Activity Feed
Kathi Metzler
•
8mo
added comment inWarmups to Improve Line Quality
Asked for help
Here are my warmup exercises, some of them are a bit hard to see on the photo. The connect the dots exercise was harder than I imagined!
Asked for help
First attempt before watching the demo.
Didn't leave enough space for the wheel thingie.
Critiques are appreciated!
Kathi Metzler
•
10mo
Here are my drawings before and after watching the demo.
I kind of rushed the boots in the before the demo version because I felt overwhelmed by them, so there is definitely an improvement.
I am struggling with using my shoulder for drawing.
Hi Kathi,
I just wanted to say I think these are huge improvements from your first attempt. I can see you are really trying to find your lines now.
The snail looks way more interesting and lively. The lines go a little hairy in a few places, but you already started to address that in the second drawing!
Also great improvement on the boots. It is obvious you took your time with it a lot more, and it shows! Some of the longer curves are particularly good!
Some of the smaller details is where it starts to get a bit more hairy. I am having trouble with that myself. I think its really hard to not let the fingers take control of the pencil at that point.
Great Job!
Josh Fiddler
•
10mo
Hey, I'm just a fellow student, but I want to respond to all the folks feeling discouraged or bummed about the results. Draw lots, and eventually the 'pretty' drawings come. Or so I've been told.
I feel you! But don't get discouraged. It's not an easy thing! Remember that! This is hard! Look at mine! I've been at this for three years and I'm still learning and still sucking at times!
I want to give a few tips that might be helpful, as they helped me.
A good exercise is to warm up by just putting your pencil tip on the page lightly and skate it around, pressing harder or lighter. The goal isn't to make pretty thing (you can but not the focus). Instead, the goal is to feel how the pencil flows around the paper you are working on. Get a feel for how much the pencil grips the page or doesn't, or how your arm feels. Make big swooping lines and tight turns that are darker or lighter. Really push into the page or back right off. It's fun, and develops sensitivity. And make them Mario Shrooms!
Stan doesn't talk about the drawing posture much yet, but it's really important to be seated comfortably (or standing) with lots of room around and behind your drawing arm so that you can move primarily from the shoulder. Think you're stirring an enormous pot and you need to be able to get your elbow to move fully back as you bring your hand towards you, while drawing. The other thing is aim for something near 90 degrees of forearm to table/page. Less than 90 and the table will interfere with the arm's movement. More than 90 is okay but you don't want to be reaching out too far. Find something comfortable. You will be taking this posture often.
Always do a warm up before. The goal is to be loose, relaxed, and having fun! If you're tight and anxious and scared, there's no fun to be had, something I remind myself of every drawing!
I struggled with getting lost in details. Strategy for breaking that habit? As soon as you notice, stop drawing. Get up. walk around. Remind yourself. Start again. Physically break yourself away.
Kathi Metzler
•
10mo
Asked for help
Here are my attempts at the assignment. I find it quite hard to not draw with my fingers (especially smaller lines), so that is a good exercise.
Hi Kathi, thanks for posting!
I like your snail I can clearly see the line choices you made, and it is broken down fairly well.
I think you might be putting a little to much pressure on yourself to get your lines in one go. This is making them look little ridged and unconfident.
I would practice your tapered lines Applying pressure in the middle of your line and keeping it soft on both ends. This will help you practice control, and make your individual lines look more connected even if you over or undershoot.
When tackling this exercise make sure you are ghosting in your lines and slowly applying more pressure as you feel confident. While doing this imagine what the line you actually want, and keep trying to get closer too it. If you think it looks to 'messy' after doing this don't be afraid to erase and repeat the process. Your accuracy will increase and you will get cleaner with time.
The boots I would say look a little more rushed. I think once you realized the boot on the right was going out of the page it would have been best to start over again. You can start by simplifying with straight lines like in the last project, or create a few thumbnails to get a feel for the placement and proportions of your entire piece.
I hope this wasn't too long!
Looking forward to your work in the future.
Kathi Metzler
•
10mo
Asked for help
Did two pages of mushrooms. This was harder than I expected, but also fun! Will keep practicing this.
I think you did a great job at simplifying the shapes! I also like how you transitioned from harsher outlines of the edges in the pre-demo version to refined edges through changes in value in the post-demo pear. For the values, I think the lightest shadow and middle value are slightly too close. I personalyy would darken the shadow tone up a bit, to make the darker and lighter parts of the pear more prominent. Great job :DD
Ethan Lee
•
10mo
Asked for help
First attempt. Would love critiques. If there's anyone starting this class in 2024, I'd be open to joining a study group. 💪🎨
I think you can fill out the shadow on the left of the pear :) I just started this course too!
You did a really good job with this! I think maybe the only thing is that I would make your 2nd tone around the cast shadow match your second darkest value, but other than that, it looks really good!
