Where to start?

[Star Petal 215]

I cannot even draw stick figures, and I want to learn how to draw MLP characters well. Is there an art program, or something you guys can point me into? Sorry if this is not where this goes. I just really want to learn how to draw my character and others so I can become a great mlp artist someday! 

[Raven Rawne 1,381]

You could start with copying works via visual reference. Find pony anatomy studies - Google "mlp drawing guide" and you'll get some - and draw those shapes. Observe why they put lines a certain way in such poses and, in time,  you'll get a hang on horseback the character looks like in a certain pose and more importantly, you'll train your hand to draw what you want to draw.

[Meeps 297]

As mentioned already, learning by copying is a great way to begin. I recall someone saying something like "an animator told me ponies are basically just a series of tubes that connect to their jellybean shaped body and their circular head" and realized it's rather true. You don't necessarily even have to start out with a tutorial, although there are some good ones on Deviantart and in basic Google searches. You can literally go online, find a picture you like (go for a simple one, not one where someone got super artsy on shadows, textures, etc. IMO) and try to copy that. It takes a bit of getting used to, but practice daily (like anything else you're trying to learn!) and you'll get it down.

 

[Katze 198]

Sorry to say it, practice and time.

If you need to trace other drawings, its fine to exactly copy other peoples work as long as you don't claim it as your own and just use it as practice.
I started by tracing other drawings, then I moved on to copying them by eye. Once I had that down I could start to experiment with poses.

If you have a little money, I recommend getting a cheap graphics tablet, as I found digital drawings easier to practice with (Ctrl+Z is your best friend).
There are a few I have owned, a Huion H610 (payed $60 AUD for it), Wacom Intuos Draw ($80 AUD) and my current tablet is a
Wacom Intuos Pro 2017 (overkill... cough $500... ).
Huion H610

Spoiler

A good tablet, I would suggest the pro if you could get it, its $10 - $20 more, and feels more like paper.

Pros
Nice and large, active area is larger that A5 paper.
Lots of programmable buttons.

Cons
Poor drivers and software (small things).
Pen needs its own battery.
Okay build quality.
Feels like drawing on plastic (can't say anything about the pro, never used one.)

Wacom Draw

Spoiler

A great tablet for its price.

Pros
Great driver support and features.
Surface feels more like paper.
Great build quality.
More responsive pen.
Pen does not need battery's.

Cons
Small, active area less than A5.

I would recommend the Wacom Draw, unless you can't stand its small size, (I hate small tablets too).

As for software, I use Photoshop, but some good free alternatives are Krita and Gimp. There are others.

Edited April 27, 2017 by Katze

[碇 シンジン 27,431]

Good way to start approaching art and begin as an artist i think is looking references of ponies, doodling out some shapes  with your pencil and learnign the anatomy and how the ponies are constructed, that way you are able to grasp what  is the basic shape of the character where you can start to personalize it more,

Firstly i suggest drawing traditional to get the grasp of ponies, after that if you want  to start drawing digital  i would recommend buying tablet as i really cannot recommend usin mouse, i think its quite tedious to draw with it and im not sure how some people are able to draw with it so well. I personally use Wacom Draw tablet  like @Katze mentioned I think it is good way to begin as its not very expensive and its good for learning how to use tablets in general 

As for the drawing program I use Paint Tool SAI 2 as it isnt as expensive as photoshop and i feel it gets the job done, though I think there are free programs as well though I dont have any experience on them =) 

[Shadow Beam 1,179]

Hello @Star Petal

Taking into account the fact that what you currently seek is advice of technical nature regarding visual art, this post shall be relocated into Photo Finish's Magics. Furthermore, the proper prefix of 'Advice' will be consequently added to the title.

I'd suggest first doing gesture drawing, attaining a certain grade of understanding about perspective and watching tutorials about the digital painting process among other subjects. My tool preference is Adobe Photoshop CC.

Have a lovely day.

[RaphLuna 307]

To practice drawling and doodles I use  pencil and whatever paper I come in contact. My kids come to me with Cerel boxes to draw caracters they want on them. I use to draw on everything even bills receipts, one day not realizing I drew in one of my spouses woodworking books. Even the phone book. He was not impressed... Oops, would it help if I said I was sorry.

in the end I got a IPad, tried many art apps, and finally settled on one app I love to doodle and practice drawling. sketch Club

i used many art programs on computer too...

Photoshop up to CC

Illustrator up to CC

Art Rage 4

tried ink scape, and Gimp. 

Serif Draw Plus X6 upgraded to Draw Plus X8 .

now I use Serif Affinity design. Ever since I bought this software Photoshop and Illustrator CC collect dust...

ithere are a lot of choices and options, why because everyone I see different what programs work well for others will not work well fir all.. the choices are great to have.. keep this in mind..

try tracing. Get use to the shapes, and who said you had to copy anyone's art to get good...why not trying to do something different... why not trace the idea and not the image... confused... here is a sample I done long ago...

I loved the bear hanging  onto a branch, with the bunny laying at the top oof the branch so much I decided to put Mikey's hanging from branch and his bean on the top...

 

 

Hope I was able to help.

Edited June 14, 2017 by RaphLuna

[Ando333 135]

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLV2X3tgajVlEAo91iOj8w5YizC_fLULzu