I am new in Zbrushing. My opinion is: When you draw you can`t probe your drawings in 3D and see if it looks real with proper proportions, forms, detailes. In Zbrush you can do this!!!. You can experiment with forms, with proportions, colors, shadows etc. in the end it can help you to learn how to percept things in 3D and than you gain ability to “see” before you draw. 
…I think. By the way…I am amazed what you are doing here int this world of reality :).
As long as you get a good result sculpting who cares if you can draw or not? Drawing does teach you to look at things in detail but that alone doesn’t give you talent to do anything else but observe. As Jason (of Cannedmushrooms fame) says, it takes ‘practice, practice, practice’ to get good at modelling in Zbrush. So I’d say don’t get too hung up on drawing as being necessary to do anything good in Zbrush - just practice different techniques and work out what’s the best method for you.
if you can’t find that material in netherlands i sure will not find it here i guess i’ll try to do something with clay. i hope in near future you will see something of my work here right now i’m really occupied with learning (faculty). anyone else have problem with finding time in life? one more time i’m really glad that you all take time to answer me.
p.s. AhOld
“By the way…I am amazed what you are doing here int this world of reality :)”
i’m not sure that i understood that if it was pointed to me.
I’d say that being good at drawing will help you a lot, but not being good at drawing can hurt you if your sculpts have the same mistakes your drawings would have, because a drawing is just a reflection of what you understand in your head and what you are able to observe and retain. It’s hard to retain reality all at once, so learning to draw over a period of time sorta cements all in, you know? We know that with Z-Brush, the sky is the limit…so you need a solid foundation or you may end up putting all kinds of crazy cool detail into something with messed up anatomy or wack proportions.
An expert modeler can still make basic mistakes with anatomy, form and proportion which might have been worked out by someone who drew 2D for 10 years before touching a 3D program.
Without these skills, it’s just more to learn, which is why when you look at various models and wireframes on public forums, you can spot the experts and the noobs and everyone in between, even if they all have a working knowledge of their 3D program(s).
So, whether one decides to draw or just stick to the 3D world (or both), it’s important to learn the basics, and it does show through in one’s work.
My admiration was pointed to all arts, and artists, and who vants to learn. I dont know if you should know to draw. But I know you should be passionate at it and do it. So happy modelling, drawing, claying, playing.
I think i can summarize what everyone said so far into one simple answer :
You don’t need to be an illustrator to be a good ZBrusher, but every extra medium you learn will make it stronger.
personaly, I don’t think it matters if you can draw or not, to use ZB. But an eye for detail, and a perception to work in 3D. Actually thats not true, because I have seen some great work in this forum from people who don’t use ZB for modeling, just Illustration. So I gues it’s what you want ZB to do for you.
Befor the age of Digital art, I had reasonably good traditional skills in painting and illustration. But then (Must be nearly 20 years ago) I went and brought an Amiga 500, which came with a program called DPaint, and my traditanal skills got neglected, 5 years down the line I tried to go back to to pen and paper and the skills wern’t there. I’m sure if I had persisted they would have returned, but digital was offering far more excitment.
But now that I have a Wacom, and ZB I am finding that my traditional skills are coming back and certainly modeling is helping that as I’m studying form and details again.
I do nock out concept sketches, but they are so rougth, they are crap. So Digital still wins over and my drawing skills still are not what they used to be. But my mind still has the stong ability to create, and ZB is ace for freestyle results. So don’t worry, just creat. I hope this makes some sense:D;)
IMHO - sculpting and drawing, either digital or real, are coming from the same area of the brain. (and i suspect music to )
When I’ve observed 3D artist/sculptors’s websites, the quality of the 2D traditional art posted usually reveals the artist’s overall skill level. Usually, fine draughtmanship equates into good sculpture and concept art, too. Sculpting and drawing require the exact same discipline; observation, measurement, an understanding of form, proportional relationships are required for both.
BTW drawing is one of the best ways to get into a good mood. It’s been PROVEN that artists enter into an altered state when drawing.
Noooooo! im blind!!!
this page is very cool: www.conceptart.org go to their forums and look for techniques
That was a violent post for my eyes!!!
I believe that having the ability to draw is a very important aspect of any medium. It’s not “knowing” how to draw but having the ability is whats important. Having the ability opens the door to learning the many mediums that the artist is “confronted with”.
I do concept art and illustration. I have been drawing for a very long time. Im glad that i have learned this wonderful core skill.
Im also a professional photo-editor. If it weren’t for my ability to draw, I wouldn’t be good at photo-editing. Because drawing is at the core of any art medium or style, it becomes important to learn it.
I have seen photo-editors that lack the ability to draw and when you look at their work, it doesn’t seem natural and realistic. It’s the same for ZBrush. Though it is sculpting, you still have to deal with form and structure. If you “know” these things, that’s good… If you have the ability to work and identify form, it’s much better. It is something that can be learned but if you don’t practice it “physically”… well it won’t have that special touch that artists have.
P.S never look down on drawing. It’s how we start any project. Wether it be graphic design to photo-editing to sculpting it always starts at the drawing table.
