Hello, my friends.

Today, March 25, 2009 I celebrate one year since I joined Drawspace and began to draw with value, learning new techniques and media. I want to thank Brenda Hoddinott for making this website possible, a place for educational insight into the art of drawing.Also my special thanks to a very special person and teacher, Jeanette for her patience and step by step guidance and feedback in our struggle with pencils, mostly colored pencils.

All the moderators and administrators for their daily work, Kim, Paulette, Ernest, Bobby, Brian, Wayneo among the most supportive fellows and friends.
I wouldn't be here in virtual space and in my drawing without you and the encouragement and friendship of so many fellow members I met and befriended along the way.

Here is for you to see and compare my two examples of how I started and where i am today.

In graphite the portrait from imagination dated March 25, 2008; 10 minutes.




and a portrait from reference, March 2009; 2 hours.




The second medium in which my progress is visible is Colored pencils

here is a drawing from life, May 2008




and a drawing from reference, November 2008, after taking the workshop with Jeanette.






Note the progress in rendering the hands in CP.


All this growth in skill was possible by drawing almost everyday, participating in challenges and trying out different media.

The lessons I do even today, here is my latest lesson from Brenda.
Click to view attachment

Thank you, Brenda for your generous heart and love for art.

Love, Elena

congrats

Thank you dear Kay, my first and best friend on Drawspace, your support is so precious and with you I grew heaps this past year.

Happy 'Birthday'!!

Thank you, Norma. It is a birth indeed. Of me as an artist well, a baby artist

oh..hug to you elena..and we have indeed grown leaps and bounds with the help of drawspace and all the great folks here

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Dear Elena,
I, too, send my good wishes and thanks to you. You have enriched all of our collective experience here through your input, your exploration of new media, wonderful reference photos of your travels, various theme based challenges and numerous articles and discussions you have introduced here. I have learned much from you my friend. And I am proud to call you that. I hope the future holds many more learning experiences for us all and the fellowship of all members and administrators of Drawspace continues to be an enriching part of our lives.
My best to you, on your anniversary, and always,
Trish

Thank you so much, Trish, my friend.

Hello Elena! I also want to congratulate you for your achievements in art! Although I am new here and we don´t know much each other, I will never forget that my first comments to my clumsy work were from you... You were and still are so supportive and from you we can learn so much and appreciate even more this exciting artistic journey! Many thanks to you and wishes of a great artistic career, if that´s your dream...

Warmest regards,
Your new friend,
Sonia.

Muito obrigado, Sonia, minha amiga.

De nada! Obrigada eu...

Congratulation and best wishes

Danke shoen, Raidor.

Congratulation Elena!
Your progress is truly inspirational! Keep it going!

Elena,
it's so inspiring to see such great progress!
But I also have to mention that the portrait from imagination is pretty good. Yes, it's not realistic. It lacks a few things there and there. But I think that it's a great drawing. And you drew it from your imagination! I have never succeeded in doing that.

Thanks for sharing this with us. Thank you for active participating in the forums.
It's really nice to have you around

Kalinga and Audrius, thank you for the warm wishes and kind words.

first we are glad to have had you a year ! and second thank you so much for posting your before and after drawings .. i think alot of people can be encouraged when they see these .. you have improved sooo much your skill of art .

Thanks, dear Kim.

Dear Elena, you are a great friend and inspiration to many of us on Drawspace, I send my very best wishes and Congrats on a wonderful year,

I wish you many more,

big hug,

Brian.

Well done Elena,keep up the good work.

Kind Regards Wayneo

Brian and Wayneo, thank you my friends.

Amazing what you can learn in one short year.
Happy DS Birthday!

Thank you, dear Paulette.