₦airaland Forum

Lol, welcome back, grandma. Alright, I'll try and restart this thing going. Everyone, please do the same. Practise upside-down grandma and any other upside-down pictures. And I'll introduce Gesture Drawing as well.

All of you insulting the USA in order to defend GEJ, if you ever
-apply to get visa to go to a school abroad
-apply to get visa to get healthcare/treatment abroad
-apply to get visa just so you can have a chance of making something of yourseves rather than beg for any sort of job
-apply to get visa so you can even freaking go shopping in a relatively safe environment

MAY YOU BE PUNISHED BY EVERY SPIRITUAL BEING IN EXISTENCE.

You are defending a man who cannot provide you healthcare, education, an environment for reasonable employment or even safety. You are shouting at them for telling you your house is dirty, because they should not have a right to complain, bah? Instead of him to use $1.2mil to service some part of the ASUP agreement and send our kids back to school, he went to buy space in an international newspaper, to clean his image up. Because that was MORE IMPORTANT. And you are here, defending him while you "pray against bombs, diseases and fast for a job after NYSC". Loool!

I'll never forget my dad having my oldest (already in uni) brother (with his short temper) teach me Math in primary school (because I wasn't doing well). Talk about setting up a life-long hatred of Math (even though I did a mathematical-based course in uni, also forced on me). Meanwhile, everyone and their grandfather saw me draw on any surface nearby. Nobody thought to themselves "let's encourage this". That is how most Naija parents think, then wonder why prodigies continually come out of the West and not Africa.

Luckily, there's a change I'm seeing (mostly in some middle to upper-class families) letting their kids be free and encouraging their talents and creativity. I know a girl who's now an Opera singer in France (because her parents didn't foolishly stop her when she wanted to graduate from churchsinging to MUSON), some gifted young violinists (thanks Apostolic church and MFM for giving them a chance), an incredible female artist, a great cake maker (she's so good and popular in upscale areas), party-planner whose raking in cash (her dad is an art-lover, he surrounded her with creativity), some great dancers (they struggled against their parents though) and more. Even my sis who liked sewing as a child is now in the UK teaching it as a college course (she was encouraged as a kid and given samplers and sewing kits like EasyStitch).

Btw, alll the toys and houses we used to construct out of cornflakes, sugar and toothpaste packets, helped 2 of my brothers and I be more creative than anyone else (making us an artist and business consultant, an aeronautical engineer and an oil-n-gas corporate lawyer and headhunter). So, yeah, encourage your babies.

This guy is a major animator, so the software he used was not the cheap or "affordable" one sold in Play store or on itunes. Plus, he was already a very fantastic traditional artist, in that he could do the exact same thing, on paper and canvas. Ask the VFX guys like Sporedust, they should know.

All those animators at Disney have easels with canvas, and paper available in their offices, so they can take a break from work and draw/paint. They won't hire you if you don't have good traditional painting skills as well as Digital Art skills.

Adeebiwa09: @onegai thanx 4 the link. I love the sketch u and efosa val posted, the chalenge is i dnt do mine like dat i draw it mre like what the ops posted though without colour, when i get hme i wuld post sme to show, is anything wrng with that. Plus, al those posing, legs, colours e.t.c how vry important are they even though u hv d skeletal drawing. Thanx

Colours are important, legs are important for aesthetic purpose. If you're doing a fashion show, you show the whole model, not half of her. We need to see how it drapes around the entire body. Fashion and Art are very very closely related, themes, planning, execution. Please feel free to post images. If you would like honest critique, I'll let you have it, I don't believe in measuring people by local champions but by international standards

yame014: cross hatching...
@onegai...sorry for submitting late...I need necessary corrections to make amendment.

Hello, no image is showing. I may be moving to a monthly newsletter to continue these lessons. So please PM me. For today, let's look at Grandma and her Cross-Hatching. Also, I'll send you an easier image to do, because Grandma has a lot of middle tones, so let's start with something with a definite Light and Dark pattern.

I'm afraid I cannot. Please take the time to do it yourself. Thanks.

