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[Drawing] Hiccups
October 21, 2011
Hi

I am so addicted to drawing that I just can't resist buying art books and magazines even though my bookcase is full to overflowing with them. Most of the time I don't get to the last page before I'm distracted with something else.

So, I made a promise to myself to go through each book, page by page, and to see the entire book through to the end. Surely my drawing skills will improve in a variety of ways if I do this!

Once I started this mission, I noticed that I still wasn't finishing each book even though that was the whole purpose of the exercise. Don't I even listen to myself or chase my goals?

The books were tagged in a place where I obviously lost interest or the subject was too hard. There had to be a pattern emerging here so I investigated at what point each bookmark appeared.

Ah-ha! It was my old friend (er, maybe I should say enemy), anatomy.

Ok, you may recall that I've previously admitted that I am clearly not interested in anatomy! Drawing the human form is not what motivates me to pick up a pencil. I do practice it a lot but I have to be in a certain frame of mind. Besides, I just want to draw people without having to study muscles, etc.

I recently read this in an art magazine... "To make convincing drawings, it is necessary to understand how the subject is created, it doesn't matter if it's a house or a horse." ...Does that mean I have to learn architecture as well as anatomy? (I'm kidding.)

I can draw portraits with the help of a grid and I don't have to know anything about the underlying structure of the face - now that is more my style!

My point is if you draw what you are interested in, you will continue to draw. It's not a good idea to force yourself to draw something that doesn't appeal to you nor to study a subject that bores you to tears.

By drawing continuously, you arrive at a place where you become completely comfortable with your pencil and nothing (including drawing the human form) can deter you from that moment on.

I think I did the right thing by bookmarking each book because it allows me to revisit them when I feel ready to tackle the subject with dedication. Also, by not forcing the issue, I haven't left myself feeling incompetent nor reluctant to continue drawing.

To learn to draw doesn't necessarily mean you have to be able to draw everything. Follow your heart and instinct to draw your favorite subject because then you will effortlessly learn everything you need to know.

Drawing is so rewarding and it can be your friend right through to your older years. Think about it... all you need is a pencil to be happy!

What's New at AllAboutDrawings.com

New page: Gallery of Pencil Sketches

You might wonder why I'm focusing on sketching as opposed to drawing?

Landscape Sketch


Well, being the Queen of shortcuts, I love the simplicity of sketching and how fast the images appear on my paper. I don't have to be perfect, any mistakes in sketching are forgiven because... well, because it's a sketch!

I love to sketch, have you tried it yet? Here's a little taste of my Gallery of Pencil Sketches

Your Drawings

I feel really exhilarated when I see magnificent drawings by self-taught artists. It shows all of us what can be achieved if we only try.

Don't forget to check the artwork sent in to the site over the last 2 months.

Tip of the Month

I am always interested to hear about different tricks that artists use to achieve a certain effect in their drawings. I recently read an article written by Daisy Claridge (an Australian artist) and here is what she shared...

To get texture and depth when drawing rocks, Daisy bound 3 pens together with a rubber (elastic) band.

This tip piqued my interest because it would also save a lot of time when drawing grass or a large area with much of the same. (See, I do have a little penchant for finding shortcuts!)

The texture of your paper plays a big part in the end result so what doesn't work on one type of paper may work brilliantly on another.

It's all about experimenting to find different ways to achieve cool effects in your drawings.

Handy Links

Here is a small selection of online art books that I have personally bought and reviewed. The list contains good quality art books which all carry a money back guarantee (that's the most important thing).

For common drawing questions, please visit the frequently asked questions page.

Drawing is a very economical hobby. Check the drawing supplies page which describes the materials you need to get started.

The Drawings Blog shows you the last 30 pages to be added to the site.

, thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to read this issue. It's great that we can enjoy drawing together so thanks for joining me.

Wishing you many happy creative days!

Kerry.

www.AllAboutDrawings.com
How To Sketch book

"Practice what you know, and it will help to make clear what you do not know".- Rembrandt



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