Daily drawing is an essential to help you grow and learn as an artist. If you draw something daily, you will find over a period of time that your ability to see shapes and translate them onto paper will have dramatically increased. You will draw more quickly and more efficiently and will render what you see much better.

The traditional drawing class uses real objects to draw from, not references. To study an object in front of you shows you a 3 dimensional image whereas in a reference photo it is one dimensional. The benefits to drawing from life are enormous and so rewarding.

This weekly sketching challenge is designed to encourage people to sketch more quickly, to sketch outside and to sketch in public.

Now here is the meat of the thread. This is a list of objects that you may choose to draw from.

You can choose one thing or 10 things.
They must be sketched from life, not imagination or photographs.
You can use any medium that you like.
When you've drawn your image, then post it here.
You have 7 days to draw items from this list.
There will be no commenting on sketches.

J-Lynn has kindly provided the list for this week. Thanks J

A Waterdrop

A Fruit or Vegetable

A Green Leaf (can also be a pine sprig or from another evergreen - does not have to be in color)

Your Hand

A Shoe

A Fork

A Spool of Thread

An Electrical Outlet

A Light Switch

A Kitchen or Bathroom Faucet

A Draped Cloth

An Open Can (like canned vegetables or soup would come in)

A Door Knob

Your Favorite KnickKnack

A Human Nose

Ice Cubes

A Tree Branch

A Cemetery Head Stone

A Stranger's Ring (good for those waiting room/ restaurant situations)

A Hat or Cap

Steps or Stairs

An Abstract Shadow Pattern

A Bowl of Soup

A Cloudy Sky

A Flag

A Reflection in a Mirror

I have done a number of these subject in sketches previously so technically should do them again, but I'll include one just to get the thread going.

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I apologize for any duplicates from other lists - I had already submitted the list to Jeanette when Cyn's list was posted!

I tried for a variety of simple to challenging subjects and some subjects that artists usually have trouble with such as ellipses, dewdrops, and shadows/reflections that I hope will encourage you to try to draw them.

Anyway, here are a couple of mine. My hand holding the sketch pad & my neighbor's shoe.



J

WOW ! that some list ....guess I will be busy as I so love these kinds of drawing challenges you have dreamed up for us Jeanette

Here's a nose - my nose in fact. Do you know how difficult it is to draw your own nose from real life? Lots of mirror use, memorizing, sketching, mirror, memorizing, sketching...lol

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Good job on both the shoe & your nose, Jeanette! I can't imagine trying to draw my own nose from life!

I did a couple more quickies. Tried to combine the leaf & the waterdrop but I had the leaf too small & just couldn't get into it to do a decent job on the drop. Besides, I had it directly under a light so there was only one bright highlight & the rest of the drop was pretty much the same color. I did the drop by itself in color as somehow, that just works better for me!

Jeepers! This must have taken a real trick! Good 'nose job.'

Chris



I love both of these. They look very life like.

Chris

Nice job on the nose Jeanette .
Nice water drop J

Here are my drawings ...I could not stare at a persons hand to draw the ring in public lol .. maybe im too shy so I drew my own wedding ring lol ....it is a stranger to me as I never wear it .. does that count ?? lol
First time on the water drop .. not near as good as J and Jeanettes .. but it was my first try .

Nose job......hehehehe nice one Chris

Great sketches Kim, love them all. They have so much detail. You should get into making artist trading cards or aceos.

Hey everyone, this is my first post on the Drawspace forums.....so I suppose a bit of introduction would be in order?!
My name is Robert, I'm 18 years old, a senior in Highschool and I live in Transylvania, Romania. I've started drawing about a month ago....after discovering I could draw more than stickmen and straightlines. It all started when one of my good friends started drawing in the boring classes...I started too...slowly she taught me more on how to sketch/draw...and now I'm learning full-time....with books and this amazing site.

So, this is my first sktech of my hand, which I drew, if I'm not mistaken in a Geography class:)

Hello Robert, welcome to Drawspace. Could you try uploading your image again as it doesn't show here.

Use the Browse section in Add Reply to find the image on your computer then click Add Attachment, then Add to Post, then Add Reply and it should work. Keep your file size to around 200kb so that those on dial up can access images as well.

Sketching in class huh? We all did it...

Back with the image...smth went haywire..sorry:)
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Great sketch Robert. I look forward to seeing more of your work.

Jeanette i have no idea what aceos are ? but thanks for the compliment I love this thread because it makes you draw things you use everyday and would never think to draw
Welcome Robert your sketch is very nice .. you have talent and I cant wait to see more

Sorry, no sketch from me, but I had to comment on Kim's work - your colours are so vibrant!

