Hello everyone, here are my selecction of reference photos.

All levels of drawing are encouraged to participate!

The goal of this thread is to enable and encourage individuals to practice their drawing skills, learn new techniques and have fun! If you just want to sketch that?s fine. If you want to create a complex, detailed drawing, that?s great too. You will get out of this what you want. The references used are from my own personal reference library of images that I have photographed and I release them here as not under copyright, meaning you can use them as you wish for drawing.

You will be challenged by some aspect of all references most likely as you all will have different strengths and weaknesses in your ability to translate the images to paper.

Reminder:

This is a DRAWING challenge. Therefore please confine your artistic endeavours to some form of drawing: graphite, coloured pencil, pen and ink or charcoal.

There is no ruling on what size your final drawing or sketch should be. Smaller, sketchbook sizes will provide a smaller file size which is easier for loading onto the thread.

If you would like assistance or advice, please ask for it and I will be more than willing to try to guide you.

This challenge will last for one week. At that time, all challenge drawings should be submitted to this thread.

I have offered 5 reference images to choose from. The images are also provided in greyscale. Seeing the images in black and white gives a better sense of basic values.

I have kept the images to simple shapes that still provide challenges. Block out your basic shapes first then work the details into them, rechecking proportion and measurement against other reference points in your drawing.

If you have an interest in hosting a challenge, please see the list in the pinned area of general discussions.

I hope you enjoy this Weekly drawing challenge

Muy buenas fotos Rafael. Dibuje el ojo:
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muy bueno Mr Ofir, rapido y completo con el detalle del reflejo en la pupila.

Gracias

MY eye(mi ojo).Quiero dibujarlo varias veces hasta que me guste.
I'm going to draw it until i like it.
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I usually always choose nature.
Value drawing is a wonderful challenge.
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Here is my attempt...






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oh boy was this painful for me...i have a very hard time with perspective..i drew this freehand cause i wanted to really give myself a hard challenge and let me tell you..this was very painful..it shows dont it?.i realized the rear end was too narrow too late..by the time i got the boat done i was too drained to put the background in..and this type of drawing is out of my league all together anyways, so hence the challenge, lol wow...anyway dont laugh now....here it is

wow..look at all those eyes...(OMG..they are all looking at my awful boat) lol..great job on those eyes guys

I love this one, you really captured the values

Hi all

ElenaM
Buen dibujo, yo tambien tengo dificultades para dibujar circulos en perspectiva.

bkluver, great work I like the realistic effect in your drawing.

drawman, good attemp, I like how you represent the form of eye.

oliverandjazz, to me, the difficult subjet is the better way to increase our skill in drawing, the perspective is difficult for all, and you had the courage to try. I like your boat and all detail that you put in your drawing.

sorry for my English, I need more practice.

Rafael

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Great work so far guys

Here is my try I mixed som different media: black and grey indian ink, pencile and charcol. 15 min. I usually just use pencile and white paper, so this twist gave me an excuse to play around without feeling bad about the result.

utva
I think that, "to play around without feeling bad about the result", is the idea for this challenge weekly, and you did a wonderful drawing.

Rafael

The eye sure is popular! This was a quick sketch with sepia ink and quill.


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A drawing of the eye - working on the boat, now.
I seem to find lots of time for drawing these days. Do any of you remember when I first wrote and asked how others (teachers) found any time to work on their own art? I think it's rather funny. . . . I seem to find as much time as I want to draw these days. Of course I'm not watching as much TV or reading. TV good - reading, well, maybe not as good. I will need to start switching back and forth!

Anyway, I am so enjoying all of your drawings and most definitely enjoying the time I am now spending drawing!


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I've found the boat most interesting. It was a real challenge. It took me about ~4 hours. But I like how it came out. Freehand. So here it is.

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awesome job ninla..that one was a definite challenge for me

Thanks. I think at this point it's the time you put in is the thing that matters. I've worked on it for a long time. And you know that you're more skilled then me.

oh sweetie you are sooo right...i did not take the time i should have..i seem to be rushed at everything i do..in my art and my home...do this, do that, busy busy..i always am trying to hurry and finish this part or that part before the phone rings, the kid cries, the dogs need out..lol...always somthing..but you really did do a wonderful job on this..such a pretty and skillfull, and talented young lady....great job ninla

I'm glad I don't have any kids. You should take more time to make a drawing. You have the whole week to do it! Make a sketch first day, add more detail to it next day and so on...
Thanks, I'm happy to hear that.

