There is one more Drawing Challenge left after the current one finishes. At that point we need to decide if those participating want them to continue as a regular thing. If so, do you still want them in a two week format or as a weekly one? How many reference images do you want to choose from? I presume from past feedback that people want a mix of simple shapes and more intricate images to challenge them.

Other options for learning threads are possible too, such as drawing animals, still life, portraiture, or landscapes. Then there's mediums, would people like to know how to use coloured pencil, charcoal, watercolour pencils - any drawing medium that is available is possible. There are lots of things that can be offered if people want them.

So here's your opportunity to have your say about what YOU would like to see in the future and what areas you'd like more help with, drawing mediums that you'd like to experiment with and tutorials to help you master a specific medium.

Quantity of feedback counts. If there is enough requests for say, portrait drawing, then we'll go with that. If landscapes are what people want then we'll go there instead. The choice is yours.

I am glad to see this and well I think we need to pull more into the challenges ....I recieved a couple e-mails after i posted what I said about the challenge pictures being too hard for beginners ...as he did put new ones i feel those are still hard for some to do .. the challenges are FUN for everyone so lets give everyone a chance to join in .

I think the two week is fine .. being some people have school and work ect....and working with them is just as important.
How many references? well as i said befor I think the references could go Beginner ...Intermediate...Advanced .....so everyone has a shot at joining in..if they choose to do a harder one then so be it .. but I think we really need to work with them as well and give them a chance .
offering different mediums is a great idea .. but maybe not in the challenges being that requiers you to have the supplies ...but offering another thread with working with different mediums that is a great idea .. people can post what they have done and get advice or comments .. even on doing hair .. or glare .. or a rough surface ect.. that would help sooo many people they could use what they have learned in the lessons and then try and perfect it by getting advice .
This site is not only for those who draw exceptionaly well...but for those who want to learn to do the kind of work they see on here ....we want people to feel confident about what they are showing this way they draw more and with that we all know makes for a better artist:)
Thank you

I have to agree with Kim & think the challenges should be challenging but not so intimidating. I'm so slow at drawing, & especially with all the real life stuff, that 2 weeks is barely ample for me right now. I'm really intriqued by people who can draw so quickly & still have it look good! (hmmm, maybe a teaching on that!)

As far as the challenge refs go, the whole point in having different people post their references is that we all have different areas of interest & that should be just the ticket to give us experience drawing things we wouldn't ordinarily tackle. The references this time reflect Sam's love of detail and his interests which is as it should be. However, for me, they are so far out of my area of experience that I have no idea of where to start with any of them! Between working so much extra & dithering about which ref to use & how to go about it, this challenge will be over before I even get started! lol It's just that they're all so highly detailed & complicated even a line drawing would take me forever to accomplish.

I've always felt that this site is unique & really special because Brenda's lessons start with the beginner & each member is allowed to progress at his or her own pace to some pretty advanced lessons. I think this is what Kim is saying also - that we have all levels of experience here but some of the references for the challenges seem to be geared more to the experienced artist. That makes a beginner feel left out even if they're told to do a line drawing or crop a section to draw instead of using the whole photo. Do most beginners even know what "crop" means? And how scary is it to post a somewhat childish drawing up against the likes of some of the experienced artists?

As far as other items for the forum, I personally love seeing how people work & would love to see a WIP thread. I'd also like to see a thread about the materials people use & whether they like them or not - sort of "tell us your experience with ---" thread. Since we all work differently & prefer different materials for different reasons, this could be a great resource for people. I mean, it would be great if the person who's style you admire would share his/her favorite supplies.

Tutorials would be good also but I tend to learn more by doing & only use tuts as a starting point to go off in my own direction. However, I always pick up some surprising technique or tidbit so like them for that reason.

I like Kim's idea of a "help" thread also. I know there's a critique area in the gallery but it's not exactly a popular attraction. It's just that it's not in a visible place & I think most of the people who would use such a feature hang out here in the forums & not the gallery.

Sorry to be so long-winded but you did ask! Hope others have some input here too.

J

Thanks for the input Kim and J-Lynn. I do appreciate knowing what people want and need.

And I agree with all of what you both have said. Yes, challenges should be within the realm of most people's capabilities. Time and experience in drawing ensures that will happen. Allowing individuals to host a challenge means that we are open to the likes or dislikes of each individual who hosts. There's nothing wrong with that as we're exposed to a variety of subject matter. No one will like all the references all the time, but we can all learn from them. But it should not intimidate people.

The use of different mediums wasn't to be used in challenge threads, but as a separate topic. The same with tutorials. They would be interactive with individuals, choosing and drawing their own choice of reference perhaps using the specific medium.

Works in progress are alwyas interesting too and anyone is welcome to do this in any medium. Its a learning experience for everyone who views it.

Help threads are perfect. Ask your question and get your one on one help. Perhaps we could assign different individuals with different areas of expertise to advise.

Mini interactive tutorials could easily be done. Just some that I think of are step by step instructions on hair or eyes or noses or whatever. Brenda has done a fantastic job of creating the groundwork for technique and understanding. This can take that grounding one step further and enable people to put it into action and have people guide the process.

