How can an IT person learn drawing/painting?

[nvictor]

I still think I made the right choice by pursuing a CS degree. But still I used to draw a lot and I like it. I miss my old passion a lot. How can I reconcile the two domains? Do you know any books as a self-teaching guide?

thanks

Edit:
Well it's going to be harder than I thought

[Mayo]

Go to drawspace.com and start, i also want to get started but i alway find an excuse not to do it....

[nvictor]

Mayo, that's actually a great link; thanks a lot.

[ragtag]

Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain - by Betty Edwards, is a nice book.

You might also look into drawing classes in your are. Near where I live they have an open croquie session once a week. You can just show up with pencils and paper and $8, and draw anotomy for 2-3 hours, and once a month they have a drawing teacher there.

Drawing things you like looking at is a good way to keep up your interest, be it super models or old sailboats (Google image search is a great source for reference).

That said, I work with computer graphics and 3D, and we really need people who can both draw and program. It seems to be kind of rare, either because of a right side (artistic) vs left side (logical) of the brain thing, or simply because both take so much time and dedication to become good at that few find the time to master both.

[fourthdan]

Practice!
Look to places for inspiration, and start going in that direction.

check out deviantart if you want to see what others are doing (and how old they are is an amazing wake up call) Or look for stock photography and wallpapers for inspiration - if real life doesn't provide it.

[ellie]

Take an art class on weekends or evenings.

[bf1983]

Whatever you do remember to have fun and not take the thing too seriously.

The point is to keep it as your passion and not overdo it so that it's something you beat yourself up on for not doing right or doing enough.

Get a study DVD also - I learned to paint this way, great when you're just starting out and you can fill in the gaps later.

Brian

[tristanbethe]

You have to check this guy out: Journey of an Absolute Rookie: Paintings and Sketches - ConceptArt.org Forums

He started a thread on conceptart.com when he started his journey to draw and keeps posting even today. checkout the first few pages and then the last few... you will be amazed.

He draws every single day (indeed because he likes to do so) If this does not inspire you i do not know what will

but just a case you need more: image*after forum: my painting link list

i made a post about digital painting on my website. Hope it helps

[bowman]

I have similar artistic inclinations and am doing a technical (mathematics) degree as well. I did some searching for this stuff a year ago and I found a really good set of books by Andrew Loomis. Most of these books are out of print now and very hard to find but you can get them on the internet.

[Erki]

Maybe breaking the association between drawing and business would help?

[DavidDavidDavid]

There's something else to your question...no one who used to draw wonders how to draw again, how to get back into it or "reconcile" it with x, y, or z....

What do you mean by "reconcile," exactly?

I'm a urban bicyclist, but I don't feel any qualms about driving out of the city if I have to. Though hardly a swimmer, I really like to swim and dive, but haven't been under water in years and years -- yet I don't wonder how to reconcile my love of the water with being a land-lubber most of the time!

So I think there's something else to your question....

(BTW, FWIW, I'm also an artist, though I don't make my living from it.)

P.S.
You might enjoy something by Douglas Hofstadter ("Goedel, Escher, Bach" or "Metamagical Themas")....

[cashprior]

buy a wacom tablet and play around with photoshop!

[evacorges]

Just pick it up again. Art is mostly about practicing the eye and hand. deviantART: where ART meets application! has a great community for aspiring artists, and literally all genres are represented. You can join a club there and get feedback and find online resources there to help you improve.
There is no reason why you could not be an artist as well. Some very talented artists have had a career on the side