Hey guys, before we dive into the line category of the course, I want to share a fun exercise to warm up your hand and get you comfortable with drawing fluid lines. While doodling with my son, he asked me to draw a Mario mushroom, and I realized it's a perfect way to practice ellipses.

You don’t want to practice the exact same mushroom each time. So make sure to vary your ellipses to get the most out of this warmup. Change the angle, proportions, and size on the page.

Benefits of the Exercise

Keep in mind these two key factors while you practice your mushrooms.

• Pressure Control: By making certain parts of the ellipse darker where they are visible and lighter where they wrap around, you practice controlling your line pressure.
• Placement and Alignment: Aligning the ellipses correctly on the page enhances your ability to place shapes precisely.

Tips for Effective Practice

• Vary Proportions: Don't aim for a perfect Mario mushroom. Play with proportions to keep it fun and to practice different ellipses.
• Visualize Before Drawing: Imagine each ellipse before putting pencil to paper. Ghost the motion in the air to prepare.
• Use Your Whole Arm: Even for small shapes like the eyes, use your whole arm to draw smooth ellipses.
• Relax Your Grip: If your hand starts to hurt, you're gripping the pencil too tightly. Keep a relaxed grip to avoid strain.
• Avoid Cleaning Up: Don't go back over lines to fix or darken them. Focus on executing each ellipse in a single, fluid motion.

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Practicing ellipses doesn't have to be tedious. By incorporating them into fun drawings like Mario mushrooms, you make the learning process enjoyable and engaging. Don't rush, imagine each ellipse, ghost it in, and then execute the stroke. Keep practicing until you're comfortable, and if you find this challenging, try doing it every day to build muscle memory. Go ahead and give it a try, and feel free to share your pages. We'll be starting the line category very soon!