Learn the differences between creating art in structured stages and drawing spontaneously. I share methods from personal projects, discussing how stages can help with precision, while spontaneity enhances creativity. Along with tips on thumbnails, vellum tracing, and timed sketches, this lesson helps guide artists on balancing both approaches to improve skill and intuition.
Newest
Sammy T
3d
Love to see the stages of your drawings, this is very good advice. I use thumbnails but I feel like I could do more, and really, they are a lot of fun.
I'm curious to hear more about the use of vellum. I see you use the vellum to re-create a drawing without the guiding lines, great. When you need to color this drawing, do you do this on the vellum? It seems to me like there would be another step of transferring it back to watercolor paper for inking etc... Or, do you use vellum knowing that a drawing on vellum would end at graphite?
@caroline4097
11d
just can't wait to try out the concepts so did a lil doodle while watching Marshall's videos. I'm super excited for this journey of learning perspectives.
@conn
20d
Hi Marshall and gang! I love seeing your finished drawing and your working sketches. It gives me confidence not to shy away from drawings that aren't polished and actually develop my skills. Sort of like going to the gym to get good rather than look good while you're there! Then use those skills to execute a finished piece when ready.
I was doing this already a bit with a perspective problem I was working out for my grandmother who paints based on a photo she sent me. I started in pencil and refined in pen to make it more clear for her. It's a subtle perspective looking through a window at a slight angle. Here it is in case anyone can share in the learning or give me any feedback!
Thanks!
Elior Harush
21d
Will you do a shading demonstration sometime? I love how your pencil renderings look :)
@lieseldraws
21d
Hi, Marshall - thanks for the lesson!
I’m really looking forward to learning how to wrap rubber bands around a sphere as I’ve struggled with them when learning the Loomis method from his book, where he compares the head to a ball with a nail running through the axis. I didn’t realize lined spheres relate to boxes 🫢 Everything does seem to come down to drawing cubes…
@ugoduardo
21d
Hi!! Great lesson as always. I want to know if someone could recommend me any drawing books for perspective, thanks :D @Marshall Vandruff
Clayton Trotz
21d
huh, I'm actually really looking forward to lessons on taking risks! I'm always overthinking things and worrying about wasting materials to the point that materials go unused for years.
Mariah Dolenc
22d
I've always struggled with the patience to do several sketches.
Dermot
22d
Marshall, thanks for your articulate explanation. Your artwork is amazing.
I know this is off topic, but you talk of airbrushing in the past. Could you provide a link so I can visulise what this process involved? Thumbnail drawing looks challenging. It seems you need a good understanding of what you see, to put to paper what you see or imagine. Thanks again.
Randy Pontillo
22d
Hmm, judging from how you worded it, I've been giving my thumbnail sketches too much thought instead of letting spontaneity take over. Truly letting one aspect of your brain take over is unexpectedly difficult.
@bert2
22d
those line drawings of the boar and fox at the end are really beautiful Marshall !
here is a videos of artist working in stages i stumbled upon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qM2vHahcqQ
Ishaan Kumar
22d
Right off the bat, those illustrations from your advertising days are absolutely stunning. They're precise, realistic-looking and so beautifully rendered! They look so tactile! And it's blowing my mind that you achieved that level of rendering on the photo filter disc image overnight.
One of my profs from my uni days was instrumental in instilling the habit of keeping a sketchbook and drawing regularly within it. I have a sketchbook but I'm nowhere close to as regular as I should be. Additionally, I run into the problem of doing the opposite as you describe in this video with sketchbook drawings which is to do less thinking and be 'uncareful'. I tend to want to get it right as soon as I put pen to paper but I realise now how futile a mindset like that is.
I'm so grateful for videos like these as they not only teach process and technique, but also discipline.
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About instructor
I Write, I Draw, I Teach