With the start of a new year, comes the reopening of critiques and a bunch of updates to the website!
https://www.reddit.com/r/ArtFundamentals/comments/3yzsei/with_the_start_of_a_new_year_comes_the_reopening/
2016-01-01 06:03
Uncomfortable
Happy New Year, folks.
As promised, I'm reopening the free critiques which were on hiatus through December. As I am expecting a deluge of homework submissions, it should take several days to clear through them before we return to a more normal pace, so expect delays.
Within 24 hours (usually much less) of your homework submission, it should be added to the bottom of the homework tracking spreadsheet. If it's there, it means it has been acknowledged and I will get to you eventually. If yours is missing and you're noticing that people who submitted after you have been added, send me a PM and I'll fit you in where you were supposed to go.
As I mentioned in the title, I spent the last several days adding some new additions to the website. Nothing too big (no new lessons) but I have spruced up a few things, updated some of the demo images in lessons 1 and 2.
The more significant changes include:
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The addition of self-critique resources (so far only to lessons 1 and 2, but I intend to expand them eventually). These are so you can weed out common problems on your own, whether you choose to submit your homework to me or not. Basically it's a big list of common mistakes.
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Two new exercises, one for each of the first new lessons. Lesson 1 gets "Rotated Boxes" to help transition into the organic perspective boxes, and Lesson 2 gets "organic intersections", which is an interesting, calming exercise that should help prepare people for more substantial organic objects such as insects and animals.
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I've formalized some of my own observations/thoughts into a section on the website where I plan to post things of that sort in the future.
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I've also added the challenges to the site proper, and I hope to expand on them - I'd like to add one soon on the topic of textures, along with some extra instructional content on that subject.
Anyway, I hope you've all had a safe and enjoyable holiday season. Let's make this new year a good one.
TEXg
2016-01-01 10:03
I'm new here and just wanted to say: thanks. This is an amazing effort you're pulling and I'll try my best to learn as mush as I can from each lesson. Oh, and Happy New Year!
Uncomfortable
2016-01-01 17:58
Thanks for the kind words - I hope the lessons will prove useful to you.
readlovegrow
2016-01-01 14:33
Hello! I just found this sub after stumbling across it in r/SketchDaily and I think this is AMAZING!! I've always wanted to learn how to draw. :)
I'm going out to buy a sketchbook and pens today, so I'm hoping to start contributing to SketchDaily as practice and to you as a serious student, soon. Thank you for doing this!
DustfingerAD
2016-01-01 18:41
Have a good new year man, can't thank you enough for getting me into drawing again and sticking with it.
Uncomfortable
2016-01-01 18:42
Ultimately sticking with it is still your own doing - so congrats on that.
vladthetransilvanian
2016-01-01 20:22
You added the new exercises just as I was about to do the organic boxes exercise.
Happy new year
viridianflare
2016-01-01 21:56
Great timing! I just started lesson one (I'm on planes now) so I'll take a look! Glad you're still doing critiques.
CakeMagic
2016-01-02 00:49
Wow that's some good timing considering I've been putting part 3 of lesson 2 off for a bit, because it seemed kind of a bit too intimidating for me.
CakeMagic
2016-01-02 12:51
Ok, every time I go back to it, I just find that I have extremely trouble wrapping my head around how to intersect these forms. There needs to be an even slower and detailed step by step for each different kinds of shapes for me, lol...
Google search doesn't give me enough results for intersecting forms, sigh.
i_yell_things
2016-01-07 14:49
What I do is I visualize me holding both shapes in my hands and look at them from different angles to get a better understanding on how the intersect
CakeMagic
2016-01-07 17:58
I have trouble visualizing it. It not a clear picture in my mind.
i_yell_things
2016-01-07 18:06
Just wondering if you completed the 250 challenge cubes and cylinders?
But this homework isn't supposed to be easy. I have trouble at times, specially when they intersect at complex angles.
"Proper intersections can get very complicated. A student at this stage could easily become overwhelmed.
