Liz, or anyone, do you have any tips on how I can adjust my stroke so that my lines aren't so evident, if that makes sense? I can really see each stroke, I'm hoping to blend it a bit more so each line stroke isn't quite so evident.

I found this whole section extremely enjoyable.  I learned a lot about drawing, especially the specific techniques and the demonstrations were so useful.  I am very much looking forward to adding colour.  It is a challenge for me to draw things so small.

I ventured to draw  this fossil sea urchin, I found in a quarry near home. (Original on the right side of the picture). The rounded, but asymmetric shape and the delicate scale pattern were quite a challenge to draw. Because the  light on the table was diffuse, I mainly used blending for the surface shade  and I added a layer with  with the scale pattern in contour shading style.  This is the style I would prefer for this type of objects with subtle  gradations in shade. I can imagine that other shading stiles may be  more suited for more dynamic objects with sharper contours and color contrasts.

For the aplication of the different techniques of drawing I think I can understand it. And I tried to mix the different techniques in the same drawing. My cross-hatching is a bit rough, my lines tend to overlay on top each other not giving the subject good definition. My 3D benefit from the blending. I just really feel this very helpful. 

Even fooling with lacy curtains helped in this class

Amazing how light plays a role!

Always have difficulty differentiating between light and dark and colour! I need to do more of these drawings! 

I think I'm improving but lots of practice will help including color.

Working on my skills i find that some of the pencils I have are too hard.  I need to do many more of these practices before I finally get it.  I'm going to try an apple next.  I can't seem to soften the areas of highlights to make it more realistic.  

I tried various shading techniques to capture the 3D aspect of these shells and small stone.  The squint test didn't really work very well, as all three shells are white.

I'm interested in working on more natural objects gathered from the field.  The squint test is interesting, but how does it work on objects that are all white, such as these three shells?

Please tell me how to submit a drawing. It doesn’t appear after I upload no hit submit.

I’m really struck with the importance of value in creating a 3 dimensional drawing and giving definition to an image. Need to work the most on patience and not feeling overwhelmed by a complicated image! “Where do I even start?!”

It is hard to make the area of "Highlight" stand out. It is also hard to keep pencil light for the area of "Light."

I haven’t drawn in awhile. It’s fun to do this again. I think it’s easier to show chiaroscuro with watercolor than with the mechanical pencil. I’m going to try to upload some of my pictures.

I used to do all kinds of “pointillism” (stippling) drawings, so I’m familiar with that one, but that takes a LOT of time and concentration, so I can’t see doing that in the field.  And for blending, I need a much softer lead in my pencil.  So, I ordered some 2B lead and some blending stumps.  I tried different techniques with simple shapes, like the apothecia on lichen.  I liked using the pencil more than the pen for most of the techniques.  I found that I tended to MIX the techniques depending on the density of the shadow and color and the texture of the lichen. I am feeling a bit more confident about laying down shapes and doing shading, but I know I'll need more work to get comfortable with it in the field.  I need more work with fur and feather's too as they seem daunting.  Drawing things likes eggs and lichen seem easy in comparison.

When I started was deiffilcult but then easy. I am feeling more cornmftable with my new marks. I wanna work in the chiaraoscuro.

This exercise was very helpful. Until I squinted my eyes, I had difficulty discerning the light and dark.