Artwork by Mark Rhodes

Learning better techniques produces better art work

I am 58 years of age and have always envied people who could draw. I have always maintained that I cannot draw, but in 2011 I began to give it a go. Most of my initial drawings were in graphite and looking back at them not too pleasing but were showing signs of improving, it is only in the past year or so that I have experimented with other media such as watercolour, coloured pencils, ink and pastels.

I have always been curious why some people sit and look at a piece of artwork for seemingly ages, but now I find myself doing the same; I am curious as to how they achieved a particular effect and admire some of the detail that has been produced.

Rarely does a week go by without producing another drawing and one of my current challenges is to produce a drawing which looks like a photograph. I have been following the Drawing Academy for some time now and I am impressed with its content. I therefore feel that winning the Drawing Academy competition could teach me some of the many techniques of which I am still unaware.