DrawingAcademy

Congratulation to the Drawing Academy Survey winner!

October 4, 2015November 2, 2025
1 Comment

Thank you for your input!

Every day we receive new comments from you, our readers, and really appreciate your feedback!

As promised in the Drawing Academy Survey, we awarded the full Academy Membership to one of our contributors.

And the winner is:

Pablo Ochoa

Here is what Pablo says:

My name is Pablo Ochoa, I am from Puebla, Mexico.

Since I was a child the drawing came first, I loved to draw in my notebooks. As I grew, critiques of my art made me feel like if I wasn’t good at it. So I quit drawing, and began practicing music.

After 8 years of abstinence of making drawings, I really wanted to draw again. One of my teachers in the class of Musical appreciation said: “When you study art, music, painting, dance, acting, you must not get married to the art you are doing, you must enroll in other arts because in that way, you can learn so many new things to complement your studies and become a better artist.” …

Spontaneous call to nature

October 2, 2015September 29, 2018
1 Comment

Artwork by Bhagirath S Punjani

The best part about being an artist is that you constantly learn and evolve, you gain new wisdom and experience a range of beautiful emotions though your artwork.

I want to be a good artist, it’s my dream. Please vote for me so I could get an admission in the Drawing Academy and reach my goal. Please help me to achieve my dreams…

Artwork by Yasser, Drawing Academy student

Classical cast drawing

October 2, 2015September 27, 2018
2 Comments

Artwork by Yasser, Drawing Academy student

September 24, 2015November 7, 2025

Artwork by María Beatriz Laffaille

Perhaps it’s not so interesting but I’ll tell you.

I’m 67 years old and when I was a child of 10, my parents discovered I like drawing and sent me to a teacher to learn how to draw and paint.

Then when I entered the secondary school, my activities were many or more than many, and I was obliged to stop learning.

Life went on, after the secondary school, I attended the University. Then I worked at different schools. I got married, had my own family, and never again had the time to go on with my drawing and painting classes.

Now I’m retired from my teaching activities, and motivated by my family I re-started with my drawings…

Artworks by Lisa Lieber, Drawing Academy student

How to make it art?

September 24, 2015September 26, 2018

Artworks by Lisa Lieber, Drawing Academy student

I have just started the drawing course and I love it! I am in my second week and have already learned so much and have gained a lot of skill. I know I will continue to grow! I am sending in a portrait drawing for critique, ( I also included a drawing of vases from the class).

I have included a portrait done by Natalie Richy to help explain my question. To me my portrait shows great improvement from my past attempts, but doesn’t look like art ( or at least not what I hope to create). Natalie’s does! Can you help me understand what I am seeing and not seeing? I appreciate any thoughts and comments …

How to determine the horizon line

September 23, 2015September 26, 2018

Question from Dermott, Drawing Academy student

I’m having trouble determining the horizon level when drawing pictures in perspective.

Is there a rule of thumb I can use to accurately locate the horizon line? …

How to render tonal values

September 23, 2015September 26, 2018

Question from Myka, Drawing Academy student

Is it necessary to shade the object with the darkest dark the pencil can go and lightest light?

I’ve been going to an art class that teaches fine art. My art teacher told me that it is necessary to make the darkest spots as dark as the pencil can go and make the highlights as light as the paper. I know that this might have a different effect on the artwork. Does it make the artwork more three-dimensional? Is it absolutely necessary to do this, or can I still not use the full power of the pencil and still make it look three dimensional?

Thank you for helping me improve my drawing skills …

Tupac Shakur

September 23, 2015September 29, 2018

Artwork by Conkord Rapanan

I’ve been drawing most of my life and I’m self taught, but I stopped about 10 years ago. I’ve made drawings with charcoal, graphite and also pastel.

I have always had the interest in going to an art school but I have never been to one. About a few months ago, I have decided that I wanted to draw again. At first, I was having a hard time not really knowing where to start again. One day I have found a clear picture of Tupac from a magazine and thought I’d give it a try with graphite. Although the drawing turned out be just okay, I wasn’t satisfied with the result. I’m starting to love drawing all over again and I know my skills are lacking and I’m very interested in learning new techniques and expanding my knowledge to improve my skills….