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What do you do when you draw something that can't be saved?

8:23 PM, Wednesday January 5th 2022

Hi all. Very trivial question here.

One thing I see stressed here is that we shouldn't be fixing our lines and reinforcing them. We use fineliner/paper so that we can't undo, can't hide mistakes, etc. By extension I assume we shouldn't be redoing whole pages.

What happens when you recognize you've made a mistake and your work can't be saved before finishing it?

For example, I'm currently working on the 250 box challenge. Every now and then, I'll draw a box with wildly off proportions like this, where there is no possible way for the rear Y to meet at a single point in the back. Just pick any point and move on? Not finish it? (Does it still count as one of the 250 boxes?) What's everyone else doing?

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1 users agree
3:31 AM, Thursday January 6th 2022

There's 250 for a reason. Even if it's the most horrendous thing in the world (sorry to contradict you slightly on this, Scooby), complete it, identify your mistakes through the extension of your lines, and continue on. The goal is not to produce perfect work - it's to make the attempt, see it through, and learn from it.

7:30 AM, Thursday January 6th 2022

Makes sense, thanks. Was overthinking it a bit.

0 users agree
10:09 PM, Wednesday January 5th 2022

I scribbled through it and started again at the same number. This should really only be necessary on really bad, obvious and egregious mistakes, most should be completed as best as possible to that you can learn from those mistakes.

FWIW I would say your example doesn't qualify, I think a fair attempt can still be made on that one. Try to complete it and learn from where it doesn't work.

7:29 AM, Thursday January 6th 2022

Ah yeah, this example probably isn't extreme enough. Here's roughly what I had ghosted.

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Staedtler Pigment Liners

Staedtler Pigment Liners

These are what I use when doing these exercises. They usually run somewhere in the middle of the price/quality range, and are often sold in sets of different line weights - remember that for the Drawabox lessons, we only really use the 0.5s, so try and find sets that sell only one size.

Alternatively, if at all possible, going to an art supply store and buying the pens in person is often better because they'll generally sell them individually and allow you to test them out before you buy (to weed out any duds).

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