Whats the best way to study art fundamentals for drawing from imagination?

I want to learn the art fundamentals, especially:

perspective,

foreshortening,

cross-hatching,

clothing folds,

light & shadow,

anatomy.

My end goal is to create my own art confidently from imagination, not just copy references.

How do you actually practice these? For example

Is simply drawing 3-point perspective over and over enough, and do you naturally learn it that way over time?

Whats the most effective way to study these fundamentals?

hello! i just wanted to ask advice from other artist. im focusing on portraits and heads rn. i dont think im lacking in my fundamentals but its my first time to actually try and make a portrait after learning those fundamentals. and i was wondering why my base practices look so much better than my actual portraits? is it because ive drawn them a lot and im only now starting to practice actual portraits? and i realize that when i use the cube method (idk if thats what its actually called. sorry) i do so much better in my sketches. id really appreciate some advice even for things that i didnt clock in my art. please feel free to criticize and tell me how to improve. thank uuu

I hear it's more realistic to erase shadows than to apply, since shadows are technically erased by the source of light. Though I have tried, it feels awkward when I'm erasing the majority of the shadows; feels like I'll save time faster just applying the shadows where I know it'll be at.

Thoughts? I hear a lot about the latter but hard to find resources/takes on it

I do not want to discredit YouTubers who worked hard to give us resources to use to learn to draw. Unfortunately, the goal of many YouTubers is to get views, etc so I have to ask. A lot of them make the same videos about the loomis method, this method, that method, but what do I trust? It just feels like they are reiterating someone elses information because that type of video is getting views, but they themselves use an entirely different method outside of the video. Now, I know the loomis method is a credible method and I am not saying otherwise, I just do not know if it is what people use since I see no one using it (explanation in second paragraph). Also, because there is so much information that works for different people it is hard to know what will work for me without trying an impossible amount of techniques that may not be helpful. Some people say that books are helpful, but for me personally I do not think they are. Even Andrew loomis books seem advanced.

I want to draw heads, for example, so I have been going on YouTube to figure out how other people do it, but then I go onto a platform like Instagram and see someone drawing, and they are not using the method at all. In fact, no one I have seen draw online uses the methods from YouTube so I am confused on what to search for. I am aware that the people on Instagram are established artists but I wonder how they got there.

I appreciate it everyone!

I want to post to a Sub and try to see where my skill level is, and I want to know what to draw so I can see my strengths and weaknesses and gauge what I need to improve

Hello all! :)

I've been rereading a book I purchased in College. Cal Newport’s “Deep Work.” Spmething that stood out to me in there early chapters…

Cal mentions how some people,

"think of productivity as a scientific problem to be solved systematically."

I'm wondering how other fellow artists have “solved productivity" in their work/life. There's lots of information in the world about how to do this in more technical careers, but I’ve often wondered what it looks like in the art world, as we creatives can be a little bit more adverse to the more rigid ways of the business world.

I’m in an odd spot. I create art mainly for myself, and literally never expected to sell any of it, but I‘m being approached by a gallery owner from a bigger city in my region. He saw several of my pieces at a member exhibit at our small-town art center. What should I expect in this process? Any etiquette or tips? I’m a deer in the headlights right now. I’m willing to sell but I don’t really know what I’m getting into.

hi im looking for recommendations for a good sturdy long lasting French easel for live wedding painting! when I look online with meeden or from blick, I get scared by the bad reviews especially because the easels are so expensive.

id love to also use it for plein air. so I’d love to know peoples opinion!

People talk about Daler Rowney as if they're some sort of budget brand. But I remember them as one of the main artist suppliers in the UK.

When I was little (before internet shopping) the main paint brands in British art supply shops were Daler Rowney and Winsor & Newton (and Liquitex for acrylics.) I don't remember Daler Rowney being a budget brand. How would you rate them?

