I've been working a rather lot on improving my artwork lately trying to get the picture just the way i want it. I've even worked on shading some. But it was brought to my attention that there's a gap in my technique that's really holding back. And that brings me to this:
Can anyone explain how to add DEMENSION to my artwork? And any techniques for practicing this next step in my artwork?

For starters, don't come to e621 asking for advice on drafting technique. We're all assholes here.

Second, the concept of understanding and rendering objects in three dimensions through a two-dimensional visual medium is almost the entire foundation of drawing as a craft. It isn't something easily explained through a class, let alone through a forum over the internet.

Take an art class. Sign up for basic and life drawing courses at your high school or a local community college. You'll learn a lot.

What I can tell you from here is to practice in real life; draw observationally. Pick out any old thing lying around from bottles to video games to furniture to people, and try to render it on pencil and paper as accurately as you can. Make yourself forget what you think things are like and draw what you actually see.

Another related thing I think helps: draw things upside-down, that way you're paying more attention to the lines and topology of the object and paying less attention to how you're used to drawing/seeing that object.

http://www.amazon.com/How-Draw-Comics-Marvel-Way/dp/0671530771

The way I'm interpreting what you're asking, dimension comes from things that suggest depth and don't exist on the 2d plane of the paper you're drawing on. It also comes from lighting the character at an angle that accentuates the character's depth in the third dimension.

Basically, even though you're drawing on a 2d surface, you have to understand that your objects exist in 3-dimensional space, and pose your character to demonstrate that.

The cover from that how-to-draw book at null's link has some good examples. All of the characters are posed in a way that their bodies or limbs are going into or coming out of the page in some way. Also, none of the characters are looking straight out of the page - they all have their heads turned in some way or another. Even Hulk has his head turned upwards so that he is subtly looking down his nose at the page he's grabbing.

There are a few techniques involved in this. Study perspective and foreshortening, especially as it applies to figure drawing. Practice drawing heads at 3/4s perspective. Practice shading different objects, both figures and random real-life stuff - get yourself a gum eraser, a 2B pencil, and nice, heavy paper in the 50lb-80lb range and use your finger (actually rubbing the pencil marks on the page) to help shade evenly. Take note of how the direction of a light source in 3-dimensions effects the shading of an object, and take note of how the light source also exists in 3-dimensions.

ikdind said:
use your finger (actually rubbing the pencil marks on the page) to help shade evenly.

If you lick your finger before rubbing the paper it will produce a different effect. Experiment and see what works for you.

Not entirely sure what you are looking for but this may be of interest
http://theartdepartment.org/downloads/carl-dobsky-perspective
It is a two part, 90 minutes each, lesson on perspective.
Only $7 for each part currently.
And this
http://theartdepartment.org/downloads/jason-manley-composition
It also discusses perspective.

Lanton said:
Can anyone explain how to add DEMENSION to my artwork?

Become a string theorist, you'll learn how to add like 11 dimensions.

My bad, my bad! You said "demension," not "dimension." I guess just try chanting "Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn" to see if any demons show up.

Shit! You said "demension," not "demonsion." Well, I can't help you there, brosephine.

KloH0und said:
For starters, don't come to e621 asking for advice on drafting technique. We're all assholes here.

It's true. I don't know shit about visual art.

Lanton said:
I've been working a rather lot on improving my artwork lately trying to get the picture just the way i want it. I've even worked on shading some. But it was brought to my attention that there's a gap in my technique that's really holding back. And that brings me to this:
Can anyone explain how to add DEMENSION to my artwork? And any techniques for practicing this next step in my artwork?

Link to something (recent) you've done. Asking how to improve art we've never seen is rather silly, wouldn't you agree?

Anonym said:
Link to something (recent) you've done. Asking how to improve art we've never seen is rather silly, wouldn't you agree?

Of course we won't just use it to make fun of you.

What a ridiculous idea.

KloH0und said:
Of course we won't just use it to make fun of you.

What a ridiculous idea.

Perish the thought.

He was the artist behind post #175324, which is about 3 months ago now.

post #175324

So be gentle, constructive, and supportive.

ikdind said:
He was the artist behind post #175324, which is about 3 months ago now.

post #175324

So be gentle, constructive, and supportive.

I'm aware; I, too can look up user uploads. We're going on the assumption that he/she draws more than once every 3 months.

Without at least that much dedication, it'd be a waste of time to offer any critique. Ah, who am I kidding? I'm going to do it anyway.

