How to start drawing bachgrounds, characters? (Searching for basics)

[Crosco]

Hello all,

I've seen many impressing images (background, characters, objects) at the forum.
But I didn't find any answer to the quesiton:

What are the real basics when starting to create backgrounds, objects and characters?
How to start drawing them?

Some time ago I found a tutorial website linked at AGS index site. But this page was very old and full of corrupted tutorial links. But there was one which has shown how to create a character sprite from a photo. This was very interesting. But I can't find it anymore.

So, if you know tutorials like that one which point out the basics I would be very thankfully.

[cat]

Do you mean this site? http://kafkaskoffee.com/tutorials.shtml

[Ali]

If you're going for a pixel-pushing style, then I can't really give any advice. But this is how I'd approach hand-drawn style backgrounds:

For backgrounds I'd suggest you get a 2b pencil, paper and an eraser and start sketching. Then start observing the kind of thing you want to draw (from life, from photos or from other drawings).

Begin drawing loosely on a thumbnail scale, experimenting with the composition of lines and shapes. Add a bit of detail, shading and volume roughly as you go. Don't worry too much about a frame. You can change the frame afterwards however you please.

Then I'd scan the rough sketch into photoshop and use it as a guide for a more detailed drawing and colouring.

[Stupot]

Hey Crosco,

For backgrounds, the one of the things you need to be able to get right (if you want your pictures to look anything other than painfully novice) is perspective.  I won't go into it here, because you'd be better off just doing a forum search for 'perspective'. There is literally hours of sage advice and material there for you to look at and use if you have any doubts about how perspective works.

[m0ds]

You might also learn a thing or two about hand-drawn pixel art with miez's tutorial which is here. I'm no artist but Ali's point strikes a chord:

Begin drawing loosely on a thumbnail scale, experimenting with the composition of lines and shapes. Add a bit of detail, shading and volume roughly as you go.

Good luck!

[Crosco]

Thanky you for your hints and links (especially cat for the Kafkas Koffee tutorial).

[cat]

You are welcome. When you have experimented and practised a bit, you can go to Critics Lounge here and get some helpful advice on how you can improve your drawings: http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?board=4.0

Edit: Two lists of tutorials (not sure how up-to-date they are):
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=32133.0
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=30939.0