Welcome to the Drawspace Drawing Challenge! My name is Ernest Friedman-Hill, and I am your host for this week. The rules are simple: I post some photographs, you draw one or more, and you post your work. Then we can all admire the results, and discuss them. Post as many drawings as you like!

I've chosen a variety of (hopefully) interesting photographs, some easier than others; I've posted color and black-and-white versions of each. You can get the most out of a challenge by stretching yourself: try something you normally don't draw, or try a new medium, or a new technique. As your host, I will be more than happy to offer any help I can give, everything from instruction to suggestions to critique: just ask!

Technically, this is a drawing challenge. I want to see work in pencil (graphite or colored), pastel, charcoal, crayon, pen, etc; but if you post a watercolor or two, I won't complain. We generally frown on digital art in these challenges.

Without further ado, here are this week's photos:

Click to view attachmentClick to view attachment

In this handsome young man's mirrored sunglasses, you can see a whole world. A perfect subject for a graphite portrait.

Click to view attachmentClick to view attachment

A macro photograph of a handful of carriage bolts from my workshop. Colored pencils or graphite would both work for this.

Click to view attachmentClick to view attachment

A belly dancer from a Renaissance Faire. Her authenticity may be questionable but the crowd loved her. You could best capture this colorful apparition in pastels, colored pencil, or watercolor.

Click to view attachmentClick to view attachment

"Il Duomo" of Florence, more formally known as Cathedral of St Maria del Fiore. When we were there much of the structure was covered in scaffolding for a vast renovation; this is a rear view. Perfect for watercolor.

Click to view attachmentClick to view attachment

A humble turkey in the summertime, living out his life on a "rescue farm." This could work in almost any medium.

Click to view attachmentClick to view attachment

Another macro photograph, this time of three red grapes. This one is a colored pencil lover's dream.

Hello Ernest,

I really enjoyed the photos, I will soon post my attempts.

Congratulations by the challenge.

Hi, ERNEST,

Good photos for this week! Thank you.

I'm sorry to come so early: I can draw only in the week-end!
Here is the dancer, a bit thinner, intentionally. Many details should be corrected and can be improved. I'll come later.
Best wishes to everybody,

An

Looks like the bellydancer is going to be popular here also.
Here's my version in pastel pencil. It was tough getting any detail with this medium
4 x 7.5

Click to view attachment

I like the figure drawing so here is my try at the lovely belly dancer
Click to view attachment

Wow, triplets! Thanks for joining in, all!

NVA, I love the exotic looks you've given her, especially the eyes.

mmgalitz, what beautiful colors -- she looks very delicate.

Kay, great details, and nice shading of her belly.

I love the photos and have chosen two to work on ..thanks for the creative selection .

Really great photos, Ernest! You have such a wonderful variety - something for everyone. I actually like several of them.
I plan to try one this week but I have so much going on at school (seniors leave a week from Thursday) and I am trying to get 34 mugs completed. We'll see how it goes....

Here is your son Zack ...this was a challenge ..the reflection ion the glasses and the teeth..smiles big like that are always hard .

The grapes were just fun because I wanted to try it on black construction paper .

Thanks for the varity

Kim, you just flat-out amaze me. I have no idea how you did both of these just today! They're both so sharp and beautiful. I am going to try the grapes and I only hope mine can look half as nice as yours. And Zachary recognized himself right away!

This is my 15-minutes fauvist turkey in Crayola crayons on sketchbook pad 9x12in. Lots of fun.

Thanks Ernest they were fun to do .. I love the colors and well I love kids and this one I could not pass up .

I can send you the hard copy if you like ? email me let me know .

Elena nice job in 15 min .. I never really time myself ..I seem to be able to flow at a nice pace if the picture i am drawing is inspiring .

Thank you, Kim. I time myself because there is a reason to do that even art schools do it a lot especially studio classes.

Here is another quickie, 20 minutes sketch of a charming young man.
Graphite and CP on sketchbook 9x12in.

Click to view attachmentClick to view attachment

ok, here is the bare bones, and a watercolor attempt..he is a cute kid

Kim you do have a talent for doing portraits, you have your own unique style. I to am amazed at the detail you managed to do in one day. I like your other stuff but especially your portraits. Very Nice.

I tried the grapes with coloured pencils yesterday evening. I'm afraid mine are not as ripe as Kim's.

Elena, you got a lot of detail in your turkey considering the medium!

Kay, wonderful colors in your portrait -- the skin tones are great. I need to get back to watercolors again myself, maybe you can give me a lesson.

Norma, your grapes have wonderful subtle colors that work well with the tinted paper.

Here are mine. It's amazing how different these three grape drawings are!
Click to view attachment

This is done with charcoal pencils. Lots of fun. Kathie

Click to view attachment

Kathie, very nice style!

I just had to try the belly dancer with coloured pencil.

Ernest I LOVE your grapes ..I think you have done them very well .

Kathie I think charcoal is one of the hardest mediums ...I smear it everywhere ...you have really done a great job .

