Ask Tutors Questions

At the Drawing Academy, we receive questions from our students. One of such questions came from Gerard.

Question from Amy, a Drawing Academy student

What surface/canvas can I use pastels on? Do I need to prepare the board somehow?

Question from Firdaus, a drawing course student

Hello!

I have a question about erasing pigment from manually toned paper. In your video on how to tone paper for drawing, you effortlessly took off the pigment with a rubber eraser to create white highlights.

I have troubles with replicating this process. I have tried using non-staining pigments with similar shade of earthy yellow from various brands (Winsor & Newton, White Nights, Van Gogh, Old Holland etc) on 300gsm 100% Cotton CP Watercolor paper. However the pigment wouldn’t come off with using a rubber eraser. Can you advise?

Firdaus

Question from Michael

My name is Michael and I am currently taking the Drawing Academy course. I was reading the forum where drawing from photos is incorrect and can obstruct your learning and understanding of drawing. My question is how would I be able to practice drawing when I have no models to observe to fully study ? Thank you for your time and I appreciate all you guys provide for us students.

I have a question in regards to a way of drawing that is slightly different from what i see on youtube channels and I was wondering if you could offer some advice. My question is how do I approach Line Drawing vs a traditional way of drawing?

Questions from Zaletto I have been drawing now and then for around 6 months however the last 3 to 4 weeks I really wanted to improve. I have a few questions if you dont mind… 

Hello!

I have recently discovered the harm of learning to draw from photos on DA’s homepage. And I read that it could make it impossible for me to learn the proper way, from live models if I ever try that later.

Now – I started drawing a year ago with the intention to become a more skilled artist and have been using photos as reference (and art books).

As a full time working father (I am 38) to a 4-year old I haven’t had the time to attend life drawing classes with real models.

Do you think the year I spent on learning proportions and drawing from photos has been too damaging for me so that I cannot re-learn from live models? perhaps a silly question but I am a bit worried.

I wish you teachers the very best!

Regards
Richard M

Question from Kira, Drawing Academy student

Hello,

I’m attempting to draw a vase standing on a square plinth. The circular vase is rather easy, but as soon as I get to the square base problems start.

If I draw the square base straight on (so that the front of it is parallel to the horizon) it works fine, but when I draw it slightly rotated everything goes a bit wonky and round part sitting on the square plinth looks at a funny angle relative to the other eclipses in the drawing.

Maybe the problem has something to do with me not knowing how to establish the two vanishing points? But I’m not sure if that’s it.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you
Kira

Greeting professor,

I have done thousands of sketches and drawings, but I have always had this question in my mind. What make a good piece of art?

Thank you very much for your time

William