lots to learn!  It just feels so good to do this.  I think the garlic is more recognizable than the squash.  Actually, it amazes me when something is recognizable at all!

It's easier to see light on some object better than others. For example, highly textured items seem to absorb more light and takes a bit more observation to discern the light and shadow. I am getting more comfortable with marking the page. I haven't sketched in a few years, but it's starting to come back to me. This course has been a big help with refreshing my memory. I'm comfortable with hatching, cross-hatching, contour hatching, and blending. I need to work in stippling.

First attempt at chiaroscuro: red pepper in late afternoon sun.  Difficult to make it look like it was sitting on the desk vs. floating.  Any suggestions?  Second attempt was red apple with 2 different light sources. What is wrong with the late afternoon shadow?  Is it at the wrong angle?  The sun came from the upper right.   It was great to use the squint test for light values  and to look for highlights in the shadows, which I noticed on the apple as well as on the desk surface.  I need to work more on using different textures in my drawings.

The techniques are helpful. Surprisingly, squint test really clarifies values., helping to sort out value differences from color differences.  I never noticed the reflected light part of shadows. The shadowing will take a lot more practice to blend and catch subtleties, but the shading techniques help a lot. This is a start!

This partial paper wasp nest is one of the hardest things I have tried to draw and represents some of the problems I am still working on: how to make the central leg appear farther away, how to get a 3-D appearance while including the markings of the nest and how to make a bowl appearance where the top is off. Using cross hatching and dots along with hatching has been effective in other drawings. Contour hatching is something I want to work on more. Liz's videos are super helpful and these discussion groups are inspirational.

Interested in tips re pencil type to use and how to get softer look.   I'm using an HB that is not sharpened which works ok but thinking a softer pencil may be better.

I'm trying ;-)

I’m  comfortable enough, for now.  The shadows and highlights were a little difficult where the dark coloring of the object merged with shadow.  The shape of the object would get lost and I didn’t want to draw a hard line to show the shape.  This might become somewhat easier when we start to use paint and the boundary between colors can indicate shape.

I’m kinda used to shading but as you can see I’m not the best but I’m starting to get more comfortable with it.

OK I think it's time for me to start practicing what I have learned thus far before I move on to the next lessons.  This is my first time taking lessons in drawing anything so I don't need to rush it.

This is my first attempt at using several skills in one picture. I experimented with textures, dimensions, shading. I found out a few things; I need to draw daily, I need to slow down and I need to examine. Drawing is an activity that takes more time, for me, than I realized and I expect that will change as I get better at it. 

This is my latest attempt. Used hatching and a blending stump. I want to park here for a little while and practice the techniques learned in these last four lessons.

I feel like Liz's "lines" are so much more artistic that my own, how can that be they are just lines! But, for me, I feel like I need to work on finding my own technique. For instance, I did the value scale using hatching then blended it with my finger. But then I used a blending stump and I felt the result was far superior to my finger. So, it's practice and trial and error. 

I’ve never taken a drawing class before so I’m learning a lot & becoming more comfortable with putting pencil to paper. I need a lot more practice though. Since I had no fruit in the house I sketched my Hawaiian musical instruments made out of gourds, one of which I made myself which was also a learning process.  Chris Jonientz

We are enjoying learning how to make our drawings better and more true to their nature. The first picture is of my practice of Chiaroscuro and the second is of my oldest sons practice. 

I’m enjoying drawing nature objects and I feel like I’m getting back to my drawing roots. I like having a course to spur me on! The giraffe used crosshatch and done with fine tip marker

I’m enjoying drawing nature objects and I feel like I’m getting back to my drawing roots. I like having a course to spur me on!

I can see it will take me longer than I thought to work my way through this course. I practiced using sketchy lines and techniques for shaping and texturing. My circles are getting better! I have to learn to hold my pencil more lightly and freely and use more wrist than fingers for control. Loosen it up......I don't know when I will be ready for color. After this unit I will have something to post! I am inspired to draw the milkweed pods I just cut down in my front yard. Happy sketching all.....

I liked using stippling for this drawing, maybe because it's already kind of a bumpy subject.