The belly dancer look very nice ...I almost tried that one myself .

Thanks, Kim!

Norma, I like your belly dancer's delicate facial expression.

Hello everyone,

I do my bit in this challenge, I used pens 0.2 and 0.5 in a sheet of A3 paper, I tried to be as simple as possible, who want to make any comment is the will.

I want to learn to do better each day and the perception of others will help me a lot.


Ernest, thank you for the opportunity the photos are wonderful, if I have additional conditions other work.

Hugs to all.

I know I was suppose to do this one differently ..with a drwaing before the watercolor but I was at work and no means of scanning the process.. Had to wait til Home to post this.. Forgive my insubordination ..

wosniak you did a great drawing of the young lady, oh to be what...17? again...lol..I used to have those, and they used to be there where hers are too..

Carol and Kim, you guys are so awesome, look at those wonderful portraits. you guys are fast becoming my favorite artist here..someone to look up to and aspire to..I just love you guys

lol.. seventy three lashes carol..

Just 73 ...piece of cake .. I can handle that..
Thanks so much for the admiration Kay.. I respect all that you do as well.. I am watching you grow with your watercolors .. How exciting !!

The dancer, again, with some correction from the last post,
Cheers,
An

Wozniak, great lines -- you've used a variety of line weights and it makes your drawing very energetic and interesting.

Carol, words fail me. That is just jaw-droppingly amazing. You need to come to my house and give me lessons. Wednesdays are good for me. Also, if you look at my introductory text for this challenge, you didn't break any rules this week

An, your dancer now has a very round, solid, but sensual look. Nice!

Ernest, what is your preference, solidity or sensuality (or both) ?
(anyway, a bellydancer must be both)

Hmm, a personal question...

I am really just comparing yours to some of the other versions we've seen, not stating a preference. A few of the other interpretations have been very light and ethereal, while yours is more physical and "real". Neither one is right or wrong.

That said, belly dancing is not ballet -- if I were drawing this photo, I would make mine strongly planted on the ground.

Hi guys
Lots of great drawings,and so very varied,they are lovely. I would really like to join in,but all my boys got exams coming up soon so its all studying here,AND we will be moving in the midst of it,so I might not be able to draw anything in a while.But I really like some of the photos,and would want to try them later on.So,I wonder if thats ok,and if anyone is really watching these threads after the challenge is over?

Yes, it's absolutely OK. Replying to an older thread makes it bounce up to the top of the forum listing, so people will see your late additions, and I'll be happy to have them.

Belly Dancer..... Loved the colors in this one.. Tho Mine are not the same .. they are certainly in the same family.. Golly I have been so inspired by your subjects !! Great detail to play with.. And as for lessons my friend ? .. I am a Horrible teacher .. all I can do is encourage others to focus and to stay with it.. The feelings of getting one right is wonderful ! A lot of great interpretations on this weeks Challenge..!! I am so impressed with everyone..

These drawing are amazing ..Ernest you did a great job picking pictures ....this is what I like to see .. a varity .

Thanks Ernest

This is three media approach as I title my grapes in my gallery: Alle Guten dinge sind drei.(All good things come in three).

So first a Crayola crayons approach.20 minutes.Here I want to emphasize that working with crayons on Canvaskin is wonderful.

Click to view attachment

Next watercolor on canvaskin as an underpainting for oil pastels.

Click to view attachment

And oil pastels over the underpainting. 30 minutes

Click to view attachment

All drawings are 6x9in.

This is my attempt
Click to view attachment

Elena, nice colors. You are the consummate experimentalist!

hiunnati, that's wonderful! You even got a good likeness of her face -- very hard to do when the face is just a small part of the photo. Nice job!

Thanks Ernest, yes i loved her smile.

Wow the drawings are great!

This is just a quick sketch of the grapes, in a mole skin sketch book.
Click to view attachment

WOW! I love the one his son!!!!!!! Great job!

As my creative approach of boy with peace sunglasses hasn't received any feedback i don't discourage and post here another creative approach of the grapes. Thre is no mention that a weekly challenge is not for creative drawing. If else please make it clear in the guidelines.




2B, 8B graphite and Cp on drawing pad 9x12in. 1 hour.

I try to post this drawing, I hope it works

Sorry, I don"t know why it is so big. I wish I could make them smaller. Anyone can help me?

Here's a post I wrote a while back about image files and image editors.

Very good!!!

Thank you for your apreciation, it means a lot to me, I am a beginner

I was up early this morning and did a quick sketch of the dancer. I don't know if I'll have time to go any further with it, but it was enjoyable to do.

Click to view attachment

Just a quick edit on this as I pulled up the image and saw it was quite pale. Hopefully this one will be easier to see.

Click to view attachment

Hi Jeanette,

Zooming in gives a whole different feeling. I like your very intimate take on this image. I actually took a closeup photo as well, which you might want if you decide to do more on this:
Click to view attachment
... but I had to choose just one for the challenge!