I could go on and on, but I have to work! I love to hear all comments. Beginners what would YOU like to see or do here?

Great I think we are on the right track ..
Thank you J for your support...I do agree that with each host comes a different style of art... that should not be a problem .. as long as the host can work with all levels ..
this is a awsome site and it helps alot of people and thanks to you Jeanette who always seems to be here for any suggestions or even complaints ...you do a great job !
Kim

Well ......I have to agree with all three of you but since I am the lucky Pretty Boy winner of the first I will try to put my 2 cents in . I think each artist has a different approach to drawing, some like to draw sketchy style some like smooth lines . Some artists like to draw when they paint , others paint when they draw. Some like to draw with grace , some draw forceful . Some like to draw a bunch of lines like me ...for cartoons. My point is we all have are own style and are all at different levels with different preferences. I think all these things should be considered. A challeng is a challenge. I really would not want it to be too easy but rather a learning experience and a true challenge. And most of all enjoyable and fun. I love them and hope they stay around here for a long long time. Thanks , thats my 2 cents. Brian.

Brian I will give you 4 cents for that .. I like your approach ...and its very true we all have different styles .. and making something too easy is just as difficult as making it to hard ....one overwhelms you the other lacks stimulation so it has to be a nice range ....what seems easy to one .. is hard as heck for another.

First, I do believe these challenges are a great way to get people contributing and if the project became a permanent offering, it would be an asset to the Drawspace community.

The two-week timing seems to be a popular choice as most of us have other lives to lead - albeit not so satisfying as drawing it appears .

I love the idea of the three images being chosen one each for beginner, medium and advanced users. Yes, each host would bring his own perspective to those choices, but then that could be a distinct and interesting advantage in itself.

If subjects are to be broken down according to the most interest, then put my vote in for portrait and action drawing with anatomy 101. Animals, then still life drawing would come in next with me.

Currently, I would appreciate help with the mediums of colored and watercolor pencils. However, more help with graphite pencils might benefit a greater number of members before getting into the theories of color.

Any of these projects could be adapted for all levels of expertise I would think - without the need to break them down further.

Cheers.......Maire

hmmmm... I'm following this thread with much interest. I am also curious as to what everyone thinks and feels about the challenges so far. Personally, I have been very busy, and not able to join in, but I have commited to hosting an upcoming one (lol, still trying to figure out how I'll make the time), and have given much thought to it. My initial feelings were to do a kind of interactive class if you will.... concentrating on portraiture, and specifically how circularism can be used to create high realism (mainly because many have asked about this). I was thinking 3 portrait refs...with a write up on the techniques and basics of the circles, and a step by step "wip" type tutorial.... of course any of it could be done in any technique, and wide open to every level, with as little or as much to gain as anyone wants from it. This does go a little against the rules set out, so I am glad to hear all thoughts on the future of the challenges.

I think Dragonshade, you need to come out with tutorials on how to paint in acrylics because you do such an awesome job. I am in awe everytime I look at your paintings. As far as your forum post call me blonde but I do not understand what you are getting at????

Everyone else I love the ideas so far. I think other medium challenges sounds awesome. there are alot of good mediums out there and so far the only one I think I do fairly well is drawing in pencil and colored pencils. I want to paint sooooo badly but I guess I am afraid of it you could say. I don't want to mess up I guess.

So Islander looking forward to whatever you can get accomplised hun and I do love the draw challenges they HAVE to stay around.

Ok i agree with Venus ,dragonshade, kim1963, Brian David, J-Lynn, Maire.

yeah we need photos for people who only starting out and people who have been doing it a few years and people who have been doing it for many moons
to be honset i have found most of the photos ref intimidating
and i think we would beable to use any medium we like aswell

The tutorial is great idea Dragonshade, but I believe it should be separate from the Drawing Challenge, as it would take longer than two weeks and is rather complex, so may appeal to a smaller range of people.

A range references in the Challenges, from simple shapes to more complex, is an easy fix. But it is down to the host of the challenge to make that determination and that is very much subjective. I do not believe that it is appropriate to censor anyone's choice of reference images. I will provide an updated guideline for Drawing Challenge references with examples and we'll go from there.

Tutorials can also be done in painting mediums if people want them, but as this whole site is dedicated to drawing and the development of drawing, I don't know if its appropriate at this point to go too deeply into it. This is why I believe that we should concentrate on the 'pencil' versions of mediums such as graphite, charcoal, coloured pencils, derwent drawing pencils, etc.

To be able to paint well, you need to be able to draw well. Many people dive into painting believing that its easier than drawing and that it will hide mistakes, only to become frustrated by their efforts. There are very few artists who construct a painting without a detailed drawing to start with.

