So to answer your question Metta, Where to from here? Well, I want to remain active. I have been commissioned to do a painting (albeit by my nephew but hey, it's a start!) of a brown trout with his favorite lure. Also the cherry blossoms will be out soon and I've always wanted to paint them. I would like to pursue watercolor and ink. I will continue to go back to the lessons and try the extra exercises I didn't have time to do during class but also work on some of my own stuff using the different techniques learned. Most important is to use my sketch pad regularly to practice drawing and shading. Get that down better. How about you? Where are you at in your career as an artist?

Sounds like you have some wonderful plans - and I'm sure you'll achieve whatever you set your mind to. As for me, I'm now getting back into things and am currently doing the acrylics unit. So far I have completed the draw and shade units, so still a way to go....

Hi Laura, Sorry, I was away for a couple of weeks so I didn't see the question that you asked me! Because i was away for a couple of weeks I hadn't really started anything too complicated. As part of my mentorship program Cindy sent me some lessons on nudes so I was practicing those and when I started shading with pencil, I felt like I didn't know how to do it. LOL! The last few units I was working with charcoal, and painting. I also didn't spend enough time and so it was terrible! Funny,eh? it had been such a long time since I had shaded with pencil that I actually had lost confidence in what I could do! Just didn't feel right! So back to the drawing board (pun intended) and I revisited the shading unit, I am happy to report that it's all coming back to me! That s is the nice thing about taking Cindy's classes, we will always have our course notes to go back to if we are ever stuck!
In addition to that, Cindy is teaching me how to teach her course, and if she is successful, I'll become certified and will teach either live- or internet tuition. Not sure yet what will be right for me! I have started commenting on the fictitious works of Jan" and let me tell you, I have a new appreciation for Cindy and her ability to critique our work honestly without crushing us!

Metta, I am glad to hear that you have started the acrylics unit 2, are you liking it?

Hi Tannis - great to see you back And congratulations on being part of Cindy's teaching program. You already possess so many great qualities and a strength that will ensure you achieve whatever you set your mind to. What a wonderful journey you are on!

And to answer your question - yes, I'm now really starting to enjoy acrylics. Got a bit frustrated there for awhile, as nothing was looking the way I wanted it to. But I realised that was just part of the process of learning - some things just take longer to perfect than others. The interesting thing that came out of my little strugggle - is that now I feel more committed than ever to develop my art skills. So, I guess frustration IS a good thing if it inspires you to want to do better. And as we all know - if we just keep showing up at the table - the rest really does take care of itself!

Welcome back Tannis! You'll be an excellent teacher no matter which method of tuition you decide. I know what you mean by forgetting how to shade. I take out my sketch book and think "I can't do it! I've forgotten everything!" But, I close my eyes and remember a few things. It's great to have the lessons to refer back to.
Metta, how's the painting going? Are you having fun?
I went and bought a Magic Pencil and have been having fun doodling with that. I've seen them before but really hadn't seen any drawings until I went to my cousin's exhibition. He had done some drawings in his sketch book with one. It can be interesting!

Magic pencil.... sounds interesting, tell me more! ! I bought a bamboo tablet, is it anything like that? I haven't really learned how to create anything with my bamboo, bit of a learning curve and I'm on the down slope!

Metta, i am so happy that you've worked through the bottom of your " learning curve" and are on the way back up and even more committed than before! I found acrylics a bit of a challenge at first as well, but it was so exciting to be learning something entirely new! i think that if you "struggle" and work through the mistakes that you make, refining and correcting your mistakes, that you are "deep" practicing! Well done Metta!

A magic pencil is just a multicolored lead pencil. Maybe not lead, but a colored pencil. Interesting drawing affect. I looked up the bamboo tablet. That sounds interesting! I would be interested in seeing some of your creations using that tool!
I'm traveling for business in Arizona right now. I found a couple of great art supply stores. Of course I had to admire the art on the walls while I was there. Getting some great pictures of the area for potential pieces. Could be paintings, could be drawings. The people I work with know I am an artist (there, I said it! I'm an artist! sounds strange to admit it!) and they are assisting me in collecting photos for my treasure chest! Cacti can be so cool!