Hello, mods, I created the thread below, and I'm hoping you can please delete it.

https://www.nairaland.com/1507301/lets-draw-hand-lessons-how

Thanks

check out this link for tips on fashion sketching

http://www.collegefashion.net/college-life/how-to-make-fashion-sketches/

That's clever. We should talk, I've gone to check out your blog.

People, people. Please where is my sketch of Grandma? At least do one with either Cross-hatching or Smooth Shading, let me know where we need help.

Abi they don kidnap una?

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Vivly: ^ ^Thanks for the info. Please post the few examples. Thanks.
Btw, as an amateur, coloured pencil makes it easier. Poster colour and water colour muddles up my work.

I teach Drawing, and I paint in watercolour, so I understand your pain, lol. There's this nifty thing called a watercolour pencil: it's a pencil that is water-soluble, so you can control them better. They sell them at Artworld, on Ojuelegba road. The single pencils are by a brand named Kimberly (but those are almost finished). There's a set of them, by Derwent sold there, buy it and I can teach Drawing and Colour Theory. PM me for details.

Vivly: ^ ^Thanks for the info. Please post the few examples. Thanks.
Btw, as an amateur, coloured pencil makes it easier. Poster colour and water colour muddles up my work.

Notice that you can see the colour and pattern of each garment. Notice that the colours and styles are related, making this a mini-collection, rather than just random clothes. Notice the styles are clear and you can tell some construction ideas from it (mid-thigh slit on the dress, high waist on the jacket, mesh or lace on the dresses, side cutouts, etc).

Fashion Illustration. One should look at your sketches and be able to get a picture of what the outfits look like.

Btunde009: Thanks very much Onegai... I tried to join the mailing list with my Blackberry phone 9700 (Bold2) but its kinda loading very slow than norm, but I'm going to do that as soon as possible tomorrow. I think there's lot of good from the link.... You can add me up on Pin: 21DEC23C. Whatsapp : 08189728794 or email me for any update you think would be good as well : yuscoonline@yahoo.com.... Thanks for been there TY

I'm a pretty private person, so what I can do is create a mailing list for exhibitions and so on. Please sign up at that site.

Alesh Keem: Hello, How can I delete my posts and ads on Nairaland?

There's no need to delete your posts and ads. There's a lot to learn and share on these boards. Stick around, there's a lot more coming up. The Art section is gonna get more interesting, as I'm now getting professional visual artists, sculptors, some very badass animators (trust me these guys are hot!), interior decorators, 2 well-known major gallery owners (one whose dad is an art legend) to join us here. There's a lot of info we have and we wanna share and listen to you guys.

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OP, you messed up. You and your wife need to grow up and fast. You're both acting like children. Women are intuitive, we know when men are worrying about stuff and pulling out of the marriage. So your wife noticed that, then you showed up with your parents unannounced and wanted to give them her kids, were you expecting happy smiles? Are you a learner?

Your wife is clearly wrong, but honey, please let me tell you, my cousin's husband told her "don't go near my sisters, infact my wife and sister-in-law cannot be friends". The 3 women (his 2 sisters and his wife) now have an uneasy relationship, smiling to their front getting offended over nonsense behind their backs, the person who gave the advice is jejely sitting down eating his egusi soup.

Your wife is clearly wrong, but honey, please let me tell you, my sister-in-law and brother live with my mum. The woman is not perfect o, but if she says "Mummy I want to leave the house because my hubby isn't home today, I want to go out", my mum flies into a temper and calls her a streetgirl, in my language. The woman doesn't understand but she knows she's been insulted. My mum insults her cooking (instead of showing her how to cook), complains to everyone that she's a pretender. My mum also prays that my brother finds a good wife. When the young couple decided they wanted to move out, my mom viciously began to call my siblings, with threats against them. This his wife, is the type to run and cry in one corner and hides in her room once her hubby ain't home. I know my mother and believe you me, I will pay someone to look after my mum rather than her share a home with me and my hubby. I no want gbese. I love my mum, but never will she spend more than a month in my house, she knows it, I told her when I was a teen.

Your home is your home, not the extended family's. Even during village time, each family had their hut, they didn't share the same roof. If your parents want to enjoy small kids, let them adopt. There are orphanages around, that's what my friend's parents did and they're happy and too busy with their new kids to cause wahala.

