Hey composite, I just went through all of your pages of drawings and I think you’ve got some great progress happening.
I’ve got a few comments that you can take or leave, but I know it’s rough to not get a lot of feedback. I’m a “professional” artist but no where near the instructors on the site so definitely follow the videos.
The two main “problems” I see are your general proportions and anatomy, and the way you are using the cross-contour lines.
The main growth I see is in your mark making and overall artistic ability. It seems as if you are feeling frustrated with your ability but there are some definite jumps in quality over this challenge.Some key examples I saw were:
On day 21 where you said you were going to try to be more intentional with your cross contour lines. From that point on the difference is notable.
Day 26 the foreshortened arm of the third image. This has everything I suggested we’re problems – your arm anatomy and proportions are stronger, the cross contour lines define the form rather than just look like sketching.
Day 28 the middle figure on the third image is also a strong gestural figure
Day 51 1 minute pose. Very elegant drawing.
Day 53 5 minute on the second page. This is my favorite drawing of all the ones I see. It has a nice loose gesture, some really nice and varied mark making, and the fading in and out of focus of the drawing is nicely artistic.
Suggestions :
It looks to me like you are trying to draw what you know more than capture what you are observing. Try to spend as much (teachers say more, but I could never do that) time looking at the subject you are drawing as your paper. Compare the angles and lengths of the parts to one another. Focus on the negative spaces to help see the shapes. In 1 minute gestures it is tougher for most people. But I had a teacher early on who convinced me to start a drawing the same whether you have 30 seconds or 30 minutes. I always start a life drawing with the quick gesture, then it’s just refining till I run out of time. Again – if you are following a class that says otherwise ignore what I am saying, it’s just what has worked for me.
Cross contour doesn’t have to be the same throughout the stroke. Try varying the pressure, lightening up the stroke as you come to the highest point of the form. Or try using the angle of your pencil/charcoal to get a different quality as you move along the form.
Try and think as if you are running your pencil over the form with your cross contour lines. A leg isn’t just a cylinder for example, there are dips and rises in musculature that you can capture. It’s easier if you do the next suggestion.
Draw bigger, try to do only a single figure on a sheet of paper rather than cramming a series on one page. I know when you are starting out “wasting” paper like that hurts, but you will see improvements when you can draw more with your arm and shoulder than hand. Buy the cheapest paper you can find for these studies. In art schools the brown butcher paper is drawn on cause it’s dirt cheap and large.
Hope some of that helps and keep going on your challenge. It will definitely help, and the habit of daily drawing is a great one that I always wish I built up as a younger artist.
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