Art Buddy/Mentor?

[Exceladon City]

You're probably going to see alot of me around here. That being said, I hope I don't become a bother with a million questions. I've been wanting to progress my skills in GIMP and just art in general and I've been dragging my feet on it (mainly because I'm lacking motivation and inspiration) and I figured this is the place to come to. I think it would really help me if I had an art buddy or a mentor that I could learn from. While I'm not incompetent in using GIMP, I know there is still SO much more I could learn and I want to learn as much as someone is willing to teach.


Anybody interested?

 

[Geist]

Well since you're going to be a regular here, I'll give you a formal welcome to the AE :D
It's good to see drive from people that want to get better, because that's honestly the first step.

Everyone here kinda learns from each other, if you ever have any questions just ask in one of the threads (RIP social qq) and one of us will most likely know an answer, or at least have suggestions.
I like to believe I'm pretty knowledgeable about art, at least in the 2d digital/traditional/3d domain.
Here's my stuff if you want to take a look at it http://uninfinitum.deviantart.com/

I'm on skype under uninfinitum, so if it's an art emergency or if you ever want to talk art stuff or need advice I'm on there, or you can shoot me a PM. I'm also thinking of streaming my desktop on skype whenever I'm working on concept art, but I've been so busy lately I haven't got the chance to set something up.

 

[Exceladon City]

Thank you Geist. I checked out your pieces on DA. I'm very impressed. Mecha is something I wished to get good at creating but I know absolutely nothing about 3D modeling and the programs I have on my computer are reeeeaaaaally janky. Yay Linux.

It's a gift and a curse.

 

[Exceladon City]

Color Theory

I just started looking up basic color theory. I'm starting to KINDA understand the idea of it. I feel like I should probably have an exercise in practicing color theory. Anybody got some kind of exercise that would help me to better understand color theory?

 

[Geist]

Try drawing up a really simple scene, or an object. It doesn't matter what, but maybe make sure it exists just so you can find better reference in case you get stuck. I suggest just a simple sphere or an apple or something on a table. Don't make it too complicated or it'll take a long time, and you want something that you can whip out real fast without worrying about time if you have to start over from scratch (which you will have to do, don't expect to get it perfectly the first time. Unfortunately it doesn't work like that).

With this scene drawn out, color it at different times of the day, or with different light sources/ angles, etc. Use references to see what colors are reflected from the sources of light (or lack thereof) and pay close attention to exactly what colors are doing in shadows and highlights. Objects will reflect the sky and be tinted a slight blue in the daytime for example.
It'll help a lot if you have your own light source like a flashlight or a lamp thatt you can move around on a whim.

Here's a great tutorial about simple color theory by PurpleKecleon. It also delves into color balance and a bit of compositional techniques, (which is more in the realm of impressionism than realism) but it's well written and is pretty easy to understand.