The mid tones, seem to be my struggle. I have a heavy hand and removing pencil can be an issue.

I found it interesting to practice the chiaroscuro technique both outside in natural light and inside with filtered light. The notes from this lecture were very helpful.  I was pleased with my drawings and more comfortable capturing the light. 

  It was difficult for me to capture the gentle curves of a tomato and still show light and shadow.  It had so little actual contrast that too many lines seemed too many.   It seemed overworked.  Not a good subject for this topic.  But the idea of chiaroscuro is excellent.  I liked the cloud attempt better.

I don’t find it the hardest thing to find the shadow, highlights, etc. I am getting a bit more confident using various shading techniques, like cross-hatching, that I have used before some. I think I should work on making shadows a bit darker, so the highlights seem lighter.

I can recognize the highlight, light, etc. Blending the different light is difficult. I an not a natural.

This course is AMAZING! Whilst I'm not exactly confident nor super comfortable making the first marks, I now feel it's okay to start and that I might even be surprised by what's possible. This is an empowering and exciting feeling! I loooove blending as it's so forgiving, I was surprised by how good scribbling can look and how simple hatching can be so efficient when there's limited time. Wow. Who knew I could draw a chilli?!

I still have trouble with depth perception in getting proportions correct, and do "just some more here" with shading that it doesn't always get the light quite right to look 3D enough to me.

Since it's a rainy day, I chose to draw an exotic ornamental just outside my home.  The intricate pattern of the scales and the harsh indoor lighting made it a bit more of a challenge. FYI:  This tree holds a special place in my heart.  The top is dead and makes a great perch for Merlins, Coopers Hawks and Great Horned Owls.

I have really enjoyed my drawing practice, I usually work with colors not only in my paintings, but also in my Photography. Going back to the basics is like opening a window to when I was younger and I sketched everything I saw.

While looking at objects trying to capture each on 2-D paper, it was a bit challenging to decide which mark- making technique to choose. When the pencil touched the surface of the paper, it kind of depicted shapes and tones swiftly. I found it really nice to experience each technique by itself, then compare and contrast between drawings. It helped to draw after Liz to get a since of the techniques, looking at her drawing and then looking at mine, then work on a new drawing while putting techniques together. It was hard at the beginning. It took time. Yet, the result was rewarding. The stippling is the technique that needs more effort because the dots sometimes had a tail to it. Sometimes when  lifting my pencil  it sketched a  mark showing a spot that looks like a tail to the dot.  

Really fun. Such a good teacher. I'm learning lots. Needing much more practice.

Wonderful course, I'm learning a lot! In drawing this onion and pair of magnified coffee beans I too was chasing shadows (similar comments below). Not so easy to capture the chiaroscuro effect on the round onion... I'm pleased with how the drawings turned out all the same.

This is my first drawing course. These new drawing skills were helpful but challenging for me. They definitely made it easier and as a result I feel more comfortable. I would like to work on chiaroscuro & finding shadows. I found the pineapple very challenging to draw.

I actually found it relaxing drawing a 3D ball. I'm not new to art but it's still a good reminder to go back to the basics sometimes, I tend to forget about the reflected light.

I must confess that life got in the way of continuing with the course as I had planned, but cheers to coming back. Wanted to share a sketch of an egg from back in March. I remember feeling like I was improving and I am excited to continue to practice and actually take my journal out in nature. My journal is pristine and I've been nervous to break it in, but it is happening - taking it on my 3-day backpacking trip starting tomorrow! Nature sketches to come!

I still want to work on everything! But I took my first-ever drawing class in the fall and was introduced to most of these concepts. So I was not completely uncomfortable or unfamiliar with them. My goal is 'not pathetic.'     

I still struggle with value - my range seems to be medium dark to medium to  medium light - I don't get the contrast I'm looking for.

I tried using the marks and very much enjoyed the exercise and it was fun to walk around looking for objects.  I found it challenging to complete my drawing before the light changed.  I realized I was chasing shadows a few times.  I walked around the neighborhood squinting at everything, I looked like I needed a new pair of glasses.  I took my glasses off and I get the natural blur so I can see the lights and darks without squinting.  I just have draw blind!  I need to work on seeing the shadows and getting the right proportions. Pat

I found the techniques very helpful although I am working in a small scale which I imagine is easier. I have trouble with the squint test but I imagine it is a question of practice.

Since we are limited to 3 images per reply, thought it would be better to share the ones I had  issues with.

•  Sketching with a continuous one line gave me a sense of confidence. On the other hand, the sketchy lines technique hindered me; the more I sketch a new line the more I hesitant in visualising the shape I wish to sketch. I faced this problem while outlining all of the subjects: the daisy, the acorn, the gingko and the butterfly. Have you faced the same issue, anyone?

   

•  With the type of marks in sketching -- I sketched a blue sea crab; luckily, I found a dried one. I divided it into 5 parts to experiment with the marks ' types. I'm sharing the result with you. I'm not sure if I did well with the marks -- I tend to use tinny tip of the fine-liner pens; 0.05 and 0.1. Perhaps I need to try and sketch with a thicker pens/pencils to see the difference.

   

•   This is my attempt to try and look at the shades of a subject. I tried with this shell; Ancilla Glabrata. I used an artificial source of light instead of the sunlight - this shouldn't affect the result much but looking at the final result, I think if I was after the shades, then I should have tried to sketch it with one pencil colour.

I believe the most useful point on this session was the squint test. It is very practical when you don't have enough time and you needed to sketch and pin point the highlights n a subject much faster! Thanks for the tip :)

I like to use the scribble and spotting technique. The blending technique is what I probably use most. I find the crosshatching the most difficult to achieve what I want.

I enjoy sketching and the lesson on contour and shading was very helpful to me. The 3D part of it will take me quite a bit more time to learn.