Still-life drawing in graphite
Artwork by Marianne, Drawing Academy student
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Drawings and story by Gloria Jover
A lifetime aspiration
I was in the middle of a crisis, feeling that I was about to give up drawing and painting. The reason was that despite a certain natural ability I had never acquired any technical skills to elevate my level. All my projects got stuck at a point and I was unable to achieve what I had in mind.
As an example of this, I am sending a sketch I made long time ago of our dog as she was “sunbathing”. I was interested in bringing out the shadows of objects in the room projected on the wall and the figure: Unable!
Browsing the net as a last resort I came across the Drawing Academy page. I simply loved the sample materials.
Portrait by Christopher Slagle, Drawing Academy student
Struggling (to be an) Artist
Since my early childhood I have enjoyed creating artwork as mostly a hobby, to sooth my mind. Around three to four years ago, I decided to give artwork a more prominent place in my life. I could not afford to go to art school so when I came across the Drawing Academy I was more than excite. I found so much technical information, things I didn’t know, that I could add to my artistic proclivities. My artwork started to progress immediately.
Continuing on masters copies
Sketches by Danielle Hebert, Drawing Academy student
I felt compelled to continue on the Old Masters’ copies and pleased with some improvement in likeness and shading.
I tried to draw a woman’s face after one of Leonardo da Vinci’s drawings and somehow I find it extremely difficult to position the lines and do correct proportions and angles, as if my eyes cannot comprehend what is there. I tried to draw the skull under, which helped a bit, but there is a mystery to me as to how he creates female faces.
Nude Study
Drawing by Ronnie Rayner Larter
Originally I used a lot of soft blending with graphite pencil, but since becoming a member of the Drawing Academy I progressed onto hatching and cross hatching, which was a new and interesting avenue for me. However, even though the academy seems to frown the technique soft blending graphite, I have kind of ignored that teaching and also taken on board the idea of hatching. I now use a combination of soft blending and hatching to achieve the effects I need. Does it work well or not? Feedback would be welcome.
Drawing by Jeff Rissman
Fantasy City
I drew this picture of a fantasy city. It is 11 inches by 14 inches and is done in Faber-Castell Polychromos colored pencils. I hope you like it.
Copying master’s drawings
Sketches by Danielle, Drawing Academy student
Drawing by Andreea
Anatomical sketches by Danielle Hebert, Drawing Academy student
I am learning so much
I found the exercise incredibly insightful, for a few days I was seeing everyone’s faces as skulls! And I also started to observe how the muscles move the skin over the bones… a bit obsessive I guess but I am learning. Doing this exercise did change my perception and understanding in a deep way. It is one thing to draw an oval and divide it in the proportions of the face and put features into place, but to comprehend the skull underneath, to see where the external features actually “sit” and move from was deeply enlightening.
Artwork by Amy, Drawing Academy student
Maggie
I started drawing at the age of 2. That was many decades ago and although I’ve always loved drawing I didn’t keep up with improving my skills.
I wanted to do something for my son and thought he’d like a portrait of his beloved dog. I was so pleased with the results (considering I had not drawn in many years) that I decided this was the right time to start again. Fortunately, I discovered the Drawing Academy and joined. I really look forward to seeing my work and skills improve.