Imladris - welcome to the forum - hands are always tricky to do, so great sketch! I might tackle mine tomorrow (eek!).

I go away for a week end and you guys go on an art rampage. How can I ever catch up? LOL

Well, here's my shoe and a door knob. Not much to draw at my cousins but it's a start.

Hi there,

I'm Marcos, from Brazil, and this is my first post around here. Glad to see so many people trying out their art.
Thanks to IslanderNL for the post. =)

I have little knowledge in drawing, I do it for the fun of it and mostly on paper and pencil, but this one was my first try on a pc tablet (using openCanvas). I didnt try one of them suggestions in the topic as it would be a bit hard to draw them sitting on the computer, so my shot was one little computer desk trash can.

=) Thanks everyone

Kim, check out ACEO's here. They are little works of art 2.5 x 3.5 inches. The rubber duck that I did was an artist trading card as was the golden retriever in my gallery, which is the same as an ACEO (art cards, editions and originals) The difference between ATCs and ACEOs is that the former are never sold, only traded.

Its a fun way to produce works of art which are affordable originals for people who can't afford large pieces. There are a lot of ACEOs on Ebay - the good, the bad and the very bad. lol

I love your doorknob Cyn. You've been busy!

Wonderful sketch Marcos, you're off to a great start. Do try some from the list if you have a chance, we'd love to see more.

Hi everyone....

Here's some shoes I did for fun one night, a stab at my tired old hand and a cloudy sky. Everyone seems to be having fun with these projects - it's been a real good idea.

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Cheers.....Maire

Welcome back Cyn .. your sketches are great !
Welcome marcos I love your sketch of the trash can ...nice job I hope to stick around and join in on the chjallenges .
maire I just love the feet ....looks like whoevers feet those are they are having a good time .. i like the added arch to the female feet nicely done .
thank you for the link jeanette I will check it out

Here is my shoe ... I wear this brand because its my husbands name lol

kim fantastic job, i love those sketches.
maire excellent work
imladris, you did really great with that hand, i love doing hands and noses.
j-lynn great job with the waterdrop, i am going to have to try it.
jeanette love your shoes, you always do a great job. i will try to do some sketching today, didnt over the weekend, i think i am coming down with something.
Lori

Kim - really great stuff. I first glimpsed your sketches yesterday in the Gallery - splendid!

Welcome Marcos Accioly and Imladris. I'm very much a newbie too - not only to this site but also to drawing in general since I only started last week.

Well done everyone..

... and here is my contribution to this challenge... which BTW I'm finding very interesting - a great incentive to actually sit down and draw something new. Usually I start with the thought that..hmm... this is going to be beyond me but I stick with it till I see some tangible results.

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excellent scissors Rose, you never know what you can do til you try.

Thank you Kim and Racedolls for your comments on my contribution this week. Kim, I love your shoes too and of course those feet of mine were having a great party - they all laughed heartily when I showed them the pencil sketch of their feet.

Farfallina, your scissors are wonderful especially as an exercise for improving your sketching abilities. Keep it up - looking forward to your future sketches and drawings. Funny - I don't see scissors on this week's list of subjects..........

Cheers.....Maire

Very nice scissors, farfallina... =)

I am enjoying so much being here cuz it's making me draw a little

Very special post, everyone... Thanks to IslanderNL once again

Just started a new drawing, my bonsai this time... Will be posting it as soon as I finish it

Have a nice week you all

Lori I do hope your feeling better ?
Rose I think your scissors are done nicely ...they look just like a pair I have around here someplace .

There are some excellent sketches going up. Here is my addition.
Paulette[attachmentid=1120]

Ooops! I must have read last week's thread and then posted in this one! - that tends to happen when you are fast approaching senility!! I guess this only means I shall have to attempt another drawing from this week's list, right!

Thank you all for your great encouragement - I can't tell you how happy that makes this novice.

Paulette: I'm totally in love with your fork!

I did the Wanda lesson last night and was so thrilled by the result I was laughing and laughing!

rose your sketches are great, novice? your very talented. great job
paulette-- i am amazed how far you have come, you are doing such a wonderful job. keep going, your sketches are sooo good.
well here is some sketches i did last night-- i dont think they are very good. i still dont feel to good. so i think it affected my drawing. sometimes i feel okay and sometimes i dont. that flu is going around here. yuk.
thanks kim,
Lori
ps i am usually better at posting too-- i dont think anyone can see these very well-- there is suppost to be a waterdrop coming from the kitchen faucet,

Back as promised.

racedolls - thank you for your kind comment.