Great drawings everyone! I thought the poor stone needed some attention, so here is my attempt at it:

Done with black indian ink and nib:
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And because I couldn't resist, here it is with a light wash of sepia and black ink:
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Beautiful work, Ninla. You can definitely see the time invested.


Just a quick question - I'm puzzled. Some of you write on your posts that your work was done freehand.
I guess I thought all work in drawing was freehand. I know for me, and my students in classes at school, drawing freehand is the only choice.

So, what other options are there?

using a grid...i dont consider that to be free hand...when i use a grid, my work is very beautiful..if i had done that boat with a grid..it would have been much more beautiful..but i am really trying hard to strengthen my actual "seeing" skills and also i have been struggling with perspective for a very long time..also computer drawing, while beautiful isnt freehand either

That was an excellent explanation.
I don't use grids and I don't teach with grids but I can see that they could be helpful with proportions, etc. I guess I feel my students need to work at developing their visual art skills.

I do work with Graphic Design applications (because I teach them) but I usually have my students sketch first then scan, then work with those scans in the programs. I guess I'm not sure I quite agree that computer generated "drawings" are not considered freehand, if they are strictly drawings. It actually takes a great deal of skill to draw with either a mouse or even a drawing tablet; much like drawing with any other medium.

Thanks again for the info.

cool..an art teacher..what a wonderful occupation..very blessed..i really probably should not have said that about the computer drawing, because i did download that artrage program after seeing some most beautiful art created on here especially by veronique. I can indeed see that it takes very much skill to use that program and am anxious to buy myself a graphics pad and give it a try...i am using a laptop with the touch pad and i simply cant draw with my finger..lol..It was my first experience to see such a program and wow...it is sooo cool...yep..i am excited to try this way of drawing.


any suggestions on the type of graphic pad i should buy...so many choices..

First the eyes, the rock and the boat recently posted are very good.It shows that you can make an apparently unattractive subject like a rock interesting through art.
Next i want to say that i also lack patience and art requires a lot of painful detail and patience. I worked with a grid once, never could finish the project and i got very frustrated. freehand offers me just that, the freedom to create my shapes, my understanding of form.
Computer art can be very different from hand drawing and painting. Even if it is based on the same skills as hand work has also pluses of a technological kind and in this way can make the job easier or even better.Computer art is just another dimension of art and through its enhancements can make a person with no traditional skills an artist.It's excellent to work with both mediums and the more skill you have in traditional drawing the more it counts in computer work. I don't think the same is valid the other way around.I might be wrong, though.

Finally the boat.
I was home sick today - bronchitis. I have probably only missed two days of school this year. The doc told me to stay home today, so I did.

One advantage to that was, I spent way more time on this drawing the last ones. There is so much more detail that I need to add. I have to admit I probably prefer a little more simplified photos. I may or may not continue adding all of the detail to this one but figured I may as well post it now (just in case I don't - add more).[attachmentid=9966]

wow...a truly beautiful job

Thanks, oliverandjazz!
But don't you dislike it when it just never seems to be done? I guess one of the reasons I would never make it selling art is I would forever be reworking everything until I thought it was perfect, then I would go back and find even more things to change and work on. Based on the time I would spend it wouldn't be worthwhile for profit.

Hi all

I am glad for your drawings, all are beautifull and interesting.

amesie, interesting, quick but your drawing represent the form of the eye.

bkluver, I am glad that you enjoy drawing this pictures, and I like how you drawing the pupil in eye. and your boat is amazing, I think that in art you can represent a subjet with details that you consider more interesting, and your work will be more interesting too.

Ninla, your boat is great, the chain of anchor is very good, I can see the strain in it.

Hrymfaxe, your drawing of stone are good, I like the stone in sepia and ink, it have more personality.

Rafael

Okay, so I DID go back and work on it some more. I just couldn't leave it alone.
So now - this IS the final one I will add.
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Here's my attempt at the eye. I'm trying to learn here, so all criticism and suggestions for improvement are much appreciated!

Edit: attached better scan, without funny smudges

Also: hooray, first post here

excellent eye! Bravo!

Here's my lamp.

Wasn't sure what it was at first.
Spent a couple hours on it off an on. .7 mm mechanical pencil.

