Hello to everyone.

I have been lurking on this site for about a week now... thought it's about time to do the decent thing and drop in and say hello.

A little bit about myself. I come from a tiny island in the Mediterranean. I'm a retired legal professional, married with three grown children and two grandchildren. I have never in my whole life considered myself artistic in any way ... though a very long time ago I was involved in TV production.... never ever considered drawing though.

A few days ago a long distance though very dear fried of mine (who is now also a member of this site by the name of SweetSilverBird) encouraged me (euphemism for twisted my arm! ) to try my hand at drawing..... so I did.

Below is the production of these last 5 days. I first started with the eye studies to see whether I could actually do anything. I copied those from a drawing in the lessons here so all the lines were there for the copying. Still I found the results encouraging so the next day I did Cactus Jack - a cartoon which I captured off the net - so it was a picture in colour.

I got bolder and went ahead with a portrait of my granddaughter Maya... everyone knew it was Maya but that's probably because they knew the picture I copied rather than the actual likeness.... I used a grid for that one. Next I closely followed some of the lessons here and came up with the horse's head and a few other things I have not scanned.

Following that I tried my first ever self-portrait also taken from a picture but without any grid - just free hand. Hmmmm... the guys here said nice try and we do know that shirt but....

This afternoon, and again after some Birdie arm-twisting I tried my first drawing from life... an arrangement of sunflowers and other stuff in an urn which stands in one corner of my living room.

So, before this first post grows into a book ... my question is... do I need to take formal lessons to really achieve anything or can I pick up as I go along and practice.... or should I forget the whole thing?! Feel free to be as brutal as you deem necessary.

Finally - I like it here... you all seem so very nice!

P.S. - I hope the attachments work since I can't see them in preview.

Great! You made it!!!

I know this is all incredibly new for you, Farfallina! But even in just a few days, you've grown and learned so much!

I'm so happy to find you here. I am sure people here will help you a lot. I think your first attempts show a lot of promise and loads of spirit! Half the battle is won by enthusiasm. Knowing you, I think your self-portraits really capture your natural vibrant spirit.

Great start! Upwards and onwards!

Welcome Farfillina - you have done a really good job on your pics. I'm sure you will learn lots from this site and make friends along the way. Don't be afraid of critic's - they help you improve.

I'm glad the little "Birdie" told you to join us.

Welcome farfellina , I am new also and Cant wait to start drawing again , I hope to see some of your work soon .

Welcome to Drawspace Farfellina. I'm glad you took the step (or push ) to join us here. I'm the moderator in the forum and am pleased to help you in anyway that I can.

Your drawings show a lot of promise and indicate your talent. Continue by all means! Drawing well comes through a variety of things - classes to learn technique but most of all practice, practice practice. You can take all the classes in the world, but if you don't draw every day you won't train your mind/eye/hand to translate the information onto paper.

So keep drawing, keep posting, ask questions and most of all enjoy yourself.

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome.

I really am enjoying this. I may never become an artist but drawing is so pleasant and relaxing even if just as a pastime.

You all have a great day!

hello and welcome, your drawing allready so that makes you an artist in my book just keep practising and you will get better

Hello and welcome nice to meet you!!



draw everyday! u can buy Breada book called drawing for dummies if u dont wanna do the drawings from ya pc from this site or if ya dont have enough money to upgrade ya membership i think that its good if you can get other artists to teach ya as u learn more that way then u would if ya doing it on ya own as i have found that as i dont have an clue my self as i havent done art for amny years and i have gone wrong with my drawings and not untill i started an distance learning art course which i have an professioanl artist to mark my work i see where am going wrong and i can fix it with out the help we cant improve whatsoever



read this link we all can become good artist if we put our minds on it! http://www.drawspace.com/lessons/lesson.php?id=a02