This for most people doesn't tend to be true! Which sucks. Learning to draw from imagination is a really tricky thing, but the basis of accurately drawing from imagination comes down to the shapes and the form. Memorising lines will make things two-dimensional as lines simply come from the way light hits something.

You're right in believing that learning the shapes will help! And Volks is also right by saying references help. When looking at images, try to find the shapes behind them. If you're going to trace, [which is a way of learning but I wouldn't recommend posting those images, it makes artists not very happy lmao] try tracing the shapes over the top of the image, like this

And then, taking the image away, try referencing off your sketch.

By doing things this way, you'll be able to learn the shapes and learn to see them, and you can see what you can exaggerate. It's a much better way to help develop style too.


This sketch was of course done uh,,, really really quickly so- I'd recommend taking a little more time on it than I did.


Annnd of course always remember credits ahah-
I hope this helps out in some way.

Wolf image here:
https://www.deviantart.com/hotnstock/art/Mexican-Wolf-Stock-13-Jumping-281710591

I latterly can't draw from imagination. My mind doesn't understand the form, how the animals moves, space and lighting.

i been practice drawing with forms,instead of with lines, maybe that would help?

please help, all you great artists!

Don't draw from imagination. Try copying a reference or even tracing. Eventually you'll get better with practice and then you'll be able to draw more accurately without any references.

Hmm I've been trying that, but memorizing the lines doesn't help.

if I memorize the forms, (spheres etc) and how they work, maybe my brain will understand it better?

read an article

Ok. I got better at drawing animal legs after watching my cats. I don't use shapes when I draw, but if it helps you, go for it! ^^

I suggest having an image of the animal open on something and sketching based off what you see. Using shapes; Circles, squares, ovals, rectangles, ect. Always do light strokes when sketching, this gives you the chance to look and guide based off where you are. Always if you hace trouble with directions make arrows to which way you are looking to make something. :) Hope this helps a bit

This is all a lot of help! Thanks!

ET

honestly, we need to pin this(:

What I do, is when I started I did a few studies on wolves and canine figures, like the above, start with shapes and understand which ones connect and where, and eventually with practice you can start sketching out just those shapes into a pose you'd like from imagination :)