I have a dream … of drawing
Yesterday I did this sweet, sketchy life drawing (life drawing means drawing from real life, rather than from photographic references) of some of my favourite seashells, on my table.
Just a short, fun session, around 30 minutes of drawing. Playing around with the graphite and also with some magic touches of gold (which I luv to do).
And … I recorded this sweet and short drawing session on video, for a special project I have been envisioning for a long time.
You see …
I have always loved drawing.
As far back in childhood as I can remember, one of my favourite things has been the simple joy of a graphite pencil and unlimited supplies of paper.
Whenever I could. I drew.
* * *
This innate love of drawing turned out to be a long term affair.
To this day, drawing is one of the things that gives me the greatest joy. As time went by, I started also sharing my love of drawing by teaching it. Teaching how to draw has become sort of a life mission for me, because witnessing in so many of my students, how aqcuiring the ability to draw, can be truly, deeply life transforming.
Since I started teaching drawing, I have taught at least 1500 people how to draw. The numbers simply adds up over the years. Both on drawing courses in “real life” and online courses. And I have distilled a lot of knowledge about how to succeed with drawing.
Drawing is a learned skill.
I know that for sure. I have always drawn, but it hasn´t always been easy or smooth sailing. Not in the slightest. But by repetitive drawing and determined skill building, eventuall I got there. And I love to be here, drawing with confidence and peace.
One of the crucial challenges are…
Getting started drawing at all. I have learned that this might in fact be the one of the biggest obstacle at all, when you want to draw. And I´ve worked very conciously with getting over that dreaded fear of the white paper – and the unknown, it signifies.
* * *
For quite some time now, I have had a vision of hosting a drawing retreat, created specifically to open up to the joy of sketching freely and joyfully in daily life.
To just … draw.
Making friends with the white paper.
To develop your personal artist voice and get creative every day.
There is nothing like daily drawing that does that.
* * *
And it is time.
As an intuitive artist teacher, feeling my way into things, I do not know when exactly I will present this retreat. I want to infuse it with the bliss, patience and relaxed approach I want you to experience, and so, I create it slowly intuitively and relaxed.
This Seashell life drawing will be part of this exclusive, intuitive drawing course.
Back in my early days art education, drawing from photo references was not yet really “a thing”, and so, for many years, I drew a lot from life, and I cannot tell you what an eye opener it is. How it changes your perspective on life here on our amazing planet.
And I want you to enjoy that experience too, here in the age of digital. So in this retreat, we will draw in a number a ways. One of them being from life. And of course from references too … the rest is still a secret.
* * *
Here is the thing.
I need your help – with something fun.
* * *
You see, I love to co-create my courses with people.
I would love to create this course with you. And so, it is invaluable for me to hear your stories.
Here in the comments below, I invite you to share your experiences with drawing with me.
It´s central to my life mission to help people learn to draw with joy, and so:
I would love to hear from you in a comment below …
- Your experiences with drawing so far. The good, the bad and the ugly.
- What you would love to draw?
- Why would you like to learn to draw or develop your curent drawing skills?
- Feel free to add more points.
- Tell your story of drawing so far.
Feel free to write intuitively, freely and long form. I will be reading every single word of what you write and I will take your words with me, when I create this course.
Give Away (+ $ 300 in prizes)
To every one, posting an answer in the comments below, I am hosting a give away of:
- One free spot in my existing in-depth drawing course, Drawing Magic Secrets – valued $259 US)
- Two free spots in my upcoming sketching course (the one we´ll co-create)
The 3 winners will be selected in may, after I have read all the comments. The winners will be contacted individually in a reply to their comment.
I will select winners who writes a clear, detailed comment, touching on the questions above.
I am looking so much forward to reading your answers and co-create my new sketching course with you.
DUE DATE for adding your comment in the Give Away is may 1.st 2023
Love, Light and Drawing Shimmer,
Ida
I just love your Drawing zmagic Secret. I joined the last 2 ones and unfortunately haven’t been able to join this year (yet).
I love how you clearly explain every step. How you inspire and develop new content based on what the community requests too. Super diverse. So much stop. Always looking forward to one of your next lessons of lives. And your inspirations.
My drawing skills definitely improved and also learning more and more with each step.
Thank you so much for creating this. I know a lot of other students also learned so much and love seeing their journey as well.
Dear Sabrina! Thank you so much for your thoughts! I read every word and will take it with me.
Much love,
Ida
Hi Ida! So excited for you to create your drawing retreat.
Here are my answers to your questions:
Your experiences with drawing so far. The good, the bad and the ugly.
I went to art school for 6 years and became a fine art photographer. But we were not encouraged to paint or draw much except drawing class. So, my passion has come back to painting and drawing, and I am self-learning how to paint, and also honing my drawing skills.
What you would love to draw?
I love to draw portraits, butterflies, seashells, and tropical fish.
Why would you like to learn to draw or develop your curent drawing skills?
I desire to become a professional artist and make a living through my art, thus quitting my day job 🙂
Wishing you much success with your retreat!
Thanks!
Domina
Dear Domina !
Thank you so much for your thoughts! I read every word and will take it with me.
Much love,
Ida
Drawing has always been in my life. younger i was drawing many things but so badly. i thought i was bad at drawing but i still loved it.
i would love to do portrait. i think it’s the quintessence of drawing.
i always want to draw better because i want to be free of drawing without thinking of the techniques and so have more pleasure to create.
I’ve improved some of my technique with some free course but i recognise that the one you do are very different. it’s seems to be without technique but each time i do such beautifull things. i’m so gratefull for this creativy you part with us.
Dear Mélanie!
Thank you so much for your thoughts! I read every word and will take them with me.
Much love,
Ida
Hi Ida!! I have drawn since I was a child. I went to college for a Graphic Design degree in the early 1990’s. I ended up in the analytical job world and have only recently got back to my world of arts & crafts. I love to draw simple, line drawings, typically. I enjoy filling in the simple drawings with lots of color!! I used to have a doodle book, but got away from that. I do alot of multi-media art in my free time now. I do enjoy quick tutorials that I can follow to draw. One of my favorites was with Maritza Parra called Doodle. I’ve always wanted to make my own greeting cards or Angel cards with my drawings on them, but never have. Thank you for your beautiful art & encouragement!! Blessings, tanya
Dear Tanya !
Thank you so much for your thoughts! I read every word and will take them with me.
Much love,
Ida
Hello dear Ida, I always like reading from you and when it comes to helping out, I like to do that too 🙂
So here I am trying to answer your questions.
Your experiences with drawing so far. The good, the bad and the ugly.
