How to Draw Everything Basic Techniques Question and Critique

[sam.draws]

I've just made a first stab at the basic techniques exercises in the class 'How to Draw Everything" by Jake Parker. Here are my attempts:

The techniques were a lot of fun! But I have a question regarding the intention of the exercises and further practice. Is the idea to do the assignment and move on? Or to find more images online to practice the techniques further? Or will they be referenced in upcoming classes?

Also, any feedback would be appreciated! I know my line quality is iffy, so tips specifically about that would be great.

Thanks for your help!

[Adam Thornton 0]

@sam-draws Hi Sam, good job with the drawing.

The only feedback I would offer at this stage is to ensure you are drawing more from the shoulder, as is demonstrated in one of the early curriculum classes. Maybe that's required less when drawing fiddly details, but certainly with the longer lines.

Simply drawing more will improve your line quality and you'll be getting plenty of practice in the coming classes, so I wouldn't worry too much about that right now. You'll be putting into practice everything Jake discussed for the rest of your life! Ha ha!

As for your other questions, I'd say that the idea is to get comfortable with the techniques Jake has discussed, and then move on. If that means to find more images online then so be it. But don't spend too much time looking for things to draw. Just draw anything. If you can get outside into the fresh air and draw things in the world around you, then great! However, the techniques really are about how to draw everything so they won't be specifically referenced in upcoming classes, although you will be expected to be comfortable with the techniques then.

Hope that helps.

Keep on drawing!

Adam.
UK

[sam.draws]

Thanks @Adam-Thornton-0

Just draw anything is a great tip. I know I need to resist the temptation to only do course-work. Getting into the mindset of drawing everything is a great way to break out of that.

I'll also try to be more mindful of drawing at the shoulder. And, as you said, it'll probably just come with time!

[Tristan Lapetz]

@sam-draws These are looking good. My main tip, in reference to your mention of line quality, is to keep practicing confident lines strokes from the shoulder. You can do the connect the dots exercise, parallel lines exercise, wavy lines exercise, exercise, etc. The key here is to ghost your lines and then draw confidently with one stroke. Things will be wobbly and not quite right for a while but that's a good sign that you're giving it a good effort and eventually you'll end up with crispy clean confident lines!

p.s. not to distract people from this program but I think drawabox.com has some good supplemental homework prompts that'd help you a lot!