Thank you!
There's nothing I can say that can't be explained better by other people, so here's also some resources that helped me a ton, and an excuse to fan-girl a metric ton while procrastinating during dead week:
A+ Youtubers
- istebrak: https://www.youtube.com/user/Istebrak
Infinitely helpful in explaining to me how to think more in 3D, and not in 2D. Talks about values, colors, lighting, blocking stuff in, forms, all kinds of stuff. Does great critiques that are flipping long but well worth your patience. Can be heavy handed in the way she critiques others, but that's one of the reasons why she's great. Go to her if you want to get better at contrast, form, shapes, whatever, or just general tips on just about anything.
- Sycra https://www.youtube.com/user/Sycra
Love this dude. Charming, down-to-earth, and is constantly looking for new ways to improve himself. If you're looking to improve, take a look at his tutorial videos (he has a lot of other stuff on his channel, equally fun to watch, but I'd start from his tutorials first). Tutorials mostly focus on anatomy (which I think is one of his strongest points) and how to simplify it down. Also, he has one of the best videos on how to draw boobs (seriously). Also talks about drawing processes -- how to practice, getting out of your comfort zone, stuff like that, which is also helpful. Go to him if you need help with anatomy, simplifying things down, or how to practice and improve your art. And boobs.
- Proko https://www.youtube.com/user/ProkoTV
Super charming. Also, great breakdown of anatomy, but can be a bit dense with his explanation of muscle groups and stuff. Though, he does simplify things down for you too. Go to him if you need help with anatomy, but want more details about bone, muscle groups, and how things connect and work together in the body.
- FZD School https://www.youtube.com/user/FZDSCHOOL/videos
Focus on environmentals, designing for cinema, also has flipping long videos. Go to him if you want pointers on environmental design.
A+ Websites
- Cntrl+Paint https://www.ctrlpaint.com/
Great website for colors, values, and other fundamentals for drawing (which I completely lack!!!). Also talks about how to use photoshop, which is useful also.
- Draw a Box http://drawabox.com/
Great website, though very infrequently updated. Good tips on environmentals, shapes, forms, human figures and stuff.
A+ Books
- Figure Drawing, Design and Invention - Michael Hampton
All-time favourite anatomy book. Haven't finished it though (it's flipping looong), but it's been infinitely helpful in breaking that shizz down! In my opinion, the best resource for getting better at anatomy!
- Human Anatomy for Artists, The Elements of Form - Eliot Goldfinger
Great resource. If you want to really go knee deep in anatomy with all of the muscles and bones and shizz. Good for obsessively getting to know anatomy. That ****'s too dense for me to read really fast, but from what I can tell it is also A+.
This was an overkill, I know, but I've always wanted to do something like this. Hope this was helpful! Sorry about the overt focus on anatomy... that's something I'm desperately trying to get better at atm.