Ask Tutors Questions

Question from William

Hello,

I’m sure the Drawing Academy content is wonderful, but I was wondering about a couple things. (I have no experience in art)

I was surprised to see perspective introduced so early in the lesson plan for month 1, and I’m wondering if 45 lessons are enough introductory instruction for such a deep subject matter.

My interest stems from looking at possibly investing time in 3D digital art, probably using a tool like Cinema4D. I realize that it’s just a tool, and the main thing is to have an excellent art foundation first or along with trying to make digital art. Another interest of mine is sculpture, but I think I could have a better chance doing something professionally with digital art than any other medium in my case, as a mid-life late-bloomer.

Cordially,

William
Anaheim, California

Question from Madelyn

I want to sign up for the course, but I can’t draw.

I downloaded a bunch of faces – all ages, genders and ethnicity, with and without hair. I tried to print them out as close as possible in size to real faces. Then I take one, stick it up on the wall and try to draw it freehand. Then I check by measuring with a stick. When I think I’m done, and when I think I’ve done all I can do, I take the photo off the wall and put it right next to my drawing. Every single time, something or other is off—the mouth, the nose, the shape of the face… I put the download on a sunny window and put my drawing on top to see if they match. The locations of the features are right on target, but the nuances are always off. I have to erase and fix, erase and fix, over and over.

The end result is that the finished drawing resembles the subject matter, but always something is off. I do one a day. It takes me hours. I’m tired and disgusted. Months I’ve been doing this.

Am I ever going to get to the point where I can sit down, draw a face, and get the right results?

Question from Kate, Drawing Academy student

I was wondering, do you have any reference photos for the projects, in particular the models, so that I could work along with you?

Question from Rayne Sheffer

“How do you learn to stop looking to or copying photos for reference, especially when you are trying to draw something that you cannot see in real life that much, like a wild animal? Do you still use photos and just not copy them, but use them to gain a general idea of the subject?”

Question from Priscilla

I’m going to begin by saying that Drawing Academy is awesome, and I’m really interested in taking the courses. Thank you so much for what you are doing. You guys are some of the best artists I have ever seen :) I’m so happy that I came across this website.

I was reading what Vladimir London said about how to get the most out of a life-drawing classes
https://drawingacademy.com/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-a-life-drawing-class

1. Since Drawing Academy advocates drawing from life, is drawing from videos that feature live models recorded in real time helpful?
2. How many years should a complete beginner in drawing like me take before doing that?

Jim Piano

Draw what you know vs. draw what you see? It seems that if you are drawing a tree, you know there are leaves, but that is not what you see unless you are very close. So why would you draw what you know? As example, I know skull anatomy, but other than as general background help, I feel like I should draw the face I see. So why is the skull knowledge so critical to drawing that face?

Question from Angelos T. Zois

Hello, my name is Angelos. I am interested to enroll in the Drawing Academy Course with the three monthly installments, but I have the following questions.

1. I have a day job (full time), and I would like to know if I can complete the course, even if it takes me more than three months.

2. As I understand it “Lifetime membership. Free after the 3rd month” means that I can review the lessons as often as I need to complete them.

3. “Personal coaching by Drawing Academy Tutors” – does it mean that I will have it until I finish the course, even if it takes me more than three months?

4. With the completion of the course, will I get my diploma even if it takes me more than three months to finish it?

I look forward to hearing from you soon,
Angelos T. Zois.

Question from Abiona

Please, I need your guidance on how and what to start doing (exercises and steps) to train myself to develop a photographic memory over time as an artist just starting out on the journey – visualizing images and memories and drawing them when I have no model or life reference.

Hi Vladimir,

I have been working with portrait drawing. I can end up with a decent drawing, but I am having a very difficult time with measuring the proportions at the beginning. I follow the steps and the basic 1/2, 1/3 measurements, etc., as outlined and shown in the Drawing Academy videos, but somewhere along the way, something goes awry.

I seem to get lost in the process, and proportions get a bit off. One eye might be farther over than it should be, or the side of the head on a slightly turned head isn’t wide enough, etc. I took me about two hours for a head size of about five inches. It’s rather frustrating.

How can I measure out a model’s features and proportions more accurately and with greater ease?

What can I do to make this process easier and more accurate right from the beginning?

Thanks,
Marianne

Question from Rima, Drawing Academy student

I am having difficulty with a life-drawing portrait. If it is a picture, I can draw, but if it is life, I am having problems. It is not working well. Please advise me what to do to enhance my skills in life-drawing portraits.