My First Pony Drawing! Feedback please?

[ZukoIsBestPony 561]

The Doctor and Derpy!

The picture is named: A Bit Unexpected.

Feedback would be great. 

[Artist-Sky 23]

First time, really? You're good! Well, you did an AWESOME job! Derpy is my favorite pony so I really think this piece is cool. Anyways, don't change a thing! If you keep drawing, I bet you can get them to look EXACTLY like on the show!

[ZukoIsBestPony 561]

First time, really? You're good! Well, you did an AWESOME job! Derpy is my favorite pony so I really think this piece is cool. Anyways, don't change a thing! If you keep drawing, I bet you can get them to look EXACTLY like on the show!

Thank you so much! I'll keep working. I want to start making pony comics.

[Spirit Rush 497]

This looks really good! Keep drawing!

[ZukoIsBestPony 561]

This looks really good! Keep drawing!

Thank you! I will it's really super fun!

[Agent505 661]

You know i'll be honest, for a first attempt this isn't half bad. It's not brilliant, it could use a lot of work, but it's a solid start. 

 

Some pointers: 

 - It's very 2D, I understand the irony here but it is, the legs offer no depth to the drawing and the angles are off. Take Derpy's eyes for example, they're touching each other and slanted to a point they would never be seen at on a ponies face.

 - The legs and anatomy overall could use some working, the legs have joints and curves - these legs are flat and look like they're stuck in an invisible cast, and the foreleg comes to rest at an awkward angle on the doc's face.  

 - Of course the mane and tails could use some effort too, they're tattoo'd onto the characters at the moment, they need to have buoyancy and life of their own, show that it's hair we're looking at, not a mutation in the skin (fur?) colour of the ponies. 

 - Going back to the anatomy, the proportions could be better, but they're a lot closer than many other first attempts i've seen, so kudos on that point. 

 - Really the only other things I can think to mention without writing a novel are the pair seem to be missing a leg, even a little hint of showing a leg hiding behind the other at that angle would work, tilt them slightly more and not drawing the leg would be fine too. 

 - Derpy's wing is WAY out of proportion and too low down the body, but wings are tough and even I can't draw those (never really tried, mind you) so I can't offer much else there.

 

Other than those points it's just little details like making sure things are in the right place, the right size, the right angle and that you're not putting in too many lines where they're not necessary. 

 

I'm not a brilliant artist (and don't judge me by my profile pic, that's OLD), but i've picked up some tips and pointers from this community and others.

If you think i'm being harsh with critique, I would like to say that I don't apologize for the fact that while your work is a good start, you can improve, and if no one tells you how or why, you might never know where you're going wrong. 

I wish you luck in your next endeavors and keep up the practice, you have a talent for this i'm sure. 

[ZukoIsBestPony 561]

You know i'll be honest, for a first attempt this isn't half bad. It's not brilliant, it could use a lot of work, but it's a solid start. 

 

Some pointers: 

 - It's very 2D, I understand the irony here but it is, the legs offer no depth to the drawing and the angles are off. Take Derpy's eyes for example, they're touching each other and slanted to a point they would never be seen at on a ponies face.

 - The legs and anatomy overall could use some working, the legs have joints and curves - these legs are flat and look like they're stuck in an invisible cast, and the foreleg comes to rest at an awkward angle on the doc's face.  

 - Of course the mane and tails could use some effort too, they're tattoo'd onto the characters at the moment, they need to have buoyancy and life of their own, show that it's hair we're looking at, not a mutation in the skin (fur?) colour of the ponies. 

 - Going back to the anatomy, the proportions could be better, but they're a lot closer than many other first attempts i've seen, so kudos on that point. 

 - Really the only other things I can think to mention without writing a novel are the pair seem to be missing a leg, even a little hint of showing a leg hiding behind the other at that angle would work, tilt them slightly more and not drawing the leg would be fine too. 

 - Derpy's wing is WAY out of proportion and too low down the body, but wings are tough and even I can't draw those (never really tried, mind you) so I can't offer much else there.

 

Other than those points it's just little details like making sure things are in the right place, the right size, the right angle and that you're not putting in too many lines where they're not necessary. 

 

I'm not a brilliant artist (and don't judge me by my profile pic, that's OLD), but i've picked up some tips and pointers from this community and others.

If you think i'm being harsh with critique, I would like to say that I don't apologize for the fact that while your work is a good start, you can improve, and if no one tells you how or why, you might never know where you're going wrong. 

I wish you luck in your next endeavors and keep up the practice, you have a talent for this i'm sure. 

Thank you so much for the feedback! I'll defiantly take the points to heart. Thank you again. Any tips on drawing Luna?

[Agent505 661]

 

 

Any tips on drawing Luna?

 

Yeah: Don't. She's a nightmare.

 

No seriously though I mean don't be afraid to look at drawings for a while as references and take some ideas, copy them for a little bit if you have to, practice practice practice, go over it a few times on a new drawing, change something here and there, start breaking away from the reference as you're drawing, take it off screen for a while and then look back to see how accurate your lines are as a comparison.

 

What's important with copying things though is that you don't fall into the trap a lot of artists do, and that's to say "I'm an artist guys, I can copy anything!" because that just wont work, you'll need to get the ideas of how to draw whatever character you're after, and then try to draw them without using references. Look back AFTER you've drawn, correct your mistakes and continue. 

Variation is key, if you're going to use references. Get a lot, get as many as you can find, practice with as many different poses as you can by both copying them outright and then by trying to draw from memory - never stay with the same post for more than twice - ideally as soon as you've done one pose, do another, even if it looks weird you'll pick it up. Cycle 8 or so poses and practice them all.

 

A note i'd like to make though, stay the hell away from bases. 

Draw one - make a seriously accurate job of it in the back of your sketchbook or somewhere you have access to when you draw regularly, then don't use it. 

Only use it to check against your drawing, make changes and set you on the right path, but never, ever rely on them. Believe me when I say that relying on bases is nothing but trouble, you'll get locked into it and drawing any other pose than the standard one you've practiced with for so long will get harder and harder. 

 

Just going to leave this here

It helped me get going on my path to drawing, and i'd recommend it to anyone as I know several artists on this site do too. 

With that, i'm off to bed! Good luck!