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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 19

For today’s prompt: Draw an open book!

Previously you drew a stack of books. Now today, choose one book. Maybe it is your favorite one to date, or the most influential in your life.

If you can, try to find a book that fans out with a good amount of pages. The picture above is a good example. 

Play with looking at it from different angles, then decide on one to sketch from. This prompt will help you strengthen your ability to see your subjects better. Look at the angle of how the pages lie. Try to see where there are darker and broader lines versus thin, softer lines. When it comes to drawing, learning to see is key. And, you get better at seeing when you start to look. I mean, really look. Sketching ordinary objects are great for this. Actually, taking the time to sketch anything, in my opinion, helps you to starting seeing more. 

So, find a book. Open it up. Look at it from different angles and try to capture the depth, the variance in lines and values. 


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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 8

Today’s prompt is another word — Patience. 

I don’t know about you, but for me, I find it easier to be patient with others rather than patient with myself. 

Patience is difficult for me because I expect my work, my art to be perfect. I expect it to come out the way I intend, and the way I initially see it in my mind. And this is an odd thing because as a teacher, I don’t expect this from my students at all. For them, they are supposed to make mistakes and grow over time. They are supposed to work on developing a growth mindset and not worry about the end result.

And, for all of you following along with the sketchbook challenge, my intention is to encourage you in the same way. Make a mess. Your work is supposed to be unfinished and imperfect. Focus on the act of sketching. Focus on the fact that you are gifting yourself this time.

Have patience with yourself. This is a long game. We are looking for growth over time. 

So with that, when you think of patience, what comes to mind? Have you found yourself having to be more patient lately? What inspired it? Was it a moment? Was there some object or symbol involved that you can capture in your sketchbook?

You could even sketch the word patience and play with typography. Or, as always, go a completely different route. 

You could even sketch the snail in the image within this post.

Please know that my prompts are always optional.

In patience we must,

Autumn

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January Sketchbook Challenge

Sketchbook Challenge – Day 6

Let’s practice more of our observational drawing skills!

Grab a fork and/or a spoon and place them on a flat surface. (You can add the knife if you want.)

They can be metal or plastic –  any material will do. Feel free to draw one of the utensils or more. You can choose the perspective you want to draw from. For me, I like to draw from a side angle.

Draw the utensil(s) once or repeat the object to form a pattern and fill the frame. It’s really up to you.  

Again, you will want to sketch by having them grounded somewhere, thus the flat surface. This will help with the proportions and the shading. 

Add lines for volume and tonal ranges for shading. Choose a more realistic approach, or go with your imagination and turn them into something more! 

Remember to start with the contour lines of the overall shape and then add the details. You know, those little lines and hatching for shading.

If you are adding shading, try to achieve the highlights, the mid-tones, and the shadows. The darker tones are key to making the piece pop. Don’t be afraid to push those!

Experiment. Make mistakes. Fail. And, most importantly, have fun and keep your practice going!

Autumn














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January Sketchbook Challenge

Sketchbook Challenge – Day 5

Today’s prompt is a word — SURPRISE!

Think about something that has surprised you, or you find surprising. It can be from last year. It can be positive or negative. It can be small or large, about the world or about you. Maybe committing to this challenge has surprised you, and you will sketch a cartoon of you drawing.

For me, I want to dwell on the small surprises that might otherwise go unnoticed. 

You know, the little things. 

The little things like the single blue stripe on the feathers of a bird that I had not perceived before. Or, how easily a squirrel hangs upside down, so that it can rob the feeder of seed I intended for the little finches. And the surprise of a white lily frozen at the very moment before it opens just when we had our first frost. 

Keep it simple or make your drawing complex — whatever you have time for.

Some helpful tips: Start with the general outline of the object or thing and then add more details. What are the basic shapes it is composed of? Start there!

Remember, don’t judge your drawing based on what you think it should look like. Find an aspect to it that you like, or celebrate the motivation behind it. You know, the surprise of it all!

One day at a time,

Autumn