Tamiko Needs CRTIQUES

Hi to all! Well... Before I show you my art. I got a bit of a story for ya. (artwork at the bottom)

[This story has been edited out because I cannot word it correctly so I will just say this: Please comment I really need help and its late at night by tomarrow there will be something useful in this space.]

I have been mimicing drawings (not tracing), drawing directly from my head, etc. for years now that but I see NO IMPROVEMENT what-so-ever!!! So I am here to post some of my artwork to see what you think.

HARSH CRITISIM NEEDED!

Artwork!
Never Drew a Wolf Before till Now: (Mind my sister holding it for me--I will not show the public my face) http://inuyashaspyrosonic.deviantart...Kami-140314254 Drawn tonight.

Neliel Tu oderschvank: before my scanner broke... http://inuyashaspyrosonic.deviantart...l-Tu-120216762 Drawn April 23rd.

Catfish!: Mind you, it's supper bright. http://inuyashaspyrosonic.deviantart...h-pa-126085288 Drawn June 15th

Momo Hinamori: I should just stop my commenting. http://inuyashaspyrosonic.deviantart...Momo-120550040 Drawn April 26

To tell you the truth, I don't even think I've been drawing for years anymore. Maybe its just not my talent.
I will post more up later. It's a bit late at night and I'm half asleep.... sorry..? Also sorry for being a bit spam-ish, if I was, I don't mean to be spammish at all.

They arent bad but i think the biggest piece of advice you could recieve is this: Try not to mimic other styles, draw in your own. I had that problem for ages. I tried to draw a certain style and it never worked right for me. This most likely why you arent seeing improvement in your skill. Since youre from Japan, it may be easier for you to take classes in anime style.(That is, if you really want to draw that way.) I like the Koi picture alot. I think taking any sort of art class could help too.

I do not think she's actually from Japan, Florina.
But yes, try and be a bit more original. From the first picture, I can see you have it in you--I like the bold, confident lines. But it seems you are simply copying other pictures without injecting your own little flavor in there--which is fine if you're just starting out, but try not to rely too much on that. You'll end up putting yourself in a hole that is very difficult to dig yourself out of.

I could only get the first and last pic to load (comp jsut does that sometimes...)

They look good, but Momo's eyes don't line up. Really takes a lot away from the picture.

I do not think she's actually from Japan, Florina.

What makes you say that?

^well, for one thing, there's an American flag next to her gender icon, as there is in yours.

...as well as on her DA account it reads "United States".

Oh i didnt see that. I just read "[Inserttownnamehere, Japan]" :/

Lol. I wish I was from Japan though... But I'm just a poor ol' Floridian (not that all Floridians are ppor--just me...). I still got a lot of the language to learn to even lie to a person about it. Which really sucks... but ah well.

I appreciate the advice everyone. thanks! Um.. here I'll try this:
Florina Belmont: Yes, anime/manga is a major style I would love to master! There are quite a few classes around my area so i'll take your advice and definately look into it. And thanks, again. I think the Koi is the only picture not mimiced (o.o ... well.. there's a first for everything).

@Mattocks: Momo was a first of my Bleach fan art that Ia ctually spent time on (8 or so hours). I always have problems on the eyes for some odd reason. Whether they're lob-sided just not the same, too close together, or even too far apart. Have any tips? And once again, arigatou.

@Calypso: I'll try my best to be original. You are gonna see some very suck-ish art, probably (no seriously. If I have them uploaded I used some bases and... wow. So I can't even draw hair!?). I suck at drawing directly from my mind but I'll try. I again thank you so much for the tips!

I owe all of you so much for this! *sniffle* Even though I haven't started anything yet I'm so happy that you've changed my drawings ways. And maybe I should post before I get over-dramatic...

I think the Koi is the only picture not mimiced (o.o ... well.. there's a first for everything).

Yeah, i figured. Its probably why it feels and looks better. Im glad to hear that you want to improve so much.

These are kind of cool, especially the first drawing. But yeah, I would recommend trying to draw in your own style.

Do you have any more artwork?

I'm going to contradict what other people are saying here: you can improve from copying - but only to a point. the thing that screams to me that you can improve on right away without changing what you're doing is shading. Momo's hair isn't completely shaded, and her hair is lighter than the outline you made for it. decide before you start whether it'll be line-art or shaded. if it'll be shaded, make very light outlines and then shade it in darker as need be, and pay closer attention to value - like, her eyebrows are far darker than her hair.

I see why her eye got messed up. it all has to do with the inside of the eye on the right side of the page - where all the hair is. it may be better if I add notes to the pic in MS paint and post it back for you...it'll be hard to explain. but essentially, the eye looks longer than it really is because of the lines you put behind the hair...so it looks like the edge of the eye is on the edge of the paper where the pupil is, when that shouldn't be the case. if you shade the hair so the eye lines aren't seen behind it, it may or may not solve it.

anyway. starting to draw in your own style wouldn't be a bad thing. ...but you do have some things you can learn by what you're doing. also, you may try hunting down a photograph or a 3D rendering, and try drawing it. that may help you in all areas.

...I'm not sure if a trip through my gallery would help you or not, but you're welcome to look - I used to do copy like you are. I'm FaeOfDoom.