No, no, no... what are you doing?! The "tracking" isn't the point, it's the curses people can incite it with. Even others who see it can sense an off-putting energy about it, I know I'm not the only one.
A while ago, there was another user who carved a poem from her Incubus, into a stone, and put it as her signature. The same thing back then happened, and even though she put her heart into it, other psychics here started feeling uneasy from seeing it, because there were already negative energies emanating from it. I believe this is a similar case.
Look, I'm happy for you that you've found a hobby that you can put your effort and passion into. I know of how you said you found your life boring. Therefore, I'm really glad you've discovered something that you can find appreciation in doing. You even have a friend that you can do it with. By all means, please continue to pursue it.
...But I am going to tell you something I had to learn the hard way when I was new to drawing. I know the feeling of wanting to share something you're proud of, something you put effort, passion into, something you poured your heart and emotion into. Naturally, one would want to share something like that, but... you must realise the reality of your stage in development and that you are yet at a very early stage in drawing.
Your friends will most likely say, "That looks really good!", but does it really? What is it that makes something look good in art? Do they actually recognise the absence of the fundamentals that construct an illustration, or are they saying it's good because they don't know much about art and want to say something nice?
How many people you show this to, are at least at intermediate level of expertise to know and tell you everything wrong about it? That's not what one wants to hear, though, when they've put their heart and effort into it. Right?
But it's true. It's not only shading, by the way, because there is not even any shading in that.
"What do you mean? I put shading."
No, not properly, if I know I can't see it.
At this point, you might be wondering, "Well, what am I supposed to improve on, then?"
Fundamentals such as:
- The ability to draw shapes in 3-dimensionality, and planes.
Why?
There is no structure in the shape of the skull/head you drew. You challenged yourself to draw metal, something that consists of several individual parts and 3D shapes that assimilate to construct a larger form.
But you don't have experience in the application of 3D shapes to actually depict this in the way it is truly formed, resulting in the discrepancy of "fluidity" due to the lack of structure, in an object requiring structure.
You can begin to shape objects by visualizing them in 3D shapes, after you have built experience in the next step below. Try to see everything for what they are, in 3D shapes. A fridge for example, is comprised of a large 3D rectangle and smaller squares for the insides.
- Lighting and shading.
Why?
There is no shadow without light. If you're able to determine and visualise where the light is coming from, you will be able to apply shading in the opposite direction to establish a greater sense of 3-dimensionality, and understand the form of objects in a realistic environment.
You may try to practice lighting and shading by drawing 3D shapes such as spheres, cubes, and pyramids. Establish a light source and shade on the opposite side. Use reference photographs or illustrated examples by others. Observe and apply.
- Line technique. Line weight, line breaking, etc.
Why?
Surfaces and areas of curvature, as well as texture, hardness and softness, sharpness, and even distance are all determined by the thickness, thinness, tapering and convergence of lines. Not only that, but the stroke of the pencil/brush/etc itself should be lengthened or shortened depending on the intention of the artist wherever applicable to the particular area one is working on.
You can try to learn different forms of stroke techniques to accustom yourself. I can see the lines you used; we call them "chicken scratches", a term referring to the habit of drawing lines in short, repetitive strokes we do in areas we lack the confidence/knowledge to completely stroke a contour in one go. You can figure that this is how all beginners start.
There are many other things I could tell you about, but these should at least help you to realise what you can begin to work on, in order to improve in art.
Like I said, from the beginning, I never intended to discourage you from something you've recently found great enthusiasm in doing. I'm simply laying out these steps for you in order to encourage you, and give you some things to familiarise yourself with.
If your friend is an artist, I'm sure she'll know what I'm talking about here, too. Best of luck to you, but... please take the picture off.
![NakedPluto [JG]](/data/avatars/s/21/21004.jpg?1712372085){kind=avatar}
