Project - Get Your Tools and Start Playing

21K
Course In Progress

Project - Get Your Tools and Start Playing

21K
Course In Progress

Your assignment is to get your tools. Once you have your stuff, start doodling. Make random marks on the page. If that gets boring, find something nearby and draw that. Or doodle things from your imagination. Just start drawing. Obviously, you have very little information right now to make these drawings look good, but we’ll get there. Right now a big wall that we need to start climbing over is the awkward feeling of not having control of the pencil. The way to get over that is mileage. Draw a lot!

Use the tip to draw thin lines. Can you control how light and dark the line is? Does the pencil feel different when it's freshly sharpened vs after you’ve used it for a few minutes? Use the side to draw thick lines and shade large areas. Can you make a gradation from dark to light? Is the texture of the paper showing too much? Or do you kinda like that? Try your eraser. Shade an area and erase it. Make a darker area and try erasing that. What’s the limit of your eraser? Start to play and get a feel for your tools.

If you make anything you'd like to share with your classmates, post it below. Or if you have questions about your tools, ask the community here. There are too many of you for me to help individually, so please help each other when you can :)

Newest
Andrew Doroshkov
Despite choosing the path of drawing on the iPad, I still followed the advice of this lesson and did a bit of sketching, enjoying the process.
kitsune546
25d
So after about a week of putting it off I finally got to start the classes and so far I got to say its been helpful even so short a time in. I think I finally understand the importance of thumbnails just by doing a little doodling. I look forward to the rest it will be nice having structure to follow so I can learn easier.
@azormx
2mo
Does anyone know which pencil case he's using? I'm trying to find a similar case that doesn't include the art supplies because I already have my pens and pencils
Melanie Scearce
The one in the thumbnail is Speedball brand. The leather one in the video is a set from Amazon that includes the pencils, refils, etc. The brand is Nicpro.
The Wonkee
2mo
First day of Day of D.I.Y Art School! :) It was nice to take a step back and play around with the kind of marks that these tools can make. Cant wait for tomorrows lesson!
Melanie Scearce
Excited to see your upcoming projects! :)
@masonicpleb
Hey, been putting this course off for longer than I'd like to admit, but I'm finally getting around to it. Been sketching from the imagination lately so I'm hoping the course can help me better flesh things out.
Jhamb
3mo
Hey all, getting back into drawing. Here to build a solid foundation. Cheers.
Rachel Dawn Owens
Good luck! Have fun!
@zephyroski
I've been drawing pretty much my whole life, and I have a bit of experience, but I was never really taught any real knowledge, so I'm excited for this. I'm also mainly a digital artist, so I'm also going to try to do every project both digitally and traditionally (twice the practice!)
Noemie
4mo
I didn't draw for years. Excited to start again with a strong foundation!
Melanie Scearce
Welcome, good luck with the course!
Chirantan Talukdar
What do you think, guys?
@dariascott
Hi! I’m so excited to be a part of this community now and I’m really looking forward to this course! I like to draw in my free time, so I’m not exactly a beginner, but I’d like to sharpen my skills and get more confident when drawing 🙂
Chirantan Talukdar
Hey, can I see your drawings?
@chel5ea
5mo
The link for your recommended electric sharpener does not work. Can you please fix/update this?
Kzip
6mo
Oh my gosh, already overwhelmed. That probably doesn't bode well. Not sure I have the right mind or mindset for this, but going to gather some materials and try.
@mrMeinFS
5mo
#2 pencil, pencil sharpener, copy paper, eraser <—— this is all you need to get started. A drawing sketchbook will be nice to have.
He Li
6mo
Jsut starting out my journey to be an artist. My goal is to be able to draw or paint realistic animals with traditional media, like colored pencils or watercolor and to sculpt them in 3d software. I'm 28, never have drawn anything in my life before, sometimes I feel I'm too old to do art comparing to those young artists who have already done great pieces, but anyway, I'm doing it, got all my gears set up and taking this awesome course from Proko. I tested my pencils in printer paper pad and tried to draw an apple on my working desk in my drawing pad, my first drawing ever in my life.
Melanie Scearce
Happy you're here! Good luck with the course :)
D
6mo
Started learning here in the middle of last year but I allowed myself to get complacent. Finally attempting to get out of my comfort zone and take my skills higher.
Grant
7mo
First time post. Been drawing for about two years and I figured it was about time I take advantage of Proko. Did some warmups with materials on hand. The triangle at the bottom is referenced from an “Jump All but One” game from Cracker Barrel. Excited to see where the course takes me!
Melanie Scearce
Good luck with the course :)
Axel Gyllenstierna
Welcome!
Nate Ferguson
I've been dabbling through several different Proko courses and sketching when I can, but not really posting anything or engaging with others. I've decided to work this course from the beginning and post my work from each assignment and the speak more with the Proko community as a whole. I'm very excited about taking this course from the top and I'm all set up with the tools of the trade, so let the fun and games begin!
Melanie Scearce
Excited to see your work!
Ken STACKS
7mo
Decided to give myself a refresher after going on a hiatus of not drawing for like 2 years (I was still a beginner then), Did not have much since it was at night but I did have a pencil and a blank book lying around so I thought why not follow the tutorial with that, cause I do hope to develop the skills to draw anywhere with ANYTHING in stock, so yeah!
Nate Ferguson
Awesome! I'm glad your back drawing Ken.
Jeff Z
7mo
Haven't really doodled in a decade. Got a set of 2mm mechanical pencils. Sharpened them and then practiced shading using an overhand grip. Drew lines with both tripod and overhand grip.
Nate Ferguson
I've never really sketched with mechanical pencils. I'll have to give them a go as well.
Neo Diamond
Just doodled for a while using my different pencils. I'm a bit of a perfectionist so it's hard to start something and have it look terrible. First instinct is to give up but I have to push through and keep drawing terrible stuff until it's not terrible lol.
Ken STACKS
7mo
The zombie looking face is funny
Lily A
8mo
I experimented with some of the materials I have, mainly HB and B2 pencils. It's been a long time since I last drew, so I decided to sketch something from my imagination.
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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.
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