Inspiration and Resources

Are you an artist that struggles with finding solid advice on how to execute a drawing or painting? Do you need to brush up on your skills but don’t have time to take a class and want to do it all from the comfort of your studio or home? Do you feel like you struggle with techniques wish you had a quick guide on how to do it?

These are real questions and struggles I had when I was growing up. I had cousins I would learn a few things from, but i wanted to learn more and do other things. I was very art hungry, I wanted to learn from the pros but I wasn’t sure if they would even offer any advice to anyone. Back then, the internet was still fresh but there were limited resources on finding art tips and guides that were reliable. I would spend hours online searching for any tutorials I could find that I thought would be helpful in my pursuit of knowledge. I would hoard them and learn what I could before moving on.

Nowadays, all of that information is being given away for free by artists of all kinds!

I wish I had a support system like this when I was starting out, it would’ve saved me many lost hours of frustration online. With that said, I’d like to share some of my own resources with you!
Below are links to blogs, YouTube channels, web pages and books of artists I’ve found to be extremely helpful though out my artistic career. Some of these places I go to daily, others I visit now and again for refreshers. I like to be thorough so please bare with me as this list may seem a bit overwhelming at first.

I don’t like to discriminate on styles. I believe each artist, no matter what style they use have something to offer in art tips and tricks and advice. The links I’ve provided are from various artists varying from Realist to Fantasy Art to Concept artists I’ve found over the years have helped me out a ton and I’m supremely grateful to them for helping me on my journey as an artist.

Blogs:
Muddy Colors Blog – This place is probably one of the greatest assets online for any artist. It’s comprised of many different artists and art directors that share their knowledge of all things in the art world. Tips and Tricks along with Do’s and Don’ts from professionals as well as sharing inspirations, work from newer and older artists, business advice and being an all around awesome community of individuals that are willing to share things about what they do. If you like a particular artists’ post, I recommend searching their website for further reading.

Creative Bloq – Big resource of different tips/inspiration for all creative fields
Hi-Fructose
Juxtapoz

Instructional/ Art Tips Youtube Videos – Selected artists that I found to be the most interesting and useful in my own pursuit of artistic knowledge from artists that have a strong grasp on their tools and techniques. These are artists that I look up to and revisit often.
Greg Manchess
Stan Prokopenko
Bobby Chiu
Bob Ross
Jeff Miracola
Dave Rapoza
James Gurney
Mark Carder – Draw Mix Paint
David Gray
Howard Lyon
Casey Childs
Zimou Tan
Hajime Sorayama

Instructional Videos for Purchase – These are videos I have bought or know about that work very well. They’re instructional videos for all range of artists, but especially those who are seeking to up their game in realism, specifically portrait and figurative works. The best thing about them is you can watch them over and over and find new things about them you missed the first time and continue to learn from them as time goes on.
I also encourage you to search Gumroad and Patreon for artists to support for downloadable content.
David Kassan
Donato Giancola
Jeremy Lipking
David Palumbo
Dan Dos Santos
Marko Djurdjevic – If you can find it
Scott Waddell
Sadie Valeri
Cesar Santos
James Gurney

Instructional Books:
James Gurney
Andrew Loomis
Burne Hogarth
Glen Vilppu
How to Draw The Marvel Way
The Animator’s Survival Kit

Art Books:
Syd Mead
Shawn Barber
Dean Cornwell
Frank Frazetta
Alphonse Mucha
Salvador Dali
John Singer Sargent
Gustave Dore
Jeremy Mann
William Bouguereau
Peter Paul Rubens
Dan Luvisi
Greg Manchess
Boris Vallejo and Julie Bell
Adam Hughes

Further Instruction:
I encourage you to find figure drawing classes  or workshops taught by professional artist around your home town or nearby cities. Drawing and painting from reference is great, but you will be truly surprised and humbled at how drawing or painting from life will change the way you see and do things. Sometimes artists will post on their social media pages about workshops they’re doing. Keep an eye out for it or search the hashtag #workshop to find one that may be near you. Alternatively, if you’re unable to afford a life drawing class, or have trouble finding one, go out to a zoo or place where there’s a lot of people and draw from life there. Whether it’s people, building or wildlife, you’ll be amazed at what you’ll learn.

I’ve taken a few workshops and I must say it was exciting to learn from some of my art idols on how they approach their work. It’s like an art boot camp where you get to draw or paint and learn a ton of stuff in a short amount of time from a professional. Save up some money and seek out workshops, they’re usually $300-$800 and the knowledge you gain and experience you have are something you’ll cherish for a long time.

I recommend visiting these sites for workshop updates or make it your mission to stay up to date on workshop and life drawing classes around you.

Sadie Valeri Atlelier
NUMU
BACAA
Art Renewal Center

*Header image above taken by me: “The Three Shades” by Auguste Rodin at the Musée Rodin in Paris, France.