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copying for accuracy and forms.

12:59 AM, Thursday March 24th 2022

The essential thing to do to improve the basic skills of drawing I've heard a lot was drawn from real-life or random objects.

I've started copying random cars from google images and objects on my table.

Throughout the process, I was overwhelmed when I saw an object. I didn't know where to approach it, how to think about it, and which line I should put down first. I was busy putting down the random lines I saw on the image, shifting my eyes up and down from the image to my drawing. I didn't know what I was doing. not only was the result far from accurate, but the shape and the proportion were also entirely off. the line was all over the place and I made the "2023 Nissan Z" look like a "loaf of bread".

I think just doing it repeatedly without knowing what I'm doing will not get me anywhere near the next step.

I wonder what am I doing wrong.

I'm not trying to copy to make a good picture. I want to know what I'm doing, and I don't feel like I know what I'm doing at all.

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3:26 PM, Thursday March 24th 2022

The good news is you have come to the right place. Drawabox is all about looking at the objects of the world and "seeing" them as 3D objects. You really can't draw a convincing 2D picture from a 3D object until you understand the "why" of the lines you draw. I started out just like you (maybe everyone does) and would try to draw something by starting with random lines and trying to make it look like something in the end. I didn't understand its construction in real space before drawing. This will usually go wrong somewhere and even when it is done perfectly, it often appears flat with no character.

I don't know what lesson you are on, but cars don't come until lesson 7 for good reason. One, they are very complex shapes that are often difficult to render accurately in proper perspective. Two, knowing where to start is very important because small mistakes will add up to big ones. And three, cars are very recognizable objects that people are familiar with, small errors will be noticeable. You might want to start with something simpler.

I will add one last thing. Sitting down and drawing what you see is a skill many people want. Unfortunately, it is actually really hard to do well. It takes a ton of practice. Your first attempts are going to suck. And they will keep sucking, right up to the point when they don't. That only comes from practice and honest critique of the work you are doing. I am holding on to all of my super crappy drawings from when I started this art journey I am on just so that I can look back on it later and see my own progress. As Uncomfortable talks about, drawing is not a magical talent. It can be learned like anything else. Keep working at it. It will come.

11:13 PM, Friday March 25th 2022

I think I need to take some more time in doing the practice without thinking of result, just like the first day of workout.

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