Eddie Maldonado
NYC
creative director, photographer, writer, and artist
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Eddie Maldonado
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5mo
added comment inProject - Learning to Sketch from Observation
Asked for help
Pre demo. Finally! The hand spooked me so I doodled over it finding the penguin. Redid the penguin. Almost submitted, then drew the girl with the mic. I added some boxes to help with the perspective. Well, just her right foot and the glove. I should have used that on the hanging eye thing. That ellipse is gnarly. 😂
I was playing with my Apple Pencil trying to find the best calligraphy grip to journal in my Notes app. I watched "How to Hold Your Calligraphy Pen" by Crossroads Calligraphy, and then their earlier video on writing posture. I stumbled in looking for something basic, but I feel like I struck gold.
When it comes to handling a pencil, I know I have a heavy hand. While I loved drawing when I was young, we were also required to write in cursive or script. Writing in cursive was a miserable experience, I’d have callouses on my index finger from pressing the tip of my index finger to a 90-degree angle against it. But now I’m noticing Proko draw with an open palm (like an OK sign from index finger to thumb) with an easy grip on the pen.
The one tip that blew my mind was placing something in my palm while I drew. You can use 2-3 tissues (balled up) or a small ball or sponge. This modified grip forced me to draw with my elbow and shoulder instead of my wrist and fingers. Immediately, my lines were cleaner and more confident-looking. And that makes me really, really happy!
Paired with Proko's tips from the Mario mushroom exercise, I feel I’ve unlocked a long-dormant superpower, and I wanted to share it!
Eddie Maldonado
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5mo
Gotta admit, the boots kicked my ego’s butt. My first attempt was worse, and definitely didn’t follow the guidelines either (*simplification command not found*). But watching the critique and demo, things began to click. This drawing came after but I struggled to make smooth, confident lines. Using a 2H, I find the light mark still digs into the page and my pencil falls into the same crooked crevice. I do have a HB and 2B on hand, but was trying to practice making lighter marks with 2H. I’m glad I finally took my time like Proko suggested, even if the result is a little sketchier than I’d like.
Giovanni Mackie
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5mo
Asked for help
I didn’t get to the part when not erase. And here where second page I practice with no erasing.
you shouldn’t have to erase, it’s just sketching so it can be messy. the technique is too keep it light and then press down when you want to leave the stroke. after a few you’ll know what lines you don’t need and you can just lift your pencil so you don’t have to erase.
Eddie Maldonado
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5mo
Asked for help
This lesson showed me how hard I squeeze my pencil. When I was in school, I would squeeze the barrel of the pencil so hard against my middle finger. I developed a callous on my middle finger but never put this together. I felt more comfortable with the lighter grip as I continued to warm up. The lesson also taught me to slow down and ghost in the line instead of fully committing to a stroke. I’m guilty of drawing faster than I’m thinking, but it’s a good lesson for me.
Those a re great takeaways! I need to lighten my grip and go slower on my ghost ins as well!
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5mo
I have a callous on my middle finger from those days too haha. Good stuff, it seems like you got a lot out of this exercise!
Eddie Maldonado
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5mo
attempts 1 and 2. First attempt before watching the demo using a .7mm mech. Second attempt with a set of pencils after the demo. admittedly, i shaded dark half tones early unlike shading HB then 2B, but im not unhappy with it. i feel like ill return to this pear again!
