Kingdom of Knuffel

Before last year, I didn't know that I could draw portraits. I just started doing it and found out I had a talent for it.

The thing is, I'm still rather inexperienced. I'm trying to learn the basics so I can expand, and I've been experimenting with a lot of different mediums. I especially want to learn about the human form and a little more about shadows and highlights!

My question is, how did you learn?
Did you teach yourself or did you go to school?
What do you think is the best way to learn? Books, practice, classes? I know they all help, but what's the most effective way that has taught you?

Just tell me about you and your journey!

My question is, how did you learn?
How to Draw Cats by Janet Rancan. Cat fur did wonders for my pressure sensitivity.
Figure Drawing for All it's Worth and Fun with a Pencil, both by Andrew Loomis. Some of it may be a bit out dated, like a lot of the naked women wearing high heels, but it has some very solid methods in it.
Little tutorials here, there, and yonder by artists like Sarah Ellerton, Diane Wright, and Mike Sibley. And science books and websites. All that anatomy and geology pays off.

Did you teach yourself or did you go to school?
Self taught...? Art books are a grey area to me, since it still requires accepting instruction from another person instead of blundering through it yourself strictly through observation and research.

What do you think is the best way to learn? Books, practice, classes? I know they all help, but what's the most effective way that has taught you?
Eh, depends on the person. I do very, very poorly with verbal instructions on any subject. It's all books and practice for me. If I watch a video, I mute the audio. Just can't stand the talking. XD
Some people excel with having that social interaction when they're learning, so those people need the classes and workshops more than us crabby hermits.

I basically copied from fashion magazines pictures when I was young, full-body or just faces. Our art teacher was not an actual art teacher, so I never took art in school...and I was never really taught, except by wonderful world of internet and some critic from my family

I guess out of books, practice and classes, I would say that practice helps the most. But classes help you to practice.


(On a side note, I am not a very good artist, so, yeah...eh. )

Thanks for the input!

I have taken so many art classes... it's just second nature at this point...

but yes, I am a college student, and I have learned how to do things well through practice and classes :)

I pretty much just taught myself everything I know...I never took art classes so to speak

Mostly teaching myself. It requires a lot of trial and error.