I was thinking about uploading more art, and I wanted to get some input about what you folks do to clean up your edges. like what programs do you use, or recommend, (free because I'm broke). Now I sketch pretty much all my work, I really don't usually upload to anything. but when I uploaded some of my doodles I did in an hour or so, I was being a real lazy jerk. and scaled them and hit the upload button. but now I am thinking of being more serious with my artwork. So, I just wanted to get some pointers. I mean, I'm not a BAD artist, but there is always room for improvement.

On the flip side I always do what I call "warm-up" I draw an image, and I spend a-lot of time revising, so an image looks detailed, but messy, (dark lines, off proportion ect.) but then I keep redrawing the same image on different pieces of copy-paper until I am eventually satisfied. <- does anyone else do this? just curious.

If possible, go old school, get used to the feel of paper and pen.. learn anatomy and learn to control your hand so you don't make mistakes.. using pens instead of pencils will get you out the mistake makers habit of erasing everything constantly. something a computer will simulate... once you get alright at this. you can start doing normal sketches.

Alright, sounds good. most of my mistakes come from trying to get things proportioned right. for example, this is why I asked last night, I was sketching a Mitsubishi lancer, because i had not drawn anything lately, and I like cars, so I started up, its pretty much finished now, took a few hours. but there are visible mistakes, like some dark lines where I had to adjust my lines making it proportioned right. and the wheels, they aren't bad, but next time around i need to work on my wheels. putting it in the scanner now. because its going in my archives. thanks for your input. and anyone else that comes around on the intention of helping out.

I heard this book does wonders:
http://www.amazon.de/The-Drawing-Right-Side-Brain/dp/0874774241
I have it, but I didn't took my time to work through it yet...

When I draw, I use a pencil and practice curves. I don't know why, but it helped me a lot and now I can almost draw a perfect circle. Also, it doesn't hurt to use some tools when you're drawing.

http://www.amazon.com/How-Draw-Comics-Marvel-Way/dp/0671530771

thanks, but I just need advice on cleaning up after I'm finished with the drawing, I don't need books. I have a few but I don't use them, since they don't tell me anything I don't already know. perhaps I could have rephrased my question. :) I do pretty good in my opinion, I just lack many tools such as good erasers, and pencils. I have some Bic pens and a few precise ball pens, as far as materials go, I just use copy paper. so I was more asking how I could do slight touch-ups on my pictures, I thought the easiest way was through paint programs, such as eye drop tools to get rid of nasty dark lines I have a habit of creating. I don't bother coloring, because i'm terrible at it. so most of my "color" comes from shading I do.

In my opinion what brings the most from a picture is proper shading. not that your opinions dont count though. I appreciate them. honest.

What pictures I already have posted, is not my best work surely, those were made an less than an hour because I was bored and my internet was down. but I also have an issue with doing things in one sitting. my attention span is, somewhat of a gnat at times. so the 2nd attempt I finished today took me a good 2 and a half hours of grinding pencil and tracing key outlines with a precise pen. again, thanks for all the the advice i have and will receive in the future. I hope to get my scanner working properly again and upload. any constructive feedback is also appreciated. :)

crackers said:
thanks, but I just need advice on cleaning up after I'm finished with the drawing, I don't need books. I have a few but I don't use them, since they don't tell me anything I don't already know. perhaps I could have rephrased my question. :) I do pretty good in my opinion, I just lack many tools such as good erasers, and pencils. I have some Bic pens and a few precise ball pens, as far as materials go, I just use copy paper. so I was more asking how I could do slight touch-ups on my pictures, I thought the easiest way was through paint programs, such as eye drop tools to get rid of nasty dark lines I have a habit of creating. I don't bother coloring, because i'm terrible at it. so most of my "color" comes from shading I do.

In my opinion what brings the most from a picture is proper shading. not that your opinions dont count though. I appreciate them. honest.

I agree with you on shading. Shading can determine the quality of your image. If done right, it gives your image a realistic look. Also, I don't bother coloring mine either :P

crackers said:
What pictures I already have posted, is not my best work surely, those were made an less than an hour because I was bored and my internet was down. but I also have an issue with doing things in one sitting. my attention span is, somewhat of a gnat at times. so the 2nd attempt I finished today took me a good 2 and a half hours of grinding pencil and tracing key outlines with a precise pen. again, thanks for all the the advice i have and will receive in the future. I hope to get my scanner working properly again and upload. any constructive feedback is also appreciated. :)

You're welcome
P.S. We both joined e621 on the same day :D