Would love to see some of your magic pencil doodles - sounds intriguing!

Tannis, I really like the idea of "deep" practicing - it gives a real sense of purpose to showing up at the table. Thanks for the input.

This is my final project "the shoe well travelled"

It was a wonderful experience to learn and hone my skills with Cindy. Wen i had first seen the shoe on this forum I wondered whether I would ever be able to draw something lke this. I joined Cindy's class and here is my shoe

kanoo, well done! You should be very proud, shading this shoe successfully is a huge accomplishment and i can see that you've really worked hard on it! Well done! Congrats! i hope that you enjoy portraiture!

Kanoo, your shoe is just gorgeous...Congratulations!

Beautiful work on your shoe Kanoo! Well done!

Donna & Jeans

Thanks a lot

What a beautiful shoe, Deepti. You must be feeling very proud of your achievement. Keep up the great work!

Hello you all,

Here’s my final portrait from Cindy’s Unit 4 Portraiture in your Pyjama course.

As I struggled with charcoal, I had to take a little break from it to recharge my batteries ;-) and decided to have a go at the portrait in graphite pencils and Cindy was kind enough to let me do so (Thanks again Cindy), and here’s the outcome...

I’m still planning to have a go at it in charcoal at some point ;-).

Nathalie

Wow, nicely done!

Thank you for your Wow :-).

I was having a hard time with Charcoal at first, too! Now I love it... don't give up! You've done a great job... congratulations!

Hi everyone,
just wanted to share my final project from unit 3. I'd never thought i would be able to draw something like that...

Verritta, You've done a great job! Good for you! I think that you surprised yourself ... doesn't it feel good to feel like you've really accomplished something that you thought you'd never be able to do? Keep going... and you'll continue to surprise yourself! Sometimes these lessons seem hard, even overwhelming (depending on the day), and they are, it takes courage and faith to pick up your pencil and to just do it!
Tannis

Thank you Tannis for you nice comment and your encouragement :-).

Hi Everyone! I just finished my self portrait last week. I never thought I'd get there- but I made it through- I can hardly believe it. Cindy suggested I upload both my pre-instruction portrait and my final portrait. So I am!
Pamo

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WOW! What a fantastic achievement, Pamo! Your portrait is SO you and you've managed to bring your own unique style to it. There is absolutely no stopping you now! Really looking forward to seeing your next portrait.

Pamo, I am so happy for you! Doesn't it feel good to stand back and admire something that you've done , when you never really believed that you could actually do it? You took a leap of faith... and wow... look how far you've come! Good for you! Congratulations!

Thank you Metta and Tannis! It's a grand accomplishment and your encouragement and support is enormous. Thanks!!

At Cindy's request, here is my pre-instruction portrait from last summer, and my self-portrait in charcoal that I just finished over the weekend. I never thought I could do something like this, and now that I have, I can't believe I didn't try sooner. I guess I was just waiting for the right teacher to come along--thanks, Cindy!

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Wow, Donna, well done! Congratulations!

Very nice !

On Cindy's request, here's my pre and post course selfportrait. I guess we all share the same feeling of surprise when looking at our portraits: how was it possible for us to improve so dramatically? Gimme five letters: C-I-N-D-Y!

I know that technically one is not really a final project... I hope you forgive me


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Here is my portrait of Isha.

This is lovely. I especially like the hair and the sweater and the eyes are great too. Great job!

Thanks Lisa!!

I just completed Unit 4 and this is my final project

Really wonderful work everyone!!

That's mine final work:) I called it "The road of dream" ("The road of life").

Fantastic work everyone! It is great to see how much your skills have improved over the last few months! Pats on the back all around!

my last artwork

You've really captured the soul and personality here. Great expression especially the eyes! Love the background work too!

Must be a great dream because the colors are so warm and lively! Great job!