Let me see… I too have always been very creative but not just in drawing spheres, in crafting too, maybe even more so as I love to make tangible things, things I can touch and move around and take photos of. BUT. I definitely like to draw the things I would like to make first, and not just a sketch, sometimes I want to add the shading and everything and have this beautiful rendering of something that will later become alive. Well, I don’t really do it that often because I am just not that good with my drawing skills – mainly with shading which to me, makes ALL the difference 🙂 And yes, I am very critical of myself, getting better though!
I sadly do have a very bad/ugly story associated with drawing. At least to me. Back in high school, when I wanted to join a drawing class that was offered as an extra curriculum thing, I shared my simple drawings with the teacher that I otherwise really liked, and he didn’t really say anything about them, he just allowed me to be in the class and we had to draw a girl sitting in the front row. I believe that was my very first experience with drawing a portrait and I remember him coming to see how I was doing and commenting that I am actually drawing myself. Which I know why he said it even though I still think that wasn’t the case, but I didn’t return to the drawing lessons ever again. Because he wasn’t kind. I know he wanted to teach me a lesson but to me, that wasn’t the proper path to do it. YOUR way of teaching, is what I needed all those years ago. I’m tougher now and if it wasn’t for a meduimship session I attended last year, I wouldn’t even know how profoundly he hurt me back then. Spirit pointed it out and I remembered it. I wish more teachers were like you and teach in the ways they would like to be taught themselves and not in the ways they actually have been, because I know from speaking to a few artists, that the academic way is pretty awful.
What you would love to draw?
Anything and everything with the emphasis on things from my imagination 🙂
Why would you like to learn to draw or develop your current drawing skills?
To be able to enjoy my drawing times much much more. To fall in the zone faster and to produce work that my Soul wants to produce.
Feel free to add more points.
I have experienced your way of teaching via your generous free offers and a month of being in your school and I love the way you approach things. I am totally aware I need to practice more but it does help to have a motivating and engaging teacher that gently pushes you forward until you pick up your own wind and sail off.
Tell your story of drawing so far.
I’m actually an architect and I had to draw a bit in my study years but that feels like another lifetime to me. And the things that had to be drawn, well, let me just say I learned my own ways of how to make them look good and done fast without the enjoyment of the process. There was no time for that back then nor even the knowledge something like that actually exists. Sad eh? Well, now I do know and I am after the feeling 🙂
Also. Last year I discovered pastels and graphite powder and blotches of random paint on paper and I started making something totally different. It can be seen as abstract and I LOVE it! It’s so freeing to just loose myself in these drawings for hours because they don’t have to represent anything at all and lots of times things do appear in them – they are just magical. But all of this doesn’t make me want to know how to draw really well any less! 🙂
I hope I wasn’t too all over the place with my answers and that you can make something out of this lol.
Wishing you all the best with your new project.
With much love,
Nina
I took the water color tutorial “Wish Upon a Star”. This was my first time painting and using multi-media enhancements.
It was an excellent class and I was very happy with my product. I was so impressed with your teaching
I am now going to try my hand with my first-ever drawing because I have a “Dream…..of drawing.
Ok, here’s my story: I had a friend in school who was great at drawing anything. Sadly I judged myself as not as good as her so why try. Instead I moved on to designing and sewing dolls and bears, drawing embroidery patterns, and designing tatting and crochet patterns. I was still sketching new designs but wouldn’t show them to anyone as they were very basic. Then covid hit and I found Johanna Basford’s facebook posts. These started me drawing and then I found Tam Laporte, which is how I found you. The class was the river goddess with the hippo, (I won a copy! It’s still hanging in my art and sewing room). I went from sketching with a regular pencil to having shelves with all kinds of art supplies. Right now my favorite way to make art is sketching with pencils (and gold pens like you) and I love mixed media art journals. They are so fun to make. I still don’t have the courage to show my work all the time during classes but maybe someday I will. I’m still working the the class you did for Elizabeth Folley’s retreat. The drawing was so beautiful and I hope I can make mine as good. Thank you so much for sharing your talent and teaching.
I’ve always drawn for as long as I can remember, but I find that a lot of my drawings look cardboard like especially when it comes to flowers, trees, leaves etc. I don’t know how else to explain this style, but I would love to be able to show more expression in my own work. I love to draw animals, bears in particular as I create teddy bears. I think I would consider myself as an intermediate artist, but I’m always looking to improve. I was told by my art teacher that I couldn’t draw in high school, and although I can to some degree, I guess that this comment has buried itself in my brain so I totally lack confidence in my art. I don’t have any more points to make and I’m not very good at expressing my views verbally or at typing them out. Thank you so much for the opportunity for me to share and to be considered for a spot in your art course.
Kindest regards,
Jo
Hello Ida!
I have always been fascinated with drawing and sketching. As a child, I loved it… until the expectation was to draw realistic figures and nature which felt overwhelming and scary. Then, I stopped. Quit doodling in notebooks, stopped learning techniques, and labeled myself as “creative, but not artistic.”
In my 20s I found myself in a Zen Buddhist community and found my love of art again, yet more often, admired others work. I currently coach women on therapeutic art practices, yet would love more skills around drawing and painting!! I have loved following along with a few of your classes and even have a Goddess image you helped me draw in my bedroom. She inspires me every day!! I would love to learn how to draw more images of women, and beautiful backgrounds! My goal is to eventually create my own images for an oracle deck. Thank you for this opportunity!
I’ve wanted to draw since I was a child but never felt I had any talent whatsoever! During Covid I decided to start paints and through that have started drawing more and more. It’s still very hard for me to not be a perfectionist but I love learning with each new drawing. Colored pencils are still hard for me. I still learning how to be soft with them. Thanks for the chance to maybe learn more from you.
Drawing has never been a large part of my life, however, I have always enjoyed creating things. As a child, my grandfather (an architect and artist) tried to teach me to draw. He told me anyone could draw and I firmly believe that at the time I did prove him wrong, quite spectacularly! I couldn’t see what he could see and found perspective quite impossible. Looking back, I think I expected that a picture would look perfect instantly, that art wasn’t something you worked at, rather it was something that innately was born out of you. His style of pen and ink also seemed to show all the mistakes when you made them.
As a teacher, in school, I used to call myself ‘the artist’, it became a running joke just how bad my artwork on the board was, even the children would say “Uh oh, here comes the artist…what is it?”. In a way, I actually think this helped the children produce better art when they needed to! I’m sure they thought “At least my art is better than the teacher’s!”.