Based on that drawing alone, I can say that you shouldn't be worrying about the illusion of dimension to your work. That's way beyond the scope of your skill level. You first need to gain an understanding of basic construction: how the(any) body fits together. I'm sure you've seen little drawing tutorials that show a character being constructed out of basic shapes, right? Well, think that. That's a good starting point for you. Find a good tutorial on the internet with lots of examples and practice. Your goal is to be able to consistently come up with a body with good proportions in your own sketches in a variety of poses. While you're at it, look up some anatomical references and gain an understanding of how the muscles interconnect. Your work will always lack substance if you aren't comfortable with what you are drawing.

Ultimately, looking at a 2d page or screen and still managing to think in 3 dimensions is how you will learn to add dimension to your work. That comes later. How much later depends on how much you practice and how talented you are.

You have your homework assignment. Good luck.

I'd say Lanton has a pretty good grasp on the basics of figure drawing; his/her work shows more or less believable proportions and attachments of human body parts. But I agree that his/her work would benefit from further study of real-life anatomical references.

Lanton, go pick up some references for human anatomy, study the human body from real life and in academic literature. There are plenty of books on the fundamentals of human figure drawing you can get, and even medical literature can be useful; I own a copy of Gray's Anatomy just for figure drawing.

Oh, and go look at porn. Live-actions stuff; nothing drawn or animated.

Seriously.

Not to turn this into an argument or anything, but I don't see this as an indication of "a pretty good grasp". Look at the difference in lengths of both arms, for example. The fact that it even appears to look more or less believable is solely because of the pose. They need to develop a consistent system for producing believable proportions and anatomy. That's the first step, and it will take a lot of practice, mostly looking at how other people draw and determining what methods suit them best.

Once they have that, then then can start focusing on real anatomy and it's implications in drawing. Right now, they just wont benefit all that much from it -- still important, but not as important.

Anonym said:
Not to turn this into an argument or anything, but I don't see this as an indication of "a pretty good grasp".

I agree that his work has a lot of room for improvement, but I've definitely seen far worse come from inexperienced artists. At least his drawing looks somewhat human.

Look at the difference in lengths of both arms, for example. The fact that it even appears to look more or less believable is solely because of the pose.

Yes, using the pose to achieve anatomical accuracy is a crutch, but the fact that he got to that point at all shows he has some appreciation for how the human figure looks in reality. It isn't a bad place to start; as I said he can do with improvement.

Once they have that, then then can start focusing on real anatomy and it's implications in drawing. Right now, they just wont benefit all that much from it -- still important, but not as important.

If you really think he needs to learn skills that basic then he should be doing observational still lifes, not figure drawing.

Which may not be a bad idea; we can't really determine the full extent of his skill (or lack of skill) based on a single piece.

I made a list of up and coming artists here

KloH0und said:
...we can't really determine the full extent of his skill (or lack of skill) based on a single piece.

Exactly.

I made a list of up and coming artists here]

Oh, you.

Okay, let me rephrase myself. Lanton seems at least somewhat capable of drawing observationally.

But he needs to post more of his work if we're to properly ̶m̶a̶k̶e̶ ̶f̶u̶n̶ ̶o̶f̶ advise him.

RedOctober said:
Become a string theorist, you'll learn how to add like 11 dimensions.

My bad, my bad! You said "demension," not "dimension." I guess just try chanting "Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn" to see if any demons show up.

Shit! You said "demension," not "demonsion." Well, I can't help you there, brosephine.

It's true. I don't know shit about visual art.

Haha. Tis why i asked with low expectations. But if someone weren;t an a-hole, then good. But i'm working on it though. I found a source for practice..

Anonym said:
Link to something (recent) you've done. Asking how to improve art we've never seen is rather silly, wouldn't you agree?

Well, my arts on here, just deleted. Lol. But that is true. So yes, i agree.

KloH0und said:
I'd say Lanton has a pretty good grasp on the basics of figure drawing; his/her work shows more or less believable proportions and attachments of human body parts. But I agree that his/her work would benefit from further study of real-life anatomical references.

Lanton, go pick up some references for human anatomy, study the human body from real life and in academic literature. There are plenty of books on the fundamentals of human figure drawing you can get, and even medical literature can be useful; I own a copy of Gray's Anatomy just for figure drawing.

Oh, and go look at porn. Live-actions stuff; nothing drawn or animated.

Seriously.

Thanx for the advice. And i have been practicing. I think i've gotten better. Although when i asked, i wasn't expecting porn to be a response. Lol. Will do. Lmfao.

http://www.drawspace.com/

You can check out some of Andrew Loomis' work as well.His instruction books are classics when it comes to composition and texture

Lanton said:
Thanx for the advice. And i have been practicing. I think i've gotten better. Although when i asked, i wasn't expecting porn to be a response. Lol. Will do. Lmfao.

That's great, be sure to post some of your new work soon.

I was afraid we had scared you off.