My dear, tell your parents to give you space. Call your wife, take a week off, lock una two in the house. Tell her she must NEVER lift her hands to you again or you will treat her like a Nigerian man treats his wife (Nigerian men are mostly savage, so us women, we're scared). Then ask her to take her time and tell you what is going on between your family and her. Lay it all out, this is time to fix you and that wife of yours. Listen, then tell her your own. Tell her she is the 2nd important person in your life, followed by your kids. Tell her you love your parents, but you and her should learn how to bring your kids up, the kids can go for hols that's it. Tell her it is disrespectful to be squeezing her face when your mum comes, she should keep that childish shi.t for someone else. Tell her this is the make or break moment and if you and she leave there without major changes, she should get used to being a single mum, you don't want that, but your home is unhealthy and your kids will suffer pyschologically. Ask her to pray, talk to God, not her friend, sister, her mum, but God. And you will do the same.

Apologise to your parents, ask them to forget the past, but give you and your wife space to build a marriage. Ask your wife to do the same to her family. You have a long, way to do, but hopefully, you'll both heal. Every night, sit together. Just talk, be a man, be a boss, be in charge and counsel her. Not shout, treat her like a sibling, firm yet loving. Be in charge, stop whining here for a pity party to soothe your bruised ego. You and your wife are now meeting each other in marriage. Time to fix things, shebi

kannymoore: Gazes at the drawing right above my head and munches popcorn...................................................................slowly!

Damn!

I know, right when I did my first still-life, and the whole world was hailing me, he was the first to tell "you need to learn how to draw". Thank goodness I listened quickly, I for still be village champion

My point is, Consistent Intelligent hardwork will get you places. Also, informed critique. And an attitude of learning (most important).

The reason I love Benjibabs and Yame014 is how they interact with me: always eager. Feraz too, showed up in the rain. For you guys, when school is on break, come to Lagos and get free lessons, not even from me, but from fantastic artists, better than me. We'll look at materials and books for Drawing, who knows, you may end up becoming a full-time artist, or even just learn to draw, for fun. But keep up your spirits and your interaction (I really enjoy it), and that learning attitude. Walai, I've seen people swagger into Studio to show off "drawings" as Nigeria's finest artist and they yabbed them and laughed and offered them lessons. Or people run their mouth to someone online, like "Guy, who you be" and I'll answer for him, by posting one of his drawings below. You get the answer from that.

No-one has time. You're busy, I'm busy, all of us have important stuff to do. So if someone takes the time to say some stuff, (hey, don't listen to me, I'm still learning ), please, to quote my metaphor earlier, "Mummy has said add salt and less pepper, go and do so"

I'm going to try keep these classes on for a while, but the truth is, I'm getting busy and posts won't come in daily (I'll try write a bunch and post them quickly, so we all have homework). So, once in a while, I'll have guest artists write the posts, and I'll introduce them first, so you get to know them.

Everything I've written in this thread, will hopefully help out. Practice them, often. There's a lot more to learn: Proportion, How to shade, Light, Expression Lines and the Line of Action, Perspective, Anatomy (for those doing Figure Drawing), Depth, and so on. Take the time to find out, then meet someone knowledgeable for guidance. Don't let the blind show the deaf how to cross the street.

My sister told me once "if you cook soup, and your brothers eat it and smile, be happy. They like something about it. If I eat and say "not bad", be proud, even if it's for 30 minutes. But if your mother (who trained so many people to cook well) eats it and says "add more salt, next time a little less pepper", omo run and do what she said "

Imagine if I had stopped after the first few months, posted up images of my drawings and the crowd applauded. Some 'naysayers" will give me technical correction, but people shout them down and tell me not to let them bring me down. I would not be doing what I do now.

Below, is how I draw now, from live models (i.e they pose for me for 30 minutes, I draw, one pencil only, no erasing till the end). There are still mistakes (because I cannot pay attention and a groundnut and popcorn seller showed up to distract me and the model had to go home, leaving it unfinished).