Around the time of the pandemic, I had moved to a different continent and was not working, so I signed up for an online art lesson, teaching me how to draw a hawk. The lessons were interesting and taught me that time was needed to get a picture to look as you wished, it didn’t just happen. This gave me the encouragement to give art a try. I was soon practicing most days, sketching the animals that I saw or that spoke to me. I then discovered your free class online. You have no idea how grateful I was for this opportunity. In a new country, not knowing anyone, during a pandemic, your art class gave me so much more than just a masterclass in art! I suddenly had something to look forward to, a community to discuss things with, and a new love for all things mystical.
In 2021, I was involved in a car accident which left me struggling with post-concussion syndrome. Most of my days were spent in bed or in a dark room, creating was far from my mind. However, the kindness of yourself and so many talented teachers who put out free lessons, have provided me with my own art therapy. As you can imagine, not working means that funds are extremely limited, and support has been somewhat lacking from the officials. This is why your ‘gift of lessons’ has helped so much. With videos that I can stop and start and return to, sometimes days later (once I was well enough to do 20 mins more) I feel like I have started to become an artist! I can’t believe I’ve admitted that! Somedays I feel that I can now draw. Sometimes colour scares me, and sometimes it just doesn’t work, but you have taught me that that is ok, it’s about experimenting and having fun. Art is not perfect all of the time! Art has become a way to escape from the confines of my problems and small world.
I will continue my recovery journey using the skills you and the other artists have provided. One pencil stroke, one picture at a time. I would love to have the confidence to know which colours to use to create beautiful faces and animals. I would love to learn how to be more ‘creative’ with my art and create art with all my soul. I love your style, it really does feel like you are holistically drawing, and that it is coming from all of you, not just your mind. I think this adds a beautiful mysticism to your artwork. I would love to create like this, I think your art helps to heal you, the artist, and the viewer.
One day I would love to share my ‘skills’ and journey with others, just as you have so that maybe they too can find a healing path through art.
Thank you so much for all that you have shared.
Your experiences with drawing so far. The good, the bad and the ugly.
Honestly I never considered myself an artistic person until the last couple years. Besides some doodles here and there I was never into drawing because I didn’t think I could. So during covid shutdown I got into adult coloring and then decided to take some art courses. Since then I have been learning through different classes and artists.
What you would love to draw?
Mythical creatures, Whales and sharks, pretty much anything to do with animals and nature.
Why would you like to learn to draw or develop your current drawing skills?
So I can enjoy my drawing time more. Also getting results I am aiming for in my work
Tell your story of drawing so far.
I started taking courses through various artist a couple years ago. I really found a love for black paper and white charcoal. Have been working on learning how to draw mostly animals. I am also discovering a love for mixed media and have really enjoyed playing in that area.
Hi Ida. Like so many here I loved your courses as well. My drawing has not really progressed very quickly but then, quite honestly, it has been a year filled with death and all the related business that goes along with that. Among the 6 people in my life who died one was my favourite and last sister and one was my very best friend. It has been a journey for sure. Like so many my drawing journey started with me sitting and drawing to be told it was something I couldn’t do, but that is all behind me 🙂 thanks to many people. I would love to draw – everything 😉 Landscapes, animals, fantasy, celtic, all of it. Drawing is a particular love of mine and you need drawing skills in order to everything else in art so I am insatiable about learning and getting further skills and knowledge in that area. I have been doing a lot of work with perspective and architectural/urban sketching lately and searching for techniques that will help with working on things such as fur and feathers. Your teaching is brilliant and a sketching course sounds absolutely marvelous. Whatever happens I congratulate you on this next step Ida, you will be brilliant as always 🙂 <3
Hi. What a neat challenge… It wasn’t until my 16th birthday that I discovered I could draw. Out of the blue I just set down 1 night and drew the Muppets as I watched them on TV…then I never picked up a pencil to really draw before and i didnt again for 30 years…but I’ve always been creative in one way or another, crafty. But honestly i thought everyone was. I guess i just come from a family of makes. It wasn’t until recently I discovered that most people aren’t. But our would needs more creatives or at the very least creative outlets. And we’re moving away from it instead of towards it. I’m a intuitive artist, and art journaler. I let my paintings become what they want to be. Sometimes thats a big mess. But thats because on the inside I’m a mess. Thats okay it part of my journey, but being able to share that is also part of my story. And through my art is how Ill share my love for art and others is helping me and the world around me.
Hi Ida
I wish you all the best with this new initiative, it sounds very exciting <3
I do not recall much in regards to drawing from my childhood. There are bits and pieces of small memories.
I remember that in kindergarten, I drew once an airplane with the pilot. I couldn't figure out how to draw the propeller and just drew a bunch of lines on the nose of the plane. My teacher was thoroughly impressed and told my parents about it while I was laughing and told her that the propeller looks like a hedgehog stuck on the front of the plane. She tried to encourage me but neither I nor my parents took her seriously.
Later in primary school, I recall that I once entered a drawing competition that the local bank arranged and the theme was saving op money. I drew a couple of mice holding and taking bites out of a stack of money. I drew the mice in grey color. I won second place and was very proud until I saw my drawing lying on my art teacher's desk and my mice were colored in brown. I felt very hurt that my teacher patched up my work without asking me.
I recall trying to take up drawing in my twenties where I made a few drawings after photos from magazines and they were ok but my interest only lasted a short time.
Then a little over two years ago during the pandemic I was searching for a hobby that I could pursue at home and an ad popped up in my Facebook feed. It was about a new year retreat with you, Ida and I thought, well, "Isn't this the kind of sign, I was waiting for?" and I enrolled in the workshop. I am hooked ever since and drawing became a passion. Your love for what you do radiates from you and it spreads joy all around you. I enjoy discovering new techniques and learning new things and I absolutely love to see a piece evolve on an empty paper.
My main focus is on female portraits and animal portraits. I am interested in near realism with fantastical, magical elements.
Female portraits talk to me of the divine femininity, spirituality and wisdom.
Animal portraits inspire me deeply as I love nature. I have two horses and they both give me so much love, kindness, inner balance and healing that I feel that I need to give them and all animals a tribute and that I can attempt to do that through my art.
My favorite mediums are graphite and gold but I also like using colors. I am fascinated by pencil and watercolor work and I love working with mixed media.
Under your kind, patient, clear and easy to follow guidance I have improved my skills tremendously. Still I am always amazed when a beautiful drawing or painting emerges from the "lotus pond" stages and sometimes I still cannot grasp that it came from my hands.
First and foremost I want to further evolve for my own enjoyment and because it makes me happy to gift drawings and paintings to family and friends and see their joy.
Lately however I started also to consider making my art into a way of living. I dream of participating in small exhibitions, working on commissions and hopefully being able to support myself through my art.