This exercise is, in all honestly, not really about the intersections. It's about being able to arrange forms together in 3D space. Ultimately that is what I gauge when critiquing homework submissions, though general intersection mistakes would also be pointed out. Still, that should not be your focus."
ReDraw-mind
2016-01-02 14:21
Welcome back Irshad :) .hope you enjoyed the holidays . wish you a happy new year ! . i only found you at the beginning of December so i have been waiting for a month to get your valuable critique . can't thank you enough for your sincere efforts
Uncomfortable
2016-01-02 17:27
Well, it's all open now, so submit your homework whenever you feel ready.
jewfro77
2016-01-02 19:55
How do I submit homework?
Uncomfortable
2016-01-02 19:58
Once you've completed all the sections of a given lesson and met the requirements (used the required medium, finished the minimum amount of homework, etc.) you can click on the yellow button at the top of the lesson, "View Homework Submissions on Reddit" or follow the link in the homework tab of the lesson.
You host the photos/scans of your work separately (most people use Imgur) and include a link to the album in a comment to the lesson's reddit post.
Dragoniel
2016-01-02 22:26
Great additions, you're amazing.
I especially welcome the addition of boxes rotation exercise. Right about the time I found myself wondering how to do it when I went through the lessons originally and I noticed there were other people complaining that they can't do it at that point. Rotating the box feels like it should be very easy, but for some reason I found it maddeningly not so, to draw correctly as imagined. Drawing a random box is simple. Drawing it at a certain exact position is apparently not so simple for beginners. I spent a lot of time figuring out that one. These exercises should definitely help.
[deleted]
2016-01-03 17:49
[deleted]
Uncomfortable
2016-01-03 18:38
Don't approach this under the misconception that what you submit has to be perfect, or close to it. All I ask is that you do the best you can right now. As long as you're putting forward your best effort, we can figure out what part of your approach and what part of your understanding isn't working out, and adjust it accordingly.
IdleRa
2016-01-04 21:24
Hello unconfortable!
As part of my new years resolution I was making cheat sheets with drawing exercises to pin to my wall. Basically based on your exercises. Now, with these new self critique ressources I was able to spot mistakes I wasn't aware of, and on top I can add some new exercises to the list!
This is a great update! I hope drawabox gets an example section, too, someday.
Uncomfortable
2016-01-04 23:56
By example section, do you mean.. based on successful user submissions?
IdleRa
2016-01-05 13:26
Yes, you mentioned earlier (last year) saving some submissions for expample purposes on the website
4bitfocus
2016-01-04 21:27
One suggestion for your website: I think you should add Amazon links to the pens, paper, and other material you use. Use their affiliate program -- the extra income might add up to a measurable amount.
Uncomfortable
2016-01-04 23:57
I think that's a great idea. It's definitely crossed my mind, and I've been meaning to take advantage of the "Thoughts" section for that purpose, but I haven't gotten around to it.
Also I'm currently in the works to get a deal with my favourite sketchbook company to get discounts for our users. They've pretty much agreed, but unfortunately their contact recently had a baby so email responses are very behind - like, months behind.
Jacapo
2016-01-05 02:45
Thanks again for all the work you put into this. I am pretty sure I say that in every comment I make. I was wondering if I were to use an 8"x5.5" journal, what would you consider a page? I was thinking both pages may be acceptable. i.e. Left and right on the same opening. Let me know if you would prefer it stay to 8.5"x11".
Uncomfortable
2016-01-05 02:47
Size of the page, how much you fill it, those are all personal decisions. It's up to you to figure out how much you're comfortable with.
Jurydeva
2016-01-05 03:03
Hello! I'm new here and I love this. I've been drawing for a few years, I've taken classes, but I never really pursued my passion. Your website is awesome and I'm working on the first assignment to submit. I have one issue - my lines tend to arch either upwards or downwards. Is there a reason for this, or is it just a quirk of mine, you think?
Thank you!!!! :)
Uncomfortable
2016-01-05 03:31
Arcing Lines. Sorry for the brevity, but I'm on my phone.
