Currently Browsing: instructions 29 articles
Journal Practice Hiccups?
I always tell people any day is a great day to start a journal practice. Start. But I know that many people think it important to have a milestone day like the first of the year for a starting point. If it gets them to start then I’m all for that. As a new […]
Different Drawing Approaches for the Same Subject
Just this week I was asked by nine people how I start my drawings. I use different approaches to start my drawings depending on what pen I’m using, the paper size, and even just how I feel my eyes are doing on any given day. For a more detailed response I explain that I have […]
Sharpening a Pencil to an Ultra-fine Point
If the above video doesn’t play, please view it directly on Vimeo at this link. I’ve often been asked how I get an ultra-fine point on my graphite pencils. Some time ago I promised to make a quick video to show people the process. I apologize to all my students who just had rely […]
In Context: Wake Up and Sketch
I couldn’t resist the title to today’s post—I think everyone needs to sketch of course. But also, if you end up waking up because of outside street noise, don’t stress, just sketch.
Ink or Paint, Either Way Thank Goodness for Hipsters
I am so grateful to the younger generination, especially the hipsters who devote real energy to their facial hair. There is nothing more fun for me than sketching beards, and there are great beards out there now to sketch. This young man actually had Dundrearies! Named after a character in the 1858 British play […]
The Simple Volume of Hair
Sometimes the best way to capture hair is to look at the volume and capture the large value shapes. It can be more striking than fussing would be. It can make real the cast shadows because of its suggested substance. (Have you guessed yet? October is about hair. I get asked about hair all the […]
Dig Out Some Old Art Supplies
Even with the best laid plans sometimes things happen. I like to tape sketching sessions to use when explaining things to my Patreon subscribers. But last month while preparing pieces for this month’s playing with color theme I more than once forgot to turn the camera back on after taking a break to get something, […]
Even if Your Vision Is Giving You Fits You Can Still Get Some Sketching Done
This is a short pep talk. Your glasses don’t fit. The prescription isn’t right. Your vision is blurred by cataracts and any number of things that can happen to eyes. And you just don’t feel like sketching. Tough do it anyway. It keeps you prepped for sketching the next time your vision isn’t as blurred. […]
Enjoy the Little Bits
It’s important if you’re going to keep your drawing habit healthy that you take time to find something good in what you’ve done. Yes, you might not have captured someone’s likeness, or caught the proportions of a still life or landscape, but there is always something you can find and enjoy. And if you do […]
Sketching Faces: When You Feel You’ve Hit A Plateau
I sketch a ton of faces. I look back over the years and see how my approach to sketching faces has changed, how it’s constantly evolving. Often students write to me about experiencing a plateau in their drawing efforts. They feel that they have achieved a level of skill at which they remain […]