Bad idea to do draw a box using a vertical easel??
https://www.reddit.com/r/ArtFundamentals/comments/rke7ym/bad_idea_to_do_draw_a_box_using_a_vertical_easel/
2021-12-20 04:06
x3rker
My ultimate goal for my art is oil painting, I want to go through draw a box to improve my drawing skills on the way to that goal.
Would it be beneficial in the long run to do draw a box at an easel with an overhand grip? I've seen some other observational based drawing classes where the students are standing at an easel but using something like charcoal instead of fine-liner. I tried this on the lines homework and found it extremely difficult and wonder if it'll be nearly impossible to do some of the later exercises.
Uncomfortable
2021-12-20 15:29
I would not recommend that.
The thing to keep in mind is that Drawabox is not a bunch of separate exercises, requirements, restrictions, etc. just slapped together for the hell of it. Nor is it specifically a course tailored towards learning how to draw with a specific tool. Every element that we recommend (in the case of those using community feedback) or require (in the case of those paying for official critique) serves a purpose. We work with fineliners because the rich, black marks we're forced to make with them help us develop a number of good habits, which other tools do not allow for. Working on loose paper on a desk (or drafting table for the fancier among us) allows us to focus on the core mechanics of making a single mark to the best of our ability, rather than spreading our efforts across learning to make every mark perfectly so early (of course this is something you can do on your own later, but which will distract you from what you're meant to be learning here).
Every student who tackles this course has their own long term goals, and they're all different - Drawabox is not concerned with what that might be. Drawabox is only concerned with teaching a very specific set of core, fundamental skills as effectively as it can.
There are many other courses that will make use of a drawing easel, or a donkey bench, and that will use a variety of other tools depending on what they're looking to teach. It's very common, for example, for figure drawing courses to have students drawing more vertically, and to use either charcoal or graphite - and these choices go hand in hand with the specifics of what those courses are teaching.
In the future, you will inevitably be in a better position to understand, and therefore alter, the way in which the courses you encounter now are to be tackled, but right now as a beginner, you are not equipped with what you need for that. Thus, it is best to follow each course at face value, adhering to all of their individual requirements and restrictions, so you can follow them as they were intended (unless otherwise stated by said course - some do encourage experimentation, and that is simply another part of how they opt to achieve specific goals).
x3rker
2021-12-20 18:39
Great answer and thanks for all you're doing u/Uncomfortable! Learn to walk before running.