Drawing for Animation

When I started my own studies in animation several years ago, I did not start with Disney or Warner Brothers. I started with Jurassic Park (the first one); I was dazzled by the computer animation which looked so real! I decided that I would learn as much about computer animation as possible. I am fairly good on the computer; I assumed that I would just need a few programs, some tutorial books and I could start making episodes 7, 8 and 9 of Star Wars. 

Well, not quite. You see, within a few days, after looking around on the Internet, I discovered that the first piece of advice that computer animators gave out was learn how to animate with a pencil. And guess what advice those low-tech, pencil animators gave out was.LEARN HOW TO DRAW! 

I don't care if you want to work at Pixar or Warner Brothers; for any animation or animation-related job, you must still learn how to draw. 

What you'll need
Not much. ONE big sketch book, to start with. MANY soft pencils (H-3B will do fine, but most people prefer to start with 2B's). A FAIR AMOUNT of time. ONE lock on your door to keep annoying siblings out. And a BIG imagination.

After the second exercise, a live model becomes an amazing asset. How will you learn to draw people if you don't draw people? If you can't afford a model, either ask a friend, or try to find a substitute like a good statue. Best of all, take a life drawing class, where you have professional models and art teachers too. Remember, though - you can always draw people on the street, on the bus - they won't know or care. 

I am not by any stretch of the imagination (I'm sure I've said this before!) a professional or master artist. But some of the exercises which are helping me may also be of help to you. Click here to start. Good luck, and happy drawing.