55 pm on Nov. 12, 2008 It shouldn't always look like a photograph. A drawing is an interpretation, it shouldn't always be a copy. All 7 previous replies displayed.