Day 2

I honestly think that the hardest part about drawing is getting over the fact you suck in the beginning.

Proof here. Done in an hour using this weird thing that's like in between being charcoal and a pencil. Probably won't be using it too much except for very crude sketches.

Tips, pointers, whatevers, apreciated.

Day 1 - Pleasantly Shocked

Alright so bear with me. I haven't actually sat down with the idea of drawing in literally a year or two. I also don't own a scanner yet, so for the next month or so I will be having to document my drawings with my digital camera.

Here's my first drawing. It's on a A4 piece of paper in my sketchbook.

The reason why the paper had this weird shadow to it is because I had to adjust levels in Photoshop. I don't have very strong lights in my place and it's currently overcast outside. This took me about an hour, an hour and a half or so.

To be honest I'm not very pleased with it, it's very simplistic and I had a hard time even figuring out what I was doing as I was drawing it. I don't really know if I did the perspective correctly, but all in all, as a first drawing after a couple of years I don't think it's horrible.

But I still wasn't very happy, so I went online and found a small tutorial on how to draw an realistic eye, which I then drew in my A5 sized Sketchbook.

This I have to say, is much better. I do know it's based off a tutorial, and most of the thinking was done for me, but that still doesn't mean you can pull it off. I'm glad this one came out well as I'm now sure I still possess some of the drawing skills I used to have.

This drawing took me almost 3 hours.

Oh and the guy who did the eye tutorial was talking about a color blender. It obviously blends your colors or graphite better than your finger (which is what I'm doing currently) but I have no idea what it actually is. If anyone could tell me what it looks like and how much it costs I'd be able to go out and get one. (google wasn't helpful when typing in "color blender')

Draw for 3 Years

A small introduction first.

I'm Rowan, a Belgian/American who is currently studying Sound Engineering in Belgium. I used to do a lot of traditional art when I was younger (I'm 18 currently), but when I moved to the States I hooked off from it to practice Conceptual Art. I've moved back to Belgium to go to College but sadly my current living space is far too small to accommodate for any conceptual art I'd usually do. I absolutely need art to function, if I don't add something in my day that forces me to think creatively then it's a wasted day.

When I was younger my dad once told me: "If you draw everyday, for three years, you'll be able to draw well. If you draw for 7 years, you will have complete control over your art"

So after some long thinking and consideration, I've decided to test this out. Drawing doesn't take up much space and you can do it just about anywhere. This is both a test of the theory and a way for me to be creatively busy daily, which I think is a strong enough combination to want me to finish it. So to lay down the rules all nice and neat.

3 Year Drawing Project:

-I must draw a single drawing a day for the next 3 years starting today (February 25, 2010).

-The drawing must have taken at least a half an hour to make.

-Sketches count as drawings.

-The drawings must be posted to this blog within two days each.

My main goal is to be able to draw proficiently enough after three years so that I can make concept art and sketches for projects, such as storyboards for movies. My main focus will thus be real life. I'd like to be able to draw fantasy/sci-fi things also (mainly for fleshing out ideas as I already mentioned) but I figure it's wiser to learn how to draw life and then draw what I think of.

I will take any suggestions from people as I go along with my project and post drawings here. Any help, tips, tricks or plain advice is always welcome.

Now that's done, I can start.