Opinions on my drawing + OC design

[FancyPhoenix 197]

I've only recently started to draw and frankly speaking, I think I suck at it. The only way I can draw even decent looking pictures, is by using another picture as a model and basically copying it on paper. Here's a picture of Twilight I drew. What I'd like to hear is your opinion on it, how did I do, what I could do better etc. etc. 

I drew it first on plain sketch paper (because I don't own a drawing tablet and I can't draw with mouse) then I took a photo of it (lol) transferred it to my computer, and did some magic with Gimp2. I drew the outlines on another layer, then put a new layer of white behind the outline and deleted the original photo. Then I fixed the outlines and finally colored it. I tried to make the colors myself, but when I couldn't get them right, I gave up and copied them from the model I used to draw it. 

 

Here's also a picture of my still unnamed, un-cutie-marked OC. It's basically something I drew using my avatar (made in Generalzoi's pony creator) as a model. I know my avatar has colors and he also has a cutie-mark, but at the moment those are just placeholders until I make up my mind on the finished product.  -_-  Please give me opinions, ideas of improvement, coloring ideas, anything.

[GoneForeverBye 184]

Well, its nice. And there is some obvious improvement from your earlier work. I think you're criticizing yourself far too much on something that's simply based on lack on experience.

 

...that's not an insult btw. I'm just saying that since you're new to this.

[Blizzard Gale 272]

It's very simplistic, but of course that's just the start of it. I think you'll do great with enough patience & time.  Since this won't be from pony creator you'll be able to add your own little touches to it as well.

[FortyShadows 217]

I've only recently started to draw and frankly speaking, I think I suck at it. The only way I can draw even decent looking pictures, is by using another picture as a model and basically copying it on paper. Here's a picture of Twilight I drew. What I'd like to hear is your opinion on it, how did I do, what I could do better etc. etc. 

Copying it or tracing it? If you're just starting, I think copying (using a reference in other words) is a great idea! After you copy off of 10 or 20 references you probably get the hang of it.

 

I'd like to see the original sketch(es) too; not every drawing has to be digital.

For the twipic:

-tail a bit long

-snout too pointy

-eyes a bit small

 

For OC, the hooves look pointy. That part isn't easy to draw though, as is every other.

Good luck on your future drawings!

[FancyPhoenix 197]

I'd like to see the original sketch(es) too; not every drawing has to be digital.

 

 

Okay,   Here are the original sketches I made on paper. Please excuse the quality. (iPhone 3GS camera...) 

 

 

Also. If anyone has any tips how to learn to draw ponies in other poses, like drawing my OC sitting down instead of standing, without using a picture as a reference, I'd be really grateful. 

[Zygen 6,066]

Well I'm pretty sure your being to hard on yourself to be honest, I mean I really don't think I can draw that well, which also means I can't really critique your work properly with my lesser experience I guess. However I do still think your being to hard on yourself. Like I said its better then what I could do . Then again I draw with a mouse mostly and don't really use paper, still better then what I'd probably do on paper.

 

Only thing that really bothers me at all about the drawing is the round loop near the leg. I dunno if its because the outline of the whole picture is black(Could be the reason) or because its misplaced or to big or whatever, something looks off about it to me, but then again It may be perfectly fine and I'm just seeing things .

 

Regardless you did a great job! And remember if your not satisfied with how your doing, just practice! Practice improves how you do for pretty much everything, so just keep practicing if your not content with how your doing, but don't be to hard on yourself!

 

And most importantly enjoy what you do! Because otherwise to be fair I think it feels wasted.

 

Keep up the good work bro!

[Drahgoon 152]

Very nice! Be more confident in your drawing. Now for critiques. The eye on your OC is too small. Twilight's eyes are too round and vertical. Pony eyes are usually longest diagonally. It looks like you used the paint bucket tool to color in Twilight. It takes extra work to fill in the white pixel border but it looks better in the end. Lastly, Twilight's leg seems to be melted into her belly. Adding a line to separate the leg and the body would fix that. Hope I helped!

[Page.Turner 940]

The first thing to remember is that everyone starts somewhere. There is no need to be ashamed of the quality of your work. Everything takes practice, even ponies!

 

Anyway, as per the Twilight picture, it's a very cute idea! My biggest points would be that the nose is a little too pointed and I think it should be slightly shorter/stubbier and more rounded out. The lines, as well, are pretty shaky, which is something that will get better over time. When you're drawing, try using your whole arm to move the pen/pencil instead of just your wrist or fingers. Sometimes, you can get more of a feel for the line and you can get more control on your movement.

 

Your OC design, however, is rather nice! Simplicity is key, I find, when making a good OC. You don't want to go too over the top but at the same time you still need to have your unique niche that separates yours from others. This is the challenge of the OC  

Just as the Twilight picture, I feel the lines are very shaky. And the back legs should be a bit wider and not so tapered at the end.