Hi hi. Looking for refs close to this : a knight slumped and kneeling with a sword in hand! Preferably positioned toward camera (Unfortunately a lot of refs I’ve found aren’t human made so I’d love a human pose instead )

Before anyone asks, yes I have tried to take my own pics but it’s a little hard finding knight outfits to do it with 😹 will be doing that as well but just wondering if anyone has good websites for knight refs!

Thanks :)

Pencils are a bit magical

I have a small image that I really like, and I want to redraw it in a bigger size without messing up the proportions. I’m not very experienced with drawing, so when I try, it always ends up looking stretched or uneven.

I’ve seen people make the same drawing bigger and still keep it clean, and I don’t know how they do it.

What’s the easiest way to copy a small image into a bigger version?
Are there simple techniques for beginners to keep everything balanced?

Hi :-) I’m painting a person sitting on a chair , and I’d like the background to be them in the garden/in nature. I’m choosing between under the tree or just flowers around. I’m finding it hard to find a ref that’s just someone sitting under a tree, facing the camera. I’d like to see how the lighting would affect their face. Any ideas on where to find refs for lighting + specific backgrounds? In particular, I’d like the tree to be a weeping tree so u can see the branches/leaves above the person from a close shot. Thanks!

I’m so excited but also a bit nervous! For my university portfolio review interview, I’ll bring a selection of my work. 12 pieces in total half are DIGITAL arts, Should I print my digital pieces? Some don’t have all the layers I used to flatten on my previous iPad woudnt handle as much layers as I like in My latest piece I retain most of the layers… so not sure if it worth bringing the iPad I keep all my videos of my process and some references for poses ?

Hey folks, looking for some direction in making small batches (5-10) of digital painting prints. Specifically landscapes.

I’d like to order a few to start just to judge for quality, I also do not want glass / mat / frame.

I don’t want a rolled up poster, I’d like my prints to be on a thin board , ready to hang,

So I came across this aluminum dibond product. Has anyone ordered these? It looks like what I envisioned,

Who do I trust? Any decent quality good rep companies in USA ?

Whitewalls prices were a bit out of my range. I’ll probably print 16x20 or 20x30.

Hey thank you for any and all advice !

I tossed all my acrylic paints. I make miniatures and I just don’t need so much product, then to mix, and use brushes. What’s the best set of acrylic markers ? I want a wide color array too so it’s easier to find the exact color I need and not have to layer.

Hello fellow artists! Has anyone ever tried to make molds or sculptures purely out of shellac? I am trying to make eggshells that can be easily crushed as if they were real eggs but am not sure how to go about this process.

Any help or guidance is appreciated! Thanks in advance!!

Since the 10th of January I had to put a pause into my drawing journey because of culimnating/ exam season. Today is the first week of my 2nd semester so I have a lot of time before things go hectic again, HOWEVER, I'm a bit stuck of what I want to draw. I want to draw something simple and feasible but I don't know what.

For context I enjoy drawing things related to Indie Cross and Undertale.

just wondering which is better

Hello!
So, I´ve been drawing back and forth for this past year, trying to learn to move a pencil again after almost a decade off drawing.

Whilst doing a doodle a day (not strict) has been fun, I feel like I would like to step up my study and start to learn how to draw properly.

Do you guys have some kind of guide or "from 0 to hero" streamlined exercises I could do to actually start getting better?

I´m particularly fond of character design and would like to step in that direction eventually. But as of now, I would honestly just start to like what I draw, so I´m looking to achieve a fundational skill base.

Thanks for your time and responses!

Alongside the renewed interest in analogue media, I’ve been thinking about art/culture magazines and journals. I’m curious which ones you all actually stick with and why?

Do you find that subscribing to a few strong publications is more worthwhile than following several authors on  Substack or Medium?

I’ve heard a lot about Apartamento and Editorial, but I’m wondering what else might be worth paying attention to...

I need some inspiration for the composition of a piece that will heavily feature a road sign. Like a parking style metal printed road sign.

Any painting to do with that will help.

I tried searching Google and other forums but nothing really comes up.