Soizick's Let's Draw Course

[Soizic]

Hello all,

I just started the course a few days ago and I am looking forward to drawing.

So far, I am enjoying the course. The videos are a great complement to actually see the stroke and not just read the explanations.

I wanted to post my first drawing but I do not see an option to attach a pic directly instead of the link.

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I am struggling with the Pencil tonal chart exercise. I am using with Wan Shui pencils. What is the best brand you recommend?

Thank you for this course and I want to particularly thanks Kathy Sutterlin who recommended this course and after all the wonderful drawings of hers she posted online, I decided to join.


Soizick

[nolan]

I am glad you have decided to join the course.
Instructions on how to post your pic inside a post can be found HERE I have edited your post so it shows the image. (You can go edit the post to see how the embed code looks like)
You have done a great job with your erased landscape. The fisherman looks nice and peaceful on the water.
  with the rest of the course

[Soizic]

Thank you for your help Nolan.


 
This is my struggle. The tonal chart exercise.

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The last square has some brilliance in it too. This is my second try. I still see lines between each square in the bottom line of squares. 

So I am thinking about ordering another brand of pencils and try again. But not sure if it is my lack of skills with this or if I need another set. The brand I am using is Wan Shui. There were great comments about them on Amazon.

Any particular great brand you would recommend?
In the meantime, I will continue working with those. Today, I am working on the ball. 

Also, is there a way to not publish the exercises in the artwork section where the members publish their wonderful artwork? I do not feel particularly proud of this tonal chart. 
I am just adding it to my drawing album for some pointers.

 

[dennis]

Soizic, don't be too hard on yourself. As a beginner you are off to a very good start 

Also, is there a way to not publish the exercises in the artwork section where the members publish their wonderful artwork? I do not feel particularly proud of this tonal chart. 
I am just adding it to my drawing album for some pointers.

This is the reason why you should post all your drawings here, even what you THINK are bad. This is the ONLY way you will be able to get constructive critique on your work. Don't forget that the fabulous pencil drawings you see here on the Paint Basket are done by members who were once at the same stage you are at the moment. They had the same struggles you are going through. Your goal should be to obtain the same professional quality they are at. What you have posted tells me you are surely able to obtain it. These members are also qualified to get you excellent advice and encouragement along the way.
Check the middle row. Try to get each step one step lighter than the other. You have one light step between the dark ones.Practice this exercise as often as you can as this is one of the most important exercises would-be artists often neglect.

If you are going to order another set of pencils I highly recommend you order the TOMBOW set of pencils from Amazon. It is the set I personally use.
https://www.amazon.com/Tombow-Drawing-Pencil-Graphite-12-Pack/dp/B00AQENMQ4
 Looking forward to your future pencil exercises 

[nolan]

The ball and the tonal chart are two of the most difficult drawings you will ever attempt because they both require perfect control over your pencils - both as far as selecting the correct pencil AND applying the correct amount of pressure on the pencil.
Let's take a look at your tonal chart:Top row : looks goodcentre row : always ensure that the box to the left is lighter than the one you are working on.bottom row : here you have improved on the tonal values so that each box to the left is lighter. What you need to practice now is varying the pressure you apply to the pencil so that each "box" transitions from between the one on the left and the one on the right.
It takes practice so don't be afraid or shy to do a few until you get it right because this is one of the most important skills you require in order to draw well
PS - I agree with the Tombow pencils and also use them nowadays. If I remember correctly I used Steadtler pencils during this course and they worked perfectly as well

[Val]

Soizic, I would tell you how many times I've done that tonal chart... but I can't count that high!      
The ball is my favourite exercise and I still use it as a warm up exercise before every sketch or drawing I do. AND I still don't always get it right  so you are in good company.      Keep at it, it does get easier the more you do it.     

[Soizic]

Thanks, Dennis, Nolan and Val for the encouragement and tips. 

I ordered my new set of pencils Tombow and I will try a tonal chart again as soon as I get them.

In the meantime, I am working at becoming a ball expert.    I did several and this one is the reflective one. I can see why it is a warm-up exercice. 

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I took the pic in front of a window, for some reason, the pic is darker than my actual drawing. I tried to vary the amount of pressure on the pencil. That is not as easy as it sounds to do. But I am not unsatisfied with the result. I did not know I was going to enjoy shading the balls as much. 

[MaryAnne Long]

Soizick

So good to see someone having fun with the basics.

I too have Tombow pencils and love them more than the 5 other brands I have.

Keep on shading!

aloha

mea

[nolan]

looks good Soizic
If possible please post your standard shaded ball as well

[Soizic]

Hello all,

The regular balls are giving more trouble than the reflective one.

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I am still waiting for my new set of pencils, but I think I am going to try the berries.

I can't see anymore if they are still flat or not. 

[Val]

Soizic, here is another little exercise I found very helpful when learning to adjust pressure on the pencils.   

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[Soizic]

Thank you Val, very useful. I did a couple this morning.

[Happychappy]

  Soizick, you are doing well and it is lovely following your progress.   Patricia

[nolan]

You shading work is coming along nicely.
What you want to do is go darker on the shadow side of the ball. That will make it easier to get the central area shaded gradually as you have more contrast to work with

[Soizic]

Hello all,

I worked on the berries trying to follow the advice of Nolan and get more contrast. I have a very hard time with the leaves as you can see. Not sure what I am doing wrong. I have tried to shade around the veins and then shade lightly over them. I do not get the desired effect. My berries are not perfectly round. Actually, my printer stopped working, so I put my paper over the computer to get the lines. I also did those with my new Tombow pencils. They seem to be softer than the last one.

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Well, practice will help.

Here are my rocks. I enjoyed shading the rocks more than the berries (the leaves).

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Tomorrow, moving to cross-hatching. Exciting!

Thank you in advance for your advice.