xena. She’s one smart dog

I love doing stuff like this, the sketchy feeling brings a lot of character to the drawing. I've been meaning to write this for a bit, but never really know how to put it. I don't mean to be rude by what I'm about to write and obviously, no one owes me anything but I still feel like I need to put this forward. I put a lot of time into art. I got into it for the first time in my life during the pandemic and I was set. I want to create comics and illustrations, they've been a big part of my life. I am in the very fortunate position of being able to afford taking some time off, won't bore you with the details. The crux is that after a few years I came back to my parents, and with their blessing I've taken the last 2 years to pursue art. Due to local policy circumstances I can't enroll into an art program, I am however enrolled into loose art courses, this semester: naked model drawing 2h, Scribbling 3h, 3d software 2h and general art 2h per week. My time in them while packed is very short and the teachers don't go too into depth. Talking to them hasn't really helped much. The rest of my time I dedicate to becoming better at art. After one year, I won't say I wasted my time, my general knowledge of how things should look, line quality and 3d notions have improved significantly, but I'm nowhere near where I though I'd be. I still struggle with quite a few things I thought would I'd be better by now, in particular, I can't seem to draw any details on anything. And lately, it's becoming harder and harder to just do anything art related. I do my drills and that's that I can't muster myself. I actually drew this horse the day before yesterday and a friend of mine that used to do art told me I've been "doing things like these for a while" and "I'm in my comfort zone". I was quite proud of my work and that pretty much deflated me. As someone with so much free time I'd like to fill my day with more meaningful practice, I've been going on a bit of a round trip of invest heavily in figure and gesture > I don't have the fundamentals down > do a lot of geometry > do 1-2-3 point perspective> practice strokes> feeling confident go back to anatomy> do some copies> do some figure> still doesn't look good> go back to fundamentals> ad nauseum at this point. I feel a bit lost to put it mildly. Apart from this course I dip into the figure drawing and I've also started poking at Steven Zapata's shading course. I'm also following Marc Brunet's 1 year plan he made on his Youtube Channel. I've no doubt that this year I'll reach some sort of expertise in the things that I want to do just by virtue of following these, but I'm treating this as my job and some days I just can't do more than the absolute bare minimum. Today was one of those days, and last week I had a few as well. I feel somewhat aimless. Lastly, this is the last year I'll be as free as I am at the moment. Next year I need to get back to work and my free time will obviously dip. I really want to pour it as much as possible in the time that I have at the moment. I'm not expecting to become a professional just like this, that would be spitting on other's hard work. But I'd like to be in a position where I can lift off from the ground confidently. If anyone can help me in maybe getting things in better order? I feel like I'm running in place. I know I am making progress, but for the free time that I have I feel like I'm wasting most of it. And I'll never have a better opportunity to really learn Art as well as now. I'm not asking the course to be sped up, far be it from me to demand anything. But I really don't know what to ask, maybe some insight? I'll probably be told that I'm burning out on Art but honestly, I feel closer to burning out on always doing the same thing, never really doing what I'd like to be doing, and if I ever dare do what I want it just looks horrible, forcing me to go back to the things I'm doing now.

This is last ever 2 assignment. I would like to find a group to help refine projects

My biggest take away here is that I need to take more time to do this properly. I thought I took too much time on my attempt at this until Stan mentioned that the lay-in alone took him 1.5 hr . I loved that he showed that he also makes proportion mistakes and fixes them. Maybe he did it on purpose to show that it is ok to make mistakes? On youtube we usually see people throwing down these amazing drawings instantly without a need for erasers and this gives me the impression I just suck since I redraw every line at least 3 times :-). I am just a beginner so I assume my time can easily double to get the same accuracy. I usually draw illustrations/cartoons as 1.5hr is alot of time for me with full time job and 2 baby's. I will redo the exercise during the weekend.

As a beginner, it was important for me to hear you took your time on the lay in of this portrait. You stated 90 mins. My accuracy is so lacking that I get lost in minutiae of the composition and miss out on simplifying because I feel I have to complete a rendering in an hour or so. I am relieved to see you erasing, adjusting and measuring. Thanks

I look forward to the tutorial. The devil is in the details. I need help for sure. I can’t keep eyes straight. I should place with more exaggeration so it appears intentional.

This is my 8th pear. I’m not bragging lol. I had to smoosh out my mistakes with a blending stump. I learn a ton making all of these mistakes and noticing what I need to change. Easier said that done… I cannot shade the same direction. I cannot color inside the marks. I tend to make strokes quickly back and forth. My next attempt will be no smooshing with a stump. Gonnna be difficult.

Simplify is not simple, for sure! Proko pear jpeg. Thanks! What a mess 🤪,

It’s challenging to not over complicate the pear! Prokos pear reference

I can better understand the benefit of using different hardness. I’ve been using only black wing matte pencils and find no control in using 1 pencil. I like the variety. No control yet but I will get it with practice I hope!