My own two cents: drawing is not essential for sculpting or 3D modeling. Being perceptive is critical, however, and this is the “hard part” for any art form. In some ways, this can actually be easier with 3D modeling. For example, if something’s out of proportion, it may not look like it at one angle, but be very obvious at another angle. If you pay attention while you work, your own model will teach you things. So not only can drawing help you model better, but modeling can help you draw better, as well.
I think it’s best to practice both.
- Kef
In my experience people who have a talent for drawing can learn to sculpt and people with a natural affinity for sculpture can be taught to draw.
The abilities a very different though. With drawing the focus is on light and shade and using 2d tricks to get the mind to see in 3D. This is actually how our eyes work with our mind.
With sculpture you think geometrically. When I learned this I understood what it was that I was doing intuitively and my work improved a great deal as a result since I could apply that understanding deliberately. I think in shapes - 3D shapes. People who draw in my experience think in shade and 2D shapes.
You don’t have to draw to sculpt, though I keep telling myself that it is a useful skill to develop!
well i m a dual graduate ( one graduation in dual Maths and Physics and the 2nd i did in traditional arts with major in Graphic Design) and i m a lead artist in a gaming studio. i myself m a traditional sculptor and i also use Zbrush. in my opinion Drawing is the difference betwean a great artist (traditional or digital) and an average guy.
When I attended the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts many years ago (37 YIPEs!), first year studio courses were a mixture of everything. At least twice a week, we either did figure studies or portraits in clay. We also had intensive drawing from the figure, cast drawing, and quick sketching from the figure. In addition we also painted still life, portrait and the figure. I can think of no better way to get good at art than to spend at least a year in instructed painting, drawing and sculpting classes.
Drawing enhanced my ability to paint and sculpt and those skills enhanced my ability to draw. It creates a feedback loop.
Personally I beleive that anyone can master a peice of software… but if you lack the fundamental ability to transfer your imagination or thoughts into something tangible then you are no better than the “help desk”.
I have worked in the graphics industry for the last 15 years and many times I have seen people come along and learn some package, like photoshop, and beleive themselves to be a graphic designer.
The ability to draw WELL is a natural talent. You can teach someone how to LOOK and to recognise form and light, but that will not make them the next DaVinci if they lack the ability to apply those fundamentals.
So what I am getting down to is this:
You can imagine and see what it is you want to create, but if there is a disconect between this, and the fine motor skills required to render those thoughts, you will never be happy with your results.
Being a good artist is about placing a mark. Being a good 3D sulptor is about placing a vertex (in a roundabout way).
The trick is to place it well!
Final thought:
Anyone can learn to use a paint brush and oil paint, but that does not make them the next Renoir!
I didnt know what in the hell a cast drawing was until a few minutes ago…lol…derrrrrr…found this link if anyone is interested…
http://www.learning-to-see.co.uk/clytie-1.html
Dan-Burke I’d say that being good at drawing will help you a lot, but not being good at drawing can hurt you if your sculpts have the same mistakes your drawings would have
Definitely agree, DanB.
Ed the Atom, a very good artist here on zbc, once gave me tremendous guidance and advice on how to improve my skills (which still need considerable work). Words to the effect of, " draw, draw, draw…and copy others works on paper for continued practice…"
Well I did that and studied and still try to study photo clippings etc…my drawings got a bit better (as he predicted) and my zbrush models changed quite a bit as well. Mainly as DanB said, I quit making the same mistakes (well part of the mistakes)in my drawings and this carried over in the process to zbrush as well. It worked. I am not saying my level is where it needs to be at present, but progression is there, due to Eta’s advice. My eternal thanks, Paul.
Drawing for me personally is a blue print of taking the idea to the next level, whether it be sculpting, 3d modeling etc…Look at alot of the great projects we have seen on this forum and they will post their concept art… Some get away with just going with the flow…but a plan of action will keep you in the right direction.
Another artist and friend from the forum, Stonecutter once told me, Don’t allow the program make you settle for something less …you guide the program/tool dont allow it to hinder your creation, making your realized ideas less that what you wanted. Also Ron, slow down and take your time with your works…too rushed and it showed in my works. I was posting 3 or 4 embarassing pics a day. When I see most of those now, I cringe with embarrassment. (it was words to that effect and appreciated. Thnx bro!) Hope it made sense to everyone else…lol…(I’m only on my 2nd cup of java this morning) 
Another example from another artist friend of mine, Mentat7/Lonnie Sargeant was simple… my models were lumpy and bumpy and looked like dough…Ron, try pushing and pulling on points…start low poly and work and increase the poly count as you go along…and for God’s sake Ron, pull the outside corners of your eyes down and more level…(Slosh, also gave me some of that advice)…immediately those little things pushed my work levels ahead of where it was at, at that time. (thnx Lon and Bri for the honesty and the tips)
So much practice left and so much to learn and so so so very little time…and so far to still go…but what a fun journey.
Love everyone’s opinions of the subject…very cool thread.
ps. time for more coffee, laterz taterz.