Got to be honest, I rage quit on quick sketch more than anything else. It's my kryptonite, but I'm working on it, always trying to keep in mind Patrick Jone's theory of the "clanger." Get those bad drawings out, and try to be okay with them, because they'll always be there. Just got to roll with the punches so you can go for that knockout when it comes.

After listening to Marshall on the sketchbook episode of the Draftsmen podcast, I decided to embark on this little adventure with pens. I bought the tools pictured and got to work. The effort has been to use pen only. Marshall sold me on some evolution that could happen a year from now if I were doing imaginative work. But I figured the intention and confidence might be there to mine during my Bridgman studies. The page with the male profile and primitive shapes was done today. Anyhow today was a real struggle. I don't know if I'm low on electrolytes, but my hand did not feel my own. Half my lines were wobbly, misplaced, or went a little too far... All I could think about was every misstep. I'm tempted to list them here, but I'll let your eyes find them. The big thing I'm looking for here isn't a pat on the back. I'm hoping I hid them relatively well. One of my main thoughts undermining my confidence was my inexperience with pen and ink. I'm just making this shit up as I go. And Bridgman was not using these tools so I'm just guessing at solutions when the line quality could not be matched. I couldn't find anything on hatching for shading and how to execute that more elegantly. Please help me understand the use of these tools more fully. I'm attaching other photos from this effort for critique as well. As always, thank you so much for your time!

Hi everyone! Like most of us, I’m looking for feedback on the first exercise. I attempted it twice, once in Procreate and once in pencil. I’ll be doing just pencil moving while I’m learning, but I’d love critique on both, please!

I started this course about a month ago, and I have been working pretty hard, and doing all the exercises and in my spare time doing nothing but drawing boxes and planes inside the boxes and connecting the dots and drawing anything and everything and starting with shapes to force myself to think that way. I still mess up and try to draw things without boxes, but I catch myself and force myself to do the right thing and it always ends up better. these drawings may not look great to others, but trust me, this is light years from where I was just two weeks ago. The picture of the hammer and stuff is what I was doing a few weeks ago.

this is my best kitchen yet..... destroy it with a hammer

I am just starting the basics and completed the first project level 1. I haven't watched the demonstration yet.

Good evening, I'm 39, never drew or did anything artistic in my life and started with Stan's Drawing Basics course four months ago. I've been struggling my way through all the projects and now reached the end of the value section where the project is to draw a head from the reference photos of a bust and I just can't do it because drawing a head is still super intimidating and feels impossible. Throughout the whole course most of my drawings looked like those of a 5 year old compared to the submissions of others that had an almost professional look to them. I don't really know where to go from here. While I really like the course, I feel like I can't keep up with what the course expects of me at this point and that I thoroughly lack talent which in the end does matter although everybody says it does not. Does anybody have an advice how I could continue the drawing journey without the ever-present feeling of being overwhelmed? Should I maybe focus on a single subject matter (e.g. birds, trees, figure) so that I focus on one thing instead of doing a new one in each course project? And did anyone of you struggle like I did and got past the desperation eventually? Thanks Michael

My gesture is suffering again. I just learned some shading concepts. Now when I look up at the reference to find it's moved on to the next image, I think "No there's so much I haven't learned from the last one yet!" So I go back and pause the timer altogether... Is this valuable to do or should I be unforgiving with myself about the parameters I've arbitrarily set at the outset?

Any feedback on my pear would be appreciated. Thanks!

I know literally nothing about digital art. Until about five minutes ago, procreate was just something I've done with my wife. I'm starting to see the benefits (and beauty) of it. How can I get into it affordably without shooting too low and missing the stuff that would be really effective for my growth? I like the idea of expediting failures and experimentation. I've heard several artists talk about using it to develop traditional pieces. It seems like a reasonable way to start playing with color before making the leap to paint. I'm also inspired by the digital work of Josh Black and Melanie Scearce. There are several kids books I enjoy with my daughter that seem to have been created digitally, as well. I've tried studies in graphite, but it doesn't seem to translate quite right... Grumpy Monkey and The Rabbit Listened both seem like digital art to my eye. All advice and resources appreciated. I have a 2020 iMac running Sonoma 14.5. Is there an accessory that would be good or is the best bet a new tablet/ipad? Are there apps that are easiest to use with good functionality? I don't want to spend much, but I also don't want to lose the powerful elements of the medium by being a cheap ass. I'm particularly worried about the tactile element not being there. It should feel more or less like drawing, neh?

Just attempted my first drawing from imagination after watching Marshall draw horses in ink from imagination. Had trouble placing the opposite arm. Going for a contralateral movement but couldn't quite picture the placement after placing the head and torso. Ideas to explore this weakness? Note to self... Draw more feet and hands. 😆

Hey guys, just finished this project of simplifying forms into CSI, or as I like to call it CSL. For this I drew a character of a Black Moor Goldfish. I went with the sad expression given that to me, their mouths always look like a perpetual frown, like they're having a real bad day. Let me know how I did simplifying it into C curves, S curves, and Strait Lines.

Looking for feedback on the Simplify from Observation project from the Drawing Basics course

I’m struggling to make my drawing look at all like the CSI practice in drawing basics. I’m getting frustrated anyone got any tips?

I am posting my first attempt at the first project, the Pear. I am not sure if this is what was intended for the "post in the community" direction And receive critique

I'm doing Proko's Portrait course, trying to go in open minded with no assumptions but it's proving tricky. So far I have just covered the videos on the Loomis method. Are the drawing exercises meant to be done of random heads (minus features) from your imagination, say, just a featureless head pointing in random directions? That might be where I am going wrong. I think I find the size/shape of the chin tricky as well. I know my drawings aren't great, they'll need repetition. I would just appreciate being told anything glaringly obvious, with respect to the course that I am following. Lastly, is it ok if I keep updating this thread as I progress through the course?

@Rachel Dawn Owens Focused a lot on drawing with my shoulder and making confident strokes. Have I fully understood the concept now?

I post my assignments here asking for critique yet no one responds. Is there a way to get official critique by any of the staff here? Maybe tag them or something?

I've signed up for a mentorship course and I'll need to take my supplies with me weekly. I'm interested in what bags and cases have worked well for people and why. Thank you for your time!

I've been taking Proko's Drawing Basics course since last week, and I'm on the Simplify to CSI assignment. I've been redoing this assignment a bunch of times already to really internalize this concept and this is my fourth attempt. I was hoping I could get feedback on what I could improve and if I'm ready to move on to the next lesson. I also did some original drawings on my own as well as to really drill the concept of CSI further.