So here's my vegetable - front and back views of a red pepper which I found lying at the bottom of my fridge. Someone had nicked a slice off it and as you can see it was far from fresh! So maybe I'll call it: Deathmask of an Unfortunate Red Pepper that never made it to the Stirfry!


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Paulette, you've been working overtime on sketching. Excellent.

Lori, its a little faint, your scan, but the skeches look good. Water drops are fun to do.

Rose, love the pepper. I have some sad rejects in my fridge too, glad I'm not the only one. lol

I'm looking for more people to create lists for sketching threads. PM me your lists if you want to come up with a list. They change each Saturday morning.

thanks everyone
i am going to sketch my foot and try to do more
jeanette i pm a list for you, i hope there isnt any repeats on their.
Lori

Paulette nice sketches I love the fork .. and the shadow below .
Lori you can tell its a water drop .. my fav is the nose ..nice job .
rose .. I hate peppers yuk ! lol but you draw them soooo well ....would love to see bright red and green on those .. awsome .
Jeanette if you need a new list just let me know if I can be of help .

Here is my attempt at sketching a ball cap....

...The paper is suspect here. This is a 90 pound, general use paper by Strathmore that claims to be made from 50% recycled paper. It was very 'toothy' and the tooth was not consistant across the sheet. Some places it would take graphite very nicely and other place I had to apply it with a hammer!

Chris

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Nice job on the hat chris .. I never thought paper made a difference but I guess it must ... I think your hat looks great !

This is my favorite nik nak I got her last year for christmas

That's pretty funny, Chris. Great job on the hat - makes me want to go dig out an old hat and draw it. What a shame that such a good project had to be done on yucky paper. You never know though when you start out. I recently did a knife and sheath on some acid free grey cardstock. I thought it would be good because of the nice smooth finish. WRONG - When I would erase, it wouldn't hold up too good. I really wished that I had done it on some other paper.

Thanks for the list Lori, you're up on Saturday!

Kim, if you would like to create a list, please just send it to me, the same with other who are interested. I'll put your list in place as I receive them.

Chris great cap, its always interesting to draw objects with character.

Cute fairy Kim, I'm eliminating knick knacks in my house but have a few special ones still lurking around.

great job on the hat chris-- its very realistic.
kim wow wonderful job as usual. i really think you are so talented. i am always in wow what you can do.
your welcome jeanette--
Lori

I love your work! This is excellent. Did you your color pencil?

Yes, paper does matter. Expecially when you don't expect it to!

Chris




Thanks....I got a chuckle out of it after I was done, but while I was working on it I really pulled some hair out. Luckily, mine grows very fast.

Chris

Yes Chris i used colored pencil .. a couple of prisma and some crayola ,,I do not care so much for the crayola ...I found a coulpe of prismas and I am sold on those they are very smooth and I have a set ordered for chirstmas .

well here is a couple more sketches-- one of my foot, boy i hope my toes arent that long. and another nose. i know there looks like something hanging but really there wasnt and i didnt noticed until after i scanned and i just dont feel like messing with it. so...
Lori

Kim...beautiful job on the fairy. You know I love all of your fairy pictures you draw already. Your pencils should arrive soon if they were shipped already which I am sure they were. It only took mine like 5 days ro come in. I have yet to use them though.

Wow Everyone is doing a spectacular job with the still life pictures. I haven't had time to do anything. I have 1 load of laundry left to do and still need to get my Christmas tree up...HOPEFULLY after I get that done I can get back to my art. I swear being a mother is time consuming!!!!

Errr, Venus, psstt... when you're done will you come and do mine?!


Kim: Lovely!!

Feet and hands are the hardest part of the body to draw for most people ...I think you did a fine job and I know that is the heel lol ...

i agree kim-- i do love to do hands but feet i just havent done to many of them.
Lori

Salut Robert si welcome, c-asa se zice pe aici,
E un site meserias, toti sunt draguti, 0% agresivitate.
Copiaza-ti lectiile (adica tipareste-le, ca de copiat pe hard nu poti decat daca platesti sau daca te chinui ).
Vezi ca Islander a pus pe undeva un shortcut spre niste carti de desen meseriase pe care le dai jos moca.
Mai sunt si alti romani pe aici dar nu prea vorbesc.
Toate bune,
Catalin

YEP ! what fatcat said ...LOL