So what you're saying is draw by eye, not by step-by-step guides?
That's both easier AND more relatable to me, LOL. Although I guess not as complacent for some people.
Granted, I don't see myself any more likely to actually read an anatomy book than a how-to-draw book, but I at least have the size/body shape chart from the art class I took a few years back in a drawer somewhere. And I did get marginally more understanding of anatomy from that. Which I only rarely actually take the time to try to apply.
The value of how-to-draw tutorials comes mostly from learning the techniques other artists have developed to adapt what they see to paper. The problem with them is that you also need to already understand what you're seeing in order to utilize those techniques to their fullest.
If I tell you, hey, the face has a divot in it where the eye socket is, and that exaggerating that divot can help make your face feel more fluid and organic, now you have a cheat that will help your art improve. But what that doesn't tell it is what that divot looks like from different angles, or how much you should push that divot in depending on the angle.
That's all true and I don't disagree but using drawing tutorials is a good way to at least improve drawing ability somewhat right?
Like i've improved a little bit by doing tutorials though i'm not even close to being decent at drawing. Studying anatomy is very important yes but would it help me draw better?
Of course as a prospective artist (eventually I hope lol) anatomy and theory is something I would definitely study and learn more. Just have a lot of things going on in my life to be spending money on that.
I have read countless tutorials. Countless. I still look at them everytime I see one, even if it's by an artist I don't particularly care for. Because you never know who will have a technique or a workflow that you like. Something that will improve your own workflow. But like I said above, in order to apply that technique, you'll need a fundamental understanding of form.