Thank you for being you <3
Love, Adrienn
Hello Ida,
When I was in High School, I remember being in an art class and the teacher looking at what I was doing and literally sneering at me – I don’t remember being particularly upset but just decided that I had no talent and didn’t create a piece of art for well over 20 years. One day I needed a Birthday Card for my brother’s birthday and for some reason couldn’t get out out to buy one so I decided to make one ( I mean how hard could it be right?) That started me making cards for many years ( with little caricatures) but it wan’t until the very long lockdown in Melbourne ( Australia ) that an old set of Derwent Coloured pencils started “calling me” and I became very driven – I then did a little online workshop and it lit a spark in me and art just pours out of me now. There are so many generous artists ( such as yourself) who provide on line content and that is so inspiring for people starting out and throughout lockdowns.
I love to draw everything that inspires me – I would like to improve my drawing skills ( especially of faces and the human body) so I can bring my visions to life. My drawings will always be a bit wonky and offbeat but that is me – I have discovered that my art has a sense of humour and I like that about myself – I have a tiny little Instagram account where I have tracked my progress and looking back I seem to be coming along – but posting the good the bad and the ugly with a sense of humour is all part of the progress.
Thank You
Fofi
Dear Fofi!
Thank you for your thoughtful reply.
I am happy to announce that you are the winner of:
1 price, one spot in my full in depth drawing course, Drawing Magic Secrets.
Please write me at hello@idaandersenlang.com, to receive your Give Away price.
Love,
Ida
HI Ida,
One of the things I really struggle with is ideas. How to make an imaginative drawing. I love faeries and elves and magical creatures but to sit down and try and work out how to draw them I get lost and end up with nothing. I know you like to draw intuitively but I have also learned that you plan as well, I’d love help with the planning and development of an idea into drawing something magical. Its so much easier for me when I’m following a lesson but when I come to start on my own I just can’t get the magic happening.
Thanks Ida <3
Like you Ida, as a child I always had a pencil in my hand, drawing everything. I remember getting into trouble for drawing in a book but I know I was just illustrating the story at the time. My parents even sent away for information about a correspondance art course for me, they believed in my drawing ability that much but due to lack of funds at the time it was never followed through. After high school I went to a Tech college to check out their art course but didnt enrol because a lot of the students were from my high school and because I came from the lower end of the socio-economic group, I was always made fun of so I chose not to attend that school. So no formal training for me.
I went in a completely different direction and went with the other thing I was good at – numbers. I grew up and became an adult and got a ‘proper’ job bookkeeping then onto study for accountancy. For a while I had a pencil or pastels around and would ‘muck about’ a bit but after a while I must have just stopped. I dont remember when that happened but I do remember when I started to get that urge to create again.
A few years ago I came across the Willowing website and although I do love Tam and the way she teaches along with most of the other teachers, I have trouble letting go of the adult in me. The ‘it needs to be just so’ seems to take over and I cannot be free like I remember being as a child. I dont even doodle like I used to. I guess that is the analytical side of my brain, everything has a place and it must conform to that place.
Lifebook is where I found you and something clicked. Even though I find that I relate to you and the way you teach more than any one else right now, I still struggle with the adult in me. Its not critisism of my ability more a you should be doing adult things, cooking, cleaning, shopping, paying bills etc. drawing is for children and retired people.
I want to be able to sit and pick a pencil and draw like I used to with out thinking about anything else. To let what is in my head appear on the paper. I can happily copy but struggle with being original. That is where I would like to get back to, being original. Straight out of my head and onto that blank sheet.
Thank you for the opportunity to participate in what will be a wonderful event.
My drawing experience has been up and down for years. I start and I stop and then start again. I recently got the chance to mess about in someone’s studio for the day . I tried new mediums and techniques. It was so much fun. Just splatting paint and adding pen or pastel etc. Using different applicators , no specifics just feeling the colours and styles. Given an image and time I can copy to varying degrees of realism. It’s not outstanding technique but it’s not too shabby either. My plan is to try more mediums etc at home as I found out I don’t like using gouache with my fingers but I did like using acrylics with finer brushes and palette knives and messing with pastels. I would like to learn further with some of these. But at the heart of it I want my art to be freer and more intuitive. I want to draw how I feel images look. I would love to draw from my heart and soul not just copy. I did one of your courses and found the loose sketching difficult but I do need to practice it more. My art is like my life . I’ve been very rigid and boxed in for a long time with bouts of personal flare it’s time to free that flare and when I have time I plan to experiment and test out stuff. I know practice is key but so is learning and experimenting.
Dearest Ida, what a wonderful idea. I stumbled into art quite accidentially as part of my recovery process during a breakdown in 2019. A whole new world opened up filled with lines, colour, expressions and simple joy that gave my withered soul wings again. Part of the process was the inexperience to put down on paper that bubbled out of my heart and I joined free art retreats, classes, youtube and the library in my determination to master the skills to art. One my path of discovery I met you and my whole path changed. I learned not just drawing skills, but the joy of daily practice, to honour myself and my art at whatever level I am, to be present, joyfull and feel and be with my heart and soul while creating. Drawing Magic Secrets equiped me with skills beyond my wildest imagination. I learned that I could draw anything I could see or imagine. Spending 10 mintutes or 2 days on an art piece brought the same joy and satisfaction. I love fables and legends, faeries and dragons, spiritual and mystical worlds and I am forever going deeper and deeper trying to capture these worlds of magic. I am still practising drawing from real life and this idea sounds perfect. Thank you for the patient, kind and inspiring teacher that you are.
Hey Ida,
I love your ideas and what you have done so far. I only wish I had been around longer.
I have a love hate relationship with drawing if I am being completely honest. I love drawing and I can occasionally produce something but in all honesty, I get so caught up in perfection or what I want things to look like that I give up or don’t even bother. I do many fun prompts to get me out of it but I can only really enjoy that as a group, left to my own devices I just can’t keep it fun. I feel like toddlers can draw better than I can and I and up feeling unmotivated and stupid so I avoid drawing. I desperately want to improve my skills and there’s many a drawing I’d like to do but I’m too intimidated to even try it.. I’m jealous of the person I used to be who was confident in my skills.
I’d love to try architectural drawings, drawing of nature and still life drawings. I’ve done a lot of figurative and portraiture work mostly as I’ve found it easier to do as I can focus on people. Im interested in people and not intimidated by their movements or lines etc. I absolutely love drawing anything in nature but I can’t seem to find the confidence to keep going or to finish.
