Tag: practice

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January Sketchbook Challenge

Sketchbook Challenge – Day 23

Today’s prompt: Something made from paper!

It really can be anything. A paper boat, a paper plate, origami. Anything made from paper. 

It might be interesting to fold the paper to make an object before drawing it. This way, you would be spending time with your subject, getting to know the folds and creases. 

If you want even more of a challenge, place your paper object in an imaginary place. If it’s a paper boat, let it drift on the ocean waves or get stuck in the sand on some beach. Or, maybe even set it to drift in the cosmos and pass too closely to Saturn.

Have fun with this! 

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January Sketchbook Challenge

Sketchbook Challenge – Day 22

For today’s prompt, Draw your hand.

First, you can decide if you want to draw the hand you are drawing with or your non-dominant one.

If you are new to drawing hands, you may want to choose to draw your non-dominant one. Position it in front of you as a still life.

Drawing hands is quite a challenge, as with any human aspect. It is perfectly normal to start off with wonky attempts. Here is what I would suggest:

Start off by drawing the contour lines of the overall hand shape. Then draw the outlines for each finger. Work from outside to inside when it comes to the details. Start with light layers and build upon those. See the hand not as a hand but more of an object composed of shapes within shapes. This tends to help!

You are welcome to have your hand holding something if you wish. 

Remember, wonkiness is supposed to happen with this!

 

 

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January Sketchbook Challenge

Sketchbook Challenge – Day 21

For today’s prompt, draw your keys.

Actually, draw any sort of keys! They can be loose, like in the image above, or attached to a key ring. 

Keys attached to a key ring will allow for unique angles and interesting details. Again, this supports your practice of learning to see. Capture the tiny lines, the grooves, the shine. 

As a bonus, include any interesting key chain items!

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January Sketchbook Challenge

Sketchbook Challenge – Day 20

Can you believe we are at Day 20? Pause for a moment and celebrate the fact that you have been sketching and taking on these challenges since the beginning of the month. Keep going! 

OK. For today’s prompt, we are going to draw a towel. Now, this is going to be a bit of a challenge because you have to use a very rigid tool in order to create something soft. 

Place your towel in different positions until you like a composition you want to draw. You can fold it neatly or lay it out so that it has folds and crevices. It’s up to you!

Here’s a tip: Start light and work in layers. Light pressure. Light layers. Build up from those light layers gradually until you are satisfied. The tonal ranges in a towel will be soft and gradual. Don’t be in a hurry to darken it.

Remember, this is more about the practice and the learning to see than the end result. Don’t get stuck on the latter if it doesn’t match exactly what you envision.

Keep learning to see!

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January Sketchbook Challenge

Sketchbook Challenge – Day 18

For today’s prompt, let’s honor a hero – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

He stood for peace, for love, for togetherness. So, for today, in your sketchbook, draw something that inspires just that – love, peace, togetherness.

Today’s prompt is very broad in scope. So if it helps, here are some ideas:

  1. Draw MLK or some snapshot from his life.
  2. Draw something or someone that inspires love, peace, togetherness. 
  3. Draw something that you dream and hope for.
  4. Or, play with typography. Ink or paint a quote from either Dr. King or another quote that encapsulates the ideas mentioned above (love, peace, togetherness).

After sketching it, send it into the world, and let’s fill social media with messages and images of hope, love, and peace. 

What do you say? 

Happy birthday, Dr. King. Thank you for sharing your dream so that we can do better.

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January Sketchbook Challenge

Sketchbook Challenge – Day 17

Today’s prompt: Draw a stack of books!

Go to your bookshelves or wherever you keep your books. You decide how tall your book stack will be. 

Maybe you will make it uniform with all the same type of books lined up perfectly. Or, maybe you will choose a variety of sizes and shapes and create a varied stack. 

If you want, could even play with the lighting and create a strong cast shadow. 

Who knows, maybe you will rediscover an old book that must be read again!

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January Sketchbook Challenge

Sketchbook Challenge – Day 14

For today’s prompt, let’s search for an obscure word to sketch, shall we?

So, here’s what you do:

  1. Click on this website – http://phrontistery.info/index.html
  2. Peruse the word lists and find something that sparks you. 
  3. If you are having your child join you, here is a kid-friendly word list – https://taralazar.com/2014/06/09/list-of-200-fun-cool-and-interesting-words/
  4. Have fun and be sure to include your obscure word with your sketch so that we can expand our vocabulary!

I can’t wait to see what you find! In fact, I really can’t wait to peruse the words myself. 

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January Sketchbook Challenge

Sketchbook Challenge – Day 10

Congratulations! You’ve made it to Day 10. I hope you are getting into a sketching groove and enjoying scribbling away on the pages. 

So, for today’s prompt, the word is essential.

Who or what do you find essential in your life? Is it a fresh cup of coffee right when you get up in the morning? Or an evening cup of tea in your favorite mug?

Is it a good book and time to read before bed? Or maybe there is someone in your life whom you find essential to your safety, growth, and happiness.

However, objects or habits can also serve to support your growth, happiness, and safety. There are no wrong answers here. In fact, what you find essential may change from day to day based on what is happening in the world around you. 

I know for me, having time to create is essential to managing my anxiety. I need that quiet reflection to recharge and ground myself. When I don’t have that quiet, contemplative time to create, I find myself on edge and not my best self. 

So, what is something that is essential for you? Is it a thing, a person, a ritual?

Don’t feel embarrassed about how little or frivolous it might seem to someone else. This isn’t about them. It’s about celebrating you and acknowledging what you need to feel grounded and better.

-Autumn

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January Sketchbook Challenge

Sketchbook Challenge – Day 9

Today’s prompt is Random. 

Look around your dwelling and find some random object you have lying around. Is it a figurine, a random sock without a match? 

Maybe you have forgotten how you acquired it. Maybe you have no idea why you really keep that random thing. But, somehow you just can’t seem to let it go.

If the word random doesn’t spark an object to sketch today, then what does it symbolize for you? Maybe random is an idea or a person. Did anyone randomly send you a letter? Call you?

Whatever the first thing is that comes to mind when you think of the word random, try to capture it on the page. 

Find some rest and treat yourself today,

Autumn

 

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January Sketchbook Challenge

Sketchbook Challenge – Day 7

Scroll through your photographs from your phone or device of your choice. Keep scrolling until you find one that sparks you. Use that photo as inspiration for today’s page. 

Try not to feel overwhelmed by the entire photograph. If it helps, pick one object or aspect from the photo to focus on in your sketch. 

It might help to pick something with high contrast – something with clearly defined highlights, mid-tones and shadows. But it’s not a deal breaker. 

If you don’t see anything you like, scroll Instagram or Facebook and borrow an inspiration image from someone else!

Happy Sketching!

-Autumn