Level 1 - Question! Which should I prioritize while grouping values: 1) Put similar values into the same group even if it means breaking the shapes. Such as a persons coat and the background wall merging into one group thus breaking the silhouette. Example - in my drawings the person hunched over the table in the 3 value version has their back merged together with the wall as the values are similar. But this breaks the silhouette. OR 2) Keep the shapes by pushing some colors into other value group. This will keep silhouettes intact but changes values of some objects. Second question: Should I aim to capture the correct value of the group as well? I now noticed that I was so focused on the grouping of values that I forgot to figure out where on the value scale the group actually should land. I just defaulted the darker tone to as close to 10 as I could and mid colors to somewhere in the mid. I guess I should try to figure out which value number best represents the average of the group.

Practice Practice!

LVL 1 - Tried out different mediums: Hatching with pen, markers, charcoal and ink. Hatching with pen required the most focus and control. I really want to master this pattern of hatching. But I see now that I am not quite there yet as I struggled to keep the pattern similar throughout just 1x1 inch square. I clearly can't use this approach to add value to a larger area as I know that my pattern will not keep the same value throughout. Either adding too many lines or not keeping the spacing between the lines even. Markers were tricky as I realized that one brand can still have different generations of markers. So "Natural Gray" of Ohuhu might have tones that lean towards blue or green depending on if they are newer or older releases. So I can't just grab them based on the number and expect to have a smooth gradient. Charcoal behaved as I expected: its dark and it gets everywhere. Had to clean my desk after this one. Ink I have least experience with. I tried to create a scale by diluting ink with water. I will have to use more water next time. The difference in value is so miniscule. Second picture is from last week as I created a scale with pencils before this video was released.

UHM ACTUALLY, instructions were to draw a 1x1 inch rectangle and then divide it into 11 squares. So I started off by drawing a 1x1 rectangle, which technically can be called a square as the sides are equal but all squares are rectangles so nothing wrong here. It was an interesting puzzle as dividing the rectangle into squares can create unexpected rectangles as well. I think I figured out how to get exactly 11 squares into the original 1x1 rectangle. 4 Big squares by adding central horizontal and vertical lines. Then 6 small squares by adding central lines to one of the big squares (gives 4 squares) and then drawing 2 smaller squares into another bigger square. The final 11th bigger square (darker outline) is formed by the smaller squares. Ok, I'll now go and work on the actual assignment...

I tried to create a scale now that I have two extra pencils and I have some new learnings! I created two scales. Top one with 3 pencils (4B, 2B and HB) and a bottom scale with 5 pencils (4B, 2B, HB, 2H and 4H) It's really hard to get the value gradient smooth for 9 values. The pencils are different in hardness, but they have huge value overlaps. Meaning the lightest tone of 4B can still be lighter than normal pressure 2B. So to create the scale I had to apply a lot more pressure on the pencils in the darker end of the scale to push them further out. And at the same time use minimal pressure on the pencils in the lighter side of the scale to push them away in that direction. Only then was there enough "breathing room" in the center of the scale for the middle tone pencils. My previous presumption was that light pressure on 4B would still be darker than normal pressure 2B, but this is not the case. A lot of overlap in value ranges. What does it mean for me? I can't rely on my muscle memory of pressure and switching pencils if I am going to use 10 values. I will have to judge this by vision. Or I will have to just get more pencils and broaden the range of values I have available.

Tried HB and 2B. I am surprised at how little value difference there is between HB and 2B pencils. I will have to stock up on more variance before the next lessons start. I see that it is difficult to cover an area evenly if I am not using my normal pressure. While trying to fill a lighter tone I tend to ease my grip on the pencil. So I lose precision and leave gaps between my lines. While trying to fill a darker tone I seem to struggle with the initial mark as the pencil touches the paper. I apply more force than I should so the first contact will be a lot more darker than the following lines. In conclusion my lighter tones seemed to suffer from gaps and my darker tones suffered from occasional darker spots.

Level 2 - did a from memory pose and second pose of rotation with reference at hand

Is it possible that after trying out AI image generators people feel the sensation of having created something that looks amazing and are then more likely to be interested in learning art and drawing? Maybe not rationally as a surface though "This was cool! Sign me up to proko" but more of them starting to explore how do artists create their works. And that leading them on to look at tutorials or art streamers. This could be one of the reasons why more people are interested in online courses. Which seems to be a statement that Stan made during this podcast.

Some from memory and angle change games. A lot easier if I first draw it from reference and then go about rotating it. It makes sense to build a visual library of EVERYTHING! Stuff is a lot easier to memorise after I have drawn it from reference once. Now I just need to draw everything at least once :D

I'm at a total loss concerning the two attempts I circled in red. In the one on the left I tried to create a "rubber torso"--a 360-degree twist, but I simply cannot get my head around it. Somehow I'm completely blocked. If I had playdough in the house I'd have made a model, but I don't. Any suggestion will be greatly appreciated.