This was my 2nd attempt at the skull and camel after watching the demo. I wasn't too happy with my 2nd go on the boots or snail but I feel like with these two I started to understand how to make more confident strokes. However, I want to try again with new references and really focus on analysing each line before putting it down and making sure I'm drawing with my whole arm.

This was my 2nd attempt at the boots and snail after watching the demo. I definitely prefer these to my first attempts as this time I felt like I actually did the assignment properly. However, I think I got a bit too distracted with proportions, I want to try again with new references and really focus on analysing each line before putting it down and making sure I'm drawing with my whole arm.

Here is my first attempt at the 4 references prior to watching the demos. I'm quite proud of these as a first go, however I found it very easy to get lost in drawing them and at times I stopped paying attention to simplifying each line. After watching the demos I will make a more focused effort and compare the differences in result! I would welcome any further feedback :)

This was my 3rd attempt at this project after watching the critique video. I tried to challenge myself by using a new reference that had similar obvious highlight and shadow shapes. Overall I'm pretty happy with it, however I think the visible eye should be a bit smaller, and the hair creates a pretty flat surface at the top, I should have rounded it out a bit more I think. I would welcome any further feedback!

After watching the critique I gave this exercise another try with new reference to challenge myself. I'm quite happy with the result but I feel like I rushed it a bit, next time I'd like to spend more time on the initial steps making sure my proportions and accuracy are sound. I also tried to add more detail and complex shapes in the light parts of the composition where I felt I should try to draw the viewer's eye. I would welcome any further feedback on the accuracy and choice of values, thank you!

I really enjoyed this but he wasn't kidding about it being tough! Looking forward to trying again soon. I think my main issue is controlling the pencil, I found it really difficult to vary the pressure and also maintain a decent ellipse, I also had to keep reminding myself to draw with my whole arm! Any feedback or tips to improve would be greatly appreciated, thank you!

Before and after following Stan's demo. I was much more intentional with strokes and measurements the second time around, and spent properly 30-45 minutes more than I did on the first. I can see an improvement in proportions, plane/value separations and neatness. When I draw faces I notice I tend to 'squash' the proportions a lot (the face gets wider and shorter), so I actively tried not to do that here, but comparing my second portrait to Stan's I think I still ended up squishing him a bit! Lol. I also need to get more pencils, I only have a B and a 4B for now.

Here are my two attempts at the portrait, before (left) and after (right) watching the demo. I'm a lot happier with this one than my previous attempt, the proportions are much better, that said they still have some way to go, next time I would take the right side of the face in a bit, I think its too wide and I'm still not getting the eyes quite right. I followed the demo quite closely on this one as I was really struggling with it, but spent way more time on it and was very particular about measuring which I think has paid off. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated! Also I apologise for the poor photo quality, I don't have access to my usual lighting setup at the moment.

from left to right, first attempt and then second after watching demo. I think the second attempt had better shading but I think I missed some important interesting shapes.

Did a second attempt after watching the demo. I'm having difficulties making the shade and dark half-tone not appear as though they're the same value. I feel as if when I fill in the shade more, it becomes almost indistinguishable from the darker shade. But when I fill in the darker shade more, it begins looking very spotty and uneven.