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!

First attempt before watching the demo. Didn't leave enough space for the wheel thingie. Critiques are appreciated!

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.

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.

Did two pages of mushrooms. This was harder than I expected, but also fun! Will keep practicing this.

First attempt. Would love critiques. If there's anyone starting this class in 2024, I'd be open to joining a study group. 💪🎨

first attempt at drawing the pear (before watching the demo)