Im particularly interested in doing expressive drawings as opposed to literal.. suggestive drawings that’s what I think I mean. It’s more playful and isn’t supposed to look a certain way. I was put off as I thought drawing or painting like that wouldn’t make me a good artist when in fact I believe the truth to be the opposite. I don’t want to be feeling stuck, like I will never be good enough. I want to be confident in the art I make, particularly for the reasoning behind it.
I would love to become more disciplined in my drawing practices and I would love to be able to make it a regular thing. Don’t think.. just draw. Most of my best work comes from a scribble or something, yet I still get a fear I should be producing something amazing every time I touch an art utensil.. it makes me sad! I preach to everyone that you don’t need to be able to draw to make good art – I’m a fraud! I give people all the confidence that I can’t find for myself and then I lose myself further because they can do it and I can’t. I feel stupid writing this in public as well to be honest. I don’t like people to know I struggle.
I’ve been drawing since I was a young child and I think I used that and drawing to escape as life was pretty tough. People would tell me I’m not good enough and my work is rubbish and that only pushed me harder to prove them wrong. Until now. I’m silenced by overwhelm.
I completed a level two art diploma last year and I got a distinction, however, my lack of drawing skills and confidence is holding me back from doing the next level. I have nothing to show them, my portfolio is bare because I’m embarrassed by my efforts. I seem to do better in mixed media which I love but I want to focus on drawing skills as they are the base of most art forms.
I would love to become an artist/ art teacher. I’m skilled in showing others how to make art and be confident about it. I lack that for myself as I said so working on my drawing skill will help me a lot. I want to be part of a community of sorts and create an inviting safe space. I’d also love to work collaboratively as I feel you can gain so much experience from that. It’s important to feel part of something good and that you can work with other people and create something bigger and better. Everyone ends up more confident and essentially happier.
I see the world in many different ways in which I feel most people don’t. Many think I am just a bag of nuts but I was recently diagnosed with autism and adhd which explains everything for me. I feel like I need other people to help get my ideas out though but my views do help others see outside the box too.
I would like to focus specifically on ratio/scale and shading. I love to stipple but it’s very tedious for bigger pieces of work. I would like to work on the shading with circles and also in creating areas of light with erasing areas. I struggle with light values, I get so confused even when I imagine where the light is coming from.
A big thing for me would be to be able to independently create drawings that are from my own ideas. This might seem ridiculous to most people but between fear, lack of confidence and the overwhelm from adhd where I want to do everything at once and end up not being able to do anything, it is frustrating that I have use other people’s work just for the sake of practising. I don’t like it.
I feel it would do me the world of good to focus more intuitively when I am drawing and go with it. That’s where community comes in but I struggle with feeling pressured and I can’t seem to find a community that truly gets me and doesn’t mind how much I’m involved or not, no pressure to share or do better etc. a place where mistakes are okay and actually encouraged since that’s how we learn. A place where we encourage each other and can be sympathetic towards each other without judgement. This is what makes me likely to stick with something and there are so few real opportunities. That class I joined of yours Ida was one of the only places where I felt safe and that is important for me to be able to get into the drawing flow.
I do love drawing with charcoal, I find it easier to work with. I am forced to go with what happens rather than what outcome I want. It’s messy and mostly uncontrollable. I started recently drawing with pastels so I like to combine the two to create interesting contrasts but I don’t do it often enough.
I would like to be able to be able to draw more loose and freely, less restrictive.
Drawing is more than art for me. It’s self care, therapy. It helps to unwind my mind when I can’t find the words to write. Even scribbles can release a bunch of tension that you’re holding. It’s an important part of my well-being plan. That’s why I’m so invested in finding new ways to create, new techniques for drawing, different prompts. I want people to feel what I’m trying to express.
I feel like id like to go back to basics to and use coloured pencils. I felt they were too childish to use and not professional. But I like the marks they leave in a way that paint doesn’t.
I’ve been offered to enter a few exhibitions and my fear was so bad I didn’t produce anything for any of them and the regret is real.
I wish to listen to my heart and not care what other people think ability my work.
You are so inspirational Ida. Thanks for all your emails and such!
A few weeks ago a friend who needed a little encouragement to start making art asked me to join her at our local art museum where a drawing class was underway. I had already missed the first class and wouldn’t be able to stay until the end as I was leaving town but I signed up and went anyway. She needed me to go with her to keep her motivated and I wanted to help her find her artistic voice.
The teacher was interesting and the students were diverse but since I paint almost every day I wasn’t sure what I would learn in a drawing class.
To my surprise, I fell in love with drawing, just a pencil and paper. The freedom to take it anywhere, sit in the sun on the patio, or in a comfy chair beside my partner. I was free to leave my studio table and all the paints, pens, brushes, and inks behind for a few minutes, hours.
I focused on a value study we did in class and tried really hard to put those values into my drawings. What an eye-opener it was! My pictures started coming to life, they started to really pop and I was smitten.
I have started to put more focus on values in my paintings since and have to say that there is a great improvement already.
Drawing is often considered the starting place for many creatives but it is something we all need to focus on at intervals in our artist journey. To take time to really look at something and then draw it is a skill that I had almost forgotten. I will not take it for granted ever again.
First of all, Ida, thank you for this opportunity. I find drawing to be a great blessing in my life and want to explore a more intuitive way of drawing, but still have what I draw be recognizable. I would love to be able to draw nature-especially flowers. I am terrified of faces, (you are helping me immensely with that), and want to continue to improve. A quote I love that I read is how I feel about drawing: “Let’s take a line for a walk around the page,”
Hello Ida,
I was in a ceramics class a long time ago and was talking to my instructor about wishing I could draw. He said, you know, they can teach you. I didn’t believe him. I just KNEW it was an inherent trait one is born with. I was wrong. I did graduate with an art degree many years later and had completed the requisite 2 drawing courses; nothing more as I was a metals and textiles person. Fast forward 20 years and I have shifted my perspective on many things, my art practice is number one.I am now working in mixed media and painting with anything I can get my hands on. I want to draw better and quicker. I want to draw faces that look like people and animals that look like what they are. Leonardo said if you can draw you can do anything. I want to do everything!
Thanks for offering all the lovely classes!
Love and Light,
Christa
Dear Christa!
Thank you for your thoughtful reply.
I am happy to announce that you are the winner of:
2nd price: One spot Sketching for Life 2023, including the Own Forever Bundle.
Please write me at hello@idaandersenlang.com, to receive your Give Away price.
