Hi all, I'm going to be starting my third
college semester this fall and am thinking that an art or drawing class
would be a good option. So my question is what kind of classes did you
take to develop your drawing and painting skills, especially in rendering
living creatures?
Hi Jonathan,
I'm an amateur for only one year or
so. I got some evening artistic lessons in a local culture center, and I
begun to draw dinosaurs after watching WWD on tv. IMHO, it's not more
difficult than wildlife art or good comic-strips (see William Stout or Brett
Booth, they also do both). Some skeletal reconstructions, some photos of
skels and skulls displayed in museums (OK they aren't always accurate, but
they always give an idea of the _volume_), a look at living animals, and HP
Tracy Ford's "How to Draw Dinosaurs", and you're ready to begin a lot of
sketches and to draw accurate life reconstructions. As HP Christopher Srnka
wrote, find yourself your style (check the archives about Raul Martin's
website:-)) and try sometimes to show your drawings to specialists (I had this
opportunity for _Paralititan_, it was a very nice experience).
Also I know it is extremely hard to make a living
as an artist let alone a prehistoric life artist so what else do those of you
who draw do for a living?
I currently have another job, and
I'm drawing the WE and during the holidays :-)
Are there job openings at museums for people to
draw or paint murals, descriptions etc for exhibits?
Somethin' I'll also have to see for
myself... IMHO don't hurry up. Good paleoartists will find their way. And
don't forget contests, like Lourinha.
Friendly - Luc J. "Aspidel"
BAILLY