Adventures in Drawing

"I can't draw", how many times do people say that? I had firmly placed myself in the camp of "can't draw" for a very long time and still have a hard time seeing something and thinking "I could draw that". Some people just have an affinity for drawing and boy do I envy those people, but just like any other hobby it can be learned. It just took me a long time to stop complaining that I couldn't draw and start learning how to do it.

My boyfriend was the main inspiration for me to start this journey, he was the first person to assure me I could learn how to draw. He is one of those people with a natural affinity for drawing (and lots of other things!), ask him for a drawing of a giraffe wearing business clothes and 5 minutes later he presents you with this adorableness.

I'm not sure I'll ever have that kind of ability, it takes me a good long time to finish a drawing but I am slowly beginning to see more like an artist. I really think seeing things for their general shape and perspective is a huge part of being able to draw. I struggle greatly with this part of drawing, the ability to see dimension and perspective. My first great find to learn how to do this was Mark Kistler's Draw Squad book. Some of you might remember Mark Kistler's Secret City TV show from back in the late 80's/ Early 90's. I never saw it as a kid but as an adult his techniques helped me greatly.

At first (and this was several years ago in 2008) things were a bit ugly. As to be expected, I suppose. My frustration when I first started learning was SUPER high. I just wanted to be able to pick up a pencil and draw a masterpiece. Sadly, it doesn't work that way.

Eventually, I got better even ended up drawing things I was kind of proud to have been able to draw. But, since it didn't come to me naturally I ended up putting my drawing book away and not really adding to it unless I was really in the mood.

Then, drawlloween happened! One of my facebook friends posted her drawing for drawlloween, a month long challenge in October to draw Halloween themed items. I saw her drawing and knew I had to do this and I had to really make an effort at it. Thus began my rekindled enjoyment of drawing.

Things still don't look wonderful all the time, I have a very hard time getting buildings correct, choosing the right pencils for shading and perspective. After drawlloween the JD to my Turk and I decided we would continue a weekly drawing challenge and my friend who writes This Hostile Universe, a web comic, asked me to guest draw. So, I've kept at it and now I am even starting to be able to recognize what is wrong with a building I've drawn or why the angle of something is off. It's a work in progress.