Hi, I've actually been a member of this site for quite a while, I don't think I've posted before though. I tend to lurk a lot and have been enjoying reading the threads and looking at the challenges. My name is Amanda and I've always loved to draw, as I've gotten older I've drawn less and less-and I'm only 23! Anyway, I don't seem to have developed my own style yet and give up far to easily, I hope by joining you guys I will be inspired to join in I'm mostly interested in just plain pencil, maybe colored eventually, and my favorite thing to draw would be animals, not sure I've ever tried any other subject!

My username refers to my cats Sneezer and Callie, also seen in my avvie. I hope I can contribute to the site, thanks for having me!

Welcome to Drawspace, Amanda. I am sure you will love it here and the lesson and people are great. Come join the other forums and share your work. I am sure everyone would love to see your animal art.

Welcome - I'm sure you'll find other "kitty" enthusiasts here too. Maybe you will expand a little and draw more than just animals. I think this is a good website to get "out of your comfort zone" because everyone is so nice and helpful.

Welcome,
There are a lot of cats already in this site so your sneezers and callies will do just fine.
During our lifetime we do less the things we like and more the ones we have to do, as we grow older. If a child wants to be astronaut, in highschoool wants to be a bike-racer and then, when mature, settles with jogging.
Life...
You're right however about the inspiration. Nothing helps like a bunch of friends and hopefully you'll find plenty here!

Welcome
Fatcat

Hi. I'm a devoted cat person myself. I just checked out your site and I'm tempted to start another photobucket album to display all my Xena related as well as nonXena related autographs.

Welcome aboard Amanda. I look forward to seeing some of your work and talking with you.

Yes! Welcome Amanda! I think it was Da Vinci that said that the hardest things to draw were cats and hands. I believe it. I'm in awe of anyone who can do it!

I'm looking forward to your Art, and to getting to know you!

Thanks for the welcome everyone! SO happy to see that there are some other cat people here-can't live without the little guys! I'm really excited to be here, I think I may try the current drawing challenge, I missed the last one with the cat but I've always loved horses too. I'm a little shocked to admit to myself that I think I've only drawn one picture this year so far!

Something I have a question about, maybe someone might be able to help. See, I've never really understood just sketching, you know-everytime I set out to draw it's with the intention of it being a finished product. But I see so many places that the key to learning is to "practice, practice, practice* I guess I'm kinda not sure what to do....





Yeah! I'd love to see them-I don't run into too many people who collect autographs

Amanda, you can do both - sketch and draw finished images.

Everyone is different and some like to sketch, others not so much. Sketching does give you the opportunity to draw quick unfinished images and encourages you to draw every day. My idea of a finished drawing is something that may take 20 or 30 hours to complete, whereas a sketch I can do in 10 - 30 minutes . Either one may stand on its own as a piece of art, but the former will be more detailed and complex.

Of course you can do the same with little finished drawings too. Its entirely up to you. As long as you keep drawing and keep practicing, you can't go wrong.

PS you can still take part in previous drawing challenges, just add your image to the challenge thread and we'll check it out.

Amanda,
Hi, just thought I'd put in my two cents worth. I am like you about the "sketching" . I also understand how you feel about the " practice, practice, practice" issue also. To me, the practice issue is learing to shade correctly,( which I haven't ), and learning to draw the different parts of a face or whatever. That way, after you learn to shade, or do different parts, then when it comes time to do a whole drawing, then you already have a good idea as to what you want to do. I am the world's worst at practicing, but I can tell you to do that !! Ha, ha. There are so many talented artists here, that no question you have will go unanswered. Just jump in somewhere, and have fun. Glad to have you here. And, don't think, you can't offer opinions, every one is important, they all help in some way. Enjoy !!

Jonsie

Thanks again for the welcome. Looking at the "Sketching from life" board I kinda see what you mean now. I got out my sketchbook, dusted it off, and set it down. Where is my sketchbook now? Callie has planted her furry behind on it and is taking a nap. O_o

lol Jonise-I don't really see how to shade either, I went out and got a bunch of tortillions but I must be doing something wrong. I've always been a "finger shader" smudging with my finger to blend. I thought that was all well and good but I read that the oil from your hands can ruin the picture later on, so I'm trying to break that habit. So far the tortillions are just not doing it for me though

I use a lot of q-tips for shading. I get the ones that are round and flat on one end and pointed on the other. Sometimes I use the plain ones. And for large areas I use a triangle makeup sponge. Even a piece of paper towel wrapped around my finger. Just whatever I can find that works for me. I hope that helps.. Not that I'm any good at shading, but I dive in with both feet, anyway and the graphite is mine.

hello and welcome