Now that you’ve all had some time to try the first project on your own, you can watch how I do it and figure out what areas you are exceeding and struggling with.
Here is my step-by-step demo on how to properly execute the first project for level 1 students.
Newest
Cristopher Freitas
2d
Before and after watching the demo.

@henryirving
2d
Pear 1 after watching demo

@harrow
4d
Two attempts. The first was done entirely with a 2B pencil on some extremely smooth 90gsm sketchbook. For the second attempt I used 2H-6B pencils on a more textured 130gsm pad. I don't think I got the shape quite right in either case but I got closer in the second.

@harrow
3d
Third attempt after watching the demo
Chris Easterling
4d
My second attempt and first post. I had trouble seperating my 2b and hb shading at the end, but the idea is present. On to the next one!

@deepanshu12
4d
•
4d
Great simplification! Careful with the middle values getting too similar to each other, as the section hit by light can get confused with the section in the shadows. Darkening the 2nd darkest value can help distinguish the shadow area apart from the lights and reinforce the clarity. Great progress so far, keep up the good work!

@deepanshu12
4d
open to suggestions please
Aleksandar Ljubomirović
5d
Few atempts. This needs to be practice a loo!
Anabella Petrescu
5d
Take three …time has come to devour the pear 👹
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5d
Haha, she looks ripe!

@michaelhongson
5d
First attempt to draw such patch effect drawing
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5d
Super clean, nice work!
Anabella Petrescu
5d
Nice!
Chirantan Talukdar
5d
It looks so good!

@halo_lit
6d
This is my second attempt. I really enjoyed drawing the pear the first time, but after watching the demo and the critique video I felt overwhelmed. It took me almost a month to gather up the courage to try again. I try to remind myself that it's okay to be bad, I'm only learning, but I still struggle. When I draw something I don't like, I feel discouraged. When I draw something I do like, it feels like it happened by accident and I won't be able to recreate it.
Anyway, here's what I tried to focus on for my second attempt vs. the fist:
+ No dark outlines around light shapes (though I was confused to what extent this applies to the contour)
+ transitional shadows between the lightest and the darkest areas
+ no/less symmetry to keep the shape more interesting
+ sharp edges, clear shapes
I wanted to chose my forms in a way to make the planes of the fruit more apparent but it was too difficult for me.
Anabella Petrescu
7d
Second attempt at live pear…
Chirantan Talukdar
5d
Did you make outlines?
Nova Duskpaw
7d
I found it pretty difficult to make light strokes even with featherweight pressure. This one turned out the best of all my attempts thus far, though. :)
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7d
Looking good! :)
Emily Swartz
7d
I watched the demo and made another attempt, this time with my supernote as a sketchbook (had to do it at work today), which I actually liked, surprisingly. Couldn't extract the photo from my supernote, unfortunately, and had to take a photo.
I am struggling with the stem and multilayered shadows, and definitely the shadow behind the pear... but am a lot happier with this result than my first attempt ever.
Anabella Petrescu
3d
I feel like the pear came out great considering you attempted this digitally. thinking maybe try the same tool for the shadows as well 🧐
Anabella Petrescu
8d
first second and third attempt from download pear photos were a big fail so i tried a live pear...i'm heading to amazon to get a sharpener 🙄

Jennifer Young
8d
Before and after watching the demo. I think I had too man middle tone values and not enough definition in the shadows. Please let me know what you think!
Anabella Petrescu
5d
This look great to me
Victor Silva
8d
Second attempt after watching the video, used the second pair as the reference this time.
the shape for pear#2 was more difficult to simplify than the first. Shading is better and less scratchy but I can still use some work on keeping the “texture” consistent in each value.
might be missing something because I’ve been staring at it for too long, if you have any pointers lmk!
Victor Silva
8d
Watching the critique now and I am recognizing a lot of pitfalls I ran into, im going to do a third attempt later to try again
Chirantan Talukdar
8d
My second attempt was after watching the tutorial. What's the verdict, chat?
Emily Swartz
8d
i think you did a great job on the negative space. I’m struggling with that!
@psychicblast
9d
My pear attempt.
Noah Vaught
9d
The first image is my first attempt before watching the video. The last two are my attempts after watching the video.
I think I messed up the proportions a little, but my second attempt was a bit more accurate. I also think I need to work on my values. It’s hard for me to establish five values with my 2B pencil, and I think my textured paper may be getting in the way.
Any recommendations on how to improve? I could really use the feedback.
Ingrid S
11d
Before and after the demo. Not too happy with the highlighted parts but that'll do for today :) can't wait to see what's next
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About instructor
Founder of Proko, artist and teacher of drawing, painting, and anatomy. I try to make my lessons fun and ultra packed with information.