Artist Andrew Tischler posted a challenge for artists to improve their drawing skills by sketching every day. His video is inspiring–he’s already so accomplished and yet he’s sketching for two hours every day!
I can hardly find two hours, but I can find fifteen to twenty minutes now and then to practice. I’m using a Stillman & Birn multimedia sketchbook and either my Blackwing pencils or a lead holder with a 2B lead.
We’ll see where it takes me.
Days 1 and 2:
Days 3-4:
I’m on a kick drawing birds with water soluble ink. Reference photos are usually from Paint My Photo.
Along with my trusty Moonman Mini, I used a refillable brush pen, a Kuretake Sumi. The ink is Herbin Poussiere de Lune, such a pretty plum.
I also drew this Common Grackle, and I took more pictures of the process, albeit in poor lighting. The paper is Canson Multimedia, which isn’t bright white, but it’s not even close to cream, which is how it looks below.
Below I tried a ball point pen. I scribbled too much, but it was a fun, quick experiment.
I’ve been surprised at how hard it is to draw deer. I thought they’d be more like horses, but they’re their own thing with huge eyes and ears, delicate legs, and narrow faces.
I used all three versions of Blackwing pencils for these. So far, my favorite sketching pencil is the Pearl, which has a medium hardness. A close second is the regular, inky dark Blackwing, but I use them all and they’ve become my favorite drawing pencils.
I’m trying not to spend more than about 20 minutes on these, but the other day I wondered what it’d be like to do an entire drawing in graphite instead of only using it only in sketches. I’d certainly have to learn how to draw backgrounds.
What a challenge for me. Sketching Pete rolling meant he wasn’t standing still, squared up, and looking pretty. Instead, he was crunched, twisted, and all crazy looking. My goal of learning to draw horses in motion has been really enlightening.