I've noticed something about drawing from imagination. I very occasionally draw comics, but really rough sketchy comics. Some times I just know what to draw and the lines just go on the page and I am happy with that sketchy nature. Other times I can't draw these sketchy comics at all because I feel I am missing the spark. Then I can't even force myself to draw comics even if I sit down to try. That's for this very rough style of comics though, so not sure if this is applicable in this context. For this task here I was definitely not ready. I think it is two separate things, and those are 1, to imagine something and 2 to make those into 3D shapes and fit them together in a convincing manner...

Drawing from my imagination.

My drawings from sketch from observation project

Hey Dad ! You always tell me my drawings are great ! Son

Drawing from imagination is very difficult for me. This is a big reason I'm taking this course. I have some cartoon ideas that I just can't seem to get out of my brain. Looking forward to more imagination assignments!

This is like daddy Proko putting a bandaid on our skinned knee lol. *Sniff sniff* I needed this one, Stan!

After your words I have a new art life! Thank you, Stan. I suffered a lot…

Yo also forgot to say, am really enjoying the course btw - soz I haven't posted much but looking forward to the next lesson!

Potenshh NSFW but here's a lil noodle I did recently from imagination!

Absolutely great ‘Stan the Man’, I haven’t drawn from imagination since I was in my teens, so this is a great way for me to pickup my imagination drawing.

I, too, suck at drawing from imagination. But the way I completed this project was just to draw my octopus a number of times until I could replicate it without copying.I guess it’s the same for everything. Like Stan says, you get better at drawing by, well, drawing!

Thank you Stan. That’s very encouraging i get where you’re coming from now

First of all, thanks a lot for helping me clear my mind and fix my mindset. This is a precious lesson to me even more than teaching skills. (Those words below heavily relying on Google translation and broken manual correction. may have caused your dyslexia.)  For many years, I wanted to draw scenes from my dreams or from some inspiration, but I gave up at the draft stage. Perhaps it was too difficult for me because of my lack of relevant professional knowledge and experience. It always kills me, especially when I see some similar scenes in movies or somebody’s sketchbooks.  As I worked on the basics of art, I dreamed that one day I would be able to start working on those ideas easily. But after all these years, it looks like a delay. Share a funny story of mine. When I was a child, I drew from imagination more often than observation. After I indulged in comics, I also drew my own cartoons very poorly. No expectation, no pressure and any knowledge of drawing, but I just enjoyed and satisfied by every sketch of mine. All the way through college, I taught myself to draw, drawing a few short comic stories, even I struggled in drawing trains and cars and buildings and strange perspectives of people. But I always start with a blank sheet of paper to describe my ideas. It was not until later that I joined an art course on internet and began to learn a lot about drawing from observation. And then for many years, I only practiced in drawing from observation. Gradually I copied well, but I found that I could not spontaneously draw the things from imagination like I used to do. I forgot how to do that. Even though my job is character design, I can design again when I have a job assignment. Nothing could be  weirder! Drawing become less interesting for me. It’s more like a job.  After this lesson, I’m aware of what kind of practice I most need, even the next step. Thank you Stan! 

Hi Proko, thank you so much for the course. I have a question about studying, though. Is it good practice to also copy and trying to understand some drawings from a book (I'm thinking about Loomis, Bridgmann or Hampton) ? Is it a recommended approach ? Thank you!

Hi @Stan Prokopenko, graphic design teacher from Costa Rica here. I just wanted to let you know that I agree with @Marshall Vandruff and think that a basic drawing course by you is one the most important art resources for students around the world. You are in a position to make a course as trascendental as Loomis or Bridgman for this time and for today’s learners and your are doing great! I enrolled not only to learn how to draw but also to be a part of what you’re putting together. I understand and appreciate that you’re not just rehashing the traditional training, but also being creative about it, feeding your course with what you’ve read about learning and habit creation and your experience with so many great schools and teachers. This is what I wanted to see from you and it’s honestly great. Keep it up and thank you!

I feel as if I'm more of a 1.5 student not exactly 2 but not exactly 1 either some stuff does really challenge me, specifically when it comes to realism-type exercises as it's not what I'm familiar with so I feel more akin to a level 1. Mainly because with more imaginative and cartoony/anime stuff I feel more like level 2. With that being said I do know that I will be doing the course at least 2 times going through it doing level one stuff and then again doing level 2 stuff for my second go around along with other courses.

Thanks a lot, it's exactly what i needed to hear, I'm at this exact level of what you describe lvl 2 student I think, and I'm always feeling that I need to study more from observation, maybe also because it's easier to choose something and draw it than starting with a white piece of paper. Honestly I was going to skip this exercice, but even if the deadline for corrections is passes, I will try it seriously.

I'm definitely a level 1 student here, but I decided on this last assignment to try the level 2 exercise anyway. I have done some drawing from imagination before I started this course and figure it's worth a try, even if I crash and burn :-D

Thanks a lot course so far was interesting but after this talk it sure is becoming more exciting.