Jeanette that is very true. Everytime I "try" to paint I do do a full colored pencil drawing and explore with my colors before I actually do a painting. The paintings I have done I have in my gallery and as you can see are not very well done. They are first trys I guess you would say. Brenda herself does paintings as well as drawing so it was just another "idea" for her to maybe start and expand drawspace a little farther. I love draw space trust me and I love the lessons. In fact, with my online art class I am taking I have been doing figure drawing and portraits so I have been practicing with Brenda's lessons before I go and do the various pictures of people in my life that I have to send in for the real credit. When it comes time to decide if and when we are gonna do and keep doing draw challenges I would like to host reference photos also. I know Kim wanted to, too.

No problem Venus you can indeed host a challenge and Kim too. We can open it up to individuals who can sign up for a particular period and be responsible for the images for that timeframe.

Threads on any aspect of art can be considered if demand warrants it. So if people want a watercolour thread, then we will have a watercolour thread. There are so many possibilities for the site to help people practice their drawing skills and learn. Its an exciting time!

just wanted to say i like having the challenges--i also like having more than one image to choose from and to do more than one if i choose and i like having two weeks because of the time thing. thanks everyone for doing all this. its really great learning experience for me.
Lori

Lol Venus, thank you, you are very kind. Actually part of my thoughts on posting some of my paintings as wips was to help those who have interest in painting... doing them in steps almost like small, short tutorials. Now it must be said that Brenda is an absolutely incredible painter, one of the best I have ever seen, and my efforts are amateur at best compared to hers. However, if I was ever asked I would gladly do a tutorial/tutorials on the subject. Still, as Jeanette mentioned this site is really geared more to drawing than other mediums, even with Brenda openly welcoming and encouraging any and all mediums I woulnd't want to pull the focus from drawing too much.


Jeanette... Good points, and some I had considered (like timeframe, and the fact that it would be "geared" to the more advanced artists as it's a more advanced technique), thanks for the input. I keep thinking back to the classes Troy Rochford used to do and the tremendous response to the classes... not to mention the incrediblely rapid progress of those in the class. Hearing his critiques while able to look closely at each image/submission was so valuable to me. I'm almost sure you were there for some of that?? Maybe someday we can do that here.

well i am a member of this Art Forum where a professioanl artist runs it
This is an intro to there animal art challenge which is so Simple and they are so friendly there u must check it out there challenge is so cool u have to take a look http://www.pet-portraitartist.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1389

Welcome to the animal art challenge.

This section of the forum is dedicated to everyone creating artwork from the same picture. The topic of Chance the Collie was so popular a few months back with everyone posting their own representation of him, i thought it would be great to do this on a regular basis. I will post up a new challenge every couple of weeks and i cant wait to see everyones work take shape! If you have a reference photo you think is good enough for one of the challenges please email it to me.

Guidelines for the Animal Art Challenge

All members are able participate
Your artwork can be of any size
Any Medium
Any style

If you need to ask anything just post away!

I am a beginner in every sense. I am new to drawspace, my art background is doodling on the sides of pages mostly the same flower over and over. I bought my first art book and pencils because I was unhappy with the butterfly drawing (on the back of used computer paper with my kids school pencil)that I did for challenge # 2.
I found this site from Kim Komando on the radio. I have been looking at some of Brenda's lessons and doing some of them. But I will be honest and say that it is the challenges that have kept me coming back over and over. I probably would have dropped it by now without them. When I see what I have been accomplishing and how far I have to go it makes me reach for the next lesson.
I don't think you should restrict the hosts picks or even add to them like this last one. Their picks are personal and say much about how they see the world. If you truly cannot try them out the great thing about the challenge is there will be another one in two weeks. A good time to do some of those lessons I keep avoiding because the challenges are so much fun.
I can't wait to see the next challenge and to hear how you all think I have done with this one.
Paulette

Paulette, you are so right on! I really don't believe the challenge hosts should be restricted either. If we don't like a particular challenge, then we can very well wait until the next one. I think some challenges will be beyond my skill level or maybe even interest level but no one is forcing us to do them. I do like the challenges though & am glad others like them too.

J

I do not think anything was said about restricting the host pics .. just adding in some beginner level and inter.. level to the picks to encourage the beginners to join in ...I agree i think the host should be able to pic what pictures he or she wants .. just make sure you do the best you can to aasure there is the different levels ...some of us take for granted that we draw well and it come east to us ...we must try and remember when we first started .

I agree Ray and I think a portraiture class, perhaps beginner and then advanced could be offered here. Yes I was in Troy's class and did a couple of portraits with him and a few more after that too. I agree the concept is good and it does help to have people interact and learn in that environment. Perhaps you'd like to take that project on. I'll drop you a pm about it tomorrow.

Challenges are just as they read - challenging. They should test your ability and make you do some things outside your comfort level. That is how we learn that we can do things we thought we could not do. We won't all like the references of everyone,but as others said, no one will force anyone to participate and everyone's tastes are different. You'll find something you like eventually, if not in one challenge then in the next.

I'll be drawing up a volunteer host list for future challenges soon so people can add their names to it and have a chance to provide reference images.

Cool Jeanette, sign me up for one. Looks like alot of fun and I think I have some good ideas.

I'll have the new challenge list up tomorrow Venus, so you can take whatever date you want.