how do i draw flames? [Archive] - Radio Control Zone

FESTER2004

10-11-2005, 03:12 AM

hey gang,this may sound silly but when i try to draw my own flames for my paint ideas,they come out cr*ppy,i wanna draw my own instead of keep using paint masks.i wanna do them free hand.any suggestions on how do get them right?

charlieB

10-11-2005, 03:33 AM

Buy a set of FRENCH CURVES from an art store. Thats all you will need.

http://www.artsuppliesonline.com/prodimg/6751.jpg

Divman

10-11-2005, 07:45 AM

yup good plan with the curves, i take u aint that artistic and cant just draw em? :P

Legend_Car

10-11-2005, 08:39 AM

I just free hand mine and they look pretty good

charlieB

10-11-2005, 12:42 PM

yup good plan with the curves, i take u aint that artistic and cant just draw em? :P

Yup, you are right...i can't draw.

FESTER2004

10-11-2005, 02:38 PM

i use to be awesome at art until i broke my wrist back in the day.......i can draw but not everything,thanks charlieb, i wills ee what ebay has re: those french curves.thanks!

FESTER2004

10-11-2005, 02:58 PM

how much should they cost so i dont over pay?i found some on ebay!

FESTER2004

10-11-2005, 03:06 PM

u think home depot would have this or lowes?

Piggy89373

10-11-2005, 03:27 PM

Yup, you are right...i can't draw.
yeah right...and fish can't swim. Funny...subtle, but funny. ;)

Fes, try Michael's...that's where I bought mine. For a pack, ran me about 5 bucks. It's the same price at Staples.

Farwar

10-11-2005, 03:44 PM

with a pencil. :p . The french curves will work but its all a matter of looking at different style of flames and just drawing wavy lines.

charlieB

10-11-2005, 04:06 PM

What i recommend for the 'Curves:

Draw ur flames 1st with a pencil. Make it light so if u make mistakes, it wont matter. THen, to get the definite shape, use the 'Curves to "PERFECT" the existing shape so you are happy with the results. Then retrace with a pen for a final drawing.

**French Curves is what a lot of Airbrush masters use for a LOT of applications and does not mean the final product is bad. Craig Frazer uses French Curves to do his "realistic" looking flames and i would challenge anyone to say his flames are weak.

Noah, a world famous Airbrush Muralist uses French Curves for doing his Women Portraits in which again, is FLAWLESS.

Using tools does not make you "non artistic", making them work to accomplish the desired effect makes you an innovator and a genius.

Look at what MARBLIZING did to this industry when "It" was 1st posted 4 years ago.

http://socal.rcracing.com/Images//marbleized-fat-flames.jpg

LEADFOOT

10-12-2005, 12:50 AM

Yup, you are right...i can't draw.

:eek:

FESTER2004

10-12-2005, 02:25 AM

WOW,that is a amazn paint job! i found a set at a art supply store which i will go to saturday morn.'its 10 bucks for the set but i will try staples if u say they were cheaper. thanks!

rcaddikt

10-12-2005, 03:53 PM

I would skip the french curves for now, I think it will just frustrate you in the begining . The quickest way to learn how to draw something (I think) is to TRACE whatever it is you want to learn how to draw. Find drawings or pics of flames you like get a LOT of tracing paper and trace until your fingers bleed. ;) Before you know it you won't need pictures or tracing paper, you'll be drawing them without thinking about it.

Another cool way to learn is the "grid" method. Get your same drawings/pics and draw a square grid ON it. Now draw another grid with BIGGER squares on a blank piece of paper. Mark where the flames and grid intersect then connect them, and you've just drawn the same thing only bigger.

The first way mentioned will get you there faster though. Practice and the repition of drawing them over and over.

globaltruckin

10-12-2005, 04:22 PM

A very good thing to remember is that YOU can MAKE a pattern off the body and then use it to put on the body. Also remember to make both sides the same, otherwise the car will look lopsided. You can do this easily with my patern suggestion, make a pattern for half the body and flip it over and use it on the other side.

dphipps

10-12-2005, 04:35 PM

I can draw flames pretty good, all it took was lots of practice doodles. My english class in highschool was where I perfected it!

The grid idea is good, I've never tried using the french curves before though, I'm sure they'd work but it may just take longer.

MaxxThrasher

10-12-2005, 05:16 PM

French curves are a great tool to add to your toolbox. Rcaddikt has a very good lesson that's low budget, low tech and old school. It works and should be remembered.
There is an old copy of RCCA in which Bob Hastings describes his way of drawing flames that is also helpful. Only I can't remember which issuie it's in, so I'm no help. :p Anyhow, he mentioned just drawing some U's and connecting the ends with the wavy part of the flame.

rcaddikt

10-12-2005, 05:26 PM

Yes, I in no way meant to descredit the use ( or ownership :) ) of french curves. I just thought they would hinder more than help to someone starting out. :)

FESTER2004

10-15-2005, 01:55 AM

thanks gang for the help!i am gonna try to french curve thing for the fun of it,lol

if anybody has the rcca isssue with how to draw flames,can someone fwd me a copy of the article,would love to check it out!

i just subscribed to rcca today(i use to get it years ago)m i renewed my subscribtion for DIRT WHEELS!HEHEHE!

