Hi guys,

Long time 'doodler' first time Drawspace.com message poster.

I'm a software engineer in St. Louie. (web applications development for business process management). I run a portrait photography business on the side (150 session in 2 years) and a photography website with nearly600 members.

When I was younger (about 25 years ago) I drew everything I could get my hands on. Mainly, I replicated the comic book covers that I liked. High School and girls put an end to all that.

Now that I'm 37 (38 in March), married, 3 kids, 18 year old son, and twin 5 year old girls, I've decided to get serious about sketching again.

Bought me some sketchpads, kneaded rubber erasers, and Prismacolor graphite pencils. I'm in love with it all over again.

I'm going through the lessons (do get back to it the correct way). Here's my first couple of runs. Be gentle. I don't have my scanner with me so I took a picture of this with one of my 'point and shoots'.

Thanks,
Matt

Welcome Matt,
It sounds like you have a busy life. Drawspace is the greatest I know you'll love it. Check out the challenges and the sketching from life. Jeanette and Laura, Our moderators keep us pretty busy. It looks like you have a great start so keep drawing.
Paulette

Matt, wonderful drawings!!! I agree with Paulette...sounds like you lead a busy, busy life!!! How do you find time for Drawing? Don't give up though..no matter how busy you are you can still find time!!! I hope you enjoy Drawspace. The Draw Challenges and still life challenges are great practice!!! Also, try Brenda's books!!! They are reasonably cheap if you search the web at like amazon and aribis I think it is. I have her Complete Idiot's Guide to Drawing People and it is soooo much help. I am a beginner with Portraits myself. So when I try I go way out of my comfort zone of easy little flowers and things I like to draw. I know I will get there adventually because I am that determined!!! So have fun, hope to see you participate in the other threads!!!!

Welcome Matt - nice drawings. I'm sure you'll be back into it in no time. I really don't think you ever lose the ability to draw. You just get a little rusty after a while. But it comes back pretty quickly. hahahaha Like riding a bike. Join us in the challenges and the threads we'd love to see more of your work.

By the way, we're neighbors (sort of ) I live in Edwardsville, Illinois across the river by SIU . I used to work in St. Louis and my husband still does.

Painter, we are neighbors. I actually live in O'Fallon IL but tell everyone St. Louis because it's so close, where I work (both jobs), and it's easier for folks to understand where I live. Howdy neighbor!

For starters, I'm hyperactive. I sleep, on average 5 or 6 hours per night (including weekends). My daughters are my life. I get out the sketch books and they get out their notepads and sketchbooks and they try and draw what I'm drawing. (I believe in exposing my children to everything and then seeing what 'sticks'. I then encourage those areas heavily). We have great family time doing that. Usually about 1-2 hours per evening.

I give as much energy when I'm at work (full time developer or part time photographer) as I do with my family. If I'm not working, I'm finding ways to share what I love with them. Like the way I find time to draw. I get them involved.

My wife is my assistant when I'm shooting weddings or editing photos so I have her involved in that part of my life. She also helps me run my photography site.

photochimps.com if anyone is interested.

It's all about balance. Even if you have a lot of irons in the fire, the right amount of energy can overcome it. For me, it's less sleep.

The lessons are awesome. I've always wanted to be able to draw a decent sphere. In a couple of nights, as you can see by my sketches, I've done fair job.

I am really interested in drawing 'parts' and not so much a portrait or an entire human form. An eye or a hand. I love single shapes like the potato, or cubes, etc. and it is helping me with perspective and getting the light and shadow thing figured out. Hair is next for me, I think. Woohoo, having a blast. Sorry for being so long-winded.

Wow, Matt - you really sound "pumped" about drawing! That's wonderful. I'm glad to hear that and also glad that you involve your kids in it. If children are given the right tools to draw with from the beginning (not just a pack of crayons) and actually shown how to draw things from shapes, they will actually learn and become proficient at it. Their little sponge brains absorb so much its incredible.

Both my kids are grown (about your age hahaha) and they both draw very well. All of my grandchildren can draw very well also. The littlest is only 3 so we don't know about her yet. Mostly she likes to color her hands and arms more than the paper. (Thank God for washable colors). LOL

I do know where O'Fallon is. I have relatives that live there. Most of my cousins live in St. Charles, St. Peters, and O'Fallon. My son lives in St. Charles.

I sure hope you join us in the drawing challenges and show us some of your drawings in the members gallery.
Can't wait to see some of your work.

Joanie

Hello Mat and welcome to the site I have just started drawing again after not doing any for about twenty five years so your not alone,this site is a great site for learning and everybody on here is friendly.

Wow, Matt!!! Sounds like you got some good ideas. I may start trying that with my children. I do encourage them to draw though. All of them wanted art supplies from "santa" for christmas. And of course like Painter said I HAD to make sure they too were washable. I also have a little one that thinks drawing paper is her ENTIRE body!!! I have never had to bathe any of my children more than her. Dirt and everything stick to her...the funny thing is her clothing doesn't. She hates to be dressed and is in the stripping down to just her diaper phase...so it is a good thing we hardly go anywhere.. Anyways keep drawing and start posting them in your gallery!!! Can't wait to see more.