By August, after everyone had yabbed me and I had started reading and studying artbooks and all my wonderful, bicycle-riding teachers (which include almost every successful nigerian artist who lives in Lagos, dem plenty). And by successful I mean:

- they've had shows and exhibitions, locally and internationally
- they've won juried awards
- their work is sold by major art galleries and art auctions in Nigeria and abroad and the price ranges from N150,000 to N3 million.
- articles have been written about them, and programmes have been recorded about them (the BBC I know has come to interview them).

So, with the input of all these people, and lots of hardwork, my drawings began to look like this.

Hello, this class is not about a Drawing lesson, but it's about what I see a lot on these boards:

Someone has different grades of pencils, and has spent hours faithfully copying out pictures. They post it here and people clap. Then I come along or even worse, (and this happened yesterday on another thread) a professional artist (someone who chose this career that is very demanding and draining, took the time to not only learn and learn well, and is successful now) gives his advice, and people (whom have no talent, and yes, I will call you out if you continue to speak) ask him "Guy, who you be?"

So I will state this clearly, let anyone be offended: No, I rarely see any good drawings or paintings here. Feel free to quote me, I've got proof.

I was once like these so-called artists, I had talent, but luckily I visited museums (locally and internationally), and hung out with artists once in a while, so I used to draw. And paint, once in a while. This year, I decided to see if I could go pro, so I went to an Art studio, and enrolled in a course, it was for 3 months, but the proprietor (who knew me and saw my drawings) insisted I do a year. 1 year. I balked. "What do I need to do a year of study for, I can draw, I can handle paint, I only wanna learn Composition, to make my paintings stronger".

At least, Heaven help me, I knew about Composition, unlike a lot of these so-called artists, whom have never heard of Design, Colour Theory, Tonal Value, Contour Drawing, Gesture Drawing, Academic Drawing, Chiaroscuro, a lot more.

They sat me in front of a live model and asked me to draw for 30 minutes. That night, I paid for a full year of study.

I will post my first drawings below, so you can see how I was, when I started studying in June. That's the first set of 5 minute gesture drawings. Feel free to laugh

Alesh Keem: Onegai...heehee see witch for drawing oo....u knw all d errors in Artworks and u teach us on ur thread....NO FORMING FOR ME (in Wizkid's voice)

No problem, I've been sending links to your thread around. You should hear what even non-artists are saying. But I'll let you continue happily, we're in Nigeria, we celebrate mediocrity with a vengeance

SNA is Society of Nigerian Artists.

I don't want to mention their names, but some of the posters responding to you are professional, full-time artists who are selling paintings and sculptures at Art Galleries and Exhibitions and doing well (I've caught like 3 so far ). And they're not saying much. (all of you, do NOT yab me on my thread, you know I don't know how to draw na now I dey learn work, abeg go easy on me). I answered fully because I'm critiquing you as an artist, and I do understand where you're coming from (luckily, I proved myself to serious artists, who started training me).

@Blink182, can we marry? You're a multi-millionaire because of those Onobrakpeya paintings. I got a statue recently, and someone said it was a Lamidi Fakeye. If it is, I'm retiring from Life and buying a private jet

May I introduce you to some Abstract Nigerian Painters? I'll start with Gani Odutokun. The late Gani Odutokun was a professor of Art at ABU Zaria, he's listed in the "Artists of Nigeria" reference book (on sale for N10,000) and has had international exhibitions. Google him and see the write-ups on him by international curators. Those paintings below, they ain't cheap.

blink182: Your paintings are fine but most of your drawings are wrong especially this man riding a bicycle. His eye level can not go higher than the doors and windows of those houses no matter how far the buildings are unless they are on a hill. From your mid line or vp I can see the houses are not on a hill but flat ground. You can verify what I'm saying by snapping this same scene with a camera. It is better to draw from a picture than to draw from imagination, the rules to follow while drawing from imagination are too much but using a picture will guide you. Even the great masters like donatello, caravaggio, da Vici, Michaelangelo and even picasso despite his non realistic approach mostly worked from images. It is obvious you have a lot to learn and it seems you want to make a living of art, then I advise you go back to learn how to draw.

I hope this was as constructive as possible and you don't see it as me trying to ruin you. The SNA is one big professional family and I think we should help each other.

