Challenge Day 1

Robin!

Day one is here!

Today you have two videos, one where I talk a little about how I approach sketching like this, and give you some examples, and then the sketching itself (which is just over 30 minutes).

So. Phew. I actually found that pretty tough this morning, I will be honest.

The sketching was fine, it moved the way it always does (and not always the way I would like it to), but I was nervous to show up for you all.

My perfectionism was being pretty loud, and I was wondering to myself am I even able to teach this stuff, what if I look ridiculous and like I don’t know what I am doing?

It was early, I was annoyed at myself for not recording this last night, the birds were being so noisy, and I have had a tough week with my brother being so ill in hospital, and I was soooo full of self doubt and perfectionism.

So I had to stop and give my nervous system a quick once over. I had to allow space for my humanity in all of this.

It was a challenge, but am I glad I showed up?

A BIG FAT YES.

Did the sketch turn out the way I expected.

NUP.

Is that ok?

ABSOLUTELY.

So if you are feeling any fear or doubt, it is perfectly normal, it means you are a compassionate, caring human being (and you are definitely part of my tribe), and I am so freaking proud of you for showing up to this today.

Deep breath in, slow breath out.

Tomorrow (or this afternoon if I can get my rear in gear) I am going to include a little workbook with some questions you may like to think about every now and then, or at the end of any sketchbook session (which is what I do, though I no longer write them down). It will be interesting for you to come back and look at your insights when the challenge is over - you will be so surprised, truly.

Other than that, some points and clarifications:

• Crediting reference photos - where I talk about that I am meaning if you share your work. If you don’t if your sketchbook is just for you, you don’t have to credit photographers, and you can use any photo you would like. The point here is that when we share our work but we have used reference that is not our own, to be good humans we must credit the original source - they are an artist too. But crediting doesn’t mean you can use any image - copyrighted images must have permission or be bought. Pixabay is a source I use for royalty free imagery (we don’t have to pay for it). I will do a whole post on this for you.

• Pencil pressure - so so important to learn this (and it takes un-learning when we are used to writing with pencils). Use light pressure and build up layers. The further back you hand is on the barrel of the pencil, the lighter you will naturally work, and the more you will allow for building skills in the movement ofyour hand in relation to what your eyes are seeing.

• Draw what you see, not what you think might or should be there. This is worthy of a whole post too. Try very hard to look at your reference image more than your paper and train your eyes to follow the contours, form and details of the image - really SEE the wild being.

There is so much more to discuss, which is why I started this publication. I don’t want to overwhelm you with too much information right at the beginning!

So.

Show up.

Breathe.

Try to be loose and light.

Observe deeply.

Honour the little being’s wild heart (and your own too).

Celebrate your awesomeness.

I am so proud of you!!!

See you again tomorrow!

Reference:

Image by Pixsas from Pixabay

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