Hallo from Holland,

I’m “lurking” for a few months now and I like this site very much.
I haven’t been drawing since I was a little kid, and I was never good at it (or so my teachers and family said). That’s about forty years ago.
Not so long ago one of my friends showed me a book about how to draw animals. And I thought: “I want to do that too”. So I bougt myself the book Drawing for Dummies and that is the way I found this website.
I tried a few lessons and I like it a lot. Now I’ve got only one problem, and that is time, time, time. Should I quit my job (no, no way, I like my job very much too, aside from the money).
But now I have a few days off, so..............

Tracie, welcome to drawing. I hope you will find time to draw and enjoy what you do a lot. Can't wait to see your albums one day here on drawspace.

Hallo Tracie,

welcome here.I'm Corry , from the Netherlands too. Hope you have as much fun as I have looking around on this site.
I'm from Roermond-Limburg.

And from here to you all: HAPPY NEW YEAR and a lot of creativity in 2009


Corry

If you have no time, find a way to create some it is surprising where you can find little blocks of time that can easily be frittered away with procrastination. Most times you really don't have spare time but need to plan towards creating more. I have these suggestions for you; leave your art equipment set up permanently in a prominent location in your home. purchase a good light so you can work at night. Don't wait for the big blocks of time - they never seem to come often enough, learn to use the little blocks. I have painted hundreds of paintings/drawn images in little 5 and 10 minute blocks with continual interruptions in between from my children. For years I had to deal with first two wonderful sons- all grown up now, then I decided to do it all again and now have two beautiful little girls 3yrs and 10 months. My secrets to building a career (20years as a profesional artist and happy mummy) is to keep very organised, don't let your life get on top of you, keep a play-pen around your work area instead of trying to pen the kids in. Be prepared to work in the little blocks of time - I call this 'Pyjama Time!' because quite often I am either still in my pjs from the night before - and painting in them, or have just picked up my brush after the kids have gone to bed and hubby is happy. Have fun creating some more pyjama time for yourself in 2009!

Hi Cindy, thanks for your tips en your sharing.
I think it will come in time, I saw it happening with my brother. He is a walker, and in the beginning he only went for a walk when “he had the time”. Now he doesn’t wait anymore till he has time, he goes every week for a 30 kilometer walk. I think I will learn to love drawing so much, I can’t stay away from it.
At the moment I indeed wait for the big blocks of time, so your tip about the little blocks is an eye-opener. Next weekend I have to go to my parents, so I will take paper and pencils and see what I can do in the train. That sort of thing.
I started with the beginners-lessons from this site, they don’t come out very well yet, but better than I expected. And they are a lot of fun to do, so I think it will not take long for me to be hooked. Maybe time to go and buy a pyama

Trees

Hi tracy, yes buying a pair of pjs is symbolic! i also suggest to my students that they go out and buy a little note book - hard-covered and spiral-bound that slip in your bag. This little book is for jotting down your thoughts and ideas, it is for sketching or writing words spontaneously. This is a great way to develop ideas for paintings. Your thoughts will provide a great foundation for meaningful art. When it is not in your bag, keep it by your work-desk, bed-side etc. It is like a little buddy. If you really want some help learning to draw, consider enrolling in my classes here on drawspace.com/courses it will really dramatically improve your skills. All the best with finding a new pair of pjs - enjoy! Oh and it is great to hear about your brother walking, he is marvellous to make that life-changing commitment. I bet he sure feels great with all that exercise.

cindy

hi Tracie

Hi Cindy,
I did think about your classes, but I won’t be able to find the time to spend 4 to 6 hours a week on drawing in the next four months. It will be a very busy time at my work until the end of April. So I’ll wait until May, and see when you’re starting classes again. In the meantime I intend to follow the free lessons on this website, and learn as much as I can from them (and have fun doing them).
I hope that some day I will be able to think about what I want to draw without examples from other sources, and be able to draw those ideas too. One of the things I would like to do is a picture of my (long dead but still very much loved) dogs.

Hi Corry and Hayman,
Thank you for your welcome, and the same to you.
Corry, fijn dat ik niet de enige Nederlander ben hier.

Trees