FESTER2004

10-15-2005, 03:28 PM

i got a set of the french curves today 9.99 n i bought a set of 5 xacto type #11 blades for 99 cents n one of those green cutting mats for 17.99-i think the size is 17 x 34.didnt play with the curves yet but i already used the cuttn board,lol

Scooby_WRX

10-15-2005, 03:56 PM

Good idea on the french curves. I like to just free hand everything though. I find it helps to get my layout on paper first.
http://images.snapfish.com/344%3C634%3B23232%7Ffp45%3Dot%3E232%3C%3D826%3D%3A 3%3A%3DXROQDF%3E2323%3B6638%3B9%3C5ot1lsi

Then frome there, onto the body.
http://images.snapfish.com/344%3C634%3B23232%7Ffp58%3Dot%3E232%3C%3D826%3D%3A 3%3A%3DXROQDF%3E2323%3B6657%3A2%3C4ot1lsi

And the end result....
http://images.snapfish.com/344%3C634%3B23232%7Ffp7%3Enu%3D323%3B%3E735%3E949% 3EWSNRCG%3D3232%3C5%3A%3B5%3A%3A44nu0mrj

http://images.snapfish.com/344%3C634%3B23232%7Ffp64%3Dot%3E232%3C%3D826%3D%3A 3%3A%3DXROQDF%3E2323%3B69%3C6%3C397ot1lsi

http://images.snapfish.com/344%3C634%3B23232%7Ffp63%3Dot%3E232%3C%3D826%3D%3A 3%3A%3DXROQDF%3E2323%3B69%3C6%3C3%3A5ot1lsi

FESTER2004

10-15-2005, 08:35 PM

scooby,thanks for the tips-awesome body

Legend_Car

10-15-2005, 10:24 PM

that body is pretty sweet scoob

MaxxThrasher

10-18-2005, 04:42 PM

Yes, I in no way meant to descredit the use ( or ownership :) ) of french curves. I just thought they would hinder more than help to someone starting out. :)
I see your point and in that respect your absolutely correct. The method you mentioned is perfect and works great for "learning" how to draw anything. Repetitiveness is the key to learning anything new.

Fes, sorry but I haven't had the time to go through my old mags. I'm sure I have it here somewhere, but I have quite a collection to go through to find it.

Scoob, that's great work. What process do you use to transfer the paper drawing onto the body?

Scooby_WRX

10-18-2005, 05:09 PM

Scoob, that's great work. What process do you use to transfer the paper drawing onto the body?

Maxx, those drawings just tell me my plans. They are in no way a direct transfer to the body. I take my idea from a drawing, to the body with free hand work. I occasionally will match up a left/right side on the body with a piece of wax paper. Although i'd recommend using actual trace paper. Wax paper kills the ultra fine sharpie. Being a noob myself, im still learning alot. I suppose some calipers, or measurements would help even up my work, but for some reason i like free hand results best. Its just a thing i do. Heres a sneak peak of the stadium truck body that will be the match to that buggy body.

http://images.snapfish.com/344%3C897923232%7Ffp45%3Dot%3E232%3C%3D826%3D%3A3% 3A%3DXROQDF%3E2323%3B79579452ot1lsi

Scooby_WRX

10-18-2005, 05:11 PM

Oh, and guys, thanks alot for all the compliments. They are a real motivation while learning this airbrush.

MaxxThrasher

10-18-2005, 05:19 PM

I see, well it's definately working for ya so stick with it! Your lucky to have such a talented hand.

I think I've seen JDawg actually cut out the paper, stick it to the outside, then trace the edge of the paper with marker onto the body. Then apply film to the inside and go from there. I was wondering if this is how you did this also or if you had some other way.
Nothing wrong with free handing it. Some peoples eyes are calibrated well enough to come so close you can't tell anyhow. And some paint schemes don't need symmetry and actually look better without it. So, congrats on the skills, must be nice! ;)
And thanks for the reply.

2mcgrath

10-23-2005, 10:32 AM

thats also my problem.god didnt bless me in the drawing department.so i have to use paint mask..good looking bodies..ive always liked flames on the bodies always looks good

FESTER2004

10-30-2005, 10:11 PM

well gang ,here is a update,yeah the french curves r trickey so i went to wal mart last night n bought a book of tracing paper,right now i am practicing tracing flames from a paint mask!i also bought more avery sticker paper so i cna print out my own masks on the computer.