Jurydeva
2016-01-05 03:35
Arcing Lines
No worries! I thought I read all of the notes, but clearly not. You're awesome and thank you for being a resource for us inspiring professional (or hobby) artists. Also, thanks for the quick response. :)
GhrabThaar
2016-01-10 06:12
Hey, just checked back to go over the form intersection lesson and saw all the new stuff. The self-critique is very helpful and the new lessons look fun. Thanks again for putting in so much work on this, I'd probably never have gotten anywhere if I hadn't found it.
Theyreillusions
2016-01-12 03:40
Quick question. Do critique requests need to be of homework? I haven't picked a pencil up in over 12 years and drew a self portrait as best I could. Is there a place better suited for this type of submission?
Uncomfortable
2016-01-12 13:40
Yep, I only accept submissions of homework from drawabox.com - I get so heavily inundated with those alone that to accept more wouldn't make much sense. You might want to try looking for critique on /r/learnart though, or on /r/artbuddy.
lesspoppedthanever
2016-01-12 14:03
Just wanted to say thanks so much for all your hard work -- I'd pretty much given up on ever being able to draw, no matter how much it was something I wanted to do. I'm not ready to submit anything just yet, but I feel more like drawing is something I'm capable of learning than I ever have, and it's really exciting! That feeling alone was worth contributing on Patreon. Thanks, again, so much.
Uncomfortable
2016-01-12 14:22
Thanks for the kind words! By the way, I always contact new patrons through patreon's messaging system to get a little extra information (like tying their patreon account to their reddit username) so be sure to take a look over there when you get the chance.
[deleted]
2016-01-13 23:26
[removed]
Uncomfortable
2016-01-13 23:29
It's never been a factor. People generally use whatever paper they have available, usually leaning towards lower weight pages. After all, if you're working on expensive paper or expensive sketchbooks, you're going to end up getting caught up in being too precious with your work.
I generally just encourage people to use loose printer paper.
artta88
2016-01-14 11:15
You've already replied to my questions privately but I want to say on here again what a great resource this is. Although I've already got daily instrument practice (+job +gym +girlfriend) I'm determined to work through this course this year (or at least start, I don't want to rush). I'll be posting my stuff here and look forward to seeing how others are doing.
Thank you so much again for your time and hard work.
Yxven
2016-01-20 00:34
May I choose to use a ballpoint pen and make lines of varied width? I would like to practice pen pressure.
Uncomfortable
2016-01-20 00:36
Ballpoint pen doesn't really give you a whole lot of flexibility when it comes to line width. That's why I encourage people to use fineliners/felt tip pens.
Yxven
2016-01-20 00:41
Maybe line width is the wrong word. Ballpoints let you draw in in almost pencil like shades.
I haven't been able to get pen pressure to do anything with my faber castel fineliners. They're all 100% opacity and consistent width.
Uncomfortable
2016-01-20 00:46
That quality of the ballpoints is very pencil-like, and is why you're going to undermine the confidence and control working with felt tip pens teaches you. Right now, you are a neanderthal, able to apply full pressure or none. With time and practice however, you will start to figure out how to use more finesse and subtlety, and the middle ranges of pressure will be more accessible to you.
Never go into anything related to drawing and decide to give up if it doesn't work at first. It takes practice and mileage, you need to familiarize yourself with the tool in order to unlock all of its potential.
ElazulD
2016-02-11 07:22
If someone has a small amount of drawing experience(not with felt tip pens), is it best to start with Lesson 1, or the 250 box challenge?
Uncomfortable
2016-02-11 14:41
Regardless of your drawing experience, you should start off with lesson 1. These lessons were originally put together with self-taught artists in mind, it just so happens that what they teach applies pretty well to beginners too. Really everyone just needs to go back to their absolute basics to fill in the gaps in what they understand.
DocGestalt
2016-02-22 14:19
I haven't even started doing the exercises yet, but I'm very thankful to you for making this thread! I keep coming back to it, it's very inspiring and motivating. I definitely need to come back and strengthen my fundamentals.
Uncomfortable
2016-01-01 17:58
:D