Do you have any recommended texts on digital painting that a devoted beginner can pick up, specifically to learn from a novice level to professional standards how best to go about the process? As a machine engineer who is growing increasingly more dissatisfied with my work, I would love to take those drafting skills and apply them to professional concept art! Your grasp of colour and organic form is something to awe at; I would love to know where to begin.
I’m not a professional, nor is my work of a professional standard, but honestly the best advice is to just practice. In terms of illustration I’m primarily self taught but a good place to start is Gumroad, there’s a whole bunch of immensely talented artists there with a whole bunch of video tutorials and tools (like brushes and shit).
Find artists that you admire, see what techniques they use, get a sense for how they create art and approach things. Keep a reference library and seek out concept art books for films and games, I have over a dozen at this point and provide a bunch of inspiration as well as provide a reference for what standard you should strive towards (i’m sure there are pdf’s out there).
But yeah, practice. Don’t settle into a groove where you’re only creating work you feel comfortable making. Find what you feel intimidated to draw and start practicing. Also don’t feel like you have to create work to be shown to people, I’ve drawn a whole bunch of shit purely to practice that nobody will ever see.
Don’t be afraid to rely on photo references, it’s crucial to learning how to draw realistically. As a machine engineer you’re already coming in with some unique knowledge, i’m sure you’d be able to create some kick-ass robot and ship designs.
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