Hi there! My name's Andy, and I live in Atlanta, Georgia. I've always wanted to learn to draw, but have suffered from that wonderous affliction known as lack of confidence.

This fantastic website has encouraged me to get off my rear and DO something about it.

I have some background in manual drafting, which I'm hoping will help me along somewhat. I'll be trying not to use my drafting tools, since my objective is an ability to sketch freehand, but I can't promise I won't backslide on that little resolution.

So, um, yeah. Killer website. Kudos to those who run it.

-Andy

hello and welcome to the forums .. im sure you will find that we are a friendly bunch and somewhat wacky sometimes .. but im sure you will fit right in

Welcome Reverend!

Well, using tools or not Art is Art as I say. You still have to possess some skill at using the tools properly and proportionately to get the right rendition. So even though you do it this way, you are really training your eye to see things properly and in proportion.

I did the Grain Elevator pic during the last challenge and everyone kept saying to me "Don't be afraid to use a ruler when you need to."

So, grab those tools, most importantly the one that makes marks and start drawing. There is no set guide on where to start. Pick out a few lessons, and if they seem too easy, move to something a bit more challenging.

Speaking of challenge, take a peek at the pictures in our Drawing Challenge. You have two weeks to play around with them. Matter of fact there's one there for using your compass. And I'm not talking about getting "Lost in the Woods".

Join the fun!
Eric

welcome to the forum we all use some tools one way or another so dont worry about it

I'm not worried about it, it's just that I already KNOW how to use those tools. Once I've reached some proficiency at freehand, I plan to re-incorporate them.

Think of it as learning to drive on the most ornery, beat up, broken down stickshift car on earth. You learn to drive on a difficult car, then when you get into something that doesn't leave a trail of oil and bits of metal, it's a whole lot easier.

Not a perfect analogy, but it'll do.

argh!! trust a man to bring mechanics into it

AAaarrrggg! Yes, Speed .... Race ... Fast ......Crash .... Survive!! Yes, mechanics, I love it!!! As long as I don't "Crash & Burn" *shudder*!