Ask Tutors Questions

Questions from Iuliana

“How to overcome mental blocks holding me back from actually getting in the “stream” of drawing… the fear of not being good enough?”

Questions from Patrícia

Which are the most important guidelines, within the creative process, to achieve a meaningful, emotional original artwork?

Your website is really good. Do you have a “social media network” where people (art lovers) could share ideas, doubts, knowings about art and drawing? Also would be interesting to have a bit about history of art…

Question from Slater Smith

For the past month, I have been in something of an artistic rut. I cannot call it a creative block, because I get ideas all the time. I just don’t have the technical ability to execute them.

So my question is, how exactly should I study drawing? Maybe focus on one for say a month, then move on to the next area? Or should I study two subjects that are closely related, like architectural drawing and perspective?…

Many thanks to all of you that participated in the Drawing Academy Survey.

The survey’s winner has been awarded with the full Drawing Academy Course!

More than 100 participants asked academy tutors their most pressing questions about art, how to improve their drawing skills, and the Drawing Academy course itself. We did our best to answer all of them via email.

Below are our answers to 43 selected questions you might find interesting and helpful…

Questions from David P.

I’ve been enrolled in the Drawing Academy for a month now and I’ve learned so much. Your first month’s lessons alone have helped me tremendously with my concept art.

I’m going to an art college right now; it’s okay, but I hate the 5 pencil method. It’s too sophisticated and confusing. I mean, I don’t know anyone who uses it, and I know it’s just not for me…

Question from Jeremy H.

In the Drawing Academy video lessons 26 & 43 you cover drawing a tree which is great, however I am finding I am having difficulty getting a variety of different tree types to look correct as I see them in nature… or my trees kinda all look the same.

Painting trees is so much easier than drawing them! Help! …

Question from Stephan, Drawing Academy student

I love and appreciate the Traditional multi-layer oil painting approach of the old masters. So much so, that I intend to create a body of work utilising this approach.

My question is: Where can I source such oil paints and purchase them? Any particular website or Company that possess these oils that are of good, professional Artist’s quality? These oils to venture into this approach could not be found locally. Please provide me with some legitimate source…

Hi,

I watched your video presentation on ‘Drawing from Photos vs Drawing from Life‘. I am thinking of enrolling in the Drawing Academy course.

My question is, through your course, students are learning from video lessons – two-dimensional examples, not drawing from live models. How will you reconcile these two?…

Question from jhehn13

In the Drawing Academy video lessons am I supposed to pause the video at the beginning and attempt to draw what the lesson is about or (and this is my assumption) try to draw something similar, or does it matter?

I see the value in drawing from life to help achieve the goal of drawing from imagination.

About me.
I have been creative since I was young, off and on (mostly off) I would create art, drawing, painting, etc. Though I have never taken a class save a few in high school and now more than 20 years later I am now pursuing art education (rather than relying on my innate talents) in most of my free time to better myself because I love drawing and art! It brings me peace and pleasure, especially when I look at it and don’t think, something wrong I can’t quite put my finger on it. I am highly interested in drawing people as I have thought this was something I couldn’t do in the past, but now I am beginning to see that was a preconceived notion on my part.

So far I am really enjoying the lessons I look forward to the entire course…

Question from Jasmine

Dear tutors,

I am very interested in figurative art. There are works of Art that have a great deal of emotional impact, you can almost see the soul of the model(s). They make you wonder who they are or what their story is. And there are other works that just leave you cold, no matter how skillfully they are done.

What makes the difference? Is it merely in the facial expression or is there more? How should an artist convey emotions in his or her work without being too obvious?

What about narrative portraits? How many clues should you give the viewer about what is going on without killing the mystery?…