Love,
Ida
Hi Ida, thanks for inviting us to share our drawing stories! So; the good, the bad and the ugly. And my story of drawing so far. These are related and intertwined so I’ll take them as one. As a child, I grew up in a very dysfunctional family. My eldest brother was the golden child, and whatever he chose to do was considered superb. He focused on school and sports. My next brother jumped in the only void that my oldest brother left, and excelled in artistic ways (he was very talented too). This left little room for me to be successful in any area at all, and as I considered myself not very talented, especially compare d to my very talented brother, in highschool I quited everything related to drawing and art all together (possibly as a way to avoid rejection too). I never ever picked up a pencil or brush again. But during my whole life I did try different forms of creativity and expression instead, like music, theatre, singing, and being creative at home with sewing clothes, baking, etc. Less risky. Meanwhile, I struggled with trauma related issues, finally being diagnosed with DID. Then, in a workshop directed at traumawork with children (I am a therapist) the setting apparently became so safe that a young child part of me came out and wanted to draw or paint the stuffed bear of the teacher. So I borrowed some pastels and started. And much to my surprise, I (or should I say: she) made a lovely and good drawing ofvthe bear. That was when I finally realized that I cóuld draw after all, at the age of 45. For that summer, I drew toy after toy, all in pastel. I think I drew every single child of the campsite his or her favorite toy/animal that summer. And after that, I realized I needed some basic training in drawing skills. So I took a year-long basic drawing class. I also started painting (big!) but then I got sick. I got a nerve/muscle dissease leaving me paralyzed for half a year. No more drawing or painting. Once recovered, more or less, I wasn’t able to lift up my arms any more, but as I still wanted to draw, I turned to art-journal as a way of drawing and painting without forcing my body. That way I found the online art-community. The rest is history. I discovered so many great artists, including you, and learned so much from several online courses. I finally dare to believe that my drawing skills aren’t solely located in that child part of me but are an integral part of my whole being instead. I finally found my joy.
Which brings me to your next question: what you would love to draw? My only answer can be: portraits and figures. I love people and I love animals. I love their emotions and expressions. I simply cannot get enough off that. It’s life. So please – get me more of that!
Why would you like to learn to draw or develop your curent drawing skills?
As I am self-taught and a late-bloomer, I would love to become more skilled and more confident in the ‘how’ of drawing (and painting). Also, I think that being able to draw what you see is the basic skill you need in creating any kind of life-like portrait or creative expression. In fact, I think it is the skill of seeiing that underlies even this.You need to learn to see to be able to express. I would love to become more skilled in this and learn from you. Also, I would love to learn to be able to draw more from my imagination too!
Last but not least: I think we are all are innately creative. We only stop exploring it and believing in it, as we are often openly or covertly discouraged, or even straightly rejected for what we produce. If it had not been for the workshop, I might have never ever recovered the joy of creating and drawing again. And I think I am definitely not the only one who stopped believing in herself and hey creative abilities. Most of us, however, need to be encouraged to find that joy back again, and courses can help with building skill and coincidence. So keep up the good work, it is needed!!
Dear Ida:
I am currently working on on a project that is personally very important to me, and which is also connected to my art. I appreciate your confidence in me, that I be a co-creator with you, but perhaps later on, after I have handled this project that consumes my time. Art is with me to stay.
Maria
I have always enjoyed art in many forms, however I could draw but as soon as I added paint the whole thing went wrong. Last year I did some .tutorials with you Ida, and found a whole new world! I love the way you teach, your methods make it all seem so easy, and the end result is so satisfying. I love the spiritual feeling that emanates from your work. I’m in my 70’s and enjoying a new love of art.
I always had a love of art. This came from my aunt and uncle, whom ended up owning the Stux Gallery. While I loved art, and we talked about the inspiration and I grew to admire it soooo much, I couldn’t hardly capture the art that I would see in my own mind. It was so frustrating!!
Growing up, I would draw crazy things like a chair that could talk to a lamp, or interesting alien looking furry things. When I was about 12, I was invited to help at an international culture event. I began to sketch out a scroll and a few other items that inspired me at the event. They asked me to draw a few specific items, and to my surprise they published it in the event catalog.
Over the next 20 years, I would explore different types of art mediums, feeling like I just could not muster up any creative skill.. ever. Finally, I found it.. my niche. I began to design tarot cards, which let to designing a tarot deck. Unfortunately, I felt like my drawing and painting skill level just wasn’t there as a palatable as I would like. I hired someone to make my art better. Unfortunately, they ended up taking my art for their own and selling what was my idea. This experience only fueled me to begin to learn art for myself and I began to draw. Those drawings began to BE something and look, not too bad. Then my life came crashing down a few years ago with one loss on top of another and I lost nearly everything I owned. To help me through my depression, I found painting. I was 48 years old and started an art journey of my own. While my husband reminded me that I was not an accurately technical artist with drawing or painting, we were both amazed that my style and the craziness that comes out of my mind and finds itself on the paper and canvas…. is constantly complimented by anyone that visits our home. People wanted to purchase the paintings right off of the easel !!!! I learned a valuable lesson through all of this. Drawing and painting is a way to heal. It is a way to express. It is a way believe in our self and push ourselves beyond our limits. It’s okay not to be perfect, and okay to be different. and most importantly.. you are never ever too old to start :D:D xox
I love the calmness and soothing of your projects. I would love to have a class on drawing simple black and white drawings of people’s faces. Not realistic but with great expression.
I didn’t draw much as a child as my art was usually criticized. Even as a child though, I really enjoyed drawing. The feeling I received from drawing way back then, is the same feeling I get now after completing an art session. (I am now 51.)
In my 30s, I started to draw again, including sketching from life (for example, scenes while I was waiting at a bus stop, or in a garden park). Once again, I felt that joy return. Then I stopped once more, and life took over.
Now I am older and in poor health and resumed art again this year. This year I am trying various types of art, including media I have never tried before. It is so much fun. I still find my heart rejoices though when I simply put graphite on paper. Any art that I create brings me joy, but graphite has a special place in my soul.
I now only share my art with those I know will support me. I also approach every piece as a learning experience. I rarely “fail” now, because I have changed my mindset, and also because life is just too short to be unhappy over things you don’t need to be unhappy about.
I do find art expensive. That is the “ugly” bit of art, but I also appreciate that instructors and producers need to make a living too. I often go without food or clothes so I can buy art supplies. (I no longer work due to health.) Art feeds and clothes my soul.
I love drawing people, faces, and animals. I love the way they come to life on the paper, and the thrill I get when I know I have created this. I also love the way they seem to take on their own expressions and characters (no matter what I may have intended for them). It is weird and wonderful.
I would like to be able to draw faces better (people and animals). I find chins and mouths very tricky. I would also like to be able to draw “expressions” better (so I don’t keep drawing the same face that I am used too).