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Hi I am new to the site and was looking through all the forums and ran across this discussion of computer generated artwork. I felt unsure as to whether I should upload some of my work to the site and debating as to whether to delete it. I have been using the photo paint programs for about 5 years now and have mixed feelings as to whether it can be considered a real form of drawing or painting. The draw programs such as Adobe Illustrator and Corel Draw are very mechanical and the computer does alot of the work for you and I do not like using them. But have found programs such as PSP and corel paint to be a very big challenge. If you use just the drawing tools and not any of the fancy effects(such as filters)I feel the work is very much free hand. It's taken me over 5 years to gain control of my mouse so that I can make it do what I want. These are fun to use and play around with but in all honesty I still find the traditional methods of art are much more satisfying in the end. I have now gone back to the traditional methods and do alot less of the computer type art. Just wanted to add my 2 cents worth here.

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This is my effort for this week. I found the boat really difficult, but I suppose it was good practice. I'm afraid it's not up to the standard of some of the other ones, but I tried!

your boat is awesome..everyones boat is awesome....(well cept mine) lol..i am getting better all the time though...practice practice practice..


cobra you do very nice work with a mouse...no way can i draw with my mouse or my touch pad..i am looking through the grapics pads online and doing some research..i will probably have my trys at it posted here at some point this summer.

i just love this site...wow..i never been surrounded by so much talent before, it is awesome..so many mediums...it is awesome to see the same picture drawn by so many mediums and skill levels..i love it very much...i dont know why it took me so long to find it..i stumbled on it looking for drawing lessons and havent left yet..what a great place to be


aww..come on guys...gather round....group hug.....


hugs to all of you
Kay

Hi all wonderfull works

bkluver, if you put more detail, the drawing is more realistic, but is a cuestion of personal choise, if you like a realistic drawing. in your case you had obtained a great result.

ttencate, the render of your eye is good, I only suggest a little more work in pupil and form of eye with perspective.

jpete214 you represent light and material of lamp very good

mumwond I like your boat, you represent diferent textures with few lines.

Rafael

Did something different this time. I enjoy all styles of drawing - pointilism, hatching, (cross-hatching, contour hatching), simplified graphic, pen and ink, charcoal, pastel, colored pencil - the list goes on and on, doesn't it!

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love it! It looks like someone covered the rock with a poly tarp I'm serious, realistic drawing is boring..art should interpret not reproduce. ; a camera is better at that. Even pencil portraits should show some sign that it's art. I don't mean it has to look like a Picasso with one eye, just have some style that sets it apart from a photo and says an artist did it. Incidentally, I don't claim to have achieved that level, but it is what I work toward.
I recognize that realistic rendering has it's place in mechanical drawing, illustration, architecture, etc., so developing that skill is worthwhile if those pursuits are one's goal. I just consider it craftsmanship rather than art.
I was going to do the boat until I saw bkluver's posting and decided I didn't want to follow that. Others have more guts. Ditto the steps to the outhouse. Also, I was working on the 'Erin' portrait. (note: I posted that portrait at a pipe smokers forum I frequent and a guy's wife wants me to do one of her. They are sending me a photo of her.
If my feeble imagination can come up with something different, I will join this challenge.

John

Okay.. Just so you all know, I am not good at boats, as you can see.

awesome boat cyn...great job

Thanks, John. I rather liked the way it turned out. I do like the look of art that you can tell is art. As you said, there is a place for everything.
For me, I guess part of it is I love the detail - things like the reflection of the boat in the water, the proportions of the boat in perspective, the atmospheric distance of the upward stairs, highlights, shadows, etc. I stress the perceptions with my students because I feel you need to know how to create a variety of work before you can stretch yourself to be really creative. All in all, I probably challenge myself with those same ideas more so than "doing my own thing".

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Not very good, but hard to draw with a baby around.Couple of hours last night with a flash light then a half an hour touch up while nursing my little one. Maybe I can draw again when the baby gets alittle older. Fun to try anyway.

looks sea worthy to me

John

All the drawings are beautiful and this is my eye challenge.
lily

It is good. Very nice changes in values - shadows and highlights.

Hi all

bkluver, nice is an interesting version of rock.

Cyn, great boat, thank you for enjoy, I always appreciate your drawings.

oliverandjazz, sorry I see blur your drawing of eye and I can not appreciate them, but the shape seem good

racefan, good work in lamp, and is very good to me, you represent right shape of lamp and made a good interpretation of light.

khinchowin888, good work in eye.

Rafael

Beautiful work everybody

Here's my lamp.

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It was raining this afternoon, s I decided I'd try the eye. I did it with pencil first, then decided to give it some colour with watercolour pencils, which I damped with a small brush, so I hope it still qualifies as drawing!

So here are my lamps. I wanted to do one realistic lamp with squirkles and the second one - something completely different. The first one was done with squirkles except for the background and the other one was just a crazy idea. Freehand. So tell me, which one do you like more?
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