I am not a master, neither have I held a brush since 2008 but remember whatever is worth doing is worth doing well. The things I said above are some of the things that separate us trained artist from those that are just gifted without training.

I wish you the best but I can not buy any of your works I have seen because whenever I look at them, I can't get to their intrinsic value without being obstructed by technical defects. Like my lecturer once said 'artist of nowadays like practising non realistic art forms of expression to hide their defects'. Truth is, it is only when you practise true abstract forms of expression that you can hide drawing defects anything aside that exposes you.

Master realism my friend, learn to produce picture perfect paintings or drawings before branching off into other non realistic forms of art expression. Ben enwonwu, Bruce Onobrakpeya and their power clique didn't just get there despite their non realistic work, go and search for their works with realism and you will be amazed.

I owe you a bottle of Gulder for this. And you're from SNA, hmmm, I will catch you soon.

Seriously, Centje, you have talent, but talent is never enough. I've mentioned it that you needed formal training, at a studio. Your drawing skills aren't strong, and I know this because I was in the same boat as you. All talent, no technique makes Jack a bad painter. Abstract is more than designing rectangles and geometric shapes, and I assure you EVERY fantastic Realistic Abstract, Dadaism, Cubism, any mildly abstract painter I know of that was a master, could draw realistically, beautifully. Even abroad, they yab Art students running to Abstract, because most run there to cover flaws in Design, Drawing, Value, Perspective and Technique with flourishing geometric shapes and bright colour.

To quote Abiodun Olaku (please google him), "if you need more than ONE paragraph to explain your painting, it's not a strong painting. People should be able to see your vision and add their own feelings to what you are saying".

As a colourist, your use of colour, especially in the palm wine tapper, is very undeveloped. I liked the first painting, then saw that, and it made see more issues in the paintings. There's so much info from books and online, and joining SNA is free (shey??). Learn the basics under a master, then free yourself from the rules.
I'm not trying to run you down, but if you don't believe me, take your work to National Art Theatre, Artists Village, or any respectable gallery (not those street people) and let them tell you what they feel. There's a huge difference in work that sells for N30,000 and never increases in value and work that sells for N80,000 and 9 years later, was resold for N2.5 million. Ben Enwonwu last year sold for N30 million in the UK, the man sculpted Queen Elizabeth (statue is in Buckingham Palace I believe), no matter how easy his abstract looked, he had SOLID foundation skills.
Please do the right thing, for your sake.

What would you like, as the title of the thread is cut off.

This needs a lot of work: your lines, Proportions and Values have to be worked. There's a lot of room for improvement.

for tailors reading this, please theres a way to up your game. There's this bespoke designer named Emmy Collins (he used to have a showroom in London). He organizes free fashion seminars, and talks about everything from Business of fashion to sewing techniques to tasteful fashion (he has a blog that shows you almost all these re-carpet celebs dress badly and explains why). Abeg, go for it. his website was www.emmycollins.com. i dont work for him, i just read his blog and realised the man knew his onions.

I think a lot of these wahala have to do with lack of professionalism. As with makeup artistry, hair styling and some other industries, half the tailors you meet outside became tailors because "my wife/dependent needed something to do to bring in small money".

I'll never forget this Beninoise guy in Tejuosho. I bought tafetta and asked him to make a blazer. His sewing was a dream, but he only knew how to make skirt suits and cut my blazer all wrong. I was upset, till a friend (whose mum was a tailor) wrote down instructions and gave him to make corrections. By the end of that day, 4 more girls walking past his shop and seeing my blazer, ordered for theirs. 10 years later, that blazer is still excellent (and still my size!). Looks expensive.

I'd rarely trust a Naija tailor with sophisticated designs. And a lot of these upscale designers use Togolese and Beninoise tailors in-house, rather than Nigerian (I work with them, so I know). I'm yet to meet a tailor that wows me (sorry if you have a fashion school, but I've met quite a few fashion school attendees and I marvel at the lack of good construction technique, poor finishing and boring designs).
If you've got a Togolese or Beninoise or Ghanian tailor, let me know. I've got some ideas and Business info for him.

Please contact info. I work with a lot of designers who need to make money, and would need to do diffusion lines. Most are female clothing designers. There's a business here.