Hello, I've been lurking around for a while now and decided to finally setup my sketchbook. A little about myself: I'm 21 and studying computer science. I (literally) started drawing about 4 years ago, but didn't have my mind set to improve, so the progress is not as good as it should be(although looking back at my very first attempt at). My main goal is anime/manga but recently I understood that real-life drawing is paramount.

I keep an offline sketchbook since January, but the only useful thing about it is seeing my progress. I decided to post my things here from now, hopefully I will get some tips on how to improve quicker and my mistakes will be pointed out to me sooner. So, here are some of my things:

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And here's some character design:

That's it for now, let me know what you think
Any criticism is welcome.

Hello and greetings to the forum, Jebrar. Hope you will find some useful tips and inspiration here!
I'm still a beginner and had the same thoughts about the necessity of real-life drawings, altough I didn't think it's nessesary to draw in realistic style - it's good to study realistic stuff and as far as you undertand how the things work in reality, you can probably draw them in any style. Well, I think different things work for different artists so I actually don't like to give advices like "how you should learn" etc, cause even if it works in 90% of the time, doesn't mean it will suit you. Maybe it is just a general words, but you should try different approaches to find your own learning flow (doesn't know if it makes any sense haha).

I actually like your drawings, especially heads, they look appealing and kinda "living". Your gestures are good, there are some things to work on but you will probably nail them by yourself, just keep drawing, that is the only thing I can advice to everyone.

Thank you! Yes, it's very true that people learn in different ways. I started with only going through the tutorials, but this can only get you so far. Recently I found I improved a lot once I started doing some gesture drawings, especially pose-wise, so there should be definitely more of that! Now I'm beginning to study other manga artists as well, so hopefully this will bring me up another level. I'm still looking for the ultimate technique, but eventually I'll get there

Thank you for your kind words. I tried to add a backstory to some of the heads I drew so maybe that makes them more appealing

hey! good you finally made a sketchbook
-Do post regularly
-It's good that you're working with forms and perspective, try and integrate them into the figures and faces you draw, it will help with drawing them at any angle (especially those pesky eyes)

Thanks, about time right? I've been here for a couple of months now.
That's the plan, although I think it'll be updated weekly because of tough workdays xD
I'll try that, thanks for the idea! Damn eyes, although I'm having more trouble with the knees than eyes atm. One thing at a time though.

Thanks Benasmar! I feel like I learned something today! Those definitely look more solid.

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Relaxed arms point back, not forward.

Some more head practice. I'm slowly falling into my own workflow. I still have to draw some heads from the back, top and bottom.

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Drawing the cross-section of the neck below the head helps with placing the neck tremendously.

Another set of heads. I'm beginning to get the hang of the eyebrows.
Side profile needs more love.

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Heads heads heads heads hair!

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Slowly factoring in emotions, starting with the eyebrows.
I feel like I made a huge progress for the past 2 weeks.

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Drawing chopped off heads is strangely relaxing.

Some realistic studies to get a better grasp of the form.

Moving on... I feel pretty comfortable with the heads now. I think they will improve on their own from now on.

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I haven't posted anything for a long while. Now that I have a little more time, I decided to dump the sketches I did over the last 7 or so months.

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Inktober begins

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Some hand gestures from the last couple of days.
For now just trying to get acquainted to the general shape of the hand.

gotta work on those legs...

Hey there! Good job with all the practice, keep up with that Anything anatomy related will be great at this stage, work on your fundamentals of construction and perspective.

Thanks for checking out my sketchbook!

Yeah, I didn't get to the perspective part of drawing yet I was planning a divide and conquer approach where I would practice parts of the body going progressively downwards (I'm on hands and arms right now) and then work on perspective more. But maybe I should reconsider applying perspective to everything as I go? I just don't want to bite more than I can chew
Regarding construction, apart from the three main masses, I always seem to forget to use it :S unless i'm having a difficult time with a leg xD

A very solid start, especially with your hand and figure studies, but your colours need jazzing up.

Thanks! Indeed I admit I'm not using colours as often as I should. I'm trying to nail the structure and anatomy first

Working on some eyes. I can never get them in right perspective so .-.

Gotta start with the basics

When I figured my basics are somewhere else entirely

The eyes

Trying to fit them in

Still more work to be done, eh

Trying some manga sketches