A Challenge [that will help you improve drawing!]

If you can spare the money, I really encourage you to try this challenge-- All it takes is $10 (or even $5 if you have coupons ;D), and a LOT of time and determination!!

Objective: To improve your drawing/sketching skills, and to sketch faster and more effortlessly by filling a 100-page sketchbook in 4 months.

I know it seems like a big goal to accomplish to some of you, but listen: A lot of times we find ourselves worrying about drawing beautiful things every time we lay pencil on paper. Every sketch must be perfect, and every object we draw must be accurate to the very measurement and scale. You take too much time on one drawing, and you are intimidated by a fresh sheet of paper, or a new page in a sketchbook, and you worry: "Oh man, I'm going to ruin it if I keep going.." And you think.. "Next time, my drawing will be MY BEST!"

Sound like you? (I know I was like that, even last year >_<)

This is exactly what is stunting your improvement in art! You may be improving, but you might be a little bit too tense with yourself, putting too much pressure on yourself to have a better drawing every time you sit at your desk Have you seen those artists who can draw soo swiftly, beautifully, and confidently? Try loosening up, and with practice, you can draw a bit more confidently, too : )

Step 1: Purchase a 100-page 9"x12" (or A4) sketchbook (Save money and use a coupon!! Michaels has good coupons xD)
Step 2: Acquire your weapon of choice ;D (I suggest B4 pencils! Soft leads are nice )
Step 3: Write the date you started, and aim to finish that sketchbook in 4 months.
Step 4: Draw from life, and fill that sketchbook with life.

Note: This will only work if you really finish in 4 months! Even if you procrastinate, you MUST have the sketchbook finished by that deadline. Not each sketch needs to be finished, just draw, draw, draw! (My professor once said that having a hundred unfinished drawings is better than having only a few completely finished drawings, because you have more practice and experience, you improve, and it develops skill!)

I took an art class this past term, and we had to fill 100 pages of a 9"x12" sketchbook by the end of the semester (that's within 17 weeks). I was excited because I thought it would give me an excuse to discipline myself and draw daily like I did before, but instead I waited until the last week to actually do anything. Before I knew it, I had 2 days to do 70 pages (and the last day I spent doing 40 pages, plus my 18"x24" final project T__T)

<-- There's a fraction of what I did >_>

Those few days.. I've never drawn more in my life!!!!!!! I probably spent a good 7-10 minutes per page, sometimes it took up to 20 minutes, so I ended up drawing for more than 14 hours for that last day..

But more importantly, what did I learn?

I learned how to be flexible with my drawings. I learned that I make mistakes, and you NEED to make mistakes in order to learn. I learned how to experiment, and work with what I have. I learned the serenity of sitting at a park and draw what I see, the caution of sitting at school and be a creeper and draw strangers, and the awe of sitting in on martial arts classes and draw kids kicking away : ) I truly learned the meaning of drawing from life. Plus there's that content feeling and satisfaction of finishing a huge sketchbook like that ;D

A sketchbook isn't meant to have absolutely beautiful, stunning drawings on every page-- it's meant as a tool of study, a dump for all your ideas and notes-- your sketchbook is, essentially, a journal of your life.

I hope I managed to inspire some of you out there : ) I wish someone gave me a challenge like this when I was younger; I think I would have improved a lot more in the past years than I did, because I used to be so scared of wasting paper.. but now every flip of the page is a step closer to becoming the artist I've always wanted to be : )

Challenge on? ;D

Now, go...
and DRAW FEARLESSLY : )