I have a great fascination for statues, especially those in cemeteries (like angels), and I would love to draw these. I like the idea of the existence of angels – looking after our deceased, living, and me. I like the song, “Concrete Angel”.
The best things in my life are my art and my piano. No matter how ill I feel, I always feel better after doing some art or playing the piano. My soul sings.
I keep my current art piece on my oven and I look at it morning, night, and throughout the day. It always makes me feel good to see the creation process. I also take photos as I work through lessons, to remind me of steps and what has and hasn’t worked.
I don’t always get to leave the house so much these days, so I sometimes draw more from digital pictures (that I print out). However, life drawing has been the best for me in understanding perspective. I would like to draw some scenes from the internet of places I will never visit, for example, the windmills in Holland.
I have numerous things around the house that I can life draw from, such as stuffed animals, my piano, and some ornaments. I enjoy going to op shops and finding small ornaments to then life draw, etc.
I found your courses through Wish Upon A Star 2023, and I love your gentle, informative teaching style. It is soothing and instructive. I have learnt so much since doing that course and the other lessons I have completed in recent weeks, and I consider myself very fortunate to have found your style and teachings.
Best wishes with your impending Drawing Retreat, and all your other future lessons. How lucky we are to have you in this world.
For all my life I believed that I couldn’t draw, I’m in my fifties. Then a few years ago I thought bugger the world I will do it, no one has to see, its just for me. And I have surprised myself.
Then I found online courses like your new year drawing retreat. I again totally surprised myself of producing a great girl by following your lessons. And loved the skills I picked up. I am spending time practicing’s and developing my style and have been doing a sketch a day. The idea was a quick max 15 minutes sketch, but I enjoy it so much it sometimes turns into a couple of hours. I am trying to a variety of objects but do drift towards animals. I’m not over the moon about everyone I have done, but look on the bright side of what I learnt each day.
I love fantasy and especially dragons and fairies. So as my confidence develops I will tackle drawing these imaginary creatures. I love the way you have shown how to merge different photos into one composition. I also love playing with watercolors and pan pastels.
I have plenty to learn. Even small hints like your cutting up erasers to do highlights in hair was super enlightening. Since starting drawing I see the world different and often see light highlights on objects I never used to.
I would love to your course as I really don’t know what I don’t know.
Hello Ida,
I enjoy drawing and have done it off and on for a number of years.
I love drawing portraits and anything from nature. I’m not very good at being as realistic as I’d sometimes like but get frustrated when I have to draw something numerous times to get it right. I love your style and really enjoy watching your videos. Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful process and results.
Warmly,
Lesli
My experience with drawing is limited, it is really weird but I find I can paint better than I can draw. I’d love to be able to create simple line drawings, bringing down an image to simple lines and shapes. Whenever I’ve tried drawing, things just get messy and over complicated until it doesn’t resemble what it is supposed to be.
Things I’d love to be able to draw, people, animals (realtor otherwise).I’d love to be able to draw them in the correct proportions.
Hi Ida. Thank you for the opportunity. Drawing hasn’t come naturally to me. I have always been artistic and dabble in all creative forms. I want to learn to draw, or should I say become more confident with my drawing, because I keep a daily art journal
And would like to capture memories of my life and travels. When i make faces they are scary and masculine. I would like to draw/sketch a simile of my grandchildren or friends and family but stop because I haven’t caught the essence of their beautiful soul but rather made them scary and unpleasant to look at. I want to draw botanicals, buildings, skies, faces, birds, wings, hands. My experience with pen to paper is thru zentangle, abstract art. I overload my pages. I read your post about the three things to practice. I just recently started using a reference photo. I have recently sketched my art supplies from looking at the objects. Usually i draw from memory or imagination. This opened my paradigm; i think I thought using a photo was “cheating” but now realize that is not the case at all. Most artists i respect
Use reference photos and thinking about it the master’s used live people to paint from. I have very little formal art training. I am
Enjoying taking classes to develop my personal Art style. I practice something daily. Thanks for the opportunity.
I love to draw and do best when I do not have an eraser nearby. I do line drawings then fill them in with details. I sometimes have problems with perspective and drawing animals correctly – my tiger and my dogs look out of proportion and foxes look like cats. I love sketching with my left hand and find it tells the truth no matter what my right hand wants to hide. this sketching practice goes back to my young childhood as drawing was an easy act to do with my aged grandparents who raised me for 5 years.
For me I was always compared to others by my school art teachers. If you didn’t draw perfectly you weren’t an artist and therefore of no interest to them. My ex husband was a graphic designer and would mock anything I did art wise. I felt very unartistic. If that’s a word. A few years ago I applied for a job at an art museum of all places. The interviewer asked me if I considered myself an artist. Wow. Loaded question. I thought does he mean can I paint like money or Picasso…well then no I am not an artist. Does he mean can I create something using any medium that brings me joy and pleasure or tears or sparks a thought. Well then yes I am an artist. Until recently I was just making costumes. 30 years of creating costumes. Some for competition some for fun. I am a cancer survivor and for the last two years I have been part of their art classes. I paint, I fold and cut books in to shapes, I have an altered book and an art journal. I was introduced to tamara Laporte and completed a session or two with her. Which led to woman unleashed where I was inspired by so many artists including you ida. I’ve just completed the sketchbook revival and have learned so many different techniques. Some I love some not so much. I have multiple sketch books and lots of mediums. I show some of my work to friends who say they love it. But really it’s about me, for me. I am an artist. I create. I paint. I stamp. I collage. I draw.
I am very good at copying from others but I struggle sometimes creating something that is completely mine. I would love to learn to draw realistic animals.
Dear Angel!
Thank you for your thoughtful reply.
I am happy to announce that you are the winner of:
2nd price: One spot Sketching for Life 2023, including the Own Forever Bundle.
Please write me at hello@idaandersenlang.com, to receive your Give Away price.
Love,
Ida
I always love to doodle but I never thought I could draw well. I raised my children and never had time for anything for just myself . It was in retirement that I discovered a yearning to create. Not only is it creative, but a kind of meditation practice too. It’s the only time I find myself totally in that moment. Nothing else invades my mind. I’m very much a novice and would love to learn more and continue this beautiful journey of self care and discovery. Thx Ida. You’re such a wonderful teacher. I learn so much from you.
I’ve always wanted to learn how to draw but always postponed my life for the family! More than a year ago, on New Year’s Eve my husband left me and so I became a single mother of a 6 year old, now almost 8! It was horrible and I thought my world had ended. So I started therapy and learning ways to cope until I found Ida and drawing! Of course my income was now low and I could only pay a few months but I learned some steps and I became someone new. And this someone is still prevailing! Don’t be sad. It looks like a sad story but it’s not! I became a more confident person and I now know bits and pieces of how to draw!
I have always loved to draw and create as a child I was always scribbling on something, even dirt. When I was 25 I had a severe car accident and almost lost use of my right arm, this stopped my from cratering and being a makeup artist as I no longer a had the steady hand or strength to do so, fast forward to the last 2 years I had a mental break down and used art therapy to help me get All my emotions out, I can intuitively paint now days as I don’t have to always use a brush, but I’m really struggling to draw all the things I use to be able to draw this course would allow me to have the inspiration as well as follow along with your videos.
I fell in love with drawing from the moment I picked up a pencil. Every Christmas, my Nain (Welsh for Nanna/Grandmother) would buy my a new pencil case full of brand new pencils with my name etched on the side of each and every one in gold lettering. I never got bored of the same gift every year, in fact it just fuelled my inner artist and I couldn’t wait to rip the gift wrap off!
I was quite lonely as a child, never felt like I quite fit in. But I loved the solitude of drawing, I loved withdrawing from the world into my own little haven of creativity, I felt safe there, and I didn’t feel like I had to try to be anything else. Just me.
Personally, I now understand why we use the word drawing for when we unleash creativity with pencil and paper – it’s like going back into my soul and pouring it out – withdrawing from the world – with-drawing.
Drawing got me through some really tough times, my parents divorce, bereavements, puberty even. And when my wonderful Nain passed away, my pencil was my go to. Even to this day, the sound of graphite moving across paper calms me, I can feel my heart rate slowing.
I stopped drawing in my late teens because life took over. Work. Social life. Starting a family. I didn’t even have time to brush my hair some days, let alone allow myself some ‘selfish’ time on my own to draw. I completely forgot how lost I could become inbetween the colours and the wood.
And so, in the back of the drawer my sketching set stayed. Gathering dust and losing out on memories.
I was in my late 30’s when my health started deteriorating. To the point I could no longer go to work. The only constant in my life outside of my family was pain.
In a way it was good timing, my children were getting older, not needing me as much (I always try to pull the positive out of a situation!) and I had time on my hands and desperately needed a distraction.
My husband thought I was raving mad when I told him I was going to draw a lion. I’ll never forget his face when I showed him the completed drawing, his words were “we’ve been married for a decade and only now I find out you can draw!”
And so I continued to draw. I took classes, joined groups, learnt new techniques, re-learnt old techniques, joined subscriptions, Facebook groups, Instagram…. The list goes on… but I always end up exactly where I was, where it was always safe to be… alone. But now I don’t mind, now I can appreciate the solitude. It’s not lonely, it’s just alone. How can I be lonely when my pencil is bringing things to life on the paper, each hair, each whisker, every little detail breathing life onto my paper.
I never finish the classes or workshops, I always end up back at the beginning, and I guess that’s where I’m supposed to be. Where I’m happy…. Creative. Intuitive. Alone. With-drawing. With-drawn.
I’ll fit in somewhere, someday, or maybe I won’t. But it doesn’t bother me anymore. It doesn’t matter. I just want to be myself, and there’s no one better to be myself than me! I’m just doing me ❤️
Hello Ida & thank you for this Giveaway!
My story & experience with Drawing has been a long one, I used to draw all the time as a child (you could never find me not drawing every chance I could). I wouldn’t say it was great but my passion for it & lack of hesitation was. I then had to give it up during my GSCE’s & wasn’t able to get back into any form of Art WELL after I left school & the dedicated time aspect of the problem was sorted once I enrolled in classes…till they finished. I did see a considerable improvement in my technique but not to the point where I’d be able to fully capture what was in my mind, however I’m still very happy with my growth. Now, I have the problem of finding dedicated time to create art & having the ridiculous fear of what to draw & how to get what I have in my head not only ONTO the paper but in the way I envisioned it. Which I never had as a child, I just drew no matter how it turned out & whether I liked it or not.
I would love to be able to draw anything & everything: humans, animals, landscapes anything else I might have missed, there’s nothing I would limit myself to as I’d love to become the most well rounded artist I know I have the capability to be. My imagination has no bounds and neither should I! I wouldn’t necessarily say that I want to be as realistic as possible, but I would love to learn techniques & improve my skills. I’d never want to grow complacent in my skills, I’d love to learn new things and this includes learning how to with different mediums (provided this is affordable & given ample notice prior).
One thing I have learnt is that Art was very much a part of me, even when I took a step back from it & it’s been a lifesaver, it’s a form of meditation & self expression that I absolutely love and means so much to me given that my health has taken so much of everything else. I am very much aware & very grateful however that in taking away a lot of things it gave me back Art. Although I haven’t had the chance to try the courses you have available, the spark of excitement & creative energy that was ignited when I first came across your work hasn’t gone out. I’ve been wanting to delve into this style of art for quite a while & I can’t wait to do so when the time is right & I can’t wait to learn from you when I do!
Thank you for your time Ida, I’m so looking forward to how this new course you’re working on turns out & thank you for being so inspiring!❤️
I’ve wasted lots of time just “wishing” I could draw or paint better. For me, it’s hard to accept that I have to put in the time and effort to LEARN. I want to find joy in the learning process, leaving behind the idea of a perfect result every time I pick up a pencil.
THREE QUESTIONS: I would like to draw people, #2 I would like to learn to draw hands, feet and
#3( as follows) … I have drawn since childhood. … We didn’t have any art teachers and such a selective choice of materials then. It was a DIY subject at school, that we had to take and I was always lucky enough to be chosen at yearly school celebrations to participate in creating the Christmas murals. Drawing was always one of my passions. I’ve always loved drawing and painting animated people into whimsical displays. When alone, I enjoy pencil and charcoal sketching. Drawing facial portraits tells me an imaginary life story that challenges my abilities to keep trying to look and see more techniques in the differences between light and dark. My hands and nose, however always seem to be covered in more charcoal than paper.
My imagination never stays on one subject. It often detours to the mystical lands of fairies and princesses adorned in fantastic gowns while tip-toeing amongst the magical flowers. I relish the fantasy of drawing and designing gorgeous dresses and make-believe scenes but have problems creating realistic hands and feet. Most of my art comes from within, but I’ve recently used photos to correct measurements.
In my mind’s eye, a character can be sad, ugly, poor or unhappy, but to my pencil and paper, they are always radiant. I believe that there is beauty in everyone and everything when drawing. It’s in my/our hands to draw, create and see the world and its people as an entity of hope. For me, DRAWING is an attitude of HAPPINESS… You are right. What I, we, need most is practice. … Thank you for sharing your wonderful talents with us all… Hugs