Any advice on how to make simple drawing tutorials?

[akemikae]

So, basically, I've been wanting to actually use my drawing YouTube account, and I was thinking of maybe doing tutorials. I am by no means a top tier artist, but a lot of people seem to enjoy what I draw, and trying to make tutorials seems like a good exercise for myself that would only improve my skills. The problem is, I don't even know where to start.

-Do any of you make tutorials on your art?

-How do you know where to start?

-Is it silly to try and make tutorials when you know you're not at your best skill?

Any examples of either your own tutorials, or someone that you look up to would be great!

(I mostly want to do video tutorials, so like, me recording in real time what I'm doing. But I don't know where to go from there.)

Thanks in advance!

[33rdCenturyCaveman]

So you need tutorial . . . on tutorial?

Kidding aside, it always good to start with basics. What am absolutely essential to particular skill or body of knowledge? What was own path as beginner, and what would you have done to make path easier?

[DualDragons]

I dunno, i started this a while back on DeviantArt with head shapes in my (manga) style. I was planning to do the body next

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I guess it would be handy to do basic things like faces, heads, bodies and proportions first. Before tackling things like hair, clothes and such.

[akemikae]

Yeah, I get that what I'm asking is hilariously redundant. haha. It's more like, I don't know how to tackle the making of a tutorial. I am good at video editing and such, I'm moreso confused about how to explain what I'm doing? Are full step by steps better? Or do you just kinda...say what you're doing?

I have a big tendency of 1) repeating myself and 2) using a million words to explain a simple thing.

The irony has not died on me in the fact that I have done both of those things in this forum post...

...

TL;DR I'm mostly asking about what style of tutorials most people latch on to.

Lots of vocal description, or mostly just seeing it?

[33rdCenturyCaveman]

It depend on natural teaching style of teacher and natural learning style of learner. Mebbe you can post first episode, then ask viewers where to go next.

Me wanted to write pocket guide that could be mentioned in same breath as Strunk & White's Elements of Style and Stephen King's On Writing. So me did that.

[IndigoShirtProd]

You should probably watch some tutorials on youtube so you can see what people respond to and to see what you'd be most comfortable doing. Some people like a step by step, some people like voice-over, others a side by side comparison of what to do and what not to do, and even more like time lapses with on screen text. It just depends.

[SleepingPoppy]

Is it silly to try and make tutorials when you know you're not at your best skill?

Yep! There's nothing wrong with sharing what you learn as you learn it. I suggest focusing on maybe what you think are your strongest skill set. Pick your next art project, take a moment to mentally break down your steps, and then document yourself going through the process. And once you get started I'm sure you can refine your tutorial making skills. Personally I would include voice over, and describe what I'm doing and why. Make sure people can see what tools you're selecting, etc.

Checking out some other youtube tutorials to see what you like won't hurt either.

[Lummy]

Both, vocal description and seeing.
If someone wanted to only see they would find a speedpaint, but if you only explain and don't show it people probably won't understand what you are trying to say.

Since you said you tend to overexplain/repeating, try to write a script for yourself and then you can edit the script so you won't repeat and overexplain (though I don't think overexplaining is a bad thing, but it is your choice)

Also personally, if I watch a tutorial on drawing on YouTube I also would like the creator of the tutorial to give tips/advice/personal expreince

[Rhonder]

One thing I like when watching tutorials is when the person goes over not only what to do and how to do it, but why they do it that way. It's useful to hear about what sorts of things influence their artistic decisions, be it because they were doing it a different/"worse" way prior and discovered a new better way, or maybe they just really like how it looks, or whatever.

I like LavenderTowne's "Do This, Not That" series on YT for this reason- she does an illustration for both ways, and talks about why not to do "that" which is usually rooted just in anecdotes about how she used to draw when she was less experienced. Obvi don't have to copy that exact formula, but I think it could be a good way to flesh out the run time with useful examples/tips~