Hand drawing, and WACOM pads

[Jin-Roh]

Hello!

I know a lot of people out there are better than me at this kind of thing, so I thought I'd ask.

I have resolved to learn how to draw by hand. It is a slow process, but one that I am sticking to. My long term goal is to eventually get good enough to re-imagine my Webcomic into a proper graphic novel. This is going to take time. Lots of it. My comic has language in it, so I can't link it. Google "the Uber Bean" if you are interested.

I am already well used to working with Adobe Illustrator. I really like that program.

I guess, I am asking for open advice on both figure drawing, manga drawing, and the transition from hand drawing to wacom pads. I may be purchasing a wacom soon, but for now all my practice is on a proper, traditional, art pad.

Please! Artists! Help me!

[toodlesdoodles]

Here's an advice on Wacom pads: make sure to NEVER lose the pen, I lost my pen >.< So I'm going to have to buy a new one somehow >.< Good luck with your drawing :-) I'm a manga artist (you can check out my work on DeviantArt, my username is LetMeBeWithYou)

[Jin-Roh]

What happens when you lose your pen?

[NeilUnreal]

I don't know. I've owned several WACOM tablets over the past 18 years, but I've never lost a pen. I did drop mine behind the desk yesterday and haven't recovered it yet, and now I'm starting to get paranoid, lol.

I don't know much about art, but here is what I do know about art:

There is one, and only one, consistent difference between the people I know who are good artists and those who are not. And it is this:

All the people I've ever encountered who are good artists draw all the time -- in pocket notebooks, scraps of paper, napkins, whatever -- they just never stop drawing.

-Neil

[Sparko]

get a large tablet if you can afford it. those small ones are more trouble than help. get something the size of a sheet of paper.
and remember, there is a large unactive area around the tablet where your hand rests and the buttons and such. I am talking about the active area.

The absolute best solution would be the wacom tablet that is also a monitor. then what you draw appears right under your pen. but it is crazy expensive.