DrawingAcademy

Thank You for Your Help!

March 8, 2014September 25, 2018
7 Comments

Drawing Academy ‘Feedback Competition’ Winners

A couple of weeks ago, we asked for your help to provide feedback on DrawingAcademy.com. The response was overwhelming. We received many suggestions and critiques. All your feedback is very constructive and helpful. Thank you so very much for your support and participation. We listened to your suggestions and will gradually improve the Drawing Academy, so that it will become even more helpful and useful to you. There are many things we have already implemented, and many more will be released going forward. We promised to award the five most helpful contributors with a full Drawing Academy membership. It was a tough decision to choose winners from such a great pool of critiques and suggestions! Every point each of you made is valid and appreciated; we value all of your feedback. Nonetheless, we nominated the…

March 8, 2014September 26, 2018
4 Comments

Questions by Johann Krammer

Dear Drawing Academy Team,
A few months ago, I became a member of the Drawing Academy and always enjoy returning to this course. Your last video “Drawing from Photos vs. Drawing from Life” has confused me a little. I think many artists draw from photos. Unfortunately, we are not all Nikolai Blokhins, and we use your course to improve our drawing skills. The point that gives me a headache now is this: Where is the line between a realistic representation and the exact copying of photographs? …

How to approach photo reference for drawing in perspective?

March 7, 2014September 26, 2018
1 Comment

Question from Collayne Mills

The new release tutorial on perspective is a great overview. I have been working on this skill. I made an Albertian perspective box, using a photo-frame with a wide flat wooden frame that can sit on my desk. I inserted a ten inch grid on a piece of acetate behind the glass. I looked through that, sighting with a vision marker and drawing on another matching grid with a piece of tracing paper overlay, marking off what I saw – slowly but surely. And I’m referring to some of my reference photos and attempting to put them into construction drawing….

March 7, 2014September 26, 2018
5 Comments

Artworks by Susan Morin

Dear Vladimir,

Would you please comment on my drawings? They are my first from-life drawings in a long time. The second is a drawing with the graphics pad and tracing image software that helps me get the likeness right. Should I stop doing this? …

How do I use the Golden Ratio?

March 7, 2014September 26, 2018

Question from Sherri S.

When using the Golden Ratio, how do you decide how to place items within the rule? Its very confusing to me. I’d like to learn this method to create better compositions…

February 8, 2014October 30, 2025

What Makes Drawing Academy Unique

And what it means for you
By Vladimir London

As the Drawing Academy tutor, I receive questions on how the Drawing Academy is different from other drawing courses.

There are 7 specific reasons which make the Drawing Academy unique…

February 4, 2014November 13, 2025
10 Comments

How to Draw in Perspective

Video Presentation
By Vladimir London

In this presentation you will find out answers to the following questions:

• What types of perspective can be used in drawing?
• What is perspective?
• Which method of perspective is the correct one?
• What are the main rules of perspective?
• History of drawing in perspective.
• How to draw in perspective using the following perspective types:
– One-point perspective;
– Two-point perspective;
– Three-point perspective;
– Four-point perspective;
– Photo-perspective;
– Perceptive perspective;
– Parallel perspective;
– Reverse perspective;
– Aerial or atmospheric perspective…

January 24, 2014September 25, 2018
156 Comments

Contemporary Russian Realistic Art

Nikolai Blokhin is a contemporary fine artist who who keeps the old traditions of the Russian art school alive. His realistic yet stylish and vibrant drawings are full of living energy and Russian culture. By using minimal means of expression – a silhouette, tone spots, lines and gradations, Nikolai is able to create a phenomenal range of feelings depicted from life. He draws an expressive array of characters, while keeping his own style and viewpoint. They are full of spirit and soaked with Russian soul…

January 22, 2014November 13, 2025
54 Comments

Why Drawing from Photos is Treacherous

This video is raising the following questions:

– Do you find drawings from photos appealing?
– Is drawing from photos Fine Art?
– Why do people draw from photos?
– When did drawing from photos start?
– Would the Old Masters use photography for their masterpieces?
– Copying from photos vs. fine drawing.
– Why is drawing from photos not good for you?
– How does the magic of drawing happen?
– How about drawing commissioned portraits from photos?
– How do I get good drawing skills?

December 25, 2013November 2, 2025
3 Comments

We are delighted to announce the winner of the Drawing Academy Survey 2013!

Thanks for all of your submissions to the Drawing Academy contest. A lot of you made some great feedback about the “How to Draw” Course.

We really appreciate your constructive critiques, suggestions and personal stories you shared with us. This valuable information will be used to improve the Drawing Academy Video Course.

It is time to announce the Drawing Academy Survey winner!

And the Winner is:

Tom Sarradet
BA, MA
E.V. Cain STEM